by Anthology
Lindsey stood watching and realized she’d made a big mistake as everything seemed to move into slow motion. She saw how close she was to the steps and tried to move back. Her movement must’ve captured the prisoner’s attention because his eyes locked with hers as he screamed. The scream started out human, but quickly morphed into the scratchy yowl of an enraged cougar.
He shifted shape faster than she’d ever seen anyone change, slipping free of both Grif and Steve’s holds. Even encumbered by the shreds of his clothing hanging off his body, he was able to launch himself down the stairs, crashing into Lindsey on his way down.
But she didn’t fall. She’d expected to be pinned under a cat. Instead, she was held in the hairy arms of a creature that was some kind of weird cross between a cat and a man. And it was larger and deadlier than either.
What the heck was he? She didn’t know enough about shifters to know what was happening. Until she’d changed into a cougar, she didn’t even know there were more than werewolves in the forest.
A massive, clawed hand wrapped around her throat as Timmons—in monster form—got behind her. Oh, dear lord, he was using her as a shield.
Time resumed its sickening tempo as Timmons backed away from Grif and Steve, left angrily holding air as Timmons slipped away from them. Her eyes met Grif’s and she saw the anger and pain in his gaze as he met hers. She wanted to reach out to him but the bastard behind her had her pinned.
“You won’t get away with this, Timmons,” Steve growled, pacing closer while Grif held back, watching and clearly both angered and worried by developments.
She’d ruined this for him. She’d been in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time, taking what should have been his triumph over the bastard that had killed his sister away in one moment of stupidity.
Dammit! She wasn’t going to let this end badly. She’d screwed up, but maybe she could fix things. Somehow. She grasped for ideas but came up empty.
“I’ll rip her throat out,” Timmons growled too close to her ear. She tried to shy away but the claws at her throat pierced the skin slightly, drawing blood. She could smell the tang of it in the air. Dammit. She had to think!
“Don’t do it,” Grif warned in a low, deadly voice.
He was seething with anger and she thought maybe he was up to something. He was hanging back, letting Steve take point. But could she wait for him to do whatever it is he was planning? Or could she help in some way?
“You lower yourself to lie with a human?” Timmons seemed appalled, judging by the tone of his growl. She could see his teeth and they weren’t normal human teeth. They were pointy, sharp, two inch-long fangs. Damn.
Grif didn’t answer, only mirroring Timmons as he backed toward the trees, dragging her with him. Steve followed, only a few paces away.
Steve shifted as he walked, but didn’t turn into the cat she was familiar with. Instead, he stopped halfway—sort of—and became like the monster who held her. It was scary as hell. Steve was a big son of a gun when he was in human form. In this half-shifted monster shape, he was absolutely terrifying.
He stalked them, matching Timmons move for move as he continued backing toward the trees. She tried to see Grif, but Steve was blocking her view. What was he doing? Why wasn’t he doing something?
Chapter Fourteen
Lindsey realized then that this was all part of the strategy. The brothers were working together. Steve was presenting a clear threat so Timmons would focus on him, but Grif was still in the background. Still in human form. Still dangerous.
But for whatever reason, they were hesitating to act. Probably it had to do with the way Timmons had her by the throat. She had to do something to alter her position… And then it came to her. She was thinking like a human, but she was a shifter now and apparently Timmons didn’t realize it.
She wasn’t sure why he couldn’t smell it on her, but maybe he just assumed any cat scent he picked up around her was from one of the Redstones. That had to be it.
If she shifted, she’d have to do it faster than she’d ever done it before. She had to take Timmons completely by surprise. Could she do it? Lindsey thought maybe she could, but it would take all her courage to try. Still, she had to. She had to give Grif an opening to take down his sister’s killer. She’d messed this up by being in the wrong place at just the wrong time. She needed to fix it.
She tried to catch Grif’s eye, but Steve was most definitely in the way. She settled for winking at Steve, hoping he’d figure out what she intended and somehow let his brother know.
Lindsey gathered herself and sought the change, almost begging for it to take her fast this time. Fast like lightning. Faster than Timmons could close his claws on her shifting throat.
And just like that, she dropped to the ground, on all fours. She bounded away and a split second later, she heard shots ring out and a dull thud behind her. Her cat eyes looked for Grif and she found him standing with his legs spread, his handgun smoking in his grip. She looked back to where Timmons had been and he was on the ground, the sharp scent of his blood wafting stronger by the moment through the still night air. Grif had shot the bastard and he wasn’t moving. Thank goodness.
Her legs threatened to give out, but she needed to be strong. Her little nightshirt was bunched around her furry body, but she didn’t care. She padded up to Grif and rubbed her head along his legs until he bent down to caress her head with his hands. The scent of spent gunpowder tickled her sensitive nose, but she did her best to hold back the sneeze that threatened.
Grif wrapped his arms around her and lifted, carrying her to the porch as dark-clothed soldiers moved in on Timmons’s body. He sat on the steps with her in his arms and she could feel the tremors running through his body. It wasn’t obvious to the casual observer, but he let her feel how deeply affected he’d been by the past few minutes.
“Change back,” he whispered in her ear and the raw emotion in his gravelly voice would not be denied.
She shifted, not really caring if she flashed everyone. They were shifters. They were used to seeing each other naked, she was sure. But she needn’t have worried. Her stretchy sleep shirt fell back into the right place when she resumed her human form with a few tugs from Grif’s big hands.
She sat on his lap, his arms around her. She turned, wrapping him in her embrace as well.
“I’m sorry I almost screwed everything up. I shouldn’t have been so close to the steps,” she whispered, wanting to come clean and clear the air between them.
He drew away and looked into her eyes, seeming to be surprised by her words.
“Sweetheart, this was all my fault. I should have anticipated what he’d do once we got outside. If not you, he’d have grabbed the first vulnerable person he saw. He gave up too easily inside. I should have realized he had something else up his sleeve. Can you forgive me?”
She cupped his stubbly cheek and smiled. “Oh, Grif. There’s nothing to forgive. Let’s just forget all about it, okay? I definitely don’t blame you and I’m just relieved you don’t blame me, but you can be sure I’ve learned a valuable lesson here tonight.”
He leaned in and kissed her. His kiss tasted of desperation as well as gratitude and when he moved back and let her up for air, his trembling had ended. So had hers, as a matter of fact. They had helped each other over the rough spot and were ready to move on…together. As it should be.
“You were amazing, Lindsey. I’ve never seen you shift so fast. I doubt any natural born shifter could have done better.” His praise made her feel even better.
Steve was tugging on his shirt as he approached them. He’d been over by Timmons’s body for a while but since he wasn’t moving and nobody was fussing over the guy, Lindsey figured he was a goner.
“Nice shot, bro,” Steve said with a grim smile.
“Thanks.” Grif didn’t sound pleased, but she would have been appalled if he’d been happy about killing someone. The Grif she knew valued life. He shouldn’t take it lightly.
“Timmons will never bother us again. He’s dead,” Steve stated, looking from Grif to Lindsey. “You did good for a beginner, Lindz. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself. You’re cool in a crisis and that makes me even gladder to know you’re part of the family now. We don’t look for trouble, but just lately, it’s been finding us all too often. It’s good to have someone at Grif’s side to ease his many burdens who can also be relied upon to be cool under pressure.”
Wow. She felt the weight of Steve’s approval and it felt good. Grif squeezed her waist and she took it as agreement with his brother’s words.
“Thanks. I’m just glad it worked.” She would have said more, but she was at a bit of a loss. Arlo’s arrival next to Steve saved her from having to figure out what to say.
“We’ll clean up if that’s agreeable to you, Alpha,” Arlo offered.
“I’d be obliged. Can you send his remains to Las Vegas? I’ll send him on from there to his home Pack, but I want our priestess to take a look at him first. We’ve had dealings with mages recently and I want her to check him for magical taint.”
“Can do. I can also ask Millie to take a look. She might sense something. She’s the Pack’s new tracker.”
“She’s the one who tracked Timmons here, right?” Grif asked and Lindsey could hear the curiosity in his voice.
“The very same.” Arlo looked behind him and signaled toward the barn.
A moment later, a woman emerged from the structure, Belinda at her side wearing a man’s very large T-shirt. The woman was beautiful, even at a distance. She had black hair, light eyes and a figure that made Lindsey feel a pang of instant envy.
Matt walked behind them, clad only in what had to be borrowed pants that were a little short on his lanky form. Both were barefoot, but the woman was dressed stylishly in a black cat suit and soft soled black boots.
Grif let Lindsey move off his lap. If she was going to meet a woman who looked like that, she didn’t want to do it from such a compromising position. She was strong. She had to be strong in front of all these badass shifters.
She took a seat at Grif’s side and she liked how he reached out for her hand, closing his big fingers over her smaller ones and drawing it to his side. He seemed disinclined to let her hand go and she didn’t mind one bit. After what they’d all been through that night, she needed the contact probably way more than he did. That he’d realize that and see to her need without being asked or told meant a lot. He was one helluva guy. And he was all hers.
She tried not to feel too smug about that, but she was proud to have him at her side. In her life. In her bed.
“Millie,” Arlo made the introductions as the woman neared. “This is the Redstone Alpha. Grif, this is Millie, our Pack’s new tracker.”
The woman reached out her hand and Grif took it for a businesslike shake. He then turned to Lindsey and introduced her before they went any further.
“This is my mate, Lindsey,” he said, his voice strong with just a hint of emotion as he looked at her. He wouldn’t let go of her hand so she couldn’t shake Millie’s, but the smile the other woman gave her said she understood and even found his possessiveness as amusing as she did.
“I think you know my brother, Slade,” Millie said, surprising them. Lindsey felt Grif jerk, just slightly. It probably couldn’t have been seen, but she felt it, close as she was to him.
“Slade is a great addition to our Clan,” Grif replied somewhat formally. “Can I assume you have his rather unique abilities as well?”
“For the most part,” she answered. Something was being said between the lines here but Lindsey didn’t quite know what it was. Still, she felt Grif relax slightly and realized the woman held secrets that Grif somehow was privy to because of their mutual knowledge of this guy Slade.
“Thank you for your work here tonight. Without your warning…” Grif got choked up as he looked at Belinda, standing with Matt and Steve off to one side.
She was all right, but she wouldn’t have been if they hadn’t gotten the warning in time. Timmons would have killed her first, then moved on to do more damage. It had been so close. Lindsey sucked in a breath, realizing what a close escape it had really been for the girl.
Lindsey squeezed Grif’s hand in silent support.
“My pleasure, Alpha. I’m only glad I found the trail in time. He was very good at evasion.”
“You can say that again.” Grif sighed. “He kept ditching the best trackers I could hire all over the world. Thank the Lady you were here tonight, Millie. I can never thank you enough.”
Millie ducked her head modestly. “It is my calling, Alpha,” she said simply.
There was something very exotic about the woman and Lindsey found herself fascinated by her despite the lingering, petty jealousy at how beautiful she was. She was also brave and skilled and that only made Lindsey admire her more.
“I know it’s distasteful, but would you be willing to take a look at the body?” Grif asked. “We’ve had dealings with mages recently and I’d like to have him examined by my Clan’s priestess—who I guess is your new sister-in-law,” Grif said with a hint of irony in his tone. “The more who look at him, the better I will feel. I’d be particularly interested in any magical tattoos that would be invisible to me, but that someone with your background might be able to detect.”
Millie’s eyes narrowed. “I understand your concern. I’ll see what I can do, though I do agree that you should get Slade and his mate to examine him too. Not all of us see things the same.” Millie’s lips tightened as she turned toward where Timmons still lay, surrounded now by armed soldiers who seemed to be awaiting orders.
She walked away without further discussion, leaving Arlo as she picked her way through the thick grass toward the body.
“When did she join your Pack?” Grif asked Arlo in low tones.
“Not long ago. She just showed up, gave my brother Jason a letter from the Lords which began a round of teleconferences with them and their mate, and the High Priestess. After all was said and done, she’d been welcomed into the Pack. Next thing I know, she’s offered her tracking services to Jesse and damned if he didn’t take her up on it. She’s on-call with our team for cases requiring her special skills.” Arlo watched her as he talked. She was by the body now, crouching low, apparently giving it a thorough going over. “This is the first time I’ve worked with her and I can tell you, I’m really impressed.”
“Me too,” Matt said, joining the conversation, leaving Belinda to Steve, who had her in a bear hug. “That trail was stone cold. I didn’t think anyone could pick up Timmons from the store where I saw him, but she did. She’s got serious skills. Just like her brother.”
Arlo turned his attention back to Matt and Grif. “I’ve worked with Slade a few times. He’s intense,” was all he said, but both men nodded in agreement.
Lindsey was intrigued and wondered when she would meet the guy they all seemed to be in awe of. He was part of Grif’s Clan, so she supposed if and when they went back to Las Vegas, she’d get her chance to make his acquaintance. If his sister was anything to go by, he would probably be a very interesting character.
As they watched, Millie straightened and visibly winced. She held her hands outward, palms facing down over the body and spoke a few words they couldn’t make out. To Lindsey it looked like a prayer or a benediction of some kind.
Millie walked back to them, a grim expression on her face. Silence held until she stood in front of Grif and found her voice.
“I don’t see anything obvious, but there’s a feeling…” Her brow furrowed in thought, but she shook her head, apparently unable to find the right words. “It would be best if a full priestess handled this. They see things I cannot.”
“Thank you for trying,” Grif said respectfully, though Lindsey could tell he was concerned.
“We’ll prepare the body and send it on to your Clan.” Arlo put in, already making hand gestures that sent a few of his people into action.
>
Lindsey saw one unfurl what had to be a body bag, though she’d never seen one outside of television before. It impressed her how these soldiers had come prepared for just about anything.
Millie walked away after a solemn nod of farewell, but Arlo remained. His expression was dark.
“Alpha, I’m to blame here for what happened and I’ll accept your judgment.” Arlo’s words surprised Lindsey. “The target should never have been able to get that close to your family.”
“How did he?” Grif seemed more curious than angry and Lindsey could see Arlo relax just a tiny bit.
“He took out four of my men in rapid succession and I’ll be damned if I can figure out how he did it.” Arlo growled in frustration as he ran one hand through his hair. “But you can be sure we’re going to find out. Nobody takes out our people. Not that easily.”
“Where were they positioned?” Grif stood up and Lindsey went with him. It seemed the time to start getting answers had begun.
Arlo began walking and they followed. He gestured with his hands as they came around the side of the house.
“It was a pretty straight line through our perimeter, on target with your sister’s window.” He pointed in the direction that led out from Belinda’s second story window into the woods. “We found Mick and Jerry on the ground at twenty and thirty yards. Pepe was down at forty-five yards out, but the target had stashed Billy in the crook of a tree on the outermost ring, which is something I guess big cats do with their kills.”
“Are they dead?” Lindsey felt the need to ask. It sounded like there had been terrible violence not only in the house, but all around it that night.
“All critical. We won’t be sure if they’ll make it for a few hours. Our medics are working on them in the barn. Steve suggested we set up triage there.” Arlo looked at Grif, seemingly for confirmation that it was okay.
Grif nodded, staring at the woods. His expression was hard to read. Lindsey reached out to him, putting one hand on his arm and standing at his side, letting him know without words that she was there for him.