by Jane Jamison
A flash of shock then quick realization registered on Wash’s face. He looked to Rusk for confirmation. “Is it true? Am I going to become like them? Like you?”
Rusk hesitated before answering. “Turning into a shape-shifter doesn’t mean you’ll change as a person.” He pointed to the dead men. “They were scum as humans and scums as weretigers. Who you are remains the same whether you’re a shifter or a human.”
Wash turned pale. “When? During a full moon? When will it happen to me?”
Rusk let out a long breath. “The next couple of days are going to rough. You won’t remember much, but you’ll get through them. Once you do, you’ll be changed.”
Wash was on his feet and pacing to the other side of the campsite before confronting Rusk again. “Isn’t there something you can do? Maybe an antidote? Anything?”
Rusk’s expression hardened, his eyes picking up amber again. “No. There’s no antidote and no cure. Hell, some people consider it an honor to become a weretiger. Sure, you should’ve been given the choice, but you weren’t. You’ll have to deal with it in your own way.”
“This is bullshit. Why the hell didn’t you tell me what we were tracking? What you are?”
“We don’t go broadcasting our existence.”
“Fuck you, Rusk. I’m your partner and your friend. You should’ve told me the second I put a foot on your land. And definitely once we got this assignment. Hell, that asshole Zan should’ve told me. Fuck. He knew, too, didn’t he?”
“Zan?” she asked, feeling as though she was interfering. Yet she had to know.
“Our superior,” answered Rusk. He met Wash’s hard gaze. “Yeah, he knew. Zan’s a werewolf, but he knows what I am and figured I was the best man for the job considering the convicts were tigers, too. I—I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell you. To show you. I guess I was putting it off, worried about how you’d react. As for this case? What was I supposed to do? Leave you behind? You’re my partner.”
“I’m your clueless partner.” Wash dragged a hand through his hair.
“How many of you are there?” she asked. Their superior with the agency was a werewolf, and Rusk was a weretiger. Soon Wash would be one, too.
“A lot scattered all over the world.” He gave Wash a look asking for understanding. “Most of the people in Twisted are weretigers. The rest are a mix of werepanthers, a few werewolves, and even a couple of vampires.”
“Vampires? Is it safe there after dark?” She’d wanted to visit Twisted, wanted them to take her to their home. But now? The world she’d felt comfortable in, the world she’d thought she could handle had changed.
He gave her a comforting smile. “Shape-shifters, even vamps, aren’t always the monsters they are in the movies. We’re just like humans. There are good ones and bad ones.”
Her mind reeled. Vampires. Werewolves. Weretigers. What next? Dragons?
“I should’ve known. Fuck, I’ve been so stupid. Some of the things I’ve seen around Twisted make sense now.” Wash let out a ragged breath. “You should’ve told me, man. I trusted you as my partner and my friend. If I’d known, I could’ve protected myself.”
“What would you have done differently, Wash? Bought some silver bullets?” Rusk’s jaw flinched as his temper showed on his face. “By the way, those don’t work on werewolves, and they sure as hell don’t work on tigers.”
“This is fucked up, man.”
“Maybe not.” Rusk stood, prompting her to get to her feet.
“What do you mean?” She wanted to find hope in the situation and searched him for an answer. What if she’d been the one who’d been bitten? Would she want to face a future as a shape-shifter? Or would she feel betrayed? Surprisingly, she didn’t find the idea fearful. Instead, it was exciting.
“Life isn’t bad being a weretiger. Think about it. You’ll have greater strength and be able to run faster, see better, and smell more while in your tiger body.”
“I’ll be an animal.” Wash groaned. “But I guess I don’t have a choice, do I? I didn’t get a chance to decide any fucking thing.”
“No. What’s done is done. I’m sorry, partner.”
For several minutes, the three of them retreated into their own thoughts. As confused as she was, she couldn’t imagine the turmoil Wash was experiencing.
“Will it hurt?” asked Wash in a tone that was calmer, more accepting.
Rusk nodded. “It’ll hurt like hell and you’ll be in and out of consciousness for a couple of days. Like I said, you won’t remember much. Afterward, though, you’ll feel better than you ever have.”
Wash brought his head up, jerking his attention from Rusk to her before zeroing again on his friend. “We were going to ask her to be with the both of us. Were you planning on telling her? Or was that a surprise for both of us on our wedding night?”
“Our wedding night?” She wasn’t sure how to react. Part of her grew angry, the urge to strike out rushing through her so hard she had to fist her hands. She glared first at Wash then at Rusk. They’d kept not only one secret from her but two. Yet, even as angry as she was, she couldn’t help but feel happy and thrilled that they wanted her.
“Damn it, Wash. Give this some time,” urged Rusk.
“No. Let’s get it all out in the open. No more secrets.” Wash strode toward Rusk, acting as though he was ready to punch him. Instead, he came to a stop and crossed his arms, his stance a challenge, a command. “Tell her.”
“This isn’t happening anything like we wanted it to go. It’s too much, too soon. Shit.” Rusk rubbed his palms on his legs, getting the dirt off his hands. “Darlin’—”
“Don’t call me darlin’. Not until you’ve told me everything.”
“Okay. Kendra, being a weretiger means that I’m connected to the woman who’s supposed to be my mate, my tiger wife. It’s a feeling that brings the man and woman together, telling them they belong together. It’s tough to explain, but if you’ve felt something between us, something different and very strong, then you’ll know what I’m talking about.”
She knew exactly what he meant. “Is it like a strip of invisible rope tying us together? Making us want each other in every way? Kind of like love at first sight, but so much more? And it’s emotional as well as sexual. Am I close?”
“Then you felt it.”
He hadn’t asked, and yet she couldn’t deny it. “Yes. I didn’t know what it was, but I didn’t care much, either. All I could think was that I had to get near you. To both of you.” Her gaze drifted to Wash. “But if it’s a shifter thing, then why do I feel the same way with Wash? If it’s this thing—”
“It’s called the connection,” interjected Rusk.
“If this connection brings weretigers and their intended mates together, then why do I feel anything for Wash? Why do I want him as much as I want you?”
“So you do want us? Even now? Are you sure?” For the first time since he’d been bitten, Wash’s expression lightened.
“Aren’t you?” If he had doubts, then maybe the bond between them wasn’t as strong as she thought it was.
“I’m not sure why it’s happening between you two.” Rusk paused to think. “Then again, no one understands everything about the connection. We accept what it is and trust our feelings. It’s instinct.”
“An animal kind of instinct that brings mates together? And weretigers can have it with humans?”
“Yes. With other weretigers or with humans.”
“Between two men and one woman?” She couldn’t help but smile. The odds were in her favor.
“Yeah. Most of the time. Although it’s sometimes a couple.” Rusk returned her smile. “And sometimes it’s more than two men.”
She couldn’t help it. Maybe it was the connection helping her to understand, but what he’d said made sense. The fear and anger were gone, replaced with renewed hope. “I might just like this whole connection thing.”
“Maybe you two connected because Wash is like a brother to me.
It’s not uncommon for brothers to be drawn to the same mate.” He rubbed his jaw, shaking his head. “Hell, I don’t know. I can’t explain it, but who the hell cares? Wash, tell her. Tell her you want her.”
The shirt wrapped around Wash’s injured arm was a blood-soaked mess, but he didn’t seem to be in pain any longer. In fact, he looked better than he had right after the attack. “Whatever’s going on doesn’t change the fact that I want you, too, Kendra. I feel something strange, but great, when I’m near you. Rusk is right. As long as I’m with you, I don’t care why it’s happening. The question is this. Do you want us?”
“You’re wrong. The first question that needs answering is this. What do we do with these two?” She needed time to think. Although her emotions were tumbling together, she already knew what she wanted. Still, she had to be sure.
Wash pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll give Zan a call and get some men out here. We’ll have to tell him we didn’t find the money. He’s not going to like it.”
“The money they stole?”
Both men turned toward her. “Yeah. Did they say something?”
“They did. They talked about a woman living in Lubbock and the money she has. I don’t know if it’s the stolen money, but it’s possible. They were planning on laying low until the heat died down. Then, once it was safe, they’d head back to town and get it from her.”
“Did they say what her name was?” Wash had held up making the call and waited for her answer.
“No. I’m sorry. If they did, I didn’t hear it.”
“At least it’s a lead. Go on. Call him.”
Wash punched in a few numbers then put the phone to his ear. He pivoted around and walked away, putting distance between them.
Rusk drew closer, tentatively at first. Then, when she stayed where she was, he took her into his arms. He exhaled, relief showing on his face. “What are you thinking, darlin’? Can I call you darlin’ now?”
“Yes.” Excitement burst to life inside her as it always did whenever he touched her.
“Do you understand what I’ve told you? Ask me anything you want.”
“I’m not sure it’s all sunk in yet.” She pressed her palms against his chest. “I understand what you said, and since I saw it with my own eyes, I believe it. At least, up here.” She pointed toward her head then brought her hand over her heart. “As for in here? I’m not sure what I feel.”
“Yes, you do.”
She sought out his eyes. Only a little amber flamed inside them now.
“You know you want us. Both Wash and me. I can see it in your face and the way you put your body next to mine.”
“I want you, yes. I’m just not sure I can be with you. You can change into a tiger.” She glanced at Wash, who still had the phone to his ear. “And now Wash is going to be like you.”
“I know it’s coming at you fast, but if you’ll listen to what you really want, you’ll know the answer.” He touched her hair. “It’s important you think about this, but don’t let your mind screw things up. Listening to all the fears and questions rumbling around in your head can get in the way of what you instinctively know is the right thing.”
He was right. Whenever she tried to think, the answer drifted farther away. When she pushed away the confusion, however, the answer was as clear as the bright sky above them.
“Close your eyes, darlin’.”
She did as he asked.
“Don’t think. Just answer. Do you love me?”
It was easy to give him her response. “Yes.”
“And Wash?”
“I love him, too.” She had to open her eyes then, had to see him. “But it’s too fast, too soon. We barely know each other.”
“That’s the beauty of the connection. It cuts through all the crap that keeps people apart. If more humans would trust their instincts, they’d find that love is really a simple thing. Knowing what colors you like or the name of your favorite movie doesn’t mean a damn thing. When you know a person, you feel it on the inside. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, I do. It’s like my grandmother used to say. ‘Honey, when you meet the one, you’ll just know.’”
“You do, don’t you? You just know.” His deep brown eyes melted into her.
“Yeah. I do.”
“Zan’s sending some men.”
She blinked and turned toward the other man she loved. “I love you, Wash.”
He stopped, stunned. Yet it took only a moment for him to recover. “I love you, too.”
“Then it’s settled.” Rusk slipped his arm around her as Wash came to her other side. “You’re our mate, and you’ll come home to live on our ranch.”
She leaned away from him and gave him a look. “Oh really? So is this the way it is for all mates? The males start bossing the woman around?”
Wash threw up his good arm and backed away. “I am so not getting into that argument with her.”
Rusk chuckled and pulled her against him. “We weretigers do like it our way.”
She squirmed out of his hold and hurried over to wrap her arm around Wash. “We’ll see about that. In the meantime, let’s get Wash to a doctor.”
“I don’t think I need to go any longer.” Wash unwrapped the bloody shirt around his arm, revealing an angry-looking gash. “It still looks bad, but it’s a lot better than it was.” Awe filled his voice. “I guess the shifter thing is already kicking in.”
“That’s amazing.” Tenderly, she touched his wound. The sizzle of attraction she felt with Rusk seared into her from Wash. He was hers as much as Rusk was.
“What about you, darlin’? Do you want to stay human? I can change you, if you want.”
She hadn’t thought that far ahead. “And I’d be a tiger, too?”
“A tigress, yes.”
A tigress. The idea was fascinating. As a nature lover, she’d often wondered what it would be like to run free over the land, to hunt with claws and fangs instead of a gun. “And what about kids? If you two want them, how does it work? Will they be tigers or human?”
“Yeah. What about kids? I always wanted a bunch of them. Four or five at least.” Wash shrugged. “I like big families.”
Her jaw dropped. “Four or five? I don’t know if I can handle so many.”
“However many you want is fine with me,” added Rusk. “As for what they’ll be, it’s anyone’s guess. They can be human, all shifter, or a mix. Does it make a difference?”
“No. As long as they’re healthy. But later. Damn, I can’t believe we’re talking about this. Like it’s no big deal. You’re a weretiger, and Wash is going to be one soon. And I’m your mate. It’s all too much.”
“Take it easy. No one expects you to get used to it all so fast.”
Her gaze flicked to the two men who lay dead. How could she have forgotten about them? “Are they coming soon?” She averted her gaze, unwilling to look at them any longer.
“They’re on their way.” Wash pulled her closer. “How about you and I go to your camp and finish packing up? Rusk can stay here and wait for the others to show up. It’ll save me from having to explain how I got an animal bite.”
“He’s got a point, darlin’. You two go on. I’ll handle things from this end.”
She nodded, wanting to get away from the gruesome scene. “Can we go home? I mean to your home? I’m going to need some time, but I want to be with you.”
Rusk and Wash exchanged a look. “Yeah, Wash. You go on and take her home. I’ll tell Zan you’re taking her statement and will bring it in tomorrow. He’ll want to talk to you, darlin’, but I’ll hold him off for now.”
“Thank you. I’m not sure if I could handle any questions tonight. I might say too much.”
“Then I’ll see you two later. Take care of her, Wash.”
She let Wash lead the way toward the slope. Looking back once, she found Rusk covering the bodies with blankets.
* * * *
“Wash, are you all right?” Kendra slipped Wash’s arm arou
nd her shoulder.
They’d made it back to Crooked Oak Ranch an hour earlier. Wash had given her a quick tour of the house and barn then taken her things into the third bedroom. Once she’d had time to think about her future, their future together, they’d decide which of the three bedrooms to use as their master.
“I don’t know. I was feeling better, but now I feel like someone punched me in the gut.” Wash leaned on her.
She helped him up the stairs. If they made it down the hallway to his bedroom before he collapsed, she’d consider it a small miracle. “Maybe the change is beginning.”
“I think you’re right.” He groaned then fell on top of the king bed. “I feel like shit.”
“Hang in there, okay? Try to keep from changing until Rusk gets here.”
“I don’t think I have any control over it.”
What would she do if Wash transformed before Rusk made it home? Rusk had said it would take a couple of days, but would Wash shift back and forth between human and tiger as the transformation came over him? She didn’t have any idea how to help him.
Wash moaned, his body jerking and twitching. He opened his eyes, showing amber taking over the black, then closed them and rolled onto his side.
“Wash, I don’t know what to do.” Rushing to the bathroom, she wet a hand towel and dashed back. If nothing else, she’d stay by his side, trying to comfort him as much as possible. Placing the washcloth on his head, she kept talking, trying to soothe him and telling him how much she loved him.
“Hang in there, Wash. Rusk will be here soon.” She glanced at the landline telephone next to the bed and willed it to ring. Rusk didn’t have her cell phone number, but why wasn’t he calling home to check on his friend and his mate?
She stayed with Wash, keeping his hot forehead as cool as she could. Perspiration dampened his clothes, and fighting against his involuntary spasms, she finally rid him of his clothes.
Stripping, she crawled into bed with him and did the only thing she could think to do. Curling her body next to his, she held him close. “I’m here, Wash. I’m here.”
* * * *
