The Pack or the Panther

by Tara Lain

  He handed a string to Alf and the wolf nodded. Primitive werewolf communications to overcome the chance of being heard by sharp ears.

  Cole moved forward, as still as his wolf. Funny he could be so clumsy around people. But alone in the woods was home. He stepped without sound, a natural part of the wild. Five minutes later, the smell of enforcer was powerful. He scanned the trees above. There. A sentry. He crouched and watched the wolf. Bored but still pretty alert. The guy raised an arm and signaled. Farther down the tree line… yes, another sentry.

  Cole pulled the string three times sharply. Alf would only sense the vibration, no real movement, but that was enough. Cole moved toward where he’d left the pack.

  Halfway back, he met Alf and two other pack wolves coming toward him. They stepped close to him. “I saw two sentries in the trees. Chances are they’re all in line of sight, so take them out quietly and stand in their places until we get enough of them handled. Then come down and meet us.”

  Alf grinned. “With pleasure.”

  * * *

  Lindsey pressed the cell phone to his ear as he stared out the window of the Marketo mansion. “You’re sure they’re close? Damn, my sense of smell is worthless. Some wolf I am.”

  Crystal Harker’s deep, throaty laugh vibrated through the phone. “You’re all the wolf we need, Lindsey, and yes, I can smell them clearly. I have sharpshooters at all the upper windows. You do too, right?”

  “Yes. But be ready to hide those weapons and look innocent as the driven snow when the cavalry comes.”

  “We’re prepared. But if I have to take out one or two of those assholes, I’ll explain that as a poor vulnerable woman, I have a licensed weapon for protection.”

  Lindsey laughed. “Okay, I’m calling. I’ll talk to you again in a few minutes.”

  “Good luck.”

  “Hopefully, we won’t need it.”

  She hung up. Okay, step one. He dialed.

  A woman’s voice answered. “Governor Mendes’s office.”

  “Yes, hi. This is Lindsey Vanessen. Is he in?”

  “Oh yes, Mr. Vanessen. Hold for a moment.”

  Hold music. Come on. He looked out through the dining room window and saw bodies moving behind the stone wall. Odd that the Eliazers would risk a show of force this close to homes and people. Eliazer must want something damned bad. Yeah, and Lindsey knew right what it was.

  “Hi, Lindsey. Are we up?”

  Thank God. The governor. “Yes, I’m calling the local police right now.”

  “Good. I have the state investigators on their way. Want National Guard?”

  “I’m hoping it won’t be required. These guys are bad but not dumb.”

  “You owe me some more details on this over drinks.”

  “I’ll buy. Thanks again, Dave.” He clicked off. He’d have to think up some believable details before they had that drink. But Dave was a good man.

  He dialed.

  “Police Department.” A crisp female voice.

  “Hi. My name is Lindsey Vanessen. I’m a local resident—”

  “Oh, of course, Mr. Vanessen. How can I help you?” Coming from a prominent family had its perks.

  “I need to speak to the police chief urgently. You should have received a private e-mail from the governor.”

  She made a funny “eep” sound. “Uh, yes, sir. Right away.”

  Dead air. A pop sounded and Lindsey jumped. The pack sniper must have taken out one of the Eliazers. Shit, hurry.

  “Lindsey, what’s going on?”

  “Hi, Chief, I’m at the Marketo home and I just heard from Crystal Harker. A bunch of gangsters from New York don’t want a joint venture between the two families to go through. Both homes are literally under attack with weapons.”

  “But why—?”

  “No time. Get here fast and to the Harker’s place. All your men. I’ve asked the governor for investigators. They’ll be here soon.”

  “Shit, okay.”

  Lindsey hung up.

  Pop. Pop.

  He pulled out his handgun and took aim through the kitchen window at two big wolves sliding over the fence. Maybe he had time to do some damage before he had to look innocent.

  In the distance, he heard the satisfying sound of sirens.

  * * *

  World War Wolf!

  Shit! Cole dove behind a tree as the rat-tat-tat of bullets firing and the ping of them hitting an inch from his ear drove him backward. Damn. He’d figured these enforcers would be like mercenaries who wouldn’t fight to the death. Instead, his pack had wiped out a handful of them and they kept on coming. What the hell was driving them?

  He pressed his back to the bark and took a couple of breaths. At least two of his wolves were down, one a female. Werewolves were hard to kill, but fighters in the know used special bullets. Those things could wipe out your insides so you couldn’t heal. Let them not be dead.

  He shouldered the AK, stepped out from behind the tree, and fired on three Eliazer wolves. One went down, not dead. Two sprang to the side. He glanced at Alf beside him. Damnation. He squeezed off two rounds into the wolf about to leap on Alf.

  A knife flew at him and he leaped back.

  A strong pair of hands grabbed him from behind. No way, asshole.

  He flipped the assailant over his shoulder and raised his weapon when more hands grasped his elbow. Damn. He turned and kicked the guy behind him. Two more came at him. This wasn’t random. Shit.

  His arm got pinned and the rifle went flying. He pulled one of the attackers off his feet, but two more grabbed him. There had to be five guys on him by now. Shitfire!

  They started dragging him into the trees, his heels making ruts in the soft ground.

  Where the hell were they taking him? They had him. Why didn’t they just shoot him?

  The sounds of the fighting got a little softer as he struggled. The dragging stopped and strong hands grasped him tight. Someone behind him shoved him down on his knees.

  He saw feet. Boots. Two got close to his head.

  “Where the fuck is Anthony Moreau?”

  Cole looked up. Well, shit. Here was the reason for the enforcers’ dedication. The fucking wolf. The pissed wolf. Eliazer wanted Anthony back enough to show up for the fight himself.

  Cole shook his head. “Don’t know. Wouldn’t tell you if I did, but don’t know.”

  A rifle butt smashed into his head, which drove him onto his hands. Damn! Slowly, he sat up and wiped his hands on his thighs. “Like I said. Don’t know.”

  “Why were you following him? Why did you steal him from me?”

  How to answer? Paris said Eliazer didn’t know that he was a wolf or a cat. No need to change that. If Cole died and Eliazer prevailed, he’d go looking for Anthony Moreau, not Paris Marketo. “I liked him too.”

  Eliazer’s eyes about popped out of his skull. “He’s mine!”

  Cole squinted up at the big, fat wolf. “Didn’t seem like he agreed.”

  Veins stood out on Eliazer’s neck and temples. “Where did you take him?”

  “To his apartment, but he ran. Next day he was gone and I don’t know how to find him. Probably never will.”

  “So you’re no use to me at all.”

  “Nope.”

  “So why shouldn’t I kill you?”

  Cole sighed. He’d said he wanted to go away. This could be going away permanently. But damn, he didn’t want to leave his pack without his skills. Still, Landon and Merced were great leaders. They didn’t need him.

  Two rifles pressed into his skull on both sides. It was tough to kill a werewolf, but that would do it.

  Deep breath.

  In one move, he threw up his arms and deflected the rifles so that one enforcer shot straight into the other. The guy screamed, “Owwww. Asshole.” Not dead, more’s the pity.

  Cole rolled back, but at least six hands were on him, pushing his face down into the dirt. The hard metal of the barrel pressed on the base of his skull. So he’d gi
ven it a shot. Now they’d do the shooting.

  Dirt ground into his nose. It smelled good, loamy, like new life. God, he hoped Paris was safe and well. Someplace warm and beautiful.

  God, he missed him.

  A shriiiiieeeeek vibrated through the forest and echoed off the trees. He gasped. A sound from hell!

  Eliazer’s voice. “What the fuck was that?”

  The rifle barrel pulled back a little and Cole raised his head an inch. What was it? Whatever, he was damned glad for the interruption.

  Shriiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

  The wolves around him were frozen, staring up at the treetops. One guy had his hands over his ears. “What is it? What is it?” Weird to see a big wolf whimper.

  The shooting in the nearby clearing slowed. A few blasts, but that noise had them all in confusion. The hellish scream sounded again. And again. So loud and shrill it hurt to listen.

  “Shit!” The hand on Cole’s head was suddenly gone. He looked up in time to see a streak of black flying from one of the trees, and a full-sized black panther hit Eliazer in the back, throwing him to the ground.

  “What the hell? Kill it! Kill it!”

  One guy aimed his rifle. No way, asshole. Cole punched the wolf in the stomach and the guy fell back.

  The black creature leaped onto Eliazer and poised his teeth against the big wolf’s neck. Man, look at those fangs.

  Eliazer’s shriek vibrated off the trees. “Get him off me!” He looked freaked. Hell, who wouldn’t be with a panther ready to rip their throat? And so few wolves had ever seen a panther shifter.

  Cole’s pulse was setting land speed records. Paris. Here. Here.

  Get it together. He took a deep breath and raised his head. “There’s a message here. One move from any of you.” He raised his voice. “One move from any Eliazer wolf and your alpha dies. Kill the panther and his fangs will sink into Eliazer’s throat automatically. Got that? Whatever your alpha promised you goes away if he’s dead, right?”

  Lots of murmurs. Eliazer’s pack couldn’t care less about their alpha’s passion for a dancer. They did want the land and the wealth, but maybe not bad enough to die for it. They’d been told this would be easy pickings. Now that it wasn’t, their commitment might be shaky. And with Eliazer dead, chances were good that none of them had the skill or leadership to get the rewards the alpha had dangled.

  Cole stared up at one of the gunmen beside him. “Step back or the alpha dies.” The big wolf looked around for help. None came. Finally, he stepped back but still held his weapon at the ready.

  Cole got up slowly and brushed himself off. He glanced around the circle. Heavily armed wolves stared at the almost unimaginable tableau in the center of the small clearing. A fallen werewolf with a full-sized black panther locked to his throat. Not only had few wolves ever seen a feline shifter, but this one was in animal form and it wasn’t the full moon. Harker Pack knew that Cole could shift at will, but not many wolves knew it was even possible. The panther was the stuff of legend. A couple of the Eliazer wolves glanced around, like they expected more felines to leap from the trees.

  Cole stood up to his full height. He raised his arm and stared at the wolves until he had their full attention.

  Then he shifted his arm from flesh to fur before their eyes.

  “Holy shit!” One Eliazer wolf dropped his weapon and ran into the bush. A couple of others backed up.

  Cole looked around and flexed the paw. “Eliazer didn’t tell you who you were dealing with, did he? He didn’t tell you who we are or what we can do.” He pointed toward the panther with his furry arm.

  Dozens and dozens of wolves stared at him. Well, hell, being the center of this circle hadn’t been his plan. But somehow this fucking war had turned him into the captain of the debate team.

  He released a long breath and shifted the arm back. It took too much energy to hold it and try to speak at the same time. A murmur went through the crowd.

  “Okay.” Deep breath. “There’s no more reason to fight. None of you care shit about this land. Only he does.” He pointed at Eliazer. “And get this.” He paused and raised the same arm he had shifted. “We’ll kill you all to keep it. Is that clear?”

  A couple of wolves mumbled.

  “Is that fucking clear, or do you want to see what else we can do?”

  Paris demonstrated his flair for the dramatic by growling low and long. A couple of the Eliazer wolves dropped their rifles on the ground. Good cat.

  He looked around. “Is there a second in your pack?”

  A couple of the Eliazer enforcers pointed to a big, handsome, blond wolf. “Him.”

  “Karl is.”

  Eliazer grunted out, “Not my fucking second.” But the teeth on his neck must have tightened because he shut up.

  The male stepped forward. “I’m not officially second. There is none.”

  Cole pointed to Eliazer. “Your alpha is a wanted criminal. If we turn him in to the authorities, these pack members have indicated they’ll follow you.”

  He looked surprised but nodded once.

  “Do you want to continue this fight? This is our land.”

  A few grumbles came from the Eliazers who still held their weapons.

  Cole looked up. “We’re winning. You know we are. There’s plenty of running land farther north for all of you. You have money. Buy it. Your alpha mostly wants to destroy me and my pack because I took his dancer.”

  Wolves nodded and grumbled. They weren’t going to die for their alpha’s lust.

  Cole stepped forward for effect. Maybe Paris was rubbing off on him. He swept his arm toward the panther holding down Eliazer with his fangs. “And that dancer is right there, about to rip the throat out of your alpha if he so much as blinks.”

  Pandemonium. Wolves stepped forward to get a better look. Eliazer made a weird coughing sound.

  Cole picked up his gun and pointed it at the gangster. “Show him, Paris.”

  The big cat pulled back and stared at Eliazer. Yeah, with eyes so gold they could only belong to one gorgeous dancer.

  Eliazer sputtered. “Anthony!”

  “Errrrr.” The cat grabbed Eliazer’s throat again.

  All the wolves—Harker, Marketo, and Eliazer—stared at the dents those glistening fangs made in the alpha’s flesh.

  “So, what’ll it be?” Cole nodded at their fallen alpha. “Stop the fight and go home. Your alpha lives—but in jail. Keep fighting and he dies, along with a lot of you. Take your pick.”

  The enforcer named Karl tucked his weapon under his arm and started walking toward the road. Two more wolves fell in behind him. And more.

  A hand touched Cole’s shoulder. He jumped and looked back. “Hi, Dad.”

  Landon smiled. “Lindsey has half the law enforcement of the state of Connecticut at Marketo’s house. We can take Eliazer to them to lock up.”

  Cole nodded then looked around. The wolves were leaving. Everyone carried their weapons and their wounded. Their big backs retreated through the trees.

  Landon clapped Cole’s arm. “Good job, son. No one else could have done this.”

  Cole stared at him. “Even though I’m gay?”

  Landon smiled, though it looked sad. He patted Cole’s arm and walked away.

  Cole watched him go. He was done. Funny, it felt like some collar fell off his neck. “Take him.” He pointed to where the panther still held Eliazer against the dirt.

  Two Harker wolves stepped up and pressed their weapons against Eliazer’s head.

  The big wolf stumbled to his feet.

  Paris the panther crouched and hissed, white fangs gleaming.

  Eliazer huddled back against the wolf guarding him and stared at the cat. “I could have killed you, but I didn’t.”

  Cole shook his head. “What you had planned for him was worse than death.” He felt the growl in the back of his throat.

  Eliazer’s eyes widened. “I would have been good to him. Hell, nobody else wanted him.”


  Cole smiled. But not friendly. “That’s where you made your big mistake, asshole. You see, I’d gladly die for him. He’s my husband.”

  Shocked, Eliazer stared at Cole as the enforcer yanked him toward the cars. He kept looking like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing until the guards pulled him along and he stumbled. His big back bobbed along the path until he and his guards were swallowed by the trees. Hopefully, this was the last time Cole had to see the asshole.

  Cole looked back at his cat.

  The panther’s golden eyes glanced up to Cole; then his silken body moved backward so smoothly it looked like he didn’t have bones.

  Damn, he hadn’t had a chance to watch the cat until now. Just like his human form, the panther was made of grace punctuated by some really lethal weapons. He looked just like Paris. Beautiful. Oh God, cock in heat-seeking mode.

  Why was he here? Shit, he didn’t care. He just wanted to touch him.

  The panther slithered toward a tree and was up it in less than a second. He peered back from a branch straight at Cole. Was one of those claws waggling “here puppy, puppy, puppy”? Must be his imagination.

  Cole waved toward Alf. The wolf walked over, and Cole handed him his rifle and sidearm.

  For a second, Alf looked confused; then he smiled. “Planning on doing some shifting, are we?”

  Cole laughed, then pulled off his flak jacket and set it on the ground. He leaned over and unfastened his boots. He had to sit on the dirt to get them off, but they joined the pile.

  By this time a few more wolves had started to watch. Shit, he didn’t care. This was his life now. He didn’t owe anybody anything.

  The black sweatshirt came off over his head. He looked up at the branch where the panther idly licked his paw. Oh man, he had all kinds of places that tongue could go.

  There was no modesty among wolves, but still, flashing his erect cock at the assembled pack was not cool. He didn’t need these pants.

  One deep breath. Open mind to the essence of wolf. Fire. Change.

  As he shifted, he heard gasps. Good. Be amazed.

  Wolf. The brilliant eyes stared around the circle of humanlike creatures. Pack.

  He looked up. Cat. Chase—

  Forward. Panther smell. So good. Cat run. Fun.

  Smell of cat. Trees, dirt, run, run, run.