by Bryce Evans
“You don’t talk much, do ya?” Caz said, walking outside. He couldn’t seem to leave her alone.
Raven sighed, “Only when I have something to say.”
“I get that,” Caz said, bringing her to stare at this strange man.
“What do you get?”
Caz sat in one of the rocking chairs, probably thinking of an answer. “You should have been a cat shifter. You watch and wait. I bet you are a great tracker. You have the patience for it. You don’t mind working alone. You avoid being around other people. I get that you’re not a big talker. Same with me.”
Raven snorted and looked out toward the woods.
“What? You think I talk too much?” Caz asked.
Turning, she stared at him. “I don’t know you enough to say that.”
“Then why are you acting so frosty?”
Raven narrowed her eyes at the tiger. “Frosty?”
“Yeah, you are. Almost to the point of being rude,” Caz said.
Immediately, she didn’t like the smirk on his face. “I’m not frosty and I’m not rude. I just—”
“What, you don’t have something to say.”
“Yes. That’s right. I don’t have anything to say.”
Caz got up and stood beside her. “What does it take to smile at someone or to say hello to them. I heard how rude you were to Jade today. Why? What did she do to you?”
Raven’s eyes turned to her animal. She jumped from the side of the tree house to the front porch. Landing, she stomped away. How dare this man who didn’t even know her accuse her of being rude. Jade this, poor Jade that. Nobody ever cared if she was upset or someone hurt her feelings.
She could hear him yelling at her to come back. Absolutely not. What a stupid man. Maybe she needed to take the next assignment. That was what she would do. Talk to the alpha.
Walking down the path, she heard something coming. She turned just in time for a bag to be thrust into her face. “You left this,” Caz said.
“Oh…” Raven took the bag and was about to turn around when he jumped in front of her.
“Frosty...see what I mean. You can’t even say thank you. Is it me or are you always like this?”
Raven shook her head. She wanted to call him a butthead, but she knew it would only keep him going. She inhaled and there it was again, peaches. “Do you wear cologne that smells like peaches?”
His nostrils flared. Finally, she got him with that one. “No. I don’t wear cologne. Most shifters don’t but you know that or at least you should know that.”
“Of course, I know that. I’m not stupid.”
“Then why on earth would you think I wore cologne that smells like peaches? Goodness woman, really?” he said sarcastically.
“Stop patronizing me. Okay, you don’t wear cologne. You can leave now.”
But the tiger didn’t leave. He stood there. He looked like he was contemplating something and she didn’t like it one bit. Before she could walk around him, he wrapped his arms around her and smashed her body against him and slammed his mouth over hers. Everything happened so fast, she froze.
Jerking his mouth away, his eyes had turned to his animal as he stared at her. A growl rattled up Caz’s throat. “Why do you make me so mad?” Then he kissed her again, but this time it was different. This time he pulled her close and held her like she was a piece of fragile china. His hands moved up her arms causing tiny storms to ignite inside her with each soft touch. Without thought, she opened her mouth allowing him entrance.
She had never tasted anything as sweet as these lips of Caz Milton’s lips. It was the sound of someone coming that jerked her away from this...What are you doing, Raven? How stupid can you be?
Raven realized she was still in his arms. “Let me go.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t like it,” Caz said, pushing his hands in the air, backing away as she stumbled backward.
It was as if he slapped her. “What? Hey, buddy, I’m not the one who kissed you.”
“Yeah, but you allowed me to kiss you, and in my book, that tells me you wanted it just as much as I did.”
Embarrassed, Raven could feel her face turning red. She had no recourse. Nothing to say that would take that smirk off his face. So, what did she do? Ran, and ran fast.
When she looked up, she was at the Dixon Pack property line. She knew Dixon pack guards were watching her from the trees, but they all knew her, and she also knew they would contact their alpha about her presence on their land. She calmly walked toward the alpha’s house. Why she thought Quinn would be the one to talk to was beyond her, but this was where she was headed. Unless the guards tried to stop her.
As she came to the house, Quinn sat on the front porch in the swing. Watching her as she approached. Her wolf eyes glowed in the dark. Wolves were a predator just like her, but Quinn Dixon was something different. She had magic and she wasn’t afraid to use it.
Raven slowly approached but stopped at the bottom of the steps. “Usually, people call before they show up.”
Blowing out a deep breath, Raven sat on the bottom step. “I know. I’m sorry, but I just—"
“What do you need, Raven? But why I should help you is beyond me. You’re rude and a total bitch, especially to Jade. She has been so nice to--”
Raven couldn’t control it anymore. She did the thing she hated the most...Cry. Not just a few tears but leaning over sobbing into her hands. Her life felt out of control.
“Hey, hey, it’s going to be okay.” Quinn was next to her with her hand on her head, slowly, her fingers played with her hair. She didn’t say anything further. Quinn just allowed her to cry it out.
“I hate people who cry. I hate myself right now for being so weak,” Raven said. She was disgusted with herself. How did she let this happen?
“Nah, we all have our moments. It’s just your turn.”
Raven jerked her head up. “But it doesn’t happen to me.” Pointing at herself, she cried out, “Never!”
“Umm, Raven, exactly what happened to you?” Then Quinn did something that gave her secret away, she leaned in and took a big sniff of her. That’s when Raven realized she should have kept on running and never stopped. “Oh...Oh...Wow, you’re definitely right. I never saw that one coming.”
“I didn’t maim or rip his arms off. Nothing. Just let him manhandle me. Just like a stupid girl with her first kiss.”
“Really? That was your first kiss?” Quinn’s eyes were no longer her wolf, now they were as big as saucers.
Raven shook her head. “Of course not. I just…”
“Hey, look at me.” Quinn snapped her fingers getting her to look at her. “So what if it is? Everyone has their first kiss and it’s always a disaster.”
“But it wasn’t. Well, at first, I didn’t know what was happening since he was so fast, but then the second time, he took his time and I’ve never felt like that before. His lips were so soft and he tasted like peaches. Who tastes like peaches? But he did. Then he spoke and it ruined the moment.”
Quinn busted out laughing. “Ahh, this is so sweet. You like him. The big fat head tiger.”
“I do not. And he doesn’t have a fat head.”
“Have you seen him shift yet?”
Raven shook her head.
“After you do, then we will talk. Let’s talk about why you are so upset about him kissing you. You said you liked it.”
Her cheeks had to be a bright red. Even though it was already dark, shifters could see just fine and Quinn didn’t miss much. “Hey, talk to me. Let’s make this easy and you tell me what you dislike about him.”
Rolling her eyes, Raven looked off into the dark. “He is so arrogant and rude. He acts like he has a secret. He just talks to me when he knows I want to be alone.”
“Now that sounds like someone else I know, but continue,” Quinn said.
She scrunched up her face and stared at the woman. “Who? Me?”
“Yes, you are probably the rudest person I’ve ever met, and
let me tell you, I’ve met a lot. Plus, you think you are so much better than everyone else. Including your alpha’s mate. Who, by the way, could probably kill us all with that magic inside of her. But she still likes you. Why, I don’t know, because, Raven, you just described yourself and Jade still wants to be friends with you. So you tell me, why do you treat her like that?”
Raven glanced at Quinn and then toward the ground. She was already out on a limb by coming to Quinn, might as well go on farther. “Growing up, I never had friends. The girls didn’t want to be my friend and the boys were scared of me. Except one girl, Sissy Jacobs.
“At first, everything was great. She came to my house and we would dress up each other. Then the popular girls at school took her in and from that day on, she never looked at me, never acknowledged me. It became easy to be invisible around others. The less they saw me, the better. I controlled that. Not them. Me.”
“But, Raven, that doesn’t make an excuse for why you are so rude to Jade.”
“Because once she gets to know me, she will run too, back to the popular girls. Like you and Simone, Alex, Greer. I could go on, but what’s the use. I’m just not the friend type. I keep her at bay, so I don’t get hurt.”
Quinn was so silent even the crickets stopped chirping. She glanced up and found a blank look on her face. It was the silence that worried her the most. “Quinn, what is it?”
“That was such a personal memory, Raven. I want to cry for you. That girl was never your friend, but we are. Jade is. But you have to take a chance and let us in. Just like right now, you are telling me things about you that I never would have imagined. I’m so proud of you.”
“You’re not going to kiss me, are you?” Raven asked, smiling.
Blowing out a deep breath, Quinn shook her head. “Then you say some prissy remark to cover up your vulnerability. Stop doing that and start being a friend. And if you came here for my advice on Caz Milton, well, you might want to ask Jade. She knows the Milton’s better than anyone. I think she would be delighted if you just talked with her. Instead of giving her one-word answers and then leave her standing there as she tries to talk to you. Now run home and think about all of this. We will talk later. My show is coming on. So scat, bear.”
Raven stood and watched as Quinn left her standing as she went inside her house.
What just happened? Now she would be the laughing stock of the packs. Quinn would tell everyone what she said and everyone would know about school and Caz Milton. Why did the fat head tiger kiss her? Why?
Caz sat at the kitchen table of the pack house. He needed to know she was okay. Everyone was in their rooms or gone. Why did she push his buttons so much? Why did you kiss her, you idiot? The growl rattled up his throat in response.
Calm down, big fella. I know you like her, but she is a pain.
But she’s pretty and strong. Exactly what we need.
Gasping from his tiger’s response, Caz started coughing. Never had his tiger made such a demand. He’d never been interested in a woman before, at least not long. But Raven made his blood boil and turned his instincts to protect her into overdrive.
He straightened when he heard the front door open then close. Any minute now, she would pass by to go to her bedroom. Instead, it was his alpha.
“Caz?”
“Where is everyone?”
“Town, in their rooms, I guess.”
Lennox grabbed a mug off the counter and filled it with coffee and sat. “So, how are you fitting in with the hunters?”
“It’s been great, Alpha. The guys have welcomed me in.”
“Except?”
Shaking his head, he said, “No, I’m serious. They have been great.”
“What about Raven?”
Caz looked away from the alpha. “She’s fine.”
Lennox started laughing. “I never thought I would see the day that our little hellion would mate with a hunter.”
Caz’s mouth fell open. “No, sir, Alpha. I wouldn’t mate her. She’s...she’s--”
“I’m what? Go ahead...finish your statement,” Raven spit out as she stood at the kitchen door with her arms crossed. Mad was an understatement. Fire sparkled from her eyes and all that anger was directed at him.
Lennox never moved. He only had one eyebrow up as if he was also waiting for him to finish what he was saying. If he had the nerve.
He had the good sense to know where all his exits were if Raven decided to shift. And the woman might just do it, if the look on her face gave him an indication. The look said that she was going to enjoy ripping the skin from his bones. No doubt, Raven was a predator.
“I’m glad you are here, Raven. Come sit down. I need to go over a case with you both.” Lennox pulled a chair out for her, but never glanced in her direction. Of course, she was still glaring at him.
Raven never said another word. But the look on her beautiful face said, just wait, just wait.
“The council has gotten more information on the shifter trafficking case. Since Caz has knowledge of how they are operating, I’m letting him take Leo’s place.”
“What?” Raven jumped up. Her voice was high and almost to the point of shifting.
Caz was about to agree with her when the alpha growled and she quietly sat. “Now, it’s settled, and I expect the both of you to learn to play nice together. I’m sure with the both of you on this, we will find out who is behind this and where they are taking the shifters. This has gone on too long. I can only pray that the ones taken are still alive. I need for you to come up with a plan on what your next steps are.”
They both watched as the alpha got up and walked out the door. Raven stared at the table, but he could feel how angry she still was.
“Leo said you had a contact we could use to find the location. How do you want to play this?”
Raven’s green eyes glared up at him. “I don’t want to play with you at all. I don’t know why the alpha even wants you in on this. It was our informant. Not yours.”
“Maybe so, but the alpha wants me on it. Are we going to have a problem, Raven?”
Tilting her head to the side, Caz could see the fumes coming out of her before she replied, “No. I’ve got a phone call to make.” He watched as the beautiful Raven walked out of the kitchen.
Probably to call the informant, didn’t matter, but he would need to watch this little bear like a hawk or she would run and leave him sitting here. Raven was the type who didn’t think she needed his help. Caz knew differently. These people they hunted were not the regular bunch who were nickel and dime thieves. These were shifters and humans who were out for money and would kill anyone who got in their way. With that being said, he got up and followed her outside.
He listened to her side of the conversation and he could hear Raven as her temper flared. He pitied the person on the other end. She was probably going to rip his throat out when she saw him next.
“I heard you, Archie. The question is did you hear me or better yet my claw is just itching to slash more skin. I’m just about to start the hunt. I better hear something from you by tomorrow, do you understand?”
He listened but Raven never said another word. As she slipped the phone back in her pocket, he went back to the kitchen. Tomorrow she would have some information. Right now, the little warrior needed to calm down. He needed to call in some friends.
Chapter Five
“Do you think it was smart to force them together?” Cosmo asked Lennox.
Lennox glanced out the window, watching Raven walk around the house. She was angry at him, but she had to learn to work with Caz, and he knew he was right about them. “They’re mates. I know it.”
“Maybe so, but right now, they don’t know that, and Raven looks fit to be tied. She scares me when she gets like that. Almost out of control. Don’t you remember what happened last time?”
Getting up, Lennox stood beside his friend. “I dreamed about the match. For the past week, I dreamed about them being together.”
“
Let’s hope you’re right, man, because if you’re not, we may be short one tiger hunter,” Cosmo insisted.
“I think he can handle her. At least this is what I’m betting on.”
Cosmo snorted. “Forgive me if I don’t take that bet.”
She loved living at the pack house, now he would be living here too. She could already tell he was going to be a pain in her butt. Marching down the hallway, Raven slammed the door to her bedroom. It was her and Leo’s case and now she had been paired with a newbie. This wasn’t fair. She sat down hard on her bed and stared at herself in the mirror, trying to calm down.
Why, why was this happening to her? She didn’t understand why Lennox put her with Caz instead of her brother. The person she knew in and out. The only person she trusted completely.
Knock, knock, knock.
Raven glanced up as her brother stuck his head around the door. “You got a minute?”
“I guess you heard?”
Leo sat beside her. They both stared at each other in the mirror. “Yeah, but I think this is a good idea, Raven.”
“What?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I can’t believe you think that. This is the worst thing that could happen. He’s the worst. Rude, constantly belittling me, judges me. I don’t like Caz Milton at all. So tell me again how this could be good.”
“Because you like him and he likes you.”
This time she jumped up and stared at her brother. “I do not. I just counted off all the things I couldn’t stand about him. Where do you come up with this stuff?”
“Foreplay. He is always following you and trying to be where you are. I see the way he looks at you and when nobody's looking, I see the way you look at him. But you are fighting it. This way you get to know each other and then we will see where this will go.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Knocking on the side of his skull, Raven shook her head. “Are you sick? I don’t like him and don’t you dare tell a soul what you said to me. I mean it, Leo.”
