by Anthology
“I have no designs on you whatsoever, though I wouldn’t turn down a three-way if I was ever offered the chance again. I enjoyed helping you, but that’s as far as it goes. You don’t have to worry this is going to cause some kind of problem within the family or the Clan. We’re shifters. Furthermore, we’re cat shifters. We didn’t earn our frisky reputation lightly. Cats know how to have fun and we don’t have a lot of hang ups about sex.” He chewed a strip of bacon before resuming his revelations. “Sex is sex, and we all go through a period of frenzy when we’re young. For some of us it lasts longer than others. But what you have with Grif…well…that’s a mate bond if I’ve ever seen one. Mating is different. Mating is permanent. Commitment. Love.”
She had to smile at the way he described it—and the almost-longing on his face as he stared into the distance. Maybe he did understand.
“You were in the military, weren’t you?” She figured she’d give them both a break and change the subject. He’d settled quite a bit for her and she needed time to think through his words and actions.
Steve returned his attention to her and smiled. “I was a Green Beret. So was Grif, though we served at different times.”
“Impressive.” She didn’t know much about the Army, but she did recognize the name of the elite Special Forces branch.
“Which is why he left me here this morning to guard the house while he scouted the perimeter.” Steve finished his plate and put the dirty dish in the sink for a quick rinse. “Matt took Belinda into town to get supplies,” he went on. “Grif is on his way back in, so we’ll switch off. I’ll take outside duty while you two finish breakfast.” He winked at her again as he headed for door. “He didn’t think you’d be up this early, but I’m glad we had some time to straighten a few things out. I’m also glad—if I haven’t said it before—that you’re part of the family now, Lindsey. I’ve never seen Grif happier, or more at peace, than when he’s with you.”
Steve left without another word, leaving a stunned Lindsey in the kitchen with her half-eaten breakfast. She heard the door open and then the low rumble of the two brothers sharing conversation before the door closed again. Her hearing was growing much sharper now that she was able to shapeshift.
Grif walked into the kitchen area a moment later, leaning over to kiss her hello before grabbing the third portion of eggs, bacon and toast Steve had left warming by the stove. Grif joined her at the table and ate heartily, a smile on his face every time he looked up and caught her eye.
“You’re up early,” he commented as he dug into his food with gusto.
“I’m usually an early riser. Or at least I have been since I moved into my grandfather’s house. There’s been a lot of work to do and limited time to do it.”
“I know that feeling, but sometimes it’s good to delegate. That’s what little brothers are for.” He chuckled as he chomped on a slice of crispy bacon.
“You have a big family.” Even she heard the envy in her tone.
“Bigger than you realize.” He squeezed some ketchup on the remainder of his scrambled eggs. “Originally there were seven of us. Me, Steven, Jacqueline, Magnus, Robert, Matthew and Belinda.” Lindsey stayed quiet, allowing him to speak in his own good time. “Jackie married young to an older cat from a distant Clan. We didn’t know a lot about him, but Jackie was always headstrong. I liked that about her. She knew her own mind from the time she was a kitten.” He smiled nostalgically, though his expression held sorrow as well.
“I already told you, the man she married—Timmons—beat her. We didn’t realize it until she came home, begging for help.” Grif’s voice was full of sorrow mixed with a simmering anger as he went on. “She was hiding it from us for whatever reason. Soon after they mated, she moved to live with his Clan and things went bad. If we’d seen her, we would’ve known something was wrong and we would have intervened. Timmons fled the country and the best trackers I could hire all over the globe haven’t been able to find him. They always seem to be a day late. He’s been traveling steadily, never staying in one place too long. One day though, I’ll have justice. Jackie’s spirit won’t rest properly until I do.”
Lindsey reached out to cover his hand with hers. She felt so bad for him, but there was little she could do other than offer her support and what comfort she could.
“You’ll find him when the time is right.” She didn’t really know what else to say. It was obvious he had loved his sister and her loss had affected him deeply.
“That’s the thing. The past few days…” He trailed off.
“What?” He looked so troubled, she wanted to know how she could help him.
“I could swear I’ve caught just a whiff of his scent a few times,” he admitted. “That’s why I called in the cavalry. Then we had a report that he was spotted just a short distance away. He’s back in the States, but he always seems to be one step ahead of those I’ve hired to track him. I even asked Slade to work on the case, but he’s still on his honeymoon and I didn’t want to ruin it for him or his new mate.”
“Who’s Slade?” She wanted to encourage him to talk. She wanted to know more about the things that troubled him so that she could maybe figure out a way to help.
“Best damn tracker I’ve ever met,” Grif answered, brightening a bit. “He came to Nevada to track my mother’s killers. He found them all right. A lot faster than any of us expected him to, but then, he’s got a lot of magic on his side. As does his new mate. You’ll like Kate. She’s the Clan’s new priestess.”
“They’re in Nevada?”
“The Clan is based out of Las Vegas right now, though that’s relatively new. I thought we all probably needed a change of location after Jackie died and there was a big construction project in Vegas that I would have to be on site for anyway. We built a development, moved in as many of our people who wanted to come with us, and set up shop. We do that from time to time. Cat’s like to roam.” He shrugged as if that much was obvious. “Our Clan is different from most others. It’s not just cougar shifters. Well, the actual heart of the Clan is, but the extended Clan includes everyone who works for Redstone Construction. Some have stronger ties than others, but I consider them all part of my extended family.”
He shrugged as if it was of no importance, but even Lindsey had heard of his construction company and had an inkling of how large it was. A whole lot of people worked for the family business and even if just a fraction of them were shifters, it meant there were a lot more shifters in the world than she’d thought.
As he talked, it became apparent there was also a lot she didn’t know about his world. It sounded violent—his mother had been murdered, after all—but it also sounded like a truly loving and supportive environment. And she was beginning to realize that Griffon Redstone was responsible for more than just his brothers and sister. He was the head of a large, powerful and extensively connected group of shifters.
And he had trouble in his past that might still be out to get him.
“So you think Timmons might be nearby?”
Grif ran one hand through his golden hair as he blew out a frustrated breath. “Hell if I know.” He had finished eating and began to clear the table. Lindsey got up and helped. “I might be imagining it, but I really thought I scented him—just the faintest whiff—a few times. Maybe I’m crazy. Maybe I just want revenge so bad, I’m manufacturing things that don’t really exist.”
She stopped by the sink, facing him. “Do you really think that?” she asked quietly.
His eyes met hers and she saw the serious concern and thirst for justice in his golden gaze.
“No,” he answered simply. With finality. “I feel like the showdown is coming sooner rather than later. I feel that danger is closer than we think, and while one part of me rejoices at the chance to tear Timmons limb from limb, another part of me worries for everyone around me. Timmons could try to use Belinda, or you, against me. He could try to hurt or kidnap either one of you as a way to throw me off balance. Which is why I’m
having my brothers guard you both if I can’t be around.” He placed his open palms over her shoulders, holding her gaze. “Please don’t go anywhere without either me or one of my brothers. Your life could depend on it.”
She didn’t want to believe the danger was real, but he seemed so worried.
“I won’t,” she promised quickly. “But what about your brothers? Won’t they be in danger too? Timmons could attack them.”
“He could, but there wouldn’t be as much to gain and a lot more risk involved. My brothers would take a bite out of the bastard and they are all skilled fighters. Plus, if he wants to force a fight, it’s me he’ll confront. I’m the Alpha. Whoever wins in a contest for dominance in my Clan and wins, rules the Clan. Sick as it is, by mating with my sister, he has some claim to position in my Clan, even though he killed her. I’ve renounced him, of course, but there’s still that tie.”
“So if he wins a fight with you, he takes over Redstone Construction?” She didn’t really understand.
“No, kitten. If he kills me, he takes over my position as Alpha with the Clan. He might try to take the business too, but there are legal documents in place that would make that highly unlikely. Thing is, shifters place more stock in dominance than in money. Money can be made, dominance has to be earned.”
“He has to kill you?” She was shaking at the very idea of a fight to the death. “But why? What would he gain from being dominant over a group that hates his guts?”
“Killing the old Alpha is one of the ways to establish dominance beyond the shadow of a doubt. It isn’t done all that often anymore, but in the old days, it was pretty common. Of course, once Timmons killed me—which I like to believe is impossible—then my brothers would challenge him, one at a time, until they returned the favor. Still, it might be worth it to him to get the price off his head.” Grif let her go and turned away. “I put a bounty on him. Only by getting rid of me and taking my Clan can he rescind it. And if he managed to get rid of me, then my brothers stand about the same chances in a one on one fight with him. We’re all about equally matched. Personally, I think I can best Timmons in a fair fight, but he plays dirty. He could use you or Belinda to distract me or stir the anger of the cat beyond all rational bounds. Which is why I need to keep you both as safe as possible. If I thought sending you away would do it, I would, but for now, the safest place is with me, right here, where I can watch over you.”
She went to him and put her arms around him from behind. It didn’t take more than thirty seconds for him to turn around and return her embrace. He hugged her, rocking slightly back and forth, just sharing the closeness, the caring feelings. The love.
How did this man become the center of her world in such a short amount of time? Lindsey’s human side wanted to question it, but the cat who now lived inside her seemed to think all was right with its world whenever Grif was near. The cat recognized him. It accepted his dominance, his partnership, his care. It wanted to do all it could to please him and bring him those warm feelings of knowing someone in the universe put you before themselves, in return.
They were still hugging when the kitchen door opened and Matt ushered Belinda in before him. The air around them was fraught with so much tension, even Lindsey could sense it. She moved back from Grif, watching the two newcomers.
Matt had a deep frown on his face and his brows were drawn together in something like anger. Belinda just looked frightened.
“What’s wrong?” Grif asked before Lindsey could.
“I saw Timmons in town. Plain as day. He’s definitely here.”
“Sonuva—” Grif swore.
“He tried to talk to me in the store,” Belinda admitted in a shaky voice. “But I ran to Matt.”
“You did the right thing, munchkin,” Grif praise his baby sister, dropping to one knee to catch her in a fierce hug. She clung to him like a lifeline and Lindsey saw the way the siblings loved each other and depended on each other for strength and reassurance.
“Timmons made a run for it. I saw him as he left the store. He paused by the door and caught my eye.” Matt’s anger seemed to boil over as his fists tightened, his knuckles showing white at his sides. “I tried to pick up his trail, but he was gone. And so many people come and go through that door every day, it’s next to impossible to pick out one scent from hundreds.”
Grif released his sister and stood. “Lindsey, would you take Belinda upstairs? No going outside unescorted for either of you right now. I’m sorry about that, but your lives are in danger if he catches you alone.”
“It’s okay Grif. I’ll play inside for now,” Belinda offered, her young voice trembling. She was scared and Lindsey’s heart went out to her.
Lindsey reached out and put her arm around the youngster’s shoulders, turning to leave the kitchen. It was pretty obvious that Matt had more to say that he didn’t want to reveal in front of the child. Lindsey didn’t mind helping to shield Belinda from whatever it was that made Matt vibrate with anger, but she’d be asking Grif for the scoop the moment they were alone.
Chapter Twelve
The moment Lindsey and Belinda were out of earshot, Grif turned to his youngest brother.
“What?” That’s all he had to say. Matt was definitely eager to tell his Alpha the rest of whatever had happened in that store.
“When Timmons caught my eye, it was on purpose. Belinda was wrapped around me, trembling, and she couldn’t see Timmons, but I could. He stopped with one hand on the door and with the other, he drew a line across his neck as he nodded at Belinda. It was a clear threat to kill her. The bastard!”
Grif seethed, but had to be calm. He had to think this through.
“He was baiting you.”
“Sure he was, but the threat is still real. He’s killed before. He’s killed our sister before!” Matt was pacing now, anger almost overcoming him.
“I know.” Grif was angry too, but he had to do his best to remain level headed.
He’d learned his lesson when they’d lost their mother. Not one of the five brothers had been thinking straight and they had almost played into the hands of the murderers who’d wanted them to reveal their abilities and the existence of shifters to the human world.
Grif had spoken at length to the Lords of the Were, Tim and Rafe, about it after the fact. They’d been the ones to send their best man—Slade—to track the killers and prevent Grif and his brothers from doing something irreparable. It had been Tim who suggested taking time away from the Clan. The cabin wasn’t too far from where the Lords had their base as the crow flies, but the Rockies themselves created natural boundaries between Packs that kept them confined to certain geographical areas.
There were lots of wolf Packs spread over the Rockies. Logans’ Wind River Pack was one of the smaller Packs, but he was a capable Alpha who was drawing new members to him each day. Oftentimes, dominant, fair leaders like him would attract loners and those unhappy with their birth Packs. Logan’s little group had already gained more than a quarter of its current population since he’d taken over. That was the sign of a good Alpha and a Pack that might one day become a powerhouse.
All these thoughts zipped through Grif’s mind as he chewed on the problem of Timmons. He didn’t want to, but they probably needed the local Alpha on this. He lifted his phone and placed the call. As it rang, he left his youngest brother in the kitchen and walked into the living room to speak with the wolf Alpha.
“Logan? It’s Grif. I need your help.” He exhaled his frustration. High emotion would only get in the way of rational action. He had to strive for calm.
“Is your lady still in a bad way?” Logan asked on the other end of the call and Grif could hear the concern in the wolf’s voice.
“No, she’s better now. The frenzy has lifted for the most part. I can handle it from here on out.” He wanted that point to be crystal clear, though he’d always be grateful to the other Alpha for helping his mate stay sane when it could’ve gone either way. “Remember I told you how my sister
was killed by her mate? Well, my younger brother saw the bastard in town today. I’ve been catching faint whiffs of his scent for the past few weeks, but I couldn’t be sure until now. Matt definitely saw him. He’s here and I believe he’s stalking Belinda. I can only assume he’s the next best thing to feral.”
“Damn,” Logan cursed. “Do you have a photo? And something to scent him by?”
“Yeah.” Grif sighed. He’d brought the items with him from Nevada, hoping he would never need them, but he’d been wise to come prepared.
“I’ll come over. The sooner we get the Pack on this, the sooner we can run him to ground,” Logan growled. “I won’t tolerate a feral shifter running loose in my territory. Especially not one that’s already killed another shifter.”
“Thanks, Logan. And I’m sorry we brought this danger to your territory.”
Logan was silent a moment as if considering how to reply. Finally he answered.
“No sweat, Grif. It’s probably not a bad thing to have the Redstone Alpha owe me one.” Logan chuckled as he ended the call and Grif had to follow suit.
By comparison, Grif’s Clan was much more highly placed in were hierarchy than Logan’s. The other Alpha could benefit greatly if he called in his favor at the right time.
“You think Timmons is feral?” Matt’s voice came to Grif from near the entry to the kitchen. He’d followed quietly, listening in on the call, but Grif didn’t mind. If he’d wanted the call to be private, he’d have gone elsewhere.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. And it’s something I talked over with Tim and Rafe the last time we spoke. We’ll never know if Jackie was his true mate. Only they know the truth of that, but if she was, now that she’s gone, his inner cat has to be in deep mourning. The conflict between the cougar and the man who possibly killed his own mate…that kind of thing can drive a person around the bend.” Grif sighed. “Rafe tried to dig into Timmons’s past, but information was hard to come by. Before joining his Clan, he was a loner. No family ties to that group, and the Alpha there isn’t the strongest or most upstanding cat in the woods. He tends to attract the dregs, though before his reign, the Clan was a good one. Since he took over though, the only new members are not exactly the cream of shifter society.”