Just the thought of those panthers gave him the needed strength to plan his next attack. He was going to get his revenge if it was the last thing he did, and he was going to start with that little fucking human bitch, Nova Raines.
He’d almost had her, but it didn’t matter. He now knew where those panthers lived, and he would finally taste her…destroying her in the process. And since that little bitch was so much a part of the pride of panthers, Perry was betting that it would destroy them right where they were at their weakest.
Their weakest point was their mates…
Chapter Seventeen
Nova stretched as she walked into the cabin. Winter wasn’t far behind, she was sure. It’d been a long day and she wanted nothing more than to crawl in the bed and sleep for the next two days. Liberty had gone in to work at the bar, giving her the night off. It’d been a week since Thanksgiving, and already the bar was hopping with the taste of New Year’s Eve on everyone’s tongue. It was their busiest night of the year and plans had already been made for a small fireworks show in the parking lot at midnight. The planning had kept her at the bar later than she wanted, but at least everything they’d need had been ordered.
She jumped in the shower and cleaned up, wrapping a towel around her body as she went in search of a shirt in Winter’s closet. She thumbed through them, smiling when she found the dark gray one she liked to wear to bed. The material was soft against her body and it fell just above her knees. She combed out her wet hair, opting to let it dry while she slept.
A thud sounded out on the porch and she paused for a moment, thinking Winter would walk in the door any minute, but after several seconds, there was only silence. She wondered if maybe she’d been mistaken and her mind was playing tricks on her.
She pulled the covers back on the bed and flipped on the lamp beside the bed. Her romance novel sat on the night stand, and she planned on getting lost in the story before it was time to actually fall asleep.
The moment she slid into the bed, a scratching sound came from the back porch. Maybe Winter had shifted? Maybe he was needing to be let in the house?
She quickly left the bedroom and made her way to the back door. When she opened it, there wasn’t anyone there.
“Winter?” she called out.
Her bare foot hit the wooden deck, the board creaked softly as her weight shifted. The light over the door didn’t cast its glow out far enough to see if he was in the yard. She moved out of the beam of light and took the three steps down into the yard. Nova inhaled deeply, hoping to catch Winter’s unique scent, but all she smelled was something a little off. In fact, it made her nose crinkle in disgust.
A hand clasped over her mouth; her scream muffled by a strong hold. Searing pain flashed across her face from the touch of a male that wasn’t her mate. It felt like a million bee stings against her flesh, and she screamed again, not from fright, but from the contact.
Her heart thundered in her chest and she kicked out, making contact with a shin, but her captor didn’t release her. His other hand grasped her upper arm, tightening his hold. Her eyes watered from the pain. He was going to break her arm right above where she had the cast, sending more pain through his touch.
“You’re mine now, you fucking bitch,” Perry spat.
Oh, God! No! Winter! She screamed inside her head, but knew it wouldn’t do any good. Winter couldn’t hear her. Her only hope was that he’d come home soon and find the back door ajar. He’d come investigate. If she was a panther, she could shift to protect herself. As it stood, she was helpless against this werewolf.
She fought and struggled as he started to move out of the yard, heading for the surrounding woods. Winter’s home was farther away from the property line than most of the homes. If Perry was planning on taking her to a car, it would be a long walk with her struggling.
Nova kicked out again, this time making direct contact with his leg. Perry gave a grunt, moving his hand to clasp around her throat. She couldn’t scream because he cut off her air. Each time he touched her in a new spot of bare skin, it felt like she was being set on fire. She tried to hit him with her casted arm, but missed all together.
“I’m going to kill you after I fuck you, bitch,” he laughed, sounding like a demon. “Then I’m going to leave you for your cats to find.”
Her mind tried to shut down, but she fought against it. Knowing he had more power than she did was enough to almost give up. But her daddy had taught her how to protect herself. She was nothing but a human…a helpless female, but what she lacked in strength, she made up for in knowledge. Perry would do everything he said if she didn’t at least try to get away from him.
Using her casted arm, she shoved it straight up between her left shoulder and his forearm, knocking his hand away from her throat. She didn’t have time to enjoy the quick intake of air she received before she spun out of his hold, the broken branches biting into her bare feet.
She wasn’t going to let him hurt her this time. When he snarled, lunging for her throat again, Nova took a chance, ducking low and throwing her weight into the punch that landed right between his legs. Perry yelped and dropped to his knees. She turned to run back toward the house and finally got enough air into her lungs to scream.
“WINTER!” she cried out.
The sound of tearing fabric had Nova looking over her shoulder. She hoped it was Winter, but from the hazy yellow eyes staring back at her, she knew that Perry had shifted. She turned and ran toward the light at the back of the house, praying she could make it in time.
The sound of the wolf running after her sent Nova’s heart into her throat. She looked again and saw the dark gray wolf gaining on her. She’d just stepped into the light of Winter’s backyard when an unearthly roar sounded in front of her. Tears sprang from her eyes when she saw a huge black panther racing off the wooden deck, with another panther quickly on his heels.
The fur of the first panther touched her leg as he raced past, but Nova wasn’t concerned. She knew that panther would protect her with his life. The moment she climbed on the porch, her legs gave out. Her knees crashed to the ground and she curled in on herself, crying out from the pain in her face, neck, and arm. She could feel the blood dripping from the cuts on her feet, and she knew she needed to get inside, but walking wasn’t an option.
Roars and howls echoed through the woods behind Winter’s house, pushing Nova to get to safety. With some unknown strength, she was able to crawl over the threshold. Once inside, Nova slammed the door. She laid out on the kitchen floor, pressing her face to the cool tile, hoping for some relief. She cried harder when there was none.
Winter and Talon had followed Nova back to the house, but stopped along the way to talk about heading out the following night to search for Perry. He could see the light from his front porch, so he wasn’t too far away from his mate.
Nova’s scream of terror sent Winter’s panther into a snarling frenzy. Talon ripped his shirt over his head as they rushed toward the cabin. Winter’s panther took over as he also shed his clothes, his hands turned into deadly claws and his vision changed, bringing the darkness to light. His panther eyes scanned the front of his home and saw nothing. As his legs hit the front porch, Winter’s body shifted, the rest of his clothes shredding into pieces that fell away as his panther crashed into the front door, splintering it into pieces. By the time he reached the living room, his shift was complete.
Nova’s scent was everywhere, but it was the open back door that his panther raced toward when the scent of wolf drifted into his home. He heard Nova before he saw her, panting heavily as she ran for her life away from a huge gray wolf who was no more than twenty feet behind her.
Winter’s panther roared and rushed past his mate, his fur grazing her leg. That small touch would have to be all he could give her at the moment. His only thought was to get his teeth into that wolf’s neck. It was time to end his life. He felt Talon at his flank, his leader letting him have the hunt for their enemy.
Perry
had to be weak. It’d been a couple of weeks since the pride had killed the wolf’s alpha. By now, any shifter without a leader would be starting to lose their strength. Winter’s panther licked his lips as he tasted an easy victory on his tongue.
The wolf dashed through the dead leaves and limbs. Winter scented Nova’s blood as he ran, his panther getting more agitated as they chased after the enemy. The wolf turned right, heading for thicker vegetation, and he heard Talon chuff behind him. His alpha broke off to come around and try to cut off the wolf.
Winter’s panther leapt over downed trees, using his claws to climb when needed. His powerful hind legs burned as he ran and his heart thundered in his chest. The usual sounds of the forest quieted, only the sound of heavy paws could be heard. Winter focused on where his alpha was, sensing him coming up on the wolf.
Talon’s panther plowed into the wolf’s side, sending him rolling down an embankment. Before Perry stopped rolling, Winter was on him. The wolf growled and snapped at the panther, but didn’t get a chance to attack. The panther unleashed his claws and raked them down the belly of the wolf, his skin filleted open, blood spilling out in a hot shower against the brown leaves on the forest floor. The wolf howled out in pain, but his sound was cut off when the panther’s mouth closed over his throat.
This is for Nova, you son of a bitch!
One snap of his mouth and Perry’s life was over.
Talon nudged him, tossing his head toward the house, telling Winter to get back to his mate. He didn’t know what condition he’d find her in when he returned, but as he ran, his panther receded and his human form came rushing back. By the time he stepped on the porch, Winter was human.
“Don’t touch me,” Nova cried. “Please don’t touch me.” Winter snarled as he kicked open the back door, finding Nova curled up on the kitchen floor, Talon’s brother Kye hovering over her protectively.
“I was going to move her since I know my touch won’t hurt her,” Kye defended, standing up slowly and holding his hands in the air defensively. Winter knew the kid wasn’t old enough to cause a female pain with his touch because he hadn’t hit his full power yet, but he was thankful that the kid knew to back away carefully. Winter was on edge, and if Kye had touched her in any way that caused Nova to cry out from pain to an injury, he could’ve mistaken it for an unmated male’s touch and killed the kid.
“Nova,” Winter whispered, squatting down so he could scoop her up into his arms. The moment he made contact with her skin, she released a breath Winter didn’t even know she was holding.
He wanted her in his room…in their bed. His instincts took over, and all he wanted was to take her somewhere safe and know that she was loved and protected. She didn’t say anything as he placed her on the bed. He covered her and slid beneath the sheets, his naked body molding against her side.
“Where did he touch you?” Winter asked. “Talk to me, baby. I have to know so I can take away your pain.” He never understood the need to keep his mate safe and protected until now. The thought of this man touching her sent a foreign feeling through his body like a million ants were crawling all over him.
“Arm,” she gasped, raising her casted arm to rub her exposed fingers at her throat. “My throat and my mouth.”
Winter slid his arm behind Nova’s shoulders, rolling her onto her side so he could press her face against his neck. He buried his face into her hair and bit back a snarl of rage at scenting the dead wolf on her body. A rumble bubbled out of his chest as he rubbed his face against her skin, trying to transfer his mating scent back into her hair and skin.
“Winter?” the healer announced at the door. “May I give aid to your mate?”
“Please,” he answered, but still didn’t release Nova.
“My feet are bleeding,” she yelped, as if she’d just remembered the injuries.
“It’s okay,” Winter cooed.
“I’m getting blood on your bed,” she said, wiggling slightly, but she must’ve been so tired, the effort was minimal.
“It’s our bed,” he corrected. “And you just stay where you’re at. Harold will look at your feet first.” Winter had seen the red marks coming up on her throat and knew she’d probably wear those bruises again, but he wasn’t ready to let her go yet to see exactly how bad they were. Her voice was scratchy already, but at least she wasn’t screaming anymore.
“I’m putting on gloves, Nova,” the healer announced. “My touch should not harm you, but if you feel pain, you must tell me.”
“Okay,” she nodded, hiding her face back into Winter’s neck. His heart raced when he felt her press a soft kiss where his mating mark would’ve been if she were a panther.
“It looks like some small cuts,” Harold said, snapping off his gloves. “I would suggest letting your mate help you bathe, and then I will leave some gauze and tape for him to cover the wounds for a day or two. Now, let me take a look at the rest of you.”
Winter reluctantly released her, rolling out of the bed to grab a pair of lounge pants from the dresser. His eyes never left hers and Nova only answered the direct questions by the pride’s doctor.
“Did he touch you anywhere else?” Winter asked, standing at the edge of the bed. All he wanted to do was kick the doctor out so he could clean his mate and care for her.
“No,” she replied. When she touched her throat for the third time, reminding Winter of what had happened, he wanted to go find that wolf’s corpse and kill the bastard all over again.
“Where’s my sister?” Liberty shouted, running down the gravel road that led to the cabins just behind the alpha’s house. Talon rushed forward and took her into his arms.
“Calm down,” he ordered, pushing out his alpha powers to ease his mate. She was in distress and from the glowing amber eyes that were wet with tears, he knew her panther was agitated as well. “My cub doesn’t like his mother upset.”
“Is she okay?” Liberty asked, her voice calmer.
“She’s going to be fine,” Talon promised, and hoped like hell he hadn’t just lied to Liberty. In fact, he was sure her sister was alive, because if she’d been in any danger, Winter’s panther would have called out for him already. “Harold is in there now.”
“I want to see her,” she begged. “Please, Talon. She’s my baby sister.”
“Come,” he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. His other hand laid flat against her stomach.
Panthers and Guardians lined the driveway to Winter’s cabin. Liberty hurried ahead of him to get to the door. As soon as they stepped inside, the healer was coming out of the bedroom.
“How is she?” Liberty demanded.
“She’s a little beat up, but otherwise okay,” Harold answered. “Winter is with her now.”
“Can I see her?” she asked, squeezing Talon’s hand for support.
“Yes,” Harold nodded. “She does need to rest. So, don’t stay too long.”
Liberty nodded and walked toward the bedroom. Talon knocked twice on the door and only entered when he heard Winter call out a greeting.
“Liberty?” Nova mumbled against Winter’s bare chest.
“Oh, Nova,” Liberty cried, rushing around the side of the bed so she could take her sister into her arms. “What can I do?”
“Nothing,” Nova sighed, looking down at the bed. Winter sat up and wiped his hand down his face in frustration. “You can do nothing. I’m fine.” With the way Nova spoke, she was far from fine.
“Your sister needs to shower,” Winter interrupted.
“I’ll shower in a few minutes,” Nova growled.
“Can you leave us for a moment?” Liberty asked, turning toward the two men. The hard glare to her mate got him moving. Talon didn’t waste any time, clasping his hand over Winter’s shoulder and escorting him out of the room. Liberty could feel the tension rolling off of her sister’s mate, but Nova’s anger was eating her alive.
“I wasn’t…” Nova paused, her voice barely above a whisper. “I wasn’t strong enough to fight
him off, Liberty.” Tears leaked from her sister’s eyes and Liberty wrapped her arms around Nova, holding her as close as possible.
“But you did,” Liberty said, hoping that her words would give Nova strength. It wasn’t like her sister to be this quiet and reserved.
“No, I made a stupid mistake,” she cursed. “I got lucky. That’s all that happened.”
“You won’t be unprotected again,” Liberty promised.
“Do you think I want a babysitter for the rest of my life?” Nova rubbed at her throat and her arms. “I don’t ever want to put another person at risk.”
Her sister was right. She would never be able to defend herself against an enemy as strong as a shifter. It just wasn’t possible. Just the thought that Perry could’ve taken Nova away from Liberty sent her panther forward, pushing for release.
“Talon and Winter won’t change you,” Liberty said, lowering her voice, but knew that if her mate was standing outside the door, he heard every word.
Nova seemed to struggle with her thoughts, picking at an invisible thread on the sheet. When her sister raised her eyes, she knew what was coming, and she was already shaking her head.
“No, Nova,” Liberty protested.
“Yes, Liberty,” Nova begged. “You won’t let me suffer.”
“I can’t do it,” she replied.
“Get your healer, Liberty,” Nova pushed, taking a deep breath. “I want you to change me…tonight.”
“Nova,” Liberty warned. “I can’t. I’m pregnant.”
“But I can,” Winter announced from the threshold of the doorway. “You’re right, Nova. You can’t protect yourself against one of us. It’s only right that I make you what I am.”
Liberty changed places with Winter, meeting her mate in the hallway. “I’ll call the healer.”
“I need all of my Guardians here…now,” Talon ordered over his shoulder. Savage and Booth left the cabin quickly, obviously getting all of their brothers to Winter’s cabin. Liberty shivered when she thought about what was about to happen.
Winter (Rise of the Pride, Book 2) Page 14
