Her Pact

Part 2

Chapter 2

Slamming the door, he turned away from it.  He needed to find Ally and she what she was up to before he let Charlie into their home.  His feet started towards the rooms, but when he heard the laughing from the living room, his eyes narrowed.  Had she snuck past him while he answered the door?  His question was soon answered when he rounded the corner and she sat there, and Zoë, Noah, and Jesse all lay out on the ground beside her. 

“Ally-Cat,” he growled, getting a growl in return.

She glared at him before picking Noah up.  “It’s okay,” she cooed.  “He’s just being Zeke.  He growls at everyone; don’t take it personal.”

“He doesn’t know what you’re saying,” Zeke started.  “He’s only two months old.”

“Don’t underestimate them,” Seb said lightly.  “We don’t know how they will develop.  We don’t know what they will be able to do when they can finally shift, or when the shift will be.  Do we even know a black leopard shifter who was put under normal conditions?”

Zeke hesitated, seeing the logic in Sebastian’s words, but not liking it.  Ally had been with a crew who treated her poorly.  She shifted late, but he had already come to the conclusion it was because of how she was treated.  If people do not trust those around them, it is almost impossible for them to shift.  With Ally, she had defied all logic and did so anyway. 

Sebastian was only one fourth black leopard, and the only reason why he shifted was that Zeke forced him into it.  Sebastian was with Ally when he shifted, though; he was shifting for Ally.  Nothing brought out such a strong change then the protective side of someone. 

Blake, Zeke had no idea how old Blake was when he shifted, but he was only half black leopard and half snow leopard.  The odds of knowing what the normal for them was out of the question.  Sure, Zeke could find the answer, but when it was so hidden, what was the point?  There would only be one other shifter with the same genetic makeup as Blake, and that was Korbin.  Zeke already had eyes on the boy.  He would know when something out of the norm happened.

“Zeke,” Ally snapped, and he knew she had been trying to get his attention for some time.

Half of his mouth rose in a small smile, and she immediately shook her head at him with a matching smile.  “Yeah, Ally-Cat?”

“Did you let our guest in?”

“You see,” he said while scratching the back of his head, “I needed to make sure it was the right person before I let them in.  Was it the right person, Ally?”

“Yep,” she replied, her smile growing larger.

Zeke took a step towards her with narrowed eyes.  “I can’t hear Charlie.”

“You can’t hear a lot of people, Zeke,” she mocked.

“Those people are snow leopards.  There is a reason I cannot hear them; they have blocks, and I know what that feels like.  That, that person out there,” he said while motioning towards the door, “does not have a block.  What is that?”

“I think I should explain that,” someone said from behind him.

His body moved without him thinking, and before anyone knew what was happening, he had the person pinned to the wall.  Charlie looked up at him with a blank expression.  The forearm that was pressed to Charlie’s neck eased a little.  “You shouldn’t sneak up on people.”

“Normal people wouldn’t automatically go on the attack.”

Zeke shrugged unapologetically.  “I’m not a normal person, and this room is filled with the people I love the most, makes me a little overprotective at times.”

“A little?” Ally said from behind him with a chuckle.  “A little would not be an understatement.  Let Charlie go.”

He eased completely off Charlie with a nod.  “Do you make it a habit of entering people’s homes without permission?”

“I had permission,” Charlie shot back; chin held high as if daring Zeke to say differently.

Ally cleared her throat, making Zeke look back at her.  She pointed to her temple.  “I gave permission.  I’m guessing the two of you have already met?”

“Yes,” Zeke answered while Seb shook his head.

Taking a step forward, Sebastian held his hand out.  “Nice to finally meet you.  I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Same,” Charlie replied, shaking his hand before dropping it. “Sebastian, right?”

“Yep,” Seb said with a large smile, “and can I thank you really quick?”

“For what?” Charlie asked in confusion.

Ally let out a laugh as confusion crossed Charlie’s face.  Amusement flashed in Sebastian’s eyes as he looked at Zeke.  “He expected you to be a man.  I think he was surprised to find a female at the door.”

Zeke kept his expression neutral, but inside, questions flew through him.  Why could Ally talk to Charlie, but he couldn’t?  Why did the silent Andrew perk up when Charlie walked into the room, as if he knew something no one else did?

Charlie laughed, her eyes sparkling in amusement.  “That would explain the slammed door in my face.”

She glanced towards him, but when Andrew began walking across the room, her eyes snapped towards him.  Andrew tilted his head at her, but made his way towards Ally.  He settled on the ground, next to her and the children.  Zeke watched the two face each other in silence, Ally nodding her head every once in a while, and knew they were having a silent conversation.  Suddenly, Andrew smiled and pulled her into a light hug, being careful of Noah in her arms. 

Jumping to his feet, he walked towards Charlie with the same large smile.  “Hi,” he started, shocking Zeke, “I’m Andrew.”

Zeke waited for the dazed look, the complete adoration to cross Charlie’s face, but nothing happened.  “Nice to meet you,” she answered with a smile.  “I’m guessing you know what I am?”

Andrew nodded.  “Yeah, I have to admit its nice being able to talk without worrying about you.”

Charlie motioned behind him at Ally, Zoë, and Jesse.  “Doesn’t affect them?”

“Not the royal family,” Andrew answered before stepping away from her.  “Have fun with him,” Andrew said.  “It’s not often that he doesn’t know what is happening.”

Zeke glared at Andrew, but the man just smiled, used to his brooding.  Watching as Andrew made his way across the room once more and settled next to Ally, Zeke wondered what it was that everyone knew that he didn’t. 

“Should I tell him?” Charlie asked, making Zeke look at her.

It was a mistake, because as soon as he glanced over, their eyes connected, and her face softened slightly.  Zeke shook his head at her before turning towards an amused Sebastian, who was nodding his head.  “Go ahead and tell him.  He’ll read everyone until he finds out anyway.”

“True,” Charlie mumbled, but Zeke refused to look at her.  “I’m a buffer,” she told him.

He couldn’t help himself.  His eyes locked on her.  “There hasn’t been one of those in a while.”

“True,” she replied with a shrug, “but that is what I am.”

“No magic affects you at all?”

“Nope,” she answered, “nor does it affect anyone I may be touching at that time.”

“Prove it.”

She took a step forward and placed her hand on his arm.  The buzzing in his head from the minds around him disappeared, and the pain still lingering from earlier ended.  It was completely silent, completely normal, and Zeke didn’t know what to do about it.  Jerking his arm away from her grip, he narrowed his eyes on her.  “Do not touch me,” he growled before turning his back on her.  Leaving the room, he felt a small amount of guilt flow through him, but he pushed it away. 

The buzz returned, the pain eased back, and he was himself again.  Was that what he wanted though?  Yes, he told himself.  This was what he wanted, who he was, and nothing was going to change that.