Devin glanced at the cub as they walked. Molly had woken after the first fifteen minutes, a little catnap, and leapt from his arms. He’d shifted and had been prepared to chase her, but she hadn’t taken off. She’d stayed with him, except the trek back to the road was taking longer than he would’ve liked. Everything amused her, and she kept stopping to play.
Her paws crunched on some dry leaves, enough of a distraction to halt her pace. She backtracked and pounced on the brittle pile. He dropped to his belly and studied her. She acted like a cub, not a child. The knowledge threatened to extinguish that flicker of hope for Molly’s recovery, but through his lion’s eyes, he saw more.
Molly was strong, not simply because of the aura surrounding her. It was her. She was a dominant. Given the chance, she’d be an alpha female of her own pride. A good thing, considering she housed the Leon spirit.
Questions surfaced, all involving Molly and the cowards who’d thought to play god. Those individuals who hated the Royals didn’t seem to care that Royals had never been given the option of whether they wanted to be “special”. They were born with a tie to the heavens. Not their fault. Not their choice. Not their sin.
And neither did Molly. She didn’t choose her fate.
If Devin had to guess, though, the Leon spirit had chosen her, merging with her in the way of a pride leader or pack alpha. That was what had saved Molly’s mind from shattering.
Somehow he didn’t think the witches or scientists would be happy with Molly or the Leon spirit’s choice. Actually, many shifters wouldn’t be either. Females had very few rights in traditional shifter culture. If word got out a female child would one day grow up to be the leader of her own pride, there’d be anarchy.
And if any thought to hurt her because of it…they’d die.
A growl rumbled his chest, his fury surfacing.
Molly paused in her play to peek at him. She didn’t cower. She looked from him to the woods around them, one lip raised in a silent snarl. Her tense body spoke of rage, not fear. He was glad, yet not. Her reaction bothered him. It wasn’t the response any child should have. She appeared ready to attack whatever threat hovered close. The sight angered him more, but he kept the emotion in check.
He pushed aside the need for revenge and nudged her, hoping to reassure both cub and child. Pale blue eyes met his for a long moment before she turned her focus back to the leaves. He gave her another gentle shove and trotted forward. The pitter-patter of her paws in the nosiest path she could find assured him she followed. Although he didn’t like having her behind him, she refused to walk beside him. He didn’t worry. His animals were on alert.
Several minutes later, he stopped and dragged in a deep breath. The scent drifting on the breeze eased the last of his anxiety. Lena.
His beautiful female scrambled down the hill, Kade at her side. The edges of her jacket flapped open as she ran. Brown eyes met his then she turned her gaze to Molly. Her expression fell. Devin picked up the pace, but Molly ran. She scooted through his front legs and sprinted into Lena’s arms. His mate hugged her sister’s lioness close and stood, a look of defeat slackening her lovely features.
She forced a smile that never reached her eyes. “Thank you, Devin.”
He took his human form, then grabbed the pair of sweats Kade tossed him and yanked them on. There was so much he wanted to say but all he managed was a single nod, the sense of failure too deep to offer more.
Vader jogged toward them, fangs and claws bared, the scent of his rage sweeping out ahead of him. Devin’s cats reacted to the approaching wolf and hissed. The human side of him recognized the other male’s pain so Devin tugged on each animal’s leash, reminding them to behave. Each feline backed off.
Immediately.
Vader turned toward Lena. “Where’s Gw—”
Before he could finish, Molly bared her fangs. A baby growl accompanied the vicious display, and she jumped from Lena’s embrace at the approaching male.
Lena cried out, and Vader let out an ‘oomph’ as the cub connected with his chest. Devin rushed to Lena’s side while Kade moved around her and pulled a snarling Molly off Vader.
Devin choked back a curse. Lena had been cut by Molly’s claws. “Let me see.”
He gently lifted her arm and used a sharpened nail to cut the sleeve of her jacket off at the elbow. She grimaced as he tugged the material away. One deep slash ran down her forearm, despite the material covering it.
“Great, another scar.” Her tight voice betrayed her pain, the only outward sign. She looked past him to where Molly’s lion form huddled in Kade’s arms. The cub lifted her head and settled her blue eyes on Lena.
He glanced between the two, seeing the remorse and guilt written on their expressions, and shook his head.
“No, you won’t scar.”
He licked the wounds, laving the worst until it stopped bleeding. Her sigh assured him the numbing agent in his saliva blocked the sting.
“Better?”
Lena nodded, and he lifted her shirt, exposing the long scratch crossing over the white scars left on her belly.
“They have Gwen, don’t they?”
With the tip of his tongue to Lena’s skin, he lifted his gaze to hers. The distress reflected there was the kind that left its mark. He licked the small cut closed and inclined his head slightly.
“Do not blame yourself.”
Fire flashed in the chocolate depths of her eyes. “And who should I blame? I wasted hours.” She grabbed his biceps. “We could’ve gotten here in time to prevent this, but we didn’t because I was too busy acting like a selfish brat!”
He carefully pulled her hands off his arms and held them between his. They trembled, and he hated the sign of her agitation. “The past cannot be changed. You made a decision and acted on it. There’s no sense beating yourself up over it.”
“So, I should shrug it off as a bad choice and move on? Is that what you’re telling me?”
Molly whimpered, and both he and Lena whipped their heads in her direction. The small cub cowered in Kade’s hold, only a pair of eyes peeking over his arm.
“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry.” Lena rushed toward her.
Devin grasped her wrist before she made contact. She turned confused eyes to him.
“You need to be careful. She hurt you once already.”
“It was an accident.” Lena tugged her hand free. “Molly won’t do it again. She just got startled. Look.” She pointed toward where Vader stood next to Molly, petting her.
“Everything’s fine.”
Devin maneuvered his body between Lena and Molly. “Yes, but I don’t want to take a chance it’ll happen again.” He crossed his arms, leveling a firm look on her. “What if she nicks an artery next time?”
She dropped fisted hands to her sides. “And? You’ll save me, and it’ll give you an excuse to finish our bond. I meant what I said earlier. I will not risk losing you.”
“I would save you before your life was threatened. That’s a nonissue. What I want you to understand is that while Molly is in her cub form primal instincts rule her. Until she shifts, she’s a threat to you. Molly, your little sister, might not mean to hurt you, but her cat very well might.”
Kade cleared his throat, stopping the conversation. “Did Xander go after Gwen?”
Devin nodded. “She’s been hurt.” Lena gasped, and he quickly added, “She walked away so that suggests it wasn’t anything life-threatening. Her injury will slow the bear shifter down and give Xander the chance to catch up to them.”
Lena swallowed hard and straightened her spine. He could almost see her locking down her emotions. “Good. Then, they’ll be back soon.”
“Hopefully, but we’re not waiting here. It’s late, and it’s starting to rain.” He held up a hand. “No arguments. We need to get Molly out of the elements and see if we can’t convince her to shift back. Vader can stay here until they get back.”
“Dante arrived a little while ago. He already took off after Xander.” Kade tilted his head in Vader’s direction. The male, who’d been staring at Lena with a guarded expression, glowered and stormed toward the parked car. “I am not putting Xander and Vader together.”
Lena glanced from Kade to Vader’s retreating back. “What’s their problem?”
Devin took Lena’s hand and followed Kade out of the woods. “Bad blood.”
Questions sparked in her eyes but that was the only explanation she’d get. He’d brought up enough unsettling memories for one night. Besides, no matter where the fault lay, his loyalty would always remain with Xander.