Second Nature (31 page)

Once again, she fought down her hunting instincts and stayed where she was. She sat down and washed herself, wetting her paw to clean behind her ears. Only when she was calm enough did she return to the place where she'd left her clothes and called up the image of her human form to initiate the change.

Pain shot through her. She hissed. The cold air made her shiver as her fur receded, and finally, Griffin stood naked in the cover of the trees.

*  *  *

Jorie groaned when the doorbell rang. She had enjoyed the companionable silence in the living room, she writing and her mother reading, but now they were about to have some company.

"I'll go," Helen said. "I have to get ready anyway."

"If it's anyone but Griffin, tell them I'm not here," Jorie said. Truth be told, she wasn't overly eager to see Griffin either. After last night, she needed some time alone. She felt guilty about it, but she was looking forward to having the house all to herself again. Still, Griffin had earned the right to visit whenever she wanted.

As soon as her mother got up, she dismissed the interruption and focused on her writing again.

*  *  *

Griffin slipped into her clothes and threw a glance at her pocket watch because she knew she often lost track of time in her animal form. The quick glance confirmed that she had only ten minutes before she had to be at Jorie's to say good-bye to Helen — not enough time to return to the bed-and-breakfast for a shower, but she also didn't need to hurry over to Jorie's nearby house just yet.

Cushioned on a mossy spot beneath a tree, she settled down for a few moments and tried to piece together the dreamlike images of what had happened while she was in her cat form. She had gone out for a prowl through the forest in her animal form, hoping it would allow her to clear her head.

If Jennings asked, she would tell him she had scouted around for the hunter's lookout about which Jorie had told her. It was the truth, just not the whole truth. High up in a tree, hidden by dense foliage, she had finally found Jorie's writing place. The lookout still carried Jorie's fading scent, but she hadn't detected the scent of a fellow shifter anywhere nearby.

Instead, a deer had caught her attention. The excitement of the hunt still vibrated through her blood, but she knew she hadn't captured her prey this time. Something unexpected had happened. A human had entered the forest.

The scent of disinfectants and an accompanying image flashed through Griffin's mind.
It was Dr. Saxton!
She tried to remember what he had been doing in the forest. The memories of her cat form showed her the white, yellow, and violet wildflowers in his hands. "He was picking flowers," she realized.

Then she remembered the overwhelming urge to hunt him down and chase him away or maybe even hurt him. That strong instinct confused her because she had never experienced something like it before. Her animal form knew that the Se-asrai, the humans, were trouble. She had never been tempted to hunt one of them. As long as they didn't run, they were safe.

Dr. Saxton hadn't run. He had ambled through the forest and hadn't done anything that her cat side might have considered a threat.

Wrasa didn't pick flowers, and they didn't like humans picking flowers just to put them into a vase until they withered and died. Wildflowers belonged into forests and meadows, not living rooms. Still, Griffin had encountered flower-picking humans before, and her cat instincts had always made her hide and avoid them, not want to stalk and drive them out of her territory.

She still had no answer for the puzzling impulse when she realized she had to go or she would miss Helen. Jorie had called earlier and had asked if she wanted to come over to say good-bye to Helen before she left.

Emmy, the calico, was lying in front of the house when Griffin walked up the driveway. The fall sun warmed the cat's fur, and she squinted lazily.

For a moment, Griffin wanted the same simple pleasures — a spot in the sun and not having to continue this troubling assignment. But when she took another step, the illusion of peace vanished.

The cat saw Griffin and darted under Jorie's car, where experience had taught her she would be safe from bigger predators.

Griffin vaguely remembered that she'd had an encounter with Emily while she had been in her animal form.
It seems calicos really are lucky cats,
she thought with a smirk.
She was lucky that she didn't end up as my between-meals snack.
She chuckled as she remembered that she had chuffed at the cat, expecting Emmy to return the friendly tiger greeting. The cat, of course, hadn't.

"You're probably traumatized by now, little sister," Griffin murmured. First Emmy had caught her breaking into Jorie's house, and now a giant liger had almost eaten her.

Trying to calm Emmy, she slowed her steps and crouched down in front of Jorie's car.

*  *  *

Helen stepped around her packed bag. After a quick glance through the peephole, she opened the door.

A tall man stood in the doorway, a bunch of wildflowers, surrounded by ferns, in his hands. His smile turned into an expression of confusion when he saw her. "Is..." He cleared his throat. "Is Ms. Price here?"

Ah, this has to be the admirer that Griffin mentioned.
His nervousness and the sweet gesture of bringing flowers made Helen smile. Jorie had said she didn't want to see anyone, but Helen didn't want to send the poor man away after all the trouble he had gone to. "Just a moment, please. I'll see if she's receiving visitors," she said, feeling like some medieval maid.

"Jorie, there's a flower-bearing admirer at your door," she informed her daughter in the living room.

Jorie took her hands from her keyboard and rubbed them over her face in frustration. "Tell him... tell him I already went to bed because I'm not feeling too well."

"He's a doctor, sweetie," Helen reminded. "He'll want to come in and treat you if I tell him that."

Dark eyes stared up at Helen. "How do you know he's a doctor?"

"Griffin said — oops, I wasn't supposed to tell you about that." She gave Jorie a sheepish grin. "Please don't be mad at Griffin for telling me about your secret admirer."

"Good thing you didn't go out for breakfast with Griffin again today. I might still have some dignity left," Jorie grumbled.

Helen studied her daughter. At times, Jorie was hard to read even for her. This time, an almost imperceptible softening around her mouth told Helen that Jorie didn't really mind her spending time with Griffin. Jorie had accepted that she would likely come up as a topic in every conversation between Helen and Griffin. "The doctor and his flowers are still waiting," Helen said. "Do you really want me to send him away? He seems nice."

Jorie's fingers played with the touch pad of her keyboard.

What is she waiting for? Does she expect one of the heroes from her books to materialize and sweep her off her feet?
Helen wondered. The familiar feelings of worry and confusion tightened her throat.
She has never shown any interest in going out and meeting men. Sometimes I wonder if —

Jorie's resigned nod interrupted Helen's thoughts. "He is nice," Jorie said, "but if I let him in and accept the flowers, he'll think I want to date him."

"And you don't," Helen finished what Jorie hadn't said.

"I don't."

The doorbell rang again.

"It seems you have more suitors than I gave you credit for," Helen said with a smile and went to open the door again.

*  *  *

"How's the head?" Dr. Saxton asked while they waited for the door to open.

Griffin's lips wanted to lift in a snarl, but she forced them to form a one-word answer instead. "Fine." After shifting into her animal form and back, she was hungry and irritated and didn't want to make small talk with the doctor. Even the scent of the wildflowers in Dr. Saxton's hands was beginning to annoy her.

Footsteps from inside interrupted the awkward silence.

It was Helen who opened the door. She smiled when she saw Griffin. "Come in," she said.

Ha!
A triumphant smirk crept onto Griffin's lips as she was willingly let in while the doctor had been kept waiting outside the door.

Apparently, the doctor decided the invitation was meant for him too. Both of them followed Helen into the living room, where Jorie had curled up with her laptop.

The bare feet and the tussled hair transformed Griffin's smirk into a softer smile. Sometimes, Jorie reminded her of a cat, so maybe there was a chance that she was part Wrasa.

Jorie looked up. Her glance darted from Dr. Saxton to Griffin, then drilled into her mother. "Hi, Griffin, Dr. Saxton."

"Jake, please," Dr. Saxton said. "I know I should have called first, but I was taking a walk, and when I saw the flowers, I thought of you." He extended his armful of flowers.

"Uh... thank you," Jorie said. "That was very nice of you."

I have to get out of here,
Griffin thought as she watched Jorie take the flowers.
I have to eat something.
Without some food in her stomach, she didn't have the patience to watch human courtship rituals.

Jorie stood from the couch and walked across the room. Lifting up on her tiptoes, she stretched her lithe body to reach one of the vases that she kept on top of a bookshelf.

Griffin's gaze followed her movement, and a second later, she became aware that Dr. Saxton was watching Jorie too. A snarl sneaked up her throat, but she held it back. With iron self-control, she forced her gaze away from both Jorie and the doctor.

What's going on?
She usually didn't feel this mix of protectiveness and irritation, unless...
Is this why I wanted to attack him and drive him away earlier? Does my animal form see him as a rival? But that makes no sense. Jorie is human, and I'm not attracted to humans. I've never even been friends with a human. Get yourself together, and stop this nonsense.

"Can I use the bathroom, please?" Griffin asked.

"Of course." Jorie pointed her in the right direction.

Griffin firmly closed the bathroom door behind her. The smell of Jorie's coconut shampoo filled the small room. She forced herself to ignore it and looked around.

Jorie's hairbrush was lying next to the mirror. Griffin tugged a few of the black strands free. Carefully, she put them into the clear plastic bag that she had brought with her. She pocketed the bag, flushed the toilet, and washed her hands before she returned to the living room.

To her annoyance, Dr. Saxton was still there, and Jorie looked as uncomfortable as Griffin felt.

Helen came in, her coat folded over her arm. "I have to get going."

Jorie rushed over to her. "And you're sure you don't want me to drive you to the airport?" She sounded as if she would have loved to get away from Dr. Saxton.

But not as much as I do,
Griffin thought. The scent of the flowers hung in the air, reminding her that the wildflowers would wilt soon. Thoughts of death and destruction made the strands of Jorie's hair rest heavily in her pocket.

"I have the rental car, remember?" Helen's blue eyes crinkled with a smile. "You stay and entertain your guests."

Dr. Saxton had the good sense to retreat. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I can come over another time when it's more convenient. Maybe you can call me." He bowed lightly and was gone.

Griffin turned to follow him. There was no need to stick around now that she had what she had come for. Besides, she needed food and time alone to beat some sense into herself.

"Hey," Helen's voice stopped her. "Don't you want to say good-bye to an old woman?"

Saying good-bye wasn't her forte, but she turned to face Helen. "Of course I do."

"The correct answer is: 'You're not old, Helen,'" Helen said. Her blue eyes twinkled.

Griffin had to laugh. "You're not old, Helen," she said obediently. "But I want to say good-bye anyway." She held out her hand.

Ignoring it, Helen reached around her and pulled Griffin down for a short hug instead.

The warm hands on her back felt comforting, but at the same time, the motherly gesture made Griffin cringe with guilt. Here she was, enjoying a hug from a woman whose daughter she might have to kill.

"Take care of Jorie for me, please," Helen whispered.

Only one way she could answer that — and it was a lie. Deceiving others was part of her job, and normally, she didn't feel guilty about it. This time she did. "I will," Griffin whispered back.

Helen let go and wrapped her arms around Jorie in a longer hug.

Watching their warm interaction was hard. Griffin took Helen's bag and placed it in the trunk of Helen's rental car while Helen and Jorie said their final good-byes. She and Jorie stood side by side and watched Helen drive away.

"Want to come inside?" Jorie asked when she finally turned back around.

What she wanted was to get away. She needed time alone to eat and to prepare herself mentally for what she might have to do to complete her mission. "Another time," Griffin said, even knowing the next time they saw each other, it might not be a friendly get-together.

CHAPTER 14

H
E TROTTED UP the hill, his ears pricked forward. Feeling the members of his pack follow behind him added to the excitement of the hunt.

Their paws hit the ground in a rhythm that matched his heartbeat, accelerating when they got closer to the herd of white-tailed deer.

Dusk had fallen, but every now and then, he caught a glimpse of grayish-brown heads bending down to graze. He stayed downwind and out of sight of the herd for as long as possible while they followed the scent trail.

A squirrel scrambled up a tree when they got closer.

One of the younger pack members gave a yip of excitement and broke formation to chase it down.

He snarled at the half-grown pup until he took his place again.

Too late. One of the deer had heard them.

A large buck lifted its head and gave a sharp snort. Its tail flicked up, the white underside standing out in silent warning to all the other deer.