Snared

by Kris Norris

  Snared

  A Phases Story

  By Kris Norris

  Resplendence Publishing, LLC

  http://www.resplendencepublishing.com

  Resplendence Publishing, LLC

  2665 S Atlantic Avenue, #349

  Daytona Beach, FL 32118

  Snared (Phases Series, Book Seven)

  Copyright © 2011 Kris Norris

  Edited by Christine Allen-Riley and Jason Huffman

  Cover art by Les Byerley, www.les3photo8.com

  Electronic format ISBN: 978-1-60735-346-1

  Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Electronic Release: July 2011

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

  The Dedication

  To all my gal pals, aka soul sisters. As the years pass, it becomes more apparent why us ladies need each other. Here’s to riding the old biddy bus together, to aging with grace and never forgetting why we loved each other in the first place.

  To the other ladies of the Phases Collection. Hope we get to do this again. You ladies rock.

  And to Chris…for your patience, compassion and ability to help me see the right path. Where would I be without you?

  Chapter One

  Tayen Locke moved along the overgrown trail, darting through the rambling underbrush as she headed for a small knoll on the other side of the forest. A lone eagle cried out in the growing dusk, its noble call echoing through the trees, only to be cut short when thunder rolled across the sky. She paused, glancing at the dark clouds sweeping across the landscape and billowing up the hills. Lightning flashed in the distance, painting the horizon in harsh relief as the silhouettes of the majestic pines flickered in the light. She sniffed the air, noting the heady smell of summer rain amidst the usual evergreen spice and earthy moss. It wouldn’t be long before the first drops pelted the ground, leaving a patchwork of dark spots along the parched earth.

  Tayen picked up speed, loping through a small clearing and up the adjoining ridge. It’d been an impulsive decision to shift into her animal form and run through the forest, but one she didn’t regret. The unexpected storm gave her a small window of opportunity to scour the area for poacher traps in relative safety, while the hunters hid from the intense weather. She growled at the thought. While trapping and hunting legally were one thing, doing so off-season and with illegal traps was about as low as it got. And these poachers seemed to thrive on the most gruesome devices available.

  She trotted to a stop, staring at the dense forest before her. This had become her personal war zone—the boundary between crown land and the national animal reserve. Deadly snares and metal foot traps hid along the narrow corridor, hoping to snag game before they reached the safety of the park. But not today.

  Tayen eased forward, sniffing the ground for the telltale scent of the bait markers. A multitude of aromas infused her senses, each one as unique as the contours of a snowflake, and it only took a moment to get a bead on the first trap. She padded forward, her paws stirring up small dust devils as the wind whipped through the trees, splattering the ground with the first drops of rain. Thunder clapped overhead and lightning forked in a nearby thicket, but nothing drew her attention away from the small box hidden at the base of a tree. Her lips curled back in a growl as she stopped in front of the trap, the metal edges barely discernible in the nest of leaves and moss. A low hiss rumbled from her chest as she batted one paw, knocking a rock into the mix. The hinges released and the sides clamped shut, catching only air in its grip. More thunder swallowed the shrill echo as the trap clattered to a halt inside the wooden box, its prongs no longer a threat to any unsuspecting animal.

  Growling with satisfaction, she continued along the route, springing holds and snares as she went. She’d managed to dispatch nearly a dozen illegal traps before she paused at the trunk of a large tree. The fur along her nape tingled with awareness, and she knew she’d stumbled upon something much larger. She inched closer, finally spying a length of rope hanging from the tree, the end buried beneath a cover of leaves and fern. More fur prickled to life and she backed away, turning toward the tree before leaping at the first branch. She landed silently on the rough bark, her claws leaving small indentations as she stalked along the thick wood, her gaze settled on the knot of rope halfway along the length. She’d hoped to simply chew through the fibers, but once she got a closer look at it, she realized the rope was too heavily braided.

  She shook her head and slowly morphed into her human form, nearly slipping off the branch as her body weight readjusted and her balance shifted. She reacted, locking her thighs around the branch as her hands gripped at the rope. A tumbling feeling rolled through her stomach, and she laughed at the absurdity of the situation.

  “If only bobcats had opposable thumbs.”

  Another giggle bubbled free as she tugged at the strands, slowly dragging the loose end through the knot. Just a couple more loops and the hidden net would be useless. She continued working, listening to the wind rustle through the trees as rain splashed against her skin. The warm water felt strangely cool, her thick fur no longer a barrier to the elements. Even the scents of the forest seemed slightly diluted, more of a mixture of aromas than individual fragrances. It was like being caught between two worlds, but not fully in either. Retaining traits in each state meant she often felt out of place, which was probably the reason she was sabotaging traps during a thunderstorm instead of curling up with someone special.

  Another laugh threatened, but the harsh reality of the statement crushed the sound before it escaped. She was about to turn thirty, and yet her hunt for a mate was at a standstill. Not that she hadn’t dated, she had—if she could call a series of first dates dating—but her heart just wasn’t in it.

  Maybe it’s because you’ve already given your heart away…to two men!

  She sneered at the tiny voice in her head that refused to allow even a day to go by without reminding her that she’d found her mate, or should she say mates. At least, she thought the sudden fluttering of her pulse and the trembling feeling inside her whenever they were around suggested they could be her potential mates. She just didn’t know how to take the next step, to let them in. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know them. Hell, they’d been hired as rangers over two years ago and had spent the last several months asking her out. But going out for coffee was a far cry from settling down in a ménage relationship. And though she’d heard they had a reputation for sharing in the past, a quick tumble in the sheets didn’t equate to being mates, and if her instincts were right, she’d only get one shot at finding forever.

  Tayen cursed under her breath as the rope fell from her hands. She glanced around the forest then stared down at her naked form. Who was she kidding? She knew damn well the reason she’d refuted their interest all this time was because she didn’t know how to explain…this. Hell, she didn’t half understand it, herself. And somehow getting intimate with a man before telling him what she was didn’t seem right. But it wasn’t something she could tell just anyone. It required trust, compassion…

  “It requires a bloody miracle.”

  She huffed as more rain soaked her skin, cooling some of the rage swirling inside her. Either way, it was a problem that would soon resolve itself. The boys would lose interest and move on, and she’d be left…wondering.

  The subtle sound of voices drifted along the wind, the words muffled by more thunder.
She turned to look up the path and caught a glimpse of movement at the edge of the clearing. Instinct kicked in and she jumped off the branch, shifting in mid-air before landing with a dull thud on the pile of leaves. Dust and debris kicked up around her face, twitching her whiskers now trembling in the breeze. She crouched low, ready to pounce, when two men halted beside a large boulder twenty feet away. Her fur stood up along the ridge of her back as she stared at the two faces that had haunted her dreams for longer than she cared to admit.

  Common sense told her to run, but as usual, that sense faded in the presence of these guys. Whenever they were around, she felt tongue-tied, as if she was trapped on a ledge with no way down but to jump.

  Quinn stared at her, one hand palmed on his tranq gun, the other raised slightly in the air. He must have mistaken her indecision for fear. He nudged Rogan with his raised hand, nodding toward her. “I think we’re a bit too close for her comfort, buddy. Best we back up a bit and let her run off on her own.”

  Rogan held his ground for a moment, his eyes boring straight into hers. “Shame she’s not tame. Look at those markings. There must be several shades of brown in her coat. And the way those stripes fade into spots along her back…I bet her fur is downy soft.”

  Quinn chuckled as he took a step back, tugging Rogan with him. “Okay, now I know it’s been too long since we went out on a date. You’re starting to fall for the wildlife.”

  Rogan scoffed as he retreated a few paces. “You know I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just not that often we get to see a bobcat that hasn’t met an unfortunate end. I’ve forgotten how beautiful they are.”

  “Lovely. But if we don’t back up and give this kitty a path out, it might not end the way you want.”

  Tayen listened to their conversation, Quinn’s words finally hitting home. What the hell was she thinking? She’d never allowed any human to get this close when she was shifted. Yet, here she was, moments away from prancing over and rubbing against their legs like a bloody house cat. She rose from her crouch, taking a cautious step away from the men. The tension in Quinn’s body seemed to abate ever so slightly, and she sighed inside. If he was this relieved to see her go, she could only imagine his reaction if she ever shared her secret. And she knew she’d never be able to begin a relationship with the truth hidden away. Pain flared in her heart and she took off running, the gathering storm following her through the forest.

  * * * *

  “Come on, Tayen. We’ve been asking you out for six months straight. Surely you know we’re serious.” Rogan James crossed his arms over his chest, hoping to use his height to his advantage. Hell, he’d use any trick in the book if it meant Tayen would finally say yes. “You’re running out of excuses. Either you’ll have to go to dinner with us, or move.”

  Tayen laughed, her lilting voice sending shivers down his spine. God, all she had to do was smile or talk, and his heart jackhammered in his chest followed closely by a tight feeling in his groin. Thank God his ranger jacket hid the bulge in his pants that seemed to be a constant companion whenever the woman was in the same room.

  Tayen stopped shifting papers and turned to look at him. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer, it’s just—”

  “Just what?” Rogan stepped forward, halting a couple of steps away. “You’ve got an animal in need of your assistance? You have some lab results that will go up in flames if you don’t read them in the next hour?” He fisted one hand at his side. “You’re washing your hair?”

  Indecision flickered in her eyes, and Rogan nearly jumped for joy.

  Tayen sighed and leaned back against the counter, her fingers twitching nervously. God, she was beautiful. With flowing, chestnut hair that cascaded down her back, and delicate features set in a perfectly shaped face, she was more than tempting. Her petite frame was accentuated by lean muscles and girlish curves, which gave the impression of tightly coiled strength just waiting to pounce. The entire imagery made him feel as if he was looking at a wild animal, whose beauty and grace hid lethal claws hidden beneath a tranquil façade.

  She cleared her throat, swallowing uneasily. “You both know I’m technically on call until midnight. If there’s an emergency, I’d have to come back immediately. And I just got back the results from the blood samples I sent in regarding what kind of poison nearly killed the Mayor’s dog.” A smile tugged at her lips as she looked at him. “But if it’s any consolation, I washed my hair this morning.”

  Rogan heard Quinn curse under his breath as the man joined them near the back of the clinic. His eyes were narrowed and Rogan sensed the man’s impatience.

  Quinn stuffed his hands in his pockets, his gaze never leaving Tayen’s. “Okay, let’s cut through all the bullshit and get to the bare facts. Do you really think we thrive on asking the same woman out, month after month, only to get turned down? Do you think we’d keep asking if we didn’t believe there was something special going on?” He strode forward, trapping her between his arms as he palmed the counter on either side of her waist. “You can joke about this and hide from it if you like, but you can’t deny there’s a connection between us that doesn’t come along every day.”

  Rogan watched as Quinn sighed and rested his forehead on Tayen’s, his breath fluttering the wisps of hair around her face. She closed her eyes, and for a moment, Rogan thought Quinn had finally broken through, but she snagged her lip instead and crossed her arms over her chest.

  Quinn eased back, giving Rogan a pleading look as he moved beside him. Rogan didn’t need to say anything. He already knew what the other man was thinking. After years of fighting their desire to share women, they’d finally come to terms with their unique situation and had thought Tayen might be the one woman to fulfill both their needs. But her continual avoidance had just about destroyed any hope of convincing her they were worth the risk.

  Tayen looked away before taking a deep breath and meeting Quinn’s gaze. She attempted a smile as she pushed herself off the counter and took a step toward them. “It’s not as simple as you think it is.”

  Quinn motioned to Rogan. “Is it because there are two of us? Are you too freaked out to consider something others might consider…unorthodox?”

  Tayen shook her head. “It’s not that.”

  Quinn threw his hands up. “Then what?”

  Tayen snorted in seeming annoyance and stomped one foot on the floor. “Let’s just say that things aren’t always what they appear to be.”

  Rogan stepped forward, knowing it was now or never. “Then let’s make it perfectly clear. Quinn and I want to take you out to dinner. After that, we’re hoping that things will follow the natural progression. But make no mistake. We aren’t looking for a quick threesome—fuck you one night then forget your name the next. We want you…in our lives. Hell, after two years as friends, I’d like to think we’ve earned a bit more respect than thinking we’re out for a one-night stand.”

  Something akin to pain flashed in her eyes, and an inkling of fear raised the hairs on the back of his neck. He eased forward and reached for her hand, relieved when she closed her fingers over his.

  He smiled and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “We’ll take it slow, if that’s what you need. We’re talking dinner…you know, a burger and fries. Maybe some cheesecake for dessert. Then we’ll walk you back here, where we’ll see you safely inside before we go home. No pressure, no expectations.”

  Tayen pursed her lips together, and he had to will his body to stay rooted to the spot and not leap forward to take those perfectly pouted lips with his. She must have performed some kind of surgery on an animal this afternoon because he could still smell the light scent of soap along her arms.

  He gave her his best smile. “Come on, doc. Even a vet needs to eat.”

  She cocked her head, glancing at Quinn over his shoulder. A long sigh filled the room and she shook her head, rolling her eyes in the process. “I suppose I could go for a burger and fries.” She squeezed his hand. “Just let me get—”
>
  Her words were cut off by a blast of static from Quinn’s radio. Rogan cursed and turned to his friend, but Quinn’s face already spoke volumes. The man grunted then palmed the radio, speaking into the mic with a grating tone that was impossible to miss.

  Another wave of static filled the room before a voice reverberated through the device. “Sorry to bug you boys, Quinn, but we just got a report of some explosions going off at Faller Creek. A recreational rider out on his ATV said he saw a couple of men down at the river. He thinks they’re setting off dynamite…in the river.”

  “Oh for the love of God.” said Quinn. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “It could be those poachers you two have been trying to track down.”

  Quinn sighed and looked at Rogan. Rogan could only laugh. They finally get Tayen to say yes, and they have to ditch her to track down a couple of wayward hunters. He gazed over at her, unsure if it was relief or disappointment in her eyes.

  She gave them a sympathetic smile and motioned toward the door with her hand. “Go. You know your minds will be dwelling on the job if you think about doing anything else. I’ll take a rain check.”

  Quinn slammed his free hand down on the counter as he pressed the button on the mic. “We’re on our way. Send the coordinates to the truck’s GPS and we’ll see if we can finally catch these creeps.” He was still mumbling under his breath as he stalked toward the door, pausing when he reached the threshold. He turned back, his gaze narrowed on Tayen. “Don’t think for one second this changes your decision. You said ‘yes’ and we’re holding you to that…dinner for three.”

  Tayen nodded, though Rogan could see the apprehension in her eyes. He knew she was attracted to them, it was the one reason they’d kept asking her out, but there was something keeping her from jumping in. And he’d bet a month’s worth of pay it wasn’t her fear over a threesome. It was something much deeper…