On the Road: We always find what we’re looking
for in the last place we look.

At nearly three centuries old, Diego Tamang
decides to take a more proactive approach to
finding his mate. He walks away from leading his
pack, so he can travel with Kontra Belikov and his
shifter motorcycle gang. His decision pays off
when he walks into a backwater town’s diner and
scents his mate, Zachary Young. Quickly making
his intentions clear, Diego wonders what will be
harder to overcome—Zachary’s young age, or his
mother’s clearly displeased attitude. It turns out,
neither, for soon Diego discovers that witches may
have caused Zachary’s injury, which forces him to
use a cane…and Zachary doesn’t know he’s a
shifter. Can Diego ease his young lover into the
paranormal world while keeping him safe from
those that would do him harm?

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Please purchase only authorized electronic editions,
and do not participate in or encourage the electronic
piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the
author’s rights is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places, and incidents either are products of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
resemblance to actual events or locales or persons,
living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

ISBN: 978-1-4874-0076-7

Cover art by Carmen Waters

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reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or
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Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Kontra’s Menagerie: Book Twenty

Charlie Richards

Dedication

To Zach, who wanted to see his name in a book.

Chapter One

ook what I found.” Diego Tamang dropped
the information card on the table and eased

onto the bench seat next to Chip Medina.

The group of shifters, led by Kontra Belikov,

had stopped at the side of the road diner for lunch
after gassing up their motorcycles. Their group of
over a dozen and a half men was spread out over
three tables.

Chip, a small bobcat shifter, had taken his

mate’s last name when he’d bonded with the lion
shifter, Grimes Medina. Lamar Jaworski sat on
Grimes’ other side. The peacock shifter had mated
with the human Rueben Malone.

Ryan Carpenter, the human in the final couple

at their table, leaned forward and grabbed the
four-inch by eight-inch piece of cardboard. “Oh,
skydiving.” He smirked. “I did plenty of that in
the military.”

“Skydiving?” Sam Abbott rumbled, plucking

the card from his mate’s fingers. He read it,
frowning. Finally, he scowled at Diego

“L

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incredulously. “Why the fuck would you want to
do something like that?”

With seven men, most of them fairly large,

packing into the U-shaped booth, there wasn’t a
lot of room. Good thing they were all pretty
friendly with each other. As a close-knit group of
shifters, Diego actually felt like the odd man out.
The other six men at the table were mated couples.
In addition, while he hadn’t been the last to join
their merry gang, Diego had done it for the sole
purpose of walking away from his own pack,
which he’d led for nearly a century. He didn’t
really feel as if Kontra was his leader, but he did
respect the man.

Diego chuckled, leaning back in his seat and

smirking at the others around the table. “Isn’t
skydiving on any of your bucket lists,” he teased.
“You gonna show me proper techniques, Ryan?”
he asked. He should have known the ex-military
man would have experience in jumping out of
airplanes. “I haven’t been up in almost a decade.”

“I suppose,” Ryan replied. He looked toward

Sam and seemed to note his stricken look.
Grinning, he patted Sam’s hand where it rested on
the table, still holding the card about the activity.
“Easy, handsome,” he soothed. “I’ve done it
plenty of times. I can even vet the facilities. If
they’re not up to par, I won’t let anyone in our
pack step foot in their planes.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Sam curled his lip. “The idea of jumping out of

a perfectly good airplane—” The massive bull
shifter cut himself off and shook his head. “I don’t
understand it.”

“I wanna try it,” Chip whispered.
Everyone turned to stare at the usually shy

shifter.

“You do?” Grimes asked, his dark brows

shooting up to his hairline. “You want to
skydive?”

Chip nodded. “Uh, huh.” Tentatively, he

reached out to Sam, who relinquished the flyer to
him. Chip stared at it raptly, his eyes moving over
the card, indicating that he was reading.

Lamar smiled faintly. “It seems those who are

earthbound do have a fascination with flying. I’ve
done my fair share of falling,” he admitted
depreciatively. “I’ll sit this activity out.”

Taking Lamar’s hand in his own, Rueben

brought it to his lips and kissed it. He winked. “I’ll
go. I love it.”

“You’ve skydived?” Ryan asked, leaning

against the cushioned back and laying his arm
along the back. He threaded his fingers through
his lover’s short hair, earning him a grin from
Sam. “How long ago?”

Rueben scratched his chin. “Uh, right before my

last season started,” he told them. Grinning, he
added, “It was some place in Mexico. Couldn’t

Charlie Richards

have my coaches finding out. They would have
benched me.”

“They would? Why?” Ryan asked, curious.
“Liability issues,” Rueben explained. “I was

being paid to stay healthy. Dangerous activities
were, uh…severely frowned upon.”

Lamar smirked. “No. Instead, you broke your

ankle while playing hockey.”

Rueben grinned widely, his eyes sparkling.

Lifting Lamar’s hand to his lips again, he
murmured, “It brought me to you.”

Diego turned away from the mushy couple,

feeling equal parts jealous and equal parts
uncomfortable. While he wanted his mate—and
truth be told, he didn’t care if it turned out to be a
guy—Diego hadn’t been around such openly
expressive men in a relationship. It was refreshing,
sort of.

The approach of a very tired-looking, middle-

aged waitress drew Diego’s attention. “Afternoon,
Gentlemen,” she greeted. Order pad in one hand
and pen poised in the other, she smiled around at
them all. To her credit, she didn’t even blink an
eyelash at how Ryan played with Sam’s hair and
the way Rueben still held Lamar’s hand and gazed
lovingly at him. “Have ya’ll decided or do you
need another minute?”

“Hey, darling,” Diego greeted, smiling up at

her. “I know we crashed the serenity of your
diner. How can we make this easy for you?”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Connie, according to her name badge, gave

them a wry smile. “We make a fine bacon
cheeseburger. How about ya’ll order that and fries
and put it all on one tab?”

Rueben snorted. “Sweet woman, you read my

mind.”

Diego chuckled, glancing around at the other

men as they nodded. Grimes held up two fingers
as did Sam. He turned back to the now amused
waitress. “How about you whip up ten bacon
cheeseburgers for the table, tack on a never-ending
bucket of fries, and bring the tab to me?”

Her brows shooting up and her eyes sparkling,

even through the fatigue, Connie smiled. “I can
certainly do that.” She jotted a note on the pad,
then stuck her pen behind her ear and the pad in
her apron. “I’ll have the first bucket of fries out to
ya’ll in a jiffy,” she promised before turning away.

Relaxing in the booth, Diego inhaled deeply

and sighed. An interesting scent tickled his senses
and he cocked his head. Diego breathed deeply.
He differentiated between the smells permeating
the diner, picking up the distinct muskiness of a
male, a fragrant odor that reminded him of freshly
mown

grass,

well

something

else…something almost…acrid.

Still, that didn’t detract from the wonderfulness

of the first two scents.

Diego slowly scanned the occupants of the

diner, his gaze roving over everyone. Other than

Charlie Richards

the tables filled by their gang, there were four
occupied tables.

A man, a woman, and two young kids,

obviously a family, occupied the furthest booth on
the other side of the diner. Another table
contained a pair of men leaning over the table and
looking at what might have been a tablet. Diego
focused on them and realized they were
discussing local hiking options.

A woman and a young man occupied still

another table. The smiling, slightly plump
brunette appeared to be in her early forties and
wore a pale green and blue, floral, sundress,
which set off her lightly tanned skin nicely. It
made a striking contrast to the young man sitting
across from her, since he had pale, almost
alabaster skin, black hair, and a slender frame.
From his smile and the way he waved his hands as
he spoke, Diego pegged him as late teens or early
twenties.

The final table’s occupants were three women.

Given the earthy base of the scent, he knew it
wouldn’t be them. Since the scent had
strengthened over the last couple of minutes,
causing his cock to plump in his jeans, he knew
the stranger had to be in the room and not just a
scent carried on another’s fabric. The male’s odor
was strong enough to circulate through the diner’s
air ducts.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Unfortunately, from this distance, Diego

couldn’t tell which male gave off the enticing
aroma. More than willing to make a fool of himself
in the face of finding his mate, Diego rose to his
feet.

At Sam’s questioning look, he grinned at

Kontra’s beta. “Be right back. Got something I
need to check out.”

Just then, Connie arrived with a massive platter

of fries and a number of small plates, setting them
on the table.

Rueben wasted no time reaching out and

snagging a few. He shoved them into his mouth,
then spoke around his mouthful. “Won’t save you
any.”

Scoffing, Diego reached out and took a couple

of fries of his own. “That’s why I asked for never-
ending,” he stated before popping the salty, fried
potatoes into his mouth. With a wink, he turned
away and started moving slowly through the
diner.

Diego scented discreetly as he strolled past the

other guys. He couldn’t help but note that the
hostess had placed all the shifters on the far side of
the diner, away from all the other patrons.

Biker stereotypes die-hard.
Keeping his gate loose and slow, Diego ignored

the women and focused on the pair of men eating
across from them. He scented them discreetly as

Charlie Richards

he kept moving. While both men were attractive,
neither was the source of the smell.

That leaves the teenager and the father. Either

robbing the cradle or breaking up a marriage. Damn.

Heading that way, Diego discreetly glanced

between the two tables. As he wandered past the
table with the young man and woman—mother,
maybe—Diego inhaled deeply…and just about
moaned. The amazing aroma of a freshly mown
lawn mingled with male musky goodness. This
close, with the knowledge that he stood just a few
paces from his mate hammering through him,
Diego hardly noticed the odd acrid scent that
seemed to intertwine with the young male’s.

And young is right. Now that he was closer,

Diego couldn’t even be certain his mate was legal!

Still, if Fate had granted him an underage mate,

Diego could wait. He’d waited almost three
hundred years. What was a few more? Besides,
after so many years watching shifters age, it
wasn’t as if he was the best judge of humans,
anyway.

Just gotta get the man’s attention. Read his response

to me.

Pausing beside the table, Diego lowered to one

knee and reached for his laces. One quick yank
had his motorcycle boot untied. He hummed,
purposefully loud, just to get the people’s
attention. The woman looked at him with her eyes
narrowed. The young man, however, swept his

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

gaze over Diego’s form quickly, then returned his
focus to his menu as a bit of a flushed hue crept
over his pale cheeks.

Diego heard the man’s heart rate increase.

Perfect.
Glancing up at them, Diego remained in

position, gripping his laces. “Sorry. You know
how some laces just seem to come untied no
matter how tight you make them? I think it’s this
waxy coating,” he continued. Grinning, he fixed
his gaze on the young man, staring into the guy’s
deep brown eyes. “Guess it’s time to replace
them.”

The young man peered at him through his

lashes, a small smile toying at his lips. “Y-Yeah.
Guess so.”

Diego slid his gaze down his mate’s seated

form, just managing to keep from swallowing his
tongue. The guy wore a form-fitting, blue polo
shirt and black fitted jeans. On his feet, he wore
comfortable walking shoes.

Nice.
“Looks like you get the right kind of laces. The

flat ones never seem to come untied,” Diego
commented. “Maybe you’d be willing to show me
where you get them?”

“Uh, I shop at the local store around the

corner,” the man said.

Charlie Richards

Slowly rising to his feet, Diego smiled at the

man and held out his hand. “Diego Tamang. Does
this mean you’ll show me?”

The man started to reach out to him. “Z—”
“Back off, perv,” the woman snapped. “Hands

off my son.” She actually reached out and
smacked at Diego’s offered hand.

Grinning widely—hell, he’d known it’d been a

risk to ignore the possible mother—Diego turned
to the woman. He held out his hands, palms up in
the universal I mean no harm gesture. “My
apologies. Your son is truly a stunning man.” He
risked a glance toward Z—for lack of a better
name. “Surely you’ve seen him hit on before?”

“Even if you were a woman, it wouldn’t be

appropriate,” she snarled. “Just how old are you?”

Since there was no way Diego planned to reveal

that he was a little under three hundred years old,
instead, he stated, “My apologies. I assumed your
son was over eighteen.” He backed away a step. “I
wish you both the best.”

With that, Diego resumed his walk down the

aisle toward the men’s room.

Diego just hid a smile when his sensitive

hearing picked up the sound of a chair scraping on
wood. There was an odd click-click that he couldn’t
place, almost drowned out by the woman
snapping, “Where are you going?”

“Order me a club sandwich,” the young man’s

voice replied. “I need to pee and take my pills.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

“Are you not feeling well?” the woman quickly

asked, expressing alarm.

“I’ll be fine,” Z immediately replied.

Pills? What?
While Diego wondered what his mate referred

to, he kept moving. Once he’d slipped into the
bathroom, he scanned the area. Empty. Good. He
stepped sideways and waited patiently.

Diego watched as the door opened. The young

black-haired male slowly entered, his weight
shifting between a sturdy-appearing left leg and a
very fancy looking, three-toed cane. While that
gave Diego pause, reminding him of the man’s
mention of medicine, it wasn’t enough to stop him
from gently tugging the male into his arms.

“How old are you?” Diego blurted out.
The guy grinned. “What? No longer interested

in my name?”

Diego chuckled and nodded. “I do plan to find

that out, too, but first, I need to know you’re of
age. I can wait if you’re not.” He probably
shouldn’t have mentioned that last part, since it
made him come across as a stalker, but too late.

Fortunately, the guy just chuckled and

breathlessly replied, “I’m twenty-two and I’m
Zachary Young. Pleased to meet you.”

“Most definitely pleased,” Diego responded.

“I’m Diego Tamang, and you are the sexiest thing
I’ve seen in years.” He crooned the last few words,
lowering his head and rubbing his lips up the

Charlie Richards

guy’s long, lean neck. He inhaled Zachary’s light,
grassy fragrance. It reminded him of the perfect
savannah—grass, animals, and dirt.

Wait. What is that?
Diego inhaled again, using his many years of

experience to differentiate the scents. Seconds
later, he jerked his head up. His jaw sagged open
for a second right before he snapped it closed
again as he realized what the pungent acrid odor
had hidden.

“You’re a shifter!”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Chapter Two

achary Young’s heart raced, thudding hard in
his chest. In all his twenty-two years, he’d

never been so turned on or felt his cock so hard.
Even when he’d first figured out what his dick
was for and fucked anyone willing. Something
about the burly biker got his motor running,
especially with the way he aggressively pressed
against him.

Zachary had dated the occasional girl in high

school. Then, when Paul Brown, captain of the
football team, had tugged him into a janitor’s
closet and kissed the every-loving breath out of
him, he’d realized he enjoyed being with guys so
much more.

That had opened a whole new world for him.
While Zachary hadn’t had the heart to leave his

mother alone to go away to college, he’d still taken
advantage of the local community college. There,
he’d met a few like-minded men and played
around quite a bit.

Charlie Richards

Diego, though, the way he’d looked at Zachary

so blatantly, a shiver worked through him just at
the memory. There had been no mistaking his
interest. His confidence called to Zachary in a way
he’d never experienced.

Zachary released the handle of his cane,

somehow trusting that Diego wouldn’t allow him
to fall. Lifting his hands, he slid them under the
leather jacket the big man wore and rested his
palms on Diego’s chest.

At approximately six foot three, with a body

built like a brick shit house, Diego probably had
muscles upon muscles. Zachary really wanted to
strip those black, painted on jeans from his legs.
Was Diego hairy? Did he have scars? Tattoos?

That’d be yummy. I could trace them, lick them.
Zachary wanted to find out.
Then the man’s comment registered. “Huh?

What’s a shifter? What are you talking about?”
Zachary asked. He scowled at the confused
expression that crossed the man’s face. “What?”

“Don’t you have a herd?”
Diego dipped his head and sniffed deeply at

Zachary’s neck. Tilting instinctively, Zachary
hoped the man would kiss his neck, maybe lick,
and nip it. Yeah, that’d feel good. “A herd?” The
way the man’s nose rubbed along his neck, how
the short hairs of his beard tickled, made it hard to
think.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

“Yes,” Diego hissed softly. “You smell of fresh

mown lawns and the soft musk of man. You must
be a herd animal. What are you?”

Now, confusion flooded Zachary. “I-I don’t

know what you’re talking about,” he whispered.
“I’m just me.”

“How is that possible?” Diego growled. Much

to Zachary’s disappointment, he lifted his head
and frowned down at him. “You say you’re
twenty-two. You should have gone through your
first shift long ago.” Then, his eyes narrowed as he
peered at the cane standing on its own off to the
side. “How were you injured? When?”

Zachary really didn’t want to discuss his

handicap. “Just had an accident,” he stated
dismissively, rubbing his palms over Diego’s
chest, tweaking the beaded nubs through the t-
shirt. “Can we get back to having some quick fun?
We don’t have a lot of time.”

“You are right,” Diego replied gruffly, but

instead of resuming his wet kisses along Zachary’s
neck, he eased away from him. His large hands
gripped Zachary’s upper arms, holding him
steady. Diego put several inches between them as
he said, “I won’t have our first time together
rushed in a dirty bathroom.”

His brows drawing together, Zachary asked,

“Why not? Surely you’ve fucked in worse places.”

Diego chuckled, the sound sending shivers

through Zachary’s body. “Oh, sweet thing. You

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are not just some trick I plan to forget the next
day.” His eyes narrowed. “This surprises you.”

Zachary didn’t bother trying to hide his

reaction. Diego seemed far too perceptive for
Zachary to hide much from him anyway. Maybe it
had to do with the guy’s obvious years on him. He
guessed the dark-haired man had to be around
forty or so.

Rolling a shoulder in a shrug, Zachary reached

out and gripped his cane with his right hand.
“What exactly did you have in mind?” he asked
worriedly.

“Awe, fear not, Zach,” Diego purred, the sound

seeming to come from deep in his throat. His dark
eyes blazed with obvious heat. He reached down
and adjusted himself, drawing Zachary’s attention
to the thick ridge filling his fly, before returning
his hand to Zachary’s upper arm. “I’ll show you
things you’ve never imagined.”

For some reason, Zachary could believe that.

The self-assured man certainly didn’t seem lacking
in the dick department if the size of the bulge
behind his fly was any indicator. “Damn. That’s
gonna need a lot of lube.”

Diego chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure

you’re plenty prepared.” He winked. “Why do
you think I want to take my time?” Rubbing his
thumbs along the muscle of Zachary’s upper arms
in a gentle massage, he stated, “I suppose now I
need to ask if you’re out with your mother?”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

“Uh, sort of,” Zachary responded, grimacing.
“I don’t know what that means,” Diego stated

bluntly. “But I’m far too old to be anyone’s dirty
little secret. If you’re not ready to date me openly,
then I’ll back off.”

Zachary felt the blood drain from his face. He

didn’t know why, but that idea caused his pulse to
pound in his veins and his head to spin. “No,” he
quickly denied. “It means she’s in denial and
thinks that all I need is to meet the right woman.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ve never denied anyone I
dated.”

“Good,” Diego responded. “You have a cell

phone?” he asked, holding out his hand
expectantly.

Nodding, Zachary pulled it from his belt clip

and handed his phone over. He watched as Diego
punched a few buttons, betraying his experience
with technology. Zachary found himself
impressed, even though he knew it was a
stereotype that older people weren’t as
comfortable with it.

Diego handed the phone back. “I’ve entered my

number and called myself.” He winked. “So, now
I have your number, too. What’s your address?”

Zachary rattled off his home information

without hesitation. He realized that was actually
odd, because he knew nothing about the man and
had never been so trusting with another. It was

Charlie Richards

even stranger considering Diego’s confusing
comments earlier.

“Why do I trust you?” Zachary blurted out.
Diego smiled and cupped his jaw. He rubbed

his thumb over Zachary’s bottom lip once, twice,
then stated, “I’m not certain why you don’t
understand what you are, but I’ll explain
everything when we’re alone.” Then, he glanced
around the bathroom. “And not in danger of being
walked in on at any moment.”

When Diego leaned forward again, Zachary

found himself pinned by the bigger man’s gaze.
Unable to move, he just watched as Diego closed
the distance between their mouths. Diego’s lips
were warm and just a little bit rough, like the biker
himself, and moved against Zachary’s own with a
gentle mastery.

Diego teased at his bottom lip, working it for a

few seconds before licking along the lower edge.
He followed that by nipping the flesh, then
sucking on it, soothing the mild sting. When Diego
finally got around to probing Zachary’s mouth, he
opened quickly, accepting Diego’s mobile
appendage.

Zachary’s dick ached in his jeans as he licked at

Diego’s invading tongue. He wanted to step
forward, fit his groin against the taller man’s
thigh, and apply pressure to his cock. At some
point, though, Diego had placed his second hand
on Zachary’s waist, holding him steady.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Finally, Diego broke the kiss and pulled away.

He grinned down at him, the rosy hue of his lips
just showing beneath his neatly trimmed beard.
“Now,” Diego murmured, his dark eyes
twinkling. “I’ll pick you up at six tonight.”

“O-Okay,” Zachary responded. “Six.”
Diego nodded, releasing him as he stepped

backward.

Zachary watched in silence, his breath coming

in harsh pants. His heart hammered in his chest as
Diego walked around him and left the bathroom.
Reaching down and cupping his cock, Zachary
whimpered at the mix of pleasure and pain
radiating through him.

“Fucking cock tease,” he grumbled.
After adjusting his hard prick to a more

comfortable position, Zachary took several deep
breaths. While tempted to go into a bathroom stall
and jack off, he wanted to be primed for what he
felt certain was going to be a fantastic date, too.
He wondered if he could convince Diego to fuck
him more than once tonight. His hole clenched,
remembering the size of the bulge in Diego’s
groin.

That would feel so good.
Realizing those thoughts weren’t helping his

aroused state at all, Zachary focused on something
else. He thought about going out and facing his
mother. That caused his erection to deflate quickly
enough.

Charlie Richards

Zachary made his way out of the bathroom and

back to his table. He noted the food had arrived
while he’d been away and his mother, Esmeralda,
hadn’t touched her chicken Caesar salad, yet. He
could tell by how the chicken was still positioned
in thin, even strips across the top.

Esmeralda eyed him with a pinched expression.

She didn’t even wait for him to ease into his seat
and fold up his cane before she asked, “I saw that
biker leave the bathroom. He give you any more
trouble?”

Placing his napkin over his lap, Zachary

decided just to bite the bullet. He’d said he’d
never denied a date, and he sure as hell wasn’t
going to start with the studly biker. “Diego asked
me out on a date,” he stated, picking up one
corner of his club sandwich. “He’s picking me up
at six.”

Gaping, Esmeralda squeaked for a second, then

snapped her mouth shut. She folded her hands on
the table, her knuckles white with how tight she
held them. Leaning forward, she hissed, “You
already know how I feel about him. You were
such a good son growing up. Is this some kind of
delayed acting out?”

Zachary swallowed his bite and held his

mother’s gaze steadily. Seeing the real hurt,
confusion, and even concern in her tired green
eyes, he offered a reassuring smile. “Mom, this is

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

not some rebellious streak. You’ve known for
years that I’m interested in men.”

Taking a chance, Zachary glanced Diego’s way.

The man sat with his back to him, allowing him to
sweep his gaze over his broad-shouldered,
slender-waisted form without seeing the heat he
knew would be in the guy’s eyes. Then, he
returned his focus to his mother.

“Mom, I know there’s a stigma about people

who ride in a motorcycle gang, so let’s just set that
aside for the moment.” He shot another glance
Diego’s way. “Just look at the man. He’s clean-cut,
nicely groomed, and obviously takes care of
himself, judging by the hard lines and muscles on
his body.”

Zachary cleared his throat, shifting in his seat.

While he felt a bit uncomfortable discussing a
date’s attributes, he hoped his mom would at least
admit Diego’s appeal.

Esmeralda looked toward the man, then

returned her focus to Zachary. “But, he’s so much
older than you!” she pointed out.

“Age is just a number,” Zachary stated, smiling.

“Isn’t that what you keep reminding me every
time your birthday rolls around?”

“Well, that’s different,” Esmeralda stated

indignantly. At least, she picked up her silverware
and started eating.

Zachary had just started to hope that’d be the

end of it when his mother swallowed her bite of

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food and murmured sadly, “I’d really hoped some
nice girl would catch your eye.”

Zachary swallowed the last bite of his sandwich

corner, then picked up his glass of soda and took a
swig. Finally, he shrugged and commented, “I
know all the girls around here. Not much chance
of that.”

“Maybe you should consider letting your Aunt

Oolanna set you up,” Esmeralda pressed, bringing
up her sister. “She says girls from out of town visit
her meetings all the time.”

Zachary knew his aunt practiced Wicca and

often participated with other like-minded women.
His aunt always said the right things and acted the
right way while they were with his mother, but
seemed almost wary of him when alone together.
Zachary didn’t get it and he couldn’t imagine her
actually wanting to set him up with any of her
friends.

Shaking his head, Zachary picked up a fry and

dipped it in ketchup. “I don’t think so,” he stated
before shoving the food into his mouth.

Avoiding further attempts to change his mind,

Zachary changed the subject, asking his mother
about her work as a nurse and her schedule for the
week.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Chapter Three

iego rolled his Harley to a stop in front of a
small cottage style home tucked back in the

trees. The driveway had been a good hundred
yards, the house standing in a decent size clearing
with trees all around, hiding it from the road.
Overall, he thought it cozy.

After cutting the motor, Diego swung off the

bike and pulled his helmet from his head. He
rested the helmet on the handlebars and smoothed
his hand over his head. Checking to make certain
his hair band hadn’t become loose, Diego
confirmed his hair remained tied at his nape.
While he’d changed into a clean shirt and blue
jeans, he still wore his black leather jacket and
motorcycle boots.

When he’d walked out of the restaurant earlier,

Payson—a hyena shifter known for his
scientifically altered sense of smell—had leaned
close and sniffed him. Wrinkling his nose, he’d
scowled.

Charlie Richards

“Who’d you brush against?” Payson had asked.

“He smells…off.”

Diego had explained that he’d located his mate

in Zachary Young and that he’d walked with a
limp and a cane. He didn’t know why. Plus, on
top of that, his mate smelled like a shifter, but he
was in his twenties and had never shifted.

Having evidently overheard, Eli, the gang’s

doctor had stepped up next to him and discreetly
sniffed him. With narrowed eyes, he’d asked,
“Think I can check him out?”

While Diego had really wanted to keep his mate

all to himself until they’d gotten to know each
other, he knew his mate needed to know his
heritage even more. To do that, he needed these
men’s help. Diego had agreed to bring his date to
meet the guys, so essentially—they could perform
a shifter intervention. They needed to know why
he hadn’t shifted, didn’t know anything about
shifters, and what was wrong with him.

Praying he was doing the right thing, Diego

strode up the walk. He hadn’t even reached the
foot of the steps when Zachary’s mother opened
the door and stepped onto the porch. Refusing to
be intimidated by his mate’s mother’s scowl, he
walked up the steps and stopped beside her.

“Mrs. Young,” Diego greeted, holding out his

hand. “It’s nice to see you again.” He wondered if
she’d take his offering of peace.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Finally, she took Diego’s offered hand. If he

thought it would have softened her, he would
have kissed her hand, old world style. However,
with how hard her expression appeared, Diego
decided to go conservative. He gave her hand a
quick, light squeeze, then released her.

“I can’t say I approve of this,” the woman said.

She crossed her arms over her chest and took a
step backward defensively. “My son needs a
gentle touch and you—” She unlocked one arm
and waved it at him in general. “Well, look at
you.”

“I am an able-bodied male who could take very

good care of Zach,” Diego pointed out. At the
woman’s disapproving frown, he chuckled. “And
I’m not talking about like that,” he stated, sobering
and shaking his head. “I mean, instead of asking
me about my intentions or my job or if I’m some
broke bum who lives on the back of a motorcycle
by choice, you assume the worst of me.”

Before Zachary’s mother could respond—

probably scathingly based on her facial
expressions—the soft scuff and thud of the man in
question reached Diego’s ears. Looking through
the doorway, he couldn’t help but smile as he
watched the slender, black-haired man limp
slowly toward him.

“Hello, Zach,” Diego greeted, when the other

man paused a few feet away. Unable to help
himself, and noting that his mate’s movements

Charlie Richards

appeared stiffer than at the restaurant, he reached
out and touched Zachary’s shoulder. “How are
you?”

“Hey, Diego,” Zachary replied. He lifted his left

hand and placed it on Diego’s where it rested on
his shoulder. “I’m fine. A little stiff is all.”

“Stiffness? Where?” his mother exclaimed,

reaching toward him and placing the back of her
hand on his forehead. “Are you sure you’re
okay?”

Zachary pulled his head away and stepped

sideways. “I’m fine, Mom,” he repeated.

“Do you have your meds?” she pressed.
Diego wondered at the sudden tension in her

voice. Just what were these meds?

Offering a wry smile Diego’s way, he stated,

“Guess you remember my overprotective mother,
Esmeralda Young.” He winked. “Only son. She
worries about me.” Turning toward his mother,
Zachary smiled. “I got ’em. I’m good,” he assured.
“I’ll be fine.”

Zachary’s assurances didn’t seem to ease

Esmeralda’s fears, but she nodded and bit her
bottom lip—probably to keep from saying or
asking something else related to his health. As a
shifter, Diego wondered what could cause
problems that would linger and require meds. He
hoped Eli could figure it out.

“I’ll make certain he’s just fine,” Diego assured,

turning his attention to Esmeralda. “I really do

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

take very good care of my own.” While there was
no way she’d understand that, as an alpha, the
only way anything would happen to Zachary
would be through his dead body, he hoped the
sincerity of the gaze he leveled at her would be
enough.

A pinched grimace at the corner of her lips,

Esmeralda couldn’t hold his gaze. She looked
toward Zachary and nodded. “Have a good time,”
she whispered hoarsely.

His brows scrunching in surprise, Zachary

nodded. “Uh, thanks, Mom,” he replied.

Diego took a step sideways and made his way

down the stairs, keeping an eye on Zachary. He
shouldn’t have worried, since the young man
maneuvered the obstacle easily. Reaching the
motorcycle, he opened the left saddlebag and
pulled out a half-helmet.

“Good thing I can fold my cane,” Zachary

teased softly, doing just that and handing it over.
He took the helmet in exchange.

Grinning, Diego told him, “I noted the rings on

it at the diner. I knew it folded.”

“Think of everything, do you?”
Diego winked at his young mate’s teasing.

“Mostly.”

A few minutes later, Diego ignored a still

scowling Esmeralda and pointed the bike toward
the street.

Charlie Richards

When Diego turned right out of the driveway,

Zachary shouted over the roar of the engine,
“Hey, all the restaurants are the other way. Small
town, remember?”

“Picnic,” Diego called over his shoulder. He

shifted gears, making the whine of the engine a bit
softer so he didn’t have to holler. “My friends are
into barbequing and commandeered three
camping spots in a row.” He smirked. “Much to
the displeasure of a guy and his fiancée. I’d feel
bad if the guy hadn’t been such a loud-mouthed,
bigoted asshole.”

“I’m gonna meet all your friends?”
Hearing the trepidation in Zachary’s voice,

Diego reached back with his left hand and patted
his mate’s knee. “Relax. They’re a good bunch of
guys.” He returned his hand to the shifter and
changed gears. “Besides, several of them grill like
masters. You won’t be disappointed. Got any
favorites?”

Diego tried to wait patiently, hoping his

assurances had eased Zachary’s concerns. Finally,
his mate stated, “I live with a nurse. Anything
with high fat and cholesterol is strictly rationed.
Think there’ll be brats and beer?”

Barking a laugh, Diego nodded. “Oh, yes.

Payson and Kontra love brats. There will
definitely be plenty of both.”

“Sweet.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Diego grinned at the obvious pleasure

expressed in Zachary’s one word answer. He
shouldn’t feel so pleased that his mate was happy,
but there it was.

After winding up a mountain road for fifteen

minutes, Diego turned his motorcycle into a
campground. He drove along the curved paths
until he reached where the gang had set up their
tents, tucked into the furthest spaces. He parked
near the almost dozen other bikes and cut the
engine.

Diego held out his arm, offering support to his

mate. Zachary seemed to understand the silent
offer, for he grabbed on, then swung off the bike.
Following suit, Diego took off his own helmet and
placed it on the gas tank before taking Zachary’s
and setting it on the seat.

The smell of cooking meat perfumed the air.

Diego’s stomach grumbled, as did Zachary’s.
Grinning at the smaller, younger man, Diego
pulled the cane from the saddlebag and handed it
to him.

“Let’s go get some food,” Diego urged, resting

his hand on the smaller male’s shoulder and
squeezing lightly.

Zachary nodded. His eyes widened as he

walked beside Diego toward the grilling areas.
“Wow, is there anything you guys don’t have?”

Charlie Richards

“Probably your favorite vegetable,” Diego

quipped.

“Hell, no!” Emmett called from the table a few

feet in front of them. He swept his arm, palm up,
indicating a small table off to the side of the first
that held an assortment of raw vegetables,
everything from salad, to broccoli, to baby carrots,
to cherry tomatoes. “You know I like my veggies.”

Diego chuckled, seeing from the corner of his

eye that Zachary smiled. “Come here and meet,
Emmett,” he urged, drawing close to the tables.
“Emmett, this is Zachary Young.”

Emmett set his plate on the table and held out

his hand. “Nice to meet you. Do you like Zachary?
Or Zach?”

“Either,” Zachary replied, taking Emmett’s

hand and giving it a quick shake before returning
his hand to his cane. “Buddies call me that or Z or
Z-man, so…” He paused and snickered, offering a
crooked smile.

“Cool. Don’t forget your salad, Z,” Emmett

teased, winking.

As the man snorted at himself and walked

away, Zachary gave Diego an amused smile.
“Guess there’s a veggie guy in every group, huh?”

Diego chuckled. “Yup. We have a few.”

For the next hour, after loading up their plates

and finding seats at the picnic tables, Diego
introduced Zachary to everyone. The guys were

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

good about cycling through instead of
bombarding him. Still, after a while, he could see
his mate’s eyes begin to glaze.

Diego placed his hand over Zachary’s forearm

where it rested on the table and squeezed lightly.
“Okay,” he murmured. “Before eating too much
puts you in a food coma, let’s take a short walk.”

“A walk? Now?” Zachary’s eyes widened as he

peered incredulously at him.

Scoffing, Diego leaned close and whispered into

his ear, “Would you prefer I carried you like a
damsel in distress? Or perhaps over my shoulder
like a sack of potatoes?”

Zachary snorted as he rose to his feet. “I think I

can walk.”

“Good,” Diego replied. He had to squelch his

instinct to reach for Zachary—the one that
screamed for him to care for his mate—as he
watched the younger man heave to his feet and
find his balance on his cane. His first few steps
were so stiff, that Diego had to offer, “Maybe we
should skip the walk. We could—”

“No, no,” Zachary said, cutting him off with a

wave of his left hand. “I need to stretch out the
kink in my thigh.”

“Which one bothers you?” Diego asked as he

slowly led the way toward a path that led between
bushes. “Is it a muscle weakness or nerves?” He
just managed to keep from asking what was
actually wrong.

Charlie Richards

Zachary sighed, grimacing. He glanced Diego’s

way, then focused on the ground and where he
put his cane and each foot as he muttered, “My
first seizure hit when I was thirteen. I fell in the
kitchen and knocked a knife off the counter as I
went down. It sliced into the muscles of my inner
right thigh and ruptured some nerve bundle I
can’t pronounce.”

Rolling his left shoulder, Zachary finished, “My

mother said she found me in a pool of blood on
the kitchen floor. I was in a coma for over two
weeks until they figured out the problem and
found meds that worked.”

Diego really didn’t like the sound of meds that

worked. “Damn,” he murmured, his mind racing.
“Do you remember much about it?” He had no
idea how seizures worked. He’d have to mention
it to Eli.

“No,” Zachary replied. “I don’t remember

anything from that day. Mom said I got up and
went to school as normal, then came home.” He
shook his head. “I just remember waking up
feeling like shit a couple of weeks later.” Smiling
at him, Zachary added, “As long as I’m careful,
pay attention to my body’s signals, I’m fine.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Chapter Four

achary didn’t really enjoy talking about his
medical problems, but he figured if he was

going to date Diego more than this one time, he
should be honest.

Holy hell! What makes me think that Diego is going

to stick around? Isn’t he a biker on the move? Isn’t he
passing through?

Why did that thought bother Zachary so much?

Suddenly, he felt the urge to wrap himself around
Diego and hold on until the man agreed to keep
him.

Sighing, Zachary admitted, “I haven’t told too

many people. Rumors around town is that I
learned I have Type Two diabetes and that’s why I
take medication and watch what I eat.” He
shrugged and grimaced. “I don’t do much to
discourage that.” Staring into the woods, he
mumbled, “Maybe that’s the coward’s way,
but…diabetes over seizures? Sue me for taking it.”

Diego settled his hand on Zachary’s lower back,

rubbing his spine gently. “There’s no reason to

Charlie Richards

apologize for keeping your private life private.”
He suddenly paused, gripped a branch, and
tugged it to the side, creating a gap in the thick
foliage. “Through here.”

Zachary followed his direction and ducked

through the gap. Glancing around at the small
clearing that suddenly opened before him,
Zachary saw most of the men from the barbeque
were already there. They lounged around the area,
sitting on the grass. To his surprise, many of them
had stripped to just jeans or sweats.

“Uh, what’s going on?” Zachary asked,

confused. As far as a first date went, this one was
proving to be pretty unorthodox.

“Come have a seat,” Diego urged.
Allowing Diego to guide him, Zachary crossed

to the far side of the clearing and eased onto his
rear. Diego sat beside him, crossing his legs, and
facing him. He reached over and took his left hand
between his own.

“Have you ever wondered if there was

something different about you?” Diego asked
softly.

Zachary grinned. “Sure, I know I’m different.

I’m gay, remember?” he teased, growing
uncomfortable and trying to hide it.

Shaking his head, Diego gave him a small

smile. “Not like that. We have some things to
show you, to explain to you, and once we’re done,
I know you’ll have questions.” His brows

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

furrowing, his lip curved in a wry grin. “Try not to
freak out.”

“That sounds ominous,” Zachary stated. He

glanced around the group of men, seeing looks of
concern,

amusement,

and

even

few

understanding, encouraging smiles. “Are you all
swingers or something?”

The man who’d introduced himself as Payson

cackled. “Hell, no,” he sputtered. “We’re all
monogamous and if anyone saw Land’s naked
dick, I’d have to gouge their eyes out.”

Land snorted and rolled his eyes. “Whatever.

Your buddies see your naked dick all the time.”

“That’s different,” Payson responded. “You’re

human.”

Gaping at the odd comment, Zachary’s brows

shot up. He sent a questioning look Diego’s way.

Diego sighed. “That’s one of the things we need

to discuss. Some of us in the group are shifters. We
even have a vampire and a couple of warlocks.
Well, one of the warlocks is the vampire, but—”

Zachary barked out a laugh. “Oh, God.

Seriously? You believe in that kind of shit?”

“In a minute, you will, too,” Payson responded,

grinning widely.

“What do you turn into?” Zachary couldn’t

help but laugh. “A wolf?”

“Nope,” Payson replied. “That’d be the man

holding your hand. I’m a hyena.”

Charlie Richards

“That’s enough,” rumbled the group’s leader, a

massive tattooed, goateed man who’d been
introduced as Kontra Belikov. “We all know
seeing is believing.” He lifted a hand and waved
at Emmett and Caleb.

Zachary’s jaw sagged open when both men

unbuttoned their jeans and started pushing them
down. Looking away, he focused on Diego. “Why
are they undressing?” he muttered. Not that the
guys weren’t good looking, but he shouldn’t be
ogling other men on a first date, should he?

“They are going to show you. I chose them,

because their animals are not carnivores,” Diego
told him softly. “Emmett is a white buffalo and
Caleb is a chameleon.”

Unable to help himself, because Zachary didn’t

know how grown men could actually believe they
turned into animals, he quipped, “Not
werewolves?”

Diego sighed. “Just watch. Hmm?”
Zachary turned and looked. Seeing that the pair

was now completely naked, he smirked. “Not that
I mind the visual, but if you all wanted to just
admit you like in person porn, you could have just
said so. Not that there’s anything wrong with—”

Gasping, Zachary felt his eyes widen. He

couldn’t believe what he saw. The men’s skin
seemed to ripple, then their limbs contorted.
When he heard cracking and popping, Zachary
cringed and tensed. He felt as if his eyes bugged

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

out of his head at the sounds and the sight before
him.

“Holy fucking hell,” Zachary whispered.
“Easy, sweet mate,” Diego murmured. “It’s not

as painful as it sounds.”

“H-How is this possible?” Zachary squeaked

upon seeing that, where once sat two men, now
stood a shaggy white buffalo with a small green
chameleon riding on its back. “What? How?” He
tore his gaze away from the animals and stared at
the man who’d brought him. “D-Diego?”

Zachary would have been embarrassed at the

squeak in his voice, but his heart thudded in his
chest and his pulse raced through his veins.
Surely, this wasn’t possible. Roaring sounded in
his mind and he felt as if his lungs couldn’t get
enough oxygen.

“Zach, look at me,” Diego ordered firmly.
Opening his eyes, uncertain when he’d even

closed them, Zachary peered into Diego’s dark
eyes. “You’re going to be fine,” Diego assured. He
released Zachary’s hand with one of his own and
cupped Zachary’s jaw, holding him steady. “We
are shifters. We share our soul with an animal and
can take that form at will. When we are in our
animal form, we are perfectly cognizant. We know
who we are, who others are, and can think and
reason just as we can while in human form.”

“W-We?” Zachary managed to respond. “Y-

You mean you really can turn into a wolf?”

Charlie Richards

“I can,” Diego replied softly, his gaze steady.
Zachary realized the man actually believed it,

and if those men could change—holy, shit! Those
men just turned into animals—then maybe Diego
really could, too. “Wh-Who else?” he couldn’t
help but ask, glancing around furtively.

Diego licked his lips, his gaze darting over

Zachary’s face, probably searching for something.
Finally, he responded, “Like Payson said, he’s a
hyena.” He released Zachary’s jaw and hand, then
moved his hold to his hips. “Come here and look.”

Zachary allowed Diego to pull him between his

legs so the other man’s limbs bracketed his own.
Diego rested his chin on Zachary’s shoulder and
wrapped his arms securely around him. “Look.”

Fifteen feet away, sitting next to Land, was a

hyena. Instead of being afraid, the other guy
rubbed the animal’s head. Then, the beast licked
Land’s face, which caused the guy to chuckle and
say, “Ewe!” as he pushed the hyena away.

“Kontra is a grizzly bear. Eli is a python.

Mutegi is a warthog. Lamar is a peacock,” Diego
whispered into his ear. “We have quite the
menagerie in our group.”

With the exception of Kontra—who remained

in human form watching over them all—as Diego
said the man’s name, he stripped off his pants and
turned into the mentioned animal. Peering around
at the group, something niggled at the back of his

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

mind, like a memory he couldn’t quite remember.
He shivered at the strange sensation.

“Vail is a wolf, like me,” Diego continued to

whisper. “He’s almost ninety years old.”

“What?” Zachary craned his neck to peer at the

man holding him. “What?” he repeated, knowing
he must have misheard.

Diego smiled, his eyes kind. “Shifters live far

longer than humans, Zach. Once we reach around
twenty-five, our aging slows, keeping us in our
prime for centuries. I’m far older than I look.”

“H-How old?”
Kissing his neck, Diego murmured, “That’s not

important.” He rubbed his palm over Zachary’s
stomach soothingly. “The reason I share all this
with you is because I can scent that you are a
shifter, too.”

Zachary immediately shook his head. “No, no,”

he denied. “I’ve never turned into anything else.
I’m just me.”

“I can smell it, darling,” Diego insisted. “It’s

why I asked you about your illness. Normally
shifters heal swiftly from injuries and I’ve never
heard of one having seizures.”

“Well, that’s because I’m not,” Zachary stated.

As he spoke, his fingers tingled and his chest
tightened. He clenched his fingers once, twice, his
body shuddering. Darkness appeared at the edge
of his vision. “Damn it.”

Charlie Richards

Fearing that his rising panic was bringing on a

seizure, he reached into his pants pocket for his
bottle of medication. He pulled it out and popped
the cap, shaking a yellow capsule into his palm.
As he lifted it to his mouth, a snarl echoed through
the clearing. Zachary froze as he watched the
hyena bound across the clearing and swipe the
bottle and pill from his hand. If Diego hadn’t been
holding him so tightly, Zachary would have
backed away as fast as he could.

“Payson?” Kontra questioned the animal with

just his tone as he crossed the short distance to
squat in front of them.

Payson sniffed at the spilled pills and snorted,

shaking his head.

Kontra picked one up and sniffed it. “What are

these?” he asked, his eyes narrowing and his nose
crinkling.

“M-My anti-seizure medication,” Zachary

replied, a shiver working through him.

“Eli, what do you think?” Kontra asked, tossing

one to the man.

Diego leaned around them and snagged one

from the grass. He, too, sniffed it, then hissed. “Is
that witch’s bane?”

“I think so,” Eli replied, frowning. “Draven?

Tim?”

“Well, damn,” Draven murmured, his pale

brows drawing into a scowl. “It is. I thought his

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

mother was human. Why would she be giving
him this?”

“What?” Zachary squeaked. “What are you

talking about? Why can’t I have my pills?”
Goosebumps broke out on his skin and he began
to tremble as he struggled to keep himself
together. “Please, I need them.”

“Hush, pup,” Kontra rumbled, kneeling in front

of him. “No, you don’t. You’re all right.”

Zachary shook his head, wrapping his arms

around himself. “N-No, I’m not.”

Diego moved behind him. His legs were

suddenly gone even as he urged Zachary to relax
in the grass on his side. Panic started to flood him
full force “What are you doing?” He tried to push
away from the ground, but his arms suddenly felt
uncoordinated and heavy. “Please!”

Rubbing his hands up and down Zachary’s side

and back, Diego leaned over him on one side
while Kontra did the same on the other. “Just try
to relax, Zach,” Diego urged. “You’re about to go
through your first shift.”

“N-No,” Zachary whimpered, pain shooting

through his extremities. His stomach cramped and
he curled into a fetal position. “H-Hurts!”

“It’s been put off too long,” Kontra rumbled, his

voice oddly soothing. “Try not to fight it.”

“Just let go,” Diego advised.
Unable to do anything else, Zachary did. His

body no longer felt like his own. His body

Charlie Richards

twitched, shuddered, and tingled. His face
pinched, his ass tingled, and his neck tickled.

When he finally opened his eyes, everything

was colored oddly, but the way Diego petted his
side felt really nice. His body no longer ached. In
fact, even the odd pinch and pull he always felt in
his right thigh wasn’t as bad, either. He turned his
head to ask Diego what had happened, but instead
of words, a high-pitched bray came from him.

Panic filled Zachary anew.
Then, Diego appeared in his line of sight. He

gently petted his face, crooning to him about how
beautiful he was, and for some reason, that
seemed to make everything okay.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Chapter Five

ell, damn.”
Diego couldn’t agree more with Kontra’s

muttered words. Stroking the soft fur under his
fingers, he took in Zachary’s shifted form. He
traced along the black and white stripes, admiring
the design.

When his mate had brayed, Diego could see the

panic suddenly fill the one large brown eye he
could see. He didn’t want a repeat, so kept his
voice soothing and low as he stated, “You’re a
beautiful

zebra,

Zach.

You’re

absolutely

stunning.” When Zachary just stared back at him,
a look of disbelief in his eye, Diego smiled. “Go
on. Take a look at yourself.”

Zachary rolled onto his belly and turned his

head first one way then the other. At first, his eyes
were wide, the whites showing, revealing his
panic just as much as his scent did.

Diego continued to stroke his mate, hoping his

presence, his touch, would calm him. It seemed to
work, for soon Zachary relaxed, the tension in his

“W

Charlie Richards

body easing. Rubbing his fingertips over the cheek
of the zebra, Diego regained his mate’s attention.

“Would you like to get up and run? The guys

will be with us, so we’ll be safe,” he offered,
wondering just how long it’d been since Zachary
could move freely. He figured, even if his mate’s
right thigh still pained him, he’d be able to move
pretty well on three legs as opposed to just one.
“Or you can change back into a man. I’m sure you
have plenty of questions.”

Looking around at the others, Zachary heaved

himself to his feet. Diego carefully untangled his
young mate from the remains of his pants and t-
shirt. As he slipped the armbands and bracelets
from his zebra’s foreleg, he ordered softly, “Give
me a few seconds to change.” Rubbing, Zachary’s
forehead, he added, “Then we’ll stretch those
pretty legs of yours.”

Zachary still looked a little shell-shocked, but at

least he listened. As Diego stripped and shifted, he
listened as Kontra quietly reminded Zachary that
even though Diego would be a wolf, he’d still
know exactly who he was. Diego silently chastised
himself for not thinking of that.

Once Diego had shifted, he sat on his haunches

and looked at Zachary, waiting. A few tense
seconds passed before Zachary lowered his head
and sniffed at him. Diego licked his mate’s
muzzle. Zachary made a whuffling noise through
his nostrils.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Then, Payson bowled into Diego, interrupting

their bonding moment. Diego snapped at the
hyena, but the shifter bounced away, cackling.
Huffing, Diego rose to his feet and padded toward
the edge of the clearing.

Looking back at Zachary, Diego watched the

zebra’s first few tentative steps. Suddenly, the
zebra leaped into the air and kicked out his legs.
The animal trotted around the clearing, still
limping just a bit, but swinging his head in
obvious enjoyment.

Zachary played for a moment, then crossed to

Diego. With Payson and a number of others, they
loped into the forest.

After a little over an hour, Diego noted Zachary

tiring, his limp becoming more pronounced. He
led the way back to the clearing, pleased to see the
others peel away and give them some privacy in
the small space.

Diego quickly shifted, then stood in front of his

mate. “All you need to do is visualize your human
self and you’ll change right back,” he explained.
“Take your time.”

A look of concentration appeared on Zachary’s

equine face, but when nothing happened, Diego
could see his mate becoming frustrated. He
stepped to the zebra’s side and petted his neck.
Crooning into Zachary’s ear, he murmured, “Just
think, baby. When you’re human again, I’m going

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to take my time exploring your naked body. I’ll
glide my fingers down your spine and tickle that
sensitive patch at the cleft of your ass cheeks. I’ll
pinch your nipples until they’re hard and aching.
Then, I’ll sweep my hands down and palm your
globes. I’ll pull them apart and massage your star
as I suck your dick into my hot, wet mouth. Just as
I lodge the head of your prick in my throat and
swallow around you, I’ll sink my finger into your
dry chute and massage your prostate.”

Even before Diego had finished speaking,

Zachary’s equine body shivered. His skin rippled
and his body began to shrink, his muscles
stretching, his bones cracking, and his tendons
popping. Within an impressively short amount of
time, Zachary stood before him. Panting, his eyes
blown with lust, his mate stared up at him.

Diego placed his hands on Zachary’s hips,

rubbing the firm flesh beneath his fingertips for a
second before sliding his arms around him. He
settled one hand on the small of his back and the
other between his shoulder blades. With his lower
hand, he teased Zachary’s crack with his pinky.

With a gentle tug, Diego brought their bodies

flush together. He growled low in his throat upon
feeling his mate’s warm, naked form pressed flush
to his own. Diego’s hard cock pushed at Zachary’s
stomach. His mate’s answering hardness rested
along his upper thigh.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

“Do you have any questions I need to answer

before fucking you?” Diego asked gruffly.

“How is this all possible?” Zachary gasped.
Diego lowered his head to the crook of

Zachary’s neck and rubbed his lips up and down
the tendon of his neck. “I have no answer other
than it just is,” he murmured. “Those pills were
doing something to hinder your first shift. We will
find out why later, but right now I wish to
consummate our mating.”

“Mating?”
At Zachary’s breathy question, Diego lifted his

head. Shit!

Curbing his desire, for a few seconds anyway,

Diego stared into his mate’s slightly glazed eyes
and explained, “Because a paranormal lives so
long, Fate grants us a soul mate, someone to be
their perfect companion.” He slid his hand up
from between his shoulder blades to cup
Zachary’s nape. “We are that for each other. We
will fuck and exchange claiming bites and we will
be bonded for eternity.”

“Bonded?” Zachary murmured, obviously

struggling to focus. He tilted his head. “But we
hardly know each other. Why would you think we
should bond?”

“Fate has chosen us for each other,” Diego

repeated. “It’s why you crave to be near me. I feel
the same. I wish to please you, care for you,” he

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murmured, his voice lowering gruffly. “Love
you.”

“You think just because—” Zachary’s brows

furrowed.

Diego chuckled and nuzzled his mate’s neck.

“Stop thinking so hard, sweet Zach,” he purred.
“You are my mate. We will learn about each other
as we go, but make no mistake,” he paused and
nipped the tendon he desperately wanted to sink
his teeth into. “You are mine, Zachary Young, as
surely as I am yours. There will never be another
for either of us.”

Zachary whined and pressed hard against him.

His body shuddered. “You can’t know that,” he
huffed even as he clutched at Diego’s shoulder
blades with his fingertips.

“Oh, but I do know it,” Diego rumbled. “When

a paranormal finds his mate, he wants no other.
We are devoted to them. We will destroy any who
tries to take him away, no matter who or why,” he
warned.

“Devoted?” Zachary murmured. “Really?”
Diego lifted his head and grinned down at his

mate. “Oh, yes, Zach. Hopelessly.” Knowing this
wasn’t a decision he could force, no matter how
alpha he was, Diego wasn’t above a little lustful
coercion. He gently massaged between the tops of
Zachary’s ass cheeks, sinking further and further
down with each rub. “So, will you give yourself to

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

me, Zachary? Will you allow me to devote my life
to pleasing you?”

Zachary moaned and arched his back, pressing

his ass more firmly into his touch. “Y-Yes.” He
paused then, seeming to get a hold of himself for a
second. He gave Diego a crooked grin. “I’ll see
how far down your rabbit hole goes.”

Chuckling roughly, Diego grinned widely.

“You won’t regret it.”

Diego slid his right leg behind Zachary’s and

hooked his ankle. As he pulled with his foot, he
pushed with his hands. Using his shifter strength,
he toppled them both as gently as possible to the
thick grass.

Zachary lay sprawled beneath him, and Diego

grinned upon hearing his mate’s snickers.
Enjoying his mate’s mirth, his own joy bubbled
within him, the emotion so foreign it took him by
surprise. Diego hugged his mate close, burying his
face in his neck as he used his knee to push
Zachary’s thighs wider. His mate opened quickly
to him, allowing him to slide between his thighs.

Pressing his erection against his mate’s, Diego

placed his elbows in the grass on either side of his
head and levered over him. He smiled at the
unique man, already pleased to smell that the
sickly, acrid scent had nearly burned from his
system.

Diego vowed to speak with Eli and Draven, just

later.

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For now, Diego banished those thoughts in

favor of enjoying the feel of his mate underneath
him. He took in his mate’s glowing dark eyes, the
flush of his cheeks, and the gleam of sweat on his
skin.

“You are a fucking sexy man, Zach,” Diego

stated. He brushed the short strands of his black
hair away from his mate’s face. “Already you have
a healthier glow in your cheeks.” He smirked.
“Accelerated healing does look good on you.”

“Mmm,” Zachary hummed, humping up

against him, rubbing wantonly. “What do you
mean?” He tilted his head, offering his neck so
nicely.

Unable to help but take up that offer, Diego

growled and wrapped his jaw around Zachary’s
throat. Then, his mate’s question clicked. He
released his hold and lifted his head to peer into
his mate’s eyes.

“Sorry, sweet Zach,” Diego murmured. He

leaned down and pecked a way-too-short kiss to his
mate’s lips before lifting his head and admitted,
“You’re a shifter, like me, and I’m feeling the pull
to mate. It’s hard to remember that this is all new
to you.”

Rocking his hips up again, Zachary ground his

prick against Diego’s own. “Well, I’ve always been
a quick study,” he stated. He lifted his legs, a
slight grimace twisting his mouth—probably
caused by his injured thigh—and locked them

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

behind Diego’s waist. Digging his heels into
Diego’s ass, Zachary held him tight as he snapped,
“I’ll ask a bunch of questions later, but right now,
I’m so damn horny I can’t see straight. Shove your
big dick in my ass and make me come.”

Grinning, Diego snarled, “I can do one better. I

can give you an orgasm now, then I’ll open you
up and sink my dick into you.” He grinned ferally
at his soon-to-be lover. “Then, I’ll pound into you
and make you come all over again.”

Zachary moaned and bucked, rubbing against

him. “Yes!”

Diego growled in excitement. His wolf snarled

and snapped in the back of his mind. Opening his
mouth, he wrapped his mouth around where
Zachary’s shoulder met his neck and sank his
teeth deep into the skin. Blood oozed around
Diego’s teeth and into his mouth. He sucked on
the wound, allowing the fluid to ooze across his
tongue. The taste of his mate’s life blood hit his
taste buds, heady and metallic, the ambrosia of
life.

Moaning around his hold on Zachary’s neck,

Diego suckled gently. He gulped down one
mouthful, then a second. Suddenly, Zachary’s
arms and legs tightened, his heels digging into the
top of his ass, and he bucked. Zachary’s cry of
bliss echoed through the clearing.

Hot seed soaked the space between them. The

heady aroma of his mate’s cum floated on the

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wind. Unable to help himself, having been teased
for hours, Diego tipped over the edge and came.
Diego’s scent mingled with his mate’s and he
couldn’t wait for them to do the same with every
aspect of their lives.

Still, Diego’s prick didn’t soften, and as he

extracted his teeth and licked the claiming mark
clean, he couldn’t wait to bury his still throbbing
shaft in his mate’s chute and as he’d left his
claiming mark on his mate’s neck, do the same to
Zachary’s channel.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Chapter Six

achary panted harshly, allowing his legs to flop
back to the ground. Bliss pinged through him

as he peered up at Diego through half-mast eyes.
“H-How’d you do that?” he mumbled.

Grinning down at him, Diego’s dark eyes

glittered. “Mates claim each other with their bite,
giving the other intense pleasure.” He winked.
“Just another perk of shifter matings.”

Evidently, there were a lot of perks to this

whole shifter thing. Zachary knew he should be
freaking the fuck out. Hell, he’d just spent an hour
running around as a zebra…a fucking zebra!
Except, with Diego staring lustfully at him, his
naked form pressing against his own, all Zachary
could think about was sex.

“Fuck me,” Zachary blurted out, his hole

clenching. He felt empty and needy, something he
couldn’t ever remember feeling before. Furrowing
his brows, he mumbled, “I-I need—”

“Hush, sweet Zach,” Diego soothed. “I’ll take

care of you.”

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Diego pushed up onto his left hand and

reached for his discarded jeans with the other. A
second later, he pulled a small tube of lube from
one of the pockets. Zachary would have
commented about how the older man thought he
was a sure thing, but hell, that’d just delay getting
Diego’s thick shaft into his ass. He couldn’t have
that.

Gripping the backs of his knees, Zachary pulled

his legs up and away.

Growling, Diego’s eyes seemed to glitter as he

popped the cap off the lube with his thumb. His
gaze fixed on Zachary’s exposed genitals. “So
pretty,” he rumbled as he squirted a liberal
amount onto his fingers.

After Diego tossed aside the tube, he reached

down and cupped Zachary’s balls with his clean
hand. Zachary gasped at the gentle hold on his
sensitive orbs. Then, his lover lifted them a tad
and rolled them across his palm. In the same
instant, he lowered a lubed finger to his star and
pressed into him.

Zachary whimpered and moaned as Diego

played with his genitals. Heated sparks danced
across his groin, causing his prick to twitch and
ooze. He started to release his leg so he could
reach for his dick, wanting, needing, pressure on
his shaft.

“Don’t move,” Diego snapped gruffly.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

His eyes wide, Zachary gaped as he peered up

at Diego. The other man’s feral expression
betrayed that he expected to be obeyed. Some
instinct caused Zachary’s pulse to spike just a bit
more as he retightened his grip on his leg.

Diego grinned widely. “That’s the way, my

mate,” he growled. “Look at you,” he purred. As
he spoke, he slid a second finger into Zachary,
stretching his chute. “All spread out for me,
impaled on my fingers and your balls in my
hand,” he rumbled. “Your dick waves for
attention, weeping and red.”

Even as Diego continued to hold Zachary’s

gaze, he leaned down and stuck out his tongue.
He swiped the flat of his wet appendage across the
flared head. Zachary moaned at the feel of the soft,
slick muscle sliding over his oozing slit. At the
same time, the fingers in his ass found his
prostate, massaging the bundle of nerves.

Trembling, his cock jerking, Zachary felt his

balls try to pull tight to his body. Diego squeezed
his orbs, keeping his orgasm at bay. He worked a
third finger into him, spreading, and stretching
him.

“Please,” Zachary whined. “I’m ready. Take

me.”

“So sexy when you beg,” Diego growled. He

pulled his fingers free. “Gonna fill you so good.”

Zachary gasped at the suddenly empty feeling.

“Y-Yes! Now!”

Charlie Richards

Diego released Zachary’s testicles and placed

that hand on the grass, leaning over him. “Legs
around my waist again,” he ordered just when
Zachary felt his lover’s dick prod his opening.

Willing to do anything to get the hard shaft

bumping against him deep inside his chute,
Zachary released his legs and twined them around
Diego. He wrapped his arms around Diego’s
shoulders and dug his fingers into his shoulder
blades.

“Nice,” Diego muttered as he drove forward.

He held Zachary’s gaze as he pressed forward and
popped his dick’s head past Zachary’s guardian
ring. Lowering his torso, Diego slid his forearms
under Zachary’s back and up to clutch his
shoulders. Rocking slowly, he began working his
dick deeper and deeper into him. “Damn, Zach,”
he growled. “Your ass was made for my cock.”

Zachary gasped as his ass stretched wider than

he’d ever experienced. “Holy shit! You’re hung,”
he groaned, trying to relax.

“Almost there,” Diego stated, panting harshly.
Willing his ass to relax, Zachary buried his face

in Diego’s neck and hung on as his chute
continued to be stuffed by his lover’s massive
erection. Finally, Diego stopped moving, and
Zachary realized he could feel the wiry hair of his
lover’s balls pressed against his ass-crack. He
became aware of Diego licking and nuzzling his
neck as he mumbled praise.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

“Oh, my God,” Zachary whispered. Pulling his

forehead away from Diego’s sweaty shoulder, he
rested it back on the grass and gazed up at Diego.
“Holy shit. That’s amazing,” he moaned. “Never
felt so full.”

Diego grinned down at him, his dark eyes

boring into him. “Your channel was made for my
cock, Zach,” he claimed again as he rolled his hips
a bit. “So tight, so perfect. Could stay here
forever.”

The slight rutting move caused Diego’s cock

head to massage over his prostate just right.
Moaning, Zachary felt more pre-cum ooze from
him, slicking the space between them. He
crunched his abs and met the half-thrusts, reveling
in the micro bursts of tingles that spread from his
channel through his groin and up his spine.

All too soon, Zachary’s balls tightened. Gaping,

unable to tear his gaze from Diego’s heated stare,
he whimpered. He saw a shocking amount of
affection mixed in with the pleasure as the man
stared down at him.

“Do it, mate,” Diego gruffly urged. “Come

again. Show me how much you love my dick in
your ass, my arms around you, my body taking
your own.”

Between the rubbing of his erection on Diego’s

sweat and pre-cum slicked abs, combined with the
massage to his prostate and his lover’s
encouraging words, Zachary felt his body tip over

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the edge. His balls pulled tight to his body. His
cock swelled and spurted. Zachary cried Diego’s
name as his orgasm crashed over him, sending
him spiraling in bliss.

As Zachary began to return to himself, he felt

Diego once more wrap his jaw around his
shoulder and sink his teeth into him. As before,
the flash of pain quickly morphed into burning
pleasure. His cock jerked and his balls ached as a
dry orgasm crashed over him, his body having
nothing left to give.

Shuddering and bucking, Zachary groaned.

“Oh,” he whimpered, struggling to process the
sensations his lover induced. “Diego.”

Zachary’s canines tingled oddly and the desire

to sink his teeth into Diego’s neck, as his lover had
done to him, flooded him. Floating on pleasure, he
didn’t fight his desires. He opened his mouth and
lifted his head. Latching onto Diego’s neck,
Zachary sank his teeth into his lover’s flesh. Thick,
hot fluid oozed onto his tongue. Zachary thought
it should taste bad, but after swallowing the
metallic fluid, he sucked the wound for more.

“Yesss,” Diego hissed, between licks to

Zachary’s neck where he’d bitten. “Yours.” He
thrust twice more, then groaned, the deep sound
vibrating from his chest into Zachary. “My mate.
My Zach,” Diego rumbled gutturally.

His claims finally pulled Zachary out of his

bliss far faster than he wished…as did his lover

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

easing his softening prick from his channel and
feeling his cum oozing onto his thighs.

“Shit,” Zachary hissed after pulling his teeth

free of Diego’s neck. When his lover grunted in
discomfort, some instinct Zachary didn’t
understand caused him to lick the wound, clearing
away the remaining traces of blood. His brows
shot up as he saw the bite wound begin to heal,
leaving a clear bite impression behind.

Pushing up on his elbows, Diego gently traced

Zachary’s jaw, drawing his attention. “You okay? I
didn’t hurt you, did I?” he asked gently, concern
shining in his dark eyes. “I only wanted to give
you as much pleasure as possible.”

“We forgot a condom,” Zachary muttered, his

face heating as he recalled his initial reason for
concern. He’d never forgotten the basics of safe
sex before. Reaching his right hand up, he gently
traced the edge of Diego’s closely shorn beard,
trying not to sound like a complete moron as he
said, “I, uh, I guess I should tell you I’m clean.
Um…are you?”

Diego nuzzled his facial hairs against Zachary’s

fingertips for a few seconds. Then, he met
Zachary’s stare, his expression serene. “Shifters
can’t get human diseases,” he murmured. “There
is no need for them between us.” Diego grimaced
and offered him a rueful smile. “I apologize. I
should have told you before.”

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Nodding slowly, Zachary licked his bottom lip

slowly as he digested that. “I guess I have a lot to
learn,” he whispered. “Anything different besides
the increased healing?”

Diego lowered his head and pecked a kiss to his

lips, then eased away from him. Rolling to his ass,
he grabbed his t-shirt. He sat next to Zachary’s hip
and reached over, gently wiping the fluids from
his stomach, then moving lower and cleaning his
groin.

Embarrassment flooding him, Zachary almost

closed his legs. He’d never had a lover clean him
after sex. Evidently, Diego must have read his
unease, for he rested his free hand on Zachary’s
now-clean chest and rubbed gently as he
continued to wipe his thighs.

“Relax,” Diego urged. “And, yes, there are a

number of differences.” Cocking his head, he
explained, “A shifter’s first shift essentially
activates the changes in our genes, so over the next
few days, you’ll notice changes in your five senses.
Being a zebra, your eyesight and sense of smell
will probably have the greatest increases.” He
paused, tossing the cloth aside. Then, he lightly
traced the white scar that graced the inside of
Zachary’s right thigh. “I told you increased
healing, but this is an old injury. Your other
muscles may grow stronger to compensate, but I
don’t think it will ever fully heal.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Zachary shrugged. “I’ve learned to live with it,

Diego,” he stated softly. “I just hope it’s not gonna
be a problem for you.”

Diego frowned. He grabbed Zachary’s hips and

lifted him. Zachary squeaked and flailed, reaching
for his lover’s shoulders to steady himself. Once
Diego had helped Zachary straddle his lap and
had positioned him how he must have wanted, he
slid his left hand around his hips and palmed his
ass. With his right hand, he cupped Zachary’s jaw
and tilted his head so their gazes met.

“Zachary, you are my mate. I have been waiting

for you for nearly three centuries,” Diego stated,
his gaze intense. “You could be a seventy year old
with a walker and I’d still want you.”

His jaw sagging open, Zachary’s mind blanked

for several seconds. He finally snapped his jaw
shut, only to open it again and squeak, “Three
centuries?”

Diego grimaced, his face flushing under his

deep tan. “Ah, yes. That’s another difference. The
average shifter can live upward of five centuries.”
He cleared his throat, then gave Zachary a
sheepish look. “At least, we’ll have plenty of time
to get to know each other.”

“Five cent…” Zachary trailed off as his mind

fixated on that shocking revelation.

Holy shit!
Zachary had planned to find a special someone

someday. He wanted to settle down, build a life,

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hell, maybe even someday have kids. Still, he
hadn’t had any good examples of couples working
out for the highly heralded fifty year wedding
anniversary, let alone centuries.

Using his hold to pull them together, Diego

rested his forehead against Zachary’s. He slid his
hand around to his nape and massaged gently. “I
know that’s a big one,” he whispered. “But I do
look forward to many years learning everything
about you.”

His pulse spiking, Zachary pressed into his

lover’s touch. He closed his eyes, unable to hold
Diego’s intense gaze.

Everything? No one wanted to know everything

about someone. It just wasn’t done…was it?

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Chapter Seven

iego knew the age thing had been the
proverbial straw to break Zachary’s back.

While he’d mentioned it earlier in reference to
Vail, he should have realized it hadn’t sunk in. His
mate had already been shutting down and
panicking, at that time. Diego scented that same
panic growing in his young lover now. He felt the
speeding pulse under his fingertips. His mate
shuddered in his arms, his eyes glazing a bit.

If he can’t handle the age thing, how am I to tell him

that Vail is my grandson?

Rubbing his hand up and down Zachary’s

spine, Diego pressed his lips to his mate’s lightly.
He pushed the disconcerting thought from his
mind as he continued to massage his mate’s neck.

“It’s a lot to take in,” Diego crooned. “Just

breathe deep, Zach. I got you.”

After a few seconds, Zachary sagged against

him. “I-I never—” Slowly, he pulled his head back
and focused on Diego, his brows drawn. “Really?
Three hundred years? All alone?”

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Diego felt his brows shoot up. He licked his

lips. Clearing his throat, he admitted, “No. Just
like you weren’t a virgin, I’ve not spent my life
alone. I’ve been married. I’ve had kids.” Taking
the plunge—hell, if there’s going to be more freak-
outs, better get it done with now—he finished, “Vail
is my grandson.”

“Oh, my God,” Zachary murmured. “Really?”

He blinked a few times, as if struggling to focus on
something, then he shook his head. “I-I’d like to
go home. I need some time.”

Fear spiked through Diego, but he fought it

down. He was an alpha. He didn’t show fear.
Nodding slowly, he cupped Zachary’s jaw and
forced him to meet his gaze. “I will take you
home, Zach,” he agreed. “However, you are my
mate. We are bonded. We won’t be able to be
apart for long before we begin craving each other’s
company. Your animal will push to return to me,”
he warned, “just as mine will desire to hunt you
down and demand your acceptance. It is the way
of shifters.”

Zachary swallowed hard. “I’m not sure I

believe this is happening.”

Sighing, knowing his mate needed time, Diego

nodded. “It is happening, and I do understand
that it will take you time to accept. You were
raised as a human, and—”

“Raised by a human that knows what you are.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Diego glared over his shoulder at Eli and his

wolf mate, Sam Bailey, not bothering to clear his
expression when he saw Draven, Vail, Tim, and
Kontra with him. Feeling his mate mutter shit and
curl in closer to him, Diego was suddenly
reminded of their nude state. While shifters didn’t
worry much about nudity, Diego knew that
Zachary hadn’t been raised as one.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Vail stated, smirking.
Growling softly for a second, Diego twisted a

bit and snagged his jeans. “Here,” he offered,
placing the denim in his mate’s hands. “Pull these
on.”

“What about you?” Zachary whispered,

glancing up at him, his cheeks glowing red.

“Remember everyone stripping before the

run?” Diego asked, pleased his mate seemed to be
coming out of his shock. “We’re not too worried
about nudity. Besides, there are a number of
sweats lying around.” He winked. “I’ll find some
that fit.”

Keeping himself between Zachary and the

others as much as possible, Diego helped his mate
into the jeans. “Give me a minute,” he requested,
rising to his feet.

Diego didn’t make it two steps before Vail

called, “Heads up.”

Turning, Diego caught the sweats flying toward

his head. He nodded his thanks to his grandson
and pulled them on. Glancing around, he spotted

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Zachary’s cane and retrieved it. He handed it to
his mate. Smiling, he murmured, “Like I said. I
don’t know if it will heal fully.”

Zachary nodded, his eyes still somewhat

dilated. “Thanks,” he responded, a tight smile on
his features. He looked uncertainly toward the
others.

Diego slid his arm around Zachary as he turned

to face the group. Relief filled him when his mate
leaned against him instead of on his cane. Even
overwhelmed and confused, his mate instinctually
relied on him. Diego could work with that.

Turning to the others, Diego asked, “What do

you mean?”

“The pills contain a mixture of herbs that

somehow suppress an adolescent’s shift,” Eli told
them. “It wouldn’t work with a shifter that
already went through his first shift. Since your
mother is human, in order for these to work,
someone else would need to know, not only who
Zachary’s father was, but that he was a shifter.”

“But, my mother said it was a one night stand,”

Zachary whispered, clearly confused. “He was a,
uh,” he paused and cleared his throat. “She said
he was a biker, just passing through,” he admitted.

Now her prejudice makes sense.
“Does your mother give you these pills?”

Kontra asked, his voice deep and rumbling. While
his tone hid his disbelief, his scent didn’t. When

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Zachary nodded nervously, Kontra asked, “And
where does she get them?”

Zachary shrugged and shook his head. “Uh,

Doc Costas,” he said. “He’s been my doctor for
years. He works with my mom.”

“The pills also mask a shifter’s scent,” Tim

commented. “Do you think he’s working with
Zach’s mom to hide him?”

“If so, from whom?” Kontra asked.
“Wait a minute,” Zachary cut in. “What are you

saying? My mom knows about…about—” He
flapped his hand around at all of them.

Draven lifted both hands. “Easy, Zach,” he

attempted to soothe. “We’re just throwing out
possibilities. I don’t know who could have wanted
to keep you from shifting or why, but we need to
find out.”

Frowning, Zachary glanced between them all.

“Why?”

“I need to know if you’re in danger, Zach,”

Diego stated softly. “I can’t protect you if I don’t
know.”

“I don’t need protecting,” Zachary snapped.

“I’m not in danger.”

At Zachary’s indignant tone, Diego exchanged

looks with the others. This would need to be
handled delicately. “You’re gay, so surely you’ve
run into prejudice,” Diego fished. When Zachary
grimaced, his body stiffening, Diego pushed a bit
more. “Then, don’t you think humans would have

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a problem with us? It’s why we keep ourselves
secret.”

“I still don’t like you accusing my mom,”

Zachary growled, clearly protective. Tension
radiated through his body.

Diego nodded. “I understand. Perhaps we

should ask her?”

“Ask her what?” Zachary asked, still sounding

and scenting displeased.

“Just about your diagnosis,” Eli stated. “I’m a

doctor. I could say you fell while out and I wanted
to double check that the medication I gave you
wouldn’t cause problems with your meds, since
you were a bit out of it and couldn’t tell me
exactly what they are.” The doctor offered an
encouraging smile. “If you aren’t safe, it could
mean she’s not safe. We only want what’s best for
both of you. Family is important.”

“Okay,” Zachary responded, still sounding

disbelieving.

Kontra looked around at the men. “Eli, Draven,

go with Diego and Zach. Sam and Tim, come with
me. We’re going to track down Doctor Costas.”
After more nods, Kontra held out his hand to
Zachary. Zachary hesitated an instant before
taking it. Kontra settled his second hand over
them, just holding him as he said gravely,
“Welcome to the paranormal world, Zachary
Young.” He smiled kindly as he continued, “It’s

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

really not as bad as you may be thinking. We do
look after our own.”

“Okay,” Zachary replied again.
Nodding, Kontra released him. He stepped

back and turned away. The other men divided. Eli,
Draven, and Vail—who refused to leave his mate’s
side—stayed with them, while the rest followed
Kontra.

Before Sam walked away, Eli wrapped his arm

around his waist and yanked him close. He
lowered his head, used his other hand to grip his
mate’s hair and tilted his head back. Then, he
devoured his mate’s mouth. Eli tongue-fucked
Sam for several seconds before lifting his head,
grinning at his man. “You stay safe, little one.”

Sam smiled lovingly up at Eli. “I will,” he

whispered. Then, he touched Eli’s cheek gently.
“You, too.”

Eli nodded, ducked his head, and pressed a

soft, lingering butterfly kiss to Sam’s lips. Finally,
he released his mate and watched him disappear
after Alpha Kontra. Turning, he must have
realized that he was the center of attention, for he
offered a pinched smile. “It’s never easy to be
separated from your mate.”

“So, um, you believe in this whole Fated mate

thing?” Zachary asked softly. When Eli’s brows
furrowed in obvious concern and he cocked his
head as he focused his gaze on Diego, Zachary

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hurriedly mumbled, “I mean, I’ve never heard of
something like that.”

“Oh, yeah,” Vail jumped in. “Fated mates so

exist.” He smirked and slid his hand into the back
pocket of Draven’s jeans. “I got me a sexy vampire
warlock who’s as possessive as I am. Fucking love
Fate’s choice.”

Eli snorted. “I know humans think the Gods

referenced in mythology aren’t real, but you have
to remember, all myth is based on some nugget of
truth.”

“V-Vampire?” Zachary whispered, his eyes

rounding.

Draven grinned widely, showing off his fangs.

“Oh, yes. Vampire.”

“Do you drink blood?” Zachary blurted out the

question, then his face turned beet red.

Easing his features into a reassuring smile,

Draven rested an arm over Vail’s shoulders. “Yes,
I do drink blood,” he admitted. “It’s not really that
different than you biting Diego during sex.” He
lifted his free hand and waved toward the
claiming mark Zachary had left on Diego’s
shoulder.

Zachary’s mouth sagged open as he glanced

from Diego’s face to the mark on his neck. “Oh.”

“Come on, my mate,” Diego urged, hoping to

move forward. “Let’s find your sneakers. I have
extra clothes for us at my bike.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

His arm securely around Zachary’s waist,

Diego maneuvered his mate around the clearing.
They found his shoes—his socks were ruined—
and helped him into them. Next, Zachary picked
up his wrist bands and bracelets and began sliding
the assorted metal and leather bands into place.

“Does the jewelry have meaning?” Diego asked

curiously, running his fingers over the black and
silver designs.

Zachary did the same, touching his bracelets

with his left hand. “The big one was a gift from
my buddy, Colin. He wrapped his car around a
tree driving drunk.”

“I’m sorry,” Diego murmured, rubbing his

mate’s back. “Is he okay?” he asked, even when he
knew from the tension under his fingers that the
answer would not be good.

“No,” Zachary replied. “He died. I don’t drink

much because of it.”

Diego nodded. “I’m sorry,” he repeated,

knowing how inadequate that was.

Zachary finished attaching his jewelry before

saying anything else. “The smaller bands just look
good with the first one and I like them,” he said,
changing the subject. “Damn, guess no necklaces
when you plan to shift, huh?”

Diego went along with the change and smiled.

“Same as your clothes,” he teased, holding up his
lover’s tattered jeans. He winked. “You’ll get used
to being naked around others quickly enough.”

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Zachary snorted, but didn’t bother responding

otherwise.

Finally, they took the slow, thirty minute hike

back to where the barbeque had been held. When
Diego led Zachary to his motorcycle, he found a t-
shirt that sort of fit him, then handed him his
jacket from where he’d stashed it in a saddlebag
earlier that evening.

When Diego handed his lover a helmet, he

murmured, “My grandson’s mate really is a
warlock. So is Kontra’s mate. Tim had a vision and
bought an extra helmet three days ago. He gave it
to me after we met at the diner.” Chuckling softly,
Diego smiled. “It’s pretty impressive actually. He
did the same thing to his own father.”

“His father?”
Diego folded Zachary’s cane and stowed it in a

saddlebag, then climbed aboard his bike.
Steadying it between his thighs, he stated, “Yes,
Tim’s father, Luc Laurent, was originally from
France, but after years of estrangement, he met up
with his son again. He’s now living with his own
mate in the mountains south of Albuquerque.” He
held out a hand and helped his mate onto the back
of his bike before adding, “That’s where we just
left.”

“Oh,” Zachary murmured. His brows

furrowed. “So, do you not always stay in touch
with your kids? I mean, you have children, but
they’re all grown. How many? How do you keep

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

track of them? Good God, is someone going to try
to call me Dad or something?”

Snorting, Diego narrowed his eyes and shook

his head. “No. Shifters are a bit more fluid than
that. They may consider you like a brother or a
good friend, but never a parent,” he explained. He
didn’t comment on the fact that Zachary spoke as
if they were a couple.

“Damn,” Zachary mumbled, wrapping his arms

around Diego’s waist. “It’s like…a whole different
culture.”

“It is,” Diego agreed.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Eight

hen Zachary slid from the back of the
motorcycle in front of his house, the muscle

in his thigh gave out. Lurching sideways, he
grabbed wildly for the bike. Diego snagged his left
wrist and tugged him toward him. Zachary
sagged against his side, getting his balance.

“Guess I pushed it too hard,” Zachary

murmured. He tipped his head and smiled tiredly
up at Diego. “Running felt so good though,” he
whispered. “It’d been so long.”

Diego rubbed his back as he pressed a kiss to

the top of his head. Zachary reveled in the feeling
of safety and security. He’d been struggling with
the unfamiliar urges—overwhelming desire,
possessive need, and the enjoyment in just being
held and touched—but snuggling in Diego’s arms,
he realized he shouldn’t be fighting so hard.

Zachary had watched in amazement as the

bikers interacted with each other. Friendly, fun-
loving, and even when they’d ribbed each other,
kind. It felt like he’d walked in on a massive

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

family reunion where everyone loved and
respected each other. Having grown up with just
his mother and his standoffish aunt, he’d become
aware of a loneliness he hadn’t even realized he’d
felt.

This man, however, was more than happy to fill

that void.

Zachary wanted that, and as ridiculous as his

strong feelings for Diego already were, he wanted
it with this man. Diego had been a solid presence
all evening. He’d shown Zachary things he’d
never imagined and helped him experience even
more…and the sex, mind-blowing. He couldn’t
wait to do it again.

Even exhausted after a busy day, he still felt

better than he had in years. He couldn’t imagine
how he’d feel after a few hours of rest. Maybe
after speaking with his mother, he could leave
with Diego and get the man to fuck him again.

Zachary’s cock thickened at the idea and his ass

clenched.

Diego’s low chuckle vibrated through

Zachary’s own body. He wanted to protest when
the biker gripped his shoulders and eased him
back, putting a few inches between them. Diego
peered down at him with smoldering dark eyes.

“Remember when I said that you’ll experience a

change in your senses?” Diego rumbled the
question.

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Swallowing hard, Zachary’s throat grew dry

upon hearing his lover’s husky tone. “Yes.”

“I can smell your arousal, sweet Zach,” Diego

told him. “What were you thinking about?”

“You taking me to your tent and fucking me.”
Diego chuckled roughly. He cupped Zachary’s

jaw and tilted his head up. After pressing a soft
butterfly kiss to his lips, Diego whispered, “I
would be more than happy to do that.”

“Okay,” Zachary instantly agreed.
“But do you really want to speak with your

mother while sporting a boner?”

Grimacing, Zachary shook his head. That

thought immediately caused his erection to wilt.
He reached down and adjusted his softening
prick.

Diego chuckled and Zachary glared. The older

man shrugged unrepentantly, grinning.

“Gentlemen, we may have a problem,” Draven

stated, walking up next to him. Vail and Eli
followed.

Zachary glanced around, spotting his mother

on the porch. Esmeralda had her arms crossed
over her chest and she scowled at the cluster of
men. “My mom is just overprotective,” Zachary
told them. “Come and meet her.”

“That’s not the problem,” Draven countered.
“What is it?” Diego asked as he swung his leg

off the bike and stood next to everyone. He kept

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

his arm securely around Zachary’s waist, offering
support.

Draven’s eyes narrowed as he looked toward

Zachary’s home. “The house has been warded,” he
revealed. “While I’m strong enough to break it,
doing that would notify the witch or warlock that
placed the spell that strangers are in town.”

“Damn,” Diego muttered. He glanced down at

Zachary, his brows furrowed in obvious concern.
“Any idea who does magick in your sleepy little
town, my mate?”

Zachary shook his head. “I don’t even know

what a ward is.”

“It means,” Draven stated, drawing his

attention, “someone has placed an invisible barrier
around your home. The only way a paranormal
can enter, is to be invited.”

“So, that’s easy,” Zachary told them. “I’ll just

invite you.”

Draven shook his head. “We need to be invited

by the creator of the ward,” he elaborated.

“But who—”
Just then, several vehicles pulled into the long

driveway behind them. As a group, the men
turned toward them. “Your mother expecting
someone?” Vail asked softly.

Zachary shook his head. “Not that she

mentioned to me.” He peered through the
windshields, realizing he recognized a couple of
the women. “The woman driving the old town car

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is Anita Miller. She owns an antique shop in town.
The woman with her is Laura Jones. She runs a
bed and breakfast with her sister Dayna.” When
the town car stopped, he watched three women
exit the vehicle. “And that’s Dayna,” he said,
referencing the woman who’d climbed from the
back.

From the SUV slid another woman Zachary

recognized and one he didn’t. “That’s Doris
Kieser, but I don’t know who’s with her.” He
scowled. “And I have no idea why they’d, wait—”
He paused suddenly catching sight of a woman
who’d climbed from an old Ford pick-up. “That’s
Lydia Prentz. She’s an acquaintance of my aunt.
They’re both part of the same Wicca…group.”

“Wiccans?” Draven hissed. “Shit.”
Zachary looked toward the tall, slender

vampire. “What’s wrong?”

“Some Wiccans are just that…practicing the

religion. Others are actually witches,” Draven
muttered.

“Time to call Kontra,” Eli murmured.
“Already done,” Vail whispered back.
“Why?” Zachary asked. “What’s wrong?”
Before the words were even past his lips, the

women began to spread out. They didn’t bother
greeting Zachary or even Esmeralda, who Zachary
noted looked on from the porch. One of the
women Zachary didn’t know opened the rear

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

sliding door of the SUV and pulled out his Aunt
Oolanna.

“Oh my God!” Zachary cried.
His aunt stumbled and would have fallen if that

same lady hadn’t grabbed her upper arm. With
her hands tied behind her back, Aunt Oolanna
struggled to keep her balance when she was
pushed forward several steps.

“Oolanna!” Esmeralda cried.
“Stay on the porch!” Oolanna screamed.
“Shut it,” the woman ordered, slapping her

across the cheek.

“Aunt Oolanna!” Zachary called, taking a step

toward her.

“Stay back, animals!” Anita shouted.
To Zachary’s shock, Anita held up her hand

and pointed at him. At the same time, she spouted
off something in gibberish. What appeared to be a
lightning bolt shot toward them. Before it reached
them, Draven held up his hand, palm out, and
said something in an equally foreign tongue. The
electrical energy crackled around them, but didn’t
reach them, as if stopped by some invisible shield.
Still, Zachary could feel the electrical energy in the
air, making the hairs on his arms stand on end.

Gasping,

Zachary

fell

backward.

instinctively reached for his cane, but it wasn’t in
his hand. As he felt Diego’s arm tighten around
his waist, offering support, Zachary remembered
they hadn’t pulled his cane from the motorcycle’s

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saddlebag. He gripped the arm around his waist,
instead.

“I got you, Zach,” Diego assured.
“Thanks,” he whispered.
Draven took a couple of steps forward. He

continued to hold up his hand as he shouted, “I
am Draven Mansetti, mage of the High Order.
Why have you attacked us?”

“I am Atlette Odette, High Priestess of the Blue

Wind Circle. You are a betrayer of the art, aligning
yourself with those animals,” Atlette claimed. “For
this, you must be punished, then I will take your
beasts and show them their true place.”

“Shifters are not animals,” Draven replied,

sounding calm and relaxed. “These men are my
friends,” he stated, waving a hand. Then, he
reached back and touched Vail before he grinned
widely and Zachary realized from the gasps of the
women that he showed off his fangs. “And my
beloved.”

“You’re a mage,” Laura cried. “You can’t be a

vampire!”

“Abomination!” Atlette screamed. “You must

die!”

Draven’s voice lowered gutturally as he replied,

“Oh, witch. There’s no spell you know that’ll
breach a High Order warlock’s shields, let alone
one backed by vampire blood.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Zachary gasped when he saw Draven’s eyes

bleed red and his fingernails extend to three inch,
razor-sharp looking claws. “Oh, my God!”

Looking his way, Draven grinned. “Fear not,

Zach. I would never harm one of our own. Just as
you know what you’re doing when you’re a zebra,
it is the same for me while hunting.”

“H-Hunting?”
“Indeed,” Draven replied, turning back to the

witches. “Now, why don’t you tell us what this is
all about, Priestess Atlette? Why have you bound
Zachary’s aunt?”

Priestess Atlette lifted her hands. “I give you

one chance,” she stated, instead of answering his
question. “If you hand over Zachary, we will
allow you to take your pets and leave unharmed.”
An odd bluish green coloring lit up her fingertips.
“Make your choice.”

Diego stepped forward, still keeping his hold

around Zachary’s waist. “Over my dead body,
witch,” he snarled. “You will not touch my mate.”

“Oh, silly little beast,” Atlette sneered

condescendingly. “It would be my pleasure.”

With those words, she sent another bolt of

lightning at them. This time, several of the others
did as well. The heat of the spells sizzling over
Draven’s shield caused Zachary’s skin to break
out in goose bumps. His heart raced in his chest,
his fingers tingled. It felt very similar to what, for

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so long, he’d thought had been impending
seizures.

Now, Zachary knew better. “Oh, no,” Zachary

murmured.

Diego rubbed up and down his back. “Easy,

Zachary. You’re okay.”

“I feel it, too,” Vail claimed, shivering. “My

animal wants out, so we can flee.”

“I can’t think of any animal that doesn’t

instinctively flee from lightning,” Eli growled.
“Damn them.”

While the others spoke, Zachary clung to

Diego’s arm around his waist. He turned in his
mate’s embrace and breathed deeply of his scent.
Struggling to ignore everything around him,
Zachary concentrated only on how it felt to be in
Diego’s arms.

“That’s the way,” Diego crooned into his ear.

“I’m going to undress you. Just keep breathing,
my mate. Once you’re naked, then you can let go.
Okay?”

Zachary nodded absently, allowing Diego to

manhandle him.

Before long, Diego whispered, “Stay close to

me, Zach. Don’t stray, no matter what you want to
do. We will stay behind Draven’s shield and you
will be safe. Do you hear me?”

Trying to focus, Zachary tipped his head and

met Diego’s gaze. “Yes,” he managed.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Diego lowered his head and pressed a kiss to

his lips. “Good,” he murmured. “Now shift.”

Zachary stopped trying to control the shudders

wracking his body. He let the odd, alien presence
in his mind win. While he knew his body
contorted, his muscles popped, and his bones
moved positions, he didn’t really feel the pain. It
felt more like a toe-curling stretch.

When Zachary came back to himself, the world

had changed to the odd colors he associated with
being in zebra form. Along with that, sounds
bombarded his sensitive ears—screeching from
the witches, his mother calling his name, and
Diego’s soothing croons.

Lifting his head, Zachary peered around at the

clearly angry and irrational women. He saw the
disappointment in his mother’s eyes, the fear in
his aunt’s, and the concern in Diego’s.

Then, Diego’s hand on his cheek gained his

attention. He focused his gaze on his mate even as
he shivered with the need to flee the chaotic scene.
“Stay with me, Zach,” he ordered.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Nine

nce Diego felt certain his mate wasn’t about to
run out of the circle of protection Draven had

erected, he returned his focus to the others. “We
can’t stay here.”

“No, shit!” Draven snarled back.
Of the group, Diego and the warlock were the

only ones not particularly affected by the witch’s
bombardment of electricity. He had to admit, he
would have been impressed at the way they
utilized lightning to manipulate a shifter’s natural
animal instinct to shift and flee the phenomenon.
That is, if it hadn’t been used against him and his
friends.

Eli trembled, the pupils of his eyes vertical slits,

his reptile showing through. Vail leaned heavily
upon Draven, his breathing shallow, sweat
beading his brow. Diego guessed he didn’t feel the
need because he was an alpha. His wolf’s instincts
to protect his people overrode any need to run
from danger.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

“I suggest a strategic retreat,” Diego growled,

hating that he’d have to give the suggestion.

Judging by the way Draven hissed, showing off

his fangs, he knew the vampire felt the same.

“A shifter can only take so many lightning

hits,” he reminded the man. “And we don’t move
as fast as you, even in animal form.” Yep, that had
been a bitter pill to swallow the first time he’d
gone running with the vampire. When the man
turned on his vampiric speed, the fucker was fast.

“Fine,” Draven snapped. “Let’s head—”
“Wait,” Diego cut in when a familiar scent

tickled his senses. He peered to the left and
spotted white between the trees. “In the trees on
the left. We have our back-up waiting. Looks like
Vail’s call went through.”

“Hot damn,” Draven muttered. “Strip Vail so

he can shift. I can’t move with him clinging to me
this way.”

“Right,” Diego muttered. First, he turned to

Zachary and gently rubbed the zebra’s nose. “Stay
with me, my mate,” he crooned. “It won’t be long
now,” he assured. While Zachary’s eyes were
wide, he still snuffled and pressed into Diego’s
palm.

Good.
Diego turned to Vail and gently maneuvered

first the leather jacket then the t-shirt off of his
grandson. The man’s eyes were heavily dilated
and Diego could see the feral light of his wolf

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shining through. “Keep it together a little longer,
pup,” Diego urged as he lowered to one knee and
eased the boots and socks from his feet.

Seconds later, Diego stood and smirked at Vail.

“You can take your jeans off on your own.”

Vail blinked, twice, then seemed to focus on

him.

“Take off your jeans,” Diego ordered.
Immediately responding to his command, Vail

obeyed. He popped the button on his jeans and
shoved them down his legs. Diego took a step
back within the small confines of the protection
circle and returned to his own mate. A glance to
his right told him that Eli had already shifted. The
massive python lay coiled in a large heap of
muscle and scales. Seconds later, Vail’s large wolf
pressed against Draven’s legs, his lips curled away
from sharp teeth as a low growl escaped him.

“We head right, everyone,” Diego ordered.

“Let’s get the witch’s backs to our friends.”

As one, the group began to move…away from

their motorcycles and toward the far side of the
house.

“Where are you going, beasts?” Atlette taunted

as she motioned for her witches to follow them.
“Are you getting tired, abomination?” The group
of women moved, continuing to keep a semi-circle
around them, hitting them with spells.

“That bitch is so mine,” Draven snarled.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Diego would be happy to let him have her. He

just wanted his people safe. While he had no idea
when he’d started thinking of Kontra’s people as
his own—and he knew he’d never try to take over
the grizzly’s pack—his urge to protect still flared
to life. Some things were just instinctual.

They’d managed to make it fifteen feet when Eli

let out a roaring hiss that sent a chill down Diego’s
spine. He saw the massive snake shudder, then,
the shifter flicked his tail as if shaking out a
pained limb.

“Damn it,” Draven muttered. “He’s too long. I

can’t keep a shield all the way around him.”

In response to the vampire’s words, Eli hissed

again. Then, he picked up his pace and slithered
swiftly away from them. His body zig-zagged
across the grass. Several witches switched their
aim and targeted him instead.

At the same time, Diego spotted several forms

bounding from the trees behind the witches. He
recognized Kontra’s bear in the lead. Payson’s
cackling hyena drew the attention of the closest
witch. She screamed, causing several others to
turn toward them as well.

Chaos ensued.
One witch switched targets and fired off a shot

at Payson. The hyena yipped and skittered
sideways. Dodging shots, he easily reached her
and leaped at her chest, knocking her to the
ground. Diego couldn’t tell from his vantage point

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if she was dead or just unconscious, but she didn’t
rise when a bolt of lightning knocked Payson off
of her, sending him rolling through the grass to
lay still several feet away from her.

Diego hoped the shifter was okay.
A loud, bellowing snort echoed through the

area, catching his attention. He spotted Sam’s
massive Texas longhorn bull charging at a witch.
She shot a bolt of lightning at him, but it didn’t
even slow the big beast. He kept coming, forcing
her to dodge sideways. Her flailing form crashed
into another witch, who screeched and also went
down. Sam stood over both of them, his sharp
horns poised over their abdomens.

A scream rent the air.
The witches still on their feet froze as they

gaped at their high priestess. Kontra’s bear stood
on its back legs, one clawed hand wrapped
around Atlette’s neck. Her feet dangled a foot off
the ground and her face was turning an interesting
shade of red.

Sweeping his gaze around the group, Diego

spotted Eli’s serpent wrapped around one woman.
Sam’s bull pinned down two more. Payson still
lay next to the woman he’d tackled. Both
Emmett’s buffalo and Mutegi’s warthog appeared
to be guarding another pair. Grimes’ lion sat
between two bloody bodies, idly licking his paw.
Another bloodied form lay a few feet from Kontra.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Diego watched as one of the two still standing

women lifted a hand. Her eyes blazed with hatred
and her fingers glowed as her lips twisted into a
feral sneer. She started chanting, pointing at
Kontra.

A green bolt shot from Draven and nailed her

squarely in the chest. She toppled like a rag doll.
Slowly, Draven stalked across the clearing,
striding between the groups. Keeping one hand on
Zachary’s neck, Diego slowly followed him,
stopping a few feet away from whom Diego
realized was Zachary’s Aunt Oolanna.

Crouching beside the kneeling, hunched figure,

Draven reached for her bonds. She cringed away
from him, glancing at him fearfully.

“We have no quarrel with you. You are safe,”

Draven assured. “I will release you, and you can
tell me why your circle turned against you.”

“Th-Thank you,” Oolanna mumbled.
Draven used the claw of his index finger to slice

through the ropes holding Oolanna bonds.
Gripping her wrists, he eased her arms back
around to her front. Next, he massaged her upper
arms, smiling encouragingly.

Finally, Oolanna returned his smile, albeit

tentatively. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome,” Draven replied. He looked

toward Kontra, who had lowered the priestess
back to her feet, but hadn’t removed his hold.

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Kontra must have loosened his grip a bit—

Diego realized—because the red hue had begun to
leave her face. While the stink of fear permeated
the clearing, Diego could still see the defiance in
her eyes. Evidently, so could Kontra, for his lips
were still curled, showing off an impressive
display of very sharp teeth.

“You are Zachary Young’s aunt?” Draven

asked, redrawing Diego’s attention.

Oolanna nodded. “I am.”
“Why was your circle after him?”
“B-Because he’s a shifter,” she admitted,

glancing around nervously at all the shifters
around her. “Sh-Shifters are animals.” Paling, she
hurriedly added, “I did my best to protect him. I
created a pill that would hide what he was. He
seemed human. He was safe. But, then—” She
paused, her voice breaking. “Then you guys
showed up. Y-You cleared the herbs from his
system. His true self was no longer hidden.”

Diego swept his gaze over the women again

and spotted a figure he recognized. The mother
from the table with the family sat near Grimes
with her head bowed, her shoulders hunched, and
her arms wrapped around her torso.

“And we were spotted at the diner,” Diego

commented.

“Yes,” Oolanna replied.
“Who told you shifters are animals?” Draven

pressed.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

After looking around at them all again,

Oolanna glanced at Atlette before whispering,
“The high priestess. I’ve seen the shifters in her
kennel. She’s trained them, so—”

A number of low growls sounded through the

clearing.

Oolanna paled, her jaw snapping shut.
Kontra let out a roar, silencing his people.

Diego watched as the bear shifted where he stood,
maintaining his grip on Atlette’s neck and
impressing him with the shifter’s control and
versatility. It took only a few seconds for Kontra to
return to his equally large human form.

With dark eyes narrowed, Kontra stared at

Atlette. “You have caged shifters at your home?”
His deep voice sounded clearly through the
clearing, low and mean.

Atlette’s cheeks flushed red. “I enjoy pets just as

much as the next person,” she stated, probably
trying to sound commanding and haughty.

Instead, to Diego, it sounded cold and cruel.

Next to him, Zachary shuddered. Turning toward
his mate, Diego watched him shift. When Zachary
finally regained himself, he straightened, glaring
at her.

“You prejudiced bitch!” Zachary snarled.

“You’re the reason I never knew myself? Fuck
you!”

“How dare you speak that way to me!” Atlette

screeched. “When I get hold of you, I’ll show you

Charlie Richards

your place. You will respect me!” Then, her voice
lowered and her lips curled into a sneer. “Just
think of all the kiddy parties we’ll do together
when you’re properly trained to give pony rides.
You’ll make me a fortune. Far more than that
beastly zebra I once owned.” She managed to let
out a put upon sigh. “Captured that one too late,
I’m afraid. He went feral.”

The blood drained from Zachary’s face.

“What?”

Atlette scoffed. “You didn’t really believe that

ridiculous story your mother told you about a
biker and a one night stand did you?” Grinning,
she appeared to take great pleasure as she
continued. “Oh, you poor thing. You actually
did,” she mocked. “There was no biker. Your
mother was raped by an animal. A wild, feral
zebra.” Her eyes narrowed as she smirked at him.
“I’ve been watching you for a long time, Zachary.
I should have known you’d become infected with
his disease. Good thing I put him to death.”

Kontra growled. “You’ve sealed your fate.”
Even as Atlette refocused on Kontra, her eyes

widening, the bear shifter’s eyes narrowed.

“High Priestess Atlette Odette, you have

broken the non-aggression pact held between the
Circle of Mages and the Council of Shifters. For
your unrepentant, heinous crimes against our
people, your life is forfeit.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

It was then Diego realized Kontra tightened his
massive paw of a hand around her throat. She let
out a strangled noise, then her eyes rolled into the
back of her head.

Kontra held onto her a few minutes longer.

Then, he flexed his thick arm and tossed her away.
She toppled to her ground, her head lolling at an
odd angle, telling everyone that the bear shifter
had easily snapped her neck.

Peering around the clearing, Kontra roared,

“There are always those we answer to. We all
know the dangers if the wrong human finds out
about us. We are all in danger. We do not need to
battle each other. We must protect each other.” He
looked around and, as one, his people backed
away from the witches and crossed to sit or stand
beside him. “We are sentient in animal form. We
know right from wrong. Leave us alone and we’ll
do the same to you. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Alpha,” a woman Zachary had said was

Doris Kieser immediately responded. She glanced
around at the other women, then stepped toward
him. “Like you said, we all answer to someone. As
a circle, we followed our High Priestess. I was
second, and I’d like to offer a gesture of peace.”
She hesitated, her cheeks flaring red. “I’d like to
take you to where she keeps her pets, um, the
shifters.”

“I accept,” Kontra agreed.

Charlie Richards

Diego turned away, leading Zachary to his

clothes. His mate quickly dressed, then ignoring
the activity going on around them—namely,
cleaning injuries, wrapping up the few witches
that had refused to back down, forcing their
death—Diego pulled his mate into his arms.

Holding him for a few seconds, Diego gently

rubbed up and down his spine. Finally, he
nuzzled his mate’s temple and whispered, “I think
we need to go talk to Esmeralda.”

Zachary shivered in his grip, then nodded.

“Okay.”

Diego eased away from Zachary, leaned down,

and pressed a quick peck to his lips. “Let’s find
your aunt. I’ve a funny feeling she’s the one who
placed that ward.”

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Chapter Ten

Two months later

ow did you talk me into this?” Zachary
wanted to pull his knees up to his chest

and rock like a baby…except the plane’s safety
belt kept him in place. His stomach clenched in
knots, threatening to send bile up his throat. “I
don’t think I can do this.”

“Hey, relax,” Diego crooned, taking his hand.

He wrapped his other hand around Zachary’s
shoulder and tugged him awkwardly against him.
“You can do this. You want to do this. You’re just
freaking yourself out. There’s nothing to it.”

“There’s nothing to jumping out of a perfectly

good airplane?” Zachary squeaked. “Really?”

Diego chuckled softly as he pressed a kiss to

Zachary’s temple, then lowered his lips to whisper
into his ear. “Ah, babe. Relax. I’ll be with you
every second. We’re jumping together.” Giving a
light nip to Zachary’s earlobe, he added, “Just
think. I’ll be strapped to your backside. I get

“H

Charlie Richards

excited when I skydive. My hard dick will be
riding your ass the entire way down. I’ll be
thinking about fucking you as soon as we land. If I
rut against you while we’re falling, do you think
you’ll get hard, too? Will you want me to jump
your bones the second we land?”

Predictably, even with the fear simmering

through Zachary’s veins, his cock thickened in his
jeans. Hissing, he reached down and tried to
adjust himself. It didn’t seem to matter how many
times a day they had sex. One lust-filled look from
Diego had Zachary ready to go in seconds.

A lot sure had changed in the last couple of

months. He’d learned that his mother and aunt
had known he was a shifter and had used herbs to
suppress those genes. He’d also learned his father
really had been a biker, but Zachary’s mother had
caught his fancy and when he’d stayed several
nights with her, his aunt’s friend had discovered
that he was a shifter. Atlette had caught him and,
when he wouldn’t bow to her whim, she’d put
him to death. While Zachary knew they’d dosed
him with herbs because they feared for his life, he
still felt as if those lies had created a gulf between
them. He wasn’t certain how he’d cross it.

Now, though, Zachary spent his time helping

the shifters they’d saved from Atlette’s cages.
Doris had led Kontra’s group to Atlette’s kennels
and they’d found a red fox shifter, a mink shifter,
and a clouded leopard shifter.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Zachary hadn’t asked about their living

conditions. They’d all been healthy weight-wise,
but mentally, they were completely cowed. Fearful
and watchful, obviously concerned with being
struck or harmed, they were quick to obey simple
orders. The gang had had to transfer them in
animal form, since none of them would shift to
human for long…hell, the leopard wouldn’t shift
at all.

Kontra had taken them back to Albuquerque,

and Diego and Zachary had gone with them.
They’d rented a small home in the foothills,
halfway between the city and the territory of an
assorted group of shifters led by Dorian Yaris, a
California condor shifter. That pack already had
several dingo shifters they were, in essence,
rehabilitating, and that’s where Kontra’s three
charges had been taken.

Zachary enjoyed working with them several

times a week while going to school to finish his
degree in social work. Diego supported him and
lavished him with love and attention every spare
minute he had. Occasionally, his lover convinced
him to try new things…like this.

“See, now you’re more relaxed,” Diego

crooned. “Good thing, too, because it’s time to go,
lover,” he added, right before nipping Zachary’s
earlobe lightly.

Just that fast, Zachary’s nerves spiked again. At

least, that meant he didn’t need to jump with a

Charlie Richards

boner, although Diego’s sucking kisses on his neck
definitely kept him half hard. “Couldn’t we just
land?” Zachary asked, tilting his head, offering
more room. Maybe he could distract his lover long
enough that they’d miss their jump window.

Diego pulled away. His dark eyes twinkling, he

smirked. “Naughty Zach.” He chuckled. “It’s our
turn.” Diego unbuckled his belt and stood, sort of,
since he had to hunch awkwardly.

“Couldn’t we wait until—”
“We’re already last,” Diego cut in. He held out

his hand. “Trust me.”

Zachary nodded. He did trust Diego. One thing

he’d learned since bonding with his lover was
Diego always had his best interests in mind. He’d
never do anything to put him in jeopardy.

Unbuckling his belt, Zachary took Diego’s hand

and allowed his mate to pull him to his feet. It felt
like it happened in seconds, getting their
harnesses hooked together, shuffling to the plane’s
open door…then they were falling.

The cold wind whipping past Zachary’s face

made it difficult to take a full breath, let alone
scream, which he totally would have if he could.
He’d seen videos of people sky-diving and they
always whooped and hollered. Nope. Not him. He
could barely catch his breath.

“You okay?” Diego shouted into his ear.
How the hell could he talk? Zachary managed

to nod even as fear still pulsed through his veins.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

“Here we go!”
Weren’t they already going? Suddenly, they

jolted, and Zachary finally found enough breath to
scream. Then, they slowed and he realized Diego
must have pulled the handle for the parachute.

Their descent slowed. Zachary swallowed hard

as the earth below them finally came into focus.
He couldn’t even fathom how high up they were,
but he spotted trees and meadows and streams.
The thing he didn’t see, was the airstrip.

“Isn’t this amazing?” Diego yelled, obviously

enjoying himself.

“Where’s the airport? Aren’t we supposed to

land at the airport?” Zachary called back. He
craned his neck, struggling to look behind him,
but he couldn’t see around Diego’s big body.

“Easy, Zach,” Diego urged. “We’re not landing

at the airport like the others. We’re landing in a
clearing over to the left.”

With his hands on the steering handles, Diego

couldn’t point, but Zachary saw how he jutted his
chin. Looking in that direction, Zachary spotted a
large meadow next to a lake. “Oh,” Zachary
mumbled. As they drifted on the air currents, he
spotted a bright red and blue blanket spread out
under the trees near the edge of the space. “What’s
that?”

“A picnic,” Diego told him. “I had a few of the

guys set it up.” He chuckled, the sound rumbling
from his body, vibrating into Zachary’s. “As it

Charlie Richards

100

turns out, a few of them have quite the romantic
streak in them.”

Zachary snorted. “Are you sure? Maybe Payson

just gets off on the idea of people having sex out in
the open.”

Diego barked a laugh. “You could be right.”
Smiling, Zachary thought of Kontra’s gang as

Diego continued to maneuver them toward the
meadow. Needing something to keep his mind off
the bile threatening to surge up his throat—who
knew he’d be so afraid of heights—Zachary
hollered, “Did you know Kontra bought a house?
Two of them!”

“Really?” Diego responded. “Why? Where?”
“He bought an empty, rundown lodge in the

mountains. It used to be a bed and breakfast,”
Zachary replied, remembering Payson and Land’s
words. The hyena had ended up with a nice head
wound from the battle with the witches and had
spent a day recovering at Zachary’s home. He’d
become pretty good friends with the loud-
mouthed shifter. “He and the gang are fixing it up.
Kontra wanted Tim to have a place close to his
father, since Luc is settling here with his mate,
Dylan.”

From the corner of Zachary’s eye, he caught

Diego’s nod. “Kontra settling down. Who’d have
thought? I hear he’s been on the road for decades.
Oops, hold on,” he called right before they dipped
and turned.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

101

Zachary felt sweat bead on his forehead. He

fixed his gaze on the picnic blanket below them
and forced himself to take slow deep breaths.
After a few seconds, their floating evened out
again. Still, a shiver worked through him, his skin
feeling clammy where his clothes stuck to him and
the harness chafed.

“Damn, you really aren’t enjoying this, are

you?” Diego murmured. “I’m sorry, sweet mate.
We’ll be down in a minute.”

Clearing his throat, then swallowing hard,

Zachary replied, “Not your fault. I didn’t realize I
didn’t like heights so much.”

“Tell me about this other house,” Diego urged,

probably sensing Zachary’s need to think about
something other than the fact that he was floating
through the air. “Where is it?”

“I guess they left a number of their friends in

Oregon,” Zachary stated. Then, something clicked.
“Hey, didn’t you used to lead a pack in that
state?” They’d talked about Diego’s past and his
kids. He didn’t mention his wife much, but that
was okay. Zachary didn’t really want to know
about her. Diego didn’t compare him to her and
she’d been deceased for over a century, anyway.

“Yes, my kids are still there,” Diego replied.

“Lift your legs. We’re going in for our landing.”

Zachary did as he was told. Lifting his legs, he

let Diego rock them backward so he carried most
of the weight. He felt himself being jostled as

Charlie Richards

102

Diego’s feet touched down, then obeyed again
when Diego ordered, “Okay. Feet down.”

Jogging forward several steps, Zachary

grimaced as pain pulsed through his thigh. While
he could limp along without his cane now, he
would never redevelop the muscle that had been
destroyed by his accident…which now he wasn’t
certain had been an accident. He couldn’t bring
himself to ask his mother about those days he
couldn’t remember.

“You all right?”
Zachary returned his attention to Diego. He

smiled as he held his arms away from his body
and allowed his mate to take the harness off of
him. “Yeah. Much better now, thanks.” He sighed,
never had he been so happy to feel the earth under
his feet. Resting his hands on Diego’s chest,
Zachary stared at him solemnly as he stated, “I
love you, but I’m never doing that again.”

Diego’s grin stretched widely over his face. He

slid his arms around Zachary’s waist and tugged
him forward. Once Zachary rested flush to his
body, he crooned, “You love me?”

Opening his mouth, Zachary gaped. He

thought back to what he’d said. Swallowing hard,
he nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I love you.”

“Good,” Diego replied gruffly. “Because I love

you, too.”

Without waiting for a response, Diego lowered

his head and captured Zachary’s lips. He thrust

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

103

his tongue in deep, sweeping it around his mouth.
Opening wide, Zachary accepted his mate’s
tongue-fucking. His cock thickened in his jeans
and he rocked his groin against his lover’s,
pleased to feel an answering erection press against
his stomach.

Diego lifted his head, ending the kiss, and

offered him a feral smile. “Oh, Zach, I have been
waiting for you to share your feelings with me. I
did promise that you wouldn’t regret giving
yourself to me.”

“And I never have,” Zachary replied, panting

lightly as he struggled to regain his breath. He
continued to rut against Diego slowly as he gave
his mate a cheeky smile. “Just don’t expect me to
jump out of any more airplanes.”

Chuckling, Diego grinned. “I won’t,” he

promised. Rubbing his hands up and down
Zachary’s spine, he gently traced the knobs. “I had
planned to treat you to a nice picnic, then make
slow sweet love to you, but now I’m not sure I can
wait.”

“Then don’t,” Zachary urged, his ass hole

clenching in anticipation. “Let me feel you.”

Diego nodded. “I can do that.”
Tugging Zachary to the blanket, Diego did just

that.

About the Author

Charlie started writing fantasy when she was
eight, and after stumbling onto her first erotic
romance at age nineteen, she realized her true
calling. She now focuses on writing gay erotic
romance, normally of the paranormal variety, with
heroes of all kinds. With the help and support of
her husband, Charlie finally fulfilled one of her
life-long goals…move to acreage with her horses.
You can often find her curled up with her laptop
and a cup of tea or glass of wine, creating her next
adventure. Charlie enjoys exploring the mountains
of her new Oregon home on horseback, 4-wheeler,
or motorcycle.

She can be reached at ch.richards2010@yahoo.com
Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com

Document Outline

Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
About the Author

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