Figure of Speech (Halle Shifters) (19 page)

This put Jim’s muzzle near the Wolf’s vulnerable neck, but before he could take advantage of that the other Wolf spun, forcing Jim’s face toward the earth. He twisted free, managing briefly to get the upper hand as he in turn forced the other Wolf down.

The bigger Wolf easily shook off his hold. They both reared, paws on each other’s shoulders, biting at each other’s muzzles. Jim felt the Wolf’s fangs rip his sensitive nose, but from the whine coming from the other Wolf he’d gotten his own back. They were both bleeding from the face, the pain almost overwhelming.

Jim forced them back up, his paws hitting the other Wolf’s shoulders hard. He grabbed ahold of some of the Wolf’s neck fur, pulling him back down and keeping the other Wolf’s fangs away from his face.

The Wolf twisted again, putting a paw on Jim’s back, raking his claws across his shoulder. Jim refused to let go, hanging on despite the pain, ignoring the way the other Wolf snapped and tried to break free.

The stronger Wolf broke Jim’s hold, forcing Jim to rear back unless he wanted a lip piercing. Jim somehow managed to force the bigger Wolf down, using his speed to his advantage, practically climbing on top of him. He ripped and tore at the Wolf’s shoulder, ignoring the yelps of pain. He knew just where to tear, to bite to make the shoulder useless. He ruthlessly used that knowledge, aware that what he was doing might be irreparable to the other Wolf.

Jim was hoping he didn’t have to kill. All he wanted to do was incapacitate his enemy, but if the other Wolf threatened Chloe then Jim would do what he had to. He’d put animals down out of mercy before, but this time it would be to protect the most precious being in his life.

The other Wolf pulled free, limping on his wounded side and snarling viciously. He wasn’t backing down. If anything, the wound seemed to merely piss him off more.

Great.

Jim snarled back, hoping the other Wolf would heed his warning. When the Wolf lowered his head, ready to attack again, Jim took the initiative. He latched onto the back of the Wolf’s neck, shaking his head back and forth. The other Wolf lost his balance, falling to the ground with a yelp.

Jim managed to switch his grip, taking the Wolf’s throat between his jaws and growling, forcing the other Wolf to acknowledge Jim’s dominance or die.

The Wolf tried desperately to kick Jim off, but Jim held firm, dancing around the other Wolf’s paws until he went limp beneath Jim. Jim’s Wolf wanted to howl in triumph, but instead he backed up slowly, allowing the other Wolf to climb to his feet.

Defeated, the other man shifted. On his hands and knees, he glared at Jim. “You win. I surrender. If you’re going to kill me, all I ask is you do it quick.”

Jim shifted back. He ignored the sting in his wounded nose and ear, the scratches on his body that he only now felt. “Who are you?”

“Derrick Hines.”

That didn’t tell Jim anything, but he bet the Hunters would know who he was, especially Barney. “Why are you going after my mate?”

The wicked smile on the man’s face made Jim want to punch him. “Because I was paid a shit-ton of money.”

“You’re a mercenary?”

“Yup.” The Wolf sat back on his haunches, crossed his ankles together and then crossed his arms over his knees. His ease with his nudity startled Jim, who was still getting used to the whole thing. “And you surprised me, newbie.”

“How so?” Jim crossed his arms over his chest, determined not to show how uncomfortable he was with his bits dangling in the wind.

“Most of those newly turned would quickly fall in front of me, or beg me not to hurt them. I rarely have to bring in a mark dead, especially the new ones.” Reluctant respect lit the Wolf’s eyes. “But you fought back. Twice.”

“You came to my business and my home, asshole. Of course I fought back.”

The man nodded. “If you were in a Pack you’d probably be a Marshall or a Second. I’ve seen others like you before. You’ve got that inner strength, that drive to protect.”

Jim still wasn’t clear on Pack hierarchy, but he knew a compliment when he heard one. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Derrick was still watching him warily.

Jim had a few more questions he’d like to ask, but his ass was getting cold and he wanted to get back to Chloe. “Where’s the man the Puma Alpha sent to watch us?”

The man smiled. “Don’t worry. He’s not my target. He’s sleeping the sleep of the innocent right now. He’ll wake with a slight headache, but that’s it.”

That was a relief. “So. You’ve obviously lost. What happens to you now?”

Derrick shrugged. “We don’t get paid, and we move on to the next job. It’s that simple.”

Or the Senate went after the man for his failure. Jim wasn’t forming a very high opinion of the shifters’ politicians. They might actually be worse than the human ones. “And if I don’t let you go?”

Derrick stared at him, his eyes becoming cold and hard. “You gonna kill me, Doc?”

“In my world, I don’t put down an animal unless I have no other choice.” Jim sighed.

The man shook his head, his expression softening. “Unreal,” he muttered. “Look. You’ve won, and you’re willing to let me go. I owe you one.” His shoulders straightened and regret flashed across his face. “I didn’t come here alone.”

Jim froze. “What?”

“You pegged me right. I’m a merc. And I wasn’t alone tonight. My partner’s already inside.”

Jim raced through the back door and into his house. He hadn’t scented a damn thing other than the Wolf, so that had to mean…

That had to mean the man’s partner was a Fox, just like Chloe. And like Chloe, he or she would be able to mask their scent.

He raced into the house, the sounds of crashing furniture alerting him to where Chloe probably was. And from the sound of it, she was in the dining room, where his brother’s bedroom was set up.

Spencer and Chloe were both in danger, and if he knew his mate, she was defending him with every breath in her tiny, battered body.

Jim shifted and raced toward the sounds, praying he made it in time to save her.

Chapter Nineteen

The sounds of snapping and snarling woke Chloe from a sound sleep. Something was wrong, desperately wrong. She checked for George, praying that he’d gotten hold of something and was simply playing.

George was hiding under the bed, shaking like a leaf.

Shit.

She reached over to the side of the bed where Jim usually slept, only to find the sheets cold.

She darted out of bed, ripping her pajamas off. Her Fox was growling, eager for the shift. Her mate was out there fighting, and it wanted to go to his aid. Jim had never had to fight in his Wolf form before. He’d be at a huge disadvantage against his opponent.

Chloe, on the other hand, had grown up sparring with both Foxes and Grizzlies and knew a few dirty tricks taught to her by her overprotective cousins. She wasn’t above using each and every one of them to protect Jim.

She shifted, losing all sense of the color red. She darted out the bedroom door and down the stairs, determined to find where Jim was. His scent was strong, so following it was simple.

Of course, the Fox standing in the dining room, hovering over a terrified Spencer, had her freezing in her tracks.

Double shit. Jim might be brand new to shifting, but at least he could. Spencer was helpless against the Fox. Hell, he couldn’t even run away. If he tried to get to his chair the Fox could have his throat within seconds.

She knew what her mate would want, despite what her Fox demanded. Chloe had to save Spencer.

Chloe crouched, her ears back, her tail down. She snarled and hissed as she slunk toward the Fox who’d invaded her den, making her intentions clear.

She wanted him the fuck out of her home.

Before she could stop it she began gekkering, the stuttering cry of a Fox who was about to do battle, whether for real or for play. Chloe meant business, however, so she added in some warning barks, trying to get the outsider away from Spencer.

The Fox was frozen, staring at Chloe with an open jaw. Slowly, it lifted its paws off Spencer’s bed, descending to the floor where Chloe waited.

She didn’t want to give him a chance to use Spencer against her. She attacked, swiping at the Fox, hoping to knock him over so she could get her jaws on his neck. If she could get him to submit, the fight would be over.

But whatever had caused the other Fox to hesitate disappeared as Chloe attacked. It, too, crouched low and Chloe’s swing went over his head. She leapt at him, kicking and scratching, forcing him to back farther away from Spencer’s bed.

“Holy shit.”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Spencer edging toward his wheelchair. What he thought he was going to do she had no idea, and no time to deliberate. The other Fox came back at her, making its own gekkering sounds. They danced around each other, watching, taking turns darting in and out of each other’s range. The high-pitched yipping echoed through the room as Chloe tried to get a hold of the other Fox.

The Fox lunged at Chloe, forcing her back into a chair. The chair toppled over, nearly trapping Chloe. She darted between the legs and came at the Fox’s hindquarters, drawing first blood.

The Fox yipped and jumped at Chloe, forcing her onto her back. She kicked at his vulnerable stomach with her hind legs, digging deep and forcing him to arch his back to minimize the damage. She tucked her chin down and bit the Fox’s bottom jaw, keeping him from getting hold of her throat and ending the fight.

She managed to kick him off. Hopping to her feet, she began circling the other Fox, looking for a weak point or an opening she could use to bring him down.

Instead, it was the Fox who found Chloe’s weak point. He began attacking Chloe’s left side, going for her weak paw. She tried to compensate, but the pain in her right paw when she tried to put more weight on it made her quickly rethink that strategy.

Instead, Chloe chose to go with a different tactic, one that she hoped would prove effective.

Super Bear had powers outside the norm for a Bear. With luck, the same thing would apply to a tiny, damaged white Fox.

Chloe dodged under Spencer’s bed and used the ability of her species to cloak her scent.

Almost holding her breath, she peered from under the comforter to find the Fox had frozen in place. He lifted his muzzle, scenting the air, but was apparently unable to find her. He turned in place, whining slightly, obviously confused by her sudden disappearance.

Chloe sniffed discreetly, surprised to find that her scent was completely gone from the room. She wasn’t entirely sure she was happy about that, but for now it was going to work to her advantage.

Slowly, stealthily, she made her way out from under the bed, using the furniture to cover her movements. She stalked the enemy Fox, keeping her eyes on it. She waited patiently as it sniffed Spencer’s bed, smiling internally as Spencer quietly wheeled his way out of danger.

Good. With luck Spencer would get to a phone and call for help while she and Jim dealt with the shifters.

Her distraction almost cost her. The Fox was far closer to Chloe than she’d expected when she looked around for him again. While a Fox could mask their scent, sight would still reveal them. Chloe silently pulled back behind a piece of furniture, hiding herself from the Fox as it stalked across the floor. Once its back was to her she hopped up onto the back of the chair, prepared to fly at her enemy.

The Fox stared right back at her, and snarled.

Chloe leapt, tackling the Fox to the ground. She managed to get over him, clamping his throat between her teeth hard enough to draw blood but not hard enough to kill. She growled, forcing the other Fox to surrender. She
would
kill him if he gave her no other choice.

The Fox went limp beneath her just as Jim and a strange Wolf ran into the room. “Chloe?”

The Wolf stared at her, then at the fallen Fox. “Remind me you two shouldn’t be messed with.”

She backed up slowly, snarling at the Wolf in man form. He was far too close to her mate.

“Down, vixen. He surrendered.” Jim watched as the other Fox shifted, turning into a blond man with a scar across one cheek and eyes so dark they should hold stars. If Chloe had seen him in his human form she would have been terrified. He looked like he ate babies for breakfast and nuns for lunch.

And he’d submitted to her dominance.

Yikes.

Chloe shifted, ignoring Jim’s scowl. “Boo… too… sue…
who
are you?”

The man blinked and looked toward Jim before responding. “Casey Lee Coleman.”

The man’s thick Southern accent screamed Georgia to Chloe, who’d heard the same lilt in Tabby’s voice. Oddly enough, the sound of it made Chloe relax. “Are you from Marietta?”

“Atlanta.” The man—Casey Lee—stood, keeping his eyes respectfully down. He kept sniffing, as if trying to catch a specific scent. “May I ask how you did that?”

“Did what?”

“Disappear like that.” He peered around, his brow furrowed. “Even now I…but it’s different.”

“Good,” Jim grunted. He lifted one of Spencer’s shirts from the pile next to his bed and tossed it to Chloe. “Here.”

Okay. Apparently it was all right to wear his brother’s clothes. Not all Wolves could handle their mate wrapped in another man’s scent, even that of kin. She slipped the shirt on, holding it closed over her breasts. “I think I’m the Fox version of a Kermode.”

The Wolf tilted his head in confusion, but Casey Lee seemed to know exactly what she was talking about. “The white Bears?”

“Julian DuCharme.” The Wolf seemed to make the connection. “But instead of healing…” He shared a glance with Casey Lee. “You’re a master at hiding.”

She shrugged. “I guess so. It’s the first time I’ve tried it since the beating.”

The two men exchanged another glance. The Wolf, whose name she still didn’t know, spoke up as the Fox leaned closer, sniffing her shoulder. “Your fur used to be red, right?”

She nodded.

He held out his hand, smirking when Jim tried to force him to put it down. “Derrick Hines.”

“Chloe Williams.” She took it, shaking firmly. She refused to be intimidated by the larger man. “Now tell me. Why the duck did you two invade my home?”

Casey Lee shook his head and turned toward the Wolf. “I can’t fight her no more.”

“Huh?”

Casey Lee sniffed her shoulder again. “She smells like family. Like kin. I can’t fight family.”

Chloe lifted her arm and took a deep whiff. She didn’t smell any different, but for some reason Casey Lee felt comfortable enough to sit cross-legged on the floor. “I don’t understand.”

Casey Lee shrugged. “Neither do I, but Derrick and I need to return the Senate’s deposit. No way, no how I fight family.”

Derrick rolled his eyes. “Well, shit.”

“Are you kidding me? He submitted because you smell like family?” Max Cannon shook his head. “I think I’ve heard everything.”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it,” Emma immediately responded, earning a grin from her mate. “Okay, Jimbo. We need to figure out what the hell is going on with those two.”

Those two
were the men who’d come to Jim’s home with the intent of taking his mate. Jim was far less inclined to forgive them than Chloe was, but he was bowing to his mate’s desire to make nice with them. The fact that she was cuddled up to him on Max’s sofa, safe and sound, went a long way toward making that easier.

At the very least they were getting information from the mercs. They were currently sitting in Max’s living room, talking to Adrian, Gabe, Barney and Ryan. They’d agreed to convene there once Jim called Barney to let him know what had happened. It was Chloe’s idea to also call the Alpha pair, and they’d insisted on holding a council of war.

“
Who
told you to come after Chloe?” Barney sounded outraged.

Jim immediately turned his attention to the other men, ignoring Emma’s comment. “What’s going on?”

“They said it was the Bear Senator who sent them.” Barney huffed. “I know the Bear Senator. He’s a cousin of mine. Carl wouldn’t send mercs after someone who’d supposedly been declared a rogue.”

“Wait.” Derrick pinched the bridge of his nose while Casey Lee looked sick. “Are you telling me we were lied to?”

“Aw, hell no.” Casey Lee shot out of his seat. “Let me get the paperwork.” He darted out of Max’s house like his ass was on fire. He returned quickly with a manila envelope. “Here.”

Barney took the envelope and began rifling through the documents it contained.

Jim stood at his side, reading over his shoulder. “Blah blah blah, Chloe Williams and James Woods, blah blah, preferably alive, blah blah. Who is Darien Shields?”

“My cousin’s secretary.” Barney scowled. “I don’t get it. Carl doesn’t handle Hunts. He shouldn’t have called down mercs. He doesn’t have the authority.”

“As a Senator he does.” Derrick shrugged. “It’s not the first time a Senator has called on us to do what you guys can’t.”

Casey Lee coughed. “Are we sure about that?”

Jim didn’t like where this was going. “I’m beginning to think Sarah was right when she said the right hand is spanking the monkey while the left makes lunch.”

Derrick, who’d just taken a sip of soda, sprayed it everywhere as he laughed.

Casey Lee chuckled. “Damn, that’s some good baloney.”

“Speaking of baloney, what if your cousin doesn’t know about this?” Jim picked up the letter. It had been printed on what looked like Senate letterhead. “Could someone else have written this, but used your cousin’s secretary’s name to cast suspicion on him?”

“Just in case we found anything out?” Barney stroked his chin. “It’s possible. I don’t know enough of the inner workings to tell you if it would be possible, but I’m betting it would. Who would think to double-check official correspondence was actually coming from the person it said it was coming from?”

“Damn.” Chloe shivered. “This sounds like a conspiracy theorist’s wet dream.”

Max stood. “Adrian, Gabe, until further notice, treat all correspondence from the Senate as suspect.” He turned toward Barney. “I want you here. You, Gabe and Ryan are the only Hunters I trust right now.”

Barney nodded reluctantly. “I understand.”

Jim wrapped his arm around Chloe. “The guards you guys assigned us weren’t enough to stop Derrick and Casey Lee from getting into my home.” Casey Lee had led them to where Derrick had knocked out the two men who were supposed to be watching Jim’s place. The guards were pissed but all right. “What’s to stop another group from attacking us?”

Max sighed. “Adrian?”

The Pride’s Marshall stared at his Alpha, his expression grim. “I’m going to assign round-the-clock, in-house protection for Chloe and Jim. I’m going to do the same for Julian, just in case.”

“I’ll have some of my Puma deputies do daily drive-bys of their houses.” Gabe grimaced. “Unfortunately, these two—” he hitched a thumb toward Derrick and Casey Lee, “—didn’t ding my Hunter radar at all.”

“Meaning the Senate could send more mercs and we won’t know until we’re attacked?” Jim growled and tightened his hold on Chloe. “You stay with me twenty-four/seven.”

“Even when I pee?”

“Yup.”

“That could get old fast.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Nothing you do could get old.”

She burped.

“Maybe some stuff you do.”

The grim tension was broken as his mate giggled.

“We need to talk about Spencer as well.” Max crossed his arms over his chest. “If he had a mate, I would stay back and allow nature to take its course. But since he hasn’t found one and he knows about us, he needs to become one of us. If they attack him I’d feel better knowing he’d be able to defend himself long enough for one of us to get to him. He can’t walk or run, but he can still bite and scratch.” Max turned his attention to Jim. “Do you know which way your brother is leaning?”

Jim shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I think he’s leaning in the kitty direction.”

“Puma? Or there’s a Lion living with the local Wolf pack as well. We can offer that option.” Emma tilted her head. “Or we could just ask him.”

“Yeah, you could just ask him.” Spencer wheeled into the room from Max’s kitchen. In his lap was a sandwich. “And I like the idea of being a Puma, if you’ll have me.”