Page 41 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

Her snort of laughter and grin made me attack her neck and growl as I nibbled and kissed it. Akiva giggled and called out for me to stop. We were having fun until suddenly Ripper warned me.

“Not alone,” Ripper snarled.

Akiva jerked and looked around hastily, making me think Nova had warned her.

“There’s someone out there,” Akiva said in my mind.

“Yeah, Ripper told me the same just now. I want you to scoot off my lap slowly. Do you hear how the night sounds have all gone quiet? There’s something or someone out there, for sure.

I want you to stay close. Do whatever I tell you, even if you don’t want to.

I can’t keep you and me safe if I have to keep worrying you’re not listening,” I ordered her.

“I’ll do what you say, but I can’t run away and leave you to face whatever it is alone. I’m sorry,” she said.

“If it’s the greatest chance of our survival, and I say run to get help from one of the others, then you have to do it.”

She thought for several tense moments, then sighed. “Okay, if that’s the case, then I will.”

I had slowly gotten to my feet. I held out my hand to help her rise.

Any movement would help whatever was out there home in on us.

We’d thought we were safe and alone, so we hadn’t bothered to stay quiet.

Anger started to bubble in my gut. This was my land.

I should be able to be out here with my mate without worrying that someone would trespass on it and cause harm to us.

I held Ripper back. I didn’t want to bring him out if someone had accidentally wandered onto my property. That had happened a few times—no need to give a poor, lost human a heart attack.

I was doubly thankful that Akiva and I could communicate telepathically with each other. It would be helpful to keep tabs on her and to issue orders without revealing our location or strategy, especially if this were an enemy. With her, I wasn’t willing to take chances.

I carefully scanned the area surrounding us.

I didn’t see anything or anyone, but the night critters and insects hadn’t resumed their chatter.

That told me they sensed something that didn’t belong.

I spent enough time out here that they considered me one of theirs and would continue about their business.

And with my scent embedded in Akiva, they automatically treated her the same.

They hadn’t gone silent when we entered the woods, even though we were a predator.

“Do you see anything?” she asked.

“No, do you?”

“No, but I’m looking. Should we move to a spot where we have a better vantage point? Go higher?”

Her suggestion was a good one. I checked around us again and found the ideal spot.

“See that deadfall of trees against that tall tree to our right? We need to head there and get up it. But we have to do it quietly.”

“I see it, and I can be stealthy. If it helps, I can climb it and tell you if I see anything.”

“I don’t want you in bear form, not yet.”

“I can transform my hands and feet only. Take off our shoes. It’s easier to sense things that will make noise if you’re barefoot.”

It was clear that she had experience with this. I knew it had to be due to her hiding from her dad and then Mikeal.

I nodded and slowly bent down to remove my boots.

She did the same. Tying the laces together after removing them, we slung them around our necks and began the slow journey to the tree.

We did it in a short freeze-frame manner because continuous and fast movement would catch the eye.

We bent over as far as we could to present a smaller shadow.

As we did, I strained my ears and eyes to detect anything.

I heard and saw nothing. We made it to the tree, and I was beginning to doubt that anything was out there.

A few creatures had started communicating again.

I was about to suggest we forget it and head to the house when I detected snapping sounds to the north of us.

They were loud and bigger than a skunk or opossum out for a nighttime stroll. Akiva’s head snapped in its direction.

“I’m going up,” she informed me.

The next thing I knew, she was climbing the tree like a pro.

It was weird to see that only her feet and hands were in bear form.

And it verified that she was a strong shifter.

Due to her age, I was shocked despite her change at Pour Decisions.

Even shifters hundreds of years old couldn’t do what she did with both their hands and feet, or even just one.

It made me wonder if she developed it out of necessity. I’d have to contemplate that later.

As she scampered up the tree, I edged away from it toward the direction we’d heard the last noise.

A rustle, like clothing brushing against branches or leaves, reached my ears.

It wouldn’t be leaves this time of year, unless against a pine tree.

There was a cluster of them in the general area of the sound.

Assuming that was where it was, I had a rough idea of the distance. It was no more than half a mile away.

“I see something moving to the north. It’s less than a thousand yards out. The size is big, and it’s moving upright. It has to be a person. I’m trying to smell it, but something is messing with my nose,” Akiva reported.

I inhaled deeply and then cringed. Something foul filled my nostrils.

“I smell the same awful odor. Keep reporting. Is it moving this way?”

“It is, and rather clumsily. I don’t think the person is used to the woods or moving stealthily.”

I was working my way to the edge of our small clearing.

“Let me out. I’ll take care of it. Nothing is taking our mates,” Ripper snarled.

“You stay calm. I’ll let you know if that becomes necessary,” I warned him.

All I got was a huff from him, and then Ripper was back to figurative pacing.

“Ripper is a little hothead, isn’t he?” Akiva’s laughter was clear.

“He’s now five hundred yards out, still moving this way. I don’t see anyone else. He appears alone. I’m coming down,” she tacked on.

“No, stay there for a little longer. Just in case there are reinforcements too far out to see yet.”

I wanted her out of harm’s way.

“I’ll stay, but not forever,” she warned me.

I had to smile at her remark. She was a woman who made her own decisions. The sounds were steadily growing louder. If this were a hunter, he had no hope in hell of killing anything with the racket he made.

“Two hundred feet,” Akiva called out.

I was over this waiting. Let whoever it was face me and explain why they were on my land.

“Whoever you are in the woods, come out with your hands where I can see them. You’re trespassing on my private property. I want to know what you’re doing here, especially at night,” I hollered.

The noise abruptly stopped. The foul odor was even worse. I knew what it was, at least partially. It was bear piss mixed with God knows what else. No way that would attract a bear to him, if that was his intention, which, what else could be the intention?

“Come out and show yourself. Or are you too chicken to do it?” I taunted.

My taunt elicited a reaction. I heard a human roar of outrage and the quick stomping of feet.

A dark form detached itself from the gloom of the woods, and as it reached where the moonlight could touch it, I could see the intruder.

My fists clenched. It was Hadar. I should’ve guessed from the start that it was him.

I moved closer but kept a safe distance between us.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Hadar? This land is private, and No Trespassing signs are posted all over it. Not to mention the same on the properties that surround it.” I snapped.

He was breathing somewhat hard. Given the way he made his way to us, I wouldn’t expect him to be breathing heavily. That meant he was doing so due to his anger, which was infused onto his face. His scowl and hate-filled eyes told the truth.

“Where is she?” he growled.

“Who?” I asked, fucking with him.

“Don’t say anything,” I warned Akiva.

“Don’t play games! I’m not in the mood. Where’s Akiva? She’s not at your house. I know she was with you. I could smell her. I followed your trail. That fucking bear of yours pissed and clawed the entire damn way. It wasn’t hard to do. I want to see her. Where did you stash her?”

“You’re correct, Akiva was with me. However, I sensed you long before you got here. You should learn how to be a true shifter and move quietly. I put her somewhere she’ll be safe. I had no clue it was you. Why do you want to see her? You have no reason to speak to her.” I reminded him.

“Like hell, I don’t! She owes me. I saw her first. My coyote was about to claim her when you and your stupid friends showed up.

You clouded her mind with the fact that you’re a bear like her.

Whoo Hoo, who cares. That doesn’t mean you’re her true mate.

She and I are despite the difference in our species.

I need her to remember that,” Hadar spat out.

“You’re wrong about several things. One is your allegation that I merely clouded her judgment because I’m a bear.

That has nothing to do with her and me. Akiva is in command of all her faculties.

Two, Akiva was never going to be with you in any capacity.

She was adamant about that from the second I met her.

Three, I am her true mate. She wears my claim on her skin and in her body.

There’s no changing that, Hadar. Save yourself some pride and stop this nonsense. Go back to Banner’s house.”

Hadar stepped closer. His breathing had increased. I was ready. If he chose to fight, I would do it. And if he changed into his coyote form, I’d release Ripper. I guess I’d be walking home naked. When there wasn’t time to remove our clothing, we transformed, and our clothes were torn to pieces.

“Let me try,” Akiva pleaded.

“I don’t want him to find—” she cut me off.