Changing Times

by Marilu Mann

  “Do you plan to talk all day or are we going to fight?” Tony calmly pulled his hair away from his face as he unbuttoned his shirt. Slade chuckled as he unbuckled his belt.

  Maggie moved closer to Carly, then pulled her up into a sitting position so she could see what was happening. Re-staking Carly’s hands out to the sides, Maggie drew Carly’s attention to the circle. Leaning closer with a smile on her face, Maggie whispered, “It’s a shame one of them won’t leave that circle, isn’t it? Slade has such a fine body—I’d hate to see him lose. And Tony, well, you know more about him than I do, don’t you, Carly? Tell me, does he know how to use that body of his?”

  “Go to hell.” Carly shook. She knew it was stupid to chance antagonizing the other woman but she couldn’t help herself. Fear overrode her good sense. Maggie laughed as she moved back to the perimeter of the clearing.

  Carly couldn’t take her eyes off the two men standing naked in the center of the circle. She knew Tony’s body so well now. Her gaze went to Slade as he and Tony began to circle one another. Slade was taller and heavier than Tony. Carly could see the tattoos on his chest, arms and on his left calf. Because Slade had pulled his hair into a braid she could also see the tattoo on the back of his neck. Carly took a deep breath as a murmur of unease went through the crowd.

  Slade and Tony both suddenly stopped to scent the air. Tony’s eyes widened with delight even as Slade cut his eyes to Cutter with fury embedded in them. Shooting a glance at Jack, Cutter took a deep breath as Micah limped into the area around the clearing. He didn’t step into the circle, he merely stood in the grass. Tony stared at him with a slight smile. Slade chose that moment to attack.

  Tony landed on his knees, spitting out blood from the force of Slade’s first blow to his face. Leaping to his feet with a growl, Tony swiped out with one hand and the fight was on. The Beta males of Slade’s pack shouted encouragement to their leader as the two men fought in human form.

  Carly wondered if they would change soon. Would they fight in animal form? She shuddered. The damage they inflicted now seemed horrific even to her hardened medical eye. Punching, kicking, scratching, biting—they fought like animals though they were still human. She felt like she watched one of those extreme fighting matches, only this one wouldn’t end with one of them tapping out.

  Carly knew tears streamed down her face even as she tried to think of a way out of this mess. Pulling ineffectively against the ropes holding her down, she looked up in surprise as a shadow fell over her. Dropping to her knees, Maggie laughed at her struggles then whispered to her.

  “You don’t have to worry, Carly. I made sure Slade will lose. I gave him just enough poison to slow him down at a critical moment so Tony can kill him.”

  “What?” Carly looked at her in shock. She tried to assimilate what Maggie had said. Maggie had poisoned Slade? Why?

  She heard Tony’s yowl and glanced at the clearing again. The familiar black cat rolled with a huge gray wolf. They tore into one another, blood and fur flying. She felt a hand on the back of her neck as she was turned to face Maggie again.

  “That’s right. I poisoned Slade. You see, I want him dead but I’m not going to let Tony win either. I’ll kill you now while they’re fighting. Then when Tony kills Slade he’ll think he’s won, only when he sees your poor dead body he’ll know he really lost.”

  Maggie laughed as she pulled a switchblade knife out of her pocket. Carly shook her head slowly as Maggie flicked the knife open. A shout from some of the males watching the fight distracted Maggie and drew Carly’s attention.

  Chapter Twelve

  Maggie leapt to her feet, cursing loudly. Carly glanced toward the fight to see Slade stumble. Tony was on him in an instant. The smell of blood was in the air as the combatants came back into view. Slade slipped as Tony hurled himself snarling with razor claws extended. A sharp yelp pierced the air as Tony caught him in the side and sent him flying a few yards away.

  Wishing she could look away but too worried about Tony, Carly flashbacked to the first time she met Tony. He’d been so weak from one silver bullet ripping into him. What had Maggie given Slade? The yowl of fury and pain yanked Carly’s focus back to the fighters. A flap of fur and flesh hung from Tony’s shoulder and blood dripped from Slade’s muzzle. The big cat sprang at the wolf, who scrambled to avoid the blow, but Tony latched on to Slade’s neck and shook him.

  Suddenly another wolf joined the fight. This one attacked Tony, driving him off Slade. Carly could tell that Tony was injured and she pulled against the bonds holding her down. Maggie cursed under her breath that the “fool hadn’t waited long enough”.

  Several shouts of surprise came from among the watchers as the new fighter left Tony on the ground, attacking Slade instead. Slade tried to fight off this new attack but from the cries of dismay, Carly could tell he was losing. Maggie paced restlessly.

  Carly’s eyes focused on the panther dragging himself away from the two fighting wolves. Maggie turned toward Carly with glittering eyes. She started toward her with the knife again and suddenly Nolan was there, putting himself between Maggie and Carly. Maggie leapt for him but Nolan struggled with the larger, heavier woman.

  Carly continued to yank at the ropes holding her down so she could get to Tony. He lay almost motionless as the two wolves continued to fight.

  Carly suddenly realized that the men who had come out of the house were leaving. They were running away and fading into the woods. Only a few men remained and they stood passively watching the two other wolves fighting in the circle.

  Two men came out of the woods carrying rifles as Micah limped toward the circle, grabbing Tony by the scruff of his neck. He slowly dragged Tony away from the combatants in the circle. The smaller wolf turned as though to attack Micah.

  Slade pulled him back into the circle by one hind leg, unexpectedly coming to Micah’s aid against the other wolf. Derik’s shout drew Carly’s attention back to Nolan and Maggie. There was the distinct sound of a bone breaking and Nolan fell, cradling one arm.

  Maggie snarled at him then picked up her knife again, this time aiming for Nolan. A white wolf hit her mid-chest. Carly hoped it was Derik trying to protect his fallen lover. Nolan cried out again as Maggie brought the knife up, slashing it across the white wolf’s throat. Blood poured as he fell to the ground. Carly heard her own voice shouting “No!” as Nolan dragged himself toward the white wolf.

  Still wielding the bloody knife, Maggie ran toward the fight in the center of the circle. Maggie slashed the larger wolf across the side before she dropped the knife to change into animal form. Her clothing ripped to shreds as she shook violently. Carly could see that Slade was obviously weakening and the challenger was relentless. Maggie jumped as though to attack from the other side but Slade caught her in midair.

  His enormous jaws locked around her neck and there was an ominous crack as Maggie fell hard to the ground.

  The challenger changed to human form in shock. Carly watched in horror as Slade literally ripped his face off before dropping to the ground himself. She recognized him from that night at her house and realized Cutter was dead before he even hit the ground. No one could survive an injury like that one.

  Micah continued to drag Tony toward Carly as one of the other were-cats finally used a swipe of his paw to cut the ropes holding her down. Carly yanked her feet free and got up as fast as she could. She closed the distance between herself and Micah at a dead run. With tears in her eyes, Carly looked up at Micah.

  “Maggie said she’d poisoned Slade. Oh God, Micah, are you okay? How’s Tony?” Not waiting for an answer, Carly dropped to her knees to run her hands over Tony’s inert form. She looked up to see Micah walking back toward Slade.

  Micah glanced at Maggie’s body and Cutter’s lifeless form, then stood over a panting, bleeding Slade. He waited until Slade looked up at him. Slade’s breathing sounded labored and harsh. Micah couldn’t believe Cutter and Maggie had turned on Slade. He figured Slade would be having a
hard time processing that one as well.

  They’d been working against him from the inside all this time. Slade had nothing now, even the pack had deserted him. Micah detected Maggie’s hand in that move. Slade lifted his head slightly as Micah stood over him with no pity.

  “You lose,” he whispered to Slade, turning his energy on him. Slade’s howl turned into a scream of pain as Micah forced him to shift back to human form.

  “That was for Shelly,” Micah said quietly as he walked away from Slade. He’d heard Carly’s explanation of the poisoning so he didn’t expect Slade to last much longer. The rest of the Turn Skins had disappeared, leaving Cutter and Maggie’s bodies behind with the dying Slade.

  Micah knelt beside Nolan, pulling the other man against his chest as Nolan vented his anger and grief in carrying howls. Derik had given his life to protect Nolan and Carly. Micah glanced around, seeing that most of the others were all right. They’d only lost one soul, but that loss would haunt all of them for a very long time. Swiping a hand over his face, denying that any moisture there could be tears, Micah tugged Nolan closer.

  * * * * *

  Tony woke with his head cradled in Carly’s lap. She crooned softly as she stroked his head and neck. He lifted his head slightly and changed. Aches bloomed everywhere as his body took stock of his injuries.

  Broken ribs, gashes and slashes, even a cut across his forehead steadily dripping blood into his eyes. Tony knew none of these injuries were life-threatening. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on his pain. He saw Nolan with Derik’s lifeless form in his lap and one of Micah’s massive arms wrapped around Nolan’s shoulders.

  Glancing toward the circle, he saw Cutter, or what was left of him, in the clearing with Maggie lying beside him. Slade still gasped for air in the clearing, clawing his way out of the circle.

  Tony pulled himself to his feet slowly to make his way over to Micah. Carly stayed where she was, obviously numb with shock at everything that had happened. From her perspective it had to have been so savage, so fierce. When he glanced back, Carly dropped her face into her hands.

  He could see the tears falling between her fingers, could hear her sobs. She’d been so damn brave, fighting even though she had to be scared.

  Tony and Micah spoke quietly as the rest of their friends gathered around Nolan and Derik. Nolan was finally pulled away from Derik so that one of the other shifters could lift Derik’s body into his arms. Another shifter put his arm around Nolan to pull him away from the scene. As one, Tony and Micah turned toward the clearing to decide what to do with the dead.

  “Shit.” Tony’s exclamation drew the attention of everyone. Slade no longer lay in the grass. He’d disappeared. And so had Maggie, somehow.

  Micah cursed under his breath then called one of the shifters over to him. They started scouting around, looking for Slade and Maggie. Taking a deep breath, Tony picked up his jeans, pulling them on slowly.

  He knew putting off facing Carly was wrong. He’d probably lost her for good. How could she love him when he’d put her in so much danger? How could she love him when she had seen how savage his world could be? He needed to get the inevitable over with so he could deal with the pain of losing her. At least he would know she lived.

  Tony turned to see Carly kneeling on the ground with her hands on her knees and her head down. Walking slowly over to her, he knelt in front of her. When he reached out to touch her, Carly flinched. Tony pulled his hand back with a sigh before speaking softly.

  “Carly? You’re safe now. Come on, I’ll take you home.” He didn’t wait for her to say anything as he just pulled her to her feet. “I know saying I’m sorry is ridiculous, but I am sorry. I’m sorry I got you into this.”

  “Tony, it wasn’t you.” Carly put her hands on either side of his face to force him to meet her eyes. “It was them. They forced you into this. When you first got here, the way you looked at me, did you mean that or was it for show?”

  Tony’s eyes went over her face slowly, savoring her features, lingering on her mouth then her eyes. “I meant it. I went back to the condo to tell you I love you. I wanted you to know how much you mean to me. Carly, I am so—”

  She cut him off before he could finish his thought. “Don’t. Don’t tell me you’re sorry. I know you’re sorry. So am I. I’m sorry Derik is dead and I’m sorry that Nolan is in such anguish but, Tony, I am not sorry I made love with you and I’m not sorry that I’m in love with you.”

  Tony met her eyes again, almost afraid to believe what he was hearing. He searched her blue eyes. Seeing the truth swimming there behind her tears, he pulled her into his arms.

  Hugging her fiercely, he covered her mouth with his. Carly molded her body against his to return his embrace. They came up for air when they remembered where they were.

  Carly stroked her hand through Tony’s hair then over his chest. There were still scratches visible on his chest and neck. The doctor in her automatically wondered if his wrist was really broken. Tony grinned as he took a step back. He tossed her a wink then slowly pulled his jeans off.

  She watched as he changed rapidly into feline form. Just as quickly he went back to human. When he got to his feet again, the scratches had faded. Even his wrist looked fine.

  “Something about the change,” he said with a wry grin as he pulled his jeans back on. Carly laughed, throwing her arms around him.

  “I can’t wait to figure you out.” She laughed as she met his eyes but the serious look on his face had the laugh dying in her throat.

  “You’re my true mate, Dr. Carly Chambers. I pledge my life to you. I will protect you, keep you from harm and love you until I die. I will accept any children born of our union with joy and will raise them to the best of my ability. Anything and everything I have is yours from now until the day you die.”

  “Tony, are you asking me to marry you?” Carly held her breath as she waited for his answer.

  Tony laughed as he pulled her into his arms. “No, I’m telling you that in the eyes of the shifters we are already married. If you want a human ceremony, we can have one of those as well. You’re mine, Carly Chambers, mine until the day one or both of us dies.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Carly answered with a smile as she pulled his head down to hers for another lingering kiss.

  * * * * *

  Micah watched them from the edge of the woods. He would let them have this moment of unrestrained happiness before he told them that no one could locate either Maggie or Slade.

  It appeared they had gone in different directions but there was no guarantee that this wasn’t planned as well—Slade toward New Orleans, Maggie to the west.

  Let Tony and Carly celebrate for now. There will be time enough for revenge. Micah knew Slade and Maggie both had to be found.

  Micah turned to walk back to where he’d left his truck. He had a funeral to plan and a child to find a home for. Shelly had given her life for his when she hit Jack with the rock to knock him out so that Micah could escape. The drugs Maggie had pumped into her body killed her before Micah could get her to safety.

  Even forcing the change on Shelly hadn’t helped. Micah knew that Nolan would need help with Derik’s funeral as well. His steps slowed as he bowed his head briefly, asking for strength to get through the next several months.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tony sighed as Carly slipped into bed beside him. He rolled just enough so that the faint light coming through the open curtains struck the gold band on his left hand. Carly ran her hand through his hair, pushing it out of her way, then kissed the side of his neck.

  “How was work?” His warm sleepy voice reached her even as she snuggled up against his back.

  “Fine, go back to sleep.” Carly smiled, knowing that wasn’t going to happen. Sure enough, Tony chuckled as he rolled over to face her.

  “Later.” Tony lifted her left hand and kissed her palm, slowly licking his way around the gold band she wore that was a twin to his. “I heard from Micah t
oday.” He kissed her palm then gently bit her wrist. Carly felt her pulse jump under his mouth.

  “Oh? Where is he?”

  “Back at his resort, he sends his love.” Tony had worked his way up to her elbow with gentle bites soothed by equally gentle kisses.

  Carly laughed as she grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled his head up to hers. “Stop that, you know it tickles.”

  The glow from Tony’s eyes was enough to brighten the room. He purred deep in his throat as he moved down her body. She felt his tongue swipe across her breast and dug her fingers into his scalp, just the way he liked.

  Their established pattern hadn’t varied since their wedding day. Carly still worked her crazy midnight shift, coming home just before dawn. Tony would wake when she got into bed and they would make love then fall asleep together until it was time for him to get up and go to work.

  So many changes had occurred over the past few months. They’d met one another’s families and for the most part, everyone got along even though Carly wasn’t about to tell her family the whole truth. The wedding had been a simple justice of the peace with her folks and Wolf and Nolan standing with them. She’d moved into Tony’s home and put the condo on the market. She was still working on figuring out some of the metabolic changes that occurred in Tony when he shifted and they both thoroughly enjoyed her research.

  Tony stared into her eyes as he kissed her again. He moved closer, feeling her satisfied sigh as his hands moved over her soft skin. Carly was well and truly his now. He grinned as he moved his mouth back up to her neck. Tony remembered his first taste of Carly and was more thankful than ever that it hadn’t been his last.

  Carly wiggled under him then they began to move together to greet the morning.