Page 10 of Enter the Lair
He hadn’t intended on biting her.He knew the danger she posed to his kind.If her father found out about them, they would be systematically mounted on the man’s wall.Now she appeared to be going into the transformation.He’d looked at her neck.She had no bite marks.There was no explanation which meant, as much as he wanted to avoid it, he would have to talk to Galen.Though he loved his mother and liked Talen’s mate, Lucy, he avoided his family whenever possible.Some secrets were meant to be kept.By the looks of things, this would not be one of them.
“We need to talk about what is going on with you...us,” he said.
“Just tell me what is happening.Something is off.I can feel it,” she said, her voice concerned.
Devon rubbed his neck with his hand.“I’m different from…,” her phone rang a split second before his.
She grabbed her phone.“It’s the office.I have to get that.”
Devon’s phone shrilled, he answered it, turning away from her.“What.”
“Aren’t we a ray of sunshine today?”Hunter’s sarcasm was evident.When Devon didn’t reply he continued.“The cougar has been spotted a mile from the lodge.”
“Can’t you take care of it,” he snapped.He knew he shouldn’t be taking his anger out on Hunter; he couldn’t seem to get his agitation under control.
“Trust me, I would rather have hunted the cougar without your little trooper, but unfortunately her office was called before we were.”
“She’s a ranger,” he said absently as he tried to figure out some way to eliminate her from the hunt.
“She was a cop first,” Hunter replied.
Of course.He’d momentarily forgotten that aspect of ranger training.“I’ll meet you outside the lodge in five minutes.”He shut off his cell before Hunter could reply.
Sarah put down her phone.“The cougar was spotted close to here.We have to go.”She started getting her gear on.When he didn’t move, she stopped.“You need to get dressed.Unless you don’t want to come...”
“I’m coming with you.”He growled before taking a breath.“Hunter will be here in five minutes to take us to the location, but we need to talk first.”
“We don’t have time.Whatever this is, has to wait until we get that cat under control.It’s dangerous...and it’s in pain.”Her eyes were intense.
It was the compassion that got his attention.It was not an emotion he expected from a member of the Marksmen family.
She was right, but his cat hated the delay, and Devon wasn’t sure how much time he had before the transformation was in full force.
“We neutralize the cougar, then we talk.”
She bristled at the command.“I recommend you modify that attitude, Devon.”She looked sternly at him as she holstered her weapon.
Devon appraised his now fully armed mate.She wouldn’t hesitate to arrest him if he attempted to interfere with her assignment.His woman was dangerous.He suppressed a smile.He was going to have to help her kill the animal and get her back here for that talk, among the other things he wanted to do to her.
His cat was agitated, realizing Sarah was going to put herself in danger.It wanted her safe, naked in bed with him.It didn’t understand the responsibilities of the woman.It wanted its mate.
Sarah tied back her hair and put on a cap.She pretended to look at a painting on the wall as Devon finished dressing.“Let’s go.”
Devon followed behind her.“Why does your ass look so good in that uniform?”Surprised he’d spoke aloud when she turned.
She looked around and whispered.“Are you seriously staring at my ass right now?Our priority is the cougar, not my butt.”
He tried not to be amused, but for the first time in decades, he was enjoying himself.“My priority is you and that definitely includes that luscious ass of yours.”She looked exasperated with him.
She took a calming breath.“I need you to focus on what we’re doing.If you can’t do that, I’ll just go with Hunter.”
His cat lunged inside him.He growled before he got the cat under control.“I will protect you, not Hunter,” he snapped.
He saw the fire in her eyes immediately.“You seem to have forgotten who I am.I’m a Marksmen.I could assemble and shoot a weapon before my fifth birthday.I don’t need you or your brothers’ protection.You are here to guide me.Nothing more.You hinder my assignment in any way, I will shoot you.”She turned and continued out of the lodge.
Devon’s cat wasn’t happy, but it appreciated Sarah’s fire.He craved it.Hunter was already waiting in the parking lot when they exited the Lodge.
Hunter placed a map on the hood of his SUV.He pointed to a location on the map a mile west of the lodge.“This is where the cougar was spotted.”He indicated a couple miles south of them.“This is where it was reported yesterday and it was originally spotted on the east side of the Lodge itself.”