He had no idea how long they laid there, but eventually, Ridge felt Andi’s breathing taper off and knew that she had fallen asleep. He stayed awake, watching over her. Protecting her.
Ridge had no idea what to do to help her, though. And neither did his leopard. They both felt useless. Helpless. How did one train a feral animal to know its place? Salvation had been Ridge’s only hope in reaching Andi, and since that had failed, he was at a loss.
How cruel the Fates would be to bring him his mate, and then take her away. Ridge had her but didn’t. Was this his karma?
Ridge sighed heavily.
Inside, his leopard remained silent. He could feel the animal’s heartache, just as he felt his own. The emotion was overwhelming and unlike anything Ridge had ever experienced. And all he could think about was how this entire situation may have been avoided if he’d just stopped to think for a second. If he would have told Andi about Shannon before they had arrived at his house, then maybe her animal wouldn’t have reacted the way it had.
Or maybe it still would have… Ridge had no idea. He was pulling at straws, trying to find some justification to explain what had happened.
Blowing out a heavy breath, he nuzzled against Andi’s sleeping form and closed his eyes for a bit of a rest before he woke her for their journey home. As much as he wanted to stay with her, Ridge had to get home. He couldn’t stay in his animal form forever.
By the time they’d made it back to Ridge’s home, the sun had long set. As he dipped his head under the lower hanging branch, Ridge realized, a bit too late, that they weren’t alone. His steps froze as his leopard went on alert. Its hackles rose as it searched out the intruder.
“Calm yourself.”
Ridge’s head turned to see Lux walking out of the shadows.
Without thinking, Ridge shifted back to human form, standing in front of Andi. “What’s up?”
“Really?” Lux stood there with his arms crossed over his chest. “Are we going to play this game?”
Ridge couldn’t lie to Lux. So, he said nothing at all.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Lux asked. Ridge could feel his anger.
Andi could, too. As her head poked out from behind Ridge, she hissed.
Lux’s eyes cut to her, and he almost snarled.
Andi ducked back behind Ridge to hide.
“The animal has taken over,” Lux said, more as a comment than a question. “You know what that means.”
Ridge did. But he couldn’t allow it. Widening his stance, he readied for the battle he knew would come. He would die to protect Andi because, without his mate, Ridge would eventually go mad. She was his redemption.
“I can’t let you do that,” Ridge replied.
“You don’t have a choice.”
“Lux.”
“Ridge, she’s a liability,” Luz argued. “Not only to us but to our entire race.”
“I can contain her.”
“Really?” Lux looked around him her and then at the shattered window. “Because I can tell you’ve done a terrific job of that so far.”
“That was my fault.”
“You don’t say?” Lux retorted. “You brought your mate to a home where another female was living. How in the hell did you think that was going to go?”
Andi, not liking Lux’s tone, hissed.
“Shut up!” Lux ordered.
Andi immediately quieted.
Lux stared at the animal, turning his head from side to side as if he were studying her. The act made Ridge nervous. Stepping in front of Andi, Ridge caused Lux’s gaze to fly to his.
“Move,” Lux ordered.
Ridge held his ground, even knowing that disobeying his President could mean his death.
“Move!” Lux laced his command with his alpha mojo, giving Ridge no choice but to follow his order. There was no way he could fight it.
Stepping to the side, his eyes bounced between Andi and Lux. He readied himself for a fight. If Lux attacked his mate, Ridge would die protecting her.
“Do you hear me, cat?” Lux asked.
Ridge watched as Andi’s animal nodded its head eerily.
“Hmm.” Lux raised a brow. “Is Andi in there, cat?”
Andi just stared back at Lux.
“Is Andi in there, cat?” Luz repeated, this time with full alpha authority lacing his voice.
Andi’s animal nodded once.
“Hmm,” Luz said again.
Ridge watched as Lux circled his mate. Staring. Examining her.
Suddenly, Lux dropped to his knees, he grabbed ahold of Andi’s face, and before Ridge even had time to react, Lux demanded, “Shift!”
Right before his eyes, Ridge watched as Andi’s animal slowly disappeared, and his mate took its place. The shift wasn’t fast. They listened as Andi’s cat yowled its displeasure and fought against the transformation. The sound of bones crackling seemed to go on and on. Ridge knew the shift had to be a painful one. And as Andi’s human form solidified, and the yowl turned into a scream, his thought was confirmed.
Rushing forward, he scooped Andi into his arms as she tilted to the side, catching her before she collapsed to the ground.
Ridge looked up at Lux, ready to thank him, but the look on his President’s face stopped him.
“A club is only as strong as its members,” Lux said. “We will discuss your mistrust later. For now, get her inside and let her rest.”
Ridge nodded his head.
Standing, he carried Andi into the house. Passing the common areas, Ridge walked down the small hallway and into his bedroom. Carefully, he laid Andi’s naked form on the cool sheets and then pulled the cover up and around her.
He stood there for a moment, just watching her sleep. He had no idea what tomorrow would bring or even next week, but the fear he’d felt when he’d thought he lost her was something he never wished to experience again. Ridge had to come up with a game plan that would help ensure that Andi maintained control of herself and her
