Resisting the Cougar (Cascade Shifters #2) (13 page)

Aidan looked to Claire. “But, what?”

She met his gaze head-on with determination in her eyes. “You and I need to talk in private.”

Sensing the command in her voice, he didn’t argue. Looking to Dani, he instructed, “Pick Chloe up from school and take her to my brother’s. After that, we need to set up a meeting with Kian. Let me know when, and Claire and I will be there after our talk.”

While Dani may like to tease him, the situation was too serious to waste time. She merely nodded and walked to the door. “Keep your phone close. I should have a meeting put together in about half an hour.”

Once she was gone, Aidan turned toward Claire. “I can see the wheels in your head turning. We don’t have a lot of time, Claire, so tell me what you have planned.”

~~~

Claire’s greatest fear had materialized; she was the focus of a possible scandal.

What irritated her was the fact the photo had been taken before she’d ever kissed Aidan, let alone slept with him. If she hadn’t, then what she was about to say would seem a lot crazier. Hell, she might not have had the nerve.

But they had slept together and even agreed to give their connection a chance. That might make things easier, ‘might’ being the key word.

Not backing down, she took a deep breath and spit out, “There is only one way to possibly turn this so-called scandal into something positive and still have the vote pass, but it will require changing your life dramatically.”

He studied her a second before finally asking, “How can we save the situation?”

Despite her forced calm exterior, Claire’s heart thumped inside her chest. She had expected to have a month to figure out her future, but thanks to one rogue photo, she would have to decide it right this second without any proof or reports to back up her decision. While she trusted her gut, her idea was risky at best and dangerous at worst.

Aidan ran a finger down her cheek and his touch helped ease her nerves. He murmured, “Just tell me, Claire. Patience isn’t one of my strong suits. I may start growling if you don’t start talking.”

She gave a weak smile at his attempt to tease. The act helped strengthen her resolve. “If we tell the press we’re engaged, the story could be turned into a positive. I don’t know for sure since I haven’t run any polls, but the news may actually help the campaign. If nothing else, it will turn the scandal into a love story, and the public always adores a good love story. My only concern would be if Trinity’s earlier comments about the authorities staying away would continue or not. If not, we would have to hide.”

Aidan was quiet for a few seconds. When he replied, his voice was quiet, “You’ve thought about this outcome in advance, haven’t you?”

“I always think of possible outcomes in advance. It’s my job.”

“But the bigger question is if you planned it.”

She narrowed her eyes. “No, and if you accuse me of that again, I will find someone who looks like you to stand in as my fiancé until after the vote in November.”

His eyes flashing amber, he leaned closer. “No other male is going to put his hands on you.”

“That still isn’t an answer, Aidan.”

Grunting, he moved closer until his knee touched hers. Taking her chin in his fingers, his voice was like steel. “I will be the one standing in as your fiancé.”

The possessiveness of his tone made her shiver. Since she was headstrong, Claire had never been a woman who thought she wanted a dominant male, but she was starting to like it.

Keeping her tone even, she pushed. “That’s only part of it. Do you think I planned this?”

He searched her eyes before leaning a hair’s breadth from her lips, his breath hot against her skin. “No, Claire, I don’t. Given your resistance at first, I think your attraction to me was unplanned. I also think your connection to Chloe is genuine. However, that still leaves the problem of Human Purity sneaking onto my clan’s land and waiting for a photo op like this. They either followed you or were waiting in the woods for the chance. They might still be hiding on shifter land, which could be dangerous.”

Since Claire had worked with politicians for nearly a decade, she’d become pretty good at sorting out lies and platitudes from truth. Her gut said Aidan was telling the truth. Although, she wondered why he believed her so easily. Maybe it had to do with his inner cougar.

Her anger eased, replaced with a small amount of nervousness. She tried to pull away, but Aidan kept his grip firm. “Let me go, Aidan. There’s a lot of shit to do and not much time to do it.”

“Not until I do this.” He gave her a gentle kiss and released her chin. “I consider that our engagement kiss.”

“Don’t be silly, no such thing exists, not even in shifter culture.”

“Well, there isn’t exactly a handbook on engagement procedures for scandal correction and damage control.”

She smiled at that. “You seem to be taking this better than I thought. I expected some stammering and pacing, to be honest. Maybe even a snarl or two.”

Releasing her, he stood up and offered a hand. When she took it, he pulled her up against his body to whisper in her ear. “The way I see it, by going along with your idea, you’re mine and I get to keep you.”

The words sent a thrill through her body. “Well, ‘keep’ may be the wrong word, but I must admit I like the fact I get to keep you, too.” She leaned back to look into his eyes. “My only concerns are how this might hurt the clan and Chloe.”

“Let’s talk to Kian first and then I’ll figure out how to handle Chloe.”

Sensing her shifter’s worry, she touched his cheek. “You never know, Aidan, it may all work out. It doesn’t have to be a complete farce. Besides, keeping the photo and our story from her will hurt her. The other kids are bound to talk tomorrow.”

“I know, but Chloe has already had one mother ripped from her side. I don’t want to think of her losing another.”

The image of Chloe crying because of Claire leaving squeezed her heart. “Whatever happens, loving Chloe won’t be a chore. She doesn’t take after you in the charm department, which makes her hard to resist.”

He harrumphed. “And she knows it, too. The charm comes from her mother.”

Realizing this was the first time Aidan had referred to his dead mate so casually, Claire tried to keep the conversation light so as to not attract notice to it. “Well, charm or not, she’s still your daughter, which means she’s stubborn and stronger than you think.”

“You’re too clever by half, you know that, right?”

Claire grinned. “But of course.”

For a second, Claire forgot about the photo and her pending fake engagement. All she saw was Aidan, tall, strong, and with mischief twinkling in his eyes.

He looked nothing like the man she first met a little less than forty-eight hours before.

His cell phone rang, breaking the spell of the moment. Picking it up off the table, Aidan answered it, “Hello?”

Claire didn’t have super-sensitive hearing, so she stood not so patiently until her shifter spoke again. “We’ll be there in a few.”

Clicking the phone off, she raised her brows. Aidan answered, “Chloe’s all squared away. The meeting with Kian is on. We need to go.”

She nodded. Playfulness forgotten, Claire and Aidan made their way out the door and down the hall.

While she believed her idea of a fake engagement would work, it would mean nothing if Kian said no and kicked her off DarkStalker’s land. Her future was about to be decided by a near stranger, and she hated it.

Chapter Eleven

As soon as Claire sat down across from Kian Murray, DarkStalker’s leader spoke up. “Dani filled me in on what’s happened and that you both know about it. She mentioned Claire possibly having a plan, but didn’t know what it was. So, tell us.”

Careful to keep her posture tall, Claire explained, “No amount of protesting over the photo will change anything. While you and I know nakedness is nothing to a shifter, it’s not the same for humans. Me being with a naked Aidan means we’re together or he’s a sexual predator. I’m just glad they didn’t play the sexual predator card.”

Kian switched his gaze to Aidan. “What the hell were you doing naked in the first place? I’m surprised Claire agreed to follow you at all.”

Aidan shrugged. “I didn’t have any clothes and I needed to shift to explain things.”

Kian’s voice was dry. “Next time, bring a fucking bundle of clothes. Human Purity capturing that shot means they’re on our lands unnoticed. We need to be more cautious from now on.”

Claire jumped in. “So, you don’t think I set it up myself?”

DarkStalker’s leader shook his head. “No. With what’s at stake with your aunt, you wouldn’t jeopardize winning the vote. Shock and awe photos haven’t been part of SEA’s tactics, either.” Kian leaned forward. “Now, tell me your plan.”

The dominance in his voice urged her to follow his orders. It wasn’t like she had a choice, anyway. “The photo claimed we were lovers. The best—and probably only—way to use this scandal to our advantage is to spin it as a love story. Provided, of course, you can keep the authorities from raiding DarkStalker’s land and carting us away.”

Sitting at Kian’s side, Trinity spoke up for the first time. “When we’re on high alert, keeping humans off our lands is fairly easy. Soon, not even Human Purity will stand a chance.” Trinity looked to Aidan and back. “But Aidan agreed to your love story plan?”

Trinity’s words stung.
Is it really such a stretch that he wants me?
Resisting the urge to kiss Aidan right then and there to show how much the shifter male desired her, she merely replied, “Yes. Why do you sound so surprised?”

Trinity smiled. “Oh, just checking. Considering how Aidan’s eyes flashed when I asked the question, the story is already halfway to being true.”

Before Claire could even look at Aidan, her shifter growled. “This isn’t a time to tease, Trinity. Claire is mine, so leave her alone.”

She felt Kian’s gaze on her. Rather than chicken out, Claire met his curious gaze. After a second, Kian continued as if Trinity hadn’t spoken up. “I can protect you, that’s not a problem. We have a few hundred years of experience keeping the police and federal government away when we put effort into it. But before I risk my clan, I need a guarantee you can make this work. Can you?”

Claire hesitated. “I don’t know. My gut says it will work, but if you want proof, I don’t have any.” She looked to Trinity and back. “If that’s too much of a risk, then I can run and hide somewhere. I’m sure my aunt and her partner can eventually take me in.”

Aidan placed a hand on her thigh and squeezed. The contact helped slow the churning in her stomach. Even if Kian said no, Aidan might find a way to help her escape and stay safe.

Of course, because of his daughter, she’d have to make sure to run away if he decided to stay with her.

Kian shared a glance with Trinity before looking back to Claire.
This was it.
“We’ll protect you for a month.” Aidan made a sound of protest but Kian pushed on. “If the media and press look to be leaning to our side, you can stay longer. Consider it an incentive to use every trick you have to make it a success.”

Hope warmed her heart and she nodded. “I’ll do whatever it takes. Thank you.”

Kian raised his brows. “Oh, don’t thank me just yet. In order to stay, you’re going to do things my way.”

Even though Claire hated not being in charge, she forced herself to say, “And what does your way entail?”

“You’re going to hand over control of the Shifter Equality Alliance to your second-in-command,” Kian stated.

Claire felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach. Frowning at the shifter sitting across from her, she demanded, “You want me to do what? The SEA is my baby.”

Kian’s face remained neutral. “Handing over the SEA to your second-in-command means you’ll be off the grid and is the only way I can guarantee your safety. I also think it’s the best chance at the vote still passing in November. You need to focus your energies on crafting this love story and sharing it with the press, as well as learning to defend yourself in case Human Purity tries to nab you at some point in the future. Believe me, I know how much time and effort it takes to be in charge. You won’t be able to handle both.”

The thought of losing control of the SEA tugged at her heart. It had been her entire life for over five years.

Giving it up would mean giving up a piece of who she was.

Aidan squeezed her thigh again under the table. Meeting his gaze, she saw support and understanding. He’d also lost a piece of himself when he’d lost his mate and unborn children.

Kian’s voice broke the spell and she looked back to DarkStalker’s leader. “I hate to be a bastard, but I need your answer now, Claire. Either give up the SEA and work on crafting the love story narrative, or you’ll have to leave my land and deal with the backlash yourself. Each second we don’t address the press is another second people will listen to the scandal and Human Purity’s bullshit. We can’t afford to lose many voters, but given the chance, Human Purity will spew more lies to seal the initiative’s fate.”

Pushing aside the feeling she was about to tear out a piece of her heart, Claire knew her best chance at surviving and helping the shifters meant sacrificing the biggest part of her life. As much as she didn’t want to do it, living was more important than being in control.