Cynful: Halle Shifters, Book 2

by Dana Marie Bell

  But not today.

  Finding Ryan was turning out to be harder than she thought. It was like the man had fallen off the face of the earth. The amazing Super Bear said he couldn’t sense Ryan, even when they left the town limits. They’d spent two whole days just combing the campus, only to come up empty-handed.

  Today, Julian was returning to work and Cyn was going with him. She was looking forward to seeing him do what he loved. And it was obvious he loved helping people. He put on those blue scrubs, and his whole face lit up. His smile was brighter, his walk lighter. There was a sparkle in his eye that had been missing for the last few days. Just listening to him chatter about his upcoming day while they ate breakfast together was enough to drive home one simple fact. There was no way she’d ever be able to take this away from him. She would do better to just pluck his heart from his chest and have done with it.

  Cyn understood. She missed Living Art like she’d miss an arm or leg. Her fingers were itching to get back to work, to make the art that she loved. He’d bought her some sketchpads and some pencils, but it just wasn’t the same. When they weren’t hunting for Ryan or sleeping, she was drawing new flash for the display cases. She had one in particular that she thought she might want to ink on Julian, but she’d have to run it by him first. He was the only man she’d ever been with whose skin was ink free, and she longed to change that.

  “You’re going to be a good girl today, right, and let Daddy work?” She glared at him, but all he did was chuckle. “You’ll sit quietly and eat your cookie and drink your juice?”

  “Only if the juice has vodka in it,” Cyn muttered. She held up her sketchbook. “Do I get to color too?”

  “Only if you’re coming up with a tattoo for me.” He shot her a cheesy grin. “Remember, it has to say ‘Property of Cyn’ in big, bold letters.”

  “I’ve told you before that I am not tattooing that on your ass.”

  “I bet I could get Tabby to do it.”

  “You really want Alex to find out that Tabby saw your naked ass?”

  He frowned, but he was having a hard time keeping it in place, the smile he was holding back threatening to break free. “Good point. He’s mean when he’s pissed.”

  “Yep. And since you’ve proven you know how to use this—” she patted his cock through his scrubs, “—I’d hate to lose it to a Grizzly mauling.”

  “You and me both.” He pressed her hand closer. “Hold that thought, would you?”

  Aggravating man. She was giggling again despite herself. She swatted at him with the sketchbook, delighted when he laughed. Who knew something so simple as a man’s laughter could make her feel so good?

  “I spoke to Tim.”

  There went the good mood. “What was his decision?”

  “He wants to meet Rick Lowell.”

  Cyn blinked. The Poconos Pack Alpha was a scary fucking dude. If Tim was thinking of going that route, he had bigger balls than she thought. “You think Rick would go for it?”

  “With Tabby and I to vouch for him, I don’t see why not. And Rick has been muttering about wanting a nurse or doctor up at the Lodge for some time. Tim might be just what the Pack needs.”

  “Has Rick tried to get you to move up there?”

  “Yup.”

  “And your answer was?” She was pretty sure what it had been, but it wouldn’t hurt to have it confirmed.

  “Nope.”

  “Good. I don’t think the Red Wolf Ski Lodge needs a tattoo artist.”

  There was a soft smile gracing his lips. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? I go where you go. If that means I live the rest of my life in Halle as an illegal immigrant, so be it. If you choose to move to Hawaii or Alaska? I pack my bags. My only request is that we not move to a big city like New York or Los Angeles. I don’t think either one of us would be very comfortable there. Besides, our Bears would have no place to roam when we wanted to shift.”

  The thought of Julian in a place like New York or Los Angeles, with so many people in pain, sent shivers down her spine. He would literally kill himself trying to heal the world. It was now her job to see to it that her Super Bear would be around to save those who truly needed it.

  She picked up her sketchpad and began to draw.

  “We’re here.” He pulled into the parking lot attached to the doctors’ office and parked in the employees’ only area. “Alex told me that if you and Tabby want to go out for lunch he’s willing to take you. The only thing I ask is that if you do, don’t leave his side.”

  It would be nice to go out to lunch with Tabby. “Maybe Alex could take us to the hospital, see how Glory’s doing today.”

  “I could meet you there if you wanted to. You and Tabby should be safe in the hospital.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Promise me you’ll be careful. It would literally kill me to lose you now.”

  She paled. She’d forgotten that. When she asked Tabby about her mating with Alex, Tabby had told her that when two shifters mated their life forces were intertwined. That meant if anything happened to her, Julian would die.

  “Cyn?”

  She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. She could freak out later, maybe with Tabby. Or better yet, Alex. She now understood why Alex reacted the way he did every time his mate was threatened. She’d almost forgotten about Tai’s words, the vision he had of Julian lying in a pool of his own blood. “I’m fine.”

  He pushed her hair back behind her ear. “You sure?”

  “Yeah.” She’d have to be. She didn’t stand just to lose Tabby and Glory now. She had a whole fuzzy family, the most important of which was the fuzzy sitting next to her. She offered him a smile, cursing to herself when it trembled. “Just a whole lot of shit going on.”

  He nodded as if he understood, but she sincerely doubted it. She barely understood it herself. “Let’s go in then.” He waved to someone over her shoulder, and she turned to find Dr. Howard, waving back from his own car. Climbing out of the car with him was Marie, and Cyn smiled to see her. Since the lunch they’d had together Marie had gone out of her way to email Cyn, slowly building a friendship with her. They might never have much in common beyond their men, but Cyn respected the hell out of her. “Good morning!” Marie gave a wave of her own, beaming at Julian and Cyn. “I hear you’ll be spending the day with Jamie.” Jamie and Marie wrapped their arms around each other’s waists, leaning into each other like they’d done it a thousand times before. They probably had.

  “We thought it was a good idea. Do you have any problems with it?” She didn’t want Marie to worry about Jamie’s safety. Had anyone told Marie what was going on? Jamie already understood, and was willing to stand by them.

  Marie waved her hand dismissively. “Not a one. Just do me a favor and make sure he actually takes those breaks he’s supposed to.” She gazed fondly up at her husband. “I’m off to get my hair done. Have a good day, sweetheart.”

  “You too.” The pair kissed good-bye and Marie walked away, a spring in her step. Watching the two of them together gave her ideas on the way she and Julian would be once they settled into their own mating. Marie was her own woman, part owner in several of her father’s businesses, and a major contributor to at least two local charities. She was busy being who she wanted to be, and shared that with Jamie, just as he seemed to share his life with Marie.

  Maybe saying those three little words wouldn’t change anything at all. Maybe she could have it all with Jules.

  A bright shimmer on the ground caught her attention. She bent down and picked up an earring off the ground. “Pretty. I wonder who it belongs to?”

  “Shit. That’s one of Marie’s favorite earrings.” Jamie reached for it.

  Cyn was already moving, the earring clutched in her fist. She had something she wanted to ask the other woman, out of hearing of the men. “She’s right over there. Just wait a second before you go in.”

  “Cyn, don’t you dare.” Julian strode after her, his expression alarmed.

  Cyn rol
led her eyes. “I don’t think anything bad can happen to me in the next five feet.” She held out her hand, earring in her palm. “Marie, I think you lost your earring.”

  Marie started to turn. “Thanks—” She pitched forward, landing in a sprawled heap on the ground. Barely a second later Cyn heard the reason why.

  Gunshot. The crack echoed loudly and seemed to come from everywhere at once.

  “Down!” Julian shoved her behind the car before racing back to Jamie. She risked a quick peek and saw the Jamie lay on the ground as well. His skin had taken on a waxy, bluish tinge.

  He wasn’t breathing.

  She risked crawling to Marie. The shooter could still be out there, but Cyn was compelled to check on the fallen woman. She touched Marie’s wrist.

  She was already dead. From the way the back of her head looked she’d been dead before she hit the ground. And if Marie was dead…

  She got to her feet and raced toward Julian. Fuck the sniper. Super Bear was going to try and save Jamie, no matter what. If Jamie was too far gone, Julian would be taken with him. He would pour everything he had into keeping the man alive until there was nothing left to save himself with.

  Cyn placed her hands on Julian’s shoulders and concentrated, harder than she had when Glory had been shot. She couldn’t allow Julian to go. Love, lust, freaky shifter hormones; it didn’t matter what she wanted to call it. If Julian died here there would be four bodies for the undertakers, three without a mark on them.

  His hair was pure white, his eyes closed as he battled death itself. She followed him down the spiral of the healing path, lending her own strength to his, little though it was. She kept him tethered to his body as he somehow pulled a miracle out of his ass and got Jamie breathing again, got his heart to start. He repaired what little damage there was from Jamie’s body being deprived of oxygen. Jamie rewarded them with a whimper, but he didn’t wake up. When Julian slumped over, exhausted and unconscious, Cyn was there to catch him.

  She was still sitting there, body bowed protectively over him, when Gabe Anderson pulled up. Lights and sirens blared from all three patrol cars, and in the distance she could hear an ambulance. She caressed Julian’s cheek, uncaring that her claws were out. “Cavalry is here, Jules.”

  He didn’t stir. There was not a single strand of black in his wild mane of hair.

  Chapter Sixteen

  God damn, he hurt. He couldn’t remember ever hurting this badly in his entire fucking life. His eyelids felt like they were weighted down with stones, and he’d swear before the ancestors even his toenails ached. What the hell had he been doing? More importantly, where was Cyn?

  He finally managed to wrestle his eyelids open, only to find he was in a hospital room. Hell, it even looked familiar. Maybe he was in the same one he’d been in last time he’d—

  Shit. Marie. They’d lost Marie, and nearly lost Jamie.

  He hoped he hadn’t been foolish to save Jamie. How was Jamie supposed to survive without his mate? Would he spend the rest of his life pining, tortured by mate dreams that could never be realized? One thing was certain; Jamie would never be the same again.

  The squeak of a sneaker on linoleum had him forcing his head to turn. Cyn was pacing back and forth, her sneaker squeaking with every turn she made. She was snarling, the sound inhuman. Her Bear was close to the surface, trying to escape her control.

  He tried to whisper her name, but all that came out was a soundless exhalation. She must’ve heard him anyway because she faced him, his name a breathless whisper. He could see the wildness in her, but he was too weak to calm her.

  She took a step toward him, reaching for him, when the door behind her opened. Gabe stepped in, followed by his mate Sarah, the Halle Puma Omega. Both looked weary to the bone, their eyes red-rimmed. Julian could make out the scent of recent tears.

  Cyn took hold of Julian’s hand and turned to face them. “Gabe. Sarah.”

  Sarah ran her hand through her hair. “How are you two?”

  Julian couldn’t roll his eyes, but he could think about it.

  “Jules just woke up. He’s still weak as a newborn kitten and he can’t speak yet. He…” Cyn gulped, and only then did he realize how close to tears she was. “He almost died.”

  Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  Gabe took his mate in his arms and held her tight as she broke down. “Adrian collapsed in the middle of the office. He’s got the world’s worst migraine right now. He’s home, allowing his mate, Sheri, to pamper him. Max is beside himself. He’s declared the sniper a threat not just to you but to the whole Pride. He’s officially asked me to Hunt.” Gabe shrugged. “I’ve contacted the Senate and I might get some reinforcements. I might not, depending on how large the threat turns out to be.”

  “The shooter is a shifter. I’m positive.” Sarah wiped her eyes. Her voice was shaky but determined. “The rage behind his actions was overwhelming.”

  “How could you tell?” Cyn settled down on the bed by Julian, still firmly grasping his hand.

  “Omegas can sense the emotional well-being of the Pride. When Marie fell, Sarah sensed Jamie’s suffering.” Gabe grimaced. “Due to some…unfortunate misunderstandings, Sarah’s power is exceptionally strong. When she experienced Jamie’s loss, she touched something out of the ordinary.”

  “When I connected to Jamie I felt the rage of the shooter. Whoever this is, it’s personal.”

  “So they are after me.” Cyn tightened her grip and Julian gasped. She was nearly pulverizing his fingers. She’d gotten stronger. “We need to lay a trap for this son of a bitch.”

  “I don’t think I can track him. He’s not one of us; I’ll only feel it if he targets one of you again.” Sarah bit her lip and stared at Cyn, her expression sympathetic. “He’s not after you, per se. I think he’s after all of you.”

  Cyn tilted her head. “Huh?”

  “You, your friend Glory, and Tabby. I think all three of you are the target.”

  “So the shot that killed Marie was meant for me, and he got pissed when he missed.”

  “I think so, yes.”

  Shit. Julian needed to get his strength back as fast as possible. Cyn was in greater danger than he’d thought. The heartbeat monitor picked up his distress, blipping faster than it had been.

  “Shh.” Cyn stroked his hair, smiling at him as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Too bad he could clearly see her fangs. “It’ll be all right, Jules.”

  Bullshit. His beautiful, strong mate was going to go out there and make herself a target while he was strapped to a fucking hospital bed. There were only two other people who could stop her, and one of them was in the same damn hospital.

  He struggled to sit up, trying desperately to find the strength to hold her to him.

  “Jules, I’m not going anywhere. Not until you’re out of here. I’m not stupid, querido.”

  He stilled. She’d never used an endearment with him before. He’d have to ask what it meant later, when he could speak again.

  “We’ll sit down together with Gabe and figure out the safest way to do this. I’m the best candidate. Glory is still too injured, and with Ryan gone I’m not risking her. Tabby is pregnant. That leaves me.” She grinned down at him savagely. “Besides, I want to see the look on that fucker’s face when he finds out he’s been messing with a Kodiak.”

  “You’re a Kodiak?” Gabe choked out a laugh when Cyn nodded. “Holy shit. How the hell did that happen?”

  Julian did manage to roll his eyes this time, but his voice still wouldn’t work. What came out sounded more like a croak.

  “Ask Super Bear some time. I think it had something to do with thorny paths and the beer bottle song.”

  “Okay.” Gabe had the same half-confused, half-amused expression a number of people sometimes had around Cyn. “Julian, to help you feel better, there are guards on your door and Glory’s. We’re not taking any more chances. Adrian has given orders that none of you be left a
lone.”

  “If we aren’t left alone how are we supposed to catch this asshole?”

  “He has to be aware that he’s being hunted.” Gabe stroked Sarah’s hair; whether he was attempting to soothe himself or his mate, Julian wasn’t sure. “The fact that he was willing to take a shot at you with others around makes me really uneasy. I don’t think it will matter to him if I put a hundred guards on you, he’ll still come after you.”

  Then how were they supposed to keep the girls safe? Alex had to be going out of his mind with worry. Julian wouldn’t put it past him to pick up Tabby and cart her off to Oregon, where the rest of his clan lived. If Julian thought it would keep Cyn safe, he’d encourage Alex to take her with him. It was going to take Julian days to heal the damage he’d done to himself saving Jamie.

  “I think you should put a guard on Jamie.” Cyn sat on the edge of his hospital bed with a weary sigh. “Now that he’s lost Marie he’s going to…” She scrubbed her hand wearily over her face. “Hell, I don’t know what he’s going to do, but I have an idea. I’ve only been mated a short time, but I don’t think I could live in a world without Julian in it.”

  Julian squeezed her hand as tightly as he could, which admittedly wasn’t very. He could barely muster up the strength to do even that. The fact that she was willing to say such a thing, especially in the presence of others, warmed him straight through.

  Whether she wanted to believe it or not, she was coming to love him. He liked to think she would’ve loved him even without the mate bond, but it sure didn’t hurt. At this point he’d take any advantage he could get. His mate was a stubborn woman. She would have fought any permanent connection to another person other than the one she had with Tabby and Glory.

  Does that make me a bastard or just a man desperately in love?

  “Tell your guards I’ve moved in with Julian.” She stared down at him, her expression savagely protective. “I’m not letting him out of my sight.”