Cougar

by Cougar (lit)

  Jackal explained what he'd heard from the Shifters. "You ran your mouth, making me appear the nutcase. And you know most Normals are Christian on this continent. Their aversion to priestesses only makes me think you had ulterior motives. So, go away." I shoved the whining door at her tousled form.

  Keezia lodged a combat boot in the doorway. "Just speak with me. There is much you must know. About your Cougar mating with a Shifter. Things never discussed until necessary."

  Rip her throat out, Cougar roared.

  Maybe I should listen to my inner cat because Keezia threw the Cougar crap in my face. What wouldn't my mother have told me? Besides, a White priestess never lost her purity through mating. Keezia was a virgin. "Oh? You fancy yourself an expert? When were you ever mated? Let alone to a Shifter. Nobody knows enough about Cougars to make assessments about them anyway."

  Keezia brushed a palm along the door, shoving the hard wood into my chest. "These are things all priestesses learn when they reach twelve years training or earn a color status."

  Maybe they did. But I was no longer any fraction of a believer.

  "I know things about the aliens reserved for upper level sisters. You must hear my words."

  "Or you'll torture me with your power? I'm not buying it, Keezia." Forget forcing me onto my knees and ripping my hair out. Not today. The evil bitch would try it! I shoved the door against her ankle.

  She didn't budge, the evil old manipulative bat.

  "Get out of my lodge!"

  "A few private minutes of your time, Sierra. You can bind my wrists behind my back. Beat me for all I care. But you must know what lies in your future. Not even the Guardians can tell you what I know."

  Bind her? Now that might be fun. I could leave her tied somewhere. A blind woman who couldn't use her arms would be truly vulnerable. "Alright. Just a minute. I need to find some cording."

  Within minutes I looped rope around her wrists and shoved her into one of my table's squeaking chairs.

  "You mated with his Wolf?" Keezia demanded.

  So, what was her problem? Never got any? The White-Priestess virgin had to remain celibate to conjure the power she had used on me before. But that didn't matter at the moment. I stood, feet firmly planted apart, studying her crow's feet where she squinted at me as if the action might produce the answers she wanted. "I thought the particulars of our mating were common knowledge after my mate's hullabaloo a few nights ago. Especially since Guardians are quite loud when in their Wolfskins."

  "Yes," she lowered her voice to a whisper, "but only the sisters know what the result is of such a mating."

  What is she babbling about? Just get on with disclosing information. "Mother told me many things."

  "Did she tell you how the Cougar gene is passed on to offspring?"

  "I assumed the process is through normal means. And that would be as defined by science. Not Rites-of-the-Goddess dogma. Why would Mother need to explain things otherwise?"

  Keezia nodded with a sly smile. "Because she's a Cougar. She would know firsthand about the recessive gene. Attached to the sex chromosome. The X. And if a Shifter sire and the Cougar dame carry the gene, the daughters from the union bear the gift."

  More like death sentence. "So, you're telling me this because…"

  "Your dame told me you're a Cougar. You must know the risks you take since you encourage your mate to don his Wolfskin when mating."

  "I don't believe you. You're playing games with me."

  "I know your story spoken from your dame's very lips. You first shifted two months before your fifth birthday because your sire journeyed to New York City without you. And during his absence you had nightmares. Your dame found you shifted in your bed." Keezia's cataract-clouded eyes tried to watch me.

  Could she detect my reaction to the truth? I was five when I first shifted. Mother must have planned to have me join the sisterhood to protect me that far back. And that's why Keezia called Mother my dame and toyed with giving me the nickname little mongoose-a hint that she knew. With truth came responsibility. I had to accept Keezia's message. "Even if what you say is true, why do I need to know these things now?"

  "Because Cougars are born when a sire mates in his Wolfskin." She shook her head a bit. "We don't understand why the connection is there. But always this is so."

  Okay, slow down on begging for the rise of the Wolf during sex. Or curse my daughters. "You said you know more about aliens. What did you mean?"

  She licked her weathered lips. "One priestess escaped from her captivity aboard an alien spacecraft."

  "Who?"

  "Her identity is unimportant. What you need to know is that you must never be caught. The aliens use Cougars for breeding their own young. Unless they have your mate on hand and decide his offspring would be prime shifting stock. Then they might choose to breed you in captivity with your mate to harvest your children. Either way, you're womb is what they're after. We still don't know what they do with those select few offspring."

  Maybe what she said could be true. "So this is how you know how the genetics work? After all, the sisterhood isn't scientific like Shifters."

  "The sister I speak of was bred by the aliens and bore them a male half breed before she managed to escape. She never nursed the child or saw him after giving birth. They were taken from her. Coldly. As if she were no more than a brood animal."

  "Never risk capture, Sierra. You must start keeping your sexual encounters quiet in the village. Normals can't be trusted. They know what to watch for when it comes to hunting Shifter couples for trade with aliens. The aliens teach them the signs to look for when choosing their prey. You must be careful now. You never know when a traitor lives among your happy community."

  "Okay. So what if I believe you. What other reasons do I have to take care other than just remaining alive?" Besides, the villagers were rich. They didn't need blood money.

  Keezia blinked slowly. "Know Jackal's seed is potent when he dons his Wolfskin. You're carrying his child now. That is the way breeding has always been with the Cougars protected by the sisterhood."

  Pregnant? My knees wobbled.

  Mine!

  And hunted even more because of a pregnancy.

  Something knotted in my throat.

  A big choking lump of White priestess. I'm in so much trouble now. And Jackal has no idea. I gulped. "Dammit, Keezia, your sisterhood is really pissing me off in its defunct mode of operation. You should be passing on this information to all Cougar sisters. Who else knows about my little problem?" I ground out.

  Her expression went blank. "I've told no one. It serves nobody any good to know. Only you."

  "Not even Tornado! Tell no one," I spat a warning through grated teeth.

  "Have you heard of Seaside Haven?" Keezia changed the subject without so much as an indication of cooperation.

  Mother had Father take us to Seaside Haven twice before I turned twelve for sisterhood gatherings. What did it matter? "Yes." I sighed, tired of the games.

  "Go there. The other Cougar priestesses are banding together to plan how to use Cougar powers against aliens. Much will depend on using your psychic power-"

  "I have no psychic power." And I wouldn't be misled into ranting about educating Cougars and keeping all other humans in the dark. Hell, this was one of Keezia's ruses to get me to do what she wanted.

  Keezia nodded slowly, oblivious to my thoughts. "Yes, you do have a power. It differs from mine because it's associated with the Cougar gene and has strength in you. You merely need to accept the gift to conjure it from the depths of your soul."

  Okay, this discussion was going south fast. "I'll think about it."

  * * * *

  Beneath the clear blue sky, Jackal rode through the gate on a haughty buckskin stallion with a doe carcass hung across the saddle between his hips and the pommel. He spotted me where I leaned against the wall trying to conceal my swelling joy caused by the killer-protector-strength I saw in him.

  Safe now? Maybe. I was actu
ally hiding far from our lodge.

  Anything to keep from bumping into old Keezia again today. The discussion we'd had was more than enough to kick up my fears. I'd tried to process the information. To decide if I could believe any of the details. And all I could do was wish Jackal would hurry home.

  The wilderness equaled danger.

  Normals could lurk anywhere. I'm a Cougar he unknowingly mated and Keezia can hold it over my head. Or reveal the truth to everyone. Either way, I'm screwed.

  Shit. I had enough danger among the civilized since reaching Death Summit.

  The other three riders followed Jackal on their horses. Demon and the teenagers. One young redhead had his own kill to gloat over. But my mate sat the invincible hunter. More so than Demon. Something about Demon just seemed inexperienced. Or the problem was everyone looked incompetent in Jackal's shadow.

  Jackal steered his mount away from the others, to me, and drew up the reins. "Miss me, Kitten?"

  Mine!

  Of course. Damn, he was so gorgeous, exuding strength, that surely even staunch Christian women would be driven to sin to lie with him. Yes. Hot as sin. I shot him a smile.

  He reciprocated with a beaming grin. "Hungry for venison?"

  And a whole lot of Jackal. "Yes."

  "What happened? You're acting strangely."

  "We'll talk later."

  He swung his leg over the saddle and planted his combat boots on the hard-packed ground.

  Hugging him might make me feel better. Or look suspicious. But I just stood there like a calm mate and tried to act normal while he towered a good six feet plus two inches.

  He turned to me, his hulking arm muscles glistening from a day sweating beneath the summer sun. "I need a bath, Kitten. Let me drop this deer at Sue's, and I'll take you down to the pool." He winked.

  Nobody delayed his promise.

  We were rubbing up lather on each other's slick bodies before I could form a plan to reveal part of what I could safely confess from Keezia's revelation to Jackal.

  Facing me, he used his fingernails to gently scratch soap into my shoulder blades where I straddled his hairy thighs in water that came up to the bottom curves of my breasts.

  "Do you want to tell me what's bothering you now?" he rumbled.

  His strong jaw line didn't provide any comfort when I hid all the Cougar information from him. The Gods know I didn't want anyone else to hear the information I could share either. Anyone could be lurking in the caverns, eavesdropping. "No. It's for your ears only."

  "Does it have to do with the school, children, or teaching?" He watched his hands.

  Giving me room for thought. I wagged my head and stared at his round nipple.

  He placed a fingertip beneath my chin and raised my gaze to his concerned gaze. "I'm sorry about the school. I'd change it if I could. I know how much you enjoyed working with the kids."

  I wasn't as tired these days after Ann had warned me to stay away or the children wouldn't be allowed to attend. Better for him now that I had pent up energy when we were together. "It's alright, Jackal."

  He planted a sweet little kiss on my lips. "I'll play War with you if it'll make you happy since I abandoned you here all day without anything to do. You know how much I hate that game." His cheeks spread in a genuine taunting smile.

  The offer was kind, but I read a book on herbal medicine. And it's not like he decided to leave me behind. Only four horses are allowed to leave the village with any party. And he also had responsibilities other than taking care of me. I'm a grown woman. Sufficiently armed. To the hilt. "I know you had duties to perform." I didn't have any problem grinning the admiration I felt for him. "After all, you're the best hunter in the village, and you should share your knowledge with the youths learning to hunt." That's how I picked up my little thing for firearms. From a teacher.

  He snorted, slipping his hands around my lower back, sliding me up his lap until his stiff arousal prevented me from completely melding my belly with his upper body. "You are a tease, little mongoose." He planted his nose along mine.

  Ugh. "I hate that nickname."

  "Then don't tease me." He chuckled, rubbing his stubbled cheek against mine.

  The teasing made my days so much more interesting. Especially since they've become so damned boring. "I can't stop myself, Jackal. You know you're hot as sin. I can't help but point out all the ways you make me," I cleared my throat, "proud."

  A little smile tugged at his eyes where he turned his forehead, pressing its rounded hardness against mine. "I'm glad I make you proud," he rumbled.

  Oh he felt so wonderful. So warm. So alive. "Let's go home. I want to tell you what Keezia said." And wrestle in bed. Quietly.

  "Keezia?" He pulled backward to look me in the eye.

  "Yes."

  Without another word, Jackal carefully carried me out of the water, dried me off, and helped me dress. He allowed me to button his camouflage pants. But he focused more on doing sweet things for me. We grabbed some beans and rice on the way to our lodge.

  "So why did you speak to Keezia today?" he asked as he descended into a creaking chair over our evening meal.

  Since he'd barred the door and the windows were shut, I could speak easily. I mixed up my beans and rice. "She said a Shifter in Wolfskin is potent when mating, and that I'm most likely pregnant." I slid my gaze up to find him gaping.

  Was he really surprised? He went after me night and day like he was determined I'd be pregnant within our first month together. "Are you okay?"

  "Pregnant?"

  Oh, I suppose dropping that news on him was like actually knowing I was with child. Shocking. And he had his fear stemming from his mother dying during childbirth. "I didn't say she was right. I just wanted you to know what she said."

  He studied me, immobile.

  Jackal really did have feelings for me. "And she went on about my attending the gathering of sisters in Seaside Haven. That I should go and learn how to use this psychic ability I deny I possess. I do not want to go, Jackal."

  He nodded. "Anything else?"

  "She says the aliens use Shifters and their mates for breeding more Shifters aboard their spacecraft. That I don't want to get caught. That the Normals know Shifters are potent when mating in Wolfskin. That Normals watching for signs to know which Shifters will bring good trades with the aliens might be living in the village. She warns us not to have loud sex. Gods, I'm not feeling good about any of this information."

  "Kitten, nobody's going to lie low in Death Summit to get to you. Hell, you just arrived. And they have to get to you through me."

  "Well, now you know what Keezia's been insisting to share. She says to tell no one. That you and I are the only people who need to know."

  Chapter Fifteen

  "If I'm hot as sin, you're soft as sin, Kitten." Jackal thrust his stiff erection along the fist of his mate's squeezing moist vise.

  Mmm. She sucked like a phantom at my neck. Between the grip her legs had on my waist, her hungry mouth marking me, and the clenching inner muscles of her inner channel, my cock would blow any moment. Damn. I wasn't ready to release. She needed reassurance that all was well. That I'd protect her. I gulped down a deep breath and slowly withdrew along her slick channel.

  She whined when I pulled out of the hungry chomping mouth of her sex. "Jackal."

  At least she stopped working on the hickey she liked me to wear around the village. "Roll over," I whispered.

  She growled and rolled onto her side, thrusting that soft ass of hers into my cock the way she always bucked her hips beneath me. "Hurry, baby."

  So much for delaying the inevitable. I grabbed her hips and thrust my hard shaft into her blazing furnace, the Well of Immortality, sinking to the Gods-be-damned hilt.

  She squirmed and moaned, bending my aching erection with a twist.

  "Gods, yes, Kitten. Like that." I withdrew a couple inches and thrust back inside her.

  To shift. To sink my sharp Wolf teeth into her shoulder. To
fit the blessed Well so tightly that all she did was scream endlessly while my hot seed recharged the spring. Her. I couldn't stop thrusting.

  Had to tilt her soft ass.

  Had to ram faster.

  Had to lean back and close my eyes.

  She screamed.

  The world exploded.

  We floated in brilliant star fall. Hips bucking and grinding. Nothing but my jerking cock mattered as her scream quickly died into a whine. With our dying movements. And all the fucking spasms.

  What I'd give to do this in Wolfskin. Nothing compared to the way my ridged hard-on felt squeezed inside her body. Maybe that was how the aliens kept us breeding for their sport. With the mating frenzy caused by experiencing sex after shape shifting. But Keezia was right. No risking my mate's life. Cougar or not. And Tornado wasn't going to like hearing how Keezia thought a traitor lived under clan protection.

  * * * *

  Uneventful weeks passed while Sierra tried to keep busy during the long boring afternoons. Jackal had been called to duty more often than not, leaving me to play cards, the guitar, and pull the notes to a jig from my memory to play on the tin whistle. But Tornado had left me alone. He didn't insist I play for the villagers anymore. Probably because he'd fear a riot after the way I was ousted from teaching. So, let the Normals suffer with their insecurities. Their children were the future of our planet. If their children didn't understand science, Shifters would have to take over and rule Earth. Albeit, an asshole like Tornado could wind up running the show. But those were the risks Normal morons took. And since they relished in using men like Tornado for protection, it wouldn't be long before someone as strong and asinine reigned supreme.

  My stomach growled.

  Again. The unruly organ worked overtime these days. Snarling for something that nobody served. Never liking what was on the menu except for bread. I grabbed the extra biscuit Sue passed onto me when Jackal went to breakfast. I had just stayed in the lodge while he went. Away from the censoring gazes.

  How could they think I was up to something? Hell, I'd saved them from whoever let the damned Bounders into the village. They probably thought I opened the gate that night! That I tried to kill off all the Christians in Death Summit because I had been a priestess in training. Couldn't they grasp I had no intention of returning to the sisterhood? Human fears never ceased to amaze me. I went from living in isolation in a tree house to living among a bustling community but interacting with next to no one. There was nowhere to go without bumping into someone in this small community.