Feral Heat

by Jamie Hill, Jude Mason

  She glanced at him, eyes filled with fear.

  "Everything will be fine. Do as I say and we'll get your brother out of there, and anyone else who wants to get away from the bastard. Trust me."

  "Yes, Kai.” She crawled to the cave opening.

  He saw their mingled juices trailing down her thigh. Her scent still drove him wild, even after just coupling. Kai gave one last glance at her arse and delectable, moist pussy, barely shielded by curly, dark pubes.

  Sable looked at him and flipped her long hair over her shoulder. Her change transfixed him for a moment as he watched the beautiful woman morph into an even more gorgeous cougar. Her soft mewling sounds, as the touch of pain turned to ecstasy as the change gripped her, lasted only a few short moments. She gazed back at him once then went to a corner where she sat dejectedly, waiting for the two males.

  Aric crouched behind him. “What conditions do you have for Dagen?"

  Kai glanced at his lover and smiled. “Only one. I'll see him dead before I'd agree to let him rule my tribe. He can let me kill him or, if he'd rather, you can do it."

  A slow smile crossed Aric's face. He held a hand up and Kai grasped it firmly for a moment as they exchanged knowing, loving looks. When they separated, their change began.

  A short while later, three sleek cougars climbed down out of the cave and crept through the woods, searching for prey.

  * * * *

  After sharing a quick meal of two plump rabbits, Kai looked at Sable. She washed her paws and tried to clean his, but he batted her away gently. She had a job to do and needed to get started.

  Aric nuzzled his nose against her neck, encouraging her as best as he could. With a low, throaty growl, he rubbed the back of one ear against her sleek pelt.

  Kai's heart warmed. Aric and Sable had bonded during their long night together. When he had the talisman back and their lives returned to normal, the beautiful female would meld right into their family. The idea excited him like no other.

  With an obvious show of reluctance, Sable slunk into the woods, casting her anxious gaze back at the two she was leaving behind. Kai nodded, urging her on. He tried not to think about the danger she was heading towards.

  He was in a constant state of arousal these days, ever since smelling her strong musk. One day soon, he'd take her as a tom cat. She could shriek as loud as she wanted then. He looked forward to hearing her cries of bliss.

  Picking his way down the side of a rain soaked hill, he gave her second, third and even fourth thoughts. He tried to concentrate on the task at hand but he still felt intoxicated by her very essence.

  Aric nudged his side. Kai dodged a bramble bush and trotted on as if he'd been paying attention. The golden cat glanced at him sideways. Avoiding his gaze, Kai broke into a full out run when he reached the clearing. It felt good to stretch. He needed the pure physicality of it after the previous lazy, lust-drenched night. He was getting soft. The female set him off balance, out of kilter. He thought about it for a moment and realised he liked the feeling.

  Racing through the grass helped him focus. This was his true nature—hunting prey, prowling through the forest, slinking through the underbrush. Living as a cat was simpler, more primal. A purr rumbled in his throat. As he did every time he morphed, he felt alive.

  Approaching the clan's cave, they encountered a stench that was the opposite of alive. The odour of rotting, stinking death surrounded them. Shocked, Kai glanced at Aric. His lover's gaze showed surprise and a hint of fear.

  What? Who?

  They nosed around the woods outside their cave carefully, but the night's rain had washed away any sign of possible intruders, any trail they might follow. Finally they stumbled upon it—the body of the cougar they recognised as Riordan. His throat was sliced open from ear to ear.

  Kai froze.

  Aric whimpered and took a step back, looking around.

  The stench was stronger ahead. Trudging forward, Kai feared the worst. A low growl escaped when he discovered Neela, virtually gutted from neck to tail.

  Aric hissed with fury. He looked at Kai and thought, 'The rest of the clan?'

  Kai was sure that if he'd been alone, he'd have cracked. But with Aric at his side, they shored each other up for what they might find next. Dropping to their bellies, they slunk to the top of the woods. Hesitantly he glanced down at the cave and its surroundings.

  Life appeared to go on as normal. He spotted Sean gathering firewood and Greta, the young mother, watching her two kits tussle in the grass. One by one, Kai saw most of his clan members busy with normal daily activities. He sighed with relief.

  Beside him, Aric purred softly.

  Kai nodded, motioned him to follow, and returned to Riordan.

  Something isn't right. Besides the fact that an honourable family member had been senselessly murdered, something else nagged at Kai.

  Pacing around the body, he stopped at the head and looked closer. An object had been stuffed into the great cat's mouth. Kai nudged it with his paw. The leather thong, which normally held the talisman, dropped to the ground. He looked at it, then up at Aric.

  Dagen had sent them a message. And Kai had sent Sable to Dagen.

  He stared at Aric with panicked concern. ‘Sable!'

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  Chapter Four

  "Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Kai swore as soon as he'd morphed into a human shape and was able to form the words. He stomped around the sleeping chamber of the clan cave, dressing quickly in pants, shirt and vest. He removed a knife from the chest and ran a thumb along the razor-sharp edge carefully.

  Aric stepped into the room, fully clothed, displaying a knife in the sheath on his belt.

  Holding his blade at eye level, Kai stared at it. “We must be more vigilant than ever."

  "I might kill Dagen as a human so I can cut his heart out. Or perhaps I'll kill him as a cougar and eat his fucking heart,” snarled Aric.

  "You have got to gain control of yourself.” Kai spoke with barely concealed rage. “So far, Dagen has managed to make fools of us at every turn. We must put an end to this before anyone else gets killed."

  Aric growled, and Kai knew he struggled to harness the outrage burning in his soul. If he'd have let himself go, he'd have been as vocal as his mate.

  He slipped the knife into its sheath and stepped to the entryway, looking out. “Riordan was a good and loyal man. Neela was a fine female. Their loss will be greatly felt."

  Aric headed out. “I'll gather a group to retrieve the bodies and bury them."

  "I should be there.” Kai moved to follow.

  "No,” he said, his anger controlled. “We'll take care of this. You need to remain in here."

  "Out of sight?” He balked at the idea. The clan leader hid from no man or beast.

  "Of course not. You must rest and plot our next move. We have to retaliate, and quickly.” He gazed at Kai and they locked eyes.

  "If we'd returned sooner—” Anguish for his fallen friend tore at him.

  "No! They've been dead since some time before the rains stopped, probably in the early hours after midnight. You saw that as well as I did. We couldn't have gotten here in time, no matter how early we left this morning. To me, it looks like they took advantage of our being waylaid by the storm."

  Kai nodded, relieved Aric hadn't blamed him for taking time to fuck Sable. He blamed himself but knew Aric spoke the truth.

  "The clan has to be told something.” Kai paced the small chamber. “Losing two of our family is incomprehensible. We have to explain. I have to explain."

  Aric went to him and, reaching out, gripped him by the shoulders. He brought Kai's pacing to an abrupt halt. “I'll tell them we've got a rogue clan nearby and that you and I will take care of them."

  Kai's heart ached. Perhaps if he'd handled things differently, told Riordan what was going on, he'd still be alive. He had to get the talisman back, and soon.

  "All right,” he capitulated, knowing Aric would find the right
words. The man was more than a lover. A true mate, he loved the clan as much as Kai did, and would do all he could to help. “Tell them only as much as you deem they need to know. Don't tell them the amulet is gone.” He pulled free of Aric's hands and turned away. “Hopefully we'll have that back before we have to explain all that's happened."

  "Don't worry, my love.” Deep concern filled Aric's voice. “I'll tell them only what is necessary."

  Spinning to face the blond man, Kai said, “Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

  Smiling, Aric leaned close and whispered in his ear, “I don't ever want you to find that out."

  Before Kai could say anything else, Aric turned on his heel and hurried into the hallway. A few moments later, he heard him call everyone outside into the clearing just beyond the cave's entrance. There was nothing more for a few minutes and he was just settling onto the furs when a great howling came from his clan.

  His heart wrenched. Aric had no doubt broken the news about Riordan and his mate, Neela.

  Rage surfaced and he leapt to his feet. He desperately wanted to race out and find Dagen, rend his flesh and tear the brute's heart out for the senseless murders.

  Taking several deep, cleansing breaths, he calmed down and returned to his seat on the furs. He had to make some plans. Hopefully Sable would be all right. Damn!

  She'd pass along his ultimatum, and if Dagen didn't kill her outright, he hoped she'd be able to find a way of getting Feth and herself to the cave. She had to.

  The next concern was, how much of an ‘entourage’ would Dagen have with him? He was sure Zeno, the one with a bite out of his arse, wouldn't be much trouble. The others—well, Aric and he could deal with them, as long as the bastard didn't bring his whole clan.

  Would Dagen bring the amulet? That was the most important issue. He should have told Sable to make certain he did. Yet he was sure the man would. He wouldn't dare leave it behind, not if he was as evil as the woman suggested. He'd be concerned someone would steal it.

  Who was this Dagen anyway? Rogue? Cast out?

  Kai rolled over onto his stomach and pondered the coming day, running scenarios through his mind, thinking of the revenge he'd take for his clan mates and the hunger he had for Sable.

  Beneath him, pressed so firmly against the inside of his trousers, his cock stirred, but he ignored it.

  They'd meet at the cave. Perhaps they should get back to it before Dagen and his cohorts arrived. He'd discuss it with Aric. Aric, my love, my true mate.

  Again his cock pulsed, and he wondered at how often he needed satisfaction of late. Always highly sexed, he'd lusted after one or another of his clan these past few weeks at least twice as often as normal.

  Deep in thought, time sped by and he didn't realise Aric was back until he felt the man's hands sliding over his arse.

  "Hey, quit humping the bed. You're supposed to be making plans."

  Easing his legs apart, Kai thrust against the furs. “I am. Then I thought about you. Then about that pussy we both sampled last night, and I got horny."

  "Ah, I see.” He slipped his hands beneath Kai and cupped the erection digging into the bedding. “Come up with any ideas on what we'll do tomorrow?"

  "More questions than answers, perhaps. But a couple of ideas too.” He turned over and pushed Aric's hands away, reluctantly. “What did you tell the clan?"

  Sitting back on his haunches, Aric lowered his eyes. “They took the deaths of Neela and Riordan hard. Two very much loved people will be missed. Two of the men have taken the bodies up to the high ground for burial. Closure is necessary."

  Kai nodded, his heart close to breaking. Guilt tore at him.

  Aric went on, “I told them, as you suggested, a rogue clan is in the area and that you and I will take care of them.” He looked up at Kai, capturing his eyes. “With the two pregnant females and the kits running around, the other males are more than willing to guard the cave and surrounding area. I don't know for how long, though. Sean was ready to run off and cut some throats."

  "Sean has always been one of the hot heads of the clan. He's a good man and will make sure nothing happens to anyone while we're away."

  "Between the eight adult males, the clan will be safe.” Aric lowered his gaze again, focusing on the bulge between Kai's thighs. “Tell me your plans."

  "We're going to return to the cave this evening. If Sable was able to get our message to Dagen, I don't trust him to follow our instructions, but I'm sure he'll be there. I want to be ready for him and his gang of thugs. I won't allow him to get the jump on us again.” He shifted and ran his hand over the crotch of his pants. Shuddering, he again wondered at his libido. Was he getting hornier as he aged, or would it somehow level off? He hoped so. “Despite what I told Sable, we're taking weapons this time. And the powder. We have no reason to trust Dagen to be unarmed or to bring only a pair of bodyguards."

  "I'll get the bows and two quivers of arrows.” Aric rose and left the chamber.

  While he was gone, Kai saw a small face peering in at him. A kit, one of the very young ones, stared his way.

  "Come here, little one,” he called, and lifted a welcoming arm to the youngster.

  The little beast raced in and clambered up onto his lap. A moment later another joined them. Kai quickly found himself cuddling two small male kits, both dressed in the coveralls that were the normal attire of two-year-olds. They tried tickling him, and he retaliated with wild hoots of laughter and then wiggled his fingers under each of their arms.

  Aric returned a few minutes later and leaned against the doorway, watching. Kai waved him in and, for the next quarter of an hour, the two males wrestled with the future protectors of the clan. When a young, blonde haired female peeked her head in the doorway, Kai spotted her and waited for her to call the kits away.

  "But Kai,” the blondest of the pair whined, “we want to play some more."

  "Yes, well, right now there's work to be done. We'll come and get you soon for some more wrestling. How's that, little one?"

  Beaming, the kit replied, “Really?"

  "Of course, and next time you'll have to let me win."

  Laughing, the two youngsters bounded off the bed and raced for their mother. She nodded sadly and herded her small charges back to their own chamber.

  "I miss the carefree existence we had before this mess,” Kai said when the three had departed. “Damn the bastard for taking that from us."

  Aric leaned close and brushed his lips across the curve of Kai's neck. “We'll have it again. And never fear, my love, I'll wrestle you any time."

  With a sad smile, Kai looked at his lover and sighed. They had to go. “You have the bows?"

  "Yes, just outside the entry. I didn't want the young ones to see."

  "Good.” He climbed to his feet and went for the med kit he kept in the chest. It contained bandages, supplies and more of the healing powder. In human form, they could take the kit with them, rather than just the small pouch of powder.

  "Let's move.” Kai headed for the entrance. After slinging one of the quivers over his shoulder, he took up his favourite bow and put it over the other arm and across his chest. The going would be slower, but they'd be much better prepared.

  * * * *

  It took them most of the afternoon to reach the cave. When they got within a hundred feet, Kai motioned Aric to his side.

  Placing his lips next to Aric's ear, he whispered, “Shift. Ditch your bow and quiver. We'll go in as cats."

  Nodding, Aric quickly hid his weapon under a large patch of ferns and dropped to his hands and knees. Kai followed, concentrating on keeping silent as his body morphed. The pain tore through him for a moment, but before he could cry out, it turned to a staggering bliss, driving the air from his lungs. The change complete, he stretched, ready for action. Beside him, all he heard was a soft grunt as his lover's body took on the glorious tawny shape of the cougar.

  Kai lifted his head and inhaled, searching for the scent of anything o
ut of the ordinary. Nothing. He prayed his dull senses proved right, and again missed the talisman and its powers.

  He nudged Aric and took a step towards the cave. Nose still in the air, he kept his head moving, looking for any movement from the surrounding forest. Aric followed, his ears pricked up, his nostrils twitching.

  Slinking forward, his belly just clearing the forest floor, Kai padded towards the cave's entrance. Everything looked as it had when they'd left only a few hours ago. He caught the faint scent of their fucking and Sable's special smell.

  He stopped when they were little more than a dozen feet from the cave and watched. Peering around the small clearing, he waited for something, anything, to happen.

  Birds took up their chirping songs again. A shrew scampered from a crack in the rocks to the right of the cave's mouth. He sensed a doe in the underbrush not far away, but that was it.

  Aric moved past him, a barely discernable snarl emanating from deep in his chest. He was nervous. The telltale twitch of his tail gave that away. He was also determined to enter the cave first. He'd always been overprotective and this time wasn't any different.

  Kai watched, readying himself for whatever Aric encountered.

  The golden cat reached the side of the cave's mouth and plastered himself against the rough stone. Kai saw his nose twitch and his ears flick in all directions. Then, as if he was walking on eggshells, Aric slunk into the cave.

  Kai watched his lover disappear inside, then had an instant of panic when he could neither see nor hear him. His heart fluttered and he tensed, ready to spring forward. When he'd about decided to rush the cave, Aric showed himself.

  He peered directly at where Kai waited and nodded his exquisite, sharp-featured head. He pounced towards him and rubbed himself along Kai's side, then bounded back into the cave.

  Kai followed, entering carefully, sniffing at everything on the way. The only things inside were what they'd left behind. The only scent was of their fucking, them and the woman. He circled the fire pit, sniffed at the cold embers then lay down facing the door.

  Aric stretched out on the other side and changed. With no need for silence, he groaned softly when the pain transformed and euphoria took hold. Kai watched and smiled, knowing well the feeling shooting through his thighs as bones moved, muscles realigned and his internal organs were pushed into new places. Aric's back arched, his head was thrown back and the look of sheer bliss made Kai's breath catch. He adored the man, feline or human, and was thrilled to be with him.