“Andi!”
She heard him call her name, but it sounded like he was a million miles away. The burning sensation she felt was spreading throughout her body.
Let me out! her panther roared.
No!
Andi knew if she let her animal out, it would track the other female. She could feel her panther’s bloodlust. It was something Andi had never experienced. The need was almost intoxicating.
“Andi?”
She felt his hand on her shoulder and before she could think better of it, she whirled around and slapped his hand away.
“Fuck!” Ridge jumped back, cradling his arm against his chest.
Andi’s eyes widened at the sight of his blood dripping to the ground. Looking down at her hand, she saw the black claws of her panther.
Let me out! Her panther screamed.
“I’m…” She fought to get the words past her dry throat. “Sorry.”
“What the fuck?” Ridge reached for her again.
Andi stared at his arm as the skin started to knit itself back together in front of her eyes. Even though shifters healed quicker than humans, she’d never seen anyone heal as fast as Ridge. One minute, his flesh was hanging in ribbons, the next it was laid perfectly back over his taut muscles as if nothing had happened.
“How?” she gritted out, still fighting to remain in human form.
“Special ability?” He shrugged. “Listen, Andi. I need you to calm down.” He held out two hands in front of him. “I don’t know what has you riled up…”
“Female…” was all she could say.
“Shit!” Ridge cursed. “Andi, she’s a kid. Just a kid.”
What?
Lies! He’s protecting her. Let me kill her!
No! Andi mentally screamed. No killing.
No female touches what is ours.
“Shannon!” Ridge yelled. “Get out here now!”
Andi could see that Ridge was mentally preparing for a fight. And inside, so was her panther. The animal wanted the other woman’s blood. Andi had no idea how to handle what she was feeling so when the young female barged out of the door, Andi lost complete control.
For the second time, in less than twenty-four hours, Andi’s panther exploded from her skin. It roared out a death call, and zeroed in on its prey. Stalking. Watching.
“Shannon?” Ridge stated quietly, keeping his eyes on Andi. “Get back inside.”
The human turned to do as she was told, and Andi took advantage of her back being turned. Crouching down, she leapt through the air. It felt like slow motion.
Inside, Andi screamed at her animal to stop. But the beast wasn’t listening.
Andi was forced to watch as Shannon’s eyes rounded in fear as the large black cat flew toward her face. Her stomach turned as her panther almost smiled in delight. The animal stretched out its paw as if it were ready to take a large swipe, when suddenly, Andi was hit in the side and knocked away before she could harm the other woman.
Andi crawled to her feet and shook her head. Looking toward the woman, she saw her mate. His snow leopard was now standing between her and her target.
Her cat hissed and growled a warning.
Ridge answered, with a warning of his own.
Andi’s cat took a tentative step to the left, and Ridge mirrored its movement.
With each step that Andi’s cat took, Ridge continued to counter, which only agitated the animal more.
Why is he protecting her?
She’s important to him.
No! He is ours!
Maybe she’s his sister.
No.
Andi tried to reason with the animal, but it wouldn’t listen. Every reason Andi gave as to why Ridge was protecting Shannon, her cat dismissed.
Let me out, Andi tried to reason. Let me talk to him.
No. He’s betrayed us.
No, I don’t think so. Let me talk to him.
No! Her panther roared. He will die, just as she will.
The animal called out in a sound that sounded more like a wounded cry, than a battle roar. Ridge hissed back, almost begging her not to attack.
Andi could feel her animal’s heartbreak and hurt over the betrayal. However, no matter how much she tried to reason with the beast, it wouldn’t listen. She tried again to push her way forward, but the panther held strong to its body.
Then, as if she was seeing it through someone else’s eyes, Andi’s sleek, black panther leaped into the air towards Ridge’s snow leopard – and the battle was on.
19
Ridge
He did his best to stay out of Andi’s reach. With Shannon safely back inside, his attention was solely focused on helping Andi to regain control. He needed to wear her down. Tire her out. So, as she continued to press closer to him, Ridge countered her moves, moving them farther away from the house and deeper into the woods.
Or, at least that was his plan.
But Andi’s panther was smart.
Ridge glanced toward a movement in the window to see Shannon standing on the other side of the glass, a phone pressed to her ear. Andi must have seen the same thing because before Ridge could reposition himself, Andi was leaping towards the window.
He heard Shannon’s scream, and the sound of glass breaking, but luckily, the window didn’t shatter. Digging his feet into the soil, Ridge leaped on to Andi’s back and the two of them went tumbling through the yard.
He felt the sharp pain of her claws digging into his side, and while he didn’t want to hurt his mate, he had to show her who was really in charge.
Be easy with her, his leopard said.
Easy hell! Ridge argued. She’s about to eat our ass alive!
Her panther is sick, his leopard argued. It needs our help.
Sick? Ridge didn’t understand. Shifters didn’t get sick. What do you mean?
Ridge used his paw to swipe away one of Andi’s attacks.
Smell the air, his leopard ordered.
Ridge sniffed the air but couldn’t pick anything out that would indicate that something was wrong with Andi’s animal.
The sour scent, his cat explained.
