Page 12 of Enter the Lair
Daniel turned towards her.He crouched slightly.
Devon felt Sarah’s emotions wash over him.Fear.Shame.Empathy.He had never felt a humans’ emotions.His talent was limited to animals or shifters.A talent he had never told anyone about.
Hunter gently put his hand on Sarah’s rifle.“I need you to lower your weapon for a moment.”
She didn’t flinch.“Are you crazy?Whatever or whoever that is...he’s dangerous.”
“Okay, just don’t shoot him.”Hunter stepped forward.“Daniel, do you remember me?It’s Hunter.Our fathers are good friends.”His voice was low and soothing as if he were talking to a child.
Daniel looked at him closely.“Hun – ter.”His voice was serrated as he gurgled out the name.
“That’s right.You remember the last time we hit the clubs.Must be five years now.You disappeared almost three years ago Daniel.Where have you been?”
Devon knew who Daniel was, but hadn’t seen him since he was a teenager.It was obvious Hunter had stayed in touch.Devon didn’t even know Daniel had gone missing.He’d removed himself from his family’s information pipeline.He felt a moment of regret before remembering why he had done it.
Daniel screamed suddenly, turning toward Sarah.
Devon flinched when the rifle blasted beside his ear.
CHAPTER4
Daniel had sidestepped a split second before Sarah pulled the trigger, but her reflexes were excellent and she caught him in the shoulder.He screamed as he lunged to attack her.She dropped the rifle and was pulling out her handgun as Devon shifted.
He sprang at Daniel, swiping him across his mangled chest, expecting Daniel to shift.When he seemed to struggle, shaking his fists and howling, Devon realized he couldn’t.Daniel was completely insane and no longer in control of his actions.Devon had no choice.He jumped on Daniel, sinking his teeth into the diseased man’s neck.
He felt Daniel struggle.His broken body, lacking its former strength, suffocated quickly under Devon’s superior strength.He released his grip when the body beneath him went still.Blood dripped from his exposed teeth, as he turned to his mate.
Sarah’s face showed horror as she pointed the gun at Devon’s head.“Stay back.”She noticed his two brothers, Luca and Liam cautiously emerge from the trees and stand beside Hunter.She had positioned herself where she could easily shoot any of the Cascade siblings.
Hunter put his hands up slowly, signaling Luca and Liam to do the same.“Sarah, we won’t hurt you?”
Sarah’s gun wavered slightly.“What are you?”
“We’re cougar shifters.Part man.Part cat.Put the gun down.You won’t be able to kill us despite your reputation.”Hunter sounded exasperated as he lowered his hands.He was undoubtedly trying to figure out what he was going to do about Sarah.
Sarah glanced at Devon.He had sat down on his haunches to appear calm.It was a facade.He could feel her fear beating him despite her seemingly calm demeanor.If she ran, he’d be hunting his own mate.
Sarah motioned her gun toward Daniel’s corpse.“And that is some kind of disease that affects your species.”
Hunter’s face hardened.“No, we’re immune to disease, that’s the result of some asshole experimenting on our species like lab rats.”
Sarah was noticeably shocked.“Others know about you.Your species?”
“Apparently.”
“Regardless of who or what you are, Devon killed him.I’m taking you all to the station until we sort this out.”She kept the gun leveled on Hunter.
“No Sarah, you’re not,” Hunter said.
“Iwillcall for reinforcements.”
“The moment you move a finger towards that radio Devon will be on you.”
She swung the weapon back to Devon.“You wouldn’t,” she said.
Devon didn’t flinch.
Luca moved closer to take a better look at Daniel’s body.“He’s in way worse shape than Cyril.”