A Leopard's Path (Ashwood Falls Book 5)

by Davis, Lia;

  “I spoke to Luna a moment ago, and we agreed it’d be best to start moving the submissives and children this afternoon. Ana, we’d like you to lead them through the tunnels while it’s still light out,” Blaine patted Cam on the leg. “And you take this one with you.”

  Cam sat up and fisted her hand in his hair, pulling him to her. “I’m not helpless.”

  He bit her lip. “You never have been, but I need you with the kids.”

  Blaine’s lips twisted, making Kieran chuckle. Cam released him and shoved him away. Glaring at both of her mates, Cam said, “You two wait. All the teasing will come back to you.”

  Cam stood, grabbed Ana’s hand and headed for the door. When they reached it, Blaine said, “One of you up front, the other in the middle.”

  Cam rolled her eyes and waved him off before exiting the house.

  Kieran met his Alpha’s grey gaze. “It doesn’t seem like too long ago that I was kicking your ass in training.”

  “Now I’m all grown up.” Blaine shook his head as he blew out a breath. “Between us, I’m not ready for this. I curse my father every day.”

  Kieran had been present for most of those curses. Blaine called his father a couple times a day to bust his balls about ditching his responsibilities. However, Kieran knew it was all in fun. “You’re more than ready. You know it, your leopard knows it.”

  “Who’s staying here until the last of the Pack are moved?” Graham asked.

  Checking his cell, Blaine replied, “Kieran and I are. You go in the second wave.”

  Graham worked his jaw but didn’t argue. As if sensing something Kieran didn’t, Blaine cupped his mate’s head. “I can’t lose either of you.”

  A growl rumbled from the puma. “We can’t lose you. You need another guard.”

  “Guard.” Quickly, Blaine kissed Graham on the lips then turned to Kieran. “Alpha guards. The bears have Sentinels whose sole purpose is to protect the Alpha.”

  Kieran nodded. “All Packs have them at some time.”

  “That’s your job. Find and train Sentinels.”

  “The Elders are putting together an enforcement team. I’ll mention to the Council about extending it to Sentinels.” Kieran pulled out his phone and sent a text to Keegan.

  Ask me about Sentinels at the Elder meeting.

  The one thing that worried Kieran was finding shifters with the strength and discipline needed to be an Alpha’s protector.

  ****

  Ana stood in front of a large group of chatting, and in some cases, babbling toddlers and their mothers who were blocking the tunnel’s entrance. They were waiting for the signal from Cora, who was at the other end, to go as a group.

  Holding her hand up, palm facing the group, Ana spoke in a soft and steady voice. “I need everyone quiet for a few minutes.”

  For some reason, the kids listened to her. Whether they found her fascinating or scary, she didn’t know. They fell silent, and she smiled. “Thank you. I want everyone to grab on to the hand of the cat or wolf next to you. That is your buddy until we reach Ashwood. Understood?”

  They nodded and did as she said. Then a yip echoed through the tunnel. Ana sucked in her lip to keep from smiling. She turned to see the only four-year-old – soon to be five-year-old - in the Pack who was able to shift into the most adorable white wolf. “Are you leading us to the new den?”

  Joselyn—Josie—Hunter, Travis and Shayna’s daughter, let out another yip and trotted down the tunnel toward Ashwood. A moment later, Shayna’s voice entered her mind. “She’s your single. Sorry, she insisted.”

  “No problem.”

  “Okay, pups and cubs, I want everyone to be very quiet. Place your fingers over your lips, and don’t remove them until we are through the tunnel.” Ana turned and followed Josie at a slow pace.

  About halfway through, Rhea, the wolf den mother and school director, stepped up beside Ana. “You are great with kids.”

  “Thank you.” Ana’s chest ached. Someone had to be the small shifters’ protector and teacher at Onyx. She was the only one who seemed to care, besides Sable.

  They walked the rest of the way in silence. Once at the border, so to speak, of MoonRiver and Ashwood, Ana stopped everyone then pressed her right palm to the wall where a hidden sensor was. The sensor read her fingerprints as well as her magickal energy.

  From this day forward, only the Pack officials, enforcers, and sentries would have access to the tunnels. If someone without access wanted to travel them, they would be escorted through.

  A green light shown at the end of the tunnel, indicating that it was safe for them to continue.

  Rhea whistled. “This is high tech.”

  Ana smiled at her. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  Chapter Seven

  Ana settled onto Kieran’s sofa and sighed at the fire going in the fireplace. A cold front had moved in about an hour after the move from MoonRiver was complete. The sudden change in the weather chilled her to the bone.

  Kieran handed her a glass of semi-sweet red wine, then picked up the throw from the back of the couch and draped it around her shoulders. A smile tugged at her lips and she warmed slightly. He paid attention. “Thank you.”

  After pressing a kiss to her lips, he settled next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and drawing her into his side. “I know how connected you are to the elements. The temps must have dropped a good twenty degrees in the last hour.”

  “Twenty-two.”

  He laughed and kissed the top of her head. She was about to pinch him in the side when a strange yet familiar sensation touched her awareness. She sat up and listened. When Kieran opened his mouth, she held up her hand.

  Light scratching sounded at the back door. Relaxing, she stood. “I think I hear Cora’s bobcat cub.”

  Spring ran free around Ashwood. It amazed Ana how the cub knew not to leave the den.

  Ana opened the back door and gasped. Curled up on the welcome mat with a backpack next to him was a young jaguar. But not just any jaguar. “Nigel?”

  He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. A tidal wave of sorrow slammed into her. No, please no. She glanced back at Kieran, her vision blurring. Kieran stepped forward, picked up the cub and carried him to the fire.

  Ana sat cross-legged next to Nigel, stroking his fur until he warmed enough to shift. When he did, he threw himself at Ana, hugging her tightly. She hugged him back while pulling the blanket from where it had dropped on the couch and wrapping it around his naked body to keep him warm.

  “Mom…they took her.”

  Ana’s heart froze for a brief moment and her blood ran cold, but it wasn’t from the weather. “Who?”

  “Felix and a witch.”

  Ana tightened her hold on Nigel and glanced to Kieran, who had his phone to his ear. “Who are you calling?”

  Kieran shook his head as he spoke to whoever answered on the other end. “Dani, can you come by and bring Nevan? Please be discreet.”

  Ana heard the Healer’s soft, “sure.”

  It took only moments for Dani and Nevan to arrive. Ana didn’t glance their way as they entered the living room. She didn’t need to. The smell of chocolate and peanut butter filled the air.

  “The house was so cool that I decided to bake some cookies,” the Healer said.

  Nevan laughed, the tray of cookies in his hand. “I may not have to worry about human illnesses anymore, but I can still gain weight from her cooking.”

  “Oh, hush,” Dani laughed, her voice growing closer. “Ana, is everything alright—”

  Ana uncurled her arms from around Nigel and turned to them so the couple could see the teenager. As she expected, Dani covered her mouth with her hands as she stared at the boy who looked so much like his father.

  Dani opened her mouth, then closed it. She paced over to the couch and sat. “Is that…?”

  Ana nodded. “Yes.”

  “How did he get here?”

  After handing the tray of cookies off
to Kieran, Nevan touched the boy’s shoulder and studied Nigel. “Something has happened to his mother.”

  Ana brushed Nigel’s hair from his eyes and gestured toward the couch. “That’s Dani. She’s a Healer.”

  Nigel shook his head. “I’m not hurt. I don’t need a Healer.”

  Ana closed her eyes briefly. The kid was scared, angry, and worried about his mom. But before she said anything, Nevan sat on the floor a few feet from them. Nigel met his gaze. “You’re human.”

  The corners of Nevan’s mouth lifted. “Very much so, but my mom is a puma, as are my brothers. I’m also an Empath. Dani is my mate.”

  Nigel flicked his gaze to the Healer, then back to Nevan. “Mom told me to run in this direction. I saw the den and thought it was abandoned until I heard everyone return. I scented Ana and hid until a little while ago.”

  Dani stared at the teen with a mixture of awe and sadness. “He looks so much like his father.”

  “My father is dead.”

  Ana took a breath. “Nigel, your mother—”

  “Sometimes adults tell their children things because they think they are protecting them.” Nevan leaned against Dani’s legs. “From what I understand, your parents…um…well, they have issues.”

  “My father is alive?”

  Ana rubbed Nigel’s back, hoping to soothe him. “I believe it is why your mother sent you here.” She paused, letting him soak in the new information. “Do you know where Felix would have taken your mom?”

  “No. The witch…she looked like Mom.”

  Why the hell is he so calm? Ana would be pacing or climbing the walls. Hell, she too had recently found out who her real family was, and she was still trying to absorb everything. But she had Kieran to help her. “Nigel, I’ll find your mother. I promise you, Felix will pay for all his sins.”

  Fury burned slowly through her veins. The Alpha of Onyx would pay. Soon.

  ****

  Keeping secrets in Ashwood was like hiding cookies from the cookie monster. It just wasn’t possible.

  It took exactly twenty minutes for Blaine to show up. Then three minutes later, Jared pounded on the door. Jerking it open, Kieran growled low. “Remember, this is my house.”

  The muscles in the jaguar’s temples flexed. Without speaking, Jared gave a short, quick nod. Kieran moved aside, then stuck his head out the door to see if anyone else was walking down the sidewalk. Shaking his head, he shut the door and faced the small crowd gathered in his living room.

  Blaine glared at Jared. “I told you to stay home.”

  Jared’s focus wasn’t on Blaine but on the fifteen-year-old kid sitting on the floor in front of the fire. Nigel had showered and changed into some clothes he had inside the backpack he’d carried with him. When the older jaguar stepped closer to the kid, Ana blocked him with a snarl.

  “That’s close enough.”

  “Kieran, remove your female.”

  If this were a different situation, Kieran would have laughed. However, Jared was on edge. Kieran could feel the other man’s pain and anger. Beside him, Nevan rose and shifted from foot to foot.

  “Jared, have a seat. There is a lot more going on here than you realize.” Kieran tried to reason with the jaguar, but it was no use. Jared was fixed on getting to Nigel.

  “Jared.” Blaine’s husky, growled out command only made Jared twitch slightly.

  Ana relaxed her shoulders and held her hands up, palms facing Jared. “Please. You must calm down. You’re frightening Nigel.”

  Jared shifted his focus to Ana. Kieran fisted his hands, ready to pounce if the male laid one hand on her. On the heels of that thought, Jared gripped Ana’s arms and glared.

  Before Kieran could move, Nevan was in front of him, palms on his chest. “He’s not hurting her. We all have to calm down in order for Jared to rein in his emotions.”

  The Empath was right, but damn, it was hard not to kick Jared’s ass for touching Ana. If you’d have claimed her, you’d know how she was handling it. Kieran raked his fingers through his hair. He was an idiot. He needed to come clean with her, tell her all his secrets about his dark past and hope she’d still want him.

  That way, they could both move forward. Whether it was with each other or on different paths was unknown. And it scared the shit out of him to think about her walking away.

  Chapter Eight

  Jared stared into Ana’s grey gaze as her power washed over them. Flashes of the past, her past, ran through his mind like a bad movie strip. Most of the images flew by too fast for him to process, but his mind recognized a few. Sable was in the forefront of Ana’s memories. The two of them were close, maybe closer than most biological sisters.

  Suddenly, pain ripped through his head, but for once it wasn’t his. Ana screamed as a memory surfaced, and Jared drew her into a hug, cradling her head and wishing he could take it away.

  Ana had been attacked and bitten by a mutant when she was about Nigel’s age. Sable had killed the beast before it killed Ana.

  Slamming down his shields, Jared cut off his ability to look into others’ pasts and held Ana. “Sorry.”

  Before Jared knew what had happened, Ana was pulled away and his back was slammed into the wall, causing him to lose his footing and sink to the floor. Kieran stood over him, his leopard in his eyes and hands shifted into claws. Jared rested his head against the wall and stayed on his ass. “There are way too many secrets in this room. So, who wants to go first?”

  Kieran lunged for Jared, but Blaine was there in a flash with his arms wrapped around the leopard, holding him back. “We all need to calm the fuck down. Don’t make me force you to submit.”

  As he backed off of Jared, Kieran glanced to Ana. A heavy weight settled on his chest as dread clenched his heart. She averted her gaze, but not before he saw the tears. With two quick steps, Kieran had her cradled in his arms.

  “What did he see?” he whispered.

  Ana shook her head and buried her face into his chest as she fisted her hands in his shirt.

  She didn’t get a chance to answer before Nigel spoke. “They took Mom.”

  Kieran, along with everyone in the room, turned to the teen. He had his arms around his waist. The boy was in shock. He rocked himself back and forth until Ana reached out and pulled him into her arms.

  “We’ll find her.”

  Jared stood, staring at Nigel with a mix of concern and heartache. “What is he talking about?”

  Kieran moved Ana and Nigel to the sofa. “Felix and Savannah took Sable right after she sent Nigel here. To you.”

  A growl rumbled through the room as Jared hardened his stare on Kieran. He closed the distance until they were an arm’s length away.

  Behind them, Blaine’s power moved in to envelop them. The Alpha growled. “This is your last warning.”

  Jared held up his hands, palms out. “You can’t bring Sable here.”

  “We can’t leave her with Felix, either. She knows where the den is, and he’d torture her for information before killing her.” Ana turned to Blaine.

  Kieran released a sigh. “I agree.”

  Blaine gave a short nod before he spoke to Nigel. “How did you find the den?”

  Nigel glanced to Ana, then Kieran before meeting the Alpha’s stare. “My mom told me to run until I reached a circle of ash trees. Once I got there, I scented Ana and Kieran.”

  “How did you get past the wards?” Blaine held his tone even and clear of emotion.

  Nigel shrugged. “I sensed them, but they felt welcoming, like I belonged here.”

  Kieran thought about it for a moment, but it was Dani who said the words. “It’s because he’s Jared’s son.”

  Ana paced in front of the fireplace. “Of course. Although that should be fixed. I’ll let Cora know in the morning.” She paused and glanced up at her brother. “We need to search for Sable.”

  Blaine held up a hand. “Not tonight. We’ll meet with Travis in the morning. He’ll need Nigel to take him to where Sable wa
s taken to see if he can pick up a scent to follow.”

  Jared stood and watched his son. “I’ll go with them. The mating bond may be broken, but I can still sense her.” He met Ana’s gaze. “Sable has been watching over you. That’s one reason I’ve been away.”

  Ana dropped her shoulders. “She’s not the same person she was.”

  Jared moved to the door, then paused and faced Nigel. “Is it okay if I pick you up in the morning to go to Travis’s?”

  Nigel glanced from Ana to Kieran before returning his attention back to Jared. The teen’s brows knitted together as if he were battling a storm of building emotions. Ana opened her mouth but closed it when Nigel shook his head and stepped closer to her. “I…I don’t think so.”

  A spark of hurt flashed in Jared’s gaze briefly before he nodded and left.

  Once the door shut, Dani and Nevan stood. Nevan linked hands with his mate and tugged her to the door. “We better be going. Nigel, if you need to talk, just come by my office or call. Ana and Kieran have my number.”

  “Yes, sir.” Nigel straightened and made eye contact with Nevan.

  Dani smiled, squeezed her mate’s hand and kissed his cheek. Then she waved as they reached the door. “Night.”

  “Night,” Ana said in a low tone. After the couple left, she walked to the couch and sat, picking up a small, square pillow and hugging it to her. “I didn’t realize how strong Jared’s power was.”

  Her voice cracked and her scent carried the slight sour note of fear. Kieran clenched his jaw and took deep breaths. The tension still clung to the air in the room like a thick fog. His leopard wanted out to run, to hunt.

  Nigel fidgeted beside Kieran and glanced around. “I’m tired. Where will I sleep?”

  “In the guest room down the hall.” Before Nigel had a chance to move away, Kieran grabbed him and pulled him into his embrace. “We’ll find your mother. I promise. You do know that the Alphas will have no choice but to hold her until she’s tried by the Council of Elders though.”