It was almost too easy to slide into that skin, to let the Leopard run hard and fast. He needed the break from the anxiety he felt as a man.

When he came out of the woods and padded up to the open gate of the Mansion, he spotted the smoke rising from the chimneys of the log cabins far away, in the Western village.

Ezekiel prowled through the open field next to the front patio. Closed Lilly’s and slowly drying verdant grass tangled in the breeze. Though the leopard would have normally stopped to scent mark and rub its self against the posts of his home tonight the leopard stalked straight to the door. As he came to his front porch, the leopard once more surrendered control.

Fur wilted away to cloth, and joints and bones shifted. Teeth and eyes shrunk and Ezekiel was standing in his mortal flesh once more. Then with some trepidation, the Guardian began to ascend the steps to the entrance. He felt unease as he went which was compounded by his somber thoughts.

It was nearly impossible not to go somewhere in his home or around it and not think about Brandon.

Even simply looking at the Porch was enough to remind Ezekiel of the first time that Brandon had kissed him. The first time the Druid had openly wanted him back.

It was the first night of the Clan Celebration.

With the smoky heat of barbeque sauce on their tongues and the heady buzz of Sunset in their systems, Brandon had pushed him up against the wall beside the door in the darkness and stolen a sweet sensual kiss. The urge to see him or touch him was a painful squeeze on his heart as Ezekiel pushed the memory away.

In its place rose the painful cutting burning sensation of feeling Brandon’s painful power sapping his energy, driving him into

unconscious agony as the Druid attacked him.

The beast in him, his leopard seemed to mewl and cry out, its sorrow chiming through Ezekiel like a knife through butter, nearly making him shudder to realize just how disturbed he and his Leopard were by Brandon’s actions against them. The unspoken sorrow that swirled in both of their souls that their Mate had hurt them.

He was just scared. He didn’t know what his actions could mean...he didn't mean to hurt you...

Ezkeiel offered to his beast, hoping half-heartedly to convince himself of his own words. The Shifter touched his heart feeling the pangs of disquiet inside as his agitated other side clambered around inside of his soul in distraught.

Listen to me! Brandon didn’t mean to hurt us... I know it!

But his Leopard just continued to yawl at the painful memory....at the actions of their Mate that felt intensely close to a rejection. A rejection of the Mate Bond.

In fact any sane shifter would have taken being attacked and left behind by their Mate as a clear rejection that couldn’t be denied...and yet Ezkeiel didn't want to let that harsh reality become his truth. The truth he had feared all of his life as a Reaver having been shunned by so so many.

The reality was that his Mate didn’t want him. That just as all others had before him Brandon had turned away from the diseased dangerous Reaver and left him to die alone...and that Ezekiel had been a fool to trust that anyone could love a sickly beast like him.

Painful and resentful thoughts tested his mind making Ezekiel glad that he hadn’t made a true fool of himself on the night of the Rite and tried to seal the Mate Bond with a man who didn't want him. A man who shouldn't have wanted him to begin with.

And yet somehow it was also the thoughts of Brandon kissing him, caressing and smiling at him in their passionate moments, his alluring gossamer eyes gleaming with need and love that made Ezekiel hate himself for not telling Brandon about their true connection.

And it was these memories that pushed away the resentment of being betrayed and abandoned and hurt. It was these memories that gave Ezekiel and his forlorn beast hope that their Mate hadn’t rejected them after all....and that even though Brandon left him behind the Druid still loved him. And would accept the Reaver as his Mate.

Struggling to keep his mind on anything except for Brandon Ezekiel marched into the front parlor letting the door close behind him.

He shook any grasses off himself as he walked past the stairs, turned to the right and followed that hallway to the meeting hall. His senses picked up the squabble of voices he both recognized and didn’t. The large wooden doors were wide open and as he came further into the room he soon spotted his Mother, Father, and all of his Brothers sitting on one side of the meeting table.

Sitting opposite his family was a group of five people that Ezekiel had never seen before. But even though he couldn’t place even one of the stranger’s faces Ezekiel instantly recognized their scents. Scents that made his neckle raise and his teeth grit as his fangs itched to grow long with feral anger.

They were Shifters.

All of them were Lion Shifters.

*All right, so there’s the update! What do you think the Lions want?