by Lia Davis, Milly Taiden, Kerry Adrienne, Vella Day, Andie Devaux
“Then change them.”
“I can’t.” Chey hugged him. After absorbing his warmth, she stepped back. “Good bye, Storm.”
When she turned around, she could almost feel his anger striking her back. More than anything, she wanted to throw herself against him and beg his forgiveness, but she wouldn’t. For him, she had to stay strong and let him go.
As soon as Chey stepped outside, her sobs came in earnest. If she didn’t have the animals to tend to, she just might run away.
Chapter Nine
Storm felt like shit. He hadn’t slept last night, and he attributed his insomnia to Cheyenne. He wanted to throttle her then make love to her for hours. Storm believed that he could make her father see reason—that he was the man to lead the Clan. Because of his military and medical background, Storm understood rules and protocol very well, but he also knew if there ever was a time for change, this was it.
Storm wanted to explain to her dad that he was good with people. Hell, he’d commanded a ton of nurses and other servicemen during the war and worked well under pressure. As long as the cheetah Clan didn’t turn on him, it couldn’t be that hard to rule a bunch of shifters. It shouldn’t matter they were capable of gouging out his eyes. Even if he were in command of fifty soldiers, they, too, could turn on him. A few bullets to the chest would be as effective as being mauled to death.
Don’t do this.
It wouldn’t matter what he did. Her father would never be willing to change any law, assuming he could. Bottom line, Cheyenne couldn’t marry him—not that he was ready for that step, but he’d consider trying.
Storm finally crawled out of bed, his chest tight and his muscles achy. He hoped like hell he wasn’t getting sick. The timing couldn’t be worse with him opening the clinic tomorrow.
From his medicine cabinet, he downed some vitamin C, and then trudged to the kitchen. Perhaps a good meal would help clear his head. He had planned to stop by the office, but right now, he wasn’t in the mood. He wasn’t convinced he’d ever be able to look at his desk and not picture Cheyenne spread eagle on top. Christ, the woman sure had gotten to him.
Whenever he needed some clarity, he went fishing. Chey had said Hidden Hills had a lot of lakes, so perhaps it was time for him to find them.
***
“You sure you’re okay, Doc? You look pale,” Martha said as she leaned over him seated at his desk.
“It’s just the stress of opening the new business.” Storm hoped that was the reason for feeling like crap.
“You want me to draw your blood? I can send it over to the lab in a jiffy.”
Storm smiled, not wanting her to fuss. “I’ll let you know if it comes to that. Now send in my first patient, please.” He didn’t want to discuss with the town gossip how he was merely heartsick over a woman. His and Cheyenne’s business didn’t need the meddling.
His first patient arrived—a human, thankfully—or so the form indicated. Storm had studied the charts of all of the patients he planned to see today. Mr. Kendall had high blood pressure and indigestion. Dr. Rapello had him on heart medicine and some antacids.
Storm walked into room 3 where the older man was sitting on the exam table. “How’s the indigestion doing?”
His eyes widened. “You know about that?”
Storm smiled. “I read Dr. Rapello’s file.”
“Damn. I think we’re going to get along.”
He asked the man a series of questions and jotted down a few more areas he was concerned about. After he gave Mr. Kendall two prescriptions, along with a pamphlet for better eating habits, Storm relaxed a bit. The people of Hidden Hills seemed to be hard working, but eating right and exercising a couple of times a week didn’t appear to be on their must-do list. His mind spun trying to figure out what more he could do to help them—other than lecturing them on how to live their lives.
As the afternoon wore on, his energy level plummeted, but he plowed through, even managing to remain cheerful most of the time. Once the last patient left his office, all he wanted to do was sleep.
Martha knocked and peeked in. “If you don’t need me, I’ll be going.”
“I’m good. Thanks for your help today. You handled Mrs. Earheart’s three children well.”
She smiled. “You made quite an impression today, too.”
He chuckled. “I hope a good one.”
“You bet.”
Once he was alone, he cleaned the clutter from his desk, but the depression continued to sink deeper. He was a grown man. He’d been dumped before and had broken up with a few women himself. This feeling would pass. Or so he hoped.
Stupid shifter law.
He checked his patient list for tomorrow, pulled their files, and studied the details. What he needed was to hire someone to transfer the paper files to electronic ones, since it would be easier to search and keep track of his patients’ medications.
Around six, his stomach grumbled. While he could fix some eggs at home, he wasn’t ready to be by himself. Since he still felt a little under the weather, he decided comfort food was in order—like what he’d seen at the Cove Bar.
As he stood, Storm rubbed his neck where Cheyenne had bitten him. Needing to wear a turtleneck all day to keep the wound hidden, he’d kept the office cooler so he wouldn’t overheat. He still couldn’t believe she’d lost control like that. Perhaps it was an animal thing, though he’d been over the top excited, too.
After he locked up, he hopped on his cycle and drove the few blocks to the bar. A quick check of the parking lot confirmed Cheyenne’s car wasn’t there. Good. She was the last person he needed to see.
Liar. Who am I kidding?
Storm was going to the bar on the off chance Cheyenne would be there. He didn’t have to speak with her. Seeing her would be enough—for now.
If she didn’t show up, perhaps Lilly would be working, and he could ask her if Cheyenne had already stopped by. Needing to get his mind off her, he shook his head to clear it. He didn’t need to be acting like a stalker.
Storm inhaled and developed a plan. He would grab a bite to eat, chat with Lilly, and maybe even enjoy the band—assuming they were playing tonight. If the bar was empty, he prayed he’d be able to keep his mind off that hot little kitten who had turned his life upside down. Sure, he was a mess, but with time, he’d get over her.
As soon as he stepped inside the bar, the redhead waved then smiled. “Hey, handsome. You look like you could use a beer.”
“You have no idea.”
Lily pulled a bottle from under the bar and slid it across the countertop. “You want to talk about it?”
Lilly and Cheyenne certainly had seemed chummy, though he wasn’t sure Lilly could provide any more insight to his dilemma. “Nothing that can be fixed.”
“Ooh. That doesn’t sound good. The shifters giving you trouble?”
Cheyenne must have spoken with her. “In a manner of speaking.”
“You ever think of talking with Chey’s dad?”
The whole fucking town must know of his problem. That sucked. He definitely wasn’t in Baltimore any more. “It wouldn’t do any good.” He’d debated going to the man and pleading his case, but too many things could go wrong.
Lilly wiped the counter with the cloth she wore on her shoulder like a badge—a counter that was already glistening, despite the random deep gouges. “Suit yourself.”
“Got a menu?”
“Sure.” She tapped the holder right in front of him that contained them.
“Thanks.”
While Lilly prepared a drink for another customer, he yanked the menu out and studied the offerings. When she returned, she replaced his beer with another and took his order. He probably should have located a café in town instead of coming here, but he wasn’t certain every place offered beer. Though if he were coming down with a cold, he should be resting, not drinking, but damn, that first sip went down smooth and helped dull the ache in his gut
.
When Lilly delivered his Club sandwich, she nodded to the far corner. “Someone’s been eying you.” She grinned and moved off.
Storm didn’t want to look. Couldn’t look. When her lilting laugh reached him, anger ripped up his spine. Cheyenne was here and hadn’t said hi. She should have walked out the moment she saw him. Then again, she’d been here first.
Without a glance, Storm tossed a twenty on the counter and stalked off. He was so fucked.
***
Tuesday and Wednesday should have brought some relief to his aching soul, but Storm’s unhappiness worsened. He’d already snapped at a few of his patients for forgetting to take their meds or for doing something stupid, like eating spicy foods when it gave them heartburn. If he didn’t get control of himself, more than just his love life would fall apart—his practice would collapse.
Logically, he understood that he shouldn’t be so attached to a woman after only a few dates. Sure, the sex was great, but relationships were more than just about the bedroom. Somehow, he couldn’t stop from checking his cell every few minutes to see if Cheyenne had left him a message. He’d debated visiting her, but they’d probably end up ripping each other’s clothes off and having wild, passionate sex in a unique and fun way. The only problem with that scenario was that the aftermath would only make things worse.
Despite physically improving by Thursday, his attitude had worsened. And by Friday, he’d reached the end of his rope. While he had no idea what good could come of a meeting with Cheyenne’s dad, he wanted to seek the man’s counsel. If reality, he wanted to rip the man’s face off for making Cheyenne marry a molester.
The odd thing was, when they’d spoken the first time, her father had seemed very enthusiastic about him dating his daughter. Why would he be, though? Mr. Snow knew they could never be together. The only explanation was that the man must take pleasure in torturing people.
Still, it was in Storm’s nature to find out the truth. Remembering Mr. Snow owned Lengau Ranch, he looked up the address. Cheyenne had told him that the name Lengau was African for Cheetah.
Around six, Storm pulled down the drive of the familiar ranch. Mr. Snow must have heard him coming, because he stepped out of his house before Storm even cut the engine. Cheyenne’s dad had thick shoulders and slim hips, but he wasn’t much more than five-foot eight. His hair was light brown, peppered with white, and he moved with an agility that surprised Storm. The man acted as if he could lead for many more years.
As soon as Storm kicked the stand into place, Leonard Snow held out his hand. “Nice to see you again, son.”
He must be kidding. There was no reason why he should, unless he wasn’t aware that his daughter was heartbroken. “I wanted to speak with you about Cheyenne.”
Leonard stepped closer and squinted. “That a bite mark on your neck?”
Shit. Storm should have covered it with a bandage. “Yes, sir.”
“My daughter is a handful, isn’t she?”
“That’s what I wanted to speak with you about.”
“You want to come in?”
Storm needed to make this quick. Being around her dad wasn’t pleasant. “No.”
Cheyenne’s dad nodded to his wound again. “You should see someone about that. How are you feeling? A bit under the weather, achy bones, and muscles?”
Storm was usually the one asking the health questions. “Yes. How did you know?”
“Bites can get infected if you aren’t careful. Chey did that?”
“Yes, and that’s what I need to discuss with you. I want to know if there is anyway that—”
“Save your breath, son. She’s spoken for.”
“I know that, sir, but I wondered if there might be—”
Leonard leaned his head back and laughed. “Do you really think you’re worthy of her? The man with my daughter has to be a leader.”
“Like Chuck Lord? The man who tried to mol—”
“Yes, Chuck is perfect for her. He’ll make her a fine husband and be a good leader. Why, I expect I’ll be a grandfather in no time.” He grinned.
Not if Cheyenne could help it. The thought of that asshole touching her had Storm’s blood boiling. “Cheyenne doesn’t want to—”
“Save your breath. This marriage will be celebrated for a long time, and I’ll make sure Chey serves Chuck well. As an Alpha’s wife, she’ll have to do whatever he asks of her. If he insists she run around naked all day, then so be it. If the other men want to have a taste, that’s okay, too.”
Storm saw red. He clenched his fists so hard, his head began to spin. His vision blurred and his bones seemed to be escaping from his body, forcing him to press his palms against the side of his head to stop the blinding pain. Nothing he did calmed the intense sensations coursing through him. Then as if a huge gust of wind swooped down, catching him up in a whirlwind motion, a bright light flashed, and startled him.
Next thing he knew, he was on the ground, and Leonard Snow was grinning.
“Hot damn. You are my daughter’s mate.”
Storm had no idea what the man was talking about. He tried to stand but couldn’t. When he attempted to ask what was going on, only a whining growl came out of his mouth. He looked down at his spotted paws and a fury worse than anything he’d ever experienced engulfed him. Holy fuck. She’d turned him into a shifter. Only, he had no earthly idea how.
Chapter Ten
Chey’s cell rang. She dried her hands on a dishtowel and rushed to answer the phone. She crossed her fingers, hoping it was Storm. As soon as she looked at the screen, her shoulders slumped, but she answered anyway. “Hi, Dad.” He wasn’t her favorite person right now.
“I did it!” His voice was triumphant. “Well, almost. The rest is up to you.”
She trod back to the kitchen to grab her iced tea and returned to the dining room to sit. “What are you talking about?”
“Your young man came to visit me a short while ago.” The pride was still evident in his voice.
“Time out. Can you start from the beginning? Are we talking about Chuck or Storm?”
“Storm, of course. He showed up at the ranch around six this evening. As soon as I saw the bite mark on his neck, I knew my ploy had worked.”
Her stomach turned and she sipped her tea to help calm the tumbling in her gut. “What ploy?”
“Sweetheart. You know I love you and would never make you do anything you didn’t want to.”
Indignation rose up. “Did you forget you’re making me marry Chuck?”
“I picked the most despicable man in our Clan on purpose. Hell, I’m surprised you’re still in town.”
“Da-ad.” He could drive a person crazy with his roundabout way of telling a story. “Tell me what happened with Storm.”
“When Storm came to me about you, I spotted the bite mark. After asking him the usual questions about whether he was having any side effects, he said he was. I saw the way the two of you looked at each other. I was hoping that by presenting you with a deadline you’d get motivated to find your mate.”
“My mate?” Now her head swam.
“Yes. Your mate. You bit him so you could turn him.”
No she hadn’t. She’d bitten him because she was turned on to the point of disintegrating if she didn’t taste him. Warmth raced up her face at the memory. “That happened in the heat of the moment. I never believed we were destined to be together.”
“Chey, Chey. I’m so sorry your mom wasn’t around long enough to explain the facts of becoming a woman to you. I was stumbling through life raising a girl alone and running the Clan, and unfortunately, I wasn’t always there for you. I missed making sure you learned some key points about shifters, humans, and mating.” He cleared this throat. “I bet when you first saw him, you had this undeniable urge to be with him.”
Ew. Her dad and she shouldn’t be talking about sex. “Dad, just tell me.”
He huffed out a breath. “When Storm star
ted demanding answers, I lied to him to make him mad.”
Her heart jumped to her throat. Anger could bring on the change. “He shifted?”
“You bet. And what a beautiful creature he was.”
The shock took her breath away. “Was he upset?” Duh, that was a dumb question. Any human would be pissed if he’d been turned into an animal against his will. Storm must think she was some kind of witch.
“Well…that’s why I called. Your young man is headed your way now. Be sympathetic.”
She slumped against the chair. She’d really messed things up now. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Hey, be happy. If you can be charming for a few months, you might get him to marry you.”
“Way to have confidence in me.” The words finally sunk in about the possibilities. “What about Chuck?”
“Trust me. I never would have let him have you. He’s scum.”
Now, her ire fired up. “Why didn’t you tell me about your grand plan beforehand?”
“Tell you that I wanted to light a fire under your feet to find someone? No way.”
“Da-ad.” A car pulled into her drive. “Storm’s here. Bye.” She pressed the off button.
She didn’t know whether to punch her father the next time she saw him or hug him. She raced to the front door and yanked it open, prepared to meet the beast inside Storm Durant.
As he rushed past her into her living room, he didn’t say a word. Hands clenched and back ramrod straight he finally turned around. “You knew?”
She figured he was referring to the fact that she’d turned him and held up her palms. “Not until my dad just told me. I swear I didn’t bite you to turn you into a cheetah shifter. I would have asked you first. Never in my wildest dreams did I think you were my mate.” That didn’t sound good, but it was what she believed.
She ran her gaze up and down his body. He needed a shave, but he still looked good. Sympathy swamped her. She’d never wanted to make him this upset.