Buried and Shadowed (Branded Packs #3)(9)

Tall trees blocked the moonlight from hitting the soft ground below his bare feet. He let out a breath. So he was in the den’s small, forested area, devoid of homes. This was where his people would go on hunts within the den walls to allow their beasts to feel the moon and nature. Though in this vision, the moon wouldn’t help, and it would have to be Oliver alone who got himself out of it.

Because whatever happened to him within the vision, also happened to his body outside the scope of this dream that wasn’t a dream. That was why with each vision, each glimpse into the future, he knew he was one step closer to death.

While others thought it was merely the weight of the visions taking their toll that tired him and took from him, that wasn’t all of it. He lived the deaths he saw, lived the pain and torment.

And if he weren’t as strong as he was—or at least as strong as he once was—he’d have died long ago.

That was why it was the bear that held the mantle of Foreseer. Ursines possessed the strength to hold off death for as long as possible. The wolves held the Omega, for they were the ones closest to their beasts and hearts, able to comprehend every emotion and trace of empathy. The cats were the wily ones, the ones who held themselves closest to the vest, so they held the Shaman, the magic wielder.

Oliver was the fate bringer, Gibson the fate soother, and the unknown Shaman of the Felines, the fate changer. Together, they would one day be able to bring pure health and depth within the Pack. Without each facet, the way the bonds of those they led, those they followed would never be whole.

Of course, Oliver had been alone far too long with his duties, and they had taken their toll. Maybe now that Gibson had found his true calling things would change, but he wasn’t so sure. The wolf was too far gone down his own path of what he thought he would be, and Oliver couldn’t hold the mantle forever.

And they didn’t have their Shaman to complete the circle.

A growl sounded within his vision and he turned toward it, knowing he needed to get his head out of musings of what the future could bring and into this future.

The vision darkened, and he did his best to focus. Things weren’t always easy to understand within the foggy darkness that was his mind during a new scene.

He blinked as his nephews, Anya and Cole’s cubs, Lucas and Owen, ran through the clearing, their panicked growls hitting his gut like a lead hammer. He ran toward them, but the trees spread out around him, blocking him from the little boys. Cole jumped out of a tree then, blood coating his fur as he fought off a dark enemy.

Oliver couldn’t see who it was, only that it wasn’t human. Whoever would put his family in danger was a shifter, and that put Oliver on edge. His body shifted into his bear, his hump rising, his jaw unhinging as he roared.

He went to Cole’s side, trying to help, but couldn’t reach him, the darkness overtaking him once more.

Oliver blinked, and instead of Cole and the cubs in front of him, two wolves fought, back to back. Or rather, one wolf battled and the other limped behind while they tried to keep the fighting wolf’s back safe from whoever attacked them.

Oliver inhaled and staggered on four paws. Mandy was hurt, and even though she was a submissive wolf, she was doing her best to protect Gibson. The male wolf, Gibson, fought with his heart, but it wasn’t enough against the onslaught of so many of their enemies.

Oliver ran toward them, desperate to save them, but it was too late. Something pierced his side, a fiery pain arching over his chest and through his body. He roared again, and this time, it ended on a scream.

He woke up in his bed, alone and sweaty, the scent of Gibson and Mandy coating his skin.

He let out a shaky breath and swallowed the bile in his throat. Why could he scent those two as if they had been here instead of just in his vision? He’d never had that happen before. In fact, he wasn’t sure he’d ever had such a clear vision of shifters that were not bear before.

His bear needed air, and so did he.

Oliver stripped off his sheets and sighed. He’d need to wash them again since he’d sweated through the lot. That had been happening more and more often lately. At least the bright side this time was that he wouldn’t have to face Anya’s worried stares anymore. Now that she’d moved into Cole’s place with the boys, Oliver was alone to hide his shame and the evidence of his declining health.

It was hard enough knowing he was dying inch-by-inch, vision-by-vision, without having to break his sister’s heart in the process.

He quickly put his sheets and pajama bottoms in the ancient washing machine he shared with a few other shifters. Though he lived alone, he did his best to share what he had. It wasn’t easy when the SAU kept moving them around on a whim, but Oliver wouldn’t let others be inconvenienced because he needed more…things than others because of his role in the Pack.

Instead of going outside right away, he jumped in the shower and set the spray to cold. He’d want another shower later, and he might as well wash off the sweat and not waste the meager hot water he had.

He quickly soaped up, doing his best to push the visions from his brain just for the moment. Of course, it was never as easy as that, and he couldn’t get thoughts of Gibson and Mandy out of his head. Despite the frigid water temperature, his cock hardened at the thought of them.

His bear wanted them both, and frankly, so did the man. If he weren’t such a bad bet, he might have done something about it. With how few shifters there were within the den walls, even if they were in tight quarters, it wasn’t uncommon for triads to develop. Hell, it hadn’t been that uncommon twenty-five years ago when they lived in secret amid the human population.