Someone was harassing and hurting his daughter and his mate.
His lion sensed the distress and anger of his cub and his mate. He knew he could trust Jake and Cathy to get Allison and Lindsay out while he cleaned up the scum.
“Let's go,” he snarled. There was the briefest shimmer in the air, and a majestic lion charged out of Grand Hunter Hotel, the flagship of the Hunter hotel chain. The head office of the Hunter group was located at the top floors of Grand Hunter Hotel. The gleaming, towering hotel stood on the peak of a forested slope, overlooking a lake. It was a beautiful, magnificent structure and Grand Hunter Hotel was almost always overbooked by tourists and honeymooners.
Sean was flanked by Jake and Cathy as he covered miles of forested terrain in mere minutes. His two lions kept up with him, running hard towards the town center of Misty Valley.
He had rotated Allison to Hunter's Lodge, one of their smaller hotels. It was a steep learning curve for her, and he thought it would be better for her to start at one of their smaller hotels. Allison proved to be a fast learner and a hard worker. She wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. She took out the trash, cleaned the toilets, served the guests with utmost courtesy and professionalism, and dealt with difficult customers with aplomb. Sean was really proud of her.
His daughter was sharp and decisive, but she was a little too hot-tempered for her own good. Sean shook his head. What could he say? Allison was a chip off the old block. Back in the day, he had been way more volatile and violent than Allison. He had gotten into fights just for the heck of it. And he had led his pride into a lot of trouble.
Age had mellowed the man, but it hadn't tamed the lion.
His lion still hunted and killed with a vengeance. But he never allowed his beast to kill indiscriminately.
But certain debts had to be paid in blood.
His lion was now roaring for blood, consumed with pain and wrath. He could feel the terror of his cub and he could feel the fear and rage of his mate. He could scent them now.
They were nearing Hunter's Lodge. There were some lone wolves in the vicinity, but no one even turned their heads at the roars and snarls coming from the alleyway. Fights between shifters were commonplace in Misty Valley, and the residents learned to give the fighters a wide berth. If you poked your nose into other shifters' business, you were liable to lose your nose, and other body parts. It just wasn't worth it. Most of the residents preferred to have their heads on their shoulders, and their arms and legs firmly attached to their bodies, thank you very much.
Sean saw the wolves prick their ears at the sounds of pain and violence coming from the alley. It was clear they scented blood but they all turned away quickly. They would stay out of the alley and out of the fight.
He heard Lindsay's piercing scream from across the street. “No! No!”
An image of her beautiful, rosy face flickered in front of his eyes. He blinked and the image flashed red, as if it were bathed in blood.
Sean roared and flew towards the shadowy alley. Everything was happening so fast, but he saw his daughter and his mate moving as if in slow motion. He saw two hyenas biting into Allison's back while a third hyena crouched low, taking careful aim. He saw Lindsay fling a cardboard roll at one of the hyenas clawing at Allison's back. She screamed when she saw the hyena leaping through the air, gunning for Allison's throat.
With a sudden jerk, Lindsay threw herself at Allison.
Lindsay cried out as the hyena's teeth and claws sank into her shoulder. She had shielded Allison with her own body, blocking Allison's bared neck from the hyena's deadly bite.
The sight of Lindsay's blood brought out every killer instinct, every murderous, savage urge of Sean's beast. He flew forward, landing just behind Lindsay.
With a swipe of his massive paw, he batted the hyena away from Lindsay, sending it slamming into the wall. Cathy and Jake had already pulled the other two hyenas from Allison's back, and were moving in for the kill.
Sean saw Lindsay scramble to Allison, who was lying on the ground and groaning softly. Lindsay cradled the lioness's large head in her arms and whispered encouraging, soothing words in her ear. Allison was injured, but she was strong, and she was in good hands.
The hyena pushed itself off the wall and faced Sean. With a hiss, it shifted into human form.
Sean watched him impassively. This slimy, scoundrel was Max Rodriguez, one of the leaders of Hell's Dogs, a gang of hyena shifters. Sean narrowed his eyes. Did Max think that the lion would refrain from killing a man? Was that why he had shifted to human form right in the middle of a fight? It was a sly and stupid thing to do.
His lion would never kill a defenseless man in normal circumstances. His lion only fought other beasts, other predators. But this was different. Standing before him wasn't a harmless man. Max and his underlings had tried to kill his family. They had brutalized and terrified his cub and his mate. For that, they had to die.
He would grant them a swift death though.
“Sean Hunter,” Max smiled, showing a mouthful of bloody teeth. He put up his hands. “An eye for an eye, that's the shifter way. You humiliated and disfigured my sister. So I carve up your girls. Blood for blood, pain for honor. We're even now. I'll tell my Alpha not to badger you anymore for a stake in your hotel business. The score's even now.”
The other two hyenas stalked over to Max's side and the three of them faced Sean together. It was a show of strength and defiance, an unspoken challenge. “We'll be leaving now, Sean. Your girls are pretty tough. No harm done, yeah?” Max sneered and his hyenas chuffed out a mocking laugh.
Sean watched Max's fake smile and snarled a quiet command to Jake and Cathy. They nodded and prowled over to Lindsay and Allison. In a blink, his two lions shifted back to human and crouched over Allison. At Jake's reassuring touch, Allison quietly shifted to human form and allowed Jake to gather her in his arms. Cathy supported Lindsay, and nodded to Jake. Swiftly and silently, his commanders moved out of the alley with his family. That's what he had ordered them to do.
Sean saw Lindsay look back at him as she limped away with Cathy. Her gray eyes were full of worry and fear, fear for him and Allison. She hesitated and seemed to want to turn back, but Cathy pulled her away gently but firmly.
Sean waited until Cathy had led Lindsay completely out of the alley.
There was no need for her to witness this. Killing wasn't pretty.
Sean moved in, his powerful paws making no sound at all as he advanced towards the remorseless, hypocritical hyenas.
Max's smile vanished and he made a small sound at the back of his throat.
“Sean, let's just let this go, yeah,” Max stammered, scrabbling backwards until he hit the wall. “The bitches got what they deserve. We'll just leave now and forget everything, okay?”
The other two hyenas tried to slink away, but Sean blocked them. His claws lengthened along with his fangs, as his beast tasted the blood of his enemies in the air.
Forget everything? Forget the pain that they had inflicted on his cub and his mate?
Sean Hunter could forgive and forget. He wasn't a merciless, unreasonable man. He believed in second chances. He admired and rewarded courage, grit and valor.
But he saw none of those qualities in these sniveling, two-faced hyenas. Instead of coming to see him and settling their grievances man to man, these brutes dragged his little girl and his female into an alleyway and set upon them. Sean saw the fresh blood on the ground and snarled.
His lion would not allow these monsters to leave the alley alive.
Sean looked each of them in the eye and saw that beneath their dread and horror was a sinking resignation.
They'd known all along what was coming to them.
The last thing the hyenas saw was the glint of Sean's saber-like claws.
CHAPTER NINE
Lindsay's eyes fluttered open when she heard indistinct voices floating around her. Strange voices, familiar voices, incoherent wor
ds. Her panic subsided when she heard Sean's deep voice. The sound of his voice settled and calmed her, even though he didn't seem to be speaking to her.
She listened to his voice rising and falling. Sean sounded highly agitated, worried, frightened even.
Lindsay frowned. Sean Hunter, frightened?
Slowly, she turned her head to the side and saw Sean holding the door open for a tall, snowy-haired man who was holding a bulging, black bag in his wrinkled hand. The two men were speaking rapidly in low, urgent tones.
Sean didn't look very happy. The creases on his forehead deepened as he fired questions at the white-haired man.
“Are you absolutely sure, Dr. Zhou? Shouldn't you give her some vitamins or supplements?” Sean threw up his hands. “Or some super pill? She's human and I don't know if...” Sean said, his voice rising.
“She doesn't need any super pill, Mr Hunter. Her injuries are healing very rapidly, and very nicely. I've cleaned them and applied some herbs on her bruises. Just make sure she eats and rests well.”
“Are you sure, Dr. Zhou? She's human and...”
“Oh I'm sure,” Dr. Zhou smiled. “The lady may be human, but the lion is strong in her. It's healing her.”
Lindsay pressed her head back against the pillow. There was a gnawing, buzzing ache at the back of her head. The buzzing was making her feel dizzy and nauseated. Her headache was probably affecting her sense of hearing as well. Nothing the doctor said made any sense to her.
And where was she anyway? This wasn't her bedroom, and she wasn't in her bed.
“...don't worry, Allison is fine,” Dr. Zhou was still speaking to Sean. “My daughter, Abigail, has just told me that Allison's wounds have all closed up nicely. My daughter is an excellent physician.” Dr. Zhou beamed with pride. “She is still with Allison. I'll go check on her now.”
“Thank you, Dr. Zhou. Jake will escort you to Allison's room, and after that, he will drive you and your daughter back to your clinic.”
Sean closed the door softly and rested his forehead against the door for a moment. He must have sensed Lindsay's eyes on his back. When he turned around, he had consciously erased the lines of worry from his face and was smiling too widely. But his smile faltered when he saw her wince in pain.
“Hey,” he said softly, rushing to her side. “How are you feeling? What do you need?”
“Thirsty,” Lindsay rasped.
Sean helped her up immediately and supported her as she took noisy sips from a glass.
Lindsay finished the whole glass of water and felt a whole lot better. Gratefully, she smiled up at Sean and glanced around.
“Where am I? Don't tell me.” She held up a hand. “I'm in your bed.”
Sean's smile was both shy and proud. It melted her heart to see the big lion so anxious and happy to have her in his large bed. She managed to grin back at him before she realized the state she was in.
“Oh! You've stolen my clothes!” She yanked the silk covers up to her shoulders.
Sean blinked and spluttered at her accusation. “I...no, it's not like that. Dr. Zhou had to examine your injuries. He's a very good physician, very professional. I was here the entire time, you know, to make sure. He never touched you inappropriately. I would have taken off his hands and his head if he did!”
Lindsay giggled. “Relax, I was just joking.” Her expression turned serious. “How's Allison? Those hyenas, they ganged up and attacked her. They almost killed her. I saw them...she was injured and...I heard her...I tried, I really tried, but they wouldn't let her go! They just kept attacking us! I was...so scared...” Her words came out in a torrent. She couldn't seem to stop speaking and shaking. It was only when she heard her own wrenching sob that she realized she was crying.
“Shh, it's all right now. You're safe. And Allison is safe too. Thanks to you, Lindsay. She's fine. You saved her,” Sean pulled her to him and stroked her hair, her arms, comforting her with his touch and his voice.
“Really?” she sniffed. “She's okay?”
“Yes, Allison's okay. Dr. Zhou's daughter tended to her. His daughter, Abigail, is an excellent physician as well.”
“Like father, like daughter,” Lindsay said pointedly.
Sean grinned. He got her point. “Yep.”
She gave a final, violent shudder as she dried her eyes. “I saw a deep gash in Allison's...” Her tears threatened to flow again and she swore at herself. Why was she crying so much? It was like her emotions were on a roller-coaster and her hormones had all gone out of whack.
“Allison's injuries have all healed. So have yours,” Sean assured her. “See for yourself.”
Lindsay pulled the covers away and stared down her naked body. She gasped. Sean was right. Her injuries have healed. The cuts and wounds on her body seemed to have healed overnight and only the faintest marks and jagged lines could be seen.
“How...?” She gaped. “This is...impossible! I...I saw...I felt their claws...they can't...” she sputtered, shaking her head.
“Dr. Zhou said you've healed beautifully,” Sean answered, beaming. “He is a superb physician. And...”
“You're right about that.” She nodded and examined her fading scars. “Amazing. Dr. Zhou is a superhero! I'd love to be his assistant or nurse. I could learn so much for him. He is amazing!”
“No, Lindsay. You are amazing.” Sean took her hands firmly in his large ones. “You saved Allison. You saved my cub. I don't know what...” Lindsay put a finger on his lips to stop him.
“It was the right thing to do. Anyone would have done the same...”
“No.” Sean snarled. “There were people who heard your screams. They knew what was happening in the alley, but they didn't want to interfere. They didn't want to risk their own hides. What you did, Lindsay, was exceptionally, unbelievably brave. You saved my daughter.”
Lindsay cocked her head and mused, “There is nothing I wouldn't do for Mina. And Allison, well, she's...a lot like Mina.” She shrugged.
“Lindsay...” He closed his eyes and bent his head, almost crushing her hands in his tight grip.
Finally, he looked up and said tersely, “You were brave, but reckless. I can't lose you, Lindsay...so don't do anything....”
“I'm fine,” she grumbled. “You saved us, didn't you?”
“You don't understand...” He looked pained.
She patted his large hands and stifled a yawn. “We're all fine now.” To lighten the moment, she teased, “You were so macho, all lion, roaring in like that! It made me weak in the knees.”
He responded to her teasing with a laugh. “I saved my girls.” He chucked her under the chin.
“Girl?” Lindsay planted her hands on her hips. “I'm not your girl,” she exclaimed in mock outrage. “I am your woman!”
The covers slid down her body to pool around her waist. She saw Sean's eyes dart down her bare body and linger on her breasts. He sucked in a ragged breath as heat flared in his eyes.
The raw, animal hunger in his eyes made her body ache maddeningly. His desire seemed to spark her own lust, and she felt the liquid heat hurtle down her body and gather between her legs.
How could he do this?
Make her wet with just one look?
Lindsay shook her head at herself. She should be feeling weak and writhing in pain right now, but she seemed to have made a full recovery. Those thin, pink lines down her arms and body didn't bother her and she hardly felt any pain at all. Even her headache was gone. The only ache she felt was between her thighs.
“Lindsay, there's something...” Sean took a deep breath and began.
But before he could finish his sentence, she lunged and made a grab for him. She wanted him. Now. In fact, she seemed to want him all the time.
She wasn't in pain. She was in lust. And there was only one remedy for that.
She needed Sean, like she needed air. She wanted to feel him all over her, deep inside her, filling her and loving her.
/> “You...but you're hurt,” Sean protested.
“Then make me better,” she purred. “Make me feel a whole lot better, Sean.”
He hesitated, but his body was raring to go. She could feel his huge, hard cock pulsating against her thigh, eager and hungry for her body.
“Make love to me,” she whispered against his neck. “Love me, Sean.”
“I already do,” he said raggedly. “I do, Lindsay...”
She kissed him hard on the mouth. Their hands were all over each other. His lips were just as hungry, just as desperate. It seemed they couldn't get enough of each other.
“I need you...” she panted, pulling at his zipper. “...inside me...now!”
She ripped his shirt away, and he shed the rest of his clothes as she parted her legs for him. His solid, bare chest bore down on her and she clawed at his back and shoulders to urge him on. She spread her legs wider, but Sean didn't penetrate her immediately. She could feel the head of his cock teasing her slit, sliding slowly down the lips of her wet pussy.
She grabbed his hips and tried to impale herself on his velvety length, but he grabbed her wrists and pinned them to the sides of her head. She raised her hips impatiently and wriggled beneath him trying to tempt him, but he would not be swayed. He didn't seem to want to rush this. He was taking his sweet, torturous time with her, kissing and nibbling at her jaw and neck, and working his way down to her breasts.
His mouth was gentle, tender and oh so skilful. His tongue licked circles around her nipples and he sucked her sensitive peaks long and deep. “Oh, Sean,” she moaned in agony. “Please...”
His lips curved against her breast, but he didn't give in to her plea. He continued suckling her, savoring every trembling inch of her.
She could feel her moisture squirting from her pussy as she clenched her muscles. She needed him to fuck her now.
“Sean...” Her voice was barely more than a quivering whisper. She couldn't take it anymore. She could hardly see or hear anything. Everything was just a dark, red haze and there was an insistent crazed roar in her head.
Purrfect For Me: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Misty Valley Shifters Book 3) Page 6