by Zoe Chant
“It was thought,” Pritchard said, obviously trying to rein in his fury, “that if Kenneth could talk to the woman without you present, she would see sense, and hand the child over voluntarily.”
“You mean you hoped you could scare her,” Casey growled, his lion’s hackles rising. “Don’t try to pretty this up. You might be technically within the letter of shifter law, but you’re not following the spirit at all.”
“That is a serious accusation,” Pritchard said, lowering his brows and glowering.
Casey laughed. “Look, I don’t give a shit. Shifter laws are there to protect us and make our lives better – and if they don’t do that, they need to be changed or gotten rid of. No one makes contracts for their heirs anymore – no one with any sense, anyway, and no one with any heart at all would ask for that kind of thing. It belongs in the past – and that’s where it should stay.”
Pritchard laughed – low and deep. “That’s where you’re wrong. We shifters have lived by these laws for centuries. You think we should just forget about them, and let humans dictate to us?”
“Shifters and humans have to live in harmony,” Casey replied. “Maybe once I felt the same way you did – but I was wrong, and you are too.”
Natalie felt tears welling in her eyes. She wanted so much to simply rush across to where Casey stood and take him in her arms – but she knew she couldn’t. She couldn’t do anything that might distract him during this critical moment.
Pritchard sneered. “Fine, then – let’s settle this. You love human laws so much, I’m guessing you’ve already called the police.”
Casey shook his head. “No. I’ve come alone. Natalie is my mate. Mine. And I will be the one to bring her back to my pridelands.”
Natalie felt her heart swelling within her, even as she felt fearful. Casey had kept his promise to protect her. But did this mean he would have to fight?
Pritchard raised an eyebrow. “Amazing. Something I can respect. All right, then – we will do this the lawful way. The shifter way.”
What does that mean? Natalie thought, the question making her catch her breath. But even as she thought it, she realized that she already understood.
He wants to fight. He’s going to force Casey to fight him.
Suddenly, she recalled their conversation of earlier, about how Casey wouldn’t know what Pritchard shifted into until he did it.
If ever Pritchard was going to turn into a poodle, please let him do it now!
“Fine, then. Nominate your champion,” Casey snarled.
Pritchard shook his head, lips twitching in rage. “I’m alpha – I fight my own battles.”
“Then let’s stop wasting time,” Casey shouted, all his muscles straining, his dark eyes blazing. “Let me take my mate back!”
In the next second, his voice became a mighty roar that shook the barn to its foundations. Casey shifted, his human body once more becoming the huge golden lion. The muscles of his shoulders and haunches quivered, his muzzle curled in a vicious snarl that revealed massive white teeth.
Surely, nothing and no one could stand up to Casey in this form, Natalie thought – it wasn’t possible. What could Pritchard possibly shift into that could hope to beat such a magnificent creature as Casey’s lion?
In the next moment, however, she had her answer.
Pritchard threw back his head, his arms thrown wide – and then his body was changing, growing larger, thicker. Horns sprouted from his head, and his hands and feet became heavy cloven hooves.
A… a bull?!
Natalie could only stare in horror at the massive, wild creature that Pritchard had become, his fine, expensive suit lying in tatters on the floor around him.
The bull roared, raising its massive head on its thick neck.
Bulls might have been herbivores, but Natalie could see that this one was pulsing with strength and power – muscles rippled over its shoulders, and through its massive chest. Its horns were pointed and deadly.
Casey – oh, Casey!
Natalie had to stop herself from calling his name out loud. Certainly, the lion had its claws and fangs, but the bull was larger, more muscled, and it had those terrible horns. One wrong move from Casey, and she was sure the points could wound him badly. Not to mention if he happened to fall beneath Pritchard’s stamping hooves…
Natalie didn’t know much about lions, except what she had learned from nature documentaries. But she did know they usually hunted in packs, and ambushed their prey so as to have the element of surprise. She wasn’t sure how a lion might perform in a head-to-head fight.
Looking at Casey again, though, as he and Pritchard warily circled each other, she couldn’t allow herself to believe he might lose. Not with those claws, those teeth, those powerful shoulders and haunches.
But Natalie couldn’t stop the shudder of fear that ran through her body as she watched the mighty bull that Pritchard had become pawing the ground, snorting threateningly.
Could even Casey’s claws make a dent in that thick layer of muscle?
I feel so helpless, Natalie thought with anguish. She hated feeling this way – even if she could get free, she’d be of no earthly use to Casey in this fight. What could she do against a raging bull?
Casey and the bull circled each other warily, occasionally letting out warning growls and roars. It was clear to Natalie that they were sizing each other up, watching each other closely, and seeing how the other moved. Pritchard’s pack still circled them, eyes trained on their alpha as he prepared to battle the beautiful golden lion.
At last tiring of their slow circles, Pritchard let out a bellow, before charging forward, head lowered, horns pointed with deadly precision.
Casey snarled, leaping aside, before swiping with his massive paws – only to hit empty air. The charge had been a feint, and the bull had pulled back at the last moment, hooves clattering against the floor of the empty barn.
Growling, Casey turned – but the bull was surprisingly quick to maneuver, turning its huge body around before charging again while Casey was still slightly off balance.
Roaring, Casey only just managed to dodge the toss of the bull’s head, its horns tearing through the space Casey had been in only moments before. This time, the bull wasn’t so quick to pull up, clearly having expected its goring motion to find Casey’s side. Casey took advantage of the slip, leaping forward with his claws extended, and leaving deep furrows in the sleekness of the bull’s side.
Pritchard roared in response, the sound echoing throughout the barn. There was a mix of pain and fury in the sound, as again he turned swiftly – but this time, he didn’t come after Casey with his horns. Instead, he threw his massive body sideways, knocking into Casey with such force that even the muscular form of the lion was bowled over.
Natalie gasped, raising her bound hands to her lips in horror as she watched: Casey scrabbled to regain his footing, but not before the bull was upon him, bringing his huge hooves down against Casey’s side. She heard the sickening crack of a breaking bone as Pritchard trampled him, hooves rising and falling almost as if he were dancing.
Casey roared in pain, swiping up at the bull with his claws, before finally managing to scramble to his feet. As he rose, he raised one mighty paw and raked it down across the bull’s neck.
Blood spattered onto the floor of the barn as both animals backed away from each other – both wounded, both breathing heavily.
Would the wound to the bull’s neck be enough to slow it down, Natalie wondered – before realizing that she had no idea what the terms of this fight even were. Was it to the death? Would Casey have to kill Pritchard in order to set her free?
She swallowed, cold terror seeping through her veins.
And, more importantly, will Pritchard kill Casey?
What would become of Micah if Casey lost? Would they be forced to hand him over?
She shuddered. Before, she had been too shocked to fully contemplate the stakes of what Casey was fighting for.
But now, she felt her heart hammering in her chest.
Oh God, Casey. If only I could help you…
Again, the two massive beasts charged at each other, Casey leaping forward at the last moment to grip the bull’s sides with his forepaws, his teeth buried in his neck. Blood was beginning to mar the beauty of his golden coat, and Natalie could see that his right foreleg was clearly injured. When Pritchard at last managed to shake him off, Casey’s limp was obvious – he couldn’t rest any weight on his right front leg at all. It must have been broken as Pritchard had trampled him, Natalie thought, as she felt tears well in her eyes.
There must be something I can do…
But even as she thought it, she wondered if interfering might not be against shifter law. As much as Casey had said he didn’t care for any law that didn’t help and protect them, he seemed to be taking this one seriously.
There was so much she felt she didn’t understand.
But nonetheless, she knew she couldn’t just sit here like a lump, waiting for Casey to rescue her.
She had never been that sort of woman – she had always been able to rely on herself, no matter what. When she had been young and forced to work to make ends meet, and again after Ken had left her flat. She had always found her way through whatever life had thrown at her.
This would be no different, shifter law or not.
She would not let the man she loved be beaten to a pulp by some self-important bull.
Swinging her legs up, she pulled herself forward into the front seat of the truck. It was awkward with her hands tied, but she managed to scrabble her way over the gearstick and cupholder, squeezing her way between the two front seats until she sat behind the steering wheel. The keys were still in the ignition.
Reaching down, Natalie tried to grab them with her fingers – but it was difficult with her wrists bound.
“Come on, come on,” she muttered to herself, as she tried to twist them and get the truck going.
“And what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Natalie looked up in shock as the door of the truck was yanked open. Ken hovered above her, face screwed up into an expression of fury.
“Get away from me, Ken,” she said, voice low. “I’m warning you –”
Ken let out a short, quick bark of laughter. “Don’t threaten me, Nat. We both know you haven’t got it in you. Now shove over – I’m getting in.”
Natalie blinked at him, uncomprehending. “What?”
Ken laughed again, but this time, he glanced up nervously to where the fight between Pritchard and Casey was still raging.
“You think I’m going to wait around here for Pritchard to do whatever he’s going to do once he’s finished off your little boyfriend? No fucking way! I’m getting out of here.”
“You can’t be serious,” Natalie said, not moving. “They’ve already caught you once – what do you think they’ll do when they catch you again?”
“Don’t lecture me, Nat,” Ken hissed. “Now move over – we’re leaving.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Natalie said, planting her feet on the floor of the cab.
“Well, you don’t have a choice, sweetheart,” Ken replied. “I need some insurance – and you’re it.”
“You’re an absolute moron,” Natalie said. “What do you think is going to happen? You think Casey – or Pritchard – is just going to let you leave?”
She looked desperately over to where Pritchard and Casey were still fighting. Blood slicked Casey’s sides, but the bull didn’t seem to be any better off. Pritchard had a deep wound in his shoulder and another cut above his eye. As Natalie watched, he shook his head, sending blood spattering across the floor.
He can’t see, Natalie realized with a jolt. Casey had clearly scored a good hit, and it was making it hard for Pritchard to keep the blood out of his eyes so he could focus on the threat.
In her moment of distraction, Ken moved forward, grabbing her bound wrists. “I told you to move,” he snarled, trying to push her across the truck’s cabin and into the passenger seat.
“And I told you no,” Natalie replied, struggling against him.
“I don’t care what you said.” Ken’s face was livid with anger. “You’re leaving with me – one way or another.”
Natalie raised her arms, shoving him back. If she didn’t stop him, he’d take the truck and drive out of here – with her as a hostage. But in any case, with both Casey and Pritchard injured, how would they follow him?
He was going to escape.
But he can’t – not if I stop him.
“Get your hands off me!” Natalie bellowed. Then, gritting her teeth, she raised her bound hands above her head, before slamming them down on the horn in the middle of the steering wheel.
The blaring noise filled the barn, louder even than she expected – it rattled her teeth in her head, her ears ringing.
Holy hell!
But it had had the desired effect – the pack of shifters who’d been watching the fight intently had now turned to stare at the truck, while Pritchard and Casey, locked in a struggle, had halted as if someone had hit pause on a nature documentary.
There was silence.
“Fucking hell,” Ken muttered, before he began shuffling to try to get out of the cab.
“No you don’t,” Natalie muttered, bringing her bound wrists up once more to give Ken a solid knock under the chin.
She doubted it was enough to hurt him – but it was enough to make him stumble and fall as he got out of the truck. Scrambling to his feet, he began to run – but not before a furious roar echoed through the barn.
In the next moment, Ken was lying flat on his back on the floor, with Casey’s bloody muzzle hovering directly over his terrified face.
Chapter Fifteen
Casey
Every part of Casey’s body ached.
He could feel the bone in his arm knitting itself, his shifter healing already at work to put him back together again after his fight with Pritchard. It was an irritating feeling – like hot needles under his skin – but he knew it was a healing pain, and he would just have to put up with it until it was done.
The wounds in his sides had already closed up, and all that was left of them now were livid bruises and scabbing that covered his ribs and chest. He’d be all right again after a few days, or a couple of weeks at most.
But right now, he had bigger fish to fry.
He glared at Pritchard where he sat across from him, and hoped the effect wasn’t spoiled by the fact his eye was black and swollen from having caught one of the bull’s horns to his face.
“The contract wasn’t signed in good faith,” he said slowly, hoping he was using the right words to explain his case. He swallowed heavily. His father would have known exactly what to do or say here, and Joe would too. Lincoln had been an alpha for decades, and Joe had always known he would take over from his father.
Besides which, both of them had always been of a more serious temperament than Casey. He’d found all the lessons about the fine details of shifter law boring as hell. He’d never be alpha, so why did he have to know them?
Now – knowing that one wrong word could ruin everything he was trying to do – he wished he’d paid more attention.
Pritchard glowered. Casey’s one satisfaction in all of this was that Pritchard was just as worse for wear as he was. Scratch and bite marks covered his body, and the wound from the nasty swipe Casey had landed on his face was still only just now beginning to close. Dried blood covered the side of his face and the thick bulk of his neck.
At least Pritchard was a worthy opponent, Casey thought. An alpha who fights his own battles.
“But it was still a contract,” Pritchard said, his voice rasping a little. “A signed, sealed contract. Are you telling me I’m not within my rights?”
Casey wanted to yell at him that that was exactly what he was telling him and they could get back to fighting about it if he wanted, but he swallowed his ange
r down. He was aware of Natalie’s presence by his side, and tried to let it calm him.
For her. Do this right for her. And do it right for Micah.
“I’m not saying that,” Casey said, drawing on every ounce of tact he had. “I’m saying that Kenneth did the wrong thing by you. The child’s mother never consented. You know that for this kind of thing, both parents have to agree to give up the heir. That’s how it is.”
Pritchard simmered for a long moment, his expression becoming even more sour. “Kenneth said –”
“It doesn’t matter what he said,” Casey interrupted. “What matters is the truth. Ken lied to you – and that’s something for you to take up with him. Not his son, and not the mother of his son.”
Casey glanced to where Ken was kneeling on the floor, expression half-afraid, half-furious. He didn’t look up as Pritchard turned to look at him, snarling.
“Trust me, Kenneth will be dealt with. But this doesn’t solve my problem. I’m owed a lot of money, or someone to add to my pack. At this point, I don’t care which. But it has to be one or the other.”
Money you gained through criminal activity, Casey thought bitterly. But he couldn’t bring that up now.
For the moment, he just wanted to focus on getting out of here without a fight – and getting Natalie to safety.
That was, and always would be, his first priority. From now on, and for the rest of his life, he would always put her and Micah’s safety first.
Swallowing, Casey dug back through his memory, trying to find anything he might have learned from his lessons on shifter law that would help him.
“There’s another way,” he said slowly, as a memory finally surfaced. “Take Ken on in service. Make him earn back what he owes you.”
Pritchard sneered. “It would take his entire lifetime.”
Casey looked at him levelly. “But it would be more honorable than taking a child from his mother.” He took a deep breath. “And besides, Natalie is my mate. And once she comes under my protection, so does her son. And neither of them will go anywhere they don’t want to. My alpha backs me on this. You cross me, you cross him. Natalie and her son will find nothing but safety and protection on our pridelands.”
