The Secret (5 page)

She was Julian’s best tracker. They thought she was just a gifted human, but her success was truly due to the superior sight and smell of her cat. This was their third scouting trip to Florida. The males were after Arthur. She was determined to find her twin.

Months ago she’d heard a rumor that the Society, a group of rogues and ferals in the area led by Tim Burns, was kidnapping women. She could only think of one reason they’d do that. They were looking for female shifters or maybe women they thought could bear female shifters. A woman whose father was a werelion. Unfortunately, she hadn’t had any luck finding Jaz, though the more time passed, the more she was convinced her sister was in trouble. Every time Sunny went to their compound and sniffed around, she came up empty-handed. No sign of Jaz. Or Arthur. No way in to check it out more thoroughly without risking detection.

She wasn’t giving up. Somehow, she
knew
her sister was there. The safe house was an easy five-mile trek through the swamp from the Society’s headquarters and she headed in that direction. She needed to be careful, but quick. She couldn’t risk getting back after the others were awake.

Before the place came into view, she sank to her belly and moved forward with stealthy caution, just a few inches at a time. She blended in well with the brush surrounding the house, but with the sun rising, she didn’t dare draw attention with her movements.

With each visit, she’d been working on getting closer, and this time she made it all the way to the fence—tall chain-link, with razor wire at the top. Too time consuming to scale and cross. There was too big a chance of getting caught that way by one of the roving guards. She pawed at the dirt, testing to see how compacted it was. Would it be easier to dig a tunnel under the fence?

The fence had been countersunk into the ground, but before she could determine how deep, she saw movement on the lawn. Someone had made a half-assed attempt to decorate for Christmas. One corner of the lawn was still early-morning dim, but had been lit with white lights, and in their glow a tall, lanky male leaned against a palm tree, staring in her direction. She was downwind, her scent carried away from him on the breeze, and there was no way he could see her through the tall, thick grass and shrubbery. She repressed a shiver of fear, hoping she hadn’t compromised herself or the mission. Finally, with a lazy nod in her direction, he peeled away from his spot, his gait sneaky and furtive.

The lion watched until he was out of sight, wondering if he was also an outsider or one of the rogues hiding inside. His actions seemed to suggest he didn’t belong there, but for all she knew it was just a ploy to draw her out. Testing his loyalty wasn’t an option, so she eased back toward the tree line just as cautiously as she’d approached. She did a quick sweep around the perimeter, staying back far enough to not be spotted or scented, and then headed back.

Carlos was sitting in a glider on the back porch when she stepped onto the lawn. Thank God she’d had the foresight to bring her clothes into the swamp with her. She didn’t have to get a good look at his face to know he was pissed. Most likely at her. She decided to brazen it out, strolled over, and leaned her hip against the porch rail.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“Where the fuck have you been?”

Strike that. He’d moved from pissed to furious. She shrugged, trying to maintain her nonchalant ruse. “Exploring. I’m the tracker, remember?”

“Best I’ve ever seen,” he snapped, but there was consideration, questioning in his gaze.

Uh-oh. He didn’t suspect, did he?

“Makes me wonder why Julian keeps wasting you on this.”

She had two choices. Denial, or tell him about her sister. But if she did, she’d have to give him a reason the rogues would go after a female, and a female she just happened to be related to.

“I haven’t given him a choice,” she replied, making a split-second decision she hoped wouldn’t bite her in the ass later. “I think my sister is here somewhere.”

His eyes narrowed. Clearly, he didn’t like her keeping secrets. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“My twin. Her name is Jaz.”

He stared her down a long time before nodding. “Here in south Florida, or here with the Society?”

Ah, now, there was the question. Did she give him the truth or continue to protect her and her sister’s identities? He’d marked her. Claimed her. How long did she really expect to be able to keep the secret? Long enough to free her sister and help her escape again, at least. She hoped.

“I started picking up rumors a few months ago that the Society was kidnapping women. One of the descriptions fits my sister.”

It was part of the truth.

“Why your sister?” he asked suspiciously.

“I don’t know.”

A lie.

“Our father was a werelion.”

Sprinkled with some truth. Would it be enough to deflect him? Possibly. For now. But she didn’t expect her luck to hold out. Eventually he’d want to know who her father was. What pride he was from and why she wasn’t with it.

He stood, stripped off his clothes, and stepped around her. Her breath caught in her throat. He was magnificent. Lean, with ropy muscles that spoke of strength and speed. He smiled at the appreciation she knew shone in her eyes.

“I’m going to look around. I think Asa is going after food. Why don’t you go with him?”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”

He growled a warning. “I don’t want you here alone and Declan is out patrolling.”

“We’re gonna have to talk about that protective streak.”

Smiling, he grabbed her hand and pulled her close. Pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips. “No we aren’t, kitten. I’m going to protect you, and you’re going to let me.”

Before she could protest, he stepped back and shifted. He was just as tawny and golden as a cat, his mane a luxurious fall she couldn’t resist touching. When her fingers brushed through it, a rumble erupted from his chest. She laughed. He was such a cat, susceptible to any stroking or petting. She scratched the spot between his eyes before stepping away.

“Go. I’ll stay near Asa.”

He turned and walked away, giving her one last commanding look over his shoulder before he disappeared into the trees. She clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms until she felt a spike of pain. She held herself very still, struggling against the urge to shift. To follow him, run with him in her feline form. It was a battle she almost lost, and when she turned, she found Asa watching from the doorway with a curious expression on his face.

“What?”

“So much longing in your eyes, sweetheart, watching him shift.”

She blinked, shocked into smoothing her expression blank, repressing the longing he’d so clearly witnessed. His observation was unexpected. And unwelcome. It skirted dangerously close to the truth. What would it be like to not have to hide what she was? She’d never know. She shrugged; trying desperately to hide the painful longing, she stepped around him and into the house.

“I thought we were going after breakfast,” she called over her shoulder, hoping he’d get the hint and drop the subject of shifting.

She groaned when she reached the living room, then turned to glare at him while jerking her thumb to indicate the tree set up in the middle of the room.

“Do we have to do that?”

He grinned. “You need some Christmas cheer.”

She rolled her eyes. Like hell she did.

“Come on. Let’s grab some breakfast, and we’ll decorate it later.”

She stomped after him. They could decorate all they liked. She had better things to do.

Chapter Six

Anyone watching would think Carlos was wandering the woods with no particular purpose. They’d be wrong. He’d seen which direction Declan took when he’d left and knew they’d meet somewhere in the middle soon.

The coming confrontation was one he both looked forward to, and dreaded. He hadn’t missed the considering look in the wolf’s eyes, or the commanding tone in his voice when he’d suggested Asa and Sunny go find food while they ran a patrol. Declan had decided it was time to assert his own dominance.

Carlos knew it was coming sooner or later. Declan wasn’t a man used to submitting or following another’s command. As long as he followed Carlos’s lead in public, Carlos would be the submissive in private every now and then. They’d get to that soon enough. He wasn’t concerned about it; that was just the way things were done among lions.

He was more worried about Declan’s former mate. It was obvious he’d never claimed her. He wouldn’t be exactly sane after her death if he had. So why hadn’t he? Had it been because of age or circumstance? Would he be able to give Sunny and Carlos the kind of commitment, devotion, his lion side demanded? He’d dreamed while he slept and woken to the realization he wanted Declan with them for more than scratching an itch, more than to simply heighten Sunny’s pleasure. More than lust. Carlos wanted Declan for himself.

He moved into a clearing blanketed by the wolf’s smell and knew this was the place Declan had chosen to confront him. He shifted back to his human form and leaned against a tree to wait, churning up inside. Wanting to demand a commitment, almost afraid to push it.

Sunny was his. She couldn’t walk away, but Declan could. For all their sakes, he couldn’t allow that to happen. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, filling his lungs with air that smelled of the wolf. He didn’t move when he sensed the coming attack. Didn’t struggle when Declan spun him around, pushing his front against the rough bark.

The aggression made his cock hard. And Declan’s. He felt it hard and pushing at his ass. He let the sensual nature of the cat rise and take over, could hear the coaxing purr in his voice. “What? I don’t even get a kiss first?” he teased.

Declan growled, but the sound was more turned on than pissed off. “I haven’t decided yet.”

Declan continued to grind his cock against his ass. It took all his control not to make room between Carlos and the tree to grip his cock. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to give him pain or pleasure. So often the two were mixed. Damn, it was hard to concentrate with temptation so close. So accessible. He squeezed his eyes shut a minute and counted to ten, tried to slow his racing heart. He was going to fuck Carlos, but first he wanted answers. He got the feeling Carlos did too.

“How does this work, cat? All of us together.”

He couldn’t resist pushing his cock against Carlos, groaned when it slid between his cheeks. Carlos thrust back against him with a demanding snarl, and Declan twisted his hand in his hair. Tugged. “Answers first. How does it work?” he asked before nipping the male’s neck.

“Pride law,” Carlos panted. “There are never enough women. Anyone who finds a mate is expected to share her with his best friends. Or lovers.”

“So I won’t be forced out?”

Carlos stilled, and Declan wondered what about the question had triggered the response.

“Are you going to be able to stay?”

This time his growl was low and menacing. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“You mentioned a mate.”

And they both knew how debilitating losing a mate was. “We were too young.” He paused. “A bond can be created.”

Carlos froze. “If you make that kind of commitment to her, you’re also making it to me. Can you live with that?”

He shrugged. “I love her.” He’d do anything for her, anything to stay close to her. He’d worry about his growing confusion over the werelion later. “Can you say the same?”

Carlos took a long time to respond, and Declan used it to explore the man’s skin with his lips and teeth. He wondered if the bond would function three ways, if he could mark Sunny and then Carlos. No, it wouldn’t work on males. He’d drawn enough blood over the years to know that. Even so, he wasn’t willing to let either go, even if the cat infuriated him half the time.

“What about Asa?” Carlos finally asked.

“We’re not together anymore. He’s still searching for his mate.”

Carlos nodded. “So it’s the three of us. We’ll have to take a fourth, but it can wait.”

He didn’t want to hear that. That he’d have to share either one of them. “A cat?”

“Some traditions can’t be broken.”

Declan considered the words. Taking a wolf into the group was probably pushing it. “When the time comes, Sunny gets a voice in the decision.”

“Of course.”

The next stretch of silence seemed filled with heat and tension. Carlos groaned. “Ah, Dec, would you fuck me already?”

He hadn’t realized he’d been grinding his cock against Carlos, and he was damn tempted to take up the invitation. “No lube,” he reminded him gently, then realized just how much the cat had been holding back when he shoved away from the tree, throwing Declan back with him.

“The house isn’t far,” he practically snarled, and they raced back in human form, together.

Declan entered first, found the lube on the nightstand table. Carlos was breathing hard when he turned to face him and gave him no warning when he jumped, taking them both to the floor. Chest pressed to chest. Cocks rubbing against each other. He recalled the request for a kiss and fused their lips together. It was a hard, demanding clash of teeth and tongues. A punishing kiss. And brief. Carlos broke away and rolled over.

“Now,” he demanded. A demand Declan was happy to give in to.

Lube squeezed into his palm, he coated his cock, guided it into place, and pushed in. No going slow, no easing into it, no finesse. He reached around their bodies and grabbed Carlos’s cock. Then he fucked him. Hard and fast and furious. They came in minutes, one howling and the other snarling.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when he felt the stunned silence. He looked up from where he’d collapsed on Carlos to find Sunny, frozen in the doorway, bottom lip sucked between her teeth.

“Um. Sorry for interrupting.” She started to back out of the room, but he rolled over and smiled, held his hand out to her.

“C’mere, baby.”

She hesitated, but he saw the excitement in her eyes as she cautiously stepped forward. He sensed Asa nearby, hanging back, and silently thanked his old friend for staying out of the way. With a fluid move he was amazed he had the energy for, he rose to his feet. Taking her hand, he led her into the bathroom. He got the water going, then stripped her, growling with each inch of skin revealed.