His panther growled low in its throat as the scent of males approaching crossed his nose. Their heavy footsteps registered shortly after. His beast snarled when he saw some of the younger males enter the clearing. They all froze as they caught sight of him, taking a moment to set their fishing poles on the ground.
“Hey, Kye,” one of the boys called out. “Mind if we…oh, sorry.” Ellis, one of the young boys, blushed as he picked up his pole. He started to back away, but stopped at Evie’s human voice.
“It’s okay, Ellis!” she hollered from the pond. His mate had shifted and was swimming in her human form. “I’m done here anyway.”
Kye’s upper lip raised as he stood from his perch. The beast inside him wanted the boys away from his female, even knowing her nudity wasn’t going to bother anyone. But on the other hand, Ellis was sixteen and just starting his hormonal flux as his body gained weight to become a fully-matured male over the next four years. It was their world’s answer for puberty. So, Kye was sure this kid was knocking one off left and right as he watched porn late at night in his bedroom down the hall from his parents.
“It’s fine, Evie,” Ellis stammered, looking nervously at Kye. “We can come back later.”
Before Evie could say anything else, the boy grabbed his things and left them alone, his friends following quickly after him. Kye’s panther relaxed after the younger males had gone. He raised his nose to sniff the air just to make sure. When he swung his head around, Evie was starting to come out of the water, her body bare as a human.
Kye wanted nothing more than to shift and pull her into his arms, taking the time to show her how much he truly loved her, but he wanted to do right by Evie in all ways. Sadly, it would have to wait for a little while longer.
“I’m going to shift and head home,” she said. “Run with me?”
Kye’s beast climbed to his feet and let out a soft cackle, letting Evie know that he would go wherever she asked. His girl smiled warmly and began to shift. At the same time, a flash of light caught his eye off in the distance. Kye moved quickly to place his body in front of Evie’s, only relaxing slightly when he caught the sheriff’s scent. When the male came into view, Kye’s heart stopped in his chest. Sheriff Lynch’s eyes were wide with fright.
“Get the hell out of here now! Humans are on your land,” he warned. “Run!”
Chapter Two
Ember stood tall, holding her hands up toward Talon. He immediately picked her up as she babbled her baby nonsense. The alpha knew his daughter wanted his attention. It was something that he’d never tire of when it came to his family.
Looking over at his mate, Talon wondered when they’d have another child, but with the way of their current world, he wasn’t sure he wanted to bring another life into the dangers they were facing. The Community was still at large, gathering up shifters of all species, locking them away in cages and experimenting on them like lab rats. The government was raiding these facilities as fast as they could find them, but it was hard.
Only a few of them were able to call out to their alphas for help, giving locations in their hysteria while being held as prisoners. Others weren’t so lucky. Word had come that the ones being found couldn’t call out to their leaders because the Community had learned about the alpha’s ability to speak mentally with their people, and they’d killed the alphas before taking the prisoners for study.
The Guardians of the Shaw Pride were even more protective of Talon than ever. He was a ball of anger with them staying so close, but he understood their worry. He was worried, too.
“She needs a nap,” Liberty yawned. “In fact, so does her mother.”
“Go rest, my love.” Talon smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He knew his mate felt his unease by the way she softly closed her eyes and released a quiet breath. She looked over her shoulder at Booth, Storm, and Dane, who were posted at the entrances to the room, standing at attention. Dane and Booth were at the one closest to the foyer, while Storm leaned against the frame leading into the kitchen. All three males watched the windows and doors that led outside.
Talon waited until his mate was out of the room before taking a seat in the high-back chair by the fireplace. He was safe from any windows at his back, and he used that time to place his head into his hands. There was a sense of unease in his body, almost like a small vibration.
Talon!
His brother’s call jerked his body upright. The Guardians were immediately at his side. He didn’t have a chance to answer his brother before the message came through.
Sheriff just appeared by the pond to warn us that humans are on our land. Evie and I are coming to the house.
“Humans are on our land,” Talon snarled. “Kye and Evie are on their way here from the pond.”
“Talon, we need you in the security room,” Booth urged as Talon stood from his seat.
“I’m going after my mate and my daughter,” he growled, feeling his beast push at his human skin. The three guards made a triangle of protection around him as he moved toward the stairs. They quickly reached the alpha’s bedroom and Liberty gasped when Talon rushed into the room. “Safe room, now!”
Liberty didn’t question him. She just scooped up Ember and found her place at his back. The Guardians made their protective triangle around him once again and they were on the move. Each step was coordinated. It’d been planned and practiced months before when the threats had originally come for the shifters.
“Shhh, little one,” Liberty cooed to their daughter who was crying from being woken up suddenly.
“Inside,” Booth barked, pushing into the control room. The room was as secure as a bank vault and it was the new safe haven for the pride in the event of an attack.
Noah jumped to his feet as soon as they entered, immediately pointing at one of the cameras. “Someone get the back door. Evie and Kye are almost here.”
Talon saw his brother and the young female racing up the road that led to the mated cabins, turning for the backyard of his home. Dane hurried out the door. His image was picked up on the interior cameras as he reached the back door. He held it open for the two cats to enter.
Talon sent out a message to his pride, warning them of the breach. His command for them to hide was sent back with fear from the pride. He sent out his calming touch through their connections, but it didn’t help. Feeling his pride on edge sent anger surging through his veins.
“Find out who is on my land!” Talon roared as he felt a ripple of fear come directly from Savage, who was out on patrol. Everyone froze when gunshots rang out.
“Talon?” Liberty cried, reaching for him when his eyes flashed amber and his canines appeared in his mouth. “Talon!”
“I want Guardians in the woods, now!” he barked as he closed his eyes tight. “Someone find Savage. He…he’s been shot.”
Evie laid on her side as she panted heavily. Kye had already shifted and left to find clothes. She had no desire to move until he returned. Her panther was exhausted from the run they’d just completed. The Watcher had appeared and yelled at them to run because there were humans on their land, and that had sent fear down her spine. When would they ever feel safe again?
Dane was standing guard at the back door, a gun strapped to his hip. Kye rushed back down the stairs with a pair of sweats and one of his cotton shirts in his hand. Evie shifted and climbed to her feet slowly, accepting the clothes.
“You two should go into the safe room with the alpha’s mate,” he said, not taking his eyes off the backyard. Kye grabbed her hand and started to turn, but froze when gunshots rang out in the air.
Everyone in the house gasped as their enhanced hearing picked it up. Feet pounded from the security room. Some Guardians shifted while some stayed human. Talon growled at Kye as he looked at Evie, “Get my mate into the safe room!”
Both of them ran down the hallway, meeting Talon at the door to the room. Evie pushed past her alpha and went straight for the weapons closet, stopping to scoop up the keys to the lo
ck from the desk. No one questioned her when she reached inside and found a pair of gloves and a handgun she was comfortable handling.
“What are you doing?” Kye growled, his eyes flashing between his human and animal form.
“I’m protecting my alpha’s mate and the next alpha to our pride,” she replied, keeping her heart rate calm, just as she’d been taught in all of those hours of training. Evie donned a shoulder holster and secured one gun, reaching in for another one. She tossed it to the alpha’s mate. “Come on, Liberty.”
Evie closed and locked the door to the weapons and reached up above the frame. A soft click sounded and the door opened again to reveal a room behind the closet. It was a fairly large space and held several cots and blankets. A refrigerator sat in the corner that held enough water for a damn army.
Liberty scooped up her daughter and rushed into the room, a look of determination on her face. “Lock me in.”
“You know the drill.” Evie breathed deep and nodded toward Liberty, closing the door as soon as possible. She quickly wrapped her braided hair into a bun and secured it with a few hairpins she kept hidden in her hair. She double-checked the door and gave it one solid knock to let Liberty know she was secure.
The room had been added on months ago, giving the pride a place to hide in the case of a breach on their lands. Talon had hoped it wouldn’t be needed, but they all knew at some point they would.
“I’m shifting and you stay with me,” Kye ordered, lifting the shirt over his head. “I mean it, Evie. Don’t leave my side.”
“I won’t,” she growled, feeling her own beast prowl in her head. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Evie,” he began, but a hard glare from her shut him up. He quickly dropped his pants and shifted, coming up to nudge her side and nip at her wrist. Evie knew he was going to protect her. It was in their nature, but she was ready to fight alongside her pride to keep everyone safe.
“Let’s go.”
Noah nodded at them and reached up to kill the lights in the room. Kye and Evie stepped out the door and waited for it to close. The sound of the bolt sliding into place signaled that Noah was now protected with Liberty and Ember. He would be the first line of communication with Talon and the other Guardians.
Evie removed her gun from the holster and held it at her side as she walked silently down the hallway, past the alpha’s office. Kye’s panther huffed softly when they came to the opening of the living room. She felt his warmth as his body touched her right leg.
The house was silent, but that didn’t mean it was empty. When she looked to her left, Axel, the new Guardian, was poised at the door, his eyes flashing between amber and icy blue. The Guardian nodded toward the back door where she saw Lucky Cooper in place. She held up one finger and pressed it to her lips. With a deep breath, she pointed upstairs, letting them know she was going up to clear all of the rooms.
Kye stayed beside her as she moved to the bottom of the stairway. Axel covered the front door and Evie caught herself praying no one decided to shoot through it as she passed. Thank god, because she really didn’t want to know what getting shot felt like anytime soon.
She took the stairs one at a time. Kye’s beast crouched low to the ground as if he were stalking prey. His huge body made no sounds as it moved over the hardwood flooring on the upstairs landing. He was a predator…they didn’t make sounds when on the hunt.
Slowly, they cleared all of the rooms and returned to the foyer where the young Guardian was waiting. No words were spoken, only a short nod of her head to let him know the alpha’s home was secure. It was time to wait out the threat and pray that the ones who got onto their land were caught.
Chapter Three
Savage cursed as he was struck in the shoulder by a bullet. His panther snarled deep inside his mind, demanding release, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. The wound would heal, so he didn’t need to shift right away. No, he wanted to take out the human who’d shot him on an even ground. He wanted the male’s blood his own way.
“Show yourself, you fucking coward,” Savage called out, allowing his panther eyes to scan the area. There was nothing. No scent, no sounds.
The scent of his own blood tickled his nose, but he pushed back the burning pain. His feet made a rhythmic sound on the forest floor as he ran in the direction he thought the shooter had been. He shifted his eyes and ears just enough to use his beast’s heightened senses.
Bang!
“Motherfucker!” Savage dropped to his right knee when he felt a bullet rip through his thigh. Looking down, the blood was oozing out of a spot about halfway between his hip and knee. Thankfully, the dumbass shooter missed his bone.
“Stop fucking shooting me!”
A movement straight ahead caught his eye, and the scent of a human male reached his nose at almost the same time. With a snarl, Savage pushed himself to move, but the pain in his leg was too much. Damn, he wasn’t going to go out like this. No, he had to keep his pride safe from this asshole.
His panther ripped from his skin, shaking off the change. In his shifted form, the wound began to heal, but not quickly enough for him to run at full strength. Only the thought of this male getting to his mate and babe pushed him forward.
Savage rounded a tall shrub and saw him. The male was tall, muscular. He wore all black clothing and a ski mask. In his hand, he held a pistol as he ran quickly toward the back of the property.
Where are you?
His alpha’s voice pushed into his mind. Savage replied, telling him he was not far from the old fence line. A few seconds later, the sounds of his leader and brothers arriving caused a cat-like smirk to pull at the corner of the panther’s mouth. This human was as good as dead.
Bang!
Everyone scattered as the male turned and fired off a shot that went wild, hitting the trunk of a tree. Savage’s beast wanted this ended… and now. With a push of his hind legs, he climbed a tree and used the large branches to get himself up higher.
Herd him back toward me.
Talon must’ve conveyed the message to the other Guardians because they all split up and made a wide berth, circling the male. When he realized he wasn’t going to make it to the fence, the shooter doubled back the way he had come.
Savage’s beast calculated the perfect time to pounce, taking the human down as soon as he was near, but the human rolled out of his grasp. The male screamed out when Savage’s claws dug into his thigh, taking flesh away from the bone. Talon was calling to him, telling him to leave the human alive so they could question him. He’d obey, but that didn’t mean he wanted to. Savage regained his footing and started to leap for the male, but the human put the gun to his temple and pulled the trigger.
The back door flew open and Talon stepped through with anger on his face. Evie gasped quietly at the distress coming from her alpha. Behind him, Storm, Ranger, and Taze looked equally pissed off.
“Is my mate and daughter safe?”
“Yes, sir,” Evie answered, looking toward the hallway where the safe room was hidden. “We’ve had no problems here at the house.”
“The land is clear and the male who shot Savage killed himself before we could get answers,” Talon snarled, his eyes completely amber.
“How’s Savage?” she asked.
“He’s with the healer now,” Talon replied as he marched past her, but stopped and turned around on his heel. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she replied, watching her leader walk away.
Kye’s body shimmered as the shift from his beast made him human again. He stood and pulled her into his arms. “You did well, Evie.”
“Thank you.”
Kye kissed her forehead and followed his brother. She was sure he was going to find his clothes. Within minutes, a sense of calm filtered through her, and she saw the Guardians visibly relax. Talon’s mate must’ve calmed him, and thankfully, was okay.
The house began to fill up with pride members. Her mother entered holding Landon,
Savage and Mary Grace’s little boy. She immediately came to Evie’s side.
“Any word?”
“No, mama,” Evie answered, but she didn’t look at her mother. Her eyes scanned the pride, wishing they weren’t so afraid.
“Can you take Landon for me? The females are going to start making food for everyone. I’m sure the alpha will want everyone at the house tonight.”
“Let me return my gun to the security room.”
“Take your time,” Marie replied, reaching out to squeeze her hand. When Evie looked at her mother, she saw pride and relief in her eyes.
She left the front room, stopping at the door to the security room. She knocked twice and looked up at the camera above the door. A click sounded when someone inside released the lock, allowing her entry.
She slipped into the room, noticing how Talon was holding Liberty and Ember close while he scanned the monitors next to Noah and Kye. Evie didn’t say a word while she returned the weapon and holster to the hidden room. She didn’t need that one, because she usually kept one in her bag or on her person, but since her and Kye had shifted to run in the woods, she had been without her protection.
“Evie?” Liberty called out as she turned to leave.
“Ma’am?”
“You did a great job.” Liberty smiled, hiking her daughter higher up on her hip. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” she said as she smiled warmly. “I’m going to watch over Landon until we hear something. My mother and some of the other females are going to make a meal.”
“I’ll be out shortly,” Talon vowed. Kye looked up from the monitors and winked at her as she headed out the door.
Evie returned to the kitchen and took the baby from her mother. Little Landon was only nine months old, having been born on Thanksgiving night the year before. He was such a stout baby too, already strong like his father. Savage had been such a proud papa when Landon came into the world.
Kye Page 2
