Tiger's Claim

by Celia Kyle

  Stella caressed his neck once more, fingers trailing along the column of his throat. “You know Birch wouldn’t like that.”

  “What she said.” Grant chose to speak despite Cole’s threat.

  And now he hated Grant a little more just because he knew Stella was right. His team alpha really wouldn’t like it if Cole killed the wolf. Something about each of them being an integral part of the team or some shit.

  Cole called bullshit, but since Grant was his closest backup, he’d force himself to play nice a little longer.

  “Now, ignore him and tell me what you found out.”

  Cole tried to do what she asked. His tiger was already wrapped around her little finger, and it wanted to give her whatever she desired. “I spoke with King alone. I’ve got him at the top of my list as the brains behind UH, though Stedham is still included because of something Olivia said.”

  A low growl, the tone different from Cole’s, vibrated in the air. It took him a minute to pinpoint the source, and it hit him that now it was Stella on the verge of causing a scene. Well, well, well…maybe he wasn’t the only jealous one.

  “What did the bitch say?” Stella’s words came out in a garbled mess, but he got the gist.

  “I believe Trevor Stedham sits at Walters’s left, and King is either on Walters’s right or very close to the man. Unless you’ve heard otherwise, our target is one of those.”

  “And Walters.” Her voice remained rough and grating.

  Grant spoke up, but Cole ignored him. “You know that Birch wants to keep Walters alive for—”

  Instead, he answered Stella. “Yes, but at the right time.”

  “Which is after I get all of the information we need and make sure he’s answered all of your questions. Then I’ll…”

  “He’s already suspicious of you, Stella. You’re not doing anything but staying out of his way.” Cole would stand firm on this one. Even if she glared at him until the end of time. He couldn’t risk her—his tiger wouldn’t allow her to be threatened. And Walters? He’d do more than threaten if he discovered she was a shifter. He’d kill.

  “Cole…”

  “No. Do you know how dangerous he is? If his suspicions are confirmed, he’ll take you. He’ll—”

  “I know what he’ll do,” Stella hissed, but thankfully her cat’s appearance didn’t overtake her human features.

  Cole eased them off the crowded dance floor and cupped her face, gently tracing her cheek. “No, I don’t think you do, Stella. I can’t risk you. I won’t. You have a personal interest in Walters, but I’m the one who’s trained for this. You don’t have the heart of a killer, sweetheart. I swear, you’ll get what you want.”

  Eventually. The team might keep the human around for a little while, but Cole would keep his promise.

  “Cole…” He ignored Grant’s warning tone, too.

  “Good.” Stella gave him a blinding smile. “But I can—”

  “Cut in?” That wasn’t Cole’s voice, and it sure as hell wasn’t Grant’s.

  No, it was Walters’s, and he was looking at Stella like he wanted to devour her.

  Over Cole’s dead body.

  Chapter Twenty

  Cut in? Over Stella’s dead body. Walters couldn’t cut in, but Stella was willing to cut him. Or the man’s cuntalicious daughter. Ooh, how about both? Both would be good. Cole would probably tell her she wasn’t allowed. Why the hell had she agreed to work with him again? Oh. Right. No choice. Bastard. Sexy bastard, but a bastard nonetheless.

  “Of course,” Cole murmured, his deep tenor vibrating through her chest, but his expression told her more than words. It was a silent communication, an expression of worry and warning. He didn’t need to warn her. Fear—her constant companion—was sitting in the front row of her emotions.

  But despite that fear, she pushed on, refusing to back down and ruin the operation when they were so close to the end. She could be strong. For SHOC. For Cole. For her sister.

  Cole loosened his hold, stepped back, and turned her over to James Walters. “Though I will expect her back at the end of the song.”

  “I don’t know. I may decide to keep her.” Walters grasped her hand gently. “She is gorgeous.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere,” she purred even as her cat gagged. Being told she was beautiful was nice. Touching the man who wanted to destroy her people…not so much.

  “Everywhere?” Walters smirked and placed his hand on her lower back. His clammy fingers rested on her bare skin, sending a shudder up her spine. Revulsion churned in her stomach, the emotion warring with the terror that consumed her blood.

  She really shouldn’t have gone with a backless dress. Really.

  Walters pulled her toward him until their fronts were flush. She could feel every line of his pudgy, soft body, and her cat recoiled. It wanted the firmness of Cole, not this Pillsbury-like human.

  “Be good, you two.” With that, the tiger turned and left her with Walters, disappearing into the mingling guests.

  “Dance with me.” James tightened his grip and swung them into a slow dance across the floor. “Tell me, Stella, will flattery get you in my bed?”

  “First a dance and now you want me in your bed? You do move fast.” She struggled not to let disgust overtake her expression.

  “You have to move fast in business. Options are presented, and I make a choice. If I wait too long, I could lose.”

  His life if she was lucky.

  “You’re willing to risk Cole’s anger by stealing me away?” She tsked. “I thought you were recruiting his bank account for the cause.” She eased away so she could meet his eyes. “They have to be stopped, you know.” She traced his neck once more, smiling when he shuddered in her arms. “Cole’s money could help.”

  “Hmm…” He gave her a noncommittal hum and then smirked. “There are things you could do to…help.”

  Her stomach churned. His innuendo wasn’t lost on her. He was thinking with his little—bow chicka wow wow—head.

  “Me?” She lifted her eyebrows, eyes open wide. “What could I possibly do?”

  Please don’t say fuck. Please don’t say fuck.

  “I think the answer deserves private discussion.” He traced her thumb with his own and pulled them into a turn with ease. “Don’t you think?”

  No, she didn’t think. Being alone with Walters hadn’t been part of the plan. She was meant to be arm candy. A silent listener while Cole did everything else. Getting private time with James was not silent snooping. It was going against every order Cole had given her.

  “When were you thinking about sneaking away?” She had to tease him, keep their chat going and hope he wanted to disappear later. After she had a chance to organize things with Grant and Cole so she wouldn’t really be at risk. Except…

  “There’s a door in the south corner of the room. We can slip away and talk about how we can help each other.” He caressed her with small circles of his thumb.

  She’d need to bathe in bleach at the end of the night.

  “Each other?” She caressed his lapel. Her jaguar wanted to sink its claws into his chest. Stella’s human half recognized that the situation was getting out of hand. “I assume I’m supposed to help you by delivering Cole’s checkbook, but what can you do for me, Mr. Walters?”

  “Anything you want? Diamonds? Cars? A vacation home?”

  She quirked a brow. Really? If she was Cole Turner’s trophy girlfriend, didn’t James think she’d have more than enough material gifts? “The only problem is it’d be paid for with Cole’s money, and Unified Humanity would be back where it started—with a cash-flow problem.”

  James didn’t like that pointed out to him, and his next spin was quick and hard. He glared, and his jaw flexed as he gritted his teeth. “A few trinkets won’t harm the cause.”

  “I can get trinkets from Cole now.” Her dress swayed with their steps while she tried to think up a demand that would make Walters balk. “I want to be more involved.”
>
  “Involved how?”

  “I want to meet them—the men behind the curtain who work so hard to get rid of that disease. I’ve always dreamed of shaking the hands of the people determined to save us.”

  “You’ve already met a few, kitten, and they’ve all taken a moment to appreciate what they’ve seen.” His voice turned husky. “They’d all appreciate a moment to get a closer look, too. Is that what you want?” James murmured.

  He wasn’t supposed to sound intrigued. He wasn’t supposed to look at her like what she asked for was possible—within her grasp.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  Stella matched his volume, adding a hint of desire to her voice. It wasn’t easy—James made her want to vomit as if she’d been on a two-day bender—but she managed. “Yes, that’s what I want.”

  “Then come with me.” James released Stella and stepped away.

  He snatched her wrist and began to stride toward the back of the room. His pace was slow but determined. Several guests attempted to stop him, but he waved each one away. He didn’t allow himself to be distracted from his goal.

  Her wrist was locked within his grasp, and his hold remained firm but not painful.

  No. No. No. God, she was a fuckup. Stella kept up with James’s strides while she scanned the room. She hunted for any sight of Cole, silently praying he’d stop them before James got her out of the ballroom. This wasn’t right. Not just because it went against Cole’s orders, but also because…it felt wrong. There was an oily tang to James’s scent. He was too happy. Too excited. Too…

  She struggled to keep up with his strides, pausing only when they’d reached Charlotte King’s side, where she spoke with Trevor Stedham.

  “Apologies, Stedham.” James tossed out the words, but they seemed perfunctory, not sincere. As if Trevor wasn’t worth James’s notice. “Charlotte,” James murmured low, but Stella still heard him thanks to her inner kitty. There wasn’t a conversation in the room that she couldn’t catch with her jaguar’s hearing. “I need a meeting with your father.” He tugged and drew her close, her presence snaring Trevor’s gaze. “Stella would like to say hello.”

  She gulped. Well, if James went to Charlotte King—and by extension, her father, Richard—for a meeting, she’d at least confirmed King’s status within UH. Unfortunately Cole wasn’t there to hear the news. Or save her from what was to come. Maybe she could talk her way out of this.

  “But there are so many guests. Don’t you—” The blonde tried to stop him, but he wasn’t about to be delayed.

  “Now, Charlotte. Find Richard. I want a meeting now. No excuses.” James practically snarled like the jaguar inside Stella.

  Order delivered, James waved Charlotte off and they returned to their travels to the back of the room. He pulled her to a beige door that blended with the wall until it was nearly invisible. He reached into his jacket and withdrew what appeared to be a magnetic keycard. One swipe of the rectangle along the edge and the panel swung toward them.

  “James.” She tittered. “Maybe now isn’t the time.”

  “Of course it is.” His voice was hard and flat.

  Her anxiety increased, and Stella glanced over her shoulder, searching for Cole.

  “Come along, Miss Moore.” James tugged.

  She returned her attention to what stretched out before her—a long, empty hallway. Pristine white walls and sterile tile flooring extended along the passage. It was bright white, glaring fluorescent lighting illuminating the space and leaving not a single shadow.

  Most people were afraid of the dark, but it was this lack of darkness that frightened Stella. Her jaguar snarled that it wasn’t afraid of anything. Big cats didn’t “do” fear. Slightly distressed, maybe, but not afraid. It sniffed. That was for humans.

  James tugged her along and pressed a panel on the wall the moment she stepped over the threshold. It sealed the door with a whoosh and a hiss, locking her in with the shifter-hating human.

  Okay, there was nothing to worry about. It was a hallway. A blah-looking hallway, but there wasn’t anything blatantly threatening. She had her suspicions about his suspicion, that was all. She was fine. Fine.

  Except the scent of bleach surrounded her. The burning smell scorched her nostrils, and she wrinkled her nose. She parted her lips and breathed through her mouth. Then she had to fight the urge to gag. Sometimes having an inner animal with a heightened sense of smell and taste sucked.

  James didn’t say anything at first, merely dragging her farther away from the ballroom. The heels of their shoes clicked each time they struck the tile floor, the sounds echoing off the barren walls. The passage curved left before straightening once more, revealing even more of the sterile hall.

  “James.” She tugged against his hold, and he tightened his grip. Not enough to hurt, but to tell her that he wouldn’t be letting go just yet. “I changed my mind. I’m sure Cole is looking for me.”

  “You wanted to meet the ones in charge, kitten.”

  She swallowed hard, heart thrumming. Yeah, this had been a bad idea. Why had she wanted to play spy again?

  “But it’s your party. Shouldn’t we go back? Won’t your guests miss you?” She didn’t try to get free, but she did slow her pace. She’d seriously love one of those com things that Cole had. It’d be great to be able to summon the cavalry to save her from this mistake.

  He glanced over his shoulder and winked. “There’s not a single guest more important than you, kitten.”

  “More flattery.” She forced a grin to her mouth, her lips remaining closed. Her cat stretched and strained against Stella’s control. It wanted to push forward, the cat no longer liking this game.

  James rubbed her inner wrist with his thumb, tracing small circles on her skin. “It’s not flattery if it’s the truth.”

  The hall curved once more, taking a meandering, snake-like path away from the party.

  “More flattery?” She laughed, the chuckle sounding fake to her own ears, and she wondered if he sensed her growing nervousness. “Why don’t we turn back? I’m sure Cole’s looking for me by now. I’m supposed to be his date this weekend.”

  James grunted. “Not too much longer.”

  He stole a glance over his shoulder, and her breath caught in her throat. Maybe clinging to her cover like a spider monkey wasn’t such a good idea anymore. Not with the way James stared at her—as if he couldn’t wait to attack.

  “James…”

  “Just a few more steps. I promise.”

  Stella shook her head and laughed, pulling against his ever-tightening grip. “It seems like this hallway is going on forever!”

  “No, not forever. Just until we reach the restricted area.”

  “Restricted area?”

  James grinned. “You didn’t think the highest-ranked members of Unified Humanity would meet and discuss business near the guests, did you?” He shook his head. “We have a private section on the island for a reason—privacy.”

  They finally reached the end of the passage, a smooth wall in their path. James brushed the keycard along the edge just like before. “We’ve arrived.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Cole meandered around the edge of the room. Whenever someone tried to drag him into a conversation, he merely tipped his head in acknowledgment and moved on. He feigned calm, pretending not to feel a rising anxiousness in his gut. His tiger experienced the sensation as well, the cat’s tail swishing back and forth in agitation.

  Something was wrong. Something…He scanned the room again, searching for the cause of his unease, and he soon found the source. Or rather, didn’t. Stella and James were gone. Fuck. When had she disappeared? How long had she been gone?

  It didn’t matter that Stella was a powerful shifter—that she had an inner jaguar at her beck and call. James had UH on his side. James was UH, with their weapons of torture and countless shifter deaths beneath their belts.

  His inner tiger snarled, baring its teeth while it attempted to take control. It
scraped at his mind, long claws digging into him. It sought to shred Cole’s mental bonds, burst free regardless of the consequences. The cat saw Stella as its—theirs—and now she was in danger. It was anxious for a hunt, shaking with the need to burst free and seek out Stella.

  Cole passed off his empty glass, freeing his hands, and continued on his methodical path through the space. The double doors—spread wide for the party—beckoned him, and he took his time as he escaped the crowd. No sense in drawing attention to himself. He stepped into the night, the soft glow of the lamps lining the asphalt path. Deep shadows lined the walkway, and he left the pavement to conceal himself within that darkness.

  Hidden from view, he leaned against a tree and crossed his feet at the ankles, appearing relaxed should anyone catch sight of him lingering in the landscaping. Unlikely, but he wasn’t alive today because he was unprepared.

  His tiger leapt forward the moment he gave way to the beast. The animal overtook Cole’s eyesight and then his sense of smell, giving him a deeper understanding of the world around him. He scented perfumes and men’s cologne, the stink of liquor and the aroma of human arousal. More than one couple had sex on the brain as they passed him.

  Cole would have counted himself as part of that group if he had Stella in his arms. Instead, she was—

  The tiger snarled and shoved at him, demanding he do something already.

  He tapped the spot behind his ear, drawing Grant’s attention.

  “Hold on.” The words were mumbled low and garbled—not directed at Cole, but at someone else. When he had Grant’s attention, the wolf spoke normally. “What’s up?”

  “Who the hell are you talking to?” He couldn’t suppress the hint of growl in his voice, and his inner feline swiped at him. They had to focus on Stella. Nothing else mattered. “Never mind. Where’s Stella right now?” He tried to push the growl down, but the animal in his soul fought him.

  “One sec. Lemme look.”