Claiming His Lioness (Shifter Wars)

by Kerry Adrienne

  “Last night at the laboratory...” She sniffled and tried to scowl. “What if I’d been hit? Would you have noticed?”

  “Of course I would have. I was keeping an eye on you.”

  “Not that I could tell.”

  “Well, you’re wrong. The last I saw, you’d come out of the building and were right behind me in the parking lot. Then you pounced on that shifter.” Mason laughed. “She messed with the wrong woman.”

  “I didn’t see you even look at me.”

  “Well, I did.”

  “Fine.”

  Mason sighed. “Come on, Lara. You and I are mates.”

  “You sure were hovering over Cara at the lab. As soon as she got hurt, you rushed to her side and didn’t leave it.”

  “You can’t really believe I want to be with Cara. Like you said, she was hurt. I was getting her out of harm’s way, that’s it. I would hope that someone would do the same for my mate, if she needed help.”

  “Okay.”

  “Bottom line, Cara may think she’s tough, but she’s got nothing on you.”

  Lara hid a smile. “You mean that?”

  Mason put his hand over his heart. “Cross my heart. You’re the one for me, and the only one I want. I promise.”

  “And you’re the one for me.”

  “How about we make it official?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve been thinking.” Mason took her hands in his. “As soon as we get rid of this pipeline, let’s get married.”

  She squeezed his hands. “So soon?”

  “As soon or as far away as you want. I’m partial to sooner is better, but I’ll defer to you.”

  Her heart surged, like it was taking a deep breath in all the chaos, then relief flooded her. Everything was going to be okay.

  “Oh, Mason! I love you!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.

  “I love you, too.” He kissed her on the head. “Let’s get this next couple of days behind us and then we’ll make plans.”

  “Deal. We’ve got a big challenge coming up.”

  “We’re ready, don’t you think?”

  “I know we are. And guess what?”

  “What?”

  “The weather is supposed to be perfect. The march should have a huge turnout.”

  “Great news. Let’s hope the bomb placement goes as well.”

  Lara leaned on Mason. A million things ran through her head. A wedding? She’d never thought about her own wedding. Hell, the mate thing was new enough.

  She knew one thing for sure, though. There wasn’t anyone in the world she’d rather be with than Mason.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Lara smiled as they made their way to the area of the pipeline they’d bomb. Darkness was overtaking the land, and the night insects chattered. Everyone was on their marks and she and Mason were the last piece of the puzzle to get into position, and arguably the most important.

  She’d already heard from the lionesses that the march was a success. The media coverage had been great and there were still people hanging out in town, talking about ways to get AllOil out of Deep Creek. The AllOil CEO had tried to speak to the gathered crowd but had been booed off the stage, and the local representative said he would work to get the permits overturned.

  It was amazing what a crowd of like-minded people could accomplish. Lara hoped the pipeline bombing would escalate the issue. With the national media still in town, she hoped they’d all carry the story of how AllOil paid off regulators to get their greedy paws into Deep Creek. Talk of bribes had law enforcement looking more deeply into what had happened, and the press would help make sure the information wasn’t buried.

  After the bombing, the shifters would turn their focus to pushing the agenda to get AllOil out of the park altogether. Lara held out a hope that the company would see how much they weren’t wanted, and see the rising possibility of an investigation, and pull out on their own. It didn’t matter how long it took, the shifters would continue to fight.

  She stepped over a downed limb and maneuvered around a tangle of thorns. Good thing it wasn’t totally dark yet. The bomb was in her backpack, ready to be armed, and the last thing she wanted was to fall and break it. Today was the day it had to be done. It wouldn’t have the same effect if it wasn’t deployed tonight—when the humans in Oakwood were already riled up about the pipeline.

  It had to be tonight.

  Letting the team down was not an option. Stopping the humans was what mattered. After today, this whole mess would be on the way to over. Sure, the humans could rebuild the pipeline, but hopefully the attention that came with the bomb would underscore the potential disaster that Deep Creek faced. Then, legislation could stop AllOil entirely.

  She exhaled a large breath, trying to will away the tension in her neck and shoulders. The figurative weight of the world, or at least Deep Creek, felt like it rested on her. All the planning, all the cooperation, all of it came to a head today.

  It was too bad there wasn’t a better way. She hated violence, even though it was arguable that the shifters were fighting violence with violence. At least the shifters were making sure no one was around to get hurt in the explosion.

  Most of the shifters from the laboratory had gone back to their families. Mason had seen to it that they all got to rest and eat a good meal or two and get cleaned up before heading home. Many of the shifters had cried at the realization they were free. They had been so grateful and it filled Lara’s heart with joy that she’d been a part of the operation to free them. The bear Elijah had asked about had been one of the prisoners, too, and was now back with the clan and staying with Derek and Bria for a while.

  The prisoners would likely need counseling.

  After pausing to take a breath, she glanced at Mason. He’d been walking beside her, quiet, letting her mentally prepare for the task ahead. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. The night was muggy and the air thick.

  She stared at him a second. So ruggedly handsome, Mason could be featured on the cover of a romance novel. He was her romance hero, all alpha and sexy in addition to his charm and kindness. His acceptance of her was total, and he didn’t make her feel like a lesser person.

  He’d even understood her bit of jealousy over Cara. Lara was a lucky woman.

  Mason smiled at her and winked. She grinned back. He seemed comfortable, considering what they were about to do, and she tried to relax and trust that everything was going to be okay. Her heart thumped with anxiety and she tried to think calming thoughts.

  Birds sang in the distance, unaware of what was about to happen. Lara slowed her pace, trying to adjust to the level of heightened fear that was settling over her. She’d overcome it, but it was one of the scariest things she’d ever had to deal with.

  At least Mason was by her side.

  The past few nights in his arms had been magical. Not only was he a skilled lover, but he took the time to talk to her and console her. He didn’t berate her over her trust issues or jealousy and he was more patient than any man she’d ever been around.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Going over things one more time. I’m ready.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  She leaned on him and he hugged her to his side. She breathed him in.

  He was her mate. And after everything was said and done, that was enough. She was upset with herself that she ever doubted him, but his forgiveness had shown her his true character. He was a catch in more ways than one.

  The sliver of moon was barely visible through the thick stand of trees and if she didn’t have her enhanced eyesight, she wouldn’t be able to see two feet in front of her. She scanned the path ahead, empty aside from her and Mason. She knew the others were in place and waiting for their tasks. If they were lucky, no humans would be out in
the woods tonight.

  The lionesses had said there were a lot of AllOil employees in town, and hopefully they were still there having dinner or something.

  An owl called in the deep forest and rabbits scurried across the path up ahead. The loud blast would scare the animals, but the ordeal was for their own protection. Mason moved ahead of her, making his way to the pipeline.

  “Let’s go a little faster,” he said.

  “Okay.”

  The portion of the pipeline where they were to plant the bomb was in a deep thicket of trees, not too far from where the creek split into two tributaries. Bria had chosen the spot to hopefully hide what was going on while they armed the bomb, in case there were any humans around. The area right next to the pipeline was clear, and the line was only about four feet off the ground at that point. Lara would need to climb, but not far.

  It was a perfect location.

  Mason stopped and she nearly bumped into his back. He held his hand up in a “quiet” motion, then waved her on past him. They made their way through the brush with no lights—they couldn’t afford to risk being seen, and Lara had to admit that it was a bit unnerving. Around her, scurrying feet and crackling insects enjoyed the night, unaware how things were getting ready to change.

  He pointed to the pipeline. The metal was a stark white that was visible even in the almost dark. AllOil was painted in bold letters down the side, and large bolts held the pieces together. The pipeline was solid. At the juncture of two pieces of pipe, a collar of metal sealed the line. That was where she’d plant the device—on the joint where two pipes came together, and right on the logo.

  Some sort of poetic justice there. Or irony.

  After examining the area for humans, Mason motioned her to go ahead of him. He’d play immediate lookout for her while she set the bomb, then they’d get the heck out of the way before detonation. The other shifters were nearby in the woods, watching for any workers who might show up. They’d try to keep them away from the blast.

  The plan was solid.

  Nerves cut at her gut, and she took a deep breath to calm herself. Compared to the other tasks she had, setting the bomb was one of the most dangerous. If the device went off before she could escape, she’d be dead. She shuddered. She wasn’t afraid, not really. It was more a matter of worrying she would do something wrong and let down all of Deep Creek.

  She scaled the ladder attached to the concrete pylon that held the pipe. Only four steps up, but it placed her in the right spot to plant the device. She stopped on the top rung and pulled her backpack around to remove the device.

  She paused to check the area one more time and saw Mason about twenty yards away, on duty. His presence made her feel safer.

  Night birds called, unaware that things were about to change dramatically. This section of the woods would be burned and charred from the blast, but that had to be better than the metal pipeline that wended through the area.

  How long would it take for things to get back to how they’d been before AllOil? Lara peered over the top of the pipeline at all the trees in the distance, a jagged mountain cresting above them. So much life in such a contained area.

  It was a shame that things had to come to this. Typically, she would’ve said that violence wasn’t the answer. But to get the humans to listen, the bombing needed to be part of their overall plan. Hopefully it would be enough to get the conversation started about what might happen to Deep Creek if there were ever an oil spill.

  She unzipped the pack and pulled out the bomb. The metal glinted in the narrow moonlight, sinister. She’d helped Bria gather everything needed to make the bomb, but Bria had done all the electronics and wiring. Lara had been amazed at her skill.

  The device wasn’t much larger than a deck of cards, but it packed a punch. Colorful wires came out the side and snaked around to the front. A small display, crude at best, would show the countdown.

  She tugged at the wires and flipped the bomb over so she could arm it.

  Oh shit.

  She held the bomb up and looked closely. One of the wires had come loose in her pack. Shit. Shit. Shit.

  A large brown hawk circled overhead, its call piercing the summer night. Lara swallowed hard.

  There was only one solution.

  She’d have to hold the wires on to the contacts if the bomb was to work.

  The bomb was their only hope to stop the pipeline and she was the only one who could get the bomb armed. She hadn’t expected that she’d have to stay with it, but what other choice did she have? There was no way to reconnect the broken wires. Bria had explained the mechanism enough that Lara knew what it needed to work, but it was unrepairable without the proper tools.

  “Let me help you.” Cara had climbed up the other side of the pylon and stared at her over the pipeline.

  “What are you doing here?” Lara fumbled. She hadn’t heard Cara approach and apparently Mason hadn’t seen her either.

  “I talked to Bria and she told me the shifters’ plan. Since I’m a large part of the reason this mess is in Deep Creek to start with, I came to help.”

  “There isn’t anything you can do except leave me alone.” Lara gulped down her fear.

  She wasn’t going to tell Cara what she’d have to do to detonate the bomb. As much as she didn’t care for the tigress, she didn’t want her dead.

  “I can watch for workers or help you attach the bomb.” Cara’s eyes glistened. “Please.”

  Lara scowled.

  “Or I can keep you company.”

  That was rich.

  “Everything okay?” Mason had approached the pipeline. “Cara, what are you doing here?”

  The annoyance in his voice was clear.

  Lara’s heart hammered. “Go back to your post, Mason. I’ve got this under control.”

  He didn’t need to know what she was planning. The bomb had to detonate tonight. There was no time to get it repaired. No reset on the plan. To get the most exposure, it had to be done tonight. A tear streamed down her cheek.

  Tears clouded her vision and she blinked them away.

  “I’ll be right over there at the edge of the woods. Let’s get this over with.” Mason retreated.

  Lara took a deep breath and risked calling to him. “I love you.”

  He turned, his smile visible in the darkness. “I love you, too, Lara.”

  She wasn’t new to sacrifice, but she’d just found her mate. Life wasn’t fair.

  She turned back to Cara. “You need to go.”

  “I can’t. This is partly my fault.” Cara’s pale hair spiraled down her cheek. “I need to be a part of this.”

  “It’s too late.”

  “Why won’t you let me help?” Cara’s eyes pleaded.

  Lara tugged the backpack onto her shoulders and cradled the bomb. “This is my job. Now go.”

  “Okay, fine. But before I go, I need to tell you something.”

  “What is it? We need to hurry.” Tears streamed freely now. She wasn’t going to get out of this alive.

  “We can talk more about how I found this out later. But I think you need to know...”

  “What is it?”

  “You won’t believe it.”

  “Tell me.”

  “We’re sisters.”

  Lara’s heart dropped. “That’s not possible.”

  “It’s not only possible, it’s true.” Cara smiled. “Remember when I told you that I had traced my mother to this area, a long time ago?”

  Lara nodded. Could it be true?

  Cara continued. “Our mother gave us both up. We have different fathers, but I’ve researched it, and you and I are definitely sisters.”

  Oh my gods. Why hadn’t she seen it before? Lara hadn’t even suspected, but now, the tigress stared back at her with a familiar expression. She felt the family bond arch
ing out to her. How many nights had she lain in bed, wishing she had more family? Wishing for a sibling. An aunt, someone.

  And now she was finding out when it was too late.

  “I don’t know what to say.” Lara’s lower lip quivered, and her hands shook.

  She couldn’t tell Cara what she was about to do. The tigress would try to stop her.

  “We can talk after all this is over.” Cara began to climb down. “I needed to tell you the truth. I want you to understand that I’m on your side. I’m on the shifters’ side.”

  “Thank you.” Lara didn’t know what else to say. She choked back the tears, wiping her eyes on her shirt-sleeve. At least she found out about Cara, even though they’d never have time to build a relationship.

  Cara headed toward the woods, dropping her clothing as she did, her body stretching and morphing into a sleek tigress, stripes visible in the faint light. She bounded into the woods near where Mason stood guard.

  Lara closed her eyes and laid her head on the pipe. The day’s heat had warmed the metal and it soothed her aching head. If there was any other way to stop the pipeline, she’d do it, but the one thing that remained was that the bomb had to detonate.

  Tonight.

  No amount of tape or twine would make it work. Maybe she could drop off the pipeline in time to save herself. Roll away.

  Only if she was faster than an explosion.

  That wasn’t likely, and she knew it.

  She took a deep breath and relaxed the pent-up muscular tension in her neck. No time for sadness. She’d been called to make a sacrifice for Deep Creek, and she’d do it. Protecting the shifter world was more important than protecting herself. This must have been what Shoshannah was talking about when she told her there was a job for her. Time to prove her devotion. To Mason, to the lionesses, to Shoshannah and Deep Creek. Even to Cara.

  Lara had to go through with the detonation to save the park.

  Mason blew her a kiss from the trees. Even with her shifter vision, she could barely see him. I love you. If he knew what she was doing, he’d be furious.