by KD Jones
She smacked him again. He should have expected that. “Stop hitting me or I won’t share the food I got earlier.”
“Then stop saying insulting things to me.”
He could see she was still shaking. She needed to eat. “Sorry, you’re so easy to rile up. I’ll get the food.” He laid her down and went over to the table where he had put the food. Most of it was cold now.
“Do you think Connor will get to her in time?”
“I hope so, honey. I really hope he does.”
Chapter 19
Connor didn’t wait for the twins and the others to catch up to him. He knew which waterfall Mors had taken Roxanne to. It was Tucker Falls, where there was a cave that all the high school boys took their girlfriends. Connor had gone there a few times himself. It was secluded and the only way to get to the cave was under the waterfall.
He paused at the edge of the water. The sun was starting to set. A feeling of anxiousness nearly overwhelmed him. Soon Adrian’s vamps would arrive to help. But he couldn’t wait for them, not if he wanted to stop Mors for touching Roxanne. He had to get to her now. He stripped his clothes off and dove into the water. It was cool but his panther genes kept him warm.
He knew this lake better than anyone. He knew where every underwater boulder hid, every deep crevice. He also knew where to dive to get underneath the curtain of water falling down the tall cliff.
Connor swam and the closer he came to the waterfall, the more a need to get there faster pressed on him. He prayed he wasn’t too late.
*****
“Why are you doing this?” Roxanne asked. She was trying to bide her time. She knew that Diana would locate her and that Connor would come for her. She didn’t doubt that for one minute.
Mors had her tied down on the floor of the cave with chains, unfortunately on both her wrists and ankles. No chance to strike out at him, not even to kick. Mors paced around her. He had his long grey-black hair pulled back in a braid. He wasn’t bad looking, but his dark eyes seemed more animal than human and he had a hard time keeping his fangs from springing forward. It was like his animal was trying to break free of him and he was fighting to keep it inside.
“I wasn’t planning to turn Connor. I wanted to turn a female to make her my mate. But none of the humans I tried to turn were strong enough. Connor was unexpected. I took a lot from him. When I stopped, I figured if he survived, then it was destiny that he be my second. He was supposed to help me find a way to turn women to be our mates and produce more werepanthers. But all he has done is follow me around and try to keep me from fulfilling my mission.” He knelt down and caressed Roxanne’s cheek. She jerked away from him, but he just chuckled at her.
“Imagine my surprise when I followed Connor back here and found he had mated a wolf. At first I thought it was disgusting. It went against nature. But then I remembered.” He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
“Remembered what?” She needed to keep him talking.
“Babies born from were parents are born basically human. They can be bitten and changed to another species if it’s early enough.”
Roxanne felt sick to her stomach. “Have you bitten babies?”
“Human babies are too weak and won’t survive the bite or the turn. My previous clan kicked me out because of this. They didn’t understand that I was trying to save our species. But now I think this will work. You can have my child and I will turn him into a panther.”
“No.” Roxanne shook her head in disgust and tried to pull free of the chains. But they were too strong and her efforts made them cut into her flesh.
Mors laughed. “Struggle all you like. You won’t be able to break free of those chains. I had a witch infuse them with a magic that keeps a shifter from changing. I planned to use them on Connor, but you are a more fitting test for them.”
Mors reached for her dress and ripped it off. She wasn’t wearing underwear after her tryst with Connor. She shivered, but it wasn’t because it was cold in the cave; it was from the revulsion she felt at the way Mors looked her over from head to toe, as if she were a thing, not a person. He licked his lips and it was clear to her that Mors was going to rape her.
She had never felt so helpless in all her life. She turned her head to the side and tried to make her mind think of something, anything other than the feeling of Mors touching her breasts. “Connor will kill you for touching me.”
Mors leaned down and bit her nipple hard.
She growled at him and snapped her teeth. If she could get loose, she would kill him.
Mors chuckled at her attempts to stop him. “Connor is useless. He has failed to stop me in the past and will continue to fail. He won’t be able to save you. It’s time for Connor to meet his end.”
“I thought you wanted Connor to help you build your clan.”
“I have another to help me rebuild my clan now. And once we have each taken a turn impregnating you and turning our children, we’ll search for other were-women and use them the same as you.”
“What will you do with me then?”
He smiled evilly at her as he paused over her knees. He gripped each knee and pulled them apart. She squeezed as hard as she could to try to keep him out. “You will be disposed of.”
Roxanne couldn’t fight the fear any longer. She screamed as loud as she could, hoping and praying that someone would be able to hear her over the waterfall.
Mors growled at her to stop right and slapped her hard. Her head hit the floor and she felt dizzy. She heard a loud roar and assumed it was Mors. But his body was suddenly lifted off of her. She turned her head to the side and looked over to see two black panthers circling each other. The black one with grey spots she could tell was Mors. The other was . . .
“Connor.” That was all she saw before blackness overtook her.
*****
Connor glanced over to where Roxanne was tied down naked on the floor. The moment he had emerged from beneath the waterfall, he could smell her fear and blood. Then he heard her scream. He had leaped out of the water and immediately shifted to his panther.
He ran at Mors, who was kneeling between Roxanne’s knees, charging into him and shoving him back across the cave floor. Mors shifted to his own panther form. They growled and snapped at each other, then circled.
Mors tried to bite at Connor’s paws, but Connor blocked with his shoulder and shoved him away. The teeth were dangerous. He had to keep Mors from biting his neck or his legs. Connor dove at Mors. Their big bodies rolled but neither was able to gain a top position. They used their claws. Mors swiped Connor’s side and Connor managed to leave bloody marks down Mor’s face.
They sprang apart. Mors roared at him and Connor answered. Mors was panting hard. He wasn’t stable mentally and he was probably straining to maintain control over his form now that he was hurt. He could see it in Mors’ eyes. He was about to shift.
Connor watched as Mors finally shifted back to his human form. He was still bleeding and he looked wild.
“You think you can finally take me, cub?”
Connor could have stayed in his animal form and taken him out easily. Mors in human form was no match for a panther protecting his mate. His panther wanted the vengeance for what Mors had put Roxanne through. Connor wanted that too, but he was better than Mors. He was not a psychotic killer. He was in control.
Connor shifted to his human form. He too was still bleeding from his side. “I know I can take you. I’m not a defenseless woman that you have to tie down just to force himself on her.”
“She was loving my attentions. You must not have given her much to work with.”
Connor knew Mors was baiting him, trying to get him to act rashly. That was typical Mors, and normally in the past, it had worked. Not this time. Mors wasn’t going to get away with hurting his mate.
“Shift back to your panther, Mors, or die human.” Connor didn’t take his eyes off Mors, but he could hear that others had arrived and were helping Roxanne. He had to keep track of Mors o
r he might escape. Again.
Mors let his claws release on one hand as he rushed Connor. Connor sidestepped him, whirled quickly around, and used his own claws to stab Mors in the back. Mors stumbled around to face Connor and Connor reached out again, slicing his throat. It was ugly and gruesome, but as he watched the killer that had tormented him for the past eighteen months finally fade to nothing, he felt a sense of relief. He was free.
“Roxanne,” he whispered as he stumbled in her direction. She was gone. “Roxanne!”
“Easy, Connor, she’s alive and safe.” One of Adrian’s vamps, Brock, was standing by the waterfall.
“Where is she?” he demanded, not caring that he was completely naked.
“The twins and my partner got her out of here. They’re going to take her to the local doctor, the one that knows about paranormals. She was really weak. I think she might have a concussion.”
“I need to get to her.” Connor glanced back at Mors’ body. He was dead but his body couldn’t be left there.
“I’ll stay and burn the body. There are a few of the other werewolves waiting for you in a boat so you don’t have to swim back.”
“Thanks.” Connor dove under the waterfall and swam until he could safely reemerge on the other side. Two of the older pack males were sitting in a boat. They helped pulled him up and gave him a spare set of clothes.
“What happened to the crazy panther?”
“I killed him. Did you find the other panther that was watching my mom?”
“Yeah, he’s dead. We’ve got a car waiting to take you to the hospital.”
Connor didn’t say anything else. All his thoughts were focused on Roxanne. Was she okay? Had he been too late? Would she forgive him for bringing Mors here?
Chapter 20
It felt like it took forever to get to the hospital. As soon as he walked through the doors, nurses were rushing to try to take him to the ER. He was bloody and had scratches all over. But he didn’t have time for that. He needed to get to Roxanne.
“Connor.”
He turned at the sound of his name. Diana stood near the elevators with Lucas next to her. He rushed over to them, desperate for news. “Where’s Roxanne?”
“They took her to the fourth floor and gave her a sedative. She’ll heal on her on but they wanted something to calm her down. She was determined to get back to the cave to get you, but the doctor refused because of how hard she hit her head. She finally fell asleep a few minutes ago.”
He followed her and Lucas into the elevator. As soon as the doors were closed, Diana reached out and touched his arm. “She’s going to be fine Connor. You got to her before he could . . .”
“It looked like he had,” Connor whispered.
“But you stopped him in time. He didn’t get a chance to force himself on her. The doctor checked her over too.”
Connor felt a great release in the tension he had been holding and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God. I didn’t want to fail her and force her to have to live with that. I would have done anything to make her life easier. As long as she was alive, I was prepared to handle anything. I didn’t want her to have that kind of nightmare to deal with.”
She squeezed his arm. “I know. She’s lucky to have you.”
Lucas growled, causing Diana to release him and step back. She glared at Lucas. “Stop growling.”
“Then stop touching other males.”
Diana rolled her eyes. Connor observed the interaction but didn’t really think about it. His thoughts were all on Roxanne. The door opened and he got off the elevator. He followed Diana down the hallway. He knew which room was Roxanne’s because more than half the wolfpack was standing or sitting outside her door.
He entered the hospital room and saw his mother sitting in a chair next to Roxanne. When she spotted him tears began to roll down her face. “Connor.”
He rushed to his mother’s side and hugged her. “I’m fine. A little banged and scratched but that’s it. How is she doing?”
“She’s sleeping now. She’ll heal in a day or two. The doctor said that she wasn’t . . .”
“I know. Diana told me. Thanks for watching over her.” He kissed his mom’s forehead. Then he went over to the bed and sat down next to Roxanne. He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. He could still scent Mors on her and it made him growl. He didn’t want her to wake to her tormentor’s scent on her.
“I want to wash her.”
“What?” his mother asked, standing up with Ric’s help.
“His scent is all over her, don’t want her to wake up to that.”
“Of course. I’ll help you,” Mary offered.
“Honey, you can’t be doing anything that makes you bend over. The doctor warned us about that,” Ric reminded.
“I’ll help,” Diana said from the doorway.
Connor nodded. “Mom, go home and rest. I’ll let you know when she wakes up.”
Mary kissed his cheek then reached for Roxanne’s hand and squeezed it. “Call us as soon as she wakes. I’ll bring her some fresh clothes.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He nodded at his stepfather and listened as Ric told the rest of the gang outside to leave.
“You can’t be in here, Lucas.” Diana practically shoved Lucas out of the door.
With Diana’s help, they were able to give Roxanne a quick sponge bath. Connor decided not to bother putting a hospital gown on her. His mother would bring clothes for her later. About half an hour later, Lucas forced his way back in the room.
“Diana, you must leave now to get some rest.”
Diana just ignored him. It only infuriated him more. “Now, Diana. You have exhausted yourself trying to locate Roxanne and you went back into your dream state so that you could be with her.”
“What?” Connor looked between the two of them. “What did you do?”
Diana blushed. “I didn’t want her to be alone. She didn’t know I was there, but I wanted to be with her no matter what. I was there when he tried to . . . That’s how I know for sure he didn’t do anything more but touch her with his hands.”
That must have been traumatic for someone as sheltered as Diana. She wouldn’t have experienced that kind of violence. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, really.”
“No, she’s not. She woke up bleeding from her ears and her nose. I wanted her to remain at the hotel and rest but she insisted on being here for Roxanne,” Lucas informed him.
Connor looked at Diana. “Thank you for what you did. But Lucas is right. You should go. Roxanne would want you to rest. I’ll call you when she wakes up.”
“Okay.” Diana leaned over the bed and kissed Roxanne’s forehead. She left the room with Lucas trailing behind her. Connor watched them leave. There was a give and pull between those two, a spark that was waiting to be fanned into a flame. He wasn’t sure that Roxanne would approve. Connor didn’t want to worry about that right now. He just wanted to hold her.
He stood up and closed the door. He took off his shoes and climbed in bed with her. He rolled her in his arms until she was lying half on top of him, then scooted them both to the center of the small hospital bed. She didn’t wake up at all. She rubbed her nose against his chest then snuggled against him. He and his panther breathed a big sigh of relief as they pulled her closer to them. It felt good to hold their mate. He closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
*****
Mmm . . . mate. Roxanne felt Connor’s heat seeping into her body from under her. She slowly opened her eyes. From the smell of cleaning solution and the sight of the small bed, she knew she was in the hospital. The lights were off in the room but there was a slow sunrise peaking through the window. She felt the rumble from beneath her and glanced down at a sleeping Connor as he purred.
She was safe, her mate was safe, Mary and the baby were safe. They had told her when they brought her to the hospital that Connor killed Mors and that he was on his way to her. She had refused to let them sedate her until then.
She rubbed her naked body against him and could feel his arousal. She licked his neck and nipped it. Big strong hands gripped her and rolled her onto her back. He moved between her legs.
“You’re already hard for me.” She lifted her hips so that she could rub his pants-covered crotch against her.
He snorted. “Honey, I am always hard for you. Even when I was in South America, a continent away, I was hard for you.”
She looked at the door. It was closed, but anyone could walk in on them. “Where is everyone?”
“I sent them home to get some rest. I told them I would call when you woke up.” He pulled back a little.
“What is it?”
“I killed Mors. I’ve never killed anyone before.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I just wished I could have stopped him from coming here. If I’d stayed in South America, he never would have come here and never would have gotten his hands on you.”
She placed her hands on his face. “It’s not your fault. None of this was your fault. Mors was sick. He was a sick man before you ever met him.”
“I didn’t protect you from him. He hurt you.”
“Honey, you saved me. He would have raped me until he got me with child.” She shivered. “You got there in time and saved me. I knew that you would. I knew that you would come for me, all I had to do was stay alive.”
He leaned forward pressing his forehead against hers. “I will always come for you. You’re my heart, my soul, my life, my mate. No one will keep me from you.” He kissed her lips, taking her down to the bed.
“Clothes . . . off.” Roxanne practically ripped his shirt off. She ran her hands over his sculpted golden skin. She licked her lips in anticipation. He was the sexiest man she had ever seen. And he was hers. She fumbled a bit with the snap to his jeans.
“Easy, honey, I didn’t bring a change of clothes with me.” He reached down between them and undid his buttons. He shoved the jeans partway down his legs, releasing his fully aroused cock. He touched her pussy with his fingers and found her already wet and ready for him. “Baby, I don’t think I can wait.”
