by Zoe Chant
“So you’re… what, a shifter cop?” Lisa demanded.
“Not exactly, but I guess you could call it that.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?” Lisa’s eyebrows rose and she put her hands on her hips as she stared at him, her blue eyes darkening like the sky at an impending storm. Then she sighed. “We can argue later. For now, what’s your plan?”
“You go out through the hole,” Desmond responded immediately. “Run as far as you can. Hide. If you can, make your way back home―or better yet, stay with your parents. Once you’re gone, I’ll make my escape through the door.”
“OK, two things.” Lisa was still staring at him with that stormy expression in her eyes, looking formidable and fierce. “One, there’s only two werewolves outside guarding the barn, and they’re dead drunk.”
“Good. My bear can take two drunk wolves, no problem,” he said. “And two?”
Lisa glared at him. “Two, no way am I going to abandon you here! I can’t help you fight, but I’m not going to run. I go out through the hole and wait until you’ve got them overwhelmed. Then either we run back home together, or take their truck and drive back. Understood?”
He didn’t know whether to laugh or shake his head in exasperation. There wasn’t time to argue―and in any case, with the way she was staring at him, holding her ground despite the fact that she was completely naked and standing in the middle of a werewolf lair, he didn’t think that he’d win that argument.
“Understood,” he replied. “As long as you promise to stay away from them.”
She drew him into a kiss, and the moment her lips touched his, passion overwhelmed him. For a heartbeat, he tossed aside all reason and kissed her forcefully, hard and demanding. Then, breathless, they parted again.
“I promise,” she murmured and touched his lips with a small, pleased smile. “And then you’ll do that again once we’re home?”
“I’ll do a whole lot more once we’re back home.” The words escaped with a little growl, and he could feel himself stirring a little, despite the danger. Or maybe because of the danger.
“I’ll hold you to it.” Her blue eyes gleamed at him, and then she took a step back.
Her body blurred. A moment later, he found himself staring at a small, brown bunny that twitched its little nose at him and then raced back to the hole in the wall that led outside.
Desmond took a deep breath. He waited a minute, to give her time to hide. From outside, he could still hear the soft, tinny sound of a radio, although the singing had stopped now. Every now and then, he’d hear fragments of slurred words and drunken laughter.
Good. They were still distracted and had no idea that Desmond was no longer inside the cage. Carter hadn’t returned yet. How long since he’d left?
Desmond wondered if Carter had gone straight to a meeting with the Council―although that didn’t seem like their usual way of handling things at all.
Maybe it’s because I was in danger, he thought and then scoffed. No. They wouldn’t let a criminal blackmail them. If anything, James is stalling. Maybe he’s distracting Carter while Charles is already on his way here.
And wouldn’t Charles hate it if he arrived to find Desmond free and the wolves locked up?
Don’t count your chickens just yet, Desmond reminded himself, and then he took a deep breath and stripped off the clothes they’d given him.
He could hear no sounds from the outside but that of the radio and the drunk shifters. He tried the door, slowly and carefully―and it wasn’t locked. They probably hadn’t thought that he’d be able to escape the cage. Which meant that surprise would be on his side.
It took no more than a thought to shift to the form of his bear. With his keen senses, the scent of wolf and alcohol was nearly overwhelming.
Let’s end this, his bear thought in grim fury. They threatened our mate. They came to our home. Let’s give them what they deserve.
When had he started to think of this as his home…?
No, there was no time for thought now. Desmond took a deep breath―and then he attacked. He came out of the door, roaring in rage, and was upon the two werewolves so quickly that they barely had time to shift.
Even so, they were indeed as drunk as Lisa had promised. The first wolf didn’t even see the massive paw that connected with his head and hurled him straight against the side of the truck. With a loud thunk, the wolf slid to the ground where he remained.
Desmond roared again in delight and challenge. The second wolf was still standing, although he could see him swaying on his feet. Desmond snarled at him and watched as he took a step back, nearly toppling over.
With another sound of fury, Desmond attacked. The wolf whined loudly, his paws scratching across Desmond’s face, but he barely felt the pain. Instead, he took the wolf’s throat between his jaws and then bit down until he could hear the wolf choke and whimper.
Enraged, Desmond shook the wolf, snarling as he remembered the threats against his mate. A moment later, the wolf fell limp in his grasp, and Desmond dropped him in disgust.
Still alive, his senses told him as he bent down to sniff at the shifter. Alive, but unconscious, and stinking of cheap whiskey.
That was almost too easy, he thought and turned his head.
Was Lisa still hidden? Every part of him ached to find Carter and make sure that he’d never threaten Lisa or her farm again―but first, he needed to make certain that Lisa was somewhere safe.
If we steal the truck and drive into town, she can stay with her family. The wolves won’t know where to look for her. At least if I manage to take Carter out tonight.
He raised his head and sniffed the wind. Wolves. But how many, and how far away?
He had no idea what Carter had done after he’d taken his phone and left. But no matter what the werewolf was up to, Desmond would find him―and this time, he’d make sure to show him just what strength his bear’s muscles held.
Desmond shifted back to human, then looked around once more.
“Lisa?” he called out softly. “Let’s take their truck and leave.”
They keys were in the ignition, and the door was unlocked. The radio was still playing. With any luck, they’d be far away when Carter returned.
“Lisa?” he called out again. Where was she hiding?
Then, from around the corner, the small, brown bunny came racing, her strong legs propelling her forward―and close behind, mouth open to show sharp fangs and a lolling tongue, was a dark-furred wolf with cruel, yellow eyes.
“Fuck,” Desmond breathed, the change coming over him even while he spoke so that only a heartbeat later, he was growling a challenge as he exploded forward, gravel flying as he placed himself between Lisa and the wolf.
Carter was snarling, although he’d come to a stop as well.
Then, from behind the barn, two more wolves were arriving, teeth bared as they growled at him.
Trust that asshole to bring his friends, Desmond thought in fury.
Lisa was still safely behind him. Would she be smart enough to shift and take the car to escape while he kept the wolves distracted? He remembered the stubborn look in her eyes as she had declared that she wasn’t going to abandon him.
Damn it. No time to shift and talk now. Please be safe, mate, he thought, praying that for once, she’d be smart enough to realize that they were outnumbered.
One of the wolves inched to his left, as though he were checking if he could sneak past Desmond to get to Lisa. Desmond’s bear reared up at the challenge, baring his teeth―and then the other wolf attacked.
Carter was still hanging back, Desmond saw from the corner of his eye, and then he was distracted by the fangs snapping at his leg. Both of Carter’s underlings had attacked at the same time, one taking his left and the other his right side. Even as Desmond managed to score a hit with a paw, ripping open a large, bleeding gash along the wolf’s side, he could feel the sharp fangs of the other wolf sinking into his leg.
In fury he shook
himself until he’d dislodged the wolf. He could feel blood dripping hot and wet down his fur. The wound ached, but it didn’t slow him down when both wolves jumped at him once more.
The shifter he’d injured moved noticeably slower, and Desmond snarled with satisfaction when this time, his paw connected with the wolf’s head. The werewolf made a loud yelp and then dropped like a stone, bones crunching as he hit the gravel.
Desmond didn’t even have time to feel satisfaction, because Carter had used his moment of distraction to join the fray. The large alpha had ducked beneath Desmond’s paw and went straight for his throat, while the other remaining wolf had managed to sink its fangs into his leg once more.
Desmond roared in fury. Carter’s teeth closed around his throat. He smelled the stink of his breath. The yellow eyes of the wolf were gleaming brightly with cruel enjoyment.
Desmond tried to grab Carter, but the shifter didn’t let go, not even when Desmond raked his claws along his side. Instead, Carter bit down harder. Blood dripped down Desmond’s throat, and it was getting hard to breath. His leg was burning.
A choked groan escaped him as his lungs began to scream for air. He was starting to feel dizzy.
I have to protect my mate, he thought dimly. I have to…
There was a large, gray spot on the ground before him. Desmond blinked and tried to force his burning eyes to focus. Not a weapon. Just a stone. And he didn’t have enough strength left to even try and lift it…
His legs began to tremble.
This is it. I have only one chance, he thought and gathered what strength remained him, ignoring the ache of his bleeding body.
Then, with all the force of his heavy body behind him, he allowed his legs to give in and dropped forward.
Carter’s yellow eyes widened with triumph as Desmond’s muscles went slack.
In his mind, Desmond counted.
One. Two. Three…
They hit the ground. Carter’s head hit the edge of the stone.
Desmond collapsed on top of the wolf. For a long moment, he couldn’t move, the edges of his vision black from lack of air. But Carter didn’t move, slack beneath him now so that Desmond’s throat was no longer crushed by his teeth. Desmond gasped for breath, and then, when air finally filled his lungs once more, he forced himself upright and raised a paw to swipe at the last remaining wolf whose fangs were still buried in his legs.
With a yelp, the werewolf let go. Then the shifter took one step back, and another, his tail between his legs when he saw that Carter was unconscious on the ground.
Desmond bared his teeth in a fierce snarl. He didn’t think he had the strength left to run after a werewolf―but if the shifter ran, they’d hunt him down. They had his alpha. And these wolves were nothing without their pack leader.
Again he snarled. The wolf was still hesitating. His head turned to stare at Carter’s unmoving form, and then back at the bleeding, threatening bulk of Desmond.
The wolf took another uncertain step back.
And then there was the sound of a car approaching. Tires skidding and engine roaring, a familiar, banged-up bus came sliding into the yard and to a screeching halt.
When Charles jumped out, Desmond was already smiling widely. More shifters followed Charles, and a moment later, Desmond found himself in the company of a lion, a jaguar and a silver wolf.
Relieved, Desmond shifted back and watched them corner the remaining, wounded shifter, who now whimpered and then shifted back as well with obvious reluctance.
“I see you’ve brought the whole gang!” Desmond said in greeting.
“I heard you were in a bit of trouble,” Charles said after the intimidating lion had turned back into his suave, blond self. “Didn’t want you to have all the fun.”
“Yeah, well. You’re too late. I finished the job all on my own.” Desmond nodded at the unconscious alpha on the ground. “There’s Carter. Better lock him up before he wakes. And get dressed! Show some respect to my mate!”
“What’s this about a mate?” the jaguar shifter called out eagerly once he’d shifted back to human as well.
Desmond smiled with grim satisfaction as he watched him fasten handcuffs around Carter’s wrists. Then there was a sudden loud, honking noise.
When they looked up in startled shock, they saw that a bunny had somehow made its way into the werewolves’ truck and was now sitting on the steering wheel. After a moment, it bounced again, and the car honked once more.
“Ooh, you found yourself a bunny?” Charles teased. “Just in time for Easter, too!”
“Get dressed, you jerk,” Desmond said, laughing at Lisa’s impatience. “Or wait―I don’t actually care what you do. You have Carter; I have my mate, and I’m going home now.”
“Home?” Charles raised a brow, then gave him a sudden, genuine smile. “Really? Good for you! I’ll check in with you later. Dad will want to know that you’re OK.”
Desmond clasped his shoulder and smiled back. “Tell him I couldn’t be better. And tell him this was it. The last job.”
The bunny honked again, and Desmond chuckled. His leg still hurt where the wolves’ teeth had broken the skin, but he could already feel the tingling sensation of his shifter healing kicking in. With any luck, he’d be able to keep his promise once they had made it back home and into the bedroom.
Home, he thought again. He took a deep breath, feeling the wind on his face, smelling the scent of fields and meadows and trees, remembering the scent of Lisa’s sun-dried hair.
Home. I’m truly home now.
Chapter Eleven
Lisa
There were old clothes in the werewolves’ truck. It made Lisa’s skin crawl to wear their clothing―but it was still better than driving home naked.
“I can’t wait to get out of this,” she said with a shudder, staring at what looked like a spot of dried blood on the sleeve of her ratty shirt. “Yuck!”
“I can’t wait to get you out of this,” Desmond murmured with that sexy growl of his.
When their eyes met in the mirror, she could see the heat in them and felt an answering surge of desire. She still couldn’t believe that she’d truly walked straight into a werewolf lair to free her mate. But she’d do it all over again. She wouldn’t let anything come between them now. She’d been able to feel the danger he was in―it had been a physical hurt, and the pull on her heart that had drawn her towards him had been impossible to resist.
She thought again of her grandparents. The vixen and the hound. As much as Lisa had believed that she would never be able to find a love like that, she’d always known that what her grandparents had was special.
And now she had found the same. The bunny and the bear. It sounded ridiculous, and yet it filled her with such happiness that she could barely contain the laughter that wanted to bubble up in her as she imagined Desmond sitting at her table, painting eggs, or staring down the sheep.
Or waking up next to me, naked and gorgeous and all mine…
Desmond looked at her again as though he had read her mind.
“The moment we are home,” he said huskily, “I’m going to carry you to a bed, and then we’ll get rid of these awful wolf clothes, and then I’m going to continue where we left off when you kissed me in that cage.”
Lisa felt heat pool between her legs at the promise in his voice, remembering the sensation of him inside her, thick and hard as he filled her until she couldn’t think anymore.
She swallowed. “Almost there,” she said softly and nodded at the old, hand-painted wooden sign that pointed towards her farm. “Oh, and I forgot to tell you that I locked a werewolf into Lenny’s kennel. Um. Do you think your friends can deal with that too? Because I doubt the vet will come out to deal with a werewolf…”
“You locked a werewolf into your kennel?” Desmond gave her a disbelieving look and then began laughing. “Yeah, let’s not bother your vet. I’ll text Charles to deal with that for us.”
“I knocked him out,” Lisa said proudly
. “Well, Lancelot did. We did it together. I think the wolf might have a concussion, though. I had to drag him back from the meadow to the kennel.”
“He’ll heal,” Desmond said, still chuckling softly. “That’ll teach them to underestimate my mate.”
Lisa leaned back in her seat, a wave of pride and happy expectation flooding her. She had knocked out a werewolf. She and her ponies had. And she’d sneaked into an alpha werewolf’s lair and freed his prisoner.
“I’m pretty brave for a bunny,” she said and grinned at him. “You know, I was always upset that I couldn’t turn into something more useful. But I have to admit, I like the thought that your werewolf got outsmarted by a bunny. I bet that’ll hurt when you tell him.”
“Hey, no insulting bunnies! Bunnies are my favorite animals. Smart and fast and―” Desmond stopped the car in front of the farmhouse.
The kennel door was still closed, and she saw the shape of the wolf sullenly trot back and forth in its prison.
“And?” Lisa asked and raised a brow.
“And they have cute noses.” Desmond leaned forward to press a kiss to hers. “Now I believe we have some clothes to get rid of…”
Lisa was still giggling as she climbed out of the werewolves’ old truck. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she found herself swept up into a pair of strong arms, and she kicked her legs in joy and wrapped her arms around Desmond’s neck to hold on to him.
“Your wounds!” she protested. “Shouldn’t you see a doctor first?”
He lifted his head so that she could see that the bruising and scratches at his neck, where Carter’s jaw had closed around his throat, were indeed already mostly gone.
“The wolves didn’t do much damage. And my leg is halfway healed already as well.” His voice dropped a little to a husky, intimate murmur. “But there is something you can do to distract me from the pain…”