Jordan nodded, a roaring filling his head. “Need to get outside.” The moon demanded.
Katie trembled, her face going white. “Me, too. Let’s go.”
Holding hands, they stumbled in their haste to feel the rays, dodging through corridors until running out the back sliding door into a courtyard that extended to the cliffs. Trees lined both sides, leading to forest land. Below them the ocean churned, as if even the massive body of water gyrated to the moon’s command.
Katie released his hand, lifting her chin to the heavens, pure bliss crossing her face.
Soft light cascaded down. Tension eased from Jordan’s shoulders. Peace, false and temporary, filled his pores. Even then, the woman’s pull beat the moon’s. Rays tangled around her, highlighting her exquisite bone structure and stabbing the beast inside him awake. Lion or werewolf, he wasn’t sure. Either way, the male at his core wanted the female.
He’d wondered. For more than ten years—he’d tried to keep from thinking about her. He’d known her as a child, a teenager, and now a woman. The crush she’d held came from youth.
But something in him recognized her. Wondered if she’d already be wearing his mark, had the damn Kurjans not messed with fate. Along with biology. The need to sink his teeth into her neck just enough to mark had his incisors lengthening, shifting into lion form while his body remained human.
Salty, the breeze carried her sigh as she lowered her gaze to him. Her pretty brown eyes widened. “Your teeth.”
“Yeah.” He shoved them back up.
“I miss that.”
He struggled for control. “You miss having cougar teeth?”
“Yeah.” Her smile surpassed beautiful and grabbed him around the heart to squeeze. “Remember when I first learned how to elongate the teeth only?”
Warmth slammed into his solar plexus. “You bit the crap out of us.” He chuckled, feeling humor for the first time in a week. “I thought Noah was going to perform a root canal on you.”
She threw back her head and laughed, the sound filling the night with joy. “Remember when I bit Talen because he wouldn’t play catch with me?”
“You were a monstrous six-year-old.”
Her eyes sparkled, then grew serious. The smile waned. Tremors shook her shoulders. Almost in slow motion, she turned her head to gaze beyond the courtyard to the forest extending into darkness.
“What?” His shoulders went back. Electricity danced up his spine. The breeze whipped a new scent into the area. “Dog.” Not just any dog. “How—”
His breath caught as fire lanced through his veins. A tidal force of energy ricocheted inside his muscles. Bones snapped. His teeth sharpened, drawing blood from his lips.
Stubborn will had him fighting the change, fighting what overcame his human side.
Without making a determination—against his will—he shot into lion form.
Katie flew across the courtyard to land on her butt. The energy released when Jordan shifted held an element of something new ... something she couldn’t shield against. Her palms pressed into the soft grass as she levered to her feet, her gaze on the massive western cougar eyeing her like a midnight snack.
Even so, a darker danger stalked closer ... menace and need winding through the oxygen to clog her lungs. Oily darkness reached out to her, sending a humming through her brain. A shiver rippled down her spine. The hair on her arms stood up. How the hell had he found her?
Roaring a battle cry, Brent leapt over the stone wall to land in the center of the courtyard.
She stepped back, fear turning her knees brittle. “How?”
“Kaattieee. Have blood.”
Jesus. He’d tracked her that easily—and traveled across the country during daytime? Just because he’d tasted her blood? She’d never be free of him. “Guess you need to die then.”
Why hadn’t Jordan attacked? She shifted her gaze to the cougar, who remained still, head cocked to the side and studying Brent. Was Jordan’s coat darker than usual? Had the changes already begun? “Jordan?”
Brent tilted his head, pivoting. Both animals began to circle, sniffing the air. Brent gave a low howl. “Jordaaan. Like meeee.” The furry beast clapped his hands together. “Baaad Jordaaan.”
Teeth flashed when Jordan snarled, his gaze going from Brent to Katie. He stilled and sniffed the night.
Damnit. The virus had progressed enough in Jordan to confuse him in relation to Brent. Katie kept her hands harmlessly at her sides. “Jordan. You’re the good guy. He’s the bad.” Simple, but hopefully effective. Though, the men had once been family.
The cat licked his lips. Too dark ears lay back, and he abandoned his vigil of Brent to stalk three steps closer to her.
“Uh, Jordan?” She edged sideways toward the door.
His low-pitched snarl stopped her cold.
Fear settled deep in her gut, sending adrenaline to flood her veins, terror erasing years of combat training. The animal held her in his sights. Jordan was gone. In his place a creature of primal instinct eyed her like she was dinner. Or maybe dessert.
She cleared her throat, the sound harsh in the quiet night. “You’re still a cougar, Jordan. Fight this. Please.” He wasn’t a werewolf yet—he could still think. Still be her protector.
His huge head lifted.
Powerful muscles bunched.
Then he leapt.
She screamed. Pivoting, she kicked out, connecting with his belly, sending him sprawling. Oh, she’d caught him by surprise, otherwise the move wouldn’t have worked.The cat rolled over in the spongy grass, stretching to his feet, sharp canines flashing. A quick weave to the side and he blocked her way to the door.
Brent threw back his furry head and laughed, the sound grating. He leaned against the hedge, amusement lightening those yellow eyes to something almost translucent.
Katie fought a whimper, sidling to the entrance. Fear cut through the night to narrow her vision. The cat’s low snarl stopped her escape.
Her feet froze. A tremor started at her knees and slid north until even her ears shook. “Jordan?”
He lunged.
Both paws hit her shoulders, knocking her down.
Pain radiated along her neck as she landed on the hard earth. The air swooshed from her lungs. Her head instantly pounded. Adrenaline slid with fear through her veins, and she calculated ways to take him down.
There weren’t any.
Heated breath brushed her face. Wide paws pressed down on her shoulders, keeping her in place. Blade-sharp claws ripped into her shirt, against her skin. His entire body vibrated.
Terror held her immobile. The cold ground chilled her back. Instinct had her stilling, trying not to breathe. Sharp, deadly teeth flashed in the moonlight. He lowered, scraping their fierce points along her jugular.
She fought her body to keep her hands at her sides, not threatening him. Inside her, a lioness awoke. Stretching, cautiously coming to the surface, instinct emerging in a final effort to stay alive.
A low grumble came from his chest. His teeth retracted and he sniffed her throat, along the jugular to behind her ear. His nose pressed against her skin, wet and flared.
Could she punch him in the throat and roll away? Something told her the move wouldn’t work—he was too fast and deadly in this state. Ever since she’d contracted the virus, her reflexes had slowed and her strength ebbed. She couldn’t take him like this.
Snarling, his head lowered, his teeth slowly elongating into the flesh where her neck met her shoulder.
Pain ripped through her. Reality smacked her—he wanted to mark her, not kill her. His fangs went deeper. She cried out, quickly silencing herself.
He stilled. His massive head lifted, those teeth leaving her flesh. His eyes swirled from yellow to green.
Three darts impacted his face, throwing him off her. Strong hands grabbed her armpits, dragging her to the entrance. Fresh bruises vibrated in her skin.