Somewhere in the Massachusetts wilderness – also present day
Magnus Dale was having one of those days!
Where he walked out of one crisis and straight into the next. It had started small. He'd been lightly intoxicated – mixing wolfsbane with a little tequila since it was his nephew's 18th birthday – and had therefore woken up in bed next to a woman whose name he couldn't remember.
She didn't appreciate that and yeah, he felt like an ass…
Then, heading into work with a hangover, he'd had to brake suddenly not to run over some kids on a bike and had spilled coffee all over his uniform.
Scolding hot coffee, he might add.
While changing, his self-appointed secretary – 16-year-old troublemaker Milla and a member of his pack – had announced that he had a call from the MBI. The Magical Bureau of Investigation dealt in everything supernatural. And since he wasn't just an alpha but a Marshal as well, they'd recruited him and his fellow pack members – in a willing or not, sort of way – to be part of their team. To hunt down and eliminate any threat that might disturb the fragile peace between humans and shifters. Although Magnus wonder what type of peace had ever relied on one side being unaware of the other's existence. But he wasn't going to question the powers that be. In the end, he was but one alpha out of hundreds under the MBI's supervision and he wasn't the type of man to challenge the status quo, as long as it worked.
Groaning, he called the MBI back. And the bastards put him on hold for almost an hour. If that wasn't bad enough, all they wanted from him was to go and collect an ex-convict who failed to appear in front of his probation officer. When they'd checked out his apartment it looked like he'd bailed and now it was up to Magnus to catch the criminal.
Magnus knew Tobias Colten all too well. A wizard by blood, but he'd never had any real talent for magic. Which was why his Coven had shunned him and left him to his own devices. Witches were generally devious and sneaky bastards. To make a deal with one of them, you'd better read the fine print twice if you didn't want some kind of spell to blow up in your face. And whatever you asked for, it had to be repaid in blood. Not literally, but since witches harvested magic from powerful emotions – like hate, jealousy, despair, and pain – you'd most likely end up a victim to one of the above.
The alpha marshal hadn't even turned his back to the phone when it rang again. This time it was his actual job that required his attention. A prison riot had resulted in two of the prisoners escaping - humans this time - and he was needed on the scene immediately.
And that's how he and his bear shifter partner had ended up in a cabin in the woods, 20 some hours later, with one escapee cuffed and subdued on the small kitchen floor, while the other was hiding behind a terrified woman, and holding a gun to her head. Magnus didn't want anyone to die that day and was trying his darndest to make sure they all walked out of that cabin without any bloodshed…
Bjorn Larsson – his name meaning "bear" in some scandic language – didn't share his alpha partner's opinions. The escapee was an evil son of a bitch doing time for rape and murder. Who in the world would care if he died? Then again, having his true mate reject him at the tender age of 18 had left its scars on the big man. It had made the bear shifter a rather cold and cynical person to be around on a good day, and on a bad day like today, he was in no mood for bullshit.
He didn't care that he couldn't remember the name of the chick he'd fucked. Hell, he probably didn't even ask. The hangover was cured with more alcohol that barely phased his shifter metabolism. And after tracking through woods and wilderness all night, only to find out that the escapees already had murdered the woman's husbands and had repeatedly raped her, it didn't put him in his most merciful mood…
"Let me just shoot the bastard," Bjorn mumbled under his breath, too low for any human to hear. But since his partner was a wolf shifter, he knew he heard every word. Which only resulted in Magnus leveling him with that "don't you fucking dare"-look before he turned his attention back to the hostage situation.
Bjorn stifled a rumble of annoyance. Why couldn't he just shoot the bastard when he clearly had a clear shot? And hell, save them all the paperwork while he was at it. Yeah, that sounded like a great idea! Just kill the bastard and as if someone had waved a magic wand there was suddenly a shit load less paperwork to do. Of course, then there'd be an investigation where he had to convince some ass in a suit that shooting the suspect had been a last resort and not as an alternative to less paperwork, but he could make it work.
The situation escalated and suddenly the escapee had his gun trailed on Bjorn's best friend and partner. As if it had a will of its own, his finger instantly pulled the trigger and the man dropped to the floor.
Dead.
Magnus moved forward before the body hit the ground, grabbing the woman and – just in case – kicked the gun away from the ex-con. Not that he was likely to rise from the dead since he was human and all, but they couldn't be too careful. With a perfect mixture of tenderness and force that Bjorn could never master, Magnus, guided the woman out of the house, making sure she didn't have to look at her husband's dead body or the convicts. And that left Bjorn to clean up the mess they'd made…
And he wouldn't want it any other way!
"Thanks for having my back," Magnus said, offering his best friend a cup of coffee. The cops and paramedics had shown up, and the situation had calmed a bit. The sun was rising and while they were both tired and had a long road home, at least they still had each other…
"Always," Bjorn answered, and in this case, he meant it. Being rejected by his own clan for some unknown reason as nothing more than a cub, Bjorn knew he wouldn't have made it on his own. Hell, he was 7 and could barely shift yet. If it hadn't been for Magnus and his family, he'd be dead by now. Magnus had found him in the woods one day and although wolves and bears normally didn't get along, Magnus had extended his hand of friendship and they'd been inseparable ever since.
"But you know you could have aimed for his shoulder, right?" Magnus asked and while the tone wasn't condescending or anything, Bjorn still recognized the jab. He groaned. Despite being a year young, his best friend sometimes acted like his grandfather!
"But this way is less paperwork," Bjorn replied, not the least bit ashamed about the admission. Magnus couldn't do anything but roll his eyes at his partner and took a sip from the cup. He probably should remind him that people's lives were more than just paperwork, but he didn't bother. Hell, despite being a year younger, on most days he felt like his best friend's grandfather…
But that's when you get when grownups act like assholes!
Magnus had never figured out what had made Bjorn's clan cast out a child, but he'd never found it in his heart to forgive them either. It had left its marks on the young boy he'd stumbled across in the woods. The feeling of rejection and not being good enough had marked him growing up. And it hadn't made it any better when he met his mate the day after his 18th birthday – and the she-bear rejected him on the spot.
He hoped the bitch choked on the next cock she sucked!
Because of all of this, his partner hasn't the easiest person to be around, but he wouldn't want anyone else by his side. To him, Bjorn was the best friend any wolf or man could want, and he'd give his life for his in a heartbeat…
The clouds overhead were gray when they parked their car outside the offices some 8 or 10 hours later. A second later there was thunder rumbling and as if someone flipped on a switch, the rain started pouring.
"Well, if this just isn't fantastic," Bjorn grumbled and leaned back in his seat, letting out an exhausted sigh. Yeah, Magnus could feel his best friend. Rain this time of year was like the monsoon. When it rained it poured and sometimes a cellar or two would flood, especially if the water came over the riverbanks.
Which meant that whatever hopes they'd had of catching up on some sleep, were slowly being washed away…
"I'll take first watch," Magnus offered and undid his seatbelt. "You can catch some sleep in the meantime."
Bjorn didn't protest. Being a bear shifter meant that the big guy was even more irritable if he didn't get enough sleep. Unlike his wolf partner, who could manage a couple of days without sleep, he just wasn't wired that way…
Magnus kicked the door open and rushed up the porch steps, wanting to get out of the rain. But reaching the last step, he heard something. It was weak and distant, barely audible even to his wolf ears. But it sounded like a cry for help…
Pausing, he spun around, scanning the area. He couldn't see anything unusual and with the rain coming down like this, he couldn't use his nose for shit.
Beside him, Bjorn paused watching him and their surroundings, wondering what had made his partner stop mid-step. There were more effective ways to save water than taking a shower in the middle of a rainstorm.
Magnus was just about to shake off whatever had caught his attention when he heard it again. Snarling he spun and headed back out in the rain, ignoring Bjorn's calls. He followed his instincts that led him to the middle of the road where small rivers had already formed, washing away the dust and grime of the day.
Then he heard it again, but for the life of him, he couldn't pinpoint it…
"Do you hear that?" he called to his partner, who had followed him out into the rain. Bjorn stilled and listened, seeing if he could pick up whatever his partner had. It didn't take long when the small sound fought against the roaring rain.
"Sounds like a cat's drowning," Bjorn concluded, watching his friend with a questioning expression. Bjorn wasn't a cat person. Or a dog person. Hell, he was barely a people's person, as there were a very limited number of people he actually tolerated. Come to think of it, the only animals he did like were the ones he could eat!
Magnus turned and for some strange reason felt compelled to follow the sound. The thought of the cat drowning and dying had his heart clenching uncomfortably in his chest, although he couldn't explain why. He'd rescued animals before, and while gratifying, he never felt like he would die if he couldn't get to them in time.
Like he did now…
Pausing by every drain he came across he finally identified the one where the sound was coming from. His heart jumped and it wasn't until at that moment he realized how hard his heart was beating. Hell, he'd faced off against a murderer with a weapon drawn on him, yet his heart rate hadn't even noticed. But not being able to help this cat and his heart was just about ready to vacate his chest.
What was wrong with him?!
"Take it off!" Magnus growled when he identified the closest storm drain. He was stronger than any human, but even his shifter strength paled in comparison to the pounds a bear shifter could pull by his balls alone.
Bjorn didn't bite or grumble at the command. Although he was a bear he'd grown up with the wolves and had long since accepted Magnus as his alpha – or whatever the equivalent of an alpha was in a bear's point of view.
Magnus would never give him an order he wouldn't follow without question…
With a swift pull, he'd ripped off the drain's lid and watched as Magnus lay flat on his stomach and reached into the drain. As Magnus fumbled with his hands, he couldn't explain the sense of urgency that seemed to seep into the very fabric of his bones. His wolf was pacing in his mind, the animal anxious and desperate. The sound of the small, desperate cries tore at his soul and motivated him to reach in as far as he could.
"Got you!" he exclaimed and instantly relief washed over him when he felt the soft, but drenched fur between his fingers. Although it might hurt the creature at first, he still dug his fingers in and pulled. As expected, the animal panicked but was too weak to fight it. Probably thinking she was going to die, the fight left her, and he was able to pull her out of the sewer.
The small black cat was unlike anything he'd ever seen before. And even without looking, he knew it was a "her", because--- well, he didn't really know how, but the second he laid eyes on her the urgency to save her life and keep her safe seemed to take a life of its own in his chest.
HIS!
Ripping his jacket open, he placed the cat close to his chest. He ignored the cold and the water soaking him. All that mattered was to make sure that the small, black feline made it.
Without conscious though he jumped to his feet and sprinted back to the car. His wolf hearing picked up Bjorn behind him.
"Get to the vet clinic," he shouted, as he headed to the passage seat of the car. Inside he instantly reached for the emergency blanket, trying to keep the poor creature as warm as possible…
"Wolf shifter alpha and decorated US Marshal," Bjorn snickered as he got into the driver seat, water dripping from every lock of his ruffled hair. "Now also rescues drowning kittens. If the ladies weren't already tripping over themselves to fuck you, I'd say you were trying to impress someone. Hell, the old lady across the street might have dropped her panties when you pulled out that kitty."
"Shut up and drive!" Magnus snarled back, not in the mood for his partner's snarky remarks. He couldn't explain the urgency and the need he felt to save the poor creature but thinking about loosing her, felt like someone had sat his soul on fire.
Whatever it took, he HAD to save her!
Bjorn, realizing that his partner was completely serious about this, dropped his playful demeanor and started the engine. Flooring it, he got them to the vet clinic at breakneck speed. All while Magnus held the cat close to his chest, doing everything he could to keep her warm. And with everything he had in him, sending a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess that she'd make it.
Though for the life of him, he didn't understand why…