“What did you find out?” Mason asked. “About the humans?”
“They’ve definitely come deeper into the forest, especially this area. More humans around here than we’ve seen before. At least in these numbers.” Marco sat back on the rock, hands on his knees. “I’m wary. I can’t believe they have good intentions.”
“Not hunters?” Mason stretched his legs and stood.
“Not that I could tell. They smelled...different. Not like woodsmen or hikers. And there must have been fifteen to twenty of them. Maybe more.” Marco stood and brushed off his backside.
If they aren’t hunters, what are they?
“That’s a lot of humans. No wonder the smell is so acrid.”
Marco ran his hand through his hair then put his hands on his hips. Tension wafted off him. “When I saw the tracks by the lake, I didn’t think too much of it, like maybe a group got lost on the trail and didn’t mean to be that far into the woods, but I hear the concern in your voice. What do you think they want? And why now?”
Mason paused before answering, then turned to face his brother. “This smells different. Like there’s a shoe about to drop. And we’re under it. I don’t like it.”
“Yeah. I feel your worry. There’s something else...” Marco’s voice trailed off and he stared into the empty woods.
“What?”
“These humans have guns. Not hunting rifles, but handguns and larger, semi-automatic rifles. Why would they need those? Unless they are prepared to kill...” Marco turned to Mason.
“And what’s in Deep Creek that they would want to kill?” Mason raised his eyebrows. He needed Marco to say it. Prove Mason wasn’t crazy and that this threat could be bigger than anything Deep Creek had ever faced.
“Shifters is all I can think of.” Marco’s voice caught and he clenched his jaw. “Do you think Bria’s research on shifters might have gotten out? Do you think the humans know about us and came here to capture us?”
“I don’t think so. And I don’t think the humans who know about us in Oakwood would tell anyone either. They’ve always kept our secrets.” Mason stood and paced. “If the armed humans are here for us, we’ve got a battle ahead.”
“Why would these people be pouring into our forest, with guns?” Marco shivered and rubbed his arms. “They want something.”
“Yes, they do. This is big.”
If something happened to Deep Creek, he’d be devastated. He felt the pressure to live up to his father’s legacy. He was sure Marco did, too. He and his brother were responsible for the pride now, and they weren’t going to let their father down.
Especially not to humans.
The shifter war had already caused tremendous loss and turmoil in the pride and he wasn’t sure how much more he could handle. Couldn’t Deep Creek catch a break?
He and Marco weren’t yet the strong leaders his father had been, but they were trying, and as lions, they couldn’t fail. They wouldn’t allow it. Some lions still didn’t trust them and if they had to fight again, they might not rally.
A twig snapped, breaking the quiet. Mason turned to his brother, eyebrows raised. Marco pointed to the right, and Mason signaled with his head that he was going to see. Marco nodded and pointed in the opposite direction.
Mason crept toward the area where the sound had come from. It had probably been a deer, or maybe a raccoon. Dusk was the time that many animals came out of hiding and searched for food. No reason to think it was anything more, but with the stress of human encroachment, they had to find out. Marco went the other direction to circle around in case Mason needed him.
The forest seemed to darken, and Mason’s heart thudded. The humans might be sneaking up on them. Maybe they were directly over the ridge, ready to kill the lions, their big guns ready.
He and Marco wouldn’t escape an ambush.
He’d already formed the humans as monsters in his mind—bent on taking Deep Creek away—even though he didn’t know what their purpose really was. It wasn’t a great leap, considering all that had happened in the past year.
Another twig snapped. He whipped his head toward the sound and squinted to try to spot the offender. Too bad he didn’t have his lion vision.
The area of the woods had a dense underbrush and he strained to see movement in the piles of brown leaves. Humans wouldn’t be able to conceal themselves so well. Whatever had made the noise was small—certainly not a herd of humans.
Nothing. Maybe it really was only a deer or a raccoon. He crept as quietly as he could, careful where he set his foot down, and closed in on the patch of brush where the sound had originated. After moving around to the side where tall grass interspersed with patches of fallen limbs, he decided to dash toward where he thought the culprit lay in hiding. He’d have the element of surprise.
He rushed around the brush, pulling it away, and then stopped cold, letting the grass slap back in place.
The Enforcer lioness, Lara, crouched on the ground in human form.
Chapter Two
The female had been spying. Mason whipped his head around at approaching steps. Marco pounced from the bushes on the other side and stopped, hands on hips.
“What the hell, Lara?” Mason scowled.
“What are you doing out here?” Marco asked.
Lara stood and swiped at the leaves that had stuck to her pants. “Nothing.” She yanked the elastic from her falling ponytail, and her dark waves bounced free. “I heard voices and I hid.”
“You have no business spying on us.” Mason tried to level his voice. Lara had always been volatile, and he didn’t want to deal with her anger. Not now. Not with the human threat so near.
“I wasn’t spying,” Lara snarled. “Besides, it’s none of your business what I’m doing. I’m pride Enforcer. It’s my job to make sure we’re safe.”
“It is my business.” The twins spoke in unison and Mason glanced at Marco. His brother was as upset as he was. Good. Lara should remember who was in charge. Ever since his father made her Enforcer, she’d been acting like she ruled the lions. Mason had never agreed with her gaining the position, but he understood why his father had appointed her.
She was tough.
“Do I need your permission to be out in the woods? It’s not my fault you’re having a twin-sense meeting in the same area I was hiking in. Besides, I didn’t know it was you two at first. Could’ve been humans. Or bears.”
“What do you know about humans?” Marco’s voice rose.
“What do I need to know about humans? What’s going on?”
“I can handle this.” Mason stepped toward Lara and she frowned, her mouth in a firm line and her brows tilting in anger.
Impenetrable.
Her dark hair curled over her shoulders and down her arms, softening her stance. Her heart-shaped face was smooth, with a slight blush to her soft cheeks, and her brown eyes seemed rimmed in gold and flecked with sparkles, but it was probably the late-day sun’s reflection.
He swallowed hard, biting back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Talk about confusing signals. She was like the softest blanket when you looked at her, turning into chainmail armor with thorns if you tried to get closer.
“What’s there to handle?” She met his stare. “What’s going on with humans?”
“Nothing.” Marco put his hands on his hips. “Why are you hostile?”
“I’m not.” She took a step forward. “I was minding my own business and you two attacked me. I’ve not done anything wrong.”
“That’s debatable.” Mason held back a growl, mad at himself he’d been caught admiring her. She might be pretty on the outside but inside, she was impossible to read. The only clues were hard and sharp and confusing.
Marco smiled. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
What’s that supposed to mean, brother? “You
don’t need to go.” Mason shot his brother a warning look. Marco had always loved teasing him about Lara, and Mason wasn’t going to add to his arsenal. He’d never hear the end of it.
“I gotta go. Can we finish our chat tonight after dinner? Alicia is waiting on me to get home. We’re eating together before she heads back to visit the bears tomorrow.”
Lara spit on the ground. “Bears. Can’t believe you want that she-bear as your mate.”
Marco bristled. “That’s enough—”
“Ignore her,” Mason said. “She’s trying to get a rise out of you.”
“You would know.” Marco grinned, any slight against his mate forgotten.
Lara lowered her voice. “I don’t understand why you allowed your brother to mate with the enemy. Max wouldn’t approve.”
“It’s not like we get to pick our mates.” Mason shook his head. “And my father would be happy Marco is happy. End of story.” He didn’t tell her about his brother’s star-walking vision where Maximillian had given his blessing to the couple.
In truth, he wasn’t thrilled his brother’s mate was a bear either, but as far as bears went, Alicia was about the best he’d met. She’d saved Marco, and her caring nature transferred over to everything she did, whether it was setting the table with his grandmother’s china, or helping a lion cub who’d skinned a knee trying to skateboard.
Her healing powers were well-known in the shifter world, and she’d become known as the kind and tender bear she was.
And if Mason ever wanted a mate, he’d want her to be as kindhearted and caring as Alicia.
“I’ll pick my own mate. If I decide I want one.” The lioness tugged the hem of her shirt down and moved toward Mason.
“That’s not how it works.” Mason smirked. There was really no point in arguing with her, but he couldn’t help it. She got under his skin and he kind of liked seeing her get more upset.
“Better hope your mate isn’t a bear,” Lara said. “The lions are already upset about Marco, and double trouble might get you kicked out of leading the pride.”
“You don’t need to worry about my mate.”
“Your mate is the last thing on my mind.” Lara scoffed. “Too many other things going on in Deep Creek to worry about mates and babies.”
“I’ll see you later, brother.” Marco’s expression turned serious.
Mason nodded. “Come find me after dinner.”
“So you can conspire some more?” Lara asked. “This has to stop. We all need to know what’s going on. What we’re fighting for.”
Mason shrugged and Marco gave him an eyebrow raise, then headed down the path. If he didn’t know any better, Mason would think his brother was wanting him to make peace with the lioness. Maybe that was true. Marco had been the third wheel to Mason and Lara’s squabbling for many years. Their constant bickering was bound to annoy him eventually.
Marco was probably tired of it.
Mason took a deep breath and blew it out. The lioness had always been intent on causing him stress and countering his every decision. She wasn’t the same way with Marco, and Mason couldn’t understand why she singled him out for all her vitriol. The scowl that seemed to be a permanent fixture on her face had deepened lately. It was more intense, and her whole complexion suffered under the worry. Whatever her problem was with him, it had only worsened in recent months. Since his father died.
She’d taken his death hard.
“I want to know what you’re up to, Mason.” She bared her teeth.
“Nothing. I’m doing my job to protect the lions.” He looked out at the clouds over the mountains. The sun was getting low and it’d be dark soon.
“Why are you and Marco worried? Something is going on in Deep Creek, and as pride Enforcer, I should be in the know.”
“I’m not worried. I’m tired.” Mason turned to leave. “I’m going home.”
Lara was correct—as Enforcer he should include her, fielding her constant questioning—but he didn’t need to be surrounded by someone doubting his leadership when he doubted himself enough already.
He headed down the path. He could appoint another Enforcer to replace Lara but that would cause a lot of strife. Besides, she was the best person for the job, though he certainly hadn’t thought so when his father chose her. Maybe when this latest threat was neutralized, he could revisit that appointment.
“Wait,” Lara called to him. Her voice held a slight tone of fear.
No, he must be wrong about that. Lara was never afraid.
Mason turned. A light sheen of sweat shone on her forehead, and she tugged at her long locks and flipped the hair over her shoulders. He blinked. For some reason, he sometimes forgot what a beautiful woman she was. Her lean curves and bright eyes had caused many a lion’s head to turn in her direction.
She’d metaphorically bitten every one of their heads off, and decapitation was the next step, he was sure of it.
“Please wait. This is important.” She stopped and took a deep breath.
“What?” He knew his tone was clipped but he didn’t try to restrain himself. He had too much going on to stress over the female. He needed to scope out the encampment before it got too dark.
A cool breeze circled them, honeysuckle heavy in the air. Summer was the season of promise, and he loved it. Spring through fall was the busiest time in the park and the most likely time that humans would try to pull something. They might be able to infiltrate the park more easily when there wasn’t a load of snow on the ground, but that advantage also made the lions stronger.
“Talk to me.”
Mason had too many things on his mind to deal with Lara. As pride Enforcer, she should be spending her time doing her job, not tailing him. “When there’s more information or something important, I will let you know.”
Distrust glimmered in her gaze. “Are we attacking the bears again? Or have you made an alliance you haven’t told us about?”
Her perseverance was both annoying and admirable, though right now it was more annoying than anything.
He studied her. Her breath came in bursts. Her face, flushed with what might be anger, belied her façade of control. Worry wafted off her, not anger. The tiny crinkling when her eyebrows raised had deepened and her smirk was more a question than a sign of disgust.
“Your brother is mated to a bear. And you two are creeping around whispering. What do you expect me to think?”
“Trust your leader. I need time to think and figure out what the hell kind of summer this is going to be.”
Walking off had never been his thing. He stayed and fought—to the proverbial death. But he was tired. The new problem presenting in Deep Creek could be the worst thing that had ever happened—at least since the park was carved out when the humans invaded the land centuries ago.
He strode toward the path leading to the tall trees that marked the deep forest that lay between him and the lions’ compound, away from the underbrush. Having to exist under the paper-thin guise of human law had never sat well with him—knowing the lions were at the mercy of a bunch of suits in some legislative chamber where money bought votes and more. Many years ago, Max had tried to lobby for more human safeguards that would also protect the shifters, but had quickly found out that politicians listened to money, not people. If the humans in power ever caught a whiff about the existence of shifters, things would go to hell in a handbasket.
Fight or be crushed. Or live a tenuous peace. It was always a walk on the razor’s edge, knowing that beyond the park’s bounds lay a world the lions had no say in.
Within seconds, he heard her footsteps behind him. Lara followed, her footsteps double-timing to keep up.
The air left his lungs in a whoosh as he was hit square between the shoulders from behind. Lara hopped onto his back, tackling him to the ground. He grunted as his face hit the dirt path and the taste of mud filled
his mouth. He spit out a bit of leaf and lifted his head, straining to roll her off.
She didn’t speak, but snaked her arms around his shoulders, tightening her grip. He couldn’t wriggle free. She shoved him in the thighs with her knees, taking away his traction and pinning him on his stomach. Her weight, plus the surprise of the attack, held him to the ground.
He paused, unsure what to do. Still, the fact she would dare attack the pride leader shocked him.
Fearless.
No matter. He was stronger. She’d jumped on him, knowing he would beat her unless she got a lucky break. He grinned. Lara was different from the other lionesses. They might talk about being tough in every situation, but Lara was the one who’d actually be out front doing it. That was why she was the leader of the lionesses, the one who trained them in all types of battle skills. And why she was the best person to be Enforcer. She’d proven it time and again that her loyalty lay with the lions.
Good thing she was on the lions’ side. He held back a laugh then nearly bit his tongue as she grabbed his hair and yanked. His eyes watered from the sharp pain.
“Tell me.” No mistaking it, her voice held a growl.
“No.” He wrestled his arms free from under his abdomen and attempted to roll to his side and dislodge her or knock her off his back somehow. Didn’t work. She held on like a rodeo cowboy on an eight-second bull ride.
He tried to grab her to tug her loose, but she was out of reach, sitting right in the middle of his back, her legs clamped on to his flanks.
“Oof.” He tried to buck her off, but she yanked his hair again. Dammit!
She straddled him, her knees squeezing and her weight holding him down. “I want to know what’s going on.” Her voice held a growl.
Didn’t she realize that she wasn’t in control? He blinked back the tears from her jerking his hair. He’d show her.
He pushed up from the ground and tried to flip her off his back, but she held on. She gripped his shirt and looped one arm around his chest like a vise.
That was a mistake.
He feinted to the left, then rolled right, knocking her loose with the quick shift. She hit the ground with a grunt. Before she could get away, he scrambled to climb over her, lying partially over her torso and pinning her so she couldn’t move. She tried, but he held her in place.
Claiming His Lioness (Shifter Wars) Page 2