by Kim Fox
“Oh mon dieu,” she whispered, her mouth suddenly bone dry. She held her breath and stood as still as she could while the lion raised his huge head.
He had his back to her and Elodie’s body was screaming at her to run. Her limbs were shaky and her heart was beating so hard in her chest that she could feel it echoing through her body.
But when he turned his head and looked at her, the nerves seemed to melt away. They were Logan’s eyes and she could feel him in there, watching her.
She still wasn’t brave enough to move, but at least she could breathe. He was as gorgeous in lion form as he was in his human form.
Short strands of golden hair stood up on the top of his mane and then flowed out longer around his neck. The stunning mane made him look majestic and otherworldly as it blew in the breeze and Elodie felt a sudden fluttering in her chest.
His face was long with a wide nose and cute whiskers above his powerful jaws. Elodie could understand now why lions were called the king of the jungle. He looked so proud and noble as he stood there, watching her closely. This was a moment she knew she would remember for the rest of her life.
The lion’s tail swung lazily from side to side as he turned and surveyed the area. He took a step forward, stumbled, and then fell to the ground.
Elodie’s hand flew up to her mouth. His leg! She had forgotten all about it with the excitement of seeing the lion up close.
Logan’s lion struggled to get up as Elodie hurried to his side. He looked up at her with confusion in his eyes and she sighed when she saw that he was missing his front left leg.
“It’s okay,” she whispered as she placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. You can do this.”
The lion whimpered as he struggled to get up.
“Yes,” Elodie said, encouraging him as he pushed up onto his three paws. He looked down at his missing leg and let out a soft moan, probably wondering where it went.
With a groan, he sat down, looking wide-eyed and disoriented. Elodie swallowed her nerves and ran her hand down his soft back.
“It’s going to be okay,” she said softly. “This is going to be no sweat. You still have more legs than us humans, right?”
The lion took long deep breaths as he psyched himself up to try again. When he was ready, he pushed up to his three legs and looked wobbly, but he didn’t fall down.
“Okay,” Elodie said as she walked backward. “Let’s practice some walking. Can you come to me?”
He hesitated for a moment, then took a step, kind of half-walking, half-hopping forward.
“Good!” Elodie cheered when he reached her. She smiled as he nuzzled his nose into her hand, wanting to be petted. This cat might have looked scary, but he seemed to be as harmless as Sloth. They were already quickly becoming friends.
She dropped down to her knee and dug her hands into his thick mane, smiling as his warm breath tickled her neck.
“Want to try again?”
The lion purred as she stroked his cheek and then took a step, looking even steadier this time.
“How about you try running?”
The lion slowly walked away from her and then picked up his pace. He was at a jogging pace and doing well, but then got tripped up and crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust as he skidded along the dirt.
“Oh, no,” Elodie said, cringing. The lion shook his head angrily, got back up, and tried again.
It went on like that for about an hour until he finally got the hang of it and was able to move around without falling on his face. He was able to run without falling, but Elodie knew that he probably would never be as fast as he once was.
He seemed to know it too, but rather than remaining frustrated, the lion seemed to be making the best of it and accepting his new reality.
After running a few yards without stumbling, he stopped and turned to Elodie with a look of pride on his face. His powerful chin was thrust in the air with his gorgeous mane flowing around him as if to say, ‘look what I just did.’
Elodie was about to yell out what a good job he did when something lurking toward him caught her eye. She gasped as it leapt out of the tall grass in attack mode.
“Oh my God,” she muttered with a laugh when she saw Sloth’s fat body flying through the air. His arms and claws were out, his face was snarling, and his ripples of fat were rolling behind him as he lunged onto the lion’s back.
The lion leapt up, roaring in surprise and anger as the cat did his best to attack, which wasn’t very good. Sloth slid off and landed on his back with a thud.
Logan’s lion let out a booming roar that Elodie could feel in her bones and the fat cat took off like an obese rocket.
A while later, once Logan’s lion was done his exercise, the lion laid down in the shade under a tree to rest. His tail with the cute little puff at the end was swinging from side to side.
As Elodie walked over to meet him, his body began shaking and trembling. She stopped in her tracks and watched as he phased back into his human form.
Logan was sitting on the ground, naked when she arrived. He smiled at her as she sat down beside him.
“Thank you,” he said, looking touched.
It was incredible. Those same dark eyes had been in the lion. It was both eerie and beautiful to see.
“You’re the one that did it,” Elodie answered. She was glad that he was back.
“With your help.” He picked up a pebble and rolled it between his thumb and index finger. “There’s one more thing I want to do today. We can’t lose this ranch. Grant always gives everything to everyone, I don’t want to let him down.”
“What do you have in mind?”
He swallowed hard as he tossed the pebble away. “I have an idea, but it’s not very fun.”
“You mean less fun than nearly being eaten by a lion?”
“These are a different kinds of predators,” he said with a laugh. “Bankers.”
Elodie grinned. “I’m in.”
Chapter Nine
Logan
“Well, that didn’t go so well,” Logan said with a sigh as they sat down in a booth.
Elodie shook her head. “I’m sorry. I wish I had an old rich relative that was about to kick the bucket and leave me a fortune.”
Logan laughed. “That would come in handy.”
He smiled as his favorite horrible waitress approached the table. Phyllis. She was a staple at the only diner in Redemption Creek. The diner was officially called Pete’s Diner, named after a long-dead Pete, but everyone called it the Love Shack. Not because it sparked romantic love in its patrons, but because the jukebox was broken and Love Shack by The B-52’s played on repeat.
The current owner Doug let it play on a loop, claiming that it was his favorite song, but the citizens of Redemption Creek had another theory: it kept the diners from staying too long and Doug never had to turn away new customers because his tables were full.
“I love this song,” Elodie said, bopping her head to the beat. “It’s so fun.”
“Just wait a bit,” Logan answered with a knowing grin. “You’ll be wanting to stick a fork in your ear before the bill comes.”
Elodie tilted her head, looking confused. “Huh?”
“Logan,” Phyllis said as she dropped two menus on the table with a slap. Poor Elodie nearly jumped out of her skin. “What’s with the tie?”
Logan looked down and straightened it. “I was trying to get a bank loan.”
“Was trying?” she said with a smirk. “I guess it didn’t work?”
“Nope.”
She grinned as she pulled out a wad of money, which was mostly fives. “I can lend you some. If you don’t pay me back with interest, I’ll break your limbs. Well, what’s left of them. How much do you need?”
Logan chuckled. He always enjoyed Phyllis’ dark sense of humor. “1.6 million. You have it?”
“Let me check my other pockets.” Elodie watched with her brow furrowed as the waitress patted herself down. “Sorry, fresh
out.”
He laughed. “That’s too bad.”
Phyllis rubbed her chin as she narrowed her eyes on him. Her red hair was tied into a messy bun and she was wearing her usual bright red lipstick that was the same color as the benches at the bus stop. “Funny that the bankers wouldn’t give a one-armed amateur musician a 1.6 million dollar bank loan. That’s not like them.”
Elodie looked horrified. Logan smiled at her and shrugged as if to say, “That’s just Phyllis. She’s always like this.”
She slowly turned and looked down at Elodie for the first time as if she only just noticed that she was there. “Who are you?”
Elodie straightened in the booth and cleared her throat. “I’m Elodie.”
Phyllis didn’t look too impressed. “What kind of name is Elodie?”
“It’s French.”
“Well, whoop-dee-do for you. French toast it is. Logan, do you want the usual.”
Logan shrugged. “Sure.”
She left the table and Elodie turned around in a panic. “Actually I was going to order the…”
But the waitress was already gone.
Elodie looked shocked, but Logan just shrugged. “Welcome to Redemption Creek. It’s not all perfect.”
“I’m beginning to see that,” she answered with a frown as Love Shack started playing over again on the jukebox. “Has she always been like that?”
Logan grinned. “Only since birth.”
Another younger waitress walked by, waving at him. It was Dallas, the nice waitress. “Hey, Logan. I heard about your arm. I’m sorry.”
“I still have another one,” he said with a smile. “It’s all good.”
“You guys playing this week?”
“Friday at The Slurry Rabbit. You going to be there?”
“Oh, yeah,” she said with a warm smile. “I finish before the dinner rush.”
“We have some new songs to try out.”
“They’re really good!” Elodie added enthusiastically. “You’re going to love it.”
“Can’t wait!”
Logan quietly waved Dallas over and asked her to switch the order from French toast to whatever Elodie wanted. His girl ordered a chicken salad sandwich with a soup, and Dallas went into the kitchen to switch it.
“Sounds like you have some fans,” she said, looking impressed when they were alone once again. “I’m dining with a celebrity.”
They were both leaning over the table as they looked each other in the eyes, smiling. “I didn’t want to say anything,” he said, faking modesty. “But I’m kind of a big deal around here.”
Elodie laughed. “I can see that. You’re kind of a big deal online as well. Let’s check how many views you’re at.”
Logan pulled out his cellphone and clicked to the YouTube page. He nearly had a heart attack when he saw the view count. Just over ten million views.
“Let me check something,” Elodie said as she grabbed the phone. She opened up her email and gasped when she saw what was waiting for her.
“What is it? Is a Nigerian prince offering to send you some money?”
“Better,” she said, showing him the screen. “I’m getting emails from record producers.”
“Get out,” he said, darting out of his seat. He rushed around the table and sat down beside her, grabbing her wrist as he looked at her phone. Sure enough, there were a bunch of emails enquiring about the video. Most were bullshit, but some came from legit email addresses: Sandstone Records, Beatum Recordings, Spinning Vinyl Productions. The guys were going to freak out when they heard about this.
“I don’t understand,” Logan said, staring at Elodie in shock. “How did they get your email address?”
“I put it in the description of my channel. What should I tell them?”
Logan could barely sit still as his mind raced. “I don’t know.”
She bit her lip and started typing. “I’ll invite them to the show on Friday.”
Logan sat back in the booth with an excited grin on his face. Love Shack ended and then restarted as he stared out the window, wondering if any of them would actually show up.
“Brian Jones from Sandstone Records is coming to your show,” Elodie said as she hung up the phone with a grin.
“Shut up,” Logan said, jerking up to a seated position so fast that he nearly fell off the pink flamingo floatie and into the pool. He grabbed onto its long neck and steadied himself as he stared at the gorgeous girl in the sexy bikini who was grinning proudly at him.
“That’s six,” she said, holding up six fingers. Elodie had been answering emails and calling around, trying to get every record producer, executive, and assistant in the business to show up to his gig on Friday.
So far it was working. The guys were going to freak out when they heard about this.
“Who needs a manager when you have a girl like you on hand?” he asked, staring at her in awe.
It was mid-afternoon on a Tuesday and they were enjoying the late-summer day, lounging in the pool with a couple of drinks.
Logan’s lion had been back to his normal self and was acting calmer than ever. There was something about Elodie that he liked. Maybe it was her smell or her presence, but all he heard from his inner lion was a constant purr of contentment whenever she was around.
“I don’t know how to repay you,” he said, shaking his head.
Elodie climbed off the pool chair and crawled up to the edge of the pool on her hands and knees. Fuck, she’s sexy.
He swallowed a gulp, trying not to get rock hard in his bathing suit as he watched her like that, bent over with her breasts hanging down in her bikini.
He paddled over as fast as he could and laid a soft kiss on her warm lips. “Mmmm,” she moaned as their tongues said hello.
As usual, his lion purred happily inside. Logan couldn’t believe the turn of events that occurred since his crew left.
And it was all because of this amazing girl.
His hand slid down her back and was heading toward her curvy ass when the sound of cars pulling into the ranch had them jerking apart.
“Not this fucking guy again,” he grumbled as Elodie jumped up and grabbed a shawl to cover herself with.
Logan climbed out of the pool and walked over to where the three cars were parking. He stood there in a wide stance with his chest puffed out as William Reyes stepped out of his car.
“What did I tell you about trespassing?” Logan asked in a firm voice.
Reyes grinned, clearly amused as he walked over like he owned the place.
Logan’s stomach rolled as he approached. He had forgotten how damn big this guy was. Normally, he wouldn’t have been so intimidated, but he knew he wouldn’t be as good a fighter with only one arm, and his lion was back to cowering like a scared little kitten.
The strange smell of the Governor’s inner animal was making his lion restless once again. After days of calm and serenity, Logan was noticing his cat’s fear more than ever.
The rest of Reyes’ team began to emerge from their cars, bringing out all sorts of equipment. One girl had a camera with a long lens and began taking pictures of everything.
“Are you Grant Clayton?” the Governor asked with a smirk.
Logan huffed out a breath. “I thought we went over this already.”
“Then this is not your land,” he answered. “Sounds to me like you’re the one trespassing.”
“I live here!”
“We’ll see what the District Attorney thinks about that,” Reyes said as he pulled out his phone. “I can call him if you’d like. He’s a close friend and is already on my speed dial.”
Logan gritted his teeth together as Reyes waited for his answer. The threat was clear. He could have Logan behind bars for trespassing if he wanted to.
“I thought so,” he answered with a smug laugh as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. He turned back to the workers and began shouting out orders in his booming voice.
“I want the equipment here when we t
ake possession on the first of October,” he shouted. “All of those cabins and that shitty storefront will be demolished. I want them flattened and taken out of here.”
“We could move them and put them up for sale, Mr. Reyes,” one of the young men suggested. “They do have some value.”
“No,” Reyes barked. “I want them destroyed.”
He turned around and sneered at Logan when he said it. This was personal to the Governor. He had been trying unsuccessfully to get Grant off of this land for years, and now that he was about to be successful, he was going to make it hurt.
“The condo complex will go up over there,” Reyes said, pointing to the sprawling forest near the base of the mountain. Logan sucked in a breath as he watched. That forest was home to a whole ecosystem of animals. He had smelled them daily while he prowled through the forest in his lion form.
“Hey!” Logan snapped when his anger started to build beyond control. “You don’t have the right to be on this land. Get the hell out of here.”
His crew of workers looked nervous as they turned to each other and then to Reyes for guidance.
Reyes turned to him with a hard stare that had Logan gulping and involuntarily taking a step back. The huge shifter stormed over, getting right in his face.
“This whole state is mine, boy,” he growled. Logan winced as Reyes’ hot breath washed down on him. “And anyone who doesn’t realize that just might find themselves buried under two dozen luxury condos.”
Backup arrived right on time. Jordy’s black van came rolling into the ranch and Caleb, Jordy, and Dane hoped out.
Logan had never been so relieved to see his bandmates.
Sensing the tension, they hurried over, taking their place beside Logan.
“Governor Reyes,” Jordy said as he crossed his arms over his chest. Jordy and Caleb didn’t look intimidated, but they did have powerful grizzly bears hiding within them. There wasn’t much that could intimidate those two.
Dane on the other hand, looked as shaken as Logan felt. Dane was a lion shifter as well, and whatever beast Reyes had hidden inside appeared to be having the same effect on him.