LAINIE SNIFFED AROUND the ground, searching for any trace of Miles Hemingway, the stinging words of their fathers ringing in her mind, mocking her, thinking her weak. She was far from weak, and Miles would discover that as soon as she sunk her claws into him.
The humid afternoon air caused her panther to pant as she searched the area. Dimitri stayed close for a while, but then moved off a bit to the south, still within shouting range, but pretending to give her some space. If she thought it was because he thought her as weak as their father did, she would have already chewed into him, but she knew Dimitri remained close more for himself than her. He needed to make sure she was all right. Besides, if they were going to catch Miles, they would need to span out more. Their animal’s supernatural noses would pick out Miles’ scent quicker than normal panthers, so they could cover more ground. Dimitri already sent Josh, Alanna, and Nathan Landry out searching the area and anyone else he could convince to pitch in a helping hand.
Lainie stopped at a slight dip in the woods and stared out at the distance. Her brother had only been alpha a couple of weeks, and already, he had surrounded himself with some faithful and loyal friends. He had been that way since they were kids, which was evidenced by Josh’s unending friendship with her brother even when their father tried to separate them. If she had to admit it—at least to herself—it was also why she followed Dimitri to Bull Creek without question. He was a leader, someone who cared for the people around him. He would always have faithful followers, friends.
She took a deep breath of the air. She could no longer detect Dimitri’s scent in the breeze and wasn’t sure when they became separated. At first, she panicked, then she thought it was probably a good thing, allowing them to search a wider area, trusting that she could take care of herself. She turned her head in the last direction she had seen her brother. Or maybe, he found Miles’ trail.
She was about to head after her brother to see if that was indeed the case when a voice called out to her, sending chills throughout her body as her panther hissed.
“I warned you, Lainie,” Miles shouted from wherever he hid. “Your father promised you to me. You belong to me. I give you this one last chance to make good on the arrangement between your family and mine. This is the last time I ask you to respect what your father promised.”
Lainie wasn’t sure where Miles hid or whether or not he would hear her if she answered him with the mindspeech of her panther. She inhaled deeply of the air, hoping to get a hint of which direction the idiot waited. That he called out to her meant he hadn’t shifted, but rather that he waited for her to return to her cabin, watching her again. Did he expect Dimitri to be with her? More than likely not. He probably hid in the woods around her cabin, waiting for her to return so he could jump her. Dimitri’s presence probably protected her.
Now, however, she was alone.
“Lainie, I don’t want to hurt you,” Miles continued.
Lainie turned her head in the direction where she thought he hid, the south. His voice sounded as if it echoed off one of the small lakes edging the south of Bull Creek. She padded in that direction, sticking close to the trees as she went. He would regret confronting her.
“Lainie, you’re being foolish,” Miles shouted out. “I see you slinking around those trees. You think you know where I am, but you don’t. You’re not that good, Lainie. That’s why you need me.”
Could he see her? Was he bluffing? Surely, he couldn’t be as cocky as he seemed, could he? She continued easing around the trees, still following the path she thought would lead her to where he hid. Even if he wasn’t bluffing, she wasn’t about to allow him to continue to harass her. She didn’t need him. She needed nothing about him except his absence.
“Lainie, stop!” he screamed, and the rage in his voice brought her to a dead halt. “Don’t take another step. You need to shift back to your human form and join me. Keep coming toward me as your panther, and I’ll assume you’re still resisting. That would not be good on your part. Last warning.”
Lainie stared in the direction of his voice, suddenly believing his threat was very real, the hackles on her neck raised. The only thing that made her feel even slightly all right was the fact that if she could hear Miles, then so could Dimitri and hopefully, the others as well. Surely, they would be heading toward Miles, coming in from the other sides to take him down. She just needed to wait him out until they reached him.
She braced herself, legs straight and slightly parted as she raised her head high and stared in the direction from which she hoped Miles watched her. I’m not shifting, she sent, not sure if he could hear her or not, but praying he would in order to help her stall for more time. I’m not joining you. We’re not going to be married. We’re not going to be anything. Go home, Miles, before you cross a line that will get you hurt. She took a deep breath, waiting to see if her words reached his ears or not.
Silence answered her, at least for a lengthy moment. “That is not the right decision,” he said, and she could hear the disappointment drip from each word. “I truly thought you were smarter than that.” He went silent again, and with each second that passed, Lainie feared to get her hopes up. Would he just leave?
Where are you, Dimitri?
“I’m sorry, Lainie,” Miles said, his tone now heavy with sadness. “I truly looked forward to making this merger work. It saddens me you remain unwilling to hold up your end of the bargain. I’m sorry that you refuse to do so.”
A movement off to the side snagged Lainie’s attention, jerking her head in that direction. Her cat’s eyes widened as she saw a giant black bear barreling toward her. What the..?
Duck! the bear shouted at her as he took a jump toward her at the same time a gunshot ripped through the silent air. The bear hit her hard, the two of them hitting the ground and rolling a couple of times before they came to a stop. Pain ripped through her, but she didn’t think it came from the bullet. She prayed it wasn’t from the bullet.
The massive bear rolled to the side, groaning as he turned toward Lainie. Blood dripped from his right shoulder. Run, he sent to her, pain making his voice wheeze slightly. He’s closer than you think, and he has a scope on you. Get out of here. Now!
You’re shot, she sent. I need to get you help. My brother’s close.
Not closer than another bullet. She felt him give a mental shake of his head. I’ll be fine. He’s not after me, only you, it seems. You’re the one he’s calling for. Now get out before…
Another shot sliced through the air, the bullet snapping into a branch close to her head, sending bark and leaves flying. Run! the bear screamed at her, jerking her into motion as she sped off in the opposite direction of where Miles seemed to be talking to her. She felt the ground crunching underneath her giant paws, felt twigs snap as the earth slid under her feet with each shove of her legs as she raced away.
She heard the shot, heard the bullet ricochet off another tree just behind her.
Lainie! she heard her brother call out, felt the panic in his voice. Lainie, where are you?
She heard other voices as well. Josh. Alanna. Each one calling out her name, but she didn’t stop. Her panther was frantic and in full control. She couldn’t stop even if she wanted, no reining in her panther’s need to escape the threat.
Another shot. How many bullets did Miles have?
Lainie! Dimitri called out, and she turned in that direction, but it was too late. It was the wrong direction.
“Hello, Lainie,” Miles said as he stared at her, his gun pointed at her head. “Easy to get turned around in these woods, especially when you’re scared. You didn’t need to be scared, though.” He shook his head. “Not really. Not at all. All you needed was to join me, come to me so we could go home and fulfill the contract.”
She stared at him, her panther hissing at him as she braced for whatever happened next.
As if in slow motion, she watched as he straightened his arm, his hand not even shaking a little as he aimed the gun at her tawny head. “But you couldn’t do it. Now, all that remains to do is to tear up the contract.” She saw his finger pulling back on the trigger.