Best Intentions: A Ghost Cats Story

by Mandy M. Roth

  He shook his head. “No, tell me how you could disappear after you claimed to love me? Tell me the truth, Lillian.”

  “I’m sorry,” she panted.

  Brayen’s clawed finger touched her cheek and he applied enough pressure to let her know he could hurt her if he wanted to. “The truth!”

  “I heard you talking to Mason,” she blurted. Brayen jerked his hand away. “I heard him tell you that humans couldn’t know about shifters and that I needed to be dealt with, turned or killed.” She looked into his amber eyes and watched as blue pushed its way through. “I also heard you agree to handle the situation yourself. I ran from you, terrified by what I’d seen, what I heard and what you were willing to do to me to protect it. I knew I was pregnant before I left. I had a gut feeling, and I wasn’t about to let you or Mason harm our child. I knew the baby would be special. I knew she’d have your gifts and I didn’t care, Brayen. I loved you so much that I’d do anything to hang on to a piece of you and that meant running before you or Mason could stop me.”

  Brayen’s brows came together, leaving a crease on his forehead. “Lily, you only heard part of the conversation. I told Mason I planned to announce you as my mate to protect you in the shifter community. He agreed to support my decision.” He reached for her and she took another step back, hitting the railing hard. “I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I’d never harm you or our child. I’d die to protect you both.”

  Lily shook her head in disbelief. “I thought… I thought…” Her legs gave out from under her as the realization that she’d walked out on the love of her life sunk in.

  Brayen’s arms wrapped around her and he lifted her in the air. “I’m sorry you heard that. I didn’t know.”

  “I love you, Brayen. I always have.”

  Chapter Ten

  Brayen carried Lily inside and walked her directly to his bedroom. Hearing her say she loved him had chased away the hurt. She’d thought he would kill her to protect his secret. He would have run as well if he were in her position. She’d done what she’d thought was right for their unborn child and he couldn’t blame her for that. He wouldn’t. He had a healthy daughter and Lily back. He’d want for nothing again.

  “I need you tonight, Lily.”

  “I’ve needed you since the night I met you.”

  He dropped his head down and clutched her to him tight. “I’m so sorry.”

  “No, don’t apologize. I made more than my fair share of mistakes. Let’s just be happy that we found each other again. I don’t want to think about how much time we missed out on with each other—with Becca-Rose.”

  “Have I told you that I love her name?” He stopped for a moment and planted a kiss on the bridge of her nose. “Have I told you that I love her and that I love you?”

  “I knew in my heart that you’d love her, but I was so scared of what the rest of the shifters would force you to do that I couldn’t risk her. I couldn’t let anything happen to our baby.”

  Her words ripped at him, pulling at his gut, forcing unshed tears to his eyes. “Shh, beautiful. Don’t do this. Don’t take the blame on yourself.”

  “But Brayen, you didn’t get to be with me when I had her. You didn’t get to hear her first word. See her take her first steps.”

  Kissing her again, he moved his hand up and under her shirt, needing to have skin to skin contact with her. “So tell me, what was her first word?”

  Lily let out a half sob, half laugh. “Kitty.”

  Brayen’s laughter spilled forth from him as he cupped his mate’s breast.

  My mate. The words sounded even sweeter in his mind as he replayed them.

  He moved over her slowly. “Can I have more than the weekend?”

  Lily looked up at him, her eyes wide. “You can have me for a lifetime if you want me.”

  “Oh, I want you Lily. I want you more than life itself.”

  He dropped his lips down onto hers, losing himself in the taste of her mouth. Peaches. He loved the way she tasted. He pulled at her clothes, letting a claw extend from his hand as he went. There would be no barriers between them now.

  Brayen moved down Lily’s body, needing to taste her, see her, touch her again. It had been so long—too long. His cock throbbed with the need to be buried in her, but first he needed to taste her. Take her scent in.

  Licking his way down her, he made her moan when he parted her legs, exposing her quim to him. “Lily,” he said, sinking his face into her folds. He lapped up the cream that oozed from her tight channel before putting his mouth over her swollen clit. Sucking gently, he inserted two fingers into her, feeling his cock harden to the point of pain as she tightened around him.

  She clawed at his head, pulling his hair as she ground her hips into his face. He let out a throaty laugh as he continued to roll her clit around in his mouth. He knew the instant that she came. Her fingers dug deep into his hair and her pussy clenched down on his fingers. Brayen was nowhere near done with his assault on her and continued to lick her and pump his fingers into her until she was left with no choice but to try to crab walk away from him.

  Grabbing hold of her hips and kneading his fingers into her ass, he pulled her back to him. “No you don’t. I intend on making sure you never leave me again,” Brayen said, nibbling playfully at her core.

  “Oh, really? Want to tell me your plan?”

  He kissed her inner thigh before moving up her body and positioning the head of his cock at her entrance. “Mmmhmm, it involves me sticking my dick into you, making you beg for more, before I deposit my seed into you.”

  Her eyes widened and she shook her head slightly. “Brayen, you can’t come in me. I’m not on any sort of birth control.”

  A feral grin crossed over his face. “I know.”

  “But…”

  “But what, Lily? I have my family back now and I intend to watch it grow. You and Becca-Rose are my life. According to shifter law, you have been my wife from the moment I marked you, and I intend on honoring that vow to you. I love you, woman.”

  Putting her fingers over his lips, she smiled up at him with tears in her eyes. “All I’ve ever wanted was to hear you say those words to me. Now, shut up and fuck me.”

  A shaky laugh fell from his lips. “I believe that very phrase got you in trouble once before. Did it not?”

  She smiled. “I was hoping you’d punish me.”

  “Oh, I will, beautiful. All in good time, but right now I just want to make love to you. Will that do?”

  “Only if you promise to give me another wonderful child.”

  “Beautiful, I’ll soak you to the point there is no question. And we will be blessed with another. I’m sure of it. I want to see your belly swell with the life I put in it.”

  “You say that now, when you want some.”

  He sank his cock deep within her, silencing her. She clutched onto his arms as he continued his onslaught, not wanting to ever be without the feeling of Lily beneath him again. He pressed into her again and fought to keep claws from springing forth from his fingertips. The excitement and thrill of being in her again was almost too much.

  “Yes, Bray. I’m coming, Brayen. I’m coming.”

  “That’s it, beautiful.” His balls jerked up as he ejaculated in her for what felt like an eternity.

  Chapter Eleven

  Lily kissed Brayen’s forehead lightly before tiptoeing out of the room. She checked on Becca-Rose before slipping her shoes on and putting on one of Brayen’s thick shirts. Opening the front door slowly, she stepped out into the night.

  When she’d woken to the feel of what she was sure was her ovum accepting Brayen’s seed, it took everything in her to keep from waking him. She wanted to share the news with him and would as soon as she was able to confirm it. Becca-Rose would love being a big sister. She’d always wanted someone else like her and now she not only had her father, but also a baby brother or sister.

  The sound of a twig cracking brought Lily out of her trance. Sh
e looked out and over the large, wooded lot. The cabin rentals were down the hill a bit, along with the bar. The thought of a stray drunk shifter scared the hell out of her. Turning to head back into the cabin, she exhaled and then froze when she heard the sound of her name.

  “Jack?” she called, unsure if she’d really heard him, or if it was just the wind.

  Lillian.

  “Jack?” She ran down the porch and towards the sound of the voice. She’d meet her fate head on. If he’d come back to punish her then so be it. He’d been a wonderful man and she would always love him.

  Run!

  The sound of Jack’s voice telling her to run sent her into a panic, but instead of heeding his warning, she remained locked in place.

  There was a clicking sound behind her as a cold, hard object pushed against the back of her head. “If you scream, I will shoot you and whoever else comes running out of that door.”

  “Lewis?”

  He rammed the end of the gun into her head. “Shut your fucking mouth, squaw. Now, move!” He pushed her towards the woods.

  She bit back the scream that was on the tip of her tongue, afraid Brayen and Becca-Rose would hear her and run out to their deaths. Her feet stopped working right, and she fell two times before Lewis finally grabbed hold of her arm and began to drag her down the side of the mountain. When they were a good distance from the cabin he pushed her down to the ground.

  Lewis glared down at her, his eyes wild and locked on her. “It was supposed to be you.”

  Lily shook her head slightly, not wanting to upset him, but unsure what it was he was talking about.

  He pointed his gun down at her. “In the car, you stupid bitch. The day Jack died. It was supposed to be you and that mongrel abomination of an offspring. Not my brother.” His voice was wild and high.

  The realization of what he’d just confessed sunk in and Lily had to swallow down the vomit rising in her throat. “No, Lewis?”

  He hit her hard across the face with the back of his hand. “I had the car tampered with so that you would die and take that freak with you. Jack deserved better than you…you stain. How could you spread your legs for a monster? Give birth to one? Then force my brother to raise it as his own? You sicken me.”

  “Becca-Rose is not a monster,” she said, shutting up when she saw the hate flicker through his eyes. It mattered not what he said. She knew in her heart that her daughter was pure.

  “I did the blood work, bitch. I know she’s not human and when I told Jack he confessed all her little secrets to me. The eyes changing, the strength, the reflexes, the speed and that growl.” He laughed manically. “He wanted me to track down others like her and seek their help so he could teach her how to control her ‘gifts’. How the hell the man could call them gifts was beyond me. You poisoned him against me. Against our mother. And you used him. I’m sorry he died, but at least your meal ticket went when he did.”

  “I loved Jack.”

  “Never speak his name! Never.” He struck her again, this time with a closed fist. Lily’s vision blurred and she fought to stay conscious. A metallic taste filled her mouth. Lewis said something to her, but her ears were ringing too loudly for her to make it all out. When she didn’t answer right away, he struck her again.

  “Answer me, bitch. What did you do to him? Did you use your Indian magik to put some kind of spell on him or did you use this?” he asked, dropping down and cupping her sex quickly.

  She jerked away from him, only to have him reach down and claw at her pajama bottoms. They tore away easily for him and she screamed as he thrust a finger into her. “That’s it, isn’t it? You used this to lure him away from us. Tell me, if I fuck you too, will I be as hooked? Will I be willing to give up my career, my money, my pride?”

  Lily kicked at him only to have her shot deflected as if she were no more than an insect. “Do that again and I’ll start shooting you in places that won’t kill you. I want you alive while I take my turn with you. You’ve let every other man in the world in there. Why not me too?”

  He unfastened his pants and let the length of himself spring free. She drew in a sharp breath and tried to scramble away from him. He pinned her down quickly, positioning himself above her.

  Something pushed on Brayen’s shoulder. It roused him from his deep sleep with a start. He snarled and jerked upright, only to find Becca-Rose’s blue eyes wide and terrified.

  “Daddy?”

  The sound of her sweet voice calling him daddy melted his heart. He looked down, suddenly very happy Lily had insisted he put on some pajama bottoms. He’d been used to sleeping in the buff. He reached out to Becca-Rose and lifted her up onto the end of the bed, glancing over to see if he’d wakened Lily with his antics.

  Lily was gone.

  “Lily?” he called softly, terrified she may have fled again. The only comfort he had was that Becca-Rose was still here and he knew Lily would never leave her.

  Becca-Rose jerked her head around wildly. “Hurry, Daddy. He’s got her.”

  “Did you have a bad dream, sweetie?”

  She shook her head and dark curls fell into her face. Brayen brushed them back and smiled at her. “Let’s get you back into bed and I’ll send Mommy up to tuck you in, okay?”

  Her eyes flashed to amber and she clawed out fast at his bare chest. Her cut was shallow but still stung all the same. “Rebecca-Rose!”

  “My other daddy told me to wake up and get you. He said Mommy was in trouble and that she and the new baby would get hurt real bad if I didn’t wake you up. So get up already.”

  Becca-Rose’s words sunk in and Brayen remembered his first meeting with Lily, when the spirits of the land had rushed in the door and pushed them together. She’d been able to feel them, so it stood to reason Becca-Rose might very well be able to communicate with them as well. If that was the case, then Jack had reached out from the spirit realm to help Lily.

  Brayen jumped to his feet, taking Becca-Rose with him. “Did he say anything else?”

  “Uh-huh, that Uncle Lewis is sick and that he was the one who made Daddy go away from us.”

  Uncle Lewis? Brayen’s stomach dropped when he realized Lewis had been the one behind Jack’s accident. He also remembered how Jack’s car had been blocked in so he’d borrowed Lily’s.

  Oh gods. Lewis wanted Becca-Rose and Lily dead.

  “Brother?” The sound of Mason’s voice pumped through his head. He was attuned to Brayen’s feelings and no doubt sensed his fear.

  “Lily’s in trouble. She can’t be too far from here.”

  “I’ll get everyone out. We’ll find her.”

  Brayen looked at his daughter and set her on the bed gently. “I need for you to be a big girl and stay right here. I have to go find Mommy. I’ll send someone to be with you. If you smell Uncle Lewis coming, run and hide. I’ll find you. I promise.”

  “I want to come too!”

  “Becca-Rose, sweetie, I don’t have time to argue with you. He’ll hurt Mommy if I don’t get to him.”

  “And the baby?”

  Lily was pregnant again? He’d think more on that once he knew she was safe. “Yes, sweetie, and the baby.”

  “I’ll stay here.”

  “Good girl. I love you.” He kissed her cheek and ran for the door.

  “Mason, have two of our people come to my cabin immediately. My daughter needs their protection.”

  “Daughter? Cougs, you’ve got some explaining to do. I didn’t want to question how it was Lily was back but a daughter too? Start talkin’.”

  “All in good time, brother. I need my wife back first.”

  “Consider it done,” Mason said.

  Brayen hit the front screen door with such a force that he tore it clean off its hinges. It didn’t matter. All that mattered to him was his family. He’d do anything to protect them.

  He drew in a sharp breath and tried to find Lily’s scent. The wind seemed to close in around him, pulling him towards the left-hand side of the property.
The air had a male feel to it and he knew right away that Jack was there, guiding him to Lily.

  “I’ll find her and bring home safe,” he whispered to the wind as he ran through the forest.

  He heard Lily’s cries before he saw her. His heart went to his throat and it felt as though time stood still when he saw her pinned to the ground, her legs spread wide, and Lewis above her. Lily struck out at Lewis, preventing him from actually entering her.

  The beast within Brayen took control, shifting him quickly into the cougar. Primal instincts took over and he lunged at Lewis’s body. Scoring a direct hit, he rolled with the man a small way. He bit down fast, aiming for Lewis’s throat, but coming short and clamping down on his shoulder.

  Something pressed against his chest and he heard the cocking of the gun before he felt the bullet tear through him. Giving little thought to the wound, assuming it would heal instantly, Brayen held tight to Lewis’s shoulder. When an overwhelming pain rippled through his body, he felt himself shifting back into human form. He struck out hard and fast, afraid that if he didn’t, he’d die before Mason had a chance to get there and save Lily.

  Lily scrambled to her feet as she watched Brayen, in his tan cougar form, roll with Lewis. They struggled and she heard the gun go off. Brayen’s body jerked back violently. He lashed out at Lewis as he shifted back into himself. The gun flew from Lewis’s hands.

  Lewis laughed. “That’s right,” he said, clutching his bleeding neck. “I used silver bullets. Know, as you lie there dying, that I will be putting one through that child as well. No part of your bloodline will leave here tonight.”

  Brayen tried to get to his feet, but collapsed on the ground with a thud. Lily stopped thinking and dove for the gun. Lewis lunged at her, but he was too late. She rolled onto her back and fired it.

  Lewis’s eyes widened and she had to push the fact he looked so much like Jack out of her head as he tumbled down onto her. Their size difference left her pinned beneath him. Something knocked Lewis’s body off her and she screamed when she saw the head of dark hair and large brown eyes looking down at her.