SpringFever Shifters in Love

by Lia Davis, Milly Taiden, Kerry Adrienne, Vella Day, Andie Devaux

  His mate.

  Where was she? She wasn’t on the couch with him. Was she mad at him for falling asleep? Dammit!

  He stood and scanned the main room of the cabin. No fire left—only ashes. Coffee cups sat on the kitchen counter with a few other dirty dishes, and the kitchen chairs sat in disarray. Maybe Amy was in her bedroom, sleeping. He crept down the short hallway and stood outside her door.

  Dare he? Hell, yeah.

  This was his cabin, his bed, and his goldilocks.

  He pushed the door open and peered inside. The room was dark, so he crept to the bed. Wonder if she wears clothes when she sleeps? His dick hardened. Mmmm. He ran his hand over the bed, feeling the cool sheets and…no Amy.

  Where the hell was she? He flicked on the light. The bed had been slept in, but she was gone. A silky nightgown lay on the pillow, and he grabbed it and smelled it. Sweet, floral…and female.

  What had he done? He could’ve been cuddled up to that silky nightgown covering his mate. He adjusted his erection. He’d find her and show her all the things he didn’t get a chance to the night before. Hurry.

  He rushed out to the hallway. Amy wasn’t in the bathroom.

  He headed for the kitchen, bile filling his stomach. What if Evers had come by and kidnapped her? His bear growled. Surely, he wouldn’t have slept through that happening. No.

  He spied a piece of pink paper on the counter. He snatched it up. Amy left a note.

  Griff,

  Didn’t want to wake you. It’s such a beautiful morning, and I’m going to head up to Rocky Knob to sketch. Don’t worry, I’ll stay at the overlook. I won’t even go into the woods. I’ll be back soon. Probably by lunch. Sleep well.

  Amy

  Fuck! She’d gone out alone. He ran scenarios. This was bad. If she ran into Evers, she’d not escape this time. He pulled out his cell. Barely a charge. He dialed.

  “Mark? It’s Griff.” He struggled to hold it together. If Evers put one finger on Amy…

  “Yeah, man, what’s going on?”

  Griff knew Mark would alert every den member within fifty miles. “I need your help, man. The Sen Pal Scout that I saw at the bar last night is after my mate.”

  “Shit! And man, I’m still having trouble believing you, of all bears, found your mate. I figured you were a confirmed bachelor.”

  “No one is more shocked than I am.”

  “I’ll notify as many as I can.”

  “We need to hurry. She won’t stand a chance if he catches her. Meet me at Rocky Knob with as many den members as you can round up.”

  “When?”

  “Now, Mark. Now. He may already have her.”

  “Consider it done.”

  “Thanks, man.” Griff clicked to end the call and stared at the time. Two o’ clock. No longer morning. And it was definitely after lunch. Amy was in trouble and he felt it. He had to get to her.

  He stripped off his clothing—he’d make better time as a bear. He was halfway out the door when his bear roared to life.

  Mate. Needs me.

  ***

  Amy scowled at the mess around her. Rain beat against her windshield. Why couldn’t sketching be a simple, no risk thing? She sat in her car, surrounded by mud and rocks from the slide that had rained down on her as she’d approached Rocky Knob a couple hours ago. Some rocks had hit the roof of her car, though she doubted they’d done any more damage than was already there. She’d figured if she sat in the car and waited, someone would happen by. It was a national forest, after all.

  But no one had ventured up the mountain road. She needed to get out of the mess herself.

  “Shit.” She tapped her cellphone again. No signal. She slipped the phone into her pocket.

  She tried to open the driver’s door, but it wouldn’t budge. She peered out the window. A medium-sized rock blocked the bottom of the door.

  Mud had oozed down the mountainside like a slow-motion waterfall, and she wouldn’t be surprised if it was most of the way up her tires. Who knew mudslides could get so bad, so fast?

  She laid her head against the seat. Griff had jinxed the mountains. He’d been the one to keep pointing out the dangers. Why hadn’t she listened?

  Because he’s not always right. She frowned.

  It didn’t matter now. She’d waited in the car long enough—she didn’t want to be stuck on the side of the mountain at night. Not with lions and bears roaming the woods.

  She climbed over to the passenger side and pushed the door open. The mud looked to be at least eight inches deep.

  “Yuck.” She pulled the door closed and backed into the driver’s seat. Maybe if she climbed up onto the car roof, she could see a way to get out without tromping through so much mud. She rolled down the window and pulled herself onto the roof.

  Rain pelted her as she slid in the muddy clumps that had hit the top of the car. She pushed her hair out of her face and sat. On one side of the car, the mountain rose above the road. The spring thaw had likely made the loose dirt unstable, and the rain had helped push everything downhill. Bits of snow thawed in the mud, and a huge boulder blocked her way back down the mountain.

  “Good thing that rock didn’t hit the car,” she said. She wiped the rain out of her eyes.

  “Yes, you are one lucky lady.”

  She whipped her head around. Standing on the side of the road was Evers. Dressed in blue jeans and a black shirt with his pale hair pulled back, he looked the bad guy part, only rain-soaked. Damn imagination.

  Her heart thudded. Shit. Why couldn’t it have been Griff? “What are you doing up here?” She wiped her hands on her jeans.

  “Same as you, I suppose. Sightseeing. And look at the sight I found!”

  “Where’s your car?”

  “Don’t have one.”

  Odd. “Are you going to call the sheriff for me? And a tow truck?”

  “Nope.”

  She pondered his words. Ominous. Her heart hammered. “Who then?”

  “I can handle this myself, beautiful.” He took a step toward the car then backed away from the mud. In the pouring rain, he almost looked like an apparition. A dark one.

  “But…”

  “We didn’t get a chance to finish what we started last night. Now, we can. Without interruption.”

  Bile rose in her throat and she scrambled on the car hood, almost sliding off into the mud. “No, we can’t.”

  “I don’t think you’re in a position to have much say in the matter.”

  She pulled out her phone again. Please work. No signal. She stuck it into her pocket. What did she have in the car that she could use as a weapon? Nothing. Dammit, she had a tire iron in the trunk, but the keys were in the ignition.

  “I’m coming for you, beautiful.” Evers paced the edge of the mud, stooping to pick up a branch, then poking it into the mud to gauge depth. “And soon, you’ll be coming for me. If you catch my drift.” He laughed.

  “Never!”

  “Griff doesn’t like anyone touching his girl, does he?”

  She ignored him and slid off the car into the mud. It came up over her ankles, cold and wet. She lifted her foot. Yes, she could move. She reached in and grabbed her keys, then hurried to the trunk.

  Evers headed for her. She fumbled with the key then popped the trunk and pulled out the tire iron. She leaned against the car and held up the tool, her hands shaking. She’d told Griff she could take care of herself, and she’d meant it.

  I am woman; hear me roar.

  The whole situation would be funny, if it weren’t so real.

  “Oh, no you don’t.” Evers slogged through the mud toward her. “You won’t hit me, beautiful.”

  “Watch me.” She brandished the tire iron.

  Before she had the chance to swing, Evers was on her, pulling the weapon out of her mud-slicked hands and knocking them both to the ground. The mud filled her mouth and she spat and fought to get Evers off her.

/>   “You won’t be needing this.” He held the tire iron up and laughed.

  Tears filled her eyes and she pelted him with her fists.

  He yanked her upright and dragged her away from the car. She slipped, scraping her knees on the rocks in the mud.

  “You’re hurting me.” She winced and he pulled harder.

  “That’s what you’ll get and more, if you don’t cooperate.”

  No. She couldn’t let him win. She struggled to get free. She slipped out of his hands. Go! She made it to the grass, but sharp pain behind her knees had her rolling on the ground. My god, he’d actually hit her with the tire iron. Griff, help me! Tears flowed freely now and she stared up at the rainy sky.

  Evers stood over her. “The next blow will be to your pretty head if you don’t cooperate, got it?”

  She nodded, curling into a fetal position. Muddy tears stung her eyes. If only she’d listened to Griff. She could still be at the cabin in his arms. Maybe in her bed.

  A series of loud growls filled the air, and Evers turned, dropping the tire iron. He began peeling off his wet clothing.

  “Oh no,” she whimpered. “No…” Would he really rape her? She’d sensed he was bad, but…

  His back to her, he roared. His body contorted and bulged. What the hell? She sat up, her legs aching from the blow.

  Where Evers had been now stood a golden mountain lion. And in front of him, several large bears paced.

  She screamed.

  ***

  Griff snorted as Amy’s scream pierced his bear heart. He would fucking kill Evers. He motioned to the other bears with his nose. They circled in on the mountain lion.

  Griff wanted to run to Amy, make sure she was okay, but first they had to deal with Evers. Plus, she didn’t know the whole situation.

  His bear was going to be out of the bag soon. He’d have to tell her.

  He let out a growl and the other four bears replied. Evers didn’t have a chance. Griff loped toward the lion, enjoying the click of his claws on the ground. He’d slice Evers to bits. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the others flank the cat. They knew to let him be the one to make the kill. Evers had hurt his mate, and that was a death sentence in the bear clan.

  For a brief moment, he locked gazes with Amy. Covered in mud, she held her hand over her open mouth. Fear contorted her face, and her tears mixed with rain. He’d explain and hope for the best.

  Once Evers was taken care of.

  The lion hissed and leapt onto the roof of Amy’s car, his tail swishing. Griff dashed to the car and reared up on hind legs, pawing at the air with his claws. He wanted to see fear in Evers. The lion responded with a snarl.

  Was he calling reinforcements? Had the whole Sen Pal pack arrived in the forest?

  Damn, I hope not. Five bears, no matter how big, would be no match for a whole pack of lions. But right now, only Evers stood before him, and his fear smelled like rotten wine. Pungent. Griff slammed his paw down onto the car, rattling it. Evers leapt to the boulder jutting from the side of the road and tried to scramble up the muddy embankment.

  The bears closed in behind Griff. He paused and looked back to Amy. She stood, eyes wide. Then she ran.

  Dammit! She needed to stay put. If the Sen Pal were out in the woods, they’d scent her before she got very far. He growled his displeasure.

  The mountain roared back and scampered up to a small ledge. The rain came in sheets now, and a clap of thunder echoed off the mountainside. Suddenly, the earth below Griff’s feet trembled.

  Oh shit! Another slide!

  The other bears backed away as quickly as Griff did, but Evers was halfway up the rocky face. Griff watched as the mud and rocks came bouncing down, pounding the life out of Evers.

  Good riddance. Griff turned toward the forest.

  Amy.

  Chapter Seven

  The rain slammed into his back and head. Griff had shifted to human and borrowed some of his denmate’s ill-fitting clothing from his truck, left parked on the road when the others had arrived. He couldn’t waste any time--he had to find Amy before the lion pack did. He didn’t know if Evers had alerted them, but as soon as they knew of his fate, they’d come. Amy wasn’t safe yet, and since she’d left the road and run into the woods, she couldn’t know her way home. Getting lost in the forest was not only possible, but almost a certainty.

  Forgetting he was back in human form, he sniffed the air for her scent. Nothing. The other bears had fanned out into the woods to help look for Amy and any other Sen Pal that might be near. God help them if they found the lions now. With their Scout dead, they’d be more merciless than ever.

  He jogged down the trail into the deep woods. She’d headed this general direction, but with the pouring rain, he couldn’t track her.

  The forest, deep green and laden with rainfall, closed in on him. More trees, more plants, more places to get lost. He knew his way. If he kept going straight, he’d come to the same stream that ran behind his cabin. A quarter mile in the opposite direction, and he’d be at his ranger cabin. He never got lost, but Amy would.

  “Amy…” He turned, listening for her over the rain.

  He kept moving along the small path snaking through the growth. She had to be around this area somewhere.

  He called again.

  “Griff?” The voice was faint, but he could tell where it originated. He ran toward her.

  She sat against a tree, head in her hands. She was soaked through and still muddy. One shoe was missing.

  “Amy!” He reached for her.

  “How did you find me?” She let him pull her into his arms.

  “I got your note, and when you weren’t back by lunch, I came to look for you.”

  “Evers found me.” She sobbed.

  He held her to him. “Shh. I know. I saw him back at the road. You’re safe now.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t mention it.” He lifted her. “Let’s get out of here. You can tell me more when we get to my place. But I promise you this—Evers won’t bother you again.”

  She nodded and buried her face in his neck. If he hadn’t been worried about the Sen Pal, he’d make love to her on the forest floor with the rain providing the rhythm.

  Not now.

  ***

  Amy soaked in the tub. She laid back, warm water up to her ears, her legs stinging from the cuts and scratches she’d gotten trying to escape Evers. She sat up. Evers. Griff said he’d never come around again. No details, but Griff had sounded pretty sure of himself.

  The faint scent of men’s soap floated in the air. Evers scared her. Why had he targeted her? She pushed her wet hair back and lay back in the water again.

  I don’t know what to believe anymore.

  Had fear clouded her vision? What she’d seen Evers do couldn’t be possible. People didn’t change into animals. Maybe Evers had run when the mountain lion showed up.

  No, I saw him change into a lion.

  It made no sense. Sure, she’d seen movies where humans changed into bloodthirsty werewolves when the moon was full. But those were myths and Hollywood magic.

  Right?

  The water had cooled as she’d washed. She rinsed her hair and pulled the bathtub plug. She’d ask Griff about the mountain lion. He was familiar with the animal life in the forest. Maybe he’d have an explanation, if he didn’t think she was crazy as hell.

  She grabbed a towel and stepped out of the tub.

  Now what?

  She was at Griff’s ranger cabin, naked, and alone with Griff out in the kitchen. He’d said he’d make them some food. Her stomach growled in agreement. Griff cooking, she laughed. That was a funny image. Though living alone, she supposed he had to cook sometimes. Images of burnt grilled cheese played through her mind. Even one of those would taste good after the day she’d had.

  She dried and wrapped her hair in a clean towel. Griff had set out his robe for her to we
ar. She slipped in on. Green checked, it screamed lumberjack-chic. The sleeves hung well past her fingertips, and she rolled them up several times before tying the belt.

  Griff. Since she’d rented the cabin, he’d been in the wings to save her every time something went wrong. And things had been going wrong a lot lately. The spring, the bar, the mountain. This was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, but instead had turned into a series of crazy dangerous happenings.

  She towel-dried her hair and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like death. Large circles bloomed under her eyes, and a scratch slid across her forehead, angry red from the warm bath.

  She picked up Griff’s comb and pulled it through her wet hair. She didn’t know what he saw in her, but she’d take it, whatever it was. She’d come to terms with her feelings. She wanted him. If he only wanted her for one night, then so be it. She couldn’t imagine ever getting enough of him.

  And she wasn’t going to turn down the chance for even one night.

  She took a deep breath and strode out of the bathroom.

  “How do you feel?” Griff called from the kitchen.

  “Better.”

  The ranger cabin was larger than Griff’s rental. The living room opened up to the ceiling, two stories high. The kitchen was at the far end of the room, and the heavenly scents of cinnamon and bacon wafted toward her. She made her way over to Griff.

  “Thanks for letting me use your bath.”

  “It’s the least I could do.” He plated scrambled eggs beside cinnamon toast and bacon. “You’ve had some day.”

  “That isn’t your fault.”

  “Maybe not directly.” He placed the plates on the table, already set with orange juice and silverware. “Let’s eat.” He pulled her chair out and waited for her to sit, then he sat opposite her.

  “Thank you.”

  Griff smiled. “You’re welcome.”