The Jaguar's Arranged Mate: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (20 page)

Beric shook his head. “You haven’t failed me. You said so yourself, and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. The fence is stable. That’s all I asked of you.”

“But the Brutal Claws are still coming in.”

“They are determined. And they have help.”

Sam nodded, grimacing. “The bastards. Turning us against each other.” He glanced across the way toward the Blood Roses.

“Might be one of our own,” Beric pointed out.

Sam started to shake his head then stopped. “The majority of those guarding the walls are Teal Warriors. But all of them I would trust with my life and my wife’s and children’s lives too. I just don’t see how…”

“If you see anything out of the ordinary, anything suspicious, even if you want to dismiss it, let me know. We have to find the traitor.”

Sam slammed his fist onto the table. “Damn straight we do. You can count on me.” He stood then sat back down. “Maybe I’ve been pushing myself a little too hard.”

“When’s the last time you slept?”

“Got two hours yesterday and an hour the day before.”

“Go sleep,” Beric demanded. “You’re no use to me if you’re dead on your feet.”

The older were-jaguar sighed. “You’re right. My body can’t handle this like it used to. But I only need two hours. Then I’ll be good—”

“At least four.”

“But—”

“Sam, the Brutal Claws won’t be back in four hours.”

The were-jaguar’s eyes darkened. “You can’t be sure of that.”

He had a point. No one knew what the Brutal Claws were planning. Well, no one other than the traitor.

Sam left.

Beric stood and glanced at the other Teal Warriors. Most he had known all his life. Could any of them have been the one to betray them? It seemed impossible, but desperation and fear could turn anyone into a traitor. They lived in a terrible time, in the grips of terror every day and every night. It almost shouldn’t be a surprise that someone had tried to find a way to ensure that at least he or she would survive the war.

Still, he hated the traitor, whoever the person would turn out to be.

He questioned a few others, but they had been fighting the battle right from the start and he found it impossible to believe they would have fought so fiercely if they were the traitor. Feeling discouraged, he left the mess hall and found himself walking toward the fence. They had fewer guards during the day, and he’d have to change that. They needed more. The more eyes, the better. Hopefully that would deter the traitor. Anything to make his or her presence more visible.

Beric climbed a tree and scouted. A were-jaguar was walking his way, toward the fence. A guard going to relieve another one?

He climbed down to greet the newcomer. Charles. Instantly, the hairs on the back of his neck rose. He had never had a problem with the were-jaguar before, but now he couldn’t help looking at him sideways ever since Miera had been grievously injured saving him.

“Why aren’t you making more blades?” Beric demanded. “Or armor? The Brutal Claws sometimes wear some. Maybe we should too.”

Charles gave him a lazy smile and headed toward the east, along the wall. “I hadn’t been told to make armor. I guess I could try. If you want.” His smile grew.

Beric reluctantly fell into step beside him. “You’re lucky to be alive,” he said stiffly.

“She is a fierce warrior, isn’t she?” Charles’s smile could not stretch any wider. “Strong and brave and beautiful.”

Something in his tone had Beric halting. “Loyal, too,” he said slowly.

For an instant, anger flashed on the were-jaguar’s face. Only for a moment, and then Charles was back to smiling again. “Very loyal,” he conceded. “She would do anything to bring the packs together. Although I do wonder…”

Beric did not want to rise to his bait, so he held his tongue.

“I do wonder if the baby will help or hurt.” Charles shrugged. “A cute little boy, isn’t he?”

“Stay away from the baby,” Beric growled.

“Why?” Charles asked innocently.

“He needs to…” Beric shook his head. He didn’t want everyone to know how weak and frail the baby was. “Have you seen the baby?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“When Miera brought him out,” Charles said easily.

But Beric knew that was a lie. Charles hadn’t been in the crowd.

“You saw him in the hospital, didn’t you?” Beric demanded.

“He isn’t in a hospital,” Charles chided.

“The makeshift one,” Beric growled.

“Temper, temper. You know that’s not a good trait for an alpha to have. Why, what would your father say?”

“He would say I should rip out your throat.”

“For what?” Charles blinked and shrugged. “I never realized you were such an angry were-jaguar before. You had better be careful. Anger can make one stupid.”

“Or it can open one’s eyes.” Beric still couldn’t piece together how Charles had been the one to meet up with Miera that time, but he knew the were-jaguar had to have been Charles.

“Ah, so you finally pieced it together. Yes, the baby is mine. I got Miera pregnant. How does that make you feel, knowing she had been with me? That she contemplated leaving everything and everyone behind to run off with me?”

“She didn’t.”

“Only because of her duty to her people. Which is the only reason why she married you. She doesn’t love you. She doesn’t want you. She wants her freedom, and I can give that to her.”

“No you can’t. You can’t give her anything. She would never leave her people—”

“Exactly. She would never leave them. So she’ll either be stuck here, for the rest of her life, chained to your side out of duty, or…”

“Or she’ll die at the hands of the Brutal Claws.” Beric felt more and more uneasy as their conversation went on. Although the sun was hours from setting, this portion of the compound was dark and isolated. No one else was nearby.

“No, no, no.” Charles sighed and shook his head as if he was talking to an ignorant child. “I thought you were smart enough to figure it all out by now. You see—”

“You’re the traitor. You’re the one who engineered the attacks, told them when to come, where to climb, and all so you could survive.”

“Not just me!” For once, Charles’s feathers seemed ruffled, but then he smoothed back his hair and seemed to regain his infuriating calm. “Me, and Miera, and our baby. The three of us will be the only survivors. The Brutal Claws have promised to allow us the freedom to go off and form a new pack. We’ll have more babies, so many babies, and life will be perfect.” Charles’s teeth turned into fangs. “But you aren’t welcome. And that’s another promise I worked out with the Brutal Claws. That you are mine to kill.”

“I don’t think so.” Beric shifted easily, enjoying the feeling of his body changing shape into his sleek jaguar.

The two met in a clash of fangs and claws. Vicious slashes left red streaks of blood on their fur. Charles, despite needing Miera to rescue him, proved to be more than a capable fighter. In fact, Beric had his hands full. Charles was fighting as if he was possessed. Actually, he almost fought as savagely as a Brutal Claw, tearing and ripping into Beric.

The blows they exchanged were enough to seriously wound the other, but neither slowed their frantic pace. No way would Beric be bested. He had to survive. For his people, for his wife, and for his son.

Miera had held him, the baby. He should have asked to hold him too. The baby might not have his blood, but the baby was still his.

Charles would not supplant him in their lives. He would be the victor.

But as the battle wore on, blood streaking from his numerous wounds, his head pounding, his ears ringing, he could no longer be certain that victory would be his after all.

THE FINAL
CHAPTER

Miera was loath to give the baby back to the doctors, but even she could see that the baby was gasping for breath. The last time she had attempted to nurse, the baby’s face had turned blue, and she became so frightened that despite her wanting to stay by his side, she gave him back.

One of nurses mentioned that it was good that she had tried to nurse but for her not to expect much.

“Can I expect him to live through the night?” she asked.

The nurse’s face became a mask. “I can’t say. No one can.”

Miera knew that would be the answer, but she needed some kind of reassurance, even if it was only a lie. Still, she had a job to do. Right now, the doctors were playing the part of mother more than she could. Just because she had a baby didn’t mean that she was no longer heir.

So she left the makeshift hospital, feeling as if she had left a part of herself behind. She loved the baby so much.
We really need to come up with a name for him. I want us to come up with it. Beric and I together. If he wants to…

As much as she wanted her family to be whole and happy and, most importantly, healthy, she had to focus on her pack. The worst member of her pack. The traitor.

Was it possible the fiend was a Blood Rose? She could think of no one who hated the Teal Warriors enough to risk endangering the rest of their pack.

Well, she could think of one person and one person only.

Her father.

But that was absurd. He was alpha. He would never do something so callous.

Then again, he hadn’t been acting like himself since he first learned about her being pregnant. And even before then, when the Brutal Claws had first stated to sniff around their lands. He was always on edge, ready to pick a fight with anyone who looked at him the wrong way.

Although she could hardly believe he was capable of such a thing, she needed to talk to him regardless. That he had spoken out against the Teal Warriors in front of that crowd was almost unforgivable in and of itself.

Her father hated being here, so he was staying in a relatively small house that had belonged to Teal Warriors who had died during one of the first few battles. It was the farthest he could be from everyone else.

As she hurried that way, the realization that there had not been a council meeting since before the wedding struck her. They were losing their way. The Blood Roses always drew strength from their unity. Without the council, they would surely lose to their enemies. The thought saddened her, but she would not give into sorrow. Too much was at stake.

She stalked to the house. The door was locked, but a light shone from beneath it. Her fist pounded on the door.

Her father didn’t answer it.

“Open up. It’s Miera. We need to talk.”

No response.

Was he not here after all? Where would he be?

She was contemplating trying a window when the door finally creaked open. Her father stood there. He looked worn and old, as if he had aged a great deal in a short amount of time. She certainly felt that way herself.

His lips were pressed into a straight line, and she instantly recognized that look. He was disappointed in her.

“What did I do now?” she asked, suddenly weary.

“You… You are disappointed in me.”

His sudden reversal left her gaping at him and forced her to be honest before she could think whether that was wise. “Well, yes. I am.”

“And you have every right to be.” He sighed and shook his lowered head. “I must admit I always thought the world of you, and I never thought you would ever do anything other than what was expected of you. And for the most part, you’ve done just that.”

“I’m not perfect.”

“And neither am I. I know I’ve been unduly harsh on you. I apologize for that.”

Impulsively, she threw her arms around him.

After a moment, he returned the hug and patted her shoulders. “I’ve been harsh toward the Teal Warriors, too, but I reserve judgment on whether or not that is unduly as well.”

Heaving a sigh, she stepped back. “Father, be reasonable. Whether or not you like them doesn’t matter. Without them, we will all die. Hell, we might die anyhow. Is it worth the risk of losing us all just to condemn them?”

She watched his face carefully. To her horror, a single tear streaked down his cheek.

“I’ve been a terrible alpha, haven’t I? I… I’ve been so angry all of the time.”

“Why? Because of me?”

“Because I have cancer. It’s terminal.”

“Cancer?” Miera gasped and covered her mouth. “I thought it wasn’t possible for weres to get cancer!”

“Well, I’ve always been one to go against tradition.” His smile was weak. “It’s in my brain, and I… I don’t have much time left either way. Regardless…” He straightened and puffed out his chest. “I will do my part to mend the rift I created. I still think there is a traitor, and we do need to find him or her, but we must come together.”

Relief and horror warred within her. Her father wasn’t the traitor, but to learn he was dying… “How long have you known?”

“I found out just before I learned of your… condition.” He grinned wryly. “The baby…”

“A son.” She beamed with pride. “He’s too small and might not live, but he’s alive for right now.”

“A blessing. I don’t know if you know this or not, but I have gone to visit him. If he takes after his mother, he’ll pull through. He’s got fighter genes in him.”

“From both his mother…” She trailed off. She had been about to say “and his father” meaning Beric, but that wasn’t the truth. With time and Beric as his stepfather, their son would take on some of his traits.

At least, she hoped that would happen.

“First, we should have a council meeting.” Her father rubbed his hands together, looking more and more like his old self. “We can have some of the Teal Warriors on it, like we intended before the Brutal Claws ruined everything. We must figure out who the traitor is and then focus on the Brutal Claws and—”

“You set it up.”

He blinked. “Won’t you be there? You and your husband?”

“Yes. I’ll go and find him. If we’re late, start the meeting without us.”

“Why would you be late?”

She kissed his cheek. “Just do what you’re told for once,” she teased. She turned to leave.

“You should know that one of the items I intend to bring up is my resignation as alpha.”

“You’re stepping down? Why?” Was his timeline that short?

“I have about six months or so, if the Brutal Claws don’t kill me before the cancer does. I can’t keep trying to be leader when these past few weeks prove that I’m no longer fit to be. You are ready. You and Beric, together will be our alphas.”

Tears burned her eyes as they hugged again. Leaving him was bittersweet. At first, her feet dragged but then she picked up speed until she was running. Had Beric found the traitor yet?

For some reason, a pit formed in her stomach. She questioned every were-jaguar she passed to see if they knew where Beric was, but no one had seen him for the past half hour. Gradually, she left the crowded part of the compound for the more remote areas, and that’s where she saw them.

Beric and Charles.

Fighting each other.

To the death.

Why? Because Charles had knocked her up? Or because Charles was the traitor? Either way, she knew whom she was siding with.

Miera shifted for the first time since before she had given birth. It felt wonderful to be on all fours again. She stalked toward the two animals and joined the attack. Her initial attempts to separate them proved futile, but she did manage to prevent them from delivering fatal blows. Neither could die. Not that she necessarily wanted Charles to live. He had proven to be clingy immediately after, but when they had spent time apart, she thought he would move on and forget her. When he had approached her and she realized the opposite was the case, she never wanted to see him again.

Only the possibility that he was the traitor had her fighting Beric to keep Charles alive. They needed to know all that he knew.

Beric kept glancing at her whenever she halted him from attacking Charles, and she knew he had to be questioning her motives. Obviously, he knew about her and Charles. She couldn’t change the past, but she would ensure Charles had no part in their future. Beric, as his alpha, could send Charles away. Of course, it would be fairer to do so after the war with the Brutal Claws ended… unless Charles was also the traitor.

Finally, she seized an opportunity to jump onto Charles’s back after he lunged at Beric. She shoved his head into the dirt, fangs at the ready.

Beric lifted onto his hind paws, and she realized he planned on suffocating the were-jaguar.

She shifted her mouth to human. “Is he the traitor?”

In answer, Beric savagely bit Charles’s ear.

Miera swatted his nose, not enough to hurt him, but enough to hopefully, finally get through to him. “If he is, we need him alive.”

Understanding finally shone in Beric’s eyes, and he shifted completely to his human form. He kneeled down and grabbed Charles’s furry throat. “Change to human. Tell us everything, and we just might let you live.”

Miera stepped off of Charles’s back. She wasn’t certain they could force him to tell them anything, or even force him to switch form.

Charles, in jaguar form, remained hunched down from when she had jumped onto his back. He was pawing at the ground, not looking at either of them.

“He’s the traitor all right,” Beric spat. He looked angry enough to kill. If she hadn’t gotten here when she had, Charles might already be dead.

“You betrayed us?” Miera demanded.

Charles glanced away.

“Everyone but you and our baby,” Beric said.

Her heart warmed at hearing “our baby,” but then the meaning behind his words sank in. “What do you mean? Charles, what plan had you worked out with the Brutal Claws?”

He stared at her.

Why wouldn’t he answer? Because Beric was here? She wasn’t going to send her husband away to talk to the father of her child.

While she hated the idea of this, the realization that his seeing her naked body might get him to cooperate had Miera shifting the rest of her body to human form. She wanted to cover herself, hating the lust shining in Charles’s eyes. “Your plan?” she repeated impatiently.

Charles shifted and stood straight. There was some space between them, but not enough for Miera’s liking. She couldn’t hide behind Beric, though, not when she was hopefully getting somewhere with him.

“Well?” she asked.

“I wanted you and me and our baby to be safe,” Charles said quietly.

“The baby is not yours,” she said.

“The baby has my blood!”

“Blood doesn’t make you a father.” Miera shook her head. “You can’t—”

“You can’t take him away from me.”

“He isn’t yours.” Beric stepped forward, his hands tight fists. “If you want the chance to see him—”

Miera winced. She didn’t want Charles anywhere near her son. What if he tried to run off with the baby?

“You’ll tell us what you know of the Brutal Claws,” Beric finished.

Okay, maybe under those circumstances, she could deal with a supervised visit.

“Please tell us, Charles,” she added.

Charles glowered at Beric but then smiled almost lovingly at her. “
Andreas the Bloodthirsty has taken a special interest in how this all plays out.”

“This meaning…”

“Taking down two packs. He wants to make sure his people can handle more than one pack at a time. He wants power, but he also wants people to fear him.”

“Why only send a few warriors at a time?” Beric asked. “If he sent a huge force, we would’ve been done long before now.”

Charles didn’t respond.

Miera suppressed a sigh. “Why hasn’t he sent a huge force?” she asked.

The were-jaguar grinned, seemingly pleased that she was willing to play his game. “He’s toying with you. Wants to see if you’ll break. If you’ll try to flee. If you’ll rise up and stand against him. If it is possible for two packs to unite against a single enemy.”

“Basically, he’s using us as a social experiment,” she said slowly. A bitter taste filled her mouth.

“Basically,” Charles agreed. “If you’ll just come with me, we can be—”

“If you were going to say happy…” She waited to see his reaction, and he nodded. Her stomach churned. “I would never be happy living with the person who would condemn his people to death just so he could save his own hide.”

“And the hide of the woman I love and our baby,” he protested.

Somehow, she refrained from hitting him. “You don’t love me.”

“Of course I do! Let me prove it to you.” He started forward.

Beric moved to stand in between her and Charles. Not that she needed his protection, but she did appreciate the gesture.

She glared at Charles. “I don’t love you.”