Claimed by Panthers: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance (Panther Shifters of the Amazon Book 3)

by Laura Wylde

  Thank fuck we had our speed to get us back quickly. Otherwise, I risked anxiety getting the better of me. I never cared about anyone quite like I did Tara. Her staying alive was the most important thing in the world to me right now. I needed to get there before anything went down. My paws hit the ground so hard that if I had been running on my feet, it would have really hurt. The desperation to get back would over shadow the pain though, I just knew it.

  What are you doing? I asked myself, needing to get in touch with my rationality. What is it about Tara? Why am I so struck by her? Why does it bother me so much?

  There were no answers, only more questions. Or no questions that I was willing to answer to myself anyway. Not at the moment. I would just have to figure that out as soon as possible before it swallowed me up whole. These feelings were going to end up problematic if I didn’t sort them out before she left Brazil. I didn’t want to end up with a whole load of ‘what if’s.’

  But how could I cure these ‘what ifs’ and get rid of the distraction without actually taking a stance and kissing her? I wasn’t sure that was a good idea. I had no idea where it would lead. I knew where I would like it to lead, but that was beside the point…

  All of a sudden, Ramon whizzed passed me at the speed of light. I had been so distracted thinking about Tara that I clearly didn’t see whatever had caught his attention. Not until he jumped on the jaguar that was trying to sneak into the city. He jumped and started fighting, using his razor sharp teeth to attack like crazy. Seth leapt in next leaving me shamefully the last one to get involved. By the time I was on top of the jaguar with my own threat, he was already retreating, knowing that he didn’t have a chance against three of us. My input was useless, which was God damn embarrassing since I was the alpha of this pack. I was supposed to be the one leading the charge, not dawdling along and thinking about Tara. Little Miss Purple.

  They were getting bolder, they feared us less and didn’t seem to give a shit at all. That was the most terrifying thing of all. Maybe they were trying to sneak into the city alone to spread out and give them more of a chance of at least one of them getting in, or perhaps they just knew that one way or another they would eventually make it. They were cocky fuckers who were certain that they were going to end up with the panthers bowing down to them, giving them everything.

  Just because there was more of them and less of us, didn’t mean we were weaker. They should have seen that already since we hadn’t backed down no matter what they did to us.

  I chased after the jaguar as he raced off, wanting to follow him with the threat for as long as possible. I needed this one asshole to know that he couldn’t just come in to my area and do whatever the fuck he wants. Somehow, we needed to make them see once and for all that this was an area that they needed to let go of. An idea they needed to dismiss. We absolutely had to go back to the place where they minded their own business and allowed us to get on with ours.

  Fucker. I growled loudly as I finally let him tear off. You absolute fucking fucker.

  The rage continued to circle through me as I got back to the other guys. It was a shock to see Ramon and Seth in their human form discussing something very intensely between themselves.

  “What’s going on?” I barked after shifting myself. “Have I missed something?”

  “No, nothing. We were just saying that it might be for the best if one of us goes back to Panthera to tell Jakar and Javier what’s going on. They deserve to know, don’t they? That the jaguars are getting so much braver and bolder. I don’t think it’s fair…”

  “Yes, Ramon,” I agreed with him. We could handle it alone, but we needed to inform them. “You go. Seth and I will keep patrol of the city for now. See if we can find anyone else.”

  Ramon nodded sharply before bursting back into a panther and racing off. Once he was fully out of sight, we did the same, instead tearing around the city, fighting off exhaustion as we tried to stop any potential jaguars from getting in. Much to my surprise, we didn’t come across any. Considering how it had started out, the night was a surprisingly peaceful one. I hoped that was because of my threat and not because Seth and I were far too tired to do our best work.

  Eventually, after what felt like a lifetime, the dawn light began to break through the clouds, which meant we couldn’t remain in our panther forms any longer. Not if we didn’t want to be seen, so we shifted back. But we couldn’t return to our townhouse immediately, no matter how ready for a God damn good night of sleep we were.

  “Is Ramon not back yet?” Seth asked me. “That seems weird, doesn’t it?”

  “I’m sure he’s just being grilled by the cousins. You know what they are like.” I rolled my eyes, acting blasé so as not to worry him. “They are even worse now that they have mated and got children. Obsessed with knowing every tiny detail about everything.”

  “Hmm, yeah, I suppose so.” He nodded, slowly. “And Tony. He must still be with Tara.”

  Even the mention of her name made my heart skip a beat. It was absolutely wild. I already couldn’t wait to go and see her. To check if she had made a decision about her information yet.

  “Right, let’s go and see him. Check if everything is alright on that end.” I gulped a thick ball of odd emotion that lodged in my throat. “Check that Tony hasn’t fucked up somehow.”

  It was hard to walk at a much slower pace. The panther speed was so much more my pace, but I didn’t have any choice. I wasn’t sure what it was, there was some gut instinct telling me that everything wasn’t quite right. It was either my weird obsession with Tara or there was a horrible truth to it. I was absolutely freaking terrified that either Tony or Tara were hurt.

  The sensation only got worse as I crept up the wall towards Tara’s room. There was definitely something off, I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Seth wasn’t in sight, I guess I’d left him behind at some point, but that didn’t trouble me. I could face whatever I needed to alone…

  Oh my God. The scent of jaguar filled the room. There had definitely been one in here at some point during the night. Weirdly, Tara was still in her bed, breathing soundly, untouched. They didn’t take her and that was strange. If they wanted her so bad, then why was she here…

  “Tony is at our house,” Seth whispered through the window. “And he isn’t alone.”

  Was he fucking joking? Tony seemed all concerned about Tara. I really thought that he cared about Tara. I stupidly trusted him with her life which was why I left Tony here… and he had decided to go home with some random woman instead. What sort of fuck up was that? Of all the terrible things that Tony had done, this was the worst. If there wasn’t the smell of jaguar in the room, then I would have torn off and ripped his stupid head off his neck.

  “Calm down,” Seth whispered once more, trying not to wake up Tara. “Nothing happened.”

  “No, but you can smell as well as I can that it could have. Someone was here.”

  Seth nodded, silently. “Yes, I know. But Tony wouldn’t have wanted anything to happen.”

  “No, but his wandering eye has got him in trouble before. I don’t know why he can’t stop.”

  “I will go. I’ll talk to him.” Seth rested his hand on my shoulder. “You stay here.”

  I was a little torn. I wanted to see Tony as well to let him know how fucking furious I was with him, but at the same time I did need to stay with Tara. I could only trust myself with her now.

  Seth left and I folded my arms across my chest while I watched her sleep. Each deep in-breath left her looking peaceful and angelic and all I wanted to do was scoop her up into my arms…

  “Huh?” She bolted upright in bed, glancing around wildly as if she was in the middle of a nightmare. As she rested her gaze upon me, she scooted backwards and pulled the duvet much tighter around herself. “What the fuck are you doing? Watching me sleep?”

  “I…” I shook my head. Shit, I didn’t think about how this would look. “A jaguar came in here last night and I was worried that you were in
danger.”

  “Because of the pictures?” She gasped. “How did they find out about it?”

  “I don’t know. That’s what worries me. That’s why I had to watch over you.”

  She blinked a couple of times in silence, clearly trying to drink this in. I was sure that it would take a while for her to fully understand what was going on. I needed to reassure her.

  “If you want to be safe, it would be a good idea for you to come and stay with us four in the townhouse. We have space and that way one of us can always watch over you.”

  “You are the good guys, right?” She narrowed her eyes at me. “I can trust you? Because I don’t really know any of you that well and the last time you were here, you were trying to get my photos and video footage from me. What if the jaguar was trying to warn me against you guys?”

  I parted my lips, but I honestly didn’t have any argument to that. I knew that I was the good guy but how could I make Tara see that? There wasn’t any way…

  “You don’t have to give us the photos,” I suddenly blurted out. “I understand that you don’t want to and it’s fine. I would much rather you be safe.”

  She finally nodded, slowly. “Right, I see. So, I would stay at your place? In Panthera”

  “While we’re dealing with the jaguar threat, we have a house here.”

  “So, that’s where I would stay?”

  “For now.” I nodded. “Would that be okay?”

  “Yes, I think so. Oh… Seth is here?”

  I glanced behind me to see him. He had a guilty look on his face which I could only presume he hadn’t managed to get through to Tony at all. I suppose it was up to me to sort that asshole out. Now that I had sorted things out with Tara and I knew that she was going to be okay, I could relax some more.

  “Seth, you stay here now.” I nodded, sharply. “I need to speak to Tony. Keep Tara safe.”

  Tara

  “So…” I started as I finished folding up the few items of clothing that I had with me. “Seth?”

  “Yes,” he answered quietly, with his head hung low. He was yet to meet my eyes and I was starting to wonder if he ever would. Did he really dislike me so much?

  “Seth, right, I see. You are one of the panthers… obviously. So, erm… what’s that like?”

  He didn’t answer for a beat too long. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was something I wasn’t supposed to ask. I hadn’t been around this world for long enough to know what the faux pas were.

  “It’s… good.” His voice was so quiet I could hardly hear him.

  “Right, awesome.” I nodded slowly, while trying to busy myself just because this was so awkward. I found it so easy with the other guys, even Jabari who was totally intimidating, so what was different about this one? “See to me, the idea of being a shape shifter is amazing. Obviously, I didn’t even know that you guys existed until recently. But ever since I found out I can’t stop thinking about it. How incredible it must be. I know that I would love it. But I have always had an affinity with cats. Big ones, especially. I’ve always felt a close connection with them… almost like I am supposed to be half cat myself. Now, wouldn’t that be wild?”

  I trailed off as I realized that I was blabbering to fill the silence and Seth didn’t look too impressed. A heat crept up through my cheeks. Not only was this poor guy stuck with me when he really didn’t want to be, I was talking his ear off as well. I needed to stop.

  “Right, well I think I’m nearly packed to stay at your place now… that is okay, right?”

  “Yes,” he answered, instantly. Either that was a glimmer of hope or a snap of denial.

  “Great yes, because Jabari thinks that I will be safer there since jaguars have been in my room and he’s worried that they are coming to… well, I don’t know, attack me or something.” I shrugged. “Although if they were here already, they didn’t attack me, so they can’t be that interested… sorry, I’m doing it again, aren’t I? I will try and be quieter.”

  “Why?” Seth asked me curiously, as if he didn’t understand at all.

  “Well, because…” How do I tell him that he clearly didn’t like me without making it even weirder than it already was? Seth was making it even harder for me by actually looking at me now. “I don’t want to… you know… make things strange.”

  “Nothing is strange.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Have I done something?”

  “I er… I don’t know how to answer that,” I replied, honestly. “There’s a tension…”

  “A tension?” Now his eyes were fully upon me causing a shiver to race up and down my spine. “I don’t know what you mean by that. I… I… I didn’t…”

  His cheeks flamed red, he looked embarrassed now as he stumbled over his words. I almost felt bad for poor Seth. I should never have put him in this situation! I reached out and tried to rest my hand upon his, to let him know that I was here for him and I apologized, but as soon as my hand brushed against his he snatched it away like I had burned him.

  “Sorry,” I said to his wide shocked eyes. “I didn’t mean to…”

  “I just…” He rose to his feet and raked his anxious shaking fingers through his hair. “Sorry…”

  It was obvious that my touch had sent him over the edge and he didn’t know how to deal with his reaction to me. I couldn’t help but smile to myself at the idea. I liked him as well. I had since I first laid eyes on all of them. I had a strange attraction to every single one of the four panther shifters. I wanted to know what it was like to be with all of them. Did that make me insane? And would it be totally crazy to explore at least a little bit of that?

  “You don’t have to apologize.” I took a giant step towards him, closing the gap between us. “It doesn’t matter. I know what it’s like. Everything that’s happening here is strange, isn’t it?”

  He looked like he wanted to take a step back from me, but he didn’t. At least, not at first. By the time he found himself able to move, it was too late. His feet tangled up with mine and it wasn’t long before the floor was coming for both of us. I waved my arms around trying to stop it, but I couldn’t. It slammed against the both of us hard, and I yelled out in pain.

  “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” He rubbed the side of my arm to heal it. “I didn’t mean…”

  “It’s okay, I just…”

  We were both panting desperately, trying to gasp for air, needing to stop feeling everything that was circling around us. It was too intense, crazily so, I wasn’t sure I could handle it.

  I wasn’t sure why, but a laugh fell out of my mouth at that moment. It was such an absurd situation. Seth and I wrapped around one another in a heap on the floor. As I lay on top of him, looking into Seth’s eyes, the attraction got stronger, so did the idea that I just wanted to kiss him already. He wanted it too, I could see it in his eyes, but a guy like Seth would never make the first move. He was too fearful of rejection to even try.

  So, with a cheeky glint shining in my eyes, I caved to temptation. I slipped my head forwards until my lips cascaded with his. Seth stiffened, he didn’t seem to know how to react, but only for a split second. The fact that there was such a powerful overwhelming sizzling chemistry between us probably had a lot to do with it. It probably over shadowed any rational thought.

  As the kiss deepened, his arms locked around me tight. He didn’t want me to go and I sure as hell had no intention of doing so. My tongue invaded his mouth, a small delicious moan flew from my throat. I realized how much I really wanted him. Like really wanted him. I needed him inside me, deep, giving me that wonderful satisfaction that only good sex could…

  Seth would be good in bed as well; I could just tell. He might have been the silent type, but he was part animal and that side of him was all I needed. He would drive me crazy for sure.

  My hands traveled lower down his body. I wasn’t afraid to be the one to take this to the next step. I slipped over his abs, groaning with bliss. I had felt the chest of ripped men before, but this was something
else. It had to be a panther thing, a shape sifter thing, his body was phenomenal.

  I tilted my body to the side ever so slightly to travel lower, until I managed to graze over his steel rod, rock hard and crying out for me. A heat pooled between my legs and I was struggling to control myself, to stop from just taking him already because I craved him so damn badly.

  He had turned me into an addict, needing the next hit already.

  “Oh, Seth,” I whispered as I stroked him on the outside of his clothing. “You feel so good.”

  My head span, I was growing dizzier by the moment. I had to slide my eyes closed and loll my head to one side as his plump soft lips connected with my throat, hard. He kissed me all over, creating space dust bursting all over me. I wanted more, I wanted everything.

  “Tara,” he whispered softly, his words tickling me. “Tara, Tara.”

  My name was like a damn prayer on his lips. I loved it. I wanted him to keep saying it over and over again. I rolled my hips hard against him, grinding him, hoping to send him as crazy as I felt. It was still through the material, but I wrapped my hand around him, managing to hold him and brush against my clit every time I brushed against him. It was hot as hell.

  Now I just needed to get those clothes off his body before I lost my damn mind.

  “Seth, I want you,” I rasped out as his fingers sneakily brushed over my nipple. My body reacted accordingly by stiffening and basically begging for more. Seth taking this little bit of control, was everything. I hoped that once he was inside of me that would continue. In my head, he’d become all powerful. “Take me, Seth. I want you right here.”

  “Oh my God.” Just as I was about to strip him down, Seth bolted backwards, shoving me off him. As I curled in to myself, cold and alone, I spotted the sheer horror on his face.

  “Seth, what’s going on…?” I followed his eye line to see what he was looking at. “Oh.”

  Jabari and Tony stood in the window frame smirking at the pair of us rolling around in a heap on the floor. I was just about to strip him down and have sex with him! I completely forgot that they were going to come back eventually… not that it would have stopped me.