Cassidy eyed her new impromptu pack as they quickly cleaned her father's cabin. They were down to seven now, Ferdinand having taken two of the other link shifters with him. Only Lance remained making the a pack that consisted of five wolves, one lion, one bear and her. She felt her head droop to one side as her burst of adrenaline faded fast.
" Your mate's crashing hard, Lt." Garrick grinned as he watched her, his features softening.
" She's something, isn't she?"
Garrick nodded, slapping his former lieutenant turned Alpha on the back.
" She booted that asshole Ferdinand for me man. I never dreamed of marriage when we were in the corps man but now, damn man, I wanna meet my mate."
Tristan laughed as Garrick rubbed his bald head sheepishly.
Tristan caught her just as she was about to fall off her perch in the kitchen where she was preparing to feed seven very large, very hungry males. She could only thank God that Catherine was rebellious and had continued to use the cabin despite their mother's wishes which meant that the fridge and meat locker was filled with food.
" You need to get some rest, Doc, you're about to fall in this really tasty smelling stew. "
Cassidy blushed as he teased her and he grinned.
" So you cook, you develop serums that cure disease, you break unruly shifters out of lockup...what don't you do?"
" Well Mr Storm, I cook because I love it and science is my passion but I hate bugs and spiders so don't do insects."
Tristan stood close enough to smell the exotic scent she used in her hair and grinned when she rested her head on his chest.
" Doc, just so you know, if you keep breathing I'm gonna kiss you."
" As a doctor, I'm gonna have to say, so kiss me already."
There was no nerves, no hesitation, it was simply...perfect. Tristan's lips caressed hers as she wrapped her arms around his broad back.
" Jesus Doc, you are killing me," he growled in her ear.
" Ditto," was all she could manage.
They straightened when Garrick entered the kitchen and Cassidy blushed.
" Lt, would you please leave the Doc alone, we are starving."
Cassidy grinned as she shooed him out of the kitchen to plate the thick stew.
They gathered around the island in the kitchen and just stared at the food. They hadn't been fed anything substantial in awhile so they were pretty impressed.
" Listen guys, I'm the reason this happened to you, see my mom got sick, cancer...I didn't know what to do and then I started doing some research until I found that shifter blood had the answer. I swear on my mother that I had no idea they were experimenting on people so I'm gonna do everything I can to find a serum that can reverse the effects..."
"No offense, Mrs Storm but I'm ok being a lion. I have never had much in the way of family and truthfully, I think I found that here with my pack. I'm good, I don't need a cure."
Cassidy wiped her eyes quickly as Lance sat down again.
" Same goes for me, ma'am, you told Ferdinand that we would hunt him down if he hurt anybody and everybody here is some kind of military and you're a genius scientist, why don't we go into private security and watch over the shifters we come across make sure nobody gets this against their will." Garrick added.
" If the Alpha agrees, that would be wonderful, Garrick and thank you as well Lance. You are all my family now."
Tristan pulled her o to his lap, she was just too far away from him.
" The Alpha agrees, Cassidy's Alpha definitely agrees. Welcome to Storm pack, boys."