Destined Mate (Catamount Lion Shifters #4) (7 page)

Noah chuckled. “No one doubts you’re not productive.”

Jake’s teasing manner disappeared. “Noah’s gonna take you to the county jail. Theo’s his uncle, so he might have more pull getting him to cooperate with you.”

“Theo might be my uncle, but we were never close. Theo takes care of Theo. He was low on the totem pole here in the investigation, so he figured he’d play it smart and turn the others in. He doesn’t exactly have many friends. As far as what he knows about things on the Montana end, hard to tell. He’s not stupid though. He won’t make shit up because that’ll boomerang on him. If he’s got intel and thinks it might shorten his sentence, he’ll probably talk.”

Hayden nodded. “I figure I’ll talk to anyone who’ll talk to me. The police out there are up to their ears in petty arrests. They’d like to nab someone other than low hanging fruit.”

Noah nodded and stood. Jake caught his eyes as he did. “Where’s Lily today?”

“Home working. You know her, she’s a lot like you. Buries her head in computer code and comes up for air only once in a while. She said she wanted to have you and Phoebe over for dinner soon.”

Jake nodded. “Just tell me when.” He shifted gears. “Call me with an update after you guys talk to Theo.”

At that, Hayden and Noah exited Jake’s office. Noah offered to drive, and Hayden took him up on it. Catamount was in the northern portion of its county, so they headed south through the mountains. Noah was comfortable with quiet, which Hayden appreciated. Hayden took in the scenery as they headed south and pondered what it would be like to shift here. While in some ways it was safer out West since mountain lions roamed wild out there, in others ways it was more dangerous. In some areas, hunting was legal, so shifters had to be doubly careful during hunting season. Since Eastern mountain lions had been on the decline for over a century before they were declared extinct, the species had been protected for decades. If anyone happened to encounter a shifter lion in the woods, it would serve as a tall tale, but was otherwise harmless for shifters.

The road wound through the hills. Hayden’s mind wandered to Shana because anytime he wasn’t entirely focused on something else, that’s where his thoughts went. He couldn’t quite believe he’d woken a few days ago in Montana without Shana in his consciousness. His brief interactions with her when she was in Bozeman had been memorable, but he hadn’t gotten close enough to realize the depth of the spark between them. After a mere two nights with her, his entire being pulled in her direction anytime she was near. Though his lion side knew what he felt with her was far beyond what he’d expected after the first night, he’d half talked himself out of it before last night. Today, he didn’t even bother to try to talk himself out of it. He’d thought nothing could compare to the first night. Now, he reflected it was more that no one could compare to Shana. If he let his lion enter his feelings at all, he couldn’t imagine walking away from her. But he knew she wasn’t sure.

Though his conflicted feelings about her grief over her late husband’s death had morphed after understanding what their marriage had been, it didn’t change the fact that she’d been through a difficult year. Her life had been turned upside down in more ways than one. As for him and what he wanted—he wanted Shana. Completely. Though he hadn’t planned for this and had no idea how to get to that point, he would find his way.

He considered his life in Bozeman. While his grandparents had moved there from Catamount, his own parents had moved away when he was young. He’d spent most of his childhood in Colorado, another stronghold for shifters. His parents had died in a car accident on a snowy highway in the Rocky Mountains shortly after he graduated from college. With his grandparents also dead, he had little to anchor him anywhere. He’d followed his degree in biology into a position with the Feds at Fish & Wildlife in Colorado and accepted the transfer to Bozeman when it came up. Yet, the one thing he lacked was a sense of home. Without close family to tether him somewhere, he often felt out of place.

As a shifter, given that he had to hide half of his being from many people he encountered, he’d have loved to have the connections he observed here in Catamount. It wasn’t just among family, but among the shifters in general. He could see why the smuggling network had torn at the fabric of this community. The role Catamount held in the shifter world was sacred. To have shifters betray each other here, of all places, was painful to consider. He tried to envision bringing Shana to Bozeman, but it didn’t quite fit. He wasn’t sure how he’d go about it or when, but he sensed if he meant to make her his mate, he’d have to relocate his life to Catamount.

Noah’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Almost there. Theo’s pretty easy to understand. He’s rough and tumble and always looking for easy money. He got into the smuggling network for the cash. No other reason. He talked because he was smart enough to realize they might make him the fall guy.”

“Right. Sounds like half the guys involved out in Montana. Money makes a bad friend, but shifters are as dumb as people sometimes.”

Noah smiled wryly. “True.”

Several long hours later, Hayden walked at Noah’s side through the parking lot. In silence, they climbed into the truck, and Noah started driving. Hayden was stunned. Among other things, Theo had dropped a bomb in his lap—the name of Hayden’s boss at Fish & Wildlife, Clint Reynolds. Though Theo was short on details, he reported Clint was rumored to be running the show in Montana. Hayden thought of the many, many conversations he’d had with Clint over the last few years about the shifter smuggling network. Clint avoided any tedious work, thus his delegation of most duties associated with coordination with the local law enforcement didn’t seem unusual. It wasn’t that Fish & Wildlife officers handled much law enforcement, but they often got involved in issues relating to management of lands. With the smugglers frequently attempting to access remote areas for deliveries and other purposes, Fish & Wildlife was called in repeatedly for assistance. Clint conveniently bowed out every time, now that Hayden considered it.

He glanced over at Noah. “Not sure you picked up on it, but Clint Reynolds is my boss and the regional director of Fish & Wildlife in our area. The fact that Theo even knew his name makes my stomach turn. You got Jake’s number? It never occurred to me to ask him to take a look at Clint.”

Noah quickly recited Jake’s number. After calling Jake and putting him onto Clint, Hayden leaned back with a sigh. He was too mentally worn out to think much more about the smuggling network.

***

Shana sat at Phoebe’s kitchen table and poured cream in her coffee. Phoebe wiped her hands on a dishtowel before stepping to the table and slipping into the chair across from her. Phoebe’s house, now shared with Jake, was like a second home for Shana. She’d stayed here for a few weeks after Callen died and had spent more evenings with her friends here than she could count.

Phoebe sifted her hands through her dark curls and tied them into a knot atop her head. Her dark eyes assessed Shana. “What’s up with you and Hayden?”

Shana tried to hedge, panic edging her thoughts. If her feelings were so obvious, how could she protect her heart? “What do you mean?”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “So that’s how you’re going to play this? Whatever. I think you finally decided to talk about what your marriage to Callen was actually like because maybe meeting a man who really is interested in you made you think it wasn’t worth pretending anymore. I saw the way Hayden looked at you the other night. I’m surprised he didn’t go up in flames.”

Phoebe had never been the friend to shy away from anything, but sometimes she was so spot on, it made Shana squirm. Shana opened her mouth to speak, but Phoebe held a hand up.

“The look on your face confirms what I was thinking. I don’t know exactly what’s between you and Hayden, but there’s a little more there than a fun roll between the sheets. You need to know maybe none of us knew you and Callen were married in name only by the end, but I wasn’t blind. I noticed things weren’t exactly great. I just figured you were trying to make it work anyway. If you’re worried about what people think, don’t. You deserve something good after everything you’ve been through.”

Tears pricked Shana’s eyes, and her throat felt tight. She’d cried so much this past year, it annoyed her. She took a breath, willing the tears away, and met Phoebe’s eyes. “Doesn’t everyone deserve something good?”

Phoebe angled her head to the side and smiled ruefully. “Well, sure. But that wasn’t my point. Even if Callen hadn’t died and hadn’t betrayed you and the rest of Catamount shifters, you’d have every right to move on, to find someone who appreciates you. It helps a bit that Hayden’s hot as hell and clearly thinks you are too.” She winked at that.

Shana blushed and absently twisted a napkin in her hands. “I’m not going to argue that point. I just…ugh. I don’t know what’s supposed to happen right now. All I wanted was…” Her words trailed off.

She didn’t know how to explain that she’d been desperate to
feel
again after the numbness she’d cocooned herself inside to get through the last few years of her marriage. She held onto that numbness like a lifeline after Callen died. When Hayden showed up, he was like a candle flickering in the cold, dark night. She’d only wanted to follow the flame, to let it melt the ice around her heart. But being with him was so much more than she’d expected. She recalled his question the other night—hinting at how to handle the reality that there was clearly more between them than a fling with no expectations. She’d underestimated the fire between them. It burned so hot and fast, she was afraid she’d get singed in its heat. After the utter failure her marriage had been, it was hard to believe anything good could last. It wasn’t to say she had experienced anything with Callen remotely like what she felt with Hayden, but she’d never have known their marriage could go cold, bitter and distant in a few short years. Which made it all the harder to think beyond temporary with Hayden. To feel what she felt with him and face the possibility of it fading and withering was terrifying.

Shana met Phoebe’s eyes again. “I don’t know what to do. For God’s sake, don’t mention it to Jake because he’ll tell Dane, but Hayden and I…well…” Flushing madly, she shrugged.

Phoebe grinned. “Got it. No need to explain. Great news as far as I’m concerned. Why do you look so worried?”

“Because it seemed perfect. Hayden doesn’t even live here. As you pointed out, he’s pretty easy on the eyes and definitely notices me more than Callen ever did, even before we were sleeping in separate bedrooms. But…it’s, um, a little more than I expected and I’m not sure what to do.”

Phoebe’s eyes sobered. She reached over and squeezed Shana’s hand quickly. “What does Hayden have to say? If anything.”

Shana chewed her lip and took a breath. “Before anything happened, I told him I wouldn’t have any expectations. I didn’t want to have any. Later, he asked what we would do if there was more to it than that.”

Phoebe nodded slowly. “Well, it’s not like I know Hayden all that well, but his question leads me to think he might be thinking it’s more than he expected too.”

Hope twirled in a small circle in her heart. Shana tried to tamp it down. Her breath came out in a sigh. “Right. I’m worried I can’t think clearly because I’m so desperate for something good. Just a tiny dollop of it and I’m getting too excited. Hayden doesn’t even live here. It’s not like I can…”

Phoebe waved her hand. “Oh stop it! I want to be supportive, I really do, but I’m not gonna let you start going in crazy circles in your mind. Trust me, I’m an expert at that and it’s a complete waste of time. It’s always easier to tell other people to do the things I couldn’t, but I’m telling you now—stop. Don’t tie yourself up in knots over things that haven’t even happened.”

Shana giggled, recalling how twisted up Phoebe had been over Jake for years. Her heart loosened the tiniest bit as she recalled some of her own advice to Phoebe. Matters of the heart were so much easier to interpret when they didn’t involve one’s own heart. “Fair enough. So what should I do now?”

Phoebe burst out laughing. “Try to relax and focus on now. I’m here. I’m always here for you, so if you need to obsess or talk anytime, you know exactly where I am.”

Chapter 7

Late that afternoon, Shana stood at the edge of the woods. The sun was low in the sky, its rays angling through the trees, dappling the ground with its light. The early spring air held the earthy scents of new growth. She needed to run free and temporarily forget the vagaries of her human mind and emotions. On the heels of a deep breath, she shifted. Energy coursed through her, whipping from head to toe. Her fur rippled across her skin. She held still for a moment, her mountain lion’s eyes adjusting to the forest. She stretched into her form, sighing at the feeling of strength and power. Another breath and she dashed into the woods. The far end of her family’s property extended into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. She started off at a run, but once she got deeper into the mountains, she slowed to a jog.

The forest was alive with sound. Birds returning from their southerly migrations flitted busily among the trees. A pair of chipmunks chattered loudly at her when she passed by. She kept her pace, jogging slowly through the woods, winding further up into the mountains until she reached one of her favorite places, a small hillside that looked out over a valley, a stream meandering lazily through the valley. She rested atop a boulder. The sun had begun to dip lower in the sky. Its golden rays were shot through with orange and red.

Suddenly, she lifted her head, scenting another mountain lion nearby. Several moments later, the lion in question came into view just below her in the valley. She stared for long moment until the lion looked up. Instantly, she knew it was Hayden. He was bigger and bulkier than most of the male mountain lion shifters in the East, likely due to the reality that shifters out West had much more freedom to roam in the wild out there. His eyes met hers across the distance. He turned to face her, his tail flicking. From a complete standstill, he bounded forward, his motion fluid and seamless. In seconds, he climbed the small rise where she waited and came to a stop beside the boulder.