Page 5

Although Sarah was rarely indecisive, she was conflicted. As much as she wanted him there, she was bad for him in ways he wouldn’t understand. She attempted to keep eye contact without allowing her eyes to stray down his chiseled body. It took her less than three seconds to fail.

She shamelessly watched his cock harden, causing her to bite her lip. She closed her eyes to combat the warmth spreading through her body. The pain. Devon’s arms encircled her.

“Sarah, open your eyes.”

Sarah complied obediently. “What’s wrong with me?” She pleaded.

“Nothing, I’ll explain everything. This shouldn’t have happened. Not yet.”

“What are you talking about?”

Devon looked into Sarah’s wary eyes. How was he going to explain his species? His differences. That she would have to give up her job. Her family. That she was his mate.

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.”

Sarah looked at the map closely. “It’s circling the lodge? Is there a food source here?”

Hunter shook his head. “The only food is in the pub.”

Devon looked at his brother. “It doesn’t matter why, it’s here, we have to put it down before it can hurt anyone else.”

Sarah glared at Devon. “There’s no we in this case. I put the animal out of its misery, not you.”

Devon stared hard at his mate. “If you get the shot. You take it, but if you are in any danger whatsoever all bets are off.”

After a lengthy silence, Hunter cleared his throat. “We need to get going. The animal’s in bad shape.”

“Let’s scout the last known location first and track from there.” Sarah adjusted the rifle on her back and started walking toward the trees.

“She isn’t one for small talk, is she?” Hunter said.

“No,” Devon replied.

Hunter gathered up the map. “You two must get along famously then.”

Devon didn’t reply as he followed Sarah.

He noticed she was still favoring her ankle, not allowing it to slow her down.

Still, he caught up to her quickly. “Let Hunter go first.” When she glanced back with a dirty look he added.

“You have the only weapons. If it ambushes us, like it did last time, you need time to set up the shot.”

He could tell she wanted to find a fault in his reasoning. But since there was no good reason for her to disagree, she halted to let Hunter take the lead. They reached the site quickly and were soon tracking the cougar’s trail.

Hunter kneeled down and gently touched an imprint in the ground. “This animal is all over the place. The depressions are shallow in one place and deep in another.”

Sarah took the rifle off her back and held it loosely in her hands. “It’s jumping and walking in circles.” She surveyed the forest.

Hunter looked at Devon. “She’s right.”

“He’s here,” Devon said, staring into the forest. Hunter and Sarah followed his gaze.

“I can’t see him. Are you sure?” Hunter replied.

“He’s hiding behind a grove of trees. He’s scared and in a tremendous amount of pain,” Devon said.

Hunter looked perplexed. “How do you know that?”

“He’s coming toward us now,” Devon said as Sarah raised her weapon.

The acrid smell hit them before the cougar emerged.

Devon couldn’t believe the thing was still alive.

There were massive holes in its sides, the fur so rotted away that sinew and tendons showed through the puss oozing from the sores.

Its eyes were sunken, the surrounding skin drooped low on the animal’s face. It drooled as it growled and hissed.

“Jesus!” Sarah said. “Have either of you seen anything like this before?”

“Yes,” Devon said.

“Is it some kind of flesh-eating disease?”

Hunter glared at Devon. “No.”

“I’m taking it out.” She aimed her gun, as the cougar shifted.

The naked diseased man continued to growl and spit, causing the open sores on his body to gush fresh blood. Devon saw the gun in Sarah’s hand, shake.

“Daniel is that you?” Hunter asked.

The man paused. He looked like he was trying to remember something. Then he shook and started to advance on Hunter.

“Don’t move.” Sarah’s face was as white as her knuckles gripping the gun, but her voice was firm and unwavering.

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.