She didn’t intend to wait for Quince, who was likely no longer coming. Whether she could believe Jeremy or not, she didn’t know, but he’d joined in with the others to punish Dean. He was a dead man walking. Period.
She let the anger and fear flow away, reminding herself she was a princess, needy and used to being fawned over. Then she let the scent of impatience and nobility bleed through her pores. Best to keep the cats on their toes as well. The assholes.
Ted studied her like a newly discovered species. She’d learned he had an impressive resume when it came to hunting. But he leaned more toward wolves than cats. “You really don’t care about the cat?” His watchful gaze didn’t miss a trick.
“I won’t say he hasn’t been fun. A pleasant diversion.” She shrugged. “I’m not completely heartless.”
Ted grunted.
“But I have more important things to worry about than the people in hickville. I mean, Cougar Falls.”
“And that would be?”
“Me.” She gave him a bright grin, one that had him blinking. Thankfully. “I am a commodity, Ted. My designs are world-renowned. My family and I make millions, much of which the pride would like to siphon away,” she said in a quieter voice. “I admit I’m not fond of Hunters, because I like the skin I’m in. Furry or fleshy, it’s mine. And I love life.”
“I see that.” His thorough study missed nothing, and she thanked the idiots for not including a bra with her wardrobe. Anything to distract these men worked for her. Had they been smarter, they would have included a woman or two to even the playing field. But most Hunters, like Lex and his ilk, believed women to be too soft to endure.
Underestimation worked to her advantage, however, so she encouraged Ted to think what he wanted.
She shrugged, knowing the shirt bunched over her breasts, her nipples obvious against the flannel, since the weather had turned cold this morning. “I have money and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“Just money?”
“And my body. It’s good. I’m firm, young and beautiful. What’s not to like?”
Ted nodded, not smiling. “You’re awfully sure of yourself.”
“In some respects, yes. I want to live, and I particularly want Lex to suffer.”
“Why?”
“Because he thinks he’s better than me,” she said bluntly. “Clearly he’s not.”
Ted chuckled and seemed to relax. “Honey, I don’t trust you worth a damn, but I trust Lex even less. I think we might have a deal.” He stopped her, his grip painful. “But don’t think you’ll lead me by my dick or my wallet. I’ve hunted too many of you to be blinded by your tricks.”
“Then what do you want, Ted?”
He smiled, and she let him see her shiver. She didn’t have to act to show fear, because in that grin she saw pure evil.
“Funny you should ask.”
Monty raced to his truck and drove like a demon back to Whitefish after radioing a warning to Burke. After parking, he tore out of the vehicle and darted inside the office, intent on getting to his weapons stash before heading back out to help Dean.
He hadn’t expected to run into a horde of unfamiliar cats waiting by his desk. Six of them, looking angry and annoyed all at once. He continued to move through the door into the office while trying to figure the best way to incapacitate his enemy. He took a good look around, knowing he’d never make it outside again before they stopped him. A familiar scent gave him pause. A huge-ass cat moved, and Joy Bermin poked him in the side and stepped around him.
“Monty?” She turned and gave the giant a dark scowl. “Leave him alone, you bully.”
The big guy put his hand around her arm, and Monty didn’t stop to think. He acted. He’d almost reached Joy before a half dozen cats dropped on him like an avalanche.
“Let him up, damn it,” Joy snarled.
He continued to struggle with them when Joy’s voice intruded once more.
The cats stopped trying to hurt him and helped him to his feet, then held him back when he tried to reach the guy holding Joy.
“You’re the wolf, right?” he asked in a gravelly voice.
“Yeah, Sherlock. Joy, what the hell?”
She grunted her displeasure and elbowed the cat in the gut. “This is Quince. Apparently he’s here to save me. Hurray.”
Quince scowled down at her.
Then his name registered, and Monty froze. “Wait. Quince? You and your cats are supposed to be in the mountains right now trailing Dean and Stacey. What the hell are you doing here? And shouldn’t there be more of you?”
Quince shook his head. “Jeremy told me to meet here, that Lex was planning on staging an attack. Said Dean and Stacey would be here soon—J has a half dozen of my guys with him. The rest are staged around the ranch in case Lex jumps the gun.”
Joy looked from Monty to Quince. “I’m thinking something’s wrong.”
Monty shook free of the cats still holding onto him. “Dean and Stacey met with Jeremy earlier. He said you and the others are in the mountains, that Lex and his cats are south of the position, and that there might be Hunters around.”
Quince frowned. “That’s not right.”
Another cat spoke, “I told you he was acting weird. I think he’s been telling Lex everything we’ve been up to. We have to get out there.” He turned to Monty. “Where are they in the mountains, exactly?”
Monty would have answered when more cats poured through the back and front doors, effectively pinning them inside. Though the office had space, it wasn’t big enough to hold everyone comfortably.
Quince yelled at Joy to take cover and dove for the nearest intruder. All hell broke loose, and as usual, Monty was in the middle of it.
“Shit.” He ducked a punch and threw his own, pleased when it connected with someone’s face.
The fight broke out in earnest. Human growls turned feline, hisses and screeches filled the air. He suffered claws, bites and a few punches before the mess died down. And that’s when he realized he was no longer the only non-feline in the room.
Joel, Ty, Gerald and a few Whitefeathers from the Raptor Clan had evened the odds. When Burke rushed in moments later, Monty and the others were shoving mangled cats aside.
“What the hell? I leave you in charge out there, where it should be quiet, and everything turns to shit,” Burke growled at Monty, but the clear concern in his eyes expressed his worry.
“Told you he’s trouble,” murmured Ty, in sheriff mode. “I’ll call for help. Looks like we’ll be filling jail cells tonight.” He aimed a look at Monty. “And as usual, there’s a wolf involved.”
“Hey, don’t blame me. Blame—” Monty sought Quince. But to his dismay, the cat had disappeared. And so had Joy.
Chapter Eight
Stacey couldn’t stop worrying over Dean. It didn’t help that every time she cast him pretend sneers, he glared at her. The idiot couldn’t actually believe she meant all this nonsense, could he? It was hard enough talking to Ted and pretending to respect him. She did it for Dean, because the stupid cat wouldn’t sit back and stay out of sight. Oh no, he just had to keep antagonizing everyone to beat him to within an inch of his life.
And where the hell was the freakin’ pride? Monty had gone for help yesterday. Night had fallen again. Except this time they holed up in some beaten-up cabin large enough to settle all of them. The cabin, according to Ted, used to be a ski lodge that had closed up years ago. Which made sense, considering the large lobby. An A-frame that had all its doors and windows intact, the lodge had obviously seen its share of disuse. Dust and plant life had settled in odd corners of the room.