Strays: A Romantic Fantasy Adventure

Sakura hadn’t realized she had been holding her breath until she stepped outside and away from the alpha’s house. “I can’t believe that worked,” she gasped, the bodice feeling even tighter around her lungs.

Ivy hugged herself around the demon’s arm. “You did so well. You didn’t look nervous at all. They didn’t know what to make of you.”

“You did very well,” Akiko agreed. “I was certain that it wouldn’t end well once Toshi began speaking. He advised my son, and Yuki very much respects his opinion.”

“Well, a deal is a deal. No going back on it now.” Sakura smiled at the woman. “Thank you for agreeing to this.”

“I’m happy to do so, and I’m hoping to learn something new myself.” She looked to the girl who wasted no time in eagerly questioning the old healer on her practices.

As they made their way through the village towards Sakura’s old home, Ivy and Akiko’s conversation soon became overwhelmed by the delighted chattering of children.

“Why are you here?” one of the curious little voices asked.

“You’re so tall!” another shouted. “Can I hold your sword?”

“Oh good.” Sakura sighed to herself as the cause of their excitement soon came into view. “He’s harassing the children now.”

They spotted the two men who were surrounded by a group of fox children, the kits crawling over each other in order to get their questions answered by these outsiders who had stayed in their den. Ivy halted her interrogation, her eyes brightening as she released the demon and bounded towards the devil.

“So that sleeping boy was her mate,” Akiko stated as she watched the girl throw herself around the tall boy with an enthusiasm normally reserved for those who experience extended separations, and not merely an hour or so. “She sure is an affectionate little thing, isn’t she. I’m sure they’ll have children running around before you know it.”

Sakura laughed but chose to keep her opinion to herself as they made their way towards the rambunctious group.

Ren was crouched in front of the rowdy children, spinning far-fetched tales of who they were and why they were there. He waved at the two approaching women as he straightened himself. The children flocked around the angel’s legs, grabbing and jumping at him. He stared in wide-eyed wonder at each and every one before gazing up at Sakura, “They’re like little yous!” he exclaimed, pulling four into his arms and lifting them as they giggled and squealed. “Let’s have a bunch of them! We’ll over run Hollis with them! It’ll be great! They’ll fuck up everything!”

“Put them down,” she scolded. “They’re not yours.”

He scowled at the vixen who was putting a damper on his fun but set them down as others tried to climb up his arms, laughing and pleading to play.

“You kits go.” Akiko shooed at the children. “You can play another time.”

They looked up at their elder with disappointment but complied, whining and dragging their feet as they wandered away, knowing better than to go against her word.

Sakura walked up to Ivy and Zero, interrupting their reunion and Ivy’s excited chattering by smacking her hand on top of the boy’s head. “This is Zero, Ivy’s mate.” A teasing grin spread across her face with a small giggle. It was so much more entertaining to be the harasser than the harassed. “He won’t be a bother to anyone, but he needs to stay with her at all times.”

Akiko observed the devil, his crimson eyes on display for the first time, and gulped nervously. “His eyes…”

The woman was quick to wave off her concerns. “Like I told Yuki, ignore them. I can promise you that this is the worst that he gets.”

She took her time considering it, carefully studying the devil and the way the girl was blissfully embracing him. “Can you work without complaint?” she finally asked him.

“I can,” he replied softly.

“Alright. I’ll take him as well.”

“Thank you.” Sakura looked at the pair. “I’m leaving and won’t be back until the morning. You two are on your own for the night. Behave yourselves. I’m going to change and then I’m off. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She turned and walked away. “Come on, Ren.”

Ren smiled appreciatively at Akiko. “Thank you for doing this.” He then pointed at Zero and Ivy, chuckling, as he meandered away. “You two mates stay out of trouble. Don’t do anything I would do.” His lengthy strides caught up to the fox’s smaller ones in no time. “So, what surprises do you have in store for me today?”

Sakura tugged at the dress’ bodice, tired of being suffocated. She had thought the silk dress was bad, but this was a whole other level of torture. No wonder Raz, Ren, and Ivy always picked out her dresses. She obviously couldn’t be trusted to choose the right option. “There’s a tunneler outside of the den. I’m gonna kill it in exchange for Akiko to teach Ivy.”

His eyes lit up in anticipation. “Sounds fun. And I’m invited this time?”

“I invited you the first time I killed one. You wanted to be stubborn, so I left you at home.”

Ren raised a brow. “First time? How many have there been?”

“Two, but don’t bring it up to Ivy. She gets upset about it.”

“What did you do?” He had a sneaking suspicion.

The fox huffed. “It’s not a big deal. I don’t know why she’s always like this.”

“What did you do?”

She bit her cheek, not wanting to admit it but unable to hide anything from the man beside her. “I didn’t use a weapon,” she mumbled, her eyes averted.

Laughter rolled from his mouth. The woman always found new ways to entertain him. “What were you so pissed about?”

She quickly peeked up at him. “You.”

It suddenly wasn’t so funny anymore. “Oh. How long after?”

“I don’t know. A year or so.”

“Must have been pretty bad.” He could imagine that massacre quite vividly.

“Well, it’s been four years and Ivy still cries about it, so take that as you will.” She leapt onto the veranda and slid the door open, entering the home.

“So you’re going three for three.” Ren closed the door and went for his bag. “We’ll just take yours. I’m not carrying two bags, and you already have most of the food.” He began moving supplies from his to hers. “I’m sure all the men were clamoring to come with.”

Sakura pulled off the dress, breathing a deep sigh of relief as her lungs were finally able to fully expand, and slipped on one of her father’s old shirts. Even though her mother’s dress had been uncomfortable, she still enjoyed having a piece of the woman with her. She would do the same with her father’s clothes. The shirt wasn’t nearly as big as the ones of Ren’s that she would wear, but it was still long and baggy on her smaller frame. “You know they were,” she scoffed. “Yuki will be there though.”

The man looked up, watching the woman twist and try to tie the shirt behind her. He went to her, pulling the fabric from her hands, and tied the knot. “Your old buddy Yuki, huh? Are you excited for your long-awaited reunion?”

“I’m ready to get this over with,” she grunted, staring at her father’s katana in the chest. “I don’t need him to babysit me.”

“Of course not. That’s what you have me for.” The angel hung his arms over her shoulders and plopped his chin on her head, observing the blade with her. “You should stop staring at it, and just take it. It’ll be better than the glaive.”

It was tempting. “I like my glaive. It’s a part of Raz. I wouldn’t feel right without it.”

“Then take both.”

“Isn’t that kind of overkill?”

He laughed. “Seriously? That’s what you’re worried about. When is everything you do not overkill?”

She nodded. He did have a good point. “I’ll take it.” She began to move forward but Ren’s arms slipped from her shoulders and snaked around her waist, pulling her back against him.

“Are you sure you want me to go?” his voice low in her ear. “I overheard some of the women talking earlier. All of them are in a tizzy, saying how you’ve returned in an attempt to have Yuki choose you as his mate. Apparently, he has yet to take a woman. What a great honor that would be. To be chosen by the alpha. I wouldn’t want to get in your way. I know how important the den’s traditions are to you foxes.”

He wanted to antagonize the woman. To see her flustered and agitated. For her to huff and puff and pout. He loved getting a rise from her. Having her full attention on him. Getting the last laugh as she stormed off, destroying everything in her path. Though he hadn’t succeeded in setting her off that morning, he had warmed her up. With a little more pushing, he’d get her where he wanted her.

However, he hadn’t considered that she would turn it around on him.

And he would go from predator to prey.

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Sakura confessed slowly, carefully taking his words into consideration. She spun around in his arms, peering up at the angel, her fingers pinching his shirt near his heart and drawing herself closer. “What woman wouldn’t want a strong man? One with power. And who is stronger and more powerful than an alpha?”

Ren stared down at the vixen, her bright eyes and luscious lips tempting him, luring him into her spell.

Fuck.

She was doing it again.

And there was nothing that he could do about it even if he wanted to.

Sakura rolled the fabric, biting her lower lip for only a moment. “The thing about fox men is they take what they want, when they want. No one can stop them,” she sighed. “How about you Ren? Do you take what you want? Or are you a coward?”

He could try to take what he wanted.

Possibly even get it.

But where was the fun in that?

It was true that the men of the den were accustomed to taking what they wanted without any consideration beyond their own wants and needs. However, Ren couldn’t say the same thing for himself.

He didn’t want to just take what he wanted.

He wanted it to be wholeheartedly given.

Like a gift.

Meant for only him.

“I think we both know I’m a coward,” he admitted simply.

“Really?” A pout puckered her lips. “Well, that’s a shame. Maybe you should change that.”

It was a nice response, one he would love to pursue if not for those emeralds glowing with deception, just waiting for him to fall into their trap.

“You’re trying to manipulate me,” the angel growled, unable to look away.

Her lips curled slightly. “Is it working?”

He groaned, “You know it is.”

“Good.”

He knew better than that. “Nothing good will come from this.”

“That’s not true,” she purred with a luring smile, her fingers creeping higher and slipping under his collar, pulling gently as she rose on her tiptoes and pushed her body against his. “You’re going to go with me, and I’m going to kill the tunneler. After that, you’re going to carry me back while I sleep. When we return, you can tuck me into bed. I’ll even let you lay next to me, and if you’re really lucky…” She guided him closer, her voice a seductive whisper. “I’ll be so tired that I won’t end up kicking you the entire time. Doesn’t that sound good?”

Ren could think of a few things that sounded better, and they wouldn’t even require them to leave the house in order to do them. But whether he was a child or an adult, when she looked at him the way she was doing now, the way she had done time and time throughout the years, he was weak and couldn’t deny her.

The only time he had ever managed to turn away had nearly destroyed both of them.

He flung his head back, his eyes squeezed tight, face scrunched in defeat. “Fuck.”

“Great!” Sakura smacked his chest hard with both hands. “Now stop being an antagonizing little shit and let’s go.” She pulled away from him, slipping on her baldric and glaive before going to the chest and unstrapping the katana. She looked at it, breathing deeply, and put it on her hip. There was a tug at her hair, and she looked back at Ren while he unwound her braid.

The angel smirked at her. “Only good little fox girls wear their hair up.”