Paige spoke up a little harsher then she intended, right here in the clinic.
Ok I’ll get dressed get a couple of the men to hunt her down,” Storm said in frustration.
“After two hours of searching for Thena and no sign of her, everyone returned to the alpha house. Ryker take the SUV and head over to the cabin you were staying at. William take one truck head towards town the south way, I’ll take another truck and head directly east see what we can find. Jake call Zand get him over here with his sensitive nose please. Zand was there in ten minutes scented the clinic then walked out side. Zand turned to the group you’re looking for Thena in cat form she has shifted down. Zand said, “Shift down,” running in wolf form he followed the trail. Ryker reached the cabin, but there was no sign of Thena. He started calling her. He would listen for a few moments then call again. Nothing!
Thena was in cat form she was running she didn’t know where she was running just running. She was frightened; she had to protect her cub she was carrying. Someone had tried to kill her and had failed now her pup was the one she had to protect at all cost. By dawn she was exhausted and climbed a large rock near a large jack pine and lay down. She slept for several hours then woke to what sounded like dogs; no wolves.
She snarled and hissed, she made a long leap off the rock second jump had her swimming in a stream for ten feet. When she crossed over she ran, as she ran her fur dried. When she could no longer hear the wolves she laid down closed her eyes, she needed rest. What she truly needed was help. Thena looked around then climbed a large jack pine tree when she got up as high as he could get she looked around, she saw a cabin about five miles south and west of her locations. Carefully descending the tall tree she worked her way south and west.
When she reached the cabin she looked at it oddly then shifted into human form. She crept up to the door and tried the door knob it opened. She peeked inside and saw it was a large cabin made up of one room with a kitchen and living room; there was a bedroom in the back, bathroom with a tub. She smiled, closed the door behind her and locked the door. She moved off to the bathroom took a warm bath and crawled into bed, under the covers and fall a sleep. Two days had passed and she was making the cabin a home. There were dirty dishes in the sink, not many just a plate and a cup and glass. The bed was unmade, so unlike Thena’s normally keeping things clean. The food in the cabin was plentiful. During the day she walked around the area getting to know it. At night she stayed in side kept the windows closed, and the curtain shut and the lights on low.
Every time she felt like someone was in her mind she shut her mind down and went to sleep.
Ryker was nearly crazy by now it was working into the third day and still no sign of Thena. Finally Storm mentioned that they should check out the other cabins that were vacant. Ryker and Storm started out by the end of the third day they had all but five cabins checked. They would start in the morning and check them out.
Zand said he was going the next day with Ryker and Storm. Four cabins were checked leaving one. Well Storm said, “If she is not at the next cabin I don’t know where the hell she could be and we won’t find her until she stops shutting you out Ryker.”
As they pulled into the last cabin Storm stopped the truck put his hand out for no one to move. Storm put down his window and scented the air. I smell food cooking, smells like steaks. Slip out here and let’s walk carefully up to the cabin. When Storm looked in he could see Thena in side she was at the stove cooking. Suddenly he heard a hiss sound then a snarl. “Damn she scented him.”
Moving away from the window he moved back to the truck. Ryker Thena is inside the cabin walk up and calls her by name. Zand move around to the back of the cabin and I will take the other side that has a window in case she jumps out a window.
Ryker walked up towards the cabin and called “Thena,” he called her again and again, but no answer.
Sudden a window broke and Zand was facing Thena in cat form. Thena scented Zand crouched down and hissed at Zand then snarled again. Zand didn’t move, “Thena baby it’s Zand you remember Zand back when we worked a job together don’t you baby.”
Thena scented Zand, snarled peeled back her lips and bared her teeth at him. Still Zand spoke to her. Finally Thena purred and stood up on all fours she walked over to Zand and rubbed herself against his leg. When Storm and Ryker came around the cabin Thena crouched and snarled at them.
Ryker spoke first, “Thena honey it’s me Ryker you’re mate. I have been searching for you for days now. I love you Thena.
Thena backed away towards the woods slowly. Storm and Ryker never moved one inch. They did not want her running off again at least if she was at this cabin she was safe and there was always a chance Ryker would reach her mind. Then suddenly Thena was off and running full out.
Ryker was about to shift down when Storm yelled, “No do not chase her, let her go! If she is chased she won’t come back here again. If she stops and you fight the pup might be in danger. Or worse yet you will never see her again.”
Storm moved back to the truck called Paige explained the situation to her. Paige told him what he was suspecting any way that Thena can’t remember them. Storm moved back to the cabinet shut down the stove, the men cleaned up the cabin and then left.
Another two days and Thena had not returned to the cabin. It was being watched and there had been no signs of Thena coming back.
Chapter 9
Thena was on the move again. She had been sleeping where she could find shelter. She found a second cabin, it seemed like she should know the place. She looked around it was dark, there was a SUV parked near the cabin. It was very late at night. One of the darkest nights she had ever seen the sky was over cast and there was no moon. She scented flowers at the porch. The scent of the vehicle when she walked past it seemed like she should some how know it. Then she picked up a scent and she purred. She was not sure why the scent was calling to her, but it was. She hissed. She moved up onto the porch walked around the cabin from the back of one side to the back of the other side crossing the front of the cabin. Thena shifted into human form turned the door knob then shifted down into the Black Panther again. She pushed the door with her face and front shoulder. She moved in side the scent was stronger. The scent was driving her crazy she wanted to mate with the scent she began rubbing herself again area’s in the living room that had the scent on it. She moved to the kitchen looked around, yes she knew this room.
She moved towards the stair case and was half way up the stairs and the scent was stronger. She needed that scent, she wanted it, and she desired it. She purred with delight. Slowly she reached the door at the end of the hall way, suddenly the light in the room went on. Thena moved back away from the door sneaked down the stairs and rushed out the front door.
Ryker lay in bed for a moment he knew he had heard something then it was gone. Finally he got up out of bed and walk down the hall he saw the door opened and wondered how it opened; then he could scent the odour of a cat. Thena had been here, he had to wait for her to come to him that was what Paige had said, her memory would return in time.
Ryker walked down the steps and closed the door. The next morning he looked for signs of Thena and found them in the dirt by the flowers Thena had planted. He did not try to reach out to her; he did not want to frighten her away. He sat on the porch most of the day looking into the shadows of the woods. He would go in fix something to eat and then come back out to the porch. He had called Storm and asked that no one come calling, because Thena was prowling around. Storm had agreed that no one should show up there that he would not send anyone over unless it was important.
Thena lay on a branch in a large jack pine watching the man on the porch from a distance. He seemed to be lonely, sad and searching. She liked his scent it made her tummy feel all warm inside. Then a tiny memory reached her, that man was kissing her. Then the memory was gone. Thena felt this ach down in her female parts.
After dark Thena climbed down out of the tree found a sm
all stream and drank water then began playing in the water with one of her paws. She was killing time until the man on the porch went to sleep. A memory flashed of the man making her come all over his hand how great it felt. The desire to mate with him grew in side of her.
The moon was high in the sky, not much light because it was a new moon sliver. Thena crept up to the porch scented the man were he sat most of the day; she rolled on the spot trying to gain his scent into her fur. She walked one end of the porch to the other. When she reached the door she leaned against it and it opened she hissed at the door. When nothing happened and she heard nothing she slipped her head inside and looked around she saw nothing. She moved further in side the house moved towards the kitchen a sandwich was left on a plate and she jumped up on the table grabbed the sandwich and quickly ate it. She licked her lips, turkey sandwich tasted so good. She was still hungry
Thena moved into the living room and rubbed herself against the sofa. The male scent was stronger then last time. Thena purred she checked out the entire cabin down stairs, then she moved up stairs to the hall way. She hissed no sound, no movement. She crept down the hall way and pushed against the door of the bedroom it opened slightly, she scented the air the male was in this room. The scent was strong, and desire shot through her setting every nerve in her on fire. She couched down and looked around. She moved towards the bed so silently. The scent was growing and her nose flared, she licked her lips. Then she stopped suddenly.
Something changed she wasn’t sure what changed but something changed. A memory a flash of mating with the male, she snarled and cried out with a loud panther cry. The man in the bed jumped up, she hissed at him, her teeth were showing, another memory a fight, a fight she lost with this male.
She screamed again, and she hissed she backed away from the male; her right paw came up and slashed at the air. She back up until she backed herself into the closet instead of out the door. She was trapped, the male made no move towards her.
Another memory she was being beaten to death someone tried to drowned her. Another memory flashed a gun firing she screamed and hissed at the male. Still the male did not move. He stood on the bed just staring at her.
Then another memory her clothes being torn from her body, a male pinning her down trying to force her to mate. The male was not this man. Thena snarled, her claws dug deep into the oak flooring, the scream that came from her was so filled with pain even Ryker’s heart was bleeding for her.
Another memory a ride in the SUV that sat out side, she was screaming and begging this male for something. She screamed again and hissed she moved from the closet towards the door. She crouched down looked at the male side ways. Another memory flashed in front of her the male dumping her in a creek. She screamed at him again. She went down on her side and both front paws came up and slashed at the air. Her teeth were showing and she snarled, and growled at the male. Still the male did not move.
Memories were flying past her mind, a gun shot a bullet had flew pas her ear and she tried to duck.
Another memory flashed in her mind, he left her this male left her, he left her unprotected, and she screamed and hissed.
Ryker watched Thena he knew memories were flashing in her mind she was coming back to him or he would lose her for good one or the other he hoped she was coming back. He could see the memories then remembered that was what Thena meant when she cried out in her sleep for Seeker not to do something; he was going to rape Thena. Suddenly Ryker wanted him dead that second. Thena must have read his mind because she stopped looked around, and then stood staring at Ryker. Suddenly she hissed and her left paw came up and clawed at the air.
Another memory flashed in front of her a gun firing at the bed she turned looked at the door, memory of a gun pointing at the bed, then she fired a gun shot the man he was Ben Wright she killed him with her gun. Another gun fired she was on the floor she scented the floor she could just scent a slight odour of blood. Then she looked up at the door again memory flashed of her firing a gun at a woman and killing her. Ben Wright’s woman was an ex CIA special OPS unit member. Then there was no memory. Thena made a man dash towards the door and the male yelled, “Thena I love you honey come back to me please honey.”
Suddenly Thena dug her claws into the floor and she turned around the man was standing at the door only five feet away from her. He had nothing on but a pair of briefs. His scent reached her nose and desire shot through her.
Then suddenly lights flashed and Thena lay down on the floor looked around. A vehicle had come to the front of the cabin. Thena hissed and snarled, and the hair on her back stood up.
When Ryker looked away from Thena; Thena moved down the hallway to the other end of the cabin shifted and opened a door and close it behind her.
When Ryker looked again Thena was gone. Where the hell had she gone he wondered?
Thena looked around the room it had a bed, closet dressers and a window. She crawled into the closet and listened.
A mans voice was saying something at the door, the man in the bedroom said something and then the man at the door got into his vehicle and drove away.
Ryker wanted to punch Jake in the face, beat him to an inch of his life. Thena was gone and with it maybe his last chance at winning her back. Ryker shut the door and shut off the light and walked up to his room sat down on the bed. He put his head into his hands and opened his mind to Thena and she was suddenly there in cat form but she was there. He whispered, “come back to me honey. I love you”
Thena heard his words and was touched to her heart. She moved out of the closet, shifted into a human form opened the bedroom door and slowly walked down the hall way. When Ryker looked up she was standing in the hall way in human form totally nude. She was breath taking; beautiful in all her glory. Ryker stood up put his arms out to her. Slowly Thena walked towards Ryker, she could not believe he was there in there bedroom waiting for her. She had to be dreaming. Yes that was the answer she was dreaming he had left her. Thena stopped at the door. He had left her, tears filled her eyes. She spoke, “you left me, why did you leave me Ryker, you left me and our pup unprotected” she began to cry.
“I had to go honey I had to kill Melrodger or he would have killed you. Don’t’ you see honey I had no choice; it was the only way to protect you and our pup once and for all. Zand and Storm were supposed to protect you while I was gone. Jake who was just here got word from Storm. Storm said he got a call from Zand; Zand told him that the hit has been called off of you now that Melrodger was dead. You’re now safe; we can settle down have our family.”
Thena looked at Ryker and screamed, “Get out.” Her head was aching and she needed something for her headache. Her head felt like it was about to explode from all the memory flashes. Tears filled her eyes, suddenly her heart was aching and she could hardly breathe.
Ryker yelled back, “no not this time Thena, I am staying, I am not walking away from us we belong together we are blood bonded by the ritual and we are staying together. I won’t lose you again, and I won’t fight you either like the last time.”
Thena looked at Ryker she shifted down into a black panther and she screamed at him. Ryker stepped forward you want to kill me is that it go ahead I am not leaving here a live. She crept towards Ryker and couched. Thena snarled and swung her right paw and slashed at the air with her claws. She leaped and hit Ryker in the chest and he went down landing on the bed. Thena was on top of Ryker he refused to fight back she dugs her claws into his chest and still he wouldn’t fight back. Thena leaped to the floor and shifted back.
Thena could not kill Ryker she loved him, loved him with all her heart. “Get out Ryker it won’t work between us!”
Ryker stood up looked at his chest; blood was seeping from the claw marks, and then looked at Thena. You and I both know there is no divorce once we say the ritual and do it. If I leave and walked out that door we both know that living will be hell on this earth. And I am not going any where.
Thena marched back to the bedr
oom she came out of earlier, opened the door closed it behind her and locked the door. She crawled into bed. For hours she laid there in bed, getting no sleep.
Ryker was pacing the bed room floor in his room he couldn’t sleep either. Ryker knew he had to wait for Thena come around he couldn’t go down the hallway walk into her room and force her to accept him back. By morning both had not slept a wink. Ryker picked up the phone called Storm, when Storm answer Ryker told him Thena was back, so was her memories in post part, but that she was not accepting him. Storm said he was coming over maybe him and Wind could help.
Thena heard Ryker go down stairs when he did she marched to his room got some clothes put them on. She walked down stairs just in time to answer the door. Wind was standing there with a big smile. “Wind what brings you over for a visit?”
Wind smiled, “may I come in please?”
Wind stepped in and Ryker came out of the kitchen, Ryker Storm would like to see you out side for a few minutes I believe he has a job for you to do. Thena you are looking well compared to the last time I saw you at the clinic.” Wind chose not to mention Thena’s return she felt if Thena wanted to share with her how she came back then she would listen otherwise she would mind her own business.
“I am feeling better my memory is back sort of, well not completely I am still missing something’s.”
“Like what are you missing Thena maybe I can help?”
“I am missing why Ryker and I split the first time.”
Wind looked at Thena for a moment, “from what Storm told me, you put a client in danger trying to save Ryker’s life he got angry and the two of you got into a awful fight, then went your separate ways for year, then got back together when he heard Melrodger had a hit out on you.”
“How long was I in this cabin with the bullet to my head?” Thena said sadly.
Wind smiled place her hand on Thena’s arm, “Zand said two days, before he found you. He tried to call you the first day figured you were angry and would not pick up the phone, but by the second day he knew something must be wrong. Zand and Alexis rushed over and found you up stairs in your bedroom on the floor unconscious.
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