“Adele. Listen... I got a bad feeling about this, alright? We're going to run for it. You stay behind me, let me provide cover. If anything happens, you turn around and get your pretty ass back in this house, is that clear? Don't come back out for me, Princess. No matter what you hear. No matter what you see. Promise me.” If he was injured or needed to fight his way out, he might not be able to withstand the urge to shift. Especially knowing his mate would be in danger.
He needed her to understand if shit went south, she needed to keep hidden. There was no time to call the club for backup. They were too far out in fucking no man's land for anyone to get here fast enough. Once the rogues realized they'd stay holed up until help came, they'd storm the place before backup arrived to take over. It was truly now or never. At least this way, they still had surprise on their side, as they'd been in here awhile so their exit would be unexpected.
Once the door opened, he took off, dragging Adele behind him. They didn't even make it halfway before he heard the growls and snarls of at least half a dozen cats. They'd never make it out on the bike. Turning, his wide eyes met Adele's, voice tense with fear, nearly shouting at her even though she was right on his heels.
“Get back in the house, now! Set the alarm. Don't open it for anyone but me. Go!”
Without a word, she took off, leaving Thian alone on the pavement. With a sinking heart, he turned, a muscle in his jaw twitching as the cat rose to the forefront. His mate was in danger, being threatened. They said a leopard couldn't change its spots, or its true nature. Today? They were going to see just how deadly a pissed off predator could be.
Chapter Three Hundred Ninety-Seven
The change came quicker than it ever had before, the cat seeming as if it'd been just under the surface, waiting for permission. He knew Adele was likely watching from the window, but he couldn't worry about that now. He'd deal with it later... if there was a later. His sole goal right now was to take out as many of these fuckers as he could before he went down, and prevent them from reaching Adele.
His own snarl joined the others as they rushed him en masse, fucking cowards, seeming to come from every direction. As soon as he forced one to back off, another was already nipping at his heels, or right at his shoulder. Ears flat against his head, he turned in a circle, amber eyes narrowed as he tried to keep an eye on all of them at once, as well as continue to present a moving target.
Searing pain made him roar, snapping back at the shifter who'd sank its teeth into his flank. Knocking him loose, Thian swiped out with a clawed paw at another, leaving bloody ribbons slashed into its side. This was no good. He had to start bringing down their numbers, or they were going to continue to wear him out until he couldn't fight any longer.
Going low to the ground, he pounced on the nearest one, rolling with it when it tried to dislodge the angry leopard on its back. That was what Thian wanted. As the shifter rolled, it exposed his throat, allowing Thian to bite down, breaking its neck in one swift bite. Blood splattered his muzzle and the concrete beneath them as he continued the roll, coming back up on his feet, belly low as he gave another warning growl.
One down. At least four left to go at the moment, unless more were waiting in the trees. He made short work of another as it tried to barrel into him head-on, all brawn and no fucking brains, apparently. The others, watching two of their fellow shifters fall, were being more cautious, staying out of range of claws and teeth as they circled him, seeming to be trying to find a weak point to attack. He had no doubt that when they did, it'd be all at once, attempting to overwhelm him. Unlike them, he had something far more important than illegal gains to fight for. He hoped that made a difference.
When the others made their move, they went down in a tangle of snapping teeth and claws, lean bodies fighting for dominance as they each attempted to bite and dig in wherever they could. Thian was at a disadvantage, being the only black leopard. It meant they wouldn't accidentally attack each other, as he made quite a striking target that couldn't be missed.
The carnage was absolute. In the end, he stood alone, limping on one paw. Minor gashes and claw marks were everywhere, his side torn open with deeper marks from the first who'd tried him. He hadn't emerged unharmed, but he'd emerged victorious. The ground was stained crimson in an arc around him, the lifeless bodies of the shifters laying discarded where he'd thrown them.
Moving over to sniff one, he paused, gaze zeroing in on its massive paws. What the hell was that? The cat's eyesight may be better for nocturnal excursions and detail, but for colors, it generally sucked. Forcing the cat to retreat, he groaned in pain as the shift was slower this time, muscles already shredded screaming in agony as they were forced to contort once more. One hand curled around his side protectively to attempt to staunch the bleeding as he knelt next to the rogue he'd been eyeing. Sand. There was sand packed in between the rogue's toe pads. As if he'd walked on it often.
Wincing as he stood, his mind raced. There were no sandy beaches in Kalmazoo. It was a bustling city, a college town. To get to the water, you had to leave
