by Dianna Love
They crashed through the woods.
Small trees broke like twigs.
His animal outweighed the wolf, but he had not been a shifter as long as that red monster. Gan expected his tiger to know what to do when it fought, but the beast had no real skill.
Just claws, fangs, and a desire to bleed anything alive.
The wolf’s jaws locked onto his tiger’s throat and yanked.
His animal slashed over and over at the wolf’s shoulders and sides, leaving a bloody path down the red-brown coat.
Gan warned his tiger, Bleed too much.
Those words made no impression.
His animal fought on for another minute, slashing the wolf until the two broke apart. His tiger stumbled away, heaving every breath and bleeding from multiple places.
When the wolf didn’t jump up, Gan’s beast roared in triumph, but the sound had little power. Allowing one last look at the motionless wolf, his animal limped over to the creek where no bison remained in sight.
Dropping down into the cold water gurgling around a rock outcropping, his tiger washed blood off until the water ran pink. Throat muscles began healing and skin mended ahead of new fur that would grow back.
His tiger was lucky the wolf had not bitten deeper and ripped his throat out.
Gan had yet to get used to healing so quickly, but it was a good thing since his beast fought like a crazy fool. He told his tiger, You are lucky. Wolf will win one day because you fight stupid.
Kill wolf, his tiger said with too much confidence.
Gan spewed a curse at the hardheaded animal and argued, Wolf watches. Studies for weakness. Fights smart. One day he wins.
His tiger ignored him.
Foolish animal.
Once his tiger had inspected the major gashes and decided they would heal soon, he stepped from the creek.
Gan wanted to shift back to his human form. His last shift from tiger to human had been just before daylight. To do this again so soon would flatten him for a while and allow the tiger to grab control, but he couldn’t fight the tiger all day without resting in his human form.
Turning toward the bank, they came face-to-face with the wolf.
Fangs bared, the wolf breathed out a demonic snarl. He’d healed completely, because that one had been a shifter much longer than the mere two weeks Gan had, even if it did feel like an eternity.
Gan’s tiger snarled, Kill wolf.
Madness rolled through the wolf’s light gray eyes.
Tiger was stupid.
Living here was stupid.
Being a shifter was stupid.
Gan and this wolf shifter, Adrian, couldn’t stay out of each other’s way. He’d stopped the wolf from killing a juvenile animal twice. Three times, counting today.
His tiger hunted the wolf every chance he got in this form.
The wolf prowled, searching for his tiger as well, which meant no sound sleep even when Gan found a branch high enough that would hold his weight.
He tired of this constant battling. Someone had to end the fight for superiority. Might as well do it today. He yelled in his mind, You want die today, tiger? Fine. Go ahead. Attack crazy wolf.
Adrian’s gravelly voice punched into Gan’s mind. Bring it, you overgrown house cat.
Gan added stupid wolf to his list.
His tiger started forward slowly, leaving the water behind. He didn’t slow when he dipped down on his front paws, bunched his shoulders, and leaped at the wolf.
The wolf held back a half second then launched underneath to reach the tiger’s throat again.
His tiger slapped a huge paw across the wolf’s head, knocking it aside before landing and flipping around.
Huh. Gan admitted that move surprised him.
Hackles stood along the wolf’s shoulders. He shook his head and took a stumbling step.
But Gan watched the wolf’s eyes and warned his tiger, Do not jump!
The tiger had gone airborne before Gan got the words out.
They paid for that mistake when the wolf quickly sidestepped just before the tiger landed on him. Then the wolf leaped on the wide back of Gan’s tiger, slashing claws deep and ripping his back open.
His tiger screamed and jumped around, trying to shake off the demonic wolf.
Gan ordered, Roll over on him.
Lurching sideways, his tiger rolled hard, throwing the wolf beneath his crushing weight.
Bones snapped under the pressure.
But when his tiger finished the roll, Gan’s animal was no better off. His beast lay on its side panting. Warm blood flowed from the wounds on his back.
The wolf struggled to get up on three legs. The fourth flopped with broken bones.
Making mixed sounds of groans and guttural snarls, Adrian’s wolf limped forward growling a hideous noise.
Gan could feel every bit of his tiger’s pain. Maybe dying now would be better. He could not live as a man or as a shifter.
Not with this beast.
He’d regret never seeing his sister again ... or Scarlett, that sassy cougar shifter who helped rescue both of them from being auctioned off. When he closed his eyes at night, he could still recall one scent above all others that first day as a shifter.
Hers.
His heart thumped hard.
Screw it. He would not die today.
Not in this place as a prisoner. He would fight and leave to find a better life. When he died, it would be on his terms.
As a free man.
Painful-sounding gurgles came from the wolf. He limped, favoring his broken leg. Blood dried on his rust-colored coat and fresh blood leaked from his mouth. His growls had a death rattle.
That was only right.
Maybe the stupid eagle shifter would not put two monsters in the same place again.
As the wolf neared, Gan’s tiger lay still except for labored breaths.
Two steps away, the wolf’s muscles bulged and rippled. He whined, but still gathered power for a last attack.
Gan’s tiger tried to move. Not possible.
They were doomed.
Maybe he and the tiger would both die today after all.
Through the tiger’s sharp hearing, Gan picked up the sound of something moving above them.
Adrian’s wolf dropped down on its hind legs then lunged up and froze mid-leap.
A giant eagle, too large to be natural with a ten-foot wingspan, swooped down, landing perfectly, and barely rustling the foot-tall grass. Before its talons touched down, the eagle shifted into a man dressed in a suit. He appeared in his forties, which was a lie.
That eagle man, known as the Guardian, had seen many centuries. Gan’s sister had told him this. She’d mated with a Gallize shifter, even though he told her she could do better.
The Guardian held all power over Gan and the wolf right now.
Eagle eyes in the man’s human face sent cold chills up Gan’s spine, especially when the man’s head moved and angled as a giant bird would. He zeroed in on Gan’s tiger bleeding on the forest carpet then glanced at the wolf’s damaged body dripping just as much blood.
This was the Guardian’s fault for showing up a day early.
Closing his eyes, the Guardian muttered something to himself, then opened them. “I put you here to regain your humanity and take control of your bodies, but you are determined to fight like insane animals.”
Gan would have shrugged and pointed out that they were insane animals, but he wanted to die with all his body parts intact.
Also, his tiger couldn’t move a muscle.
The wolf moaned, but the sound got trapped in his throat.
The Guardian continued lecturing them. “This was your chance to prove you were capable of living in the human world. I came expecting to see progress, to maybe take you out of here.”
Gan got excited at the idea of not staying here longer until he noticed the grim look of an executioner when those eagle eyes turned to him.
Chapter 3
Gan’s tig
er struggled against being held in place and tried to snarl. His throat muscles would not work.
The Guardian had some kind of magic to hold his tiger and the wolf like two stuffed creatures.
Hate spiraled down at Gan’s tiger from the wolf still suspended above him.
How long would they have to stay this way?
The Guardian’s voice came into Gan’s head as if he’d heard that question. I could leave you stationary for a week. Or a year.
What the fuck? Gan would have shouted the words if he could have spoken. He didn’t like people in his head.
Those inhuman predator eyes pinned Gan’s tiger with a glare of warning.
No more thinking around eagle shifter, Gan silently told himself and his animal.
Adrian’s voice jumped in Gan’s head next. If you’ll shut up, we might get out of this.
You shut up, wolf.
You’re as crazy as your tiger.
Unable to move, Gan shouted back mind-to-mind, Your animal not right in head either.
The Guardian shouted out loud, “Silence! Both of you! You are giving me a headache. Say one more word telepathically and you will not enjoy what happens next.”
Gan’s tiger growled, but the sound never left his chest. Then the beast telepathically said, Kill eagle.
The Guardian’s sharp gaze slashed at Gan’s tiger.
Gan quickly told the Guardian mind-to-mind, Not my words. Tiger say bad things all the time.
Cranking up his glare, the Guardian spoke through clenched teeth. “It is the job of every Gallize to manage his animal. I explained that when I delivered you to this reserve. You have allowed yours to run free. You have clearly not attempted to bond and work with your animal.”
This man thought Gan should become friends with crazy tiger?
Continuing, the Guardian said, “Your tiger’s words are your responsibility, Gan. I suggest you keep him quiet while I think.”
Gan felt his tiger’s fury rising. This would not end well. Drawing all his energy to his muscles, Gan clamped down to hold control over the tiger.
If his animal was still locked in Gan’s body, the tiger would be clawing his insides right now. He managed to keep the beast’s crazy talk and aggressive sounds muffled.
The Guardian paced back and forth, occasionally tossing a disgusted look at both animals. He finally paused and lifted a finger to his chin, supporting his elbow with the other arm.
Still he said nothing.
From down here, Gan could see the wolf’s face with intelligence staring out. Those stormy gray eyes threatened to rip him apart as soon as their bodies were freed.
Speaking now as if he’d been waiting on his chance instead of riding the silence, the Guardian said, “I don’t believe anything will change if you spend another sixteen days together. You leave me only one choice, which I am not happy about. I would rather not put you both down.”
Gan’s tiger started growling viciously.
Be quiet, tiger, Gan warned. Do you not understand that this man just said if we do not fix problem he will kill us?
Finally, the tiger quieted, but it would be foolish to think the beast had the sense to recognize a true threat.
Gan could see his chance to escape this place, alive, slipping away. Adrian knew so much more about being a shifter. He would convince the Guardian Gan was the problem, not him.
Hoping he didn’t make this worse, Gan spoke to the Guardian telepathically again. We are better. We will show you.
Adrian said nothing.
Eagle man turned a frown on Gan’s tiger. “Actions speak louder than words.”
Sometimes words explain actions, Gan argued.
After a moment, the Guardian dropped his hands to his sides and stared up at a smooth blue sky above the tall trees as he spoke. “I am tasked with trying to keep Gallize shifters alive as long as possible. I can only do that if you show a willingness to do your part.”
After a quiet moment, the Guardian lowered his chin and spoke directly to them. “For that reason, I will allow you an opportunity to convince me of this improvement when I see no evidence of such. I will release you both to shift, give you ten minutes to gather yourselves and heal, then come talk to me. Adrian, you have been here as long as I can allow. Gan, I do not believe you will improve if left alone. Choose your words wisely.”
The wolf’s gaze lost the murderous edge and flared with surprise.
This Adrian thought he would be saved? What would make him more valuable?
Gan had no time to contemplate the wolf’s reaction as his tiger was immediately free to move.
What did the beast do first? It snarled at the Guardian and tried to push up to bite Adrian’s wolf that had yet to be released.
The Guardian grumbled to himself and snapped his fingers in the direction of Gan’s tiger. In the next instant, Gan shifted back to human form involuntarily, hitting the ground hard when he fell back.
Changing too fast hurt bad, really bad, but Gan would not make a sound and appear weak.
Also released, the wolf fell, landing to the side of Gan as if pushed aside while in midair. Adrian also shifted to his human form. His wounds were once again healing quickly.
Not Gan’s. Everything ached.
Why did someone not tell him how to heal fast?
As Adrian rose to his feet, jeans and a black T-shirt appeared on his body. His black hair bushed out and he wore a thick beard, looking just as wild as his animal.
Gan got the same clothing treatment, but with a gray shirt that blood seeped through. The air reeked with the fresh metallic odor.
Sometimes he liked his new extra senses and other times, like now, they annoyed him. He couldn’t see the damage to one leg, but with every move he could feel torn muscles in his limb.
“Let’s go, Psycho Cat.” Adrian’s voice sounded as if he’d eaten rust for breakfast, but Gan had not heard his human voice until now.
“Where?” Gan crossed his arms and grunted in pain at the ache in his chest.
Jabbing his hands on his hips, Adrian said, “I’ll make this simple. Our clock is ticking. The Guardian does not toss out false threats. Don’t ever underestimate him. We now have nine minutes. You can walk away with me to discuss this or stay here and wait out your last minutes. Make a decision.”
The Guardian said nothing, just stood motionless like a fancy statue.
Heaving a deep sigh, Gan nodded toward the woods. “Go.”
Adrian growled at being given an order, but took off.
Gan limped behind him. When they reached a copse of trees, he asked, “Why not talk where we were?”
Adrian yanked his shirt off then used it to wipe his face. “The Guardian thinks we’re going to join forces to stay alive. He’s been more than fair with me, so I didn’t want to insult him by admitting there’s no way I’ll work with you, asshole.”
“You wish to die?” Gan asked.
Adrian shrugged. “Not answering that, just stating the obvious.”
All the time the Cadells held Gan captive, he’d studied the guards and those in charge. He’d learned one thing. Everyone wanted something, even Adrian.
Gan wanted out of here.
What did Adrian want?
Gan pointed a finger. “You said be quiet and we get out of this. Why say that unless you care?”
“Some days I want to live. Some days I don’t care.”
“What is today?” Gan asked. “Care or not care?”
Adrian slashed a suspicious look at Gan. “What if I care? Why would you give two fucks?”
“Me? I give no fucks about you, but I want to leave this place.”
Snorting a dark chuckle, Adrian pointed out, “The Guardian isn’t going to let two screwed-up shifters out of here.”
But Gan had heard a crack in Adrian’s hard shell, something that told him the wolf did care. “Where would you go, wolf, if your Guardian would release us?”
“He’s your Guardian, too,” Adrian grumbled.
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Gan ignored that, allowing the wolf to think he agreed. He repeated, “Question is where would you go?”
Adrian blinked at the question, probably because they had just said more words in the last two minutes than the entire time since Gan had been dropped here.
When the wolf took too long to reply, Gan said, “I have plan. I know where I will go. Help me get out and I will help you go where you want.”
Adrian studied him with the dark gaze of someone who had seen bad things then shook his head. “We can talk all you want about going places. You don’t understand that the Guardian won’t trust either of us to keep our animals under control.”
“My tiger is controlled,” Gan boasted.
Adrian’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking, right? You just attacked my wolf, again, for no reason.”
Gan raked a handful of sweaty hair off his face. “I had reason. Your wolf hunt baby bison.”
“What my wolf does when it’s hungry is no business of yours,” Adrian snapped back. “I should have finished you off and let you bleed out after attacking me for the third time.”
“You could try, wolf.” Gan followed that taunt with a smug look. Wind brushed the early morning chill across his skin. So much nicer than hot weather.
Adrian eyed him with disbelief and grumbled, “You have no idea what you’re fucking with.”
“Tell me? Why should I fear you?”
Adrian studied him a moment, then spoke softly. “I didn’t turn into a shifter yesterday. I’m trained for combat. If I want to kill your tiger, I can do it.”
“I have been shifter two weeks, not yesterday,” Gan pointed out calmly. “Your wolf bad, but you are shifter longer. Your wolf should not hunt tiny food. You should have more control and pick bigger prey.”
“Fuck you, tiger. I’ve given you plenty of space since you showed up. Sucks enough just having to be stuck here then I get your crazy ass dumped on me. All you had to do was stay out of my way. In fact, get the fuck out of my way.” Adrian stomped past him.
“Wait, wolf! I need more about this eagle man and Gallize.”
Adrian stopped short, swung around and stared at him. “What have I said to give you the impression I want to be friends?”