Prey

by Kassanna

Chapter Four

  Ellory crouched low dropping his head between his paws and watched the bar his brother used as the pride’s headquarters. As the oldest, he should have been in the position of Chieftain. Instead, his brother had stolen the clan from him, and for that, he would pay. The plan he’d kicked off in Reno was coming to fruition. He yawned. Finding a bike that almost matched El’s had been the biggest pain in the ass, and he’d been forced to travel through a few states to find one which was even close. But, he’d done it. What he hadn’t expected was for his little brother to go and sleep with the bounty hunter. And, he wasn’t sure if that would count in his favor. If the hottie in the gun holster chose to believe Eldridge and helped him, she could unravel everything he’d so carefully put into place.

  Once he got El away from the pride, killing him would be a piece of cake. He’d have to make sure to leave the body some place conspicuous so it would be found quickly. Miraculously, he would show up after the funeral, prepared to take the place of his brother as head of the pride. Ellory rose and padded across the soft moss forest floor to climb up an outcropping of boulders. He still had to be careful not to be seen, and that bitch of a bird might be gliding in the skies above him.

  His brother had loyal supporters, that much was evident by the way the pride chose to follow El to another country, instead of staying in Africa with him. They could have hidden, stayed in their lion forms, anything. No, the majority of his people decided to abandon him, leaving behind the few loyalists who’d stuck with him. El broke the tribe in two, forcing them to choose one brother over another, and that alone was unforgivable. Part of the faction was still in Africa, with the exception of a few shifters who’d come with him to infiltrate El’s pride. The rest were waiting for word to come over. Ellory eased back on a warm flat rock, resting in the shadows of a large overhang. He flicked his tale, sending the gnats scattering, while keeping a distant view of the biker club. A quick death was too kind for El. No, he needed to come up with a way to make him suffer first.

  He stared at the building but saw his past. The dry heat of the day had given way to the cold temperature of night. Gunter, the man who’d taken him and Eldridge in after the death of their mother and the ousting of their father, had called a meeting on his younger brother’s behalf. The time had come to choose a chief since the old renegade lion had finally died. As the oldest, he knew it was a given he would be chosen. When he wasn’t, he’d have sworn his heart had stopped beating for the briefest of moments. Then, it thumped so hard in his chest he was sure everyone surrounding him could hear it.

  It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Gunter and the others would side with El. After all, he was the old man’s favored son. They lacked vision and didn’t understand where he wanted to take the clan. Of course, the pride feared what they didn’t understand. It was also piss poor planning on his part. He would never make that mistake again. Ellory searched the skies. That Eagle wasn’t something he’d expected when he started scouting El’s Pride. She was a new addition he would have to counter act. The bird gazed at his brother as if El was the second coming. No doubt he probably found her and took her in. His brother had a knack for finding orphans.

  Ellory grunted and sent a squirrel below him scurrying for cover. He could bring in someone from Africa to keep her occupied. Gunter would have to die once he had control of the pride. It was that damn hyena’s fault he and his brother were at odds in the first place. Soon, he would have everything that should have been his birthright. He just needed to bide his time. He chuffed and rose, inching farther under the large stones as a drizzle started. This was a Goddess awful place to live. On second thought, perhaps once all his plans were cemented, he’d pack the whole pride up and take them back to Africa. He missed the lands, the people.

  The paw of a big cat appeared in front of him. Ellory waited for his inside man to make the climb.

  Reese moved effortlessly over the stones, sat down, and shifted. “Ellory.”

  Ellory changed to his human form. “It took you long enough to get here.”

  “I wanted to make sure I wasn’t followed. El had an unexpected visitor, and the team dispersed early. I stayed hidden until I was sure everyone left.”

  “Report.”

  “Ol loverboy thinks that bounty hunter is his mate, and his ex is none too happy about that. El threatened to kill her…”

  Ellory interrupted Reese. “He threatened to murder a lioness? There are so few left, and my idiot brother would hurt one of his own … for a human?” He shook his head.

  “Like I was saying. She left in a fit of anger. He also sent his team to find out what the hell is going on regarding why he’s wanted in Reno.”

  “Of course he would. That’s the first thing I would do. Is there any chance of you getting into his inner circle?” Ellory pushed the strands of hair off his face.

  “I was talking to Gunter last night. El won’t even look at new member of the pride without getting Gunter’s input. I thought I had that old man convinced, and then the sweet assed hunter showed up.”

  “If they won’t pick you as a sentry, see about getting a job in the bar. I also want you to ask if you can bring your cousin over from Africa. That bird has me worried. She wasn’t part the original group, so she’s my unknown factor. I’m bringing my son over, maybe he can keep her distracted.”

  “That bounty chick is who you should worry about if you ask me. I whispered a little something into Zima’s ear last night to cause a little havoc, and the human held her own against a shifter. The sooner you cut her and El away from the pride, the easier it will be to take control.” Reese stood up and started to pace. “We have to move faster Ellory. Those beasts make me nervous.”

  “Sit down, already. Now is not the time to lose your nerve. You’re a lion for Goddess’ sake, act like one. I have everything under control. You just keep your ears open, and be prepared to fuck shit up if necessary.” Ellory returned to his lion form and bounded off the rocks. Damn, it felt like all the good warriors went with El.