“Want me to turn around and go see what’s up?” Banshee asked. The woman was always looking for a reason to fight.
“No. Not with Kendra here.”
“What?” Kendra shouted.
“Was asking if you were okay?” I lied.
“Oh,” she laughed. “I’m great.”
The car gaining speed and closing the distance behind us took my attention away from Kendra. Something was definitely wrong. This wasn’t just some speeder. This driver had another purpose and I had a feeling we were that purpose.
“Kendra, hold on to me as tight as you can and don’t let go. No matter what.”
“Roark, what’s wrong?” Kendra asked while holding me tighter. “You’re scaring me.”
“Don’t be scared, sweetheart. I won’t let anything happen to you… Promise.”
“Okay. I trust you.” Those were magic words to me. Nothing in this lifetime would cause Kendra pain. Not as long as blood ran through my veins.
We were now speeding down the empty highway with the car closing the distance. On each straightaway, I’d glance over my shoulder to see how far the car was. It was finally a quarter of a mile or less away. It was a black sedan with tinted windows.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to handle this?” Banshee asked.
“Not with Kendra here,” I growled.
“What?” Kendra asked.
“Nothing. Sorry,” I muttered. “We’re about a mile away from a gas station. We’ll pull in there. Okay?”
“Okay,” Banshee and Kendra said in unison, making me chuckle.
“Roark! Look out!” Kendra screamed as the car came up beside us and crossed the yellow line. I slammed on my brakes. The car missed hitting the side of my bike and instead hit the front tire. The bike spun and flew into the air. Kendra’s screams filled my ears and all thought or reasoning left me.
Adrenaline filled my body and I shifted into my large snow leopard form. Instinct caused my large paws to wrap around Kendra as I braced for impact. My back hit the ground like a ton of bricks. The ground caved under my weight. Several of my ribs cracked from the force, but that was the least of my worries. We rolled down the embankment and finally came to a stop.
I looked down between my arms to find Kendra looking up at me with wide eyes.
“Roark?” she asked looking me over. “You’re… You’re a…”
I wanted to shift and explain everything, but my body was trying to heal my injuries.
“Roark? Are you okay?” She sat up and began patting over my white fur. Spots of my fur were covered in blood. It wasn’t much blood or at least not to me. “Oh my god! Help! Someone… help! Banshee! Someone!”
Kendra went full panic mode on me. I nuzzled my head against her to let her know I was okay. She had tears sliding down her cheeks. I began to shift back to human form.
“Don’t you dare!” Banshee yelled at me as she leaped down into the embankment. “He’s fine, Kendra. His body is trying to heal. Once he’s healed. He’ll change back and talk. Okay?”
“Okay,” Kendra sobbed and held onto me tightly. My body was nearly healed, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like having her care for me.
“He’s fine. Trust me. I’ve seen him take four bullets to the chest,” Banshee complained. Her lack of empathy earned her a roar from me.
“Bullets!” Kendra shrieked and looked down at me. “Who in the fuck are you people?”
311
Kendra
Banshee and Roark both tried to calm me down. But the closer they tried to get the worse I reacted. I wasn’t proud of my actions but who would fault me for it really? Hell, as the facts of what had happened crystalized in my mind, my heart began to race in my chest and breathing increased. It was either put distance between myself and them or have a full-blown panic attack.
I knew what I saw. Roark had been a huge white cat. The type of cat I’d only ever seen at a zoo. If I hadn’t seen and felt him with my own eyes and hands, I wouldn’t have believed it. My mind was chaotic but one thing was crystal clear… the MC was called Dark Leopards for a reason which meant… they were all like Roark.
I slowly inched away from them. It was difficult to keep my eyes on them when I was trying to find a way to the road and I felt like bawling. My body ached from the impact of our tumble down into the ravine.
“Kendra,” Roark called my name as he struggled to get to his feet.
“You shifted too soon, dumbass,” Banshee hissed at him.
Yep, she had to be one of them, I thought as I found some rocky ground that would allow me to climb.
Before I could get up the side more than a foot, Banshee was right behind me. How’d she move so fast? I was fucked. Now that I knew, they weren’t going to let me leave. Tears streamed down my face.
“Banshee…” Roark called out. “Let her go.”
At those words, I focused on climbing and scurried up the embankment and onto the road.
Several of the bikers were milling about and I must have had some scary-ass look on my face because they all backed up and held out their hands in surrender. I ignored them and frantically looked around.
Roark had said something about a gas station ahead. If I went there, maybe someone could give me a lift back to my shop. I picked up the pace and was soon panting with exertion. I almost cried when I finally saw the tiny gas station because I had a stitch in my side and felt on the verge of collapse.
“Miss…” An older gentleman asked as I walked in the door.
“I need a ride,” I gasped each word as I practically collapsed against the counter in front of him.
“Are you okay, miss?” he asked as he reached under the counter and then walked around it.
“Yes… I ran...my boyfriend…” – what the hell
