Free Marking Melody by R.E. Butler

much contact with their birth mother.  Their dad believed that it would only hurt them more in the long run to know about her, so they didn’t even know her name until they were teenagers.  He wasn’t sure if it was more difficult to actually know who she was or all the years spent wondering.  As kids, both he and Tristan had held out hope that their birth mother would someday decide that she loved their dad and would want to be their mom, but that never happened.  Their dad had cared for their mom but said that he’d never fallen in love with her.  When Tristan had been born, he’d known right away that his son needed a brother to support him and had asked the female to bear him another cub.  It had taken a few months, but she’d gotten pregnant with Micah.
    Although separated from the pride, Melody and her dad had been happy in Bent Creek.  She had her dad and her friends, and she hadn’t wanted for anything because her dad made sure of it.  Micah wished that he’d known her dad.  Judging from her uncles and what she’d shared about him, he’d been a great guy.
    Melody had done well in school and went on to college to study photography.  When he’d seen the pictures on her camera, he’d been surprised by her talent, but when he saw her landscape photos blown up and framed in her uncles’ home, he realized the extent of her talent.  She clearly loved taking pictures, and he wanted her to be able to start up her business again taking what she called lifestyle photographs, including weddings and high school senior pictures.
    Ashland would be perfect for that.  The pride didn’t have a personal photographer.  But the question remained whether she would really be welcome.
    He’d never thought of his people as discriminating against others, because as a rule, males were caring and nurturing.  But the dislike and distrust of the females ran deep.  If they just got to know her, Micah knew that the males in King would see that Melody was different.  Micah found their mate irresistible.  She wasn’t just beautiful, she was also kind and sweet and warm.  Everything that he’d ever wanted in a mate was wrapped up in one devastating package, and the fact that she could shift into a mountain lion was icing on the cake.
    While they were packing up, Micah heard a twig snap, and his cat went on high alert.  Tristan moved in front of Melody and growled as two males came into view.  Micah tucked Melody behind him as Tristan straightened.
    “I heard you two were back in town,” Cole Hardy said, smiling as he came closer.  Cole was a few years younger than he and Tristan, and a member of the pride.
    His brother, Torrin, was with him.  The two stopped in front of them.  “We didn’t mean to interrupt.  We were looking for smartweed .  One of our neighbors is human and has a serious case of poison ivy.  Dad suggested smartweed , and of course we were lucky enough to not be busy when someone needed to find some.”
    “Well, good luck finding it.  I haven’t seen any around,” Tristan said.
    Melody leaned against Micah’s back and trembled slightly.  Torrin, who was Micah’s age, raised a brow and said, “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?”
    Tristan paused for a moment and said, “Sure.  This is our mate, Melody.  Melody, meet Torrin and Cole Hardy.”
    Micah angled himself so that Melody could see the males, but still be protected.  He wasn’t sure what would happen if the males discovered she was a mountain lion, and he didn’t particularly care to find out.
    Torrin’s brow arched in surprise.  “Did you say your mate, as in you share her?”
    Melody’s hand gripped Micah’s waist.
    Tristan folded his arms over his chest.  “That’s right.  She belongs to me and Micah.”
    Cole chuckled.  “Man, you guys are hanging around the Fallons too much.  Didn’t you want a girl all to yourself?  With the females gone, there’s no reason to share for