Moon Rapture Book 7

by Rice, Rachel E.

  “Tracker, what happen?” He put one knee on the bed, Tracker was lying face up with his eyes closed tight and his mouth shut. There wasn’t any movement. Hunter turned him over and blood came seeping from a wound to his back.” Hunter reached for the phone on the bedside table and quickly punched in the numbers.

  “Robert. I need you to come quick.”

  “I’m still in bed with Mena. I had to work at the hospital last night. I’ve been doing a double shift.”

  “You have to come. It’s Tracker. You know my brother, the one that’s engaged to your younger daughter Saadia.”

  “I know who you’re talking about. What happened to him? Put his dick where he shouldn’t have I’m sure.”

  “Robert just tell me if you can come?”

  “Of course I’ll be there, but only because my baby girl is in love with him. I don’t know why but she wants him, and no one else. She had her choice of your brothers but she chose him.” Robert’s voice trailed off as he rushed to dress.

  After Hunter hung up the phone and had given Robert the directions to the hotel, he followed Robert’s instructions by keeping Tracker warm and using a tourniquet across his chest to stop the bleeding. Hunter reached for a sheet and tore it with his hands into strips and tied it around Tracker’s chest as tight as he could and lay him on his side.

  Tracker slowly opened his eyes, “What happened?”

  “Someone shot you.”

  “Now I remember. You know that pretty girl in the bar. She came to my room.” Tracker smiled as if remembering and forgetting what had just happened to him that may have cost his life. Then he furrowed his brow when the realization came that someone shot him and he was feeling an intense burning from the bullet.

  “When I gave her my number, I didn’t expect her to call me.”

  “What did you expect her to do? I saw the way you two were looking at each other and obviously her boyfriend did too.”

  “Somehow he followed her and well, he didn’t like what he saw. I had her bent over and...You know. But he didn’t come in during that, but when I was standing in front of the bed ready to send her home, she went to her knees, and said she had never felt a cock like mine, or saw one as large as it. She said she wanted to see if it would fit into her mouth.”

  “And did it?” Hunter questioned shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

  “Yeah, with some to spare. That was the first time I had a female with a throat that opened up like that. I was ready to come when her boyfriend charged through the door carrying a gun.”

  “Did you think about locking the door? Obviously not. How did you get shot from behind?”

  “I turned and reached for my pants. I didn’t want to shift because she was in the way and two people would witness it. I thought it was better to reason with him with pants on,” Tracker said panting for breath. His eyes rolled back in his head and he lay on his back and didn’t move. Hunter checked for his breath, he still had life, but he had lost a lot of blood. He paced the room waiting for Robert.

  It was an hour later when Robert came through the door. “Lock the door for heaven sake, Hunter.” Robert looked passed Hunter and walked to the bed. I’m not going to ask you what happened because I see a pair of red panties and I don’t think either of you are into that sort of thing, so I would have to conclude that Tracker was fucking a human, and her man shot him,” he said pushing Hunter to the side and examining Tracker.

  “I have to get this bullet out. He will be ok but you will have to stay with him for a day.” Hunter looked up at Robert. “You can’t move him and he can’t ride a motorcycle, and I can’t let you have my car. I have to get back to the hospital and my family. If he had been a man, he would be dead now.”

  Chapter 20

  Haley lay in the sun on an unusual warm day in north Lake Tahoe. She had given up on Hunter. She thought he had listened to Wilder and abandon her to the lion shifter for peace with the large cats. Maybe Wilder was right, but there was one thing he wasn’t dead-on, because he didn’t have the information Haley had—she’s pregnant with Hunter’s pups, Samsa werewolves. Now Hunter might never know, and he may never see them become yearlings and full grown werewolves.

  Haley woke to find Brian gone from the lounge chair setting next to her. She choose not to escape this time because she thought she had seen a change in Brian. She thought she had seen and felt the human part of him. Yet she was still uncertain about him where she wasn’t willing to disclose her pregnancy. She didn’t know him that well, and she didn’t know what he would do.

  What is she to do, now that no one was coming for her? If they were, they should have been there by now. She wasn’t one to give up but the odds were against her. She’s giving in to Brian to save her children.

  Unable to gage her location or if there was a town near or how far in walking distance or whether she was in the middle of a wilderness, proved too much for her, so she gave in. Not having the energy to run and not having access to a phone made her situation difficult. There was nothing else to do but give in to the lion shifter, she thought, as if that would be her excuse to the world and to Hunter if she met him sometime in the future.

  Haley would have to talk to Brian. Maybe she could reason with him. But when would be a good time to do that? Now or tomorrow or when she would go into labor. She wasn’t aware of that either. She knew nothing about the gestation period before giving birth to a werewolf.

  She knew her cat gave birth after two months, but that wouldn’t help her.

  Haley knew about human babies, but werewolf babies, no one told her how long a development period before they were due. She didn’t know how far along she was because she had just started having symptoms. She tried to remember how long it had been since they first had sex. And the answer became clear to her.

  As she passed her hand over her stomach it appeared to be growing every day. How long would it take before Brian would figure it out? Then what, she thought. She sat up in the chaise lounge. It was getting late and Brian would return shortly. He never left her long because she was alone in the middle of a forest surrounded by wildlife.

  When Brian was home it appeared the wildlife was scarce. But when he was away Haley saw bears, mountain lions, and all kinds of creatures and large birds swoop down and land on the deck of the house. One morning she was trying to get some sun when a large black bird with a huge wing span circled overhead. This never happened when Brian was there. It was as if they knew he was away.

  When she twist around trying to decide whether to get something to eat, she saw a shadow. She knew that impressive shadow well. It loomed large over her. She never heard him approach but he was always standing there gazing at her when she least expected.

  Brian’s eyes struck by the last sunlight of the day showed a glowing golden color. His chiseled good looks made her pause. “I didn’t know you were standing there.” His face showed him deep in thought.

  “I know.” His voice low and hard with a soft edge.

  “Anything wrong?” Haley asked because he stood in one spot looking down at her.

  “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” He raised his head and this time his eyes searched around as if he heard something in the forest. Then his attention moved to Haley sitting on the lounge chair watching up at him. He wore a beautiful dark blue suit and white shirt open at the collar because he held his tie loosely in his hand. “I can never get used to these things,” he said looking down at the tie, and then he strolled close and sat next to Haley.

  “That’s because it doesn’t come natural and you don’t like it.” He swiveled his long legs around to face her. “You feel as if it’s a chain around your neck.” Brian shifted his head to the side listening to Haley. “You want to be free but you can’t. You live in two worlds.” She saw his eyes focus out as if he knew what she said was true. He reached for her hand.

  His hands large and heavy lay over Haley’s small hands. But his touch is soft, easy, and soothing.

>   “You know me better than anyone. How is it that you are so young and you are so worldly?” Her smile is closed and she turns her head to look across and up at him. His beautiful face had a chiseled deep cut look. As if he had been the model of an artist and the final details were being added as they spoke.

  “I straddle two worlds also. I was adopted by werewolves but I’m a human,” her voice dips. “I felt confused. I wasn’t really human because of the werewolf thing. My parents lived isolated from the outside world and always afraid that someone would discover their secrets.”

  The lion shifter stared away and then moments passed. “How are you feeling? You appear to be tired, no energy. Do you need anything to eat? Do you want anything special when I travel to the market?” His voice is filled with concern.

  Haley wanted to say take me home so I can be with Hunter on the birth of our pups. Haley wanted to say I can’t stand another minute of this isolation. Haley wanted to say that she didn’t belong in his world. But she said none of that. She glanced up at him.

  “You seem to be upset over something,” Haley added trying to get this powerful lion shifter to confide in her.

  “I didn’t want to tell you, but we will have to leave here.” Haley panicked because she thought Katie would tell someone that she was still a hostage of Brian, and then Hunter would come for her, and she wouldn’t be there. She hadn’t given up on Hunter yet.

  “I don’t want to leave here? I refuse to go.” Her eyes narrowed and her voice raised.

  The lion shifter looked at her and raised an eyebrow, “You have no choice. We have to leave for your own safety. The female shifters in my pride vowed to kill you if they find you. It’s becoming unsafe for you to stay here.”

  “But you can protect me, can’t you?”

  “They may send their sons after you. I can’t protect you from all of them if they decide to hunt together.”

  “I have something to tell you,” Haley said making a quick decision. Her eyes lowered. Her voice small. “Maybe you will abandon the notion of taking me with you. You will have to promise me that you will understand and not harm me or any part of me.”

  Silence covered both of them. Haley made a gamble but if she gambled wrong that would be the end of her and her pups.

  “I’m pregnant,” she said raising her head and looking him in the eyes.

  “I know,” Brian said his voice low. “I smelled you. You didn’t know but I knew.”

  She was confused. Why would he allow her to live? Maybe he wasn’t what she thought. Maybe he was what she thought—cruel and hard. And he was all those things that Wilder said and maybe more. And would wait to kill her pups in front of her.

  “If you promise to go away with me and submit yourself to me, then I’ll let your pups live. And I’ll send word where Hunter can find his pups.”

  Brian strutted away as if he knew what her answer would be.

  Haley’s skin chilled at the thought of abandoning them and Hunter. She hadn’t dream of a life with a lion shifter with several wives. That never crossed her mind. Not in a million years had she thought she would be part of a lion’s pride, and for that matter, neither had she thought she would be a mate to a werewolf, but it happened. Could her life get more fucked up, she questioned.

  Her dreams were living and loving Hunter and having his pups and watching them grow into yearlings. She had simple dreams. No fancy dreams. She didn’t need to travel. She didn’t even want to live in San Francisco or any big city. She thought she could convince Hunter to return to Samsaville and buy a ranch for their brood she knew would come.

  Her love for Hunter was deep, sexual, and erotic. From their lovemaking there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that there wouldn’t be more babies. Many pregnancies as often and frequent as her young body could conceive.

  Maybe she could have horses and dogs for her pups to play with like Hunter’s father and uncles had for their sons. But what kind of life would motherless pups have. What kind of life would she have without them or Hunter? She never wanted to find out.

  Why haven’t Hunter come for me? She moaned quietly with a sigh.

  Chapter 21

  Tracker woke. “How long have we been here and where is Robert?” He raised his arms above his head and stretched. “I feel like my old self.” His voice strong. His voice eager.

  “That’s because you are full of pain killers. And to answer your question, Robert had to go back to Samsaville to protect his family. We’ve been here three days. Vital days where I probably lost time, which I couldn’t afford, all because you needed your dick sucked.” Hunter threw Tracker’s keys down on the foot of the bed. Tracker ducked because he thought they were aimed at him.

  “I’m ready to ride. I’ll find Haley. I have no doubt,” Tracker said bounding from the bed pulling his tee shirt over his head. Then jumping into his tight leather jeans. “Woah. I lost weight dude.”

  “Don’t call me dude,” Hunter said raising an eyebrow. “You were out of it and didn’t eat.”

  “Do we have any fresh meat?”

  “Not unless we hunt some and I’m not stopping for that. When we get to San Francisco then you can eat. I have fresh meat brought in every week. Try this.” Hunter threw a mint at him. He caught it and plopped it into his mouth. A flash of humor covered his face and he continued pulling up his boots.

  Tracker took his razor and comb and his tooth brush out of his pouch and lay it on the dresser. Then he scooped it up and strolled to the restroom. After a few minutes he was out of the room and heading for the door.

  Hunter sitting across his bike his motor running when Tracker approached it. “Feels good to be outdoors.” Tracker stretched his longs arms out to the side, and inhaled the fresh air. Hunter didn’t say a word. He took off before Tracker put on his helmet. Tracker caught up with him on the outskirts of San Francisco and he was a few feet behind him when they pulled up to Hunter’s apartment building. They entered the garage and parked. “What now?” Tracker questioned.

  “Now you eat, and then we get my bow and arrows and we go hunting.” Tracker looked curiously at him. “You’re going in the apartment and figure out where Brian’s compound is located, and then we’re going out there and get some answers.”

  They entered the elevator and took the floor to the penthouse. The highest peak and most difficult place for anyone to get to. It was what his father Wilder suggested when he said that he would live in the city.

  “I have an idea where Brian’s compound is what with the information Haley gave me when he first abducted her,” Hunter said to Tracker. The door opened into his apartment and they stepped inside.

  Hunter as usual all business. He didn’t have a minute to lose because he had lost enough time. Tracker headed straight for the kitchen, and straight for the fridge. He pulled out a slab of fresh venison and began eating. “Normally I drop this in a skillet, but seeing I’m not with my human buddies, but my brother, I can enjoy it. Haley knew just how to heat meat without taking the taste of blood out of it. I miss her.”

  Annoyed at Tracker’s talk about Haley, Hunter said, “I don’t care how you like your fucking meat, Tracker. Just eat the fucking food and take a look at this map.” Hunter reached across the granite counter top and pulled a map out of a drawer. He pointed to a wooded area. Look at the legend. I think it could be around here.” Tracker agreed shaking his head because his mouth was full of meat. “There’s a lot of land to cover. We can’t ride around there all night. That’s where you come in,” Hunter said to Tracker with Tracker looking up from the bar stool.

  “I need you to use whatever you do to find where his lair is. Your father said you’re good but then you know how father’s like to brag on their sons.” Hunter raised an eyebrow at Tracker.

  He swallowed hard and said, “Don’t worry. You won’t be disappointed.”

  “I have been so far. Especially since you did what you did at the hotel with that female, and now Robert has second thoughts about you mating wi
th his young daughter.”

  “She’s too young for me anyway. I like them old and more experienced.”

  “Speaking as a pup who never had a virgin,” Hunter smirked walking away. He didn’t want to continue a conversation with Tracker. Tracker was full of talk and it would go on all night and the only way to shut him up was to walk away from him. Hunter walked into his living room and to a closet and pulled out a bow and arrows, packed them in a sack and stood gazing at Tracker drinking a large glass of water.

  “What are you going to do with that?” he said gesturing at the bow.

  “My father and uncles said we couldn’t use a lethal weapons on a shifter of any kind. But he said nothing about arrows.” Hunter letting Tracker know he was ready, walked out, and retrieved his keys. Tracker took one last bite and rushed behind him to catch the elevator. He rushed into the elevator as Hunter stood gazing at him.

  “When am I going to get a chance to take a bath? I smell like that blond female...” Tracker paused and laughed remembering that night which almost cost him his life.

  The door opened into the garage. “That smell will confuse the lion shifters.” They retrieved their bikes from the disappointed valet, and were off zooming out of the garage, and on to the highway.

  Riding north into the hills were difficult with its twist and turns of the highway. And the night without a moon didn’t make it any better. But their eyes were trained to see in the dark but not with a helmet. The helmet made it difficult to spot certain colors. Not knowing the highway and roads slowed them down, too.

  Their bikes had made it through wooded terrain, but they weren’t built for that. They were built for racing on a highway. Hunter wondered if the bikes would make it through this time. They were the only instruments that could outrun a pack of lion shifters if they were surprised and there were too many of them to make a stand.

  After reaching the spot where Tracker said the compound would be, they parked the bikes and hid them in an overgrown brush. Hunter hoist his shoulder quiver with arrows and a bow bag across his back. When they climbed off the motorcycle, they had left their clothes and shoes across it and shifted.