B008IJW70G EBOK

by Lane, Soraya

  He stalked off and she ran after him playfully.

  “So we’re actually going to walk past where the real leopards live today? Like you promise,” she asked

  “If you behave yourself.”

  Riley gave him a nudge and walked pressed against him, trying her hardest to be on her best behavior.

  She was dying to see them up close. “Do they recognize that we’re different?”

  Hunter’s eyes told her yes. She was starting to find him easier to read.

  “But they tolerate us? Walking amongst them?” she questioned.

  “They know we mean them no harm.”

  His voice in her head was smooth, no-nonsense, like this made complete sense to him. It didn’t to her. Maybe he was just sick of her questions.

  “But if they know we’re not real cats, then why let us intrude?”

  This question elicited a full-tooth smile from him. “We’re not the weaker leopard, Riley. Don’t you ever forget that.”

  What? How could they be stronger than a regular leopard? A wild creature that had pure cat blood pumping through its veins? “I don’t understand.”

  Hunter kept walking, but slower, not hurrying her. “We are faster than them, stronger than them, and smarter than them. We respect them and they us.”

  “Can we talk to them?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  It would be weird to speak to a wild cat. No matter all the odd things that she’d recently learned, that would be crazy. It was Hunter’s human voice she heard in her head, when they communicated after changing. It wasn’t like they spoke a different language. She could hear his tone, the emotion of every word he said, just as if they were actually talking.

  “So tell me how wild leopards ended up in California anyway?” Riley asked.

  Hunter stopped, his eyes scanning the beach as they approached. She took it for granted that he always looked out for her. His eyes always swept the area, his nose was always raised, senses alert. Protecting her.

  When he was satisfied there was no danger he relaxed. She followed his lead and settled down on to the sand, her paws resting on the silky soft surface.

  “There was a private park here, years ago. Some rich guy who imported big animals. He had an obsession with black leopards, trained them, bred them too. Had a beautiful big ranch in the valley.”

  “So what happened?” Riley asked.

  “The guy was murdered one night, robbery went wrong, and all the cats got out. Scattered all around the place. They managed to get a few back in, but in the end they were left wild.”

  “No one cared that there were suddenly wild leopards roaming the area?” Sounded weird to her.

  “No one seemed to think it was that big a deal. There was a fuss, but when they were so hard to track and capture, the authorities gave up. They travelled fast, managed to stay largely unseen, and the media coverage died down pretty quickly. I guess because it wasn’t a very populated area.”

  She watched him, letting the information sink in.

  “There are other creatures out here that are just as bad” He told her. “Mountain lions, coyotes, black bears, so it’s not exactly predator free. Plus our pack had some high up contacts who thought it might make things easier for us. Even the President at the time okayed it.”

  Okay, it made better sense now. If mountain lions weren’t that big a deal, what were a few leopards? Especially if the President’s inner circle was in on it, right?

  “Is that why our kind is here?”

  “Yep.” Hunter was looking out to the ocean now, his green eyes a million miles away. “When the leopards were released here, it meant we didn’t need to be so careful. It means we can be out during the day, free, instead of lurking about until night fall.”

  “Because to the average person, if they saw us, we’re the same as a wild leopard.” She finished the explanation for him.

  “Exactly.”

  Riley thought on that. It did make sense. As much as any of them could make sense.

  “Did you have a part in letting those leopards go?” Dread trickled through her as she asked the question. “Did you have a part in killing that poor man?”

  Hunter snapped out of his semi-trance. “Nothing to do with his death, but we made the most of an unfortunate situation.”

  That made her feel better.

  “There’s another reason we have one up on the wild cats,” he told her.

  Riley looked up. Interested. “What is it?”

  “We can change our spots.”

  His face was smug, or as smug in a cat-that-got-the-canary way that it could be.

  She didn’t quite get it. They didn’t have spots anyway did they? “What?”

  Hunter gave her a look like she was thick. It made her back prickle. “We’re black leopards, Riley. We have hidden spots.”

  “Perhaps that’s why I’ve never noticed them.” She snapped at him, but he deserved it. Trust him to make fun of her.

  He didn’t seem to care. Her annoyance or smart words always seemed to wash over him, sweep past him without snagging on him at all. It frustrated her that she could never get under his skin.

  “Watch and learn, pussy cat. Watch and learn.”

  He did know how to get under her skin though. She fought the grind of her teeth and stayed put as Hunter stood.

  “Watch.” He seemed to growl the word at her.

  A shiver licked her spine. How did he do that? Make her want to throttle him for calling her names one minute then feel like her entire body was on fire for him all in the same moment.

  She heard a rumble and kept her eyes fixed on him. Hunter the leopard was… breathtaking. He looked amazing as a big cat and it almost took her breath away. It was the same way she felt about herself when she changed. But seeing him, in front of her, so powerful and lithe, commanding her attention as he stretched his body out, it did something to her insides.

  Riley let her eyes follow him. At the sinewy muscle at his shoulders, over his back. She couldn’t look away if she tried.

  Hunter paraded in front of her, watching her, then he crouched on the sand. Riley blinked. Twice. Then again.

  Surely not.

  He had changed to a light, silky beige color, matching the sand. He was only distinguishable by the slightly darker spots covering his skin. Then he sprang to his feet and turned jet, inky black again.

  Riley shook her head. It was incredible. Like some sort of circus trick. In response, Hunter stretched out his front legs and flashed his tail at her. Then he ran off, before pulling on the brakes, moving in to the forest, and turning a dark golden colour with black spots.

  Then he changed back to his human form.

  Riley heard the gasp in her throat as she yanked her eyes from him. Seeing him naked, even if it was just his butt, made her uncomfortable. He was magnificent, his body like a carved sculpture, but she didn’t know if she’d ever get used to him just getting nude like that.

  “Whoops,” she listened to his human voice, then watched as he changed back to black leopard again.

  “What did you think of the show?” Hunter’s deep, raspy voice made her bones feel like liquid again as she listened to him inside her head. She hoped he wasn’t talking about the last part.

  “Pretty impressive.” She couldn’t help but admit the truth, even while she was trying to get the naked picture from her mind and focus on the leopard one instead.

  “We can change to match any leopard. Sometimes even variations, like the light sand color.” He watched her, his eyes flickering back and forward. “It means we can live anywhere there are wild leopards. We can take the form of any of them. Even be mistaken for another kind of cat, from a distance at least, if we can colour match them.”

  Now that was clever.

  “So if I find myself in Africa I can just join in with the locals?” she asked.

  He opened his mouth then shut it, like he was trying to laugh. “I wouldn’t advise it.”

 
She took the bait. “Why not?”

  “You’d have young males flattening you with attention. I’d go once you’re happily mated. Once you have the scent of a strong leopard on your skin.”

  She glowered at him, the best she could. But he just watched her back, unfazed. Riley got the feeling he knew exactly how she really felt. That was why he was so good at teasing her.

  “Speaking of that, we haven’t been bothered today.”

  He avoided her statement. She knew he didn’t like to talk about, much less think about, any competition. Especially after the other day. It made her want to snicker at him just thinking about it. She bet he was replaying it through his mind too. Mr Alpha in action.

  “I think it’s time to get back.”

  “What about the real leopards?” Had he forgotten what they were meant to do already? Seeing him change his spots was fun, but it was the real group she wanted to see. They might be solitary animals, but around these parts, perhaps because they’d been forced into close proximity in captivity, she’d been told they all stuck together.

  “I mean after that. We’ll see them on the way home.”

  Oh. Okay. “Sure.”

  “Unless you’re up for a motorcycle ride and a movie after?”

  Riley tried to play cool, something that was hard to do around him. “I guess.” Inside she was screaming yes. At the top of her lungs. Hell yeah, she wanted to go out with him again!

  “They’re replaying the Twilight Saga at the drive thru.”

  Twilight? Seriously?

  He gave her his big, cat-like grin. “New Moon tonight, to be precise.”

  That made her laugh. “You actually want to see New Moon?”

  He joined her, a rumble roaring from him. Half growl, part roar and part human laugh, or at least that’s what it sounded like.

  “Thought you might like it.”

  “You would actually sit through a movie about vampires and shifters, when you do the same thing in real life?”

  He looked unfazed.

  “Well I don’t know much about vampires, and seeing how they shift in the movie is always pretty impressive. You know, how they just burst into action and all that.”

  “Uh-huh.” She shook her head, amazed. This guy was something else. “What about the Harley?”

  “What about the Harley?”

  Did she have to explain? “I thought the purpose of a drive through theatre was that you got to sit back in your car and enjoy the flick.”

  He jumped up and started to lope off. Like he always did, making her play catch up.

  “We’d actually be sitting on the grass, but the screen’s pretty good.”

  Riley enjoyed the weight of his body as it hit hers, as he gently prodded her when she caught up. It made her feel protected. Happy. Like she hadn’t felt in a long while. It was nice to feel like someone was so completely watching her back.

  “So what do you say?” Hunter leaned in, close, his face far too near to hers as they ran.

  “Okay.” She wanted to giggle. Riley actually wanted to giggle like a silly little girl. What must he think? A twenty-year old guy hanging out with a silly teenager? She was just lucky she couldn’t laugh as a leopard.

  “It’s a date then.”

  Her throat went dry, but she pushed through it, focusing on running alongside him. He obviously sensed her unease at the word.

  “Or not,” he said.

  Riley looked over at him, but he wasn’t playing around. He upped the speed and gave her a beckoning look.

  “Come on.”

  She leaped alongside him. It was nice to focus on moving. “How about you teach me to ride again tonight? But properly this time?”

  That stopped him dead in his tracks. His eyes bore into hers. “You. Alone. On my Harley?”

  Of course. “Pretty please?”

  He swatted at her with one big paw, hitting her behind the ears. Owww. It seriously hurt. “Not a chance, but you can sit up front with me behind again.”

  She could just imagine the smug, satisfied grin he’d give her right now if they were human. Oh well, it had been worth the try. She didn’t really care anyway, because holding on to him while the wind hit her face had become one of her favorite activities. Or having him hold onto her. So long as they were close and touching, she didn’t really care.

  “Hey Riley?”

  She glanced over.

  “You ever just wish that life could go back to the way it was? You and your sister at home, back at school like normal, hanging out like teenagers should be?”

  Riley switched her focus and looked straight ahead. She couldn’t lie. He was asking her and expected her to be honest.

  “Yeah, I do.” He didn’t seem offended, but she wanted to explain. “If it meant having Claudia back, for good, I’d do anything. Give anything up.” She liked the smile on his face. Like he understood. “But I am happy here.”

  Riley gave him a look she hoped he understood as happiness. Hunter just flicked her a look back, not seeming offended.

  They didn’t talk again, instead they raced and dodged, testing each other as they ran. She knew he was good, that Sophia had chosen him not just because he best suited her, but because he was the strongest leopard around. Which made her feel good that she could finally keep up with him, without him having to go slow.

  Maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to match him one day.

  Riley padded along next to Hunter. When they were in leopard form, she wasn’t afraid of him. Not worried about what he might think of her or scared of his closeness. Being a leopard seemed to make her stronger. In every way.

  It was like shifting stripped back the layers of doubt and embarrassment and left her raw. Strong, capable and ready for anything.

  Hunter swished his tail at her, curling the tip of it over her back. It made her alert. The tail touch had become their signal. She scanned back and forth then found the mark. Her shoulders relaxed, and the urge to smile almost made her lose focus.

  Finally.

  A tiny cub was trying out its big paws, thudding around in circles on a bed of dry leaves. She stopped as Hunter did, watching the antics. She was less focused, but she felt the strength of Hunter, saw his eyes moving across the forest in long sweeping ranges. Always the protector.

  A high-pitched squawk made her jump. Hunter wound tightly down as if ready to pounce, before two tiny black balls of fur sprung from the clearing, toppling the cute cub who’d been padding about.

  Riley felt a shudder of–she supposed it was laughter that couldn’t be expelled, as it tickled her insides. Hunter turned sharp eyes on her, but she didn’t care. Seeing the three young cubs play was gorgeous.

  “Their mom?” Riley sent her thoughts to Hunter.

  He inclined his head.

  Of course. A mother wouldn’t venture far from her babies.

  Hunter started walking again but the cubs hardly noticed them as they moved silently past. They didn’t want a confrontation with the adult leopards, even if they were stronger than them, so they stayed well clear of them.

  Hunter nodded a couple of times and she followed his eyes, seeing multiple black leopards in the forest as they went about their business. She’d always been fascinated by Animal Planet on television, but this was something else. To be able to move past them and see firsthand, these beautiful cats in the wild, was something she would never forget. Especially with Hunter at her side.

  She had so many questions for him, but she waited. There was no point ruining the tranquility of the forest when they would be home in no time. Besides, she had so much to think about, not to mention a big decision to make where Hunter was concerned.

  Being unsure was putting Hunter in unnecessary danger, not to mention herself.

  “Run?” he asked.

  She looked over at Hunter. It never ceased to amaze her that this huge, sleek, black leopard had the same soul, the same mind, as the equally gorgeous Hunter. Mind you, a quick glance down at her own body left he
r just as confused. Especially when her eyes looked at the world the same way.

  From the inside, she didn’t feel that different. She was more reckless, less fearful, when in cat form, but she thought that had something to do with the strength she possessed physically when she changed. But on the outside, she was an entirely different being.

  Hunter stopped. She did the same.

  “You okay?”

  She realized she still hadn’t answered his first question. Riley responded by gently butting her head to his neck. Nuzzling him. She was getting the hang of this. Riley purred, flicking her tail when she butted at him again. She was usually more confident as a leopard, but never this affectionate. Today, well, today it just seemed right. Especially now that she was closer to deciding, and now that he’d brought her here, to somewhere so special.

  But the moment was over before it had even begun.

  She stopped, stayed deathly still, as Hunter growled. Deep. Her body froze. Was something approaching them? Riley glanced up at him, and saw how his eyes had narrowed. At the slant of them, the focus of them. The determination of them.

  He was growling at her.

  She’d never heard him do that before. Not like that. Riley butted him once more, then gave a soft growl back, trying to calm him, but she saw him flick his claws out. He was barely in control and it scared her. But more than anything it excited her.

  Maybe he was just as in to her as she was him when they were both leopard? Hadn’t he said that the other shifters would find her far more alluring, more attractive, as a cat rather than as a human?

  Although she wasn’t going to test that out right now. Not with him spinning out like he was. She flicked her eyes at him again, saw the tension in his body, and sprang into life. She wanted him, but maybe what he needed was to be distracted.

  Riley stretched her legs, building speed, enjoying the pull and release of her muscles as she pushed herself. The ground cracked behind her, moved beneath her paws, but she didn’t stop. Or look back. She just kept going.

  A loud growl echoed out, but it only made her more excited. Thrilled even more in the game. This had been a good idea. She was having fun.

  Because it was a game. So long as Hunter didn’t decide to make it too serious, it was just game to distract them both.