Untamed Hunger

by Lee Mae

  “You’re fucking crazy, Adrian. Gunner isn’t...”

  Her head snapped back, as his hand connected with her cheek. Tears stung her eyes, more from shock than pain. She kept her head turned toward the window. Adrian pounced on any sign of weakness. It fed whatever drove him to hurt, and Claire knew tears could send him into a frenzy. A frenzied Adrian in the confined space of the car was not something she wanted to experience.

  “Do not call me crazy…” He turned the key in the ignition, cutting off the rest of his words.

  Claire closed her eyes, swallowed hard, and leaned her forehead against the cold glass of the window.

  Adrian’s nasty remark stung. Had she played on the chemistry between them, and used it to her advantage? And then shut Gunner down? Right now, she wasn’t sure of the answers.

  Her eyes flew open as the car rocketed onto the narrow road. Adrian loved his cars, and the Ferrari was one of his favorites. Now, on the narrow, twisting mountain road, he took the curves at top speed, the car slewing from lane to lane.

  “Like the view?” He flung the car around a corner, and Claire looked out the window, over what seemed to be a thousand-foot drop, straight down. The guardrail flashed past, the car barely missing the metal that was supposed to keep them from hurtling to certain death. Adrian’s high-pitched laughter filled the car, as Claire white-knuckled the door handle.

  “Please. Be careful,” she pleaded.

  “Shit. Fucking bastard.”

  Claire tore her eyes away from the view to find Adrian glaring at the rearview mirror. Without turning, she knew it was Gunner behind them. She looked at the side view mirror and her heart, already hammering, skipped a succession of beats.

  Behind them was Gunner.

  She tried hard not to smile, or at least not let Adrian see her face. Gunner had followed them…he’d come for her, after all.

  11

  Even back in his human form, Gunner had been able to still smell the little prick’s scent. It had burned his nose, coated the back of his throat, and made him want to cough. Gunner rubbed his ribs where Adrian had stabbed him with the glass, wincing, as he took another breath. Fortunately, he’d been smart enough to keep a first-aid kit at the cabin and had bandaged himself up quickly.

  By the time he reached the clearing, and his bike, he’d gotten the scent of both Adrian and Claire. It blew from the south.

  He climbed onto the biker started it. Knowing that they were getting away, he dropped it into gear. The rear tire spit up gravel, as he tore up the road and toward the other route, where their scent was coming from. In no time, he hit the pavement, twisted the throttle, and took off at top speed down the mountain.

  Gunner knew the road like the back of his hand, and the bike screamed around the first corner. He’d learned to ride on the snaky roads, and was confident that he could catch Adrian, no matter what kind of high-powered car he was driving.

  The bike screamed beneath him, giving sound to his fury. He hunched lower, taking another series of turns at high speed. Then he caught a flash of red two or three turns ahead, hugging the guardrail. The sun glinted off the passenger side window, before the car dipped into a patch of shade. For a brief moment, Gunner saw the outline of Claire’s head.

  She was alive.

  At least sitting upright in the passenger seat. He’d feared that Adrian had finally killed Claire and it was a relief to see that she wasn’t dead.

  But other fears rose in his mind. If Adrian saw him, would he try to hurt Claire somehow? Or would his already reckless driving escalate until he lost control, and the car either crashed into the mountain, or plummeted over the edge into the valley below?

  Gunner let up on the throttle, dropping back. There was nowhere for Adrian to go, other than down the mountain. If he took any of the side roads, he’d be forced to drop his speed, and that didn’t seem like something Adrian would do. Gunner had to be patient, not lose sight of the car, but not push Adrian too hard.

  As he dropped back, his mind raced over every possibility, Reece’s warning came back to him. Along with the admission that Victor was the person who sired him. A ruthless and dangerous killer.

  His father…the man who would always be his father…had been murdered at the base of this mountain. It had been staged to look like a trail accident. Except his father didn’t hike. Gunner knew it was murder. Reece knew. But no one seemed interested enough to find out what happened. So, it all just got covered up, buried, and never talked about again.

  Could he be taking Claire to the same spot? Did he know his father…their father…had killed a man there?

  Gunner slowed the bike, letting the Ferrari roar out of sight around the next corner. There was a cut-off road, not far ahead. It was really nothing more than a muddy dirt track that came out below where this father was killed. If he could make it through, and if the road wasn’t washed out…with any luck, he’d be able to get there before them, hide the motorcycle, and wait.

  The road was rutted, and he was forced to slow the bike down, veering around potholes and a fallen tree. Finally, it became a mire of mud, completely impassable.

  He got off, pushing it into the thick cover of rhododendron that grew along the sides.

  In the distance, he heard the roar of a sports car.

  His hunch was right. Adrian was heading to the trail.

  With his heart pounding in his chest, Gunner sprinted down the road, the highway visible through the screen of overhanging trees. He was about twenty feet from the end of the road when the red car flew past.

  “Dammit.” Gunner slid to a halt in the slick mud.

  He’d been too slow. Adrian was going to get to the trail ahead of him. He wasn’t going to be able to save Claire after all. He’d failed her…again.

  

  12

  Claire had been watching the side mirror, as they hurtled down the road, catching an occasional glimpse of Gunner behind them, crouched low over the Harley. Each time she saw him, he was a little closer, and she had a hard time controlling the excitement that bubbled up inside. He was coming to save her. He hadn’t given up.

  But then, suddenly, he dropped back.

  She straightened, frowning, as the car shot forward and Gunner disappeared. Swiveling in the seat, she looked back over her shoulder as they rounded yet another curve. In the distance, she saw him again and watched in disbelief as he slowed, then turned the bike off the road, disappearing into the underbrush.

  “Looks like the fucker gave up on you, Claire. Finally came to his senses.” Adrian’s nasty laugh filled the car. He reached across the console, grabbing her knee. “You’re back with me, baby. Just where you belong.”

  “I’m not yours.” Claire dug her nails into Adrian’s hand.

  He laughed again, giving her knee a cruel pinch.

  She slumped back into the seat, moving as far away from Adrian as she could get in the cramped space.

  She wondered if this really was the final straw for Gunner. If being bested by Adrian would make him throw up his hands, and turn his Harley back toward his old life. She wouldn’t blame him if he did. This whole ‘save-the-damsel-in-distress’ gig was probably turning out to be so much more than what he had bargained for.

  Along with that, his involvement with her had uncovered his true father, and the terrible fact that Adrian was his brother, or half-brother, at least. No matter how much chemistry they had, she didn’t think it was enough to overcome everything that had happened to Gunner in the past twenty-some hours. Fate, or bad luck. She was betting he would probably pick the second option.

  Adrian kept the car at top speed, still swinging from lane to lane. The terrain had changed, the road leveling out, although the twists and turns continued.

  Suddenly Adrian braked and Claire jerked forward, slamming her hands on the dashboard. The car skidded violently, almost sliding into the shallow ditch, the stench of burning rubber and brake pads filling the car.

  “What the hell? Are you trying t
o kill yourself as well as me?” Claire turned to Adrian but he ignored her, scanning the roadside.

  “This must be it.” He yanked the key out of the ignition. “Get out. And don’t run. You know damn well I can catch you. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy the chase, but I don’t have time to waste.”

  Right, she thought. Running might be her only option. And as if he could catch her in tiger form.

  Claire opened the door, stepping out into the briars that filled the ditch. Waiting for her to pick her way through them was too much for Adrian. He came around the front of the car, grabbed her arm, and pulled her by force up to the pavement.

  “Move your ass, Claire.” He pushed her ahead of him, and she stumbled onto the chipped edge of the pavement.

  “Asshole,” she muttered, thinking that she should just shift and run like hell.

  “Do I have to carry you? I will, you know.” He grabbed her elbow, dragging her down the road.

  She tried in vain to grab the front of her shirt, to pull the tattered edges together over her bra, but Adrian had her arm wrenched almost to shoulder height. Finally, she gave up, letting her shirt flap in the breeze.

  “Where the hell are you taking me?”

  “It’s a surprise.” Adrian’s voice was harsh, cruel, his breath rasping from his throat. It was clear to Claire he was again desperately trying to hold onto his human form. He’d been more or less human on the ride from hell down the side of the mountain. Whatever the hell was wrong with him, it was bad. Scary bad. Like nothing she’d ever seen before.

  Suddenly he pushed her down the side of the road, toward a scarlet trail marker nailed to a tree. Claire lifted her head, looking up the steep trail, then beyond at the bulk of the mountain rising above her. They were at the bottom of the mountain, the same mountain where Gunner’s cabin was. This was the trail he’d said that ran below his cabin.

  But why in the hell would Adrian drag her back to where he’d taken her from? What the hell kind of plan did he have for her?

  Adrian pushed her hard from behind, and she stumbled down the narrow dirt path.

  “Adrian, where are we going? What are you doing?” she asked, glaring at him.

  “We’re going where I take you. And as far as what I’m going to do?”

  Before he could answer, Claire tripped, falling to her knees, pain slicing down her right leg. The cut was deep, warm blood trickling into her shoe.

  Adrian grabbed her arm, jerking her back to her feet. “I’m going to put you out of your misery.”

  She limped several more yards down the trail, cold fear pooling in the pit of her stomach. Besides that, her heart hurt thinking about Gunner, or trying not to think about him. He’d abandoned her, although she couldn’t really blame him.

  “Here. Stop here.” Adrian shoved her hard.

  She fell again to her hands and knees. The pain in her leg was worse, the cut bleeding freely. Claire hung her head. Her hair fell across her face and hot tears gathered in her eyes. Through gritted teeth, she spoke. “So, this is it? You’re going to just kill me here in the woods?”

  He smirked. “This just isn’t some random place, Claire. It’s a very special one. Someone else met their end here, and now you will, too.”

  Finally, she looked up at Adrian, dragging air through parted lips, finally letting the tears fall. It didn’t matter now if she cried in front of him or not. “Why? Why me? I left you at the altar…did I embarrass you so much that you actually want to kill me?”

  “You’re a little person in a big world, Claire. I was willing to forgive you; to take you back. But now… now you’re involved in something bigger. You and that animal of yours. You need to disappear, and so does he.” He leaned over, and to her surprise, brushed a tear from her cheek. Then he cupped her chin in his hand, tilting her face up to his. “I’m going to kill you, and then I’m going to kill him.”

  13

  Gunner tore through the forest, his paws barely hitting the ground. As a tiger, he could cover far more ground than in human form. The trail was just ahead, and he caught a whiff of Claire’s scent. She was hurt. Bleeding. He just couldn’t tell how badly. The hot, coppery scent of her blood sent his rage at Adrian almost out of control. The bastard had hurt Claire, and Gunner was going to make sure Adrian never had the chance to do it again.

  As he moved closer, he could hear Adrian’s voice. He slowed, making sure to stick to the thickest areas of underbrush and shrubs. The trail wasn’t that far ahead, and he didn’t want to lose the element of surprise. Gunner was pretty sure Adrian may have seen him following them on the road. Now he hoped Adrian thought he’d given up the chase.

  Gunner crouched low, slinking forward. Glimpses of Adrian’s white shirt, now streaked with blood and dirt, were visible through the brambles, and bushes. Gunner moved forward, peering through a screen of leaves.

  Claire was on her hands and knees, blood seeping through the leg of her jeans. Adrian was pacing in front of her, his face contorted by his broken nose, and the hideous grin he wore. Gunner watched him closely for a moment; the guy was on edge again, barely able to control his body. And, Gunner suspected, his emotions.

  That bothered Gunner. If the guy wanted to shift, why didn’t he? He hadn’t shifted at the cabin either. Something either kept him from shifting, or kept him from completely holding on to his human form. A memory tugged at the back of Gunner’s mind, a quick flash of firelight, being a small boy, listening to his father. But before he could grasp anything else, it was gone.

  Now wasn’t the time to figure out what was wrong with the guy anyway. Adrian’s voice had risen, his tirade continuing. If Gunner didn’t do something, chances were pretty good Adrian would hurt Claire again.

  Gunner waited until Adrian’s back was to him, then crept to the edge of the trail. He tensed, watching, waiting. Adrian was yelling at Claire now, his face very close to hers. Claire was still on her knees, hunched over, looking up at Adrian.

  As Gunner slowly circled behind Adrian, Claire glanced up. She gave a small gasp, eyes widening, then snapped her eyes back to Adrian.

  But it was enough to get Adrian’s attention. Gunner growled a curse, then did the only thing he could do. He tensed, back legs coiled like a spring. Digging in, pushing off, he launched himself at Adrian.

  

  14

  Adrian’s rants were growing more and more incoherent, as he paced in front of Claire. Somewhere in all his yelling, he’d accused her of not only leaving him at the altar, but of being the one responsible for the downfall of his entire clan, that his father blamed him for all of it.

  None of it made much sense, but what was clear was he was angry, and all of it was directed at her.

  He paced and ranted, and she watched him warily, waiting for him to start hitting her or worse. His dirty shirt was stained yellow under the arms and clung to his chest, and trickles of perspiration ran down his forehead. He impatiently swiped a forearm across his face, wiping the sweat from his eyes.

  Movement behind Adrian distracted her. Gunner was there on the path, coiled, ready. A sound escaped her, and she tried to bite it back, tearing her eyes away from Gunner, as if it would make him invisible. But Adrian heard her. His tirade cut off in midsentence. He cocked his head, brows furrowed.

  Gunner lunged, and for a moment, everything slowed down, Gunner’s taut, muscular body suspended in mid-air, teeth bared. His attack was completely silent, and the sheer power in it took Claire’s breath away.

  Recognition flashed in Adrian’s eyes, and he made a half-turn, taking a step to the side, leaning away from the attack. It took Adrian just far enough out of Gunner’s range that he missed the mark, and hit Adrian in the shoulder instead. Gunner was thrown off balance, front paws scrabbling in empty air, before he hit the ground hard.

  Gunner drew a shaky breath, and she saw a flash of pain in his eyes.

  He was hurt, but when?

  Then she remembered the shark of glass that Adrian had attacked him with. Sh
e wondered how critical the wound was. Then her thoughts raced beyond Gunner; what was wrong with Adrian? He was cold and calculating, just the Adrian she remembered. Then he was a raving mad, half-human the next. Not to mention that his breath and body smelled foul. Plus, he was sweating like a pig. Was he crazy or was something really physically wrong with him?

  Adrian spun around, eyes locked on Gunner, and Claire forgotten.

  Gunner scrambled to his feet, the pain in his eyes replaced with a fierce anger.

  A rough, guttural noise from Adrian caught her attention, and she watched him, eyes widening.

  “Oh my God.”

  Adrian was changing, finally. But something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

  Claire had seen Adrian change many times. He certainly wasn’t handsome in human form, but when he shifted, he became an extremely powerful tiger. Now, something else was happening. And it wasn’t very pretty.

  His limbs elongated, arms and legs contorting at odd angles, bones and tendons snapping and cracking. It looked…and sounded… hideously painful. A horrible imitation of a shifter changing. As she watched, Adrian threw his head back, a shrill cry coming from his mouth. Even Gunner seemed momentarily distracted by the awful display happening on the forest floor.

  Head back, Adrian let loose one final shriek, before his body resolved into its final form.

  What in the hell?

  His legs were misshapen. His body distorted. His coat was coarse and matted, the same putrid stench rolling off of him in waves. He gave himself a final shake, his oversized head swinging on a long, gangly neck.

  The two tigers glared at each other, hackles raised. Claire scrambled away from the pair, hands scraping through the dirt and leaves, at the edge of the path. But neither looked in her direction. They were locked onto each other and circling. Both stiff-legged and mirroring the movements of the other.