True Nature

by Neely Powell

  Boldly, I slid my arms around his waist and pulled his body against mine. He didn’t resist. The chill began to leave my body as he hugged me tight against his heat. In his arms, I didn’t feel so lost, alone, and worried. His mouth made a trail of soft kisses to my shoulder.

  I leaned back and looked up at him. “I really wanted dessert at the restaurant. Didn’t you?”

  His answer was a long, deep kiss that curled my toes and started a heat in my belly that spread throughout my body, making it sensitive to the brush of my clothes in strategic places.

  He stepped back, dropping his arms and reaching for my hand. “Lead the way.”

  Fumbling with my keys only slightly, I opened the door and pulled him inside. We shed coats and shoes along the way to the bedroom. Just inside my room, I dumped my purse, cell phone, and gun. Mike unhooked his shoulder holster and dropped it on my dresser as he reached for me again. My bed was rumpled and unmade, but that was actually kind of convenient as we fell onto the cool Matouk sheets I had splurged on as a Christmas gift to myself.

  By the time we hit the bed he was pulling my sweater off and pushing my bra aside.

  “I want to see you.” He turned to click on the bedside lamp.

  Then he was beside me again, kissing my breasts, lifting them, and running his thumb across my nipples. Desire went through me like a warm wave.

  It had definitely been a long time since I had shared this bed. I got his shirt off as quickly as I could and pressed my breasts into the mass of soft, dark hair on his chest. He hugged me tighter against him and bit my earlobe. I went to work on getting his jeans off and out of the way.

  We both struggled with snaps and zippers and finally stood to remove the rest of our clothes. I took a foil package out of the nightstand drawer and dropped it on the bed. “We might need to check the expiration date on this,” I said, talking too much, as usual.

  “Like any good cop, I have back-up,” Mike retorted.

  We were laughing by the time we were naked, but stopped to study each other in the lamplight.

  His muscles were tight and well defined. His body, to my mind, was perfect—from his chin with the sexy dimple to his penis, that saluted me with a little twitch when I reached for him.

  I wrapped my fingers around him. I felt his knees give, but he quickly caught himself and held on as I caressed him, feeling him grow harder and longer at my touch.

  “Slow down,” he whispered.

  “Not a chance.”

  We hit the bed once again, and he was immediately touching me everywhere. I was wet and waiting when he slid two fingers inside me. With his thumb rubbing my clitoris, my orgasm built.

  I came really fast. It was like light exploded throughout my body. While I was trying to catch my breath, he put the condom on and moved over me. He slid slowly inside me and I clenched my muscles, making him groan and stop for a moment while he regained control. Then he was kissing me and moving inside me with quick, deep strokes. I responded eagerly, opening up to him.

  When my orgasm grew again, I couldn’t stop my cries of encouragement. I came with a scream, digging my fingernails into his arms as my body arched against him. He drove into me one last time with a triumphant groan, squeezing my hips and crying out. I was savoring the rush of sensation when everything turned.

  I was in the woods. A monster was leaping toward me. No, not me…

  Mike was still lost in his own climax when I clenched my hands on his arms and screamed, “Hunter!”

  Mike jerked away from me. For a moment, he was silent. Then he pulled out of me and got up without a word. The door to the bathroom closed with a little snap.

  I was scrambling for what to say or do, even as I dealt with trying to reconnect with the images in my brain. When I’d screamed, the vision had faded and I didn’t know what happened to Hunter.

  Mike walked out of the bathroom, and I sat up on the side of the bed.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “Let me explain.”

  “I think you explained yourself pretty well,” he said, pulling on his jeans and zipping them.

  “You don’t understand.”

  “When a woman yells another man’s name while you’re making love, it’s pretty easy to understand what’s going on.”

  “Wait a minute.” I reached for my robe.

  “Don’t bother, Zoe,” he said as he pulled his sweater over his jeans. “I know the way to the door.”

  Before I could speak again, he was on the move, yanking up his holster and gun and exiting my bedroom without a backward glance. The floor vibrated when he slammed the front door.

  Falling back down on the side of the bed, I dropped my head in my hands, and then I remembered Hunter. I got up, searching for my cell phone.

  Hands shaking, I pressed the number one, Hunter’s speed-dial code.

  Good God, was I a fucked up mess or what?

  Chapter 14

  Hunter tried to move but he couldn’t. He heard his men yelling and running but he could do nothing. His face was wet with what he thought was his own blood. His lungs were screaming for oxygen.

  “Come on,” Craig yelled. “Help me get this bastard off him.”

  They struggled. It took Craig, Evan, and two others to lift the heavy body off Hunter, and when he was free, he could do nothing but drag in air. He felt like a turtle, on his back unable to turn over. Finally, he controlled his breathing and rolled to his side. When he did, he came face to face with a huge, shaggy lion’s head.

  For hours they had tracked the beast through woods around the estate. Hunter began to think the creature was playing a game with them, but when the attack came it was sudden, violent, and aimed straight at him. Thankfully, Evan had a clean shot.

  The beast’s mouth was open, and Hunter shuddered at the size of the large feline teeth. They were almost four inches long and would have killed him with one bite. Evan saved Hunter’s life with a well-placed arrow that went straight through the chimera’s heart while the animal was in mid-air above Hunter. One of the massive claws had scraped Hunter’s head as it fell, bringing the blood that was chilling on his cold face.

  Craig and Evan each offered Hunter an arm and helped him stand. When they let go, he staggered but straightened at last. Still drawing deep, ragged breaths, Hunter looked down at the animal, half lion and half man.

  “It’s Patrick Killin.” Craig crouched beside the big body. “Michael’s younger brother.” He looked up at Hunter. “There’s only one person Michael Killin loves more than himself and that’s his mother. She adored Patrick. He was her youngest, and she will push Michael relentlessly to kill you in the most painful manner possible.”

  Hunter wiped his hand across his mouth. He was trembling. He was sure it was shock. He felt cold, clammy sweat all over his body, and his heart was still banging in his chest.

  “How do you know it’s Patrick?” he asked when he could.

  “I recognize his mane.” Craig touched the tawny, black-tipped fan of hair around the beast’s face.

  “How?”

  “We’ve been studying these predators for years.” Craig got to his feet. “A lion’s mane is like a fingerprint. We managed to get pictures so we could identify all of them. They’re out to destroy the MacRaes, so your grandfather made it his business to know who he was dealing with.”

  One of the others pressed a handkerchief into Hunter’s hand. He held it against his forehead.

  “Why didn’t Chymera come after me himself?”

  Craig shrugged, reaching for Hunter’s arm. “Let’s get you back to the house and see how badly you’re hurt, and then we’ll talk. Evan, radio ahead so the doctor will meet us.”

  Hunter stared down at the huge beast again. The regal lion’s head was enormous, and the shaggy mane was waist-length. Sharpened claws were still visible in the huge paws at the base of the lion’s forelegs. He shuddered again thinking what would have happened if Evan weren’t an expert archer.

  “Thank you, Evan,” he said.<
br />
  “He left himself wide open,” Evan replied. “Makes me think he didn’t expect so many of us to be out here. Come now, let’s get you inside.”

  Hunter was fascinated by the beauty of the feline portion of the creature. It could well have been the mystery man in the story of “Beauty and the Beast.”

  “What will we do with him?” Hunter walked away between Craig and Evan.

  “We’ll drag him further into the woods, and Killin’s men will find him,” Craig said.

  Hunter looked at the man’s stoic face; there was no hint of concern or fear. “Wouldn’t it be easier if we just buried him?”

  “It’s not our way, Hunter,” Craig said earnestly. “Even in a war, a man has a right to have his body returned to his family.”

  “I see,” Hunter said, though he really didn’t. He felt like he was in a time warp, and he knew without a doubt he needed to get back to the city. His life might never be normal again, but more familiar surroundings might help him get his bearings.

  ATVs appeared to take them back to the house. It was late, after midnight, and from the bite of the wind, there would be a frost tonight. Hunter shivered as clouds covered the moon.

  When they entered the house, Dr. Connor, his grandfather’s physician, was waiting. Stirling scowled at his side. Hunter’s father appeared to have sobered up while they’d been working.

  Dr. Connor directed them to the kitchen “I’ve got everything ready.”

  Hunter sat heavily on a chair in the kitchen where his Nana used to bake cookies. He winced when the doctor pulled away the big, rough handkerchief Craig had tied around his wound.

  “Doesn’t look too bad,” Dr. Connor said. “Shouldn’t take more than a few stitches to fix it right up. Craig told me the big cat was already dead, but he managed to wound you anyway.”

  “Those claws are long and razor sharp,” Craig said. “Thank God the bastard was on the small side.”

  Hunter yelped as the needle pricked his forehead. “He felt mighty damn big to me.”

  Craig laughed. “His brother is older and bigger and a lot meaner. You’d be wise to get into better shape for the time you’ll meet him.”

  It took ten stitches to close the cut at the edge of his scalp. This was clearly more than “a few” in his opinion, but he kept that to himself. When he complained about how long the process was taking, the doctor reminded him this was a spot that would be seen and, therefore, needed a little extra care to keep him from having a bad scar.

  Finally, Dr. Connor was satisfied. Hunter went upstairs to shower and change out of his bloody clothes. After getting dressed in comfortable jeans and a sweatshirt, he grabbed the cell phone that had been ringing almost constantly since they’d returned.

  He punched speed dial for Zoe and she picked up before he even heard a ring.

  She answered, “Oh, my God, are you all right? I’ve been scared to death. I had a vision and I kept calling and you didn’t—”

  “I couldn’t get to the phone. I’m sorry. I’m fine, Zoe. Everything’s fine,” Hunter said as he gingerly touched the bandage on his head. He knew Zoe would have a fit when she saw it.

  “What happened? I saw a monster jumping for you. Was it Chymera?”

  “His brother.”

  “He has a brother?”

  Hunter sighed. He really didn’t want to explain all of this to her just now. “I had to have a few stitches, and the monster is dead. One of the monsters, anyway.”

  Zoe’s tone turned to anger. “You’ve got to come home. Surely animals like that won’t come to the city. You’ll be safe down here.”

  Hunter thought briefly about the “Lion of Wall Street,” but decided it was best not to tell her about Michael Killin over the phone.

  “I’ll be home tomorrow, I promise.”

  “That makes me feel better,” Zoe said, although she didn’t really sound calmer. “I need to see you, Hunter. I need to see for myself how badly you’re hurt. And how can I help you if I’m not with you?”

  Hunter ended the call and returned to the den. The doctor had departed, but Craig, Evan, and Stirling were waiting for him.

  “Tell me what happened out there,” Stirling said from the deep, leather chair he occupied.

  Craig recounted the stalking and killing of Patrick Killin while Hunter took the chair across from his father. Evan poured him scotch in a heavy crystal glass. It wasn’t his drink of choice but tasted good tonight.

  “So you killed one of them.” Stirling sighed.

  “We saw only one,” Hunter replied, feeling defensive.

  “But there were more,” Evan said. “Many more.”

  Craig agreed as he turned back to Hunter. “Our ancestor’s village was wiped out in a fierce attack one night. Dozens of these savages came through and killed everyone they found. The only ones who survived were a group of hunters who were away hunting to stock the town’s larders for winter.”

  “The murderers were the Killins,” Stirling said.

  “Why can’t they change completely?” Hunter asked.

  “Our scientists say it’s due to aplastic anemia,” Stirling answered. “That’s the only constant they could find in their research. They believe the mutation was caused by the reduction in red blood cells.”

  “I’m no scientist,” Evan added, “but I know a human chimera can occur when one fraternal twin dies in the womb. When that happens the other twin absorbs the genetic material and can have two different DNAs.”

  Hunter waved his glass in impatience. “No matter what causes their problems, these creatures are our enemies.”

  “They’ve been waiting,” Stirling said. “Michael Killin waited until Father was growing old. Killin’s been watching us closely. He knew Hunter wasn’t ready to take the reins, and Fraser was vulnerable.” He looked hard at Hunter over his glass of scotch. “Killin put that body in the woods behind your office as a test. And you failed it.”

  Hunter stared at his father in surprise. “How did you know about that body?”

  “Jess Dugard was one of us,” Evan answered in the sudden silence. “Part of the MacRae clan.”

  “Someone who lived here?” Hunter demanded.

  Craig shook his head. “Dugard was a North Carolina MacRae. He worked under cover. He had infiltrated Killin’s group.”

  Hunter looked puzzled. “How is that possible? Wouldn’t the Killins know he belonged to us? Smell us on him.”

  “Like you smelled Chymera near Dugard’s body?” Stirling challenged.

  “I did sense…something.” Hunter remembered his unease that night, the smell that he couldn’t place, the danger he had sensed. If he had known what it was, that is was Chymera, would Grandda be alive?

  “But you didn’t know what it was,” his father said, clearly reading his thoughts. “Thanks to your grandfather.”

  “Dugard was a protector like Evan and me. Members of our family are with all the MacRaes,” Craig said.

  “Did Grandda know Dugard was with the Killins?” Hunter asked.

  “Someone among us is always trying to get close to the chimera.” Craig’s face was dark and sober.

  “We realized Dugard was missing on Sunday,” Evan said. “He missed a check in, which was unlike him.”

  “Your grandfather made some calls,” Stirling said. “He found out about the body left behind your office. We have contacts in the police department. People with special…abilities. They confirmed that it was Dugard. Calls were made to his family. They’ve already taken his body home to rest in their mountains. Just as we’ll bury Shamus tomorrow.”

  Hunter couldn’t help but wonder what kind of creatures were standing shoulder-to-shoulder with humans in the thin blue line. His grandfather had kept too much from him. .

  “Then Chymera came after your grandfather,” Craig said.

  “And he killed him.” Hunter downed the last of his scotch, wishing the burn could consume the grief inside him. “How can we be sure it was Michael Killin and not
his little brother, Patrick, who did the killing?”

  “Shamus was sure,” Stirling said. “I didn’t need any other proof.”

  The room was silent save for the wind that pushed against the windows.

  “What’s our next move?” Hunter asked.

  “It’s kind of like chess,” Craig said. “We made a move tonight. We’ll see what they do.”

  “But if this is a game, they’re ahead,” Hunter insisted. “They killed this Dugard man, then Grandda and Shamus. Should that go unanswered?”

  “I’m not waiting here,” Stirling said. “I’m heading back to the city tomorrow. As long as Father was alive he wouldn’t allow me to challenge Killin openly in the business world.”

  “But now you will?” Hunter asked.

  Stirling stood. “Killin’s quite proud of his financial prowess. He enjoys destroying others literally and figuratively. We can hurt him in many ways. Not just by chasing him in the woods.”

  The controlled fury in his father’s voice surprised Hunter. “You hate him, don’t you?”

  “More than I can say,” Stirling replied. “I suspect he is already far from these woods, on his way back to civilization. That’s my playing field.”

  Though Hunter saw the wisdom in Stirling’s words, he wished his grandfather could advise them. How could the clan survive with The MacRae so unprepared?

  Craig agreed that it was doubtful the chimera would attack them here again. “Evan will be going with you,” he told Hunter. “Shamus was to go back with you originally, but since he’s gone, it’ll be Evan.”

  Though Hunter owed Evan his life, he didn’t like the idea of bodyguard. He had respected Shamus, but he had never understood why his grandfather had required a twenty-four/seven shadow. Even now that he understood the threat that Fraser had lived with, he felt he could defend himself.

  He got to his feet, protesting, “I don’t need a babysitter. I’ve always been able to take care of myself.”

  “Your grandfather thought that too,” Stirling said sternly. “You’ll take Evan with you. There’ll be others you won’t see watching us all. Craig needs to stay here, but Evan is well-trained. He’s ready to protect you.”