Calico Cross (Cross Series Book 1)

by Deanna Kinney

  As soon as we hit the main road a dark vehicle appeared behind us and catching up fast.

  “Faster, Tabby!” I yelled, monitoring the car behind us. It was actually a large, dark colored truck. I could barely make out at least two people inside the cab, and more in the back

  “Does anybody else have a very bad feeling about this?” Fancy asked, her voice quivering.

  “Yes,” we all said in unison.

  “Hang on!” Tabby yelled as she took the curve too fast. We spun out and then regained control but at the cost of losing speed. Now the truck was right on our bumper.

  “Faster!! Go faster!!” we all yelled.

  “I’m trying!” Tabby yelled back at us.

  The truck tapped us, causing the car to fishtail. Tabby kept control and sped up, losing them slightly. They quickly caught up again, and again they hit us, but this time hard. Our car spun out of control and flew off the road, heading into the woods.

  “Savage!!” I screamed and flung my arms in front of my face right before we smashed head-on into a huge tree.

  I vaguely recall a rumbling growl and the car being ripped apart above me, with flashes of some kind of white all around me. Then I was floating.

  * * * * * *

  Dane’s POV

  “Savage!” I heard Calico scream, and it shot through my body like a bolt of lightning. I was on my feet in a full sprint before I had time to think.

  “Hang on, Calico! I’m coming! I’m coming!”

  My heart beat with fear. Something was wrong; and this time it was bad.

  I could hear the sounds of the were-pack, which consisted of different were-creatures from jaguars to foxes. They were part of Creed’s pack! The girls were about to be harmed or worse. I had no choice. I shifted into my massive form and growled a steaming growl that I knew would scare away even the largest of beast. They had not encountered anything like me before and they didn’t want to.

  By the time I arrived at the scene of the crash, the animals were gone. Lucky for them, because I would’ve ripped them all apart for what they had done. I ran to the window of the car, and all of the girls except Kiki were unconscious.

  I wasted no time and jumped onto the roof of the SUV and ripped the top completely off. It only took ten minutes until I had all the girls safely in their home and tucked into their beds. It was Calico’s bedside that I stayed by. She had a serious gash on her head and some bruising.

  I held her hand, kissing it lightly as I pleaded for her to wake up. I could not lose her! Not like this, not when I had just found her. I knew I couldn’t have her, but I had to be close to her. I had to see her beautiful green eyes glow again, to see her smile, to see her roll her eyes at me with annoyance, and to laugh uncontrollably at the silliest things. This was the woman I had come to adore and I couldn’t live without her in this world. I couldn’t—I wouldn’t.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I moaned as I tried to come to a sitting position but to no avail. I opened my eyes, but my vision was slightly foggy.

  I heard someone let out a heavy sigh of relief.

  “Lie still. You’ve been injured, but you’ll be okay. Just lie still.”

  I smiled slightly at the recognition of Dane’s voice. My eyes finally focused in on his handsome face. His hair was pulled behind his ears and his relief was evident.

  “How did I get here?” Then I remembered the accident and the truck chasing us. I screamed and sat straight up. “The truck! My sisters!!”

  “Sshhh, it’s okay, Calico. It’s okay. The truck is gone and your sisters are here. They’re safe, just like you. Now lie back down.”

  I moaned but obeyed. I grabbed my head and felt a bandage there. “What happened? How did we get here?”

  “I heard you call my name, and then I heard the crash. I pulled you out and brought you home. I brought all of you home. You’ll be safe here, for now.”

  “For now?” I asked, looking into his eyes for answers. “It was Creed wasn’t it? He’s found us.”

  “It was his pack, yes. I didn’t catch his scent, but it was definitely his pack. They know where you are now, and they’ll be coming for you. But we’ll be ready for them.” He took my hand in his and rubbed it gently. “I won’t let them take you, Calico. I won’t let them take you or your sisters. I promise.”

  “But there are so many of them and only the five of us. How will we defeat them?” I tried to keep the panic out of my voice but it was no use.

  “First of all, Creed is not stupid. He won’t have left his territory back home unprotected so most of the pack has been left behind. He will have most likely chosen his most loyal and trusted members to join him here. But we have a few things on our side; your ghosts for one thing, and me for another.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Creed will not be expecting anything like me. He will get more than he bargained for. Also, I don’t think you realize just how powerful you really are, Calico. You have a great strength within you. I saw it that day that you almost shifted downstairs. Remember that?”

  I nodded.

  “You, and your sisters, will be a powerful force against Creed and his misfits. This will not be as easy as he has judged. And that will be to our advantage.”

  I stayed in bed for the rest of the day and Dane took good care of me, bringing me food and medicine. We were-creatures heal faster than most, but it still takes time, and it hurt like Hades.

  By the next day I was able to get out of bed. I joined Dane and my sisters downstairs at the kitchen table for a meeting.

  Dane had a plan laid out for us, which included boarding up the windows and getting acquainted with some weapons.

  All of us called out of work and spent the day working. Tabby and Kiki boarded up the windows with the wood Dane brought over from his farm. Fancy and I trained with Dane on how to handle knives and use them in the most effective way against an assailant. One way he taught us was to thrust upward into the neck and twist. He said this was a sure way to bring down any were-creature, no matter what kind. He wanted us to use shifting as a last resort, just in case they got past him and our ghosts.

  Ivey and May were on board as well. A simple giant red ‘YES’ to the mirror and we knew. This would be another thing Creed’s pack wouldn’t see coming. My only hope was that I had a front row seat to see it all.

  I had only dreamt of the day that Creed would fall. The idea that the time had come was thrilling and horrifying at the same time.

  The house was protected, and we all had our weapons training and felt as ready as we could be. We sat down and ate a meal together and afterward Dane led us in a prayer for our protection.

  All the bases were covered as we sat in the dark and waited. All you could hear was our steady breathing. I took Dane’s hand in mine and held it tight.

  “Don’t worry, scout. I won’t let them have you. I promise you that.” He squeezed my hand reassuringly.

  I smiled in the dark. “I know, Dane. I know you’ll protect us.”

  I glanced up at him and our eyes locked, his were glowing a deep golden color; the most beautiful amber color I had ever seen. I knew mine were glowing in response.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, and then his lips were on mine in a sweet and gentle kiss that melted all my previous fear away in an instant.

  I gasped when I heard the whistling noise from the night before. It sounded like it was coming from the front porch. “They’re here.”

  Dane squeezed my hand again. Remember what I told you earlier. Use the weapons like I taught you and only shift as a last resort. They’ll be expecting that, and they’ll be thrown off guard. Catching them off guard gives us an advantage.”

  “I’ll remember. And Dane?”

  “Yes?” he whispered, peering down at me again.

  I reached up and touched the white streak in his hair, twirling it between my fingers. “I love you, and before we die I want you to know.”

  “We’re not goin
g to die, scout. Not now and not like this.” He touched his hand to my cheek, rubbing it softly. “But if you must know… I love you too, with all the ability my heart possesses. And though I can never have you, I will die to protect you.”

  And I knew in that moment, he meant every word.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Fancy and I ran upstairs to take our positions. The waiting was wreaking havoc on my nerves, and I immediately began biting my nails.

  We heard a loud roar, followed closely by a ramming of the front door. I grabbed my dagger tightly in my hands. I glanced to Fancy and noticed she had done the same. And though we did not shift completely, our eyes were glowing; hers golden and mine green, and our fangs were extended to their peak.

  The front door burst open, shattering it into shreds. I immediately recognized Creed’s top two guys, Axel and Blaze, still in their human forms and stepping into view.

  Then the onslaught began as chairs were hurled through the air, pounding the intruders and knocking them to the ground.

  “What the…” Blaze said, but was immediately pounded by more objects flying at him.

  Our ghosts were pulling their weight and it was in gold.

  Two more men plowed through the door and past Blaze and Axel. Dane was on them in a flash, flying through the air and tackling them out the door and onto the front porch.

  I watched the fight until they disappeared from sight.

  “What do we do? What do we do?” Fancy was panicking.

  “It’s okay. Follow me,” I said as I made my way cautiously down the stairs. Someone flew at me and I didn’t have time to think. I reacted, swinging my knife in a firm and quick fashion. It landed its mark and a man fell at my feet. We jumped over him and quickly reached the bottom of the stairs.

  Someone grabbed Fancy from behind. She immediately swung her knife into the air, hitting him in the face. He yelled, covering his face with his hands, and Fancy swung around and plunged the knife into his neck, inward and upward just like Dane had taught us.

  We didn’t have time for celebrations. We rushed into the living room where Tabby and Kiki were holding their own. They had shifted into their cougar forms. It had been so long since I had seen them that way that I had to catch my breath. They were a sight to be seen.

  Our ghosts were also hard at work, pounding some of the others with objects and suspending them in the air, by what I couldn’t see.

  Fancy jumped in to help them, and I went on search of Dane, and another man who hadn’t shown his ugly face yet, Cutler Creed.

  I stepped out onto the front porch and took in my surroundings. Dane was in the front yard fighting three men at once, and he looked magnificent. He had not yet shifted into his were form, but the three men he was fighting had. They were were-jaguars, and they were fierce. But even in their animal forms they were no match for Dane Savage. He was tossing them around like they were mere kittens. His shirt was shredded, but there was no trace of blood on him. I was thankful for that, but the question still plagued me, ‘where was Creed?’

  I spotted that traitor, Blake standing in the yard, his expression guilty. I knew then that he was the one who tipped off our location.

  I was about to go after him when I suddenly felt a cold hand around my neck and hot breath fogged my vision as the man towered over me from behind.

  “Were you looking for me?” The menacing voice was easy to place.

  “Creed.” I swung the knife I was still holding upward with precision, catching him in the shoulder, he roared and grabbed the knife, tossing it aside with ease.

  “Don’t do that again or I will kill you,” he said, his voice tight and controlled.

  He jerked me along with him and pulled me into the yard. “Stop or I will kill her!” he commanded.

  This brought everyone to an immediate halt.

  My sisters ran from the house and into the yard.

  Dane stared at me as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Then his anger penetrated him from head to toe. He began huffing uncontrollably.

  “You had better get your hands off of her now, or you will die!” Dane managed to say through his huffing.

  What was happening to him? Was he shifting? I felt a rush of adrenaline as well as fear at the thought of finally seeing him for his true self.

  “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the brave Dane Savage,” Creed said, his venom spewing. His remaining five men piled in behind him. “I heard you died a long time ago. I am glad to know the rumors were not true. Now I can kill you myself.”

  I swung my hand up, claws exposed, and sliced him in the face.

  He jerked me hard, and then I felt his claws growing and puncturing the skin on my neck. I whimpered. I couldn’t help it.

  “Take your hands off of her!” Dane growled.

  Creed laughed and spoke the provoking words like he was a five year-old, “Make me.”

  “My pleasure,” Dane growled as he tossed aside what was left of his shirt. “I left you alive last time, Creed. I will not be making that mistake again.”

  What? What was he talking about? Was I hearing this right? Was Dane the one who once defeated Creed?

  Creed flung me aside, and I hit the ground with great force, knocking the breath from me. My vision blurred and I tried hard to stay conscious. Tabby grabbed me under my arms and pulled me back a few feet as the two massive men began their deadly dance. I focused on the two figures before me. I couldn’t look away even if I had to.

  Dane huffed as his already massive body grew. He stood tall, towering only slightly over Creed. Creed too had begun to shift. Deep golden hair began to cover his body as his face and fangs grew. His large, full mane took shape and the sight of him was terrifying. He was a were-lion to be feared.

  Dane’s hair also grew, covering his beautiful body completely. Gasps could be heard all around me. Mine was the loudest. Am I really seeing what I think I’m seeing?

  Dane’s massive and thick mane was covering his head in the most magnificent and blinding shade of white.

  A white lion!

  Dane Savage was a white lion!

  I didn’t have time to process this for as soon as the shifting was complete, the fighting began.

  These were not full lions but were-lions; half lion/half man. They were fierce and horrifying, and standing on their back legs towered them seven feet into the air.

  Dane struck first and blood splattered across Creed’s face. The two blurred and became a tornado of fur and claws. I couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.

  I held my breath and wished there was something I could do. I believed in Dane, but I knew that Creed was an evil monster. How could this have a good outcome? I looked into the dark sky and offered up a prayer to God. I asked Him to save the man that I loved.

  Creed struck Dane on the side. He growled and swung, hitting Creed across the face sending blood spurting. They blurred again as they embraced in a flurried frenzy. Creed broke the embrace and Dane was bleeding from his side, but Creed was battered and dripping blood from his head and neck. In short, Dane was winning. They charged at each other again, and I knew this could be it.

  I stood and inched my way closer to the battling beasts.

  “Cali, get back!” Kiki yelled.

  Creed jumped backward and suddenly I was in his grasp once again. He had my neck in his massive jaws and was biting down.

  Dane froze and quickly shifted back into his human form. “No! Creed no! Let her go!”

  I screamed and tried to pull free, hitting the massive beast with all the strength I possessed.

  “Calico, stop struggling!” Dane yelled. “Okay, Creed, you win. Let her go and you can have me.”

  “No!” I screamed and began struggling again.

  Creed let me go, and I fell to the ground. I reached for my neck. There were no wounds.

  Dane remained in his human form with a surrendered expression as Creed slowly approached him.

  “I have you now, Savage. Once
you are dead, I will take the girls into my pack and they will obey and serve me. You have lost, oh mighty white lion. You have lost everything.”

  “Not everything!” I yelled as I jumped onto his back and plunged my knife deep into his already injured neck.

  He growled so loud I thought my ears would burst. His huge claw grabbed my head, pulled me in front of him, and began to squeeze. “You have defied me for the last time, little girl. Precious or not, you will now die.”

  “No!” Blake yelled. “You can’t kill her! You promised I could have her!” He seemed distressed, and I knew in that moment that he truly cared for me, even if it was in an unhealthy way. But even he was wise enough to stay away, and Creed ignored his plea, as if he didn’t hear him at all.

  I cringed as his claw began to close around my head. The pressure was excruciating. So this is it. This is how I die. I felt tears rush to my eyes. I didn’t want to go like this, not with the people I love watching. I tried to look over at them, but Creed had my head frozen in place. I wanted to say goodbye, but the words would not come out.

  All of a sudden the pressure was released and Creed and I both looked down to his chest and the four-fingered claw that protruded from it. Creed’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and then he collapsed to the ground…dead.

  Standing behind him, his heart in his bloody, four-clawed hand, was Blue, and standing behind him was the rest of the pack.

  We all stared at him in disbelief. I knew in my heart that he was the one who tipped us off to Creed’s plan to attack. He had been against Creed from the very beginning.

  Blue looked around at us and then finally spoke. “It is time for us to take back our pack. It will no longer be ruled by monsters like this.” He looked down to Creed’s lifeless body. “Everyone deserves to choose for themselves if they will join a pack or not. No one should be forced—ever.”

  There was an audible sigh of relief and then the pack sang out cheers for their freedom.