Hour of the Lion

Hours later, Vic’s ears swiveled toward the southwest. Something was approaching. With the wind blowing the wrong way, she couldn’t catch its scent. Unfortunately, that meant it could smell her, blood and all.

Man or beast or shifter? An edge of fear prickled up her spine. It sounded like more than one animal. A pack of wolves? How delightful.

Dammit, weren’t predators supposed to hunt only at night? Hadn’t these animals read the rule book? The fur on her neck rose as she stood and balanced on three legs, trying not to growl as the trap pulled on her mangled leg. Fuck, if she tried to fight, she’d probably fall down.

Well, at least she was saved the embarrassment of walking into Cold Creek in her birthday suit… But she wouldn’t ever get to see Alec and Calum again. And Jamie. And Thorson. And-

Just out of sight, a heavy animal moved through the underbrush. No, two animals.

The mountain lions burst into the clearing. The sunlight glinted on dark golden fur. And pale golden fur. She recognized them and snarled hopelessly. She was dead. She wouldn’t even have a chance to explain, dammit-

With a resigned breath, she stood her ground. Going belly-up and begging? Not gonna happen. Anger at the unfairness of it all-at them-twined with her love and joy at seeing them one last time, and her cat instincts couldn’t decide what to do.

Calum sprang first, straight for her. He landed barely out of reach. She raised a forepaw, showed her claws, and knew she wouldn’t hurt him.

He stalked forward, ignoring her show of fight, and rubbed his muzzle over hers, purring loudly enough to make the trees shake. His giant paw landed on her shoulders, flattening her like a pancake, and he licked her ear, still purring.

Then Alec shouldered Calum to one side to do the same. Their scent engulfed her, mingled with hers.

They did know who she was, didn’t they? The lifemate who’d betrayed them? But oh, she’d missed them. The higher rumble in the air was her own purring.

Calum shifted to human form. Kneeling beside her, he examined the trap and her leg. He glanced at Alec who loped away, returning with a large branch in his big jaws. He dropped it and shifted.

They had her leg free in minutes. Maybe the iron teeth hurt less coming out than in, but it still fucking hurt.

Calum frowned down at her. With one hand, he grasped her muzzle, forcing her to meet his very intent, very black gaze. “Trawsfur,” he murmured. His power blazed through her, and a second later, she lay naked before him.

Alec wrapped his hands around her leg, putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding.

“Freeing someone from a trap before executing her is a little inefficient, don’t you think?” she muttered, trying to keep her lips from trembling. She was a soldier, dammit; soldiers didn’t burst into tears. She managed to pull in a breath and almost sounded like herself as she asked, “How did you find me? This isn’t exactly on a trail, is it?”

“There’s a bond between a Cosantir and his territory. I know if a strange shifter sets foot in my mountains.” The sun lines around his eyes deepened. “Or when a lost one comes home.”

“Oh.”

He stroked his knuckles across her cheek, and then his flickering smile appeared. “Cariad, did I not warn you and Jamie about these traps?”

Her breath caught. “I’m the enemy. How did I get to be a cariad again?”

Alec released her leg, waited to make sure it had stopped bleeding, then kissed her lips lightly. “Once we got our heads out of our asses, we figured out what had happened and what you must have been trying to do.”

Hope made her eyes sting, reality made her look down. Calum lifted her chin. “Little cat, we doubted you. I doubted you. Can you find forgiveness for us?”

When she shook her head, his jaw tightened, his hand dropped away.

She grabbed his fingers. “No. I mean, I couldn’t believe you’d forgive me.” She sighed. “Not without a lot of arguing. It’s my fault, I know. I-I didn’t tell you all the truth.” The next admission came slower. Harder. “I should have stuck around to have it out with you, but I…”

“Didn’t think we’d love you enough to listen?” Calum asked gently.

She nodded.

Alec hugged her, his body hot against her cold skin. “We love you, Vixen, even if you’re a tad insecure. Just like you love us, even when we’re paranoid bastards.”

“You do?”

Calum nodded, his eyes gentle. “We love you, cariad, and we need you. Come home to us.”

Home.

Epilogue

A month later.

Coffee. Need more coffee. Vic yawned, squinting at the mid-morning sun. She’d started work well before dawn. Alec had better take her off this fucking morning shift before she strangled him and left his body on the mountain for the coyotes. No-too classy. For the vultures.

As she cracked open the door to the bookstore, she reached up to quiet the bell before it rang. She liked practicing her stalking skills on Thorson; the old werecat was nearly impossible to sneak up on.

No one was in sight, but voices came from the sitting area. One was Thorson. The other was…Wells? When had Wells arrived in town?

Oh hell. She smoothed her hair back, scowled at her dusty boots. Sloppy, she’d gotten sloppy. With a frown, she pulled at her khaki uniform, trying to smooth the wrinkles Alec had created earlier when he’d locked them both in his jail cell and pretended to interrogate her as a spy.

She grinned, remembering the clothespins he’d used to torture her. Nipple torture. The man was completely warped. Good thing the jail had a shower in the back, or she’d have smelled like sex all day. She silently finished straightening her clothes, and then edged around the rear shelves for some recon.

Wells and Thorson sat in the comfortable chairs by the crackling fire. Each wore a scowl, but that was normal when the two of them got together.

Wells picked up his coffee, motioned to Thorson with the cup. “I’ve been thinking. It would be appropriate for you to perform that Death Gift ritual, and make me a shifter when you die. Considering your advanced age, that shouldn’t be long now.”

Thorson eyed him over the rim of his mug before taking a loud sip. “You annoy me, and you’ll go tits-up first.”

“I’m not planning to die until I see my grandchildren. Hopefully sometime this century.” Wells frowned slightly as he stared into the fire. 'The Sergeant said you shifters can take a long time, and that she’s in no hurry.”

“We leave that in the hands of the Mother.” Thorson turned his head and winked at Vic.

Shit, he’d heard her. Damn werecat.

He turned back to Wells and said casually, “She’ll name the first-born after me, of course.”

Wells stiffened. “I doubt that. You’re merely a token grandfather whereas I am her-”

The bookstore door slammed open, the bell jangling wildly.

“MomVee, are you in here?” Jamie ran between the shelves, spotted Vic, and wrapped her in a signature-Jamie hug.

“Is something wrong?” Vic lay her cheek against the soft hair. My cub.

“Yes. No. Not really.” Jamie giggled.

Vic relaxed. “What then?”

“Daddy says there’s probably going to be a fight, and since you’re on duty, can you come and keep the bast- um, the bad guys from misbehaving.” She whispered to Vic, “Daddy called them bastards, but I’m not supposed to say that.”

“Do you need our help, Sergeant?” Wells asked, starting to rise.