The ride to the club seemed to take longer than ever before. Ridge weaved past cars, raced between semi-trucks, and flew by houses – one after another. And as he reached the street that would take him into the small town of Spotted Hills, he barely let off the throttle. Leaning his bike to the side, he fought to maintain control as he took the turn faster than ever before. Sparks flew behind his bike as the back pegs brushed against the asphalt.
Ridge paid no attention to the looks he received from people as he tore through town. He didn’t care what they thought, or what they had to say. The only thing on his mind was Andi, his mate.
Turning down the gravel road, Ridge gunned his bike even harder. He watched as a prospect rushed to open the gate in time to prevent Ridge from crashing into it. Throwing his body to the right, Ridge leaned into the turn and quickly righted himself, as he pulled into the lot. He didn’t bother to back his bike into a spot. Moving as swiftly as he could, he killed the power, dropped the kickstand, and dismounted.
Taking off toward the house, a group of brothers moved in to block his path.
“Can’t let you in there, Ridge,” Slim said in a thick southern drawl.
Ridge didn’t say a word. He swung first – he’d ask questions later.
The brothers surrounded him.
“We are only following orders,” someone said, but Ridge wasn’t listening.
He would take out every single one of them if it meant getting to his mate.
He threw his weight forward, trying to rush between two brothers, but received a fist to the eyes and was pushed backwards.
“Move!” Ridge ordered.
“President’s orders trump yours, brother.”
Ridge was about to rage. His leopard reared up for a fight.
“Enough!”
All movement stopped. Everyone turned to see Lux stepping out of the clubhouse.
“Let him through,” Lux ordered.
Ridge moved past his brothers, shouldering his way between them. “Where the fuck is she?” he asked, as he approached Lux.
Lux eyed him for a moment, before jerking his head towards the clubhouse. Ridge didn’t say another word. He moved past his President and bolted inside.
However, when he saw Andi, everything went red as his leopard burst out of his skin – blood lust on its mind.
24
Andi
Her body hurt. Her head pounded like a bass drum.
Andi watched as Ridge burst into the room, and she sagged in relief. She was so happy to see him. But that happiness ended as the look on his face went from excitement to murderous. Within a blink of an eye, Ridge was gone and a snow-white leopard, with burning green eyes stood in his place.
“Ridge,” Lux said. “Calm down. Your mate is fine.”
Ridge hissed.
Andi’s eyes widened as she watched his cat crouch down, ready to pounce. His eyes locked on Lux’s jugular.
“Ridge…” There was a warning in Lux’s voice. “You don’t want to do this, Brother.”
Again, the animal hissed angrily.
“Listen to me,” Lux held up both hands. “Andi is fine. Look at her. See?”
Ridge looked at Andi, then back at Lux.
“I can help her,” Lux added. “I can tell you how to help her. But you have to shift back.”
Ridge made a sound that almost sounded like a growl.
“I don’t want to have to order the change, but I will.” Lux continued. “Come on, Ridge. We’re brothers.”
Ridge looked conflicted.
Andi wished there was something she could say, or do, but being gagged and tied to a chair had her limited. All she could do was sit there and watch how everything unfolded.
Slowly, Ridge padded over to her. He rubbed his body along her legs and nuzzled his head against her arm. She tried to smile, to reassure him, but she couldn’t. She watched as Ridge moved behind her. A split second later, Andi felt the tingle of electricity flow over her skin and knew he had shifted.
“Why in the fuck is my mate tied to a goddamn chair, Lux?” Ridge asked. “And gagged.”
“Well.” Lux shrugged. “She’s tied to the chair so she can’t run.” He shrugged, again. “And the gag? Well, the girl’s screams could wake the dead.”
She felt Ridge’s hands on the back of her head, and then as the gag fell away, Andi gulped in a huge breath of air and wet her dry lips.
“You’re a fucking asshole,” she said, looking at Lux.
“See what I mean?”
“She isn’t lying,” Ridge agreed.
“Truth.”
“Can you untie me now?” Andi asked.
“No,” Lux replied. “Not until you shut up and hear me out.”
“Hear you out?” Andi asked. “You kidnapped me! You threw me into the trunk of my own car, brought me back here against my will, tied me up, and fucking gagged me. Why in the hell would I listen to a word you have to say?”
“Because I can help you with your little feral cat problem,” Lux said, statically.
“Doubtful,” Andi replied.
“How?” Ridge asked, ignoring Andi’s retort.
“Thank you, brother, for asking.” Lux stared at Andi, then rolled his eyes as she stared back. “A blood bond.”
“What?” Andi and Ridge said simultaneously.
Lux held up a hand. “Let me explain.”
Andi watched nervously as Ridge began to pace the room. Even though he was at her back, she still didn’t feel completely safe around the President of the Dark Leopards MC. The man was brutal. Cruel. And all together unnerving. And for the hundredth time since he’d kidnapped her, Andi cursed Emily for offering her the job at the clubhouse.
“Panthers,” he began. “Are solitary creatures, as you know.”
“Obviously,” Ridge retorted.
“However,” Lux continued. “Every once in a while, you come across one that is paired. They eat, sleep, shit – hell, fucking breath – together. Normally, that is because one of them has a genetic modification.”
“A what?” Ridge asked.
“Something is just off with them.” Lux waved a hand like it
