I get up from where I’m seated and help get the stragglers out the door to start locking up. That’s when I feel it, my phone vibrating. Pulling it from my pocket I see a Dallas number. It’s her, I knew she’d call.
“Hello, beautiful!” I answer.
But instead of her greeting me in return I hear some muffled voices. But with my magnified hearing I’m able to make it out.
“Oscar, what are you doing here? You’re not supposed to come within five hundred yards of me or any place I’m at,” she states.
“Sharayah?” I yell into the phone.
“Oscar, Oscar, please go home. You’re drunk… Wait, what are you doing with that?” She begins to cry.
“I just want to be with you. I just want to hold you. Why won’t you let me love you?” The male voice, that I can only assume is Oscar, says.
“Oscar, we talked about this. I’m not into you like that. You’re a nice guy but I’m not interested in you romantically,” she answers.
Without hanging up, I cover the mouthpiece and yell for Brent. “Brent, I need you to do me a favor. Can you get me a location on where this call I’m on is coming from?”
“Yeah, man, let me call the clubhouse. Don’t hang up the call,” he replies.
I put the phone back to my ear and that's when I hear it, a knife breaking skin. Fuck.
“Prospect, I need that location like yesterday,” I yell at him.
Continuing to listen and trying to keep my panther calm isn't an easy task, but I manage.
We have to go. NOW.
As soon as Brent gets us a location. We’re not riding blind, dude.
This Oscar will pay. I want him.
You can have him, after I’m done with him.
Still listening I throw on my leather, getting ready to head out. “Prospect, text me the address. I know it’s’ in Dallas, so I’ll start heading that way. I need that address now,” I roar as I rush out the door.
Hopping on my hog, I start her up while hooking my Bluetooth up to be able to continue to listen. “Hold on, baby, I’m coming. Please don’t hang up.”
Then I hear it, not once or even twice but six more stabs. She’s screaming in agony and my panther is pacing anxiously as we ride as fast as our bike will carry us.
“Why, why are you doing this?” she pleads as he continues to attack her.
“If I can’t have you, no one can. No one but me will ever want you when I’m done with you.” He gets quiet for a minute then I hear him growl out, “That face, that body, it's mine or nobody’s. You’re nothing but a dirty fuckin’ tease, just like all the rest.”
I can hear her breathing beginning to lessen and her cries beginning to fade. Fuck. Then I get the text I was waiting for. I pull over to pop it into my GPS and then immediately get back on the road. Only twelve minutes from her location. I need, no I have to get there in time.
Finally approaching the location, I see someone running from the condominium, it must be that piece of shit. As much as I want to chase him, I need to get to her first and get her to safety.
Watching as he jumps into an old beat up Ford pickup. I memorize his plates as I slam my bike into park and jump off running for her condo.
“Sharayah, where are you?” I yell as I storm inside.
Then I see her, laying there in a puddle of her own blood, struggling to breathe. Kneeling down beside her I assess her wounds, there’s no way we have time to wait for an EMS, nor can I get her to the ER on my bike.
Turn her.
What?
We have to save her, and the only way is to turn her.
We need her to agree, I can’t take away her choice, I won’t take away her choice.
Then tell her.
“Sharayah, I’m gonna help but I need to know that you’re okay with this. I’m a shifter. I can bite you and change you, but only if you agree. It’ll save you. Your panther can heal you. But only if you agree. We don’t have a lot of time,” I explain as I pull her into my arms.
“Do it, whatever you have to do. Just please don’t let me die. I’m not ready to die, Jude, please help me. Change me,” she whispers as she struggles for air.
That’s all I need to hear before my teeth elongate and I bite her shoulder triggering the change. Then I sit back and hold her as she still struggles to breathe, listening to the gurgling of blood in her lungs and airways. Then it happens, I can sense her panther.
Okay, buddy, this is where you come in. Talk to her panther, help her heal our mate.
You don’t have to tell me, I got this.
I sit holding her and listen as my panther talks to her, coaching her as she heals our mate.
Hello, you sexy sleek, kitten. I’m your mate. Your human side is dying, I need you to heal her. Please save her.
Mate?
Yes, love, I’m here. Let’s heal your human side.
Okay, I can do that.
And with that I listen as her breathing begins to slowly improve and her heartbeat gets stronger.
Jude, she needs to sleep. Let’s clean her up and then take our mate to bed where she’ll rest as she continues to heal.
How long will it take?
I don’t know. It all depends on her and her will to live.
Well if you haven’t noticed, our girl has fight in her. She’s our perfect match.
That’s why she’s our mate, dumbass.
Okay, Mister Know-it-all.
With that I scoop her into my arms and carry her to the shower. With no disrespect intended, I remove her clothes down to her sexy black lacy bra and matching panties and step into the
