MikasBlackCougar

by Marisa Chenery

  Knowing the affect I had over Trent left me slightly breathless. “Wednesday,” I said softly. At the questioning look he gave me, I added, “I’ll give you my decision on Wednesday. It’s not fair to keep you waiting. You’re the one who has to fight against…” I didn’t finish the end of the sentence, knowing he’d understand what I meant. “I’ll ask if you can come over to my place for dinner on Wednesday, then I’ll tell you.”

  “Are you sure you don’t need more time?”

  “No. I pretty much have already made up my mind, but I’ll give it another couple days to think about it to be sure.”

  Trent nodded. “Then I’ll come over on Wednesday.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  When I asked if Trent could come over for dinner on Wednesday, Mom said it wouldn’t be a problem. She thought it would be a great idea for her and Dad to get to know Trent better. After Saturday, both Mom and Dad assumed Trent and I had gotten back together, which we had. The only one out of my family I had to worry about ruining Trent’s visit was Jared. For some reason, my little brother had become fascinated with Trent after his first visit. I know I didn’t want Jared following us around like a puppy dog.

  At the end of school on Wednesday, Trent came home with me. We met up together at my locker after the last period. As we walked out of school, we ended up passing Silvia in the hallway. She didn’t even look at us on her way by. The kiss Trent had laid on me in the cafeteria had seemingly done the trick. Silvia now acted as if Trent and I didn’t exist, which suited us just fine. Even Rachel had been blessedly silent in English.

  On the drive to my house, Trent and I talked about the upcoming math quiz we were to have next week. I, of course, asked if he could help me study for it. I still thought Trent made a better math teacher than Mr. Morrison.

  I groaned when I pulled into the driveway and saw Jared hanging around out in the front yard. Before we got out of the car I figured I’d better warn Trent about Jared. “Ah, before we get out, I should give you the heads up. Jared is probably going to be a major pain in the butt. He likes you. If he were my sister instead of my brother, I think I’d have to worry about him trying to steal you from me.”

  Trent laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure Jared won’t be that bad.”

  “Oh, I beg to differ. He can be a huge nuisance when he wants to be.”

  “I think I can handle it.”

  After we got out of the car, Jared met us before we made it to the front door. “Hey, Trent. How’s it going?”

  “Not bad.”

  “So what are you guys going to do before dinner?”

  I quickly stepped in then. “We’re going to watch TV or something.”

  “Cool. How about I bring my system down and we can play my new game. It’s a four-player one.”

  I opened my mouth to tell Jared to forget it, but Trent spoke up before I could. “Why not? I have a system of my own and play when I can.” Trent winked at Jared. “We can gang up on Mika.”

  “Hey!” I said. “That is so not fair. I’m crappy at video games in the first place.”

  Jared rubbed his hands together. “Oh, this is going to be fun. I’ll go get my system and meet you guys in the living room.”

  Once Jared had gone inside I turned to Trent. “I thought we could spend some time together without my pesky brother hanging around.”

  Trent put his arm around my shoulders as we walked toward the front porch. “I’m using Jared as a distraction.”

  “Why do you need one?”

  “It’s more for the cat. Let’s just say both of us are getting a little worked up right now, and we’ll stay that way until you tell me what you’ve decided.”

  “Ah. I get it.”

  Trent pulled me to a stop. “And one other thing before we go inside. I suggest when you do plan to tell me, make sure we aren’t anywhere near your parents or your brother.”

  “Why? Are you expecting to go cat and kill them if I tell you to get lost?”

  Trent chuckled. “No. Even if you did turn me down I wouldn’t go on a killing spree. It’s just if you do say ‘yes’ my emotions may run a little high. I don’t want to have to explain anything to your parents that I don’t want them to know.”

  “No problem. After dinner we can go out back to the tree fort. And I’ll make sure Jared stays in the house. I can only imagine what he would do if he ever saw you shift into the black cougar. We’d probably never be able to get rid of him.”

  * * * *

  Both Jared and Trent ended up kicking my butt on Jared’s video game. I never stood a chance with the two of them hunting my character down at every opportunity. Eventually I gave up playing entirely. I was just as happy to sit on the couch next to Trent and watch them play.

  Dinner went over well. Mom and Dad seemed to genuinely like Trent, which pleased me, considering I was about to seriously commit myself to him. I don’t know what I would have done if Mom and Dad had hated him. It would have made my life a living hell.

  Once I’d helped to clear the table with Mom, I said, “Trent and I are going to go out back to the tree fort.”

  Dad, who still sat at the table with Trent, looked over at Mom. “Ah, it’s kind of dark out there, Mika. And it’s definitely getting cooler at night. Isn’t it, dear?”

  Mom rolled her eyes at Dad. “Real subtle.” She looked over at Trent and me. “Go on. I’ll turn the lights on out back so your father doesn’t worry. And be careful of the tree fort. It’s getting kind of weather-beaten.”

  “We’ll be careful.”

  I ushered Trent to the front door and we put on our running shoes and jackets. We walked around to the side of the house and then into the backyard. The outside lights came on as we headed to the tree fort.

  Careful to make sure there were no more loose pieces of wood, I slowly climbed up to the fort while Trent stayed behind me. I didn’t want to fall like the last time. He managed to maneuver himself into the tight space, not that I would have complained if I had to sit on his lap to make more room.

  I took a quick peek at the house. I didn’t see anyone standing in one of the windows watching us—namely I didn’t see Jared. Mom must have told him to give us some privacy.

  “So,” I said as I zipped my jacket up higher.

  “So,” Trent said back and wrapped one of his arms around my shoulders and pulled me close to his side.

  “Okay, no more stalling. I’ve reached my decision.” I turned my head so I could look Trent in the eyes. “I’ve decided I want to be your mate. I don’t want to be with anyone else. You don’t care that I’m a bit of a loner, and that I spend too much time with my nose jammed into a book. I don’t feel like the school freak around you.” I took a deep breath. “It all seems a little rushed, but I think I’m falling in love with you. I think I started to fall for you a couple years ago when I first started to watch you from across the cafeteria.”

  Trent picked me up and sat me across his lap. He cupped my face in his hands. “I love you as well, Mika. I have since I first saw you in grade eight. Even then I knew you were the one for me.” His eyes lightened to gold and they developed a muted glow. “I don’t want to ever lose you.”

  With my arms wrapped around his neck, I leaned in and brushed a kiss across his lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  The sound of purring filled the fort as Trent took my mouth in a deeper kiss. If I could have purred, I would have been doing it as well. As Trent kissed me, I pulled the ponytailer out of his hair and threaded my fingers through his glossy mane. He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me closer. I felt his heart racing against my chest.

  All too soon he pulled away. The only sound inside the fort was our heavy breathing. He gathered me close and tucked my head under his chin.

  He suddenly stiffened. His chest expanded as he took in great gulps of air through his nose. I pulled away and looked him in the face. “What is it?” His eyes seemed to glow a little brighter. The pupils had become mere s
lits.

  Trent lifted me off his lap and sat me on the floor. His nostrils flared as he took another deep breath. “Stay here.”

  I couldn’t quite stifle a gasp as Trent launched himself out the fort’s entrance. I stuck my head out in time to see him land on his feet at the bottom of the tree. I heard the quiet growl of a large cat, which I knew wasn’t Trent. His head swung over to the very back corner of the backyard as he stepped into the shadows. I had just enough time to see him shift to his cat form before he disappeared into the darkness.

  Like hell was I going to stay up here in the fort while Trent went to confront Craig. I knew it had to be him. Who else could it be?

  Determined not to let my boyfriend have to face the other cougar alone, I cautiously worked my way down the tree. I’d no idea what I’d be able to do once I got to the cougars. Trent had stood up to Silvia, who’d bullied me. Now it was my turn to stand by his side when he confronted Craig, who’d bullied him.

  Unable to see too well in the dark, I slowly followed the sounds of hissing and spitting, which was interspersed with growls. Thankfully, they kept those to a minimal noise level. Anything louder would have drawn unwanted attention. I know I didn’t want either Mom or Dad to come outside to investigate.

  When I finally found them, Trent stood almost nose to nose to Craig. Both were still in cougar form. Craig lifted his head as I approached. Trent used the opportunity to smack him in the face with his paw. Craig growled and backed a little away before he shifted to his human form. Trent followed suit.

  “Get out of here, Craig,” Trent said with a growl lacing his words.

  “It’s a free country. I can go wherever I want.”

  “I don’t want you here. Mika’s my mate so back off. I won’t tolerate you anywhere near her.”

  Craig snorted. “She may have accepted to be your mate, but I bet you haven’t finished it. Have you? Knowing you, Trent, you’ll probably wait until your mate tells you she’s ready to have you claim her completely.”

  “Frick off, Craig.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll take that as a ‘No.’ Then you know until you have…claimed…her she’s still fair game. Maybe I want her as my mate. I’m the leader, I can take whatever I want, and there really isn’t anything you can do about it unless you want to challenge me for the leadership.”

  Trent roared with rage. “Mika is mine,” he bit out. “Either you stay away from her or I’ll take you down.”

  All three of us froze in place when Mom stepped out onto the back deck and called my name. “Mika? Is everything okay out there?”

  “Everything’s fine, Mom,” I called back.

  “Are you sure? I thought I heard something coming from out here.”

  “It’s nothing. It’s just a couple neighborhood cats having a fight. Trent and I scared them off.”

  “Oh. It’s getting late. Why don’t you and Trent come back inside?”

  “We will in a minute.”

  I turned back to Craig and Trent after Mom went back into the house. Craig slowly stepped away and said to Trent, “I’ll be seeing you soon.”

  Trent took me by the elbow and walked me toward the house. “I thought I told you to stay in the fort.”

  “I wasn’t going to sit up there while you and Craig go at each other in my backyard.”

  Trent shook his head. “You’re either really brave or too foolish for your own good. If you’d gotten in between the two of us while we fought in cougar form, we could have ripped you to shreds.

  I dug in my heels and forced Trent to stop walking. “So you want me to just stand by and let Craig rip you to shreds instead?”

  “If it comes to that. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “And I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  Trent chuckled. “I never realized you were such a fighter until now.”

  “I’m not normally. I guess just with you I am.”

  “Thanks.” Trent gave me a slow, languid kiss. After he pulled away, he said, “Come on, let’s go back inside before your dad comes out next.”

  I wrapped my arm around Trent’s waist as he put his around my shoulders. A chill ran down my spine as I thought of the last thing Craig had said to Trent. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the next time he saw Trent things would get ugly.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Later that night I checked my emails. There was one from Cathy sitting in my inbox. I hadn’t told her yet that Trent and I had gotten back together. To be honest, I’d been holding off on it. Even though I’d told Cathy I thought Trent could be the black cougar, now that I knew for sure, I didn’t think I would tell her the whole truth. Not that she’d ever brought the subject up after I told her about Trent dumping me for Silvia.

  Deciding I couldn’t hold Cathy off indefinitely, I wrote her an email, explaining how Trent and I had gotten back together. That it had all been a misunderstanding and that Trent knew he’d screwed up. I also told her what Trent had said to Silvia in the cafeteria, and that he had practically kissed me in front of the whole school.

  That taken care of, I shut down my laptop. I thought of calling Trent, but decided maybe that would be a little too much. He’d only been gone for an hour. I’d driven him home shortly after we had gone back inside. I didn’t want to be one of those clingy girlfriends.

  We hadn’t made any definite plans to see each other the next day. I had English and math homework I had to finish before I could go anywhere. In the end, we’d decided I’d call Trent once I had my work finished.

  I went to my dresser and looked at the few bottles of perfume I had. I didn’t wear it that often, but I thought maybe Trent would like it if I wore some tomorrow when I saw him. I picked up a bottle and tried to take the top off the sprayer. The lid fit so snugly I had to really give it a yank to get it off. The bottle slipped out of my hand and landed on the hardwood floor with a crack. I swore under my breath when I bent down and saw the top had broken right off.

  I used one of the dirty towels from my laundry hamper to mop up the mess. The strong smell of perfume filled the room. Thinking to clear some of it out, I pushed open my curtains and slid the window open all the way. Cold night air rushed inside.

  The sound of a low growl drew my attention. I watched a gray-brown cougar step out of the shadows. Craig had returned. I slammed my window shut and yanked the curtains closed, then picked up my cordless phone and punched in Trent’s number.

  He picked up after the third ring. “Hello?”

  “Trent, it’s me. He’s back.”

  “Mika? Who’s back?”

  “Craig’s back. I just spotted him in cougar form in the backyard.”

  A couple of seconds went by before Trent spoke again. “Whatever you do, don’t go outside to confront him. Promise me, Mika, you’ll stay inside the house.”

  “I’ve no intention of going outside alone while he’s out there.”

  “As long as you stay inside you’ll be fine. I’m glad you called to tell me.”

  “The guy’s a pain in the ass. Doesn’t he know when he isn’t welcome?”

  “Don’t let him get to you. I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to go talk to my dad about something. You’re still going to call me tomorrow?”

  “Right after I have my homework finished.”

  “Then I’ll talk to you then. And don’t worry about Craig. He won’t be a problem soon.”

  After Trent hung up, I had to wonder what exactly he’d meant about Craig.

  * * * *

  It took a couple of hours to finish my homework. The whole time I worked I couldn’t shake the feeling Trent had gone to confront Craig. It was just the way he’d said Craig would no longer be a problem that had me worried. I knew Trent was bigger of the two, both in cat and human form. If it came down to an actual fight, I’d no idea who’d end up the victor. I just didn’t trust Craig to play fair. He reminded me of a male version of Silvia—both were bullies. Now wouldn’t they be a mat
ch made in heaven? Actually, they probably would kill each other if they ever met.

  With my homework done, I called Trent. This time his dad answered the phone. “Hi, Mr. Hunter, is Trent there?”

  “Hi, Mika. And none of that Mr. Hunter business. Call me Travis.”

  I chuckled. “Okay, Travis. Can I talk to Trent?”

  Travis seemed to hesitate. “Umm, he just stepped out for a little while.”

  “Where did he go?” A shiver of dread ran down my spine. When he didn’t say anything, I said, “Please.”

  Travis sighed. “Trent didn’t want me to tell you.”

  I closed my eyes for a few seconds and took a deep breath. “He went after Craig, didn’t he?”

  “Yes. He did it for you. To keep you safe from Craig.”

  “What did he do?”

  “He’s going to challenge Craig for the leadership and take his rightful place.”

  “Where?”

  “At the clearing. Near the lake at the reservation.”

  Without bothering to say goodbye, I hung up the phone. I knew exactly what clearing Trent and Craig would be in—the same one Silvia had sent me to. Craig had said it was part of his territory. It couldn’t be anywhere else.

  I found Mom in the kitchen and told her I’d be over at Trent’s, then grabbed my jacket out of the closet and rushed out the door.

  I sped all the way to the lake. Right now I could have cared less if a cop pulled me over and gave me a ticket for speeding. I just had to get to the reservation. That was all that mattered.

  I’d thrown out the map Silvia had forged Trent’s name to. Having been soaked in the rain, the ink had run all together, making it unreadable. But I remembered where I had to go to find the clearing. Walking as fast as I could, I soon reached the wooded area beyond which sat the clearing. More concerned with getting there rather than where I stepped, I tripped a couple times on fallen branches.