by Lane, Soraya
“Have you seen the future?” It was a question she’d been dying to ask Sophia for days.
She received a nod and a smile in return. “I have.”
“And?”
“Seeing forward into the future or the present is a wonderful gift our guiders can endow us with. But looking into your own personal life, into the future of it, without knowing all the twists and turns that get us there first, can do more harm than good.”
Riley cleared her throat, still wanting to know. “But did I look happy?” She wanted to ask her more about this whole guider thing, but she bit her tongue. Hunter had asked her not to, and she’d given her word.
“If happiness is what you seek, and you are confident in Hunter now, then you are right to take him as your mate.”
Ick. There went that word again. She was going to stick with husband in her own mind. Partner. Anything but mate.
“You have a lot to think about, Riley.” Sophia gave her a gentle pat on the back and squeezed her shoulder. “Hunter will take you to your guider. Your answer will be there. I know he’s already told you, so go.”
Riley grinned. There was nothing they could keep secret from her. “Sophia?”
She met Sophia’s eyes. “When you lost your sister, and then found out what you were, did you say yes straight away?”
Riley heard a deep voice then, projecting from behind them. She would recognize that voice anywhere.
Hunter. A voice deep, smooth as honey and so calm.
“She’ll try to tell you otherwise, but the answer is no.”
Riley watched as Sophia’s face lit up at his words. At the way her smile widened as Hunter appeared behind them. She obviously cared for him, even more than Riley had realized.
Riley had a flutter of butterflies in her belly when she turned to listen to his voice. Shirtless again. She was never, ever going to get used to him looking like that. Barefoot, jeans riding so low it made her eyes wander, and a tanned, muscled chest that never failed to make her pulse ignite.
She hoped he hadn’t overheard their entire conversation. She wouldn’t have spoken quite so candidly.
“Should I tell her?”
Sophia waved Hunter closer with her hand, smile still fixed on her face.
“Tell me what?” Riley asked.
Hunter sauntered over before crossing his arms and winking at Sophia. His smug expression told her he definitely had one on her.
“Our current leader was a rather rebellious teenager.” He paused to smile, his eyes filled with laughter. “When her sister died, she was devastated, even more so when she found out that her life partner had been arranged for her. She was able to change straight away, almost without trying, and learnt to be faster and more devious than her mate-to-be as well as her grandparents combined.”
Riley was enjoying this. Imagining Sophia as a natural shifter, yet so cunning she was prepared to rebel. “Go on.”
“Rumor has it that she flat out refused to stay and take her position as leader, went so far as to flirt with all the other male leopards, and even challenged her chosen mate to public spectacles where she made him look the fool by beating him. Oh, and that was before she flounced off back home and refused to become part of the pack.”
Riley knew her jaw was hanging open. “Seriously?”
Sophia nodded, telling her his words were true. There was a sparkle, a wetness in her eyes that told Riley the story went deeper.
“So you humiliated my grandfather in front of all the other leopards and disrespected your own grandparents?”
Sophia just nodded in reply, but Riley didn’t miss the smile in her eyes.
“So what happened?”
“Your grandfather happened,” Sophia said, in a soft voice Riley hadn’t heard her use before. “Followed me back to my home town and courted me the traditional way. Eventually I gave in, but I always challenged him. You might say it was hard to know which one of us was the alpha at times.”
“But in the end you came back and fulfilled your destiny.” If she hadn’t been so concerned about having to travel the same path herself, the story would have sounded romantic. Instead of terrifying.
“Yes I did,” Sophia nodded again, only this time there was a hint of sadness. “And I fell in love.”
Hunter was silent now, but he was still watching Sophia. His cat-like eyes taking everything in. Riley looked between them, watched the way they seemed to connect, the way their eyes flickered over one another’s.
“He didn’t die of a heart attack, did he?” Riley hadn’t even thought to question that until now. But suddenly it seemed clear. Her grandmother had lost her soul mate, her true love, to their enemy. She could just feel it. Sophia had sacrificed and lost everything. And she’d been alone for so long already.
It looked like a storm of rain clouds had just brewed in her grandmother’s eyes. Even Hunter was silent, his body language closed. Waiting for Sophia to explain in her own words.
“He died the last time they were here. He fought for me, for all of us, and we were so close to succeeding.”
“But they killed him?” Riley’s voice whispered, almost without her asking it to.
“He took down so many of them, single handed. Was one of the best soldiers, fighters, we’d ever had.”
It didn’t need to be said. She understood what had happened. Could see it in her mind without the need for Sophia to explain.
Riley looked up at Hunter. She saw in his face that he would do the same, give his life for the cause, but she also saw that he would protect her. From anything, for any reason, so long as he could keep her safe. But it meant that if she accepted him, and her place amongst the pack, the same fate could await them. If she let herself fall in love with him, gave herself to him, she could lose him and then face a lifetime of heartache.
If the guiders were right, and a storm was brewing now, then they might not even have long together. Months instead of years. Just when she was starting to warm to the idea, when she might actually want him like that, she could just as easily lose him forever.
“Hunter?”
He snapped to attention, eyes moving from Sophia to her.
“I want to go see Claudia now. Can you take me?”
Riley needed to see her for herself. Needed to know for sure that Claudia existed and seek her guidance. Needed her other half more than ever. She had a big decision to make. And only her sister was going to give her the answer she needed.
Hunter glanced at Sophia as if for permission and received a nod of her head in approval. Riley felt in her bones that she needed to choose now. Today. Even if she just kept it to herself, in her heart and in her mind she needed to know.
“Yes, but tomorrow. It’s safer to go in the morning, so you’re back before late afternoon from the forest,” said Sophia. “I’m sorry, love, I’ve kept you talking too long and now the time has passed.”
Riley was so gutted she could have screamed, her body covered in goose pimples just at the thought of seeing Claudia again. But she would wait, she had to. Because she had no other choice. Hope flickered in her chest, calmed her. The idea of even seeing Claudia made her body hum with anticipation.
“Oh, Riley?”
She was pleased to hear the lightness back in Sophia’s voice after what they’d spoken about. After hearing of her private heartache.
“Yeah?”
Hunter stopped and turned too. Eyes on Sophia.
“Don’t be telling your parents that I let your boyfriend stay over. They’d have you back home in no time.”
Riley could have crawled into the earth and disappeared. Her entire body was on fire, embarrassment itching across her skin. She turned away from Sophia before she had to answer.
“Told you she didn’t mind,” said Hunter, grinning as he bumped into her lightly with his shoulder.
If Hunter was right, then at least Sophia would know they hadn’t been up to anything. So long as Hunter’s delicious style of kissing classified as not up t
o much.
“I have to go, but I’ll see you tonight, okay?” he said.
She tried to mask her disappointment. The rest of the day without Hunter sounded like hell.
“What’s tonight?”
They walked out side by side, bodies almost touching.
“Nothing, I thought we could hang out, that’s all.”
“Can’t we just go be normal? You know, get a burger or something?”
Hunter grinned at her, elbowing her in the ribs. “You want me to take you on a date?”
She rolled her eyes, ignoring his touch. “Do I have to spell it out?”
Riley was starting to think Hunter had rocks in his head. Did he just expect her to agree to pledge the rest of her life to him, without even…
“How about I pick you up tonight. Take you out for dinner then.” He was smiling now, but the naughty grin was gone, replaced by a more serious Hunter. She almost thought he was less intimidating when he was cheeky.
She had a feeling he was trying though. Making an effort for her. And she liked it.
“Do you even have a car?”
That made him laugh. He reached out and touched her arm. She shivered as his fingers skimmed her skin.
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
He turned to leave her on the porch, but she didn’t take her eyes off him. She couldn’t. It was like some sort of magnetic pull kept dragging her to him, drawing her eyes and her body toward him.
“Riley?” Hunter stopped, swivelling so that he started walking away backwards, eyes trained on hers.
She waited, eyebrows raised in question.
“Don’t wear a skirt.”
What? “So you’re telling me what to wear now?”
He shrugged. “Just wear pants.”
Then he disappeared. Sprinting so fast she thought he was about to burst into leopard form before he had a chance to shed his clothing.
Riley jumped as the door banged behind her. Sophia had come back out, hair in its usual thick plait down her back. It was tainted with wisps of grey, but she still looked beautiful. Strong. Far too youthful for a gran, but then she didn’t exactly sit idle. She was strong, in mind and body. It made Riley proud.
“You two sure seem to be getting along okay.”
Riley sighed. “I guess.”
“I can tell you like him.” That devilish smile was back. “Mind you, he’s not exactly hard to like, is he?”
Riley flopped down into the swinging chair. She loved the feeling of moving back and forward, as if it might help her see things more clearly.
“I just don’t like the idea that my destiny has already been decided. What if I don’t want to be with him, forever? What if I like him just for now?”
Sophia sat beside her. She nodded, before clasping one of Riley’s hands and tracing circles on it with one finger.
“You have the right to refuse him, Riley. No one is going to force you to take him as your partner.”
“But you know that I will.” She groaned. “That’s what scares me.”
“I know that he’s right for you, that you’re meant to be together. I knew it the first day I saw him fight. When I first saw the strength and determination within him, but that doesn’t mean you have to be bound to him. Not if you choose not to.”
Riley thought on that. She understood, but it was just so flawed. How could she say no to him? He was gorgeous, fun, strong, exciting. But was she ready to make a decision now that would be with her until the end of her life? For now and until death do her part or whatever it was she’d have to say?
“Did your grandparents let saying no be an option?”
Sophia shook her head. “No, but I’m telling you because I understand. I remember what it was like, and I’m not going to impose anything on you.”
“We’re going on a date,” Riley admitted.
“Ah.” Sophia chuckled.
Riley tucked her legs up beneath her and waited for the rest of the answer. She could tell there was more to be said.
“You have fun tonight.”
“I never said it was tonight,” she said.
“But it is, isn’t it?”
Riley wished she could keep some thoughts to herself. “How do you know it’s not tomorrow, or the day after?”
The sound of Sophia’s laughter irritated her.
“I’ve seen the way you look at one another. You wouldn’t be able to wait ‘till tomorrow. Just because you’re not sure about lifelong commitment doesn’t mean you’re not sweet on him.”
Riley scowled, pulled away from Sophia’s grasp and sat on her hands instead. She hadn’t thought her feelings for Hunter would be quite so easy to read.
“Promise me that you won’t fight it. If you want to be with him, just,” she paused, “let it happen.”
They sat there, silent, both swinging on the chair. Riley was confused. She did like Hunter, and she believed Sophia’s words, but she wasn’t used to being told what to do. To have someone else try to work out her destiny.
And it was so hard to not have Claudia with her. To talk to, to help her.
But she only had to wait until tomorrow. Then she could see her sister, be with her again. She pushed the thought away, not ready to believe it until she saw her with her own eyes. There was weird, but Claudia actually somehow being alive still? That was way weirder than the whole leopard thing.
“You might want to wear trousers tonight.”
Riley’s eyes popped open. “What’s the big deal about me wearing pants?”
“You’ll see.”
This was getting stranger by the minute.
And incredibly annoying.
CHAPTER TEN
Riley was tempted to wear a miniskirt, just to defy orders.
She fidgeted, pacing around the living room, eyes flicking back and forward to the window. He wasn’t even late yet and her nerves were working overtime. If he stood her up, she would die.
“He’s coming up the drive,” Sophia called out.
Riley hadn’t heard him, but she didn’t doubt Sophia’s senses. She ran a hand through her hair, smoothing it, then grabbed her purse.
“You want to take a jacket?”
She shook her head.
“Have a good night then.”
Riley walked back into the kitchen and kissed Sophia on the cheek. “No curfew?”
Sophia laughed. “No curfew. Hunter will keep you safe. Have fun.”
That was one benefit to being here. Her parents started worrying every moment she was out after eleven, and Sophia just wanted her to have a good time. With Hunter. No limits.
Riley stepped out the door, looking down at her jeans and boots. They were skinny, hugging her legs tight, knee-high boots over the denim maybe a bit too high for an evening out with a boy who only ever wore bare feet. She heard the rumble of an engine and straightened her top. It was warm out, but goose pimples lined her bare arms.
The revving become louder, then she saw a light. She wasn’t impressed that he had one headlight out.
Then her annoyance caught in her throat like a butterfly captured in a jar. He didn’t have a light out. He had a motorcycle.
Hunter skidded to a halt, spraying a fine mist of gravel through the air. He pulled his helmet off and shook his head, running a hand over his barely-there hair.
She wasn’t getting on it. Not a chance. No way. They were death traps!
“Hey.”
His casual hello caught her off guard. She couldn’t say anything, not a word. Her eyes were fixed on their transport.
“I see you wore jeans. Good girl.”
If she wasn’t so stressed out about the contraption he was sitting astride, she would have snarled at him for the good girl comment. She wasn’t his girl yet, and her inner-leopard screamed at being told what to do.
“Maybe we should stay in tonight,” she suggested.
He laughed, before punching down the stand and walking over to her. He gestured grandly at the black and
chrome contraption behind him.
“Scared of a little motorcycle?”
It was hardly little. And she wasn’t going to pretend she wasn’t terrified.
“My parents would kill me if they knew I was going on a date, on a motorcycle.”
“So it is a date, then?” he asked.
She avoided his eyes. It was like gold flecks danced through them in the half-light. He looked… wicked.
“Here.”
Hunter took the jacket off his back and threw it to her. She caught it, hand shooting out to clasp it. The worn leather was soft against her palm.
“It’ll keep you warm.”
“I haven’t even said yes to getting on it yet,” she told him.
He chuckled. “Would it help if you had a formal introduction?”
She gave him what she hoped was a glare that showed how pathetic and unimpressed she was with his ride.
“This beauty is a Harley Davidson Softail Rocker C.”
She tried not to laugh at the serious expression on his face as he ran his hand lovingly over a long piece of chrome. “Best motorcycle on the road as far as I’m concerned. A chromed out, hard core chopper.”
She had no idea what a chopper was, but as far as death traps went it was kind of attractive. In a bad boy kind of way. All tall chrome handlebars and long exhaust pipes from what she could see, but she guessed that’s what appealed to him.
“A rocker, huh?”
His smile told her it was clearly his pride and joy. “Yep, she’s a beauty.”
Riley giggled. She still didn’t want to get on it, but he clearly adored it. And she guessed that if he loved the thing that much he probably had no intention of getting so much as a scratch on it.
“Do I at least get a helmet?”
He walked toward her until he stood less than a foot away. Riley was pleased now that she’d put high heels on. He only had half a head on her height wise now, making him far less intimidating.
Hunter smoothed her hair from her face with one hand, then placed his helmet on her head, clipping it beneath her chin.
Then he leaned forward and placed a quick, hesitant kiss on her lips, like he wasn’t sure if she was too angry with him to want it. She did, but she was pleased he was unsure.
