by Dakota Wolf
"No..." I repeated. Memories came flooding back to me. Painful and...more painful. The werebear! He'd gotten away!
"Looks like they took all your stuff." He shook his head. "Sarge ain't gonna like that."
Sarge? Oh, that's right. A cop. I'm a cop. Or, at least I thought I was one.
When I realized that my prey had gotten away, I bolted upright. But had to lay back down as darkness threatened to overwhelm me again. Then they would take my ass to the hospital.
"We...have to find him." I said, my voice sounding like a raven who'd just swallowed broken glass.
"Find who?"
"The...bear..." I rubbed my head, trying to get my bearings. "Here," I stretched out my hand, "help me to my feet."
Dan was a werewolf and normally would not have been able to pull me up. But I was in no condition to resist. He yanked me to my feet and held me still as the world swam around me.
"Let's get him!" I pounded my fist into my palm.
Dan furrowed his brow and looked around. "Get who? The bear? Yeah, we've got an APB on him. He won't escape."
I shook my head vehemently, causing my vision to swim. "No!"
"No? You sure you're feeling all right there, boss?"
"I want him. He's mine." I growled low and deep and they all stepped back. No one wanted to fuck with an angry lion.
Sam
"Where are we going?" I asked the bear as we slowed and rounded into a narrow forest road. My ears were still ringing and my body was still vibrating from the ride. Even though I knew I was likely going to my eventual death, I was not afraid.
"You'll see." He growled and repositioned me.
On the ride over, I'd had a lot of time to ponder the werelion's scent. I knew nothing about him. Who he was, where he came from or why that scent spoke to me. It was hard to think with the bumps of the uneven terrain jostling me around. A couple times I actually thought I was going to fall, but Edgar was the strongest man I'd ever met and he just tightened his grip and repositioned me.
My mind replayed the scene of Edgar knocking the werelion out. He'd got him good. I found myself hoping that he'd be all right. Why? Why did I suddenly care for some random werelion?
I shook my head and tried to keep myself from getting too dizzy as I'd been hanging upside down over Edgar's shoulder for awhile now. Though the brief memory faded, the scent - the werelion cop's scent - lingered on. Was that a touch of arrogance I smelled? Then again, lions were nothing - if not - arrogant.
"Hang on!" Edgar barked as he kicked the cycle into high gear, revving it up as he raced on down the bumpy trail. My world spun and I felt as though each bump was going to be my last.
My stomach growled and my heart beat savagely in my chest as fear gripped me. A light rain began to fall and I could feel his grip loosening.
This was it! I knew it. I closed my eyes and prayed to every cat God they tried to teach me about in Sunday School. What were their names again?
The bear whizzed down the bumpy, now-wet path, the bike revving as high as it could go. But there was something following us. Was it friend or foe? Whatever it was, Edgar was running from it.
If a massive werebear was running from something, the chances that it was dangerous were high. But what could it be?
As the chase wore on, the roads became slicker and Edgar's erratic driving became more pronounced. I kept my eyes closed. Was that a tree limb that just passed my whiskers. What are you doing? I mentally screamed at the stupid bear. You're going to get us killed! Or, at least me killed. A thousand plus pound bear could probably survive damn near anything.
Time slowed to a crawl. Several things happened at once and I was certain I had died at that moment. Edgar screamed. Yes, screamed. I'd never heard a werebear sound like that before. It was awful.
My heart stopped cold as I realized suddenly that we were airborne.
I didn't realize bears could fly.
The moment I realized it was all over was when Edgar began repenting.
Ralph
"Give me your keys!" I growled at Dan.
"My keys, Ralphie? You don't mean to --"
I stopped the werewolf with one cold, low growl deep in my throat. I was NOT in the mood to argue. Apparently, Dan wasn't either. That was good for both of us.
"How do you work this thing anyway?" I jumped on the bike and nearly fell over.
"You have to start it first. It's not like a car." Dan laughed under his breath. "Here, get behind me." Dan sighed heavily and shook his head, muttering something about Sarge. Funny, I couldn't remember who this "sarge" guy was. Whoever he was, we could deal with him later. Much later.
Dan jumped on, I climbed behind him and he kicked the cycle's motor on.
"Where we headed, boss?" He looked behind me with a stupid grin on his face.
"Follow that bear!" I growled.
"But he's long gone!" The werewolf argued.
I sniffed the air. "That way!" I pointed through some buildings.
"You sure you're all right boss? Those are some --"
I grabbed the stupid werewolf by the scruff of his neck, lifted him three feet up off the seat and growled in his face. Then I set him down, calmly.
Apparently, he got the memo.
The motor whined to life and Dan and I set off in the direction of the werebear's scent.
"Can't you make this rattletrap go faster?" I growled at Dan who was holding on for dear life.
"It's already red-lined!" He screamed back at me, his face frozen in terror.
The night wind whipped by, my mane flying free behind me. I wondered where they were going. I don't who was with him, but I smelled a small, fearful house cat.
I had to save him! I pounded my fist on the motorbike.
"Hey, stop pounding things! You're going to get us killed!" Dan yelled, his voice barely a whisper over the din of the roaring engine and the sound of the wind rushing past us.
"I can't fail!" I growled.
"It's okay, boss! We do our best and go home at night. That's all we can do. You know that."
I leaned forward and growled in the insolent werewolf's ear. "I SAID I will NOT fail!"
"Boss?" He shook his head. I could tell we were nearing the turn-off.
"Let's just say...it's personal." I roared. As we came upon the turn, I sniffed the air. Not only did I smell the werebear and the cat, but something about that cat's scent tickled my whiskers. There was no doubt he was slick with heat, but there was something else. Something that called to me like a Siren in the night.
Could the old legends be true? I shook my large, furry head, nearly toppling the bike over in the process.
"Turn here!" I growled and watched as the small, dirt road passed us by. "I SAID turn here!" I swear if this insolent --
"Ralphie! You can't just go from 150-0 in two seconds! It's not a cat." He laughed.
Smoked spun from the tires and the sound of pavement screeched as he brought the bike to a full halt.
"You sure you want to go down there? It's looks narrow and awfully dangerous..."
I bored my emerald green eyes into his. "Does a bear shit in the woods?"
Dan sighed and kicked the bike into gear. "I guess we're going to find out."
For once in his life, Dan was right. It was narrow. At first, he carefully wound the bike through the rocky path. But the scent of the bear grew stronger and I knew we were right behind him.
I wasn't going to let the bear get away a second time. I didn't spend all that time in the academy just to push some paperwork around. I needed action. And this was it!
"Keep on his tail." I growled. "I'm going to cut him off."
"You're what?" He glanced back at me, but I was already gone.
It wasn't often that I got to stretch my legs and turn into my full lion form, but with the bad roadway I could paw it faster. My senses suddenly came alive. I could smell every animal and creature within a mile radius. Sounds were crisper and even the air felt better.
It was
about to rain.
Kicking it into high gear, I could see the bear just ahead. He was driving very erratically and I had a sinking suspicion something bad was going to happen. Call it cat's intuition, but I smelled death in the air.
As I grew closer and began to overtake him, I could see that he was desperately holding on to something slung over his shoulder. I narrowed my eyes and saw that it was the small werecat that I nearly scared to death earlier.
His scent tickled my nose. Fear, hopelessness, starvation and oddest of all...fate danced on the wind. I cringed and my heart bounded as I saw the fleeing bear nearly hit a tree, a branch of which nearly knocked out the poor cat.
I ran faster.
This madman - or mad bear - could not be allowed to harm the werecat. He was too precious to me. Why that thought flitted through my mind, I wasn't certain. That could be dealt with later. Right now I had to save the starving mew mew.
At all costs.
Though out of breath and my body burning, I pressed on. I could see up ahead where the road turned abruptly. There was no way they were going to make it! With the last of my strength, I bounded after them, hoping beyond hope I could save the cat's life.
The bear could fend for himself.
I roared out in frustration as I watched the stupid, reckless bear ram straight into a large rock which sent them airborne. I could hear their screams and it tore through my fog.
With a second wind behind me, I locked all my senses on the helpless cat and watched helplessly as he fell. Was I close enough? Could I save him?
Accolades be damned! I was going to catch that mew mew if it was the last thing I did.
Sam
Not only did he begin repenting while screaming, but he let go. All my fears were realized in that moment. I was going to die. No doubt about it. My life - such that it was - flashed before my eyes. Regrets and promises unfilled. Potential babies unrealized. Now I would never know what it felt like to hold a little kitten in my arms - my kitten.
My instincts were correct, however, this was most definitely a new chapter in my life. It was not the chapter I would've hoped for, but then the final chapter never is.
As I free-fell from hundreds of feet above the ground, my senses kicked into overdrive. The earthy smell of freshly-fallen rain assaulted my nostrils, the sound of the dying motorbike barely drowned out the screaming bear and - last, but not least - my mind played tricks on me.
For a moment there, I thought I could smell the alpha werelion's scent.
A tear stung my eye and slid down my cheek as I thought about being this close to my fated mate and never actually getting to meet him. That was the definition of irony. So close, but yet so far away.
As I got close to the ground, I closed my eyes and made peace with my pitiful existence. Maybe the next go-round would be better. If there was a next time.
I steeled myself for the impact. But it never came. Instead of hard gravel, I felt soft fur and hard muscles. Was this heaven? Had I died already? It was like my body had landed on a soft pillow. I was so exhausted, worn out, hungry and frightened that the second my head the pillow, I passed out.
Untold hours later, I snapped awake. The sound of rain pelting the roof drew me out of my dreamless slumber. Where was I? I could barely recall the last moments of my life.
Speaking of life - so this was heaven then? Or did they not allow scrawny, destitute kittens in heaven? That was a sad thought. But this bed - assuming that's what this was - was downy soft. Softer than a newborn's kitten fur. I luxuriated in the heavenly bed as I slowly awoke.
My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten a thing in three days. Or was it four? Wait, why would I be hungry in heaven?
"Aha! You're awake, little kitten!" A tall, burly, emerald-eyed hunk of a man burst through the door carrying what looked and smelled like the most delicious food imaginable. "I heard you purring all the way from the living room!"
"My God, I've been given my own, personal, hunky servant! This must be heaven!" I exclaimed as I sat up in the bed, my stomach growling like an angry bear. The aroma of the freshly-cooked ham wafted into my starving nostrils. My eyes watered as I could see all manner of exotic meats and cheeses and several different kinds of fruit.
My servant stopped suddenly in the middle of the room, nearly dropping my banquet of delicious food.
"Pardon?" He shook his head. "Did you say servant?"
I looked at my new personal servant with dismay.
"Yes. I will allow you to pop one of those delicious-tasting grapes in my mouth. We'll start with that first." My prayers have been answered! However, the insolent servant could not comprehend my request.
"I don't think you understand..." The servant said.
"That's quite all right. You may put the tray down next to me and take your leave." Apparently, heaven employed insolent servants. I would have to talk to the head servant master about my new servant. He was a bit...dim.
The servant broke out in a wide grin. "I get it. You think you died and went to heaven."
"I care not what you call this place. As long as the food is tasty and the experience enjoyable, I will accept your meager offerings."
The servant boomed out a laugh that shook right through my soul. Then, right before my eyes he turned into his werelion form.
"Freeze, motherfucker!" He threw back his muzzle and barked out a laugh, then set the tray down next to me.
"You!" I pointed at the werelion servant. "You're the doofus who thought I was the bad guy and got konked over the head!"
Ralph nodded, pulled up a chair and popped a hunk of cheese in his mouth.
I shook my head. "I...I don't get it."
"What's that? What did you say your name was again? Mine's Ralph."
"Sam. If I'm in heaven...and you're my servant..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" He held up a large paw. "Just because I let you sleep in my bed and bring you a big platter of meats and cheeses doesn't mean I'm your servant. I'm a cat. I serve no one."
I started at him blankly. "I still don't get it."
Ralph
"Let me explain." I said as I popped a hunk of ham into my mouth. I explained that once I'd saved him from that evil bear who had kidnapped him, I had called for backup and had him arrested. Edgar had been badly bruised and beat up, but he was adamant that he was trying to save him from a fate worse than death.
Continuing, I explained to the scrawny werecat that he'd been so much in shock that he'd instantly passed out in my arms.
"Wait..." Sam held up a paw as he gulped down a grape. "You mean, I'm not dead?" He looked around and twitched his whiskers excitedly.
I nodded, a large grin plastered across my furry face.
"So this --" He gestured around the room, "Is your house. This --" He pointed to the luxurious cloud-soft bed, "is your bed. And this food --" He popped a hunk of cheese in his mouth greedily, "Is your food?"
I nodded.
"Which means..." A tear welled up in his sapphire-blue eyes. "That you're not my servant and I've been acting like a fool all this time." Those words were not said as a question.
For some reason, I felt sorry for the helpless werecat. I could tell that he'd had an awfully hard, brutal life. I watched the way he devoured the food as if he expected it to disappear at any moment. Then again, he'd been asleep in my bed for over twelve hours. I'm sure he was famished.
"Sam. Look at me." I put my hands on either side of his furry face.
The moment the werecat looked up with his helpless, teary eyes, I felt something click inside. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before. My heart fluttered and I suddenly grew weak. What was going on?
"Don't beat yourself up. We all make mistakes. We're cats, remember?" I smiled and he wiped a tear from his eyes and returned the smile.
At that moment, I was was a million miles away from reality. Maybe this was heaven and we were both there. His heady aroma wafted unbidden into my nostrils and I suddenly found myself becoming ar
oused just by his presence.
I could smell his slickness as it danced seductively in the air. He smiled shyly, but I could tell he was having the same thoughts. Our eyes locked and our hearts thundered. Suddenly, the room grew too hot.
What were we doing? I was a cop and he was a stray. There was no place for love in a cop's life. A life like mine was never a sure one. I never knew from one day to the next if I was going to make it home in one piece. Edgar was living proof of that.
"You know --" I started to say.
"I'm sorry --" Sam said at the same time.
Neither of us were able to finish our thoughts as our lips slowly melded together and the heat within our bodies rose to a passionate pinnacle. I closed my eyes and felt the pressure of Sam's soft lips against mine. Time stood still and the room went silent as our arms wrapped around each other.
His soft, smooth skin under my fingers caused my cock to dance in my pants. Our bodies slowly shifted to that of our human forms. He was so handsome! His deep sapphire eyes pulled me in like a boat caught in a tide. Sadness and resilience reflected keenly through them and I found myself caught in his web of desire.
"You're..." He breathed hotly in my ear, his soft, fluttery, unsure touches tingled against my skin. "You're so...powerful." He finally got the word out, sending tingles of lust and power through my body.
I didn't question how or why fate brought us together, I just knew that it had. There was just something about Sam that called to me. I needed him. I needed to feel his soft, warm body against mine.
My shirt was lifted off my chest and Sam began touching and playing with my muscles.
"I've never seen anything like this before! I've seen muscles, but not lean like this." He looked up into my eyes hopefully. "You don't mind, do you?"
I swallowed and my throat suddenly felt like it was full of glass. "No, go ahead..." I croaked. I could not believe this was happening! We were two star-crossed lovers who had been buffeted by the winds of fate and brought together.
