Staking Their Claim

by Rebecca Airies

  “It dropped to freezing a couple days last week. Didn’t rain, though. When I walked out of the house, I took two steps, hit a patch of ice, and my feet slid out from under me. I hit the sidewalk and slid right into the wall. I heard a crack and then pain. God, so much pain.” Penny sighed and swiveled to lean back against the car.

  “How could the sidewalk be icy if it didn’t rain? Did someone help you to the hospital?” Maggie’s questions came rapid fire.

  “I don’t know. The officer that came seemed to think it was a kids’ prank. An ambulance carried me to the hospital.” Penny took a deep breath.

  “Penny, no short answers. I don’t care what some stupid police officer thinks. I care what you think. Who would put water on a sidewalk and let it freeze overnight?” Maggie prodded.

  Penny shook her head. “Maybe I can call and talk to you about all of this when I get home.”

  “You don’t have my number, Penny, not until you find that password. They would have told me if you were lying.” Maggie chuckled.

  “You could tell me the number.” Penny’s shoulders slumped.

  “Not yet, I want you to talk now. They’re my brothers and you know John, so there’s no reason to keep anything to yourself,” Maggie urged.

  “Yeah, but one of your brothers isn’t simply your brother.” Penny glanced at Ethan. “He’s the alpha cougar.”

  “Penny, stop stalling,” Maggie growled.

  “It could be one of two things. Before I left the house, I’d been getting strange text messages, sent weird gifts, as well as creepy emails. It could be the person behind that. Or it could be one of the women at the house.” Penny rubbed at the thigh of the leg in the cast.

  “You don’t think the women in the house are behind the email, gifts, and such?” Maggie asked.

  “No, that started before they came into the picture.” Penny tugged at the bottom of her jacket.

  Ethan inhaled. A little fear joined the pain tempering her luscious scent. What had happened at the house that she thought the women might be behind an incident that broke her leg?

  “Okay, Penny, what happened to make you leave?” Maggie prodded.

  “The events of the day I broke my leg were the last straw. I couldn’t stay there anymore. I called the number Chloe gave me. James Dixon, the realtor, had a house I could move in that day as long as I had the deposit and first and last. I have a couple of friends who contacted some other people and they helped me move.” Penny waved her hand.

  “Details. Not generalizations.” Ethan narrowed his eyes. She had her reasons and she’d tell them every one of them.

  She tensed and her hand clenched.

  “Don’t go all mutinous silent, Penny.” Maggie’s voice came from the phone. “I need to know what happened. You wouldn’t have left simply because they were jerks.”

  “I deal with jerks daily.” Penny’s gaze narrowed on Ethan. “If they’d only been rude, I’d still be ignoring them.”

  “What did they do?” Maggie asked.

  “It started off with the irritating stuff. Parties to all hours of the night every day of the week. People over who were constantly making comments. You know the kind, Mags. Playing with your food. I hadn’t heard that from any of the whyr in Casworth. Not even the foxes.” Penny sighed.

  How long had she dealt with that crap? He winced. Even worse, it had come from some of his cougars. A friend of his other sister, Candice, had taken over half the rent when Maggie left for her job in Deville. If that was the start, what had they done later?

  “What else happened?” Griffin stepped forward.

  “My stuff started disappearing. The food I didn’t mind so much. That’s kind of to be expected once in a while, but then there was the money and my iPad. Money disappeared several times. When my iPad disappeared, I bought a safe and put it in my trunk. After I got that, I never took my purse inside the house again and if I took my work computer inside, I took it back out after I finished my work.” She shook her head. “It got to the point that I only took my phone in because I needed it if I was called in to the clinic.”

  If he couldn’t smell her sincerity and the fear, he might have doubted the story. But the truth was plain. Some of his cats had tormented his mate.

  “What else happened?” Ethan shoved his hands in his pockets.

  She shot him a narrow-eyed glance. “Subtle and not so subtle threats against me and my pet cat. My glasswork was broken and some of my tools taken. What sealed it was what happened that day. After I fell, I dragged myself back to the door. The cat carrier didn’t hit as hard as I did or pop open. My phone broke in the fall. The screen cracked and it wouldn’t come on. I couldn’t use that, but there was a phone in the house. I put my key in the lock and managed to unlock it, but it wouldn’t open.”

  “Was she in there?” Griffin braced a hand on his hip.

  “She and her friends. They didn’t open the door. They sounded like they were right there. Talking about how wounded prey was easy prey. Even if they were just being asses, I couldn’t stay there. One of the neighbors came, helped me to her house, and called the police and ambulance. She kept Minnie while I was treated.” Her shoulders slumped.

  “So you moved out. Now, don’t think I’ve forgotten about the references to other danger. Has there been more than notes, emails, and gifts?” Maggie asked.

  “One of my car windows was broken by a rock that had one of those notes taped to it, but so far that’s it. There have been a few possibly strange things at my new house, but I’ve fixed the windows. No one can get in without breaking one of them and the doors are locked. So that’s probably a little paranoia.” She waved her hand, but quickly grabbed her crutch.

  “Tell me about the strange things.” John straightened. Tension corded his body.

  “Mostly things moving from where I last remembered them. Like my brush, I don’t walk around with it. Can’t really right now. I brush my hair in the bathroom. I came home and it was in the kitchen. On top of that, I went to the gas station yesterday after I got home, because I’d forgotten to fill up and didn’t want to chance running out of gas. When I came back, Minnie was freaked and staring toward a closet.” Penny straightened away from the car.

  “How about I check your home? It might be nothing, but I’d like to make sure,” John offered.

  “All right, it would make me feel safer if I knew for sure that no one had been there.” She nodded. “Since I’m finished shopping, I need to go pick up Minnie from the clinic.”

  She swung the black and purple purse forward and dug in the big thing. Ethan took a deep breath. It would be so much easier if she’d let someone else dig it out.

  She pulled out a key and leaned forward. As she did, her crutch slid out, unbalancing her. She gasped and fell. Ethan’s stomach dropped. He lunged forward, trying to catch her, but he didn’t make it. She hit the ground and screamed. The sound ripped through him, raising the hair on his arms. Oh, damn, no. She doubled over and clutched at the cast on her leg.

  Ethan knelt beside her. The tinge of pain flared into a full-on assault on his senses. Dawson dropped into a crouch and helped her sit up.

  “Did you hit your leg or is it pain from the jolt?” Dawson asked.

  “I hit it. I think the bone shifted.” She looked up. Tears glittered in her eyes.

  “I’ll take you to the hospital.” Dawson eased closer. “Do you have a doctor?”

  “A GP and a gynecologist, but neither of those took care of my leg. The on call doctor set it when I was injured. His name was Buckley, I think.” She frowned.

  “He’s a quack.” Ethan shook his head. No way was that man fixing this. “I’ll make a call and have Judge meet you at the hospital.”

  “I can’t leave my cat at the clinic.” She shook her head.

  “We’ll pick her up. I’ll go with John and we can do that before we check your house. Griffin will store your groceries and meet you at the hospital.” Ethan blew out a breath. She wasn’t living a
lone with that stalker around.

  Her life and theirs would change. The broken leg would probably throw their plans to claim her off. The break might need time to heal. Dawson could ask.

  She bit her lip. “All right, I’ll text my friend and she’ll hand Minnie over to you.”

  “Good, let’s go. Hand Griffin your keys so he can take your car.” Dawson lifted her, cradling her against his body.

  She passed Griffin her car keys.

  “Dawson, I’ll call your phone so I can talk with Penny more.” Maggie’s voice came from the phone Griffin still held.

  “All right, I’ll give it to her once we’re in the car.” Dawson carried Penny and put her in the front passenger seat. He handed her his phone.

  Ethan strode over and knelt beside her. “We’ll take care of everything. Don’t worry and we’ll call if we have any questions.”

  She frowned. Maybe she didn’t understand, but she would. It would just take time.

  Chapter Three

  Dawson took a deep breath as Ethan straightened and shut the door to the car. Her pain filled the air, driving his cat insane. How long had she faced danger alone?

  “Ask Judge about the change and if we should wait on it. I don’t want her hurt by changing her too soon. I’ll call Maggie quickly to talk to her. I’d like her to suggest Penny moving in. There’s no way I can let her stay away from us.” Ethan shook his head. His voice was low enough that Penny shouldn’t hear.

  “I’ll make sure to get Judge alone and ask.” Dawson nodded. “Hopefully, Maggie will be able to talk her into it.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Maggie will get her to see that she shouldn’t be alone.” Ethan put his hand on Dawson’s shoulder. “Get her to the hospital.”

  Dawson took a deep breath and strode around the car. Have to calm down. Fuck, he hadn’t even formally met her yet and he wanted to hold her. He clenched his hands. The danger surrounding her raised his hackles and every protective instinct. He couldn’t pick her up and keep the world away from her. Not practical or feasible.

  He opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat. Her peachy scent filled the car. He buckled his seatbelt, closed the door, and turned to her.

  “I know you heard my name, Penny, but I’m Dawson.” Dawson smiled. His mate shouldn’t ever think of him as just some guy.

  “Maggie’s brother who was overseas.” Penny exhaled. She drew in deep breaths. “It’s good to meet you. Maggie’s told me a little about you.”

  “Yes, that’s me. Right now, I’m wishing I’d come back earlier.” Dawson turned and started the car.

  He pulled out. Maybe he could have kept her out of some of this trouble. For sure, she wouldn’t have been crawling on the sidewalk with a broken leg. Those damn bitches. This was perilously close to a shifter on human hate crime. If Ethan didn’t make those women pay for what they’d done, he would.

  They probably hadn’t heard even half of what happened. She’d held back. But perhaps she’d talk more to Maggie. Why hadn’t she already called?

  They were almost halfway to the hospital when the phone rang. Penny swiped her finger across it and answered the call.

  “Hi, Mags, did you get caught up in work?” Penny asked.

  A feminine voice mumbled on the other end of the line, but the words were unintelligible. Too bad Maggie wasn’t on speakerphone now. On the other hand, Penny might be more relaxed this way.

  “No need to be all suspicious like that. You know I didn’t lie.” Penny relaxed back in the seat.

  Dawson frowned. Was Maggie implying that Penny had misled them? He’d have smelled even a half lie. Every word had been true.

  “No, I didn’t mention every little thing that had happened. You know why, too. Not that they needed to know everything.” She shook her head.

  Much later, they’d have a discussion about that. Why would she not reveal everything to them? He didn’t understand. She should trust Ethan and Griffin.

  “Maggie, you know exactly why. Don’t act like you don’t. It’s a fact and you know it.” Penny scowled. Her eyes narrowed and she stared out the window. “You’re the one who first told me about the whyr and everything that goes with being able to shapeshift into an animal.”

  Penny stiffened. Words weren’t necessary. Maggie was challenging her.

  “Maggie, you know. Why are you acting so obtuse?” Penny shifted in the seat a little and winced before settling back. “I’m human. They’re whyrcougars. He’s the alpha of the cougars. What they say has more worth than what I say. They’re pride and I’m nothing.”

  Dawson’s hands clenched on the steering wheel. She should never have believed that about herself. What the hell were Griffin and Ethan doing around her that she thought something done to her wouldn’t fucking matter simply because the other people were damn cougars? His brothers had a lot to answer for. A mate, even unclaimed, surpassed everyone.

  “It is true. The fact that I’m your friend means shit when it comes to pride. You talked about it before. It’s just this time I’m caught up in the situation. I got out and it’s over.” Penny shook her head. “Relax, Mags.”

  Apparently, Maggie didn’t relax. Penny was silent for a while.

  “Mags, you’re worrying about something that’s not even a solid threat.” Penny drummed her fingers on the seat. “Yes, John’s worried, but I don’t know if it’s necessary.”

  Maggie was probably telling her that she shouldn’t stay on her own. Dawson nodded. It would be better if they didn’t have to confront her with everything. Their plans might be put on hold by this injury. A shifter didn’t mess around with a broken limb. They didn’t heal as slowly as humans, but a human having a newly broken leg before the change could be a bad thing.

  “Mags, number one, they haven’t said anything about that and I wouldn’t just expect it of them. Number two, I don’t really know them. I’ve said hello to Griffin and Ethan maybe a dozen times since I moved here and not much else. Hell, it was two meetings in before they introduced themselves. Before that, I thought of them as your brothers, nameless, but there to shift heavy furniture.” Penny ran a hand through her hair.

  Silence filled the car. Maggie probably was trying to get Penny to see sense.

  Penny sighed. “If they find anything to be worried about and if they say something about it, I’ll say yes. But I won’t force them into a position they don’t want to be in. You’re my friend, but that’s all I am to them.”

  Oh, so very wrong. If she wasn’t in pain and in need of a doctor, he’d show her how wrong she was. With Maggie’s help, they would have her in their home. Ethan would find a way to get her there.

  Dawson pulled up and parked in a spot near the emergency room. He got out and ran around the car. His stomach knotted. Would he be able to let another male touch her, even if it was to help?

  He lifted Penny out of the car and strode to the emergency room doors. Hopefully, Judge was here or, at least, close. He carried her in and got the ball rolling. No other doctor would take care of her. He went back out to get the crutches.

  Judge arrived as Dawson carried in the crutches. Judge was a whyrbear as well as a great doctor. He should be able to answer any questions they had.

  A nurse came and wheeled Penny back to a treatment room. Dawson followed along until Judge appeared at the other end of the hallway. Dawson lagged, but stopped outside of Penny’s room. He eased a little farther down the hall. Penny shouldn’t be able to hear them, but he could still see the door.

  Judge strode down the hallway, a tablet in his hand. He stopped next to Dawson.

  “Good to see you, Dawson. I’m glad you’re back.” Judge looked behind them. “Is Penny in the room?”

  “Two doors down, but I wanted to ask you something and didn’t know if my brother had done it already. I haven’t talked to him. Penny has my phone and until a few moments ago was talking with Maggie.”

  “What do you need to know?” Judge frowned.

  “I’m
sure Ethan told you Penny’s our mate and needs to be tested, but if she’s broken her leg again, will we need to wait to change her? I don’t want to cause her any harm by doing it too early. We’re waiting to tell her until we can mate with her.” Dawson glanced back to the door.

  “If the bone has come out of place, you’ll have to wait four weeks or more. If it stayed, maybe three weeks, maybe less. Ethan told me about the rest. You better get in there with her before she starts wondering where you disappeared to.” Judge smiled. “I’ll be there soon.”

  Dawson nodded and walked back to Penny’s room. He pushed the door open and hurried inside.

  “Sorry, Penny, I had to go to the restroom.” Lying to her sucked, but he couldn’t tell her that he’d been asking about how long they’d have to wait to claim and change her. She probably wouldn’t believe him. Yes, claiming was intense, but when a mate was hurt, that instinct could be tempered by the need to take care of her.

  “That’s all right. I did wonder what happened, but was pretty sure you’d be back.” She took a deep breath.

  “How’s your pain?” Dawson sat down in a chair beside the bed.

  “Still bad, but it won’t get better until I get something for it or can take the medication I have at home.” Penny clenched her hand.

  The door opened and Judge strolled in the room. He ambled over to the bed and smiled at her. Dawson clenched his jaw. Judge is mated and happy. He doesn’t want her. The reminder didn’t help much.

  “Hi, Penny. They tell me you had a bad fall. It’s definitely swelling.” Judge glanced at her toes and the skin above the cast. “We’ll need to get some scans of that leg to see if the bone shifted.”

  “That would be good, because this really hurts.” She grimaced.

  “When was the last time you had pain medicine?” Judge asked.

  “Last night for the prescribed meds. I took some Tylenol this morning.” She shook her head. “The meds make me a little woozy so I can’t drive and take them. And I can’t take them at work, because I need to think clearly.”