Katie flashed her a grin. “I know.” Thank goodness for friends. “I need some air, too.” About the middle of the day outside, and she could certainly use some warmth. She hurried from the room.
No small amount of hurt settled in her heart as she jogged through the dark stone hallways. How could Jordan even think of her marrying another shifter? He’d said he loved her. There had to be a way to fix this. She passed all the security places, nodding at guards each time. Nobody tried to stop her.
Finally, she emerged outside into a beautiful fall day. The sun shone bright in the sky, the ocean sparkled an amazing blue, and the one man she’d ever love stood tall, his back to her, studying the sea.
Janie Kayrs sat on a bench, her face tilted up to the sun. Dressed in shorts and a tank top, the girl’s nose and arms were freckling. She stood and nodded at Katie, her blue eyes serious. “Wanted to feel the sun on my face—it’s safe considering it’s the middle of the day.” With a sad smile, she headed for the door.
The hair prickled on the back of Katie’s neck. Almost in slow motion, as if the air itself worked against her, she turned her head toward the forest.
The werewolves chose high noon to launch their attack.
Chapter 21
The hairy brutes attacked from both sides, fur flying and shining under the sun. They must’ve somehow taken out the perimeter guards.
“Run!” Jordan bellowed, shifting into a massive cougar, sending clothes scattering.
Fear and shock kept Katie frozen for two beats. Awareness slammed home, and she accepted reality. The werewolves were attacking in daylight.
She leapt for Janie, colliding with seven feet of muscle and fur. She bounced back, landing on the soft grass. Pain shot up her tailbone. A breeze lifted her hair, carrying ocean salt and the smell of dirty dog. Scrambling to her feet, she ignored Brent and tried to reach Janie.
The teenager faced a beige werewolf as it advanced on her, teeth flashing. With a sharp cry, Janie executed a perfect jump kick, nailing the beast in the face.
Blood spurted from the monster’s nose. He roared, sweeping a beefy paw out and swiping Janie in the temple. The girl smashed into the rock. A loud clunk sounded as her head impacted.
Fear narrowed the day, and Katie yelled. She shot toward Janie.
Brent intercepted Katie, grabbing her by the waist and lifting her high in the air. Smelly animal and evil coated her throat. She struggled, kicking and reaching for his face. With a low growl, the monster threw her to the ground.
Her shoulders hit first, bouncing before the rest of her body followed. The air shot from her lungs. Pain burst in her skull and back. Stunned, she blinked blackness away.
Brent turned his head. “Leave girllll alone.”
Growls and snarls echoed through the air as vampires and shifters exploded out of headquarters. They were outnumbered three to one.
Katie took advantage of Brent’s distraction, rolling over and crouching in front of Janie. The werewolf advanced, evil gleaming in his bizarre eyes. Feinting to the left, Katie dodged back to the right and nailed the bastard in the balls.
He shrieked in fury, stepping back, eyes going wide.
Katie pivoted to grab Janie and began to tug her inside.
Claws ripped into her elbows, yanking her away from the girl. Katie reached desperate arms out to her friend, struggling against the beast.
Relief filtered through Katie’s buzzing brain as Max lifted the unconscious Janie and whisked her out of sight. God, she hoped the girl was all right. She dropped to her knees, flipping around.
Focusing, Katie scissored her legs, catching the werewolf by the ankles.
He jumped out of her hold. Leaning down, he raked devastating claws down her arms, digging in and lifting. “Myyyy Kaattieee.”
Agony tore through her. Nerve endings fired, and her entire nervous system flared to life, sending an alert to flee. Brent dug his claws in harder. Katie’s stomach rolled, and black dots covered her vision.
He threw her, and she bounced off a rock, darkness falling over her eyes.
Jordan roared, the sound full of fury.
Brent pivoted and jumped into the group trying to kill the lion ruler.
Katie staggered to her feet. She wasn’t finished yet. Yelling, she tried to pull Brent’s attention away from Jordan. The beast turned his head, and Jordan was on him, teeth flashing as he dropped the werewolf to the ground.
But the other big brown monster roared to the sky. With a dark smile, he lumbered toward her.
She took a step back.
Insanity lit the werewolf’s eyes a translucent yellow. “I’m Jaaaack.”
Jesus Christ. Another fucking werewolf who could speak. Had Brent taught him? Katie dropped her stance, waiting until the monster was in range. With a howl, she shot a sidekick to its knee.
The beast went down, swinging hard.
She’d underestimated his arm span. He caught her by the wrist, yanking her into his matted fur. His claws dug deep into her flesh.
Her head swaying, she tried to focus and found Jordan. Three werewolves were on him, Brent taking the lead. The lion bled from several areas along his back and flanks.
The lioness within Katie snarled deep. Images whipped inside her head. Jordan mating her. The baby within her. So much hope. Desperation popped like firecrackers through her veins.
Fear and instinct had her struggling for freedom.
The cries and clashes of battle destroyed the day.
Jordan bellowed, the yell full of fury and pain.
Power cascaded through her like lava hurling from a volcano. Smooth, fiery, deadly. Opening her mouth to scream, her jaw kept widening. Fangs dropped low and sharp.
Snarling, she let out a primal roar.
The fighting ceased. For the briefest of seconds, every animal and beast in the clearing paused. All male, all reacting to the sound of an Alpha female.
She shifted completely into a mountain lion, a sonic boom shattering the air and sending Jack flying past bodies. The fight erupted again, shifters attacking with renewed purpose.
Sharp claws dug into the earth as she dropped to all fours. Electricity ignited her blood. Stunned ecstasy caught her off guard. She’d shifted.
The animal took over, recognizing the danger. Vaulting over a downed beast, she landed on the back of a werewolf threatening her mate. Blood spurted into her mouth when she cut deadly teeth into its neck. Twisting her head, she yanked while slashing her claws down its vertebrae.
The beast fell, landing hard and bouncing. Holding its back down with her paws, she ripped its spine out. The monster went limp in death.
Bulky hands grabbed her, claws digging into her fur and throwing her across the clearing.
She landed on her side, quickly rolling to her feet, her gaze on Jack.
Colors flashed into her pupils, blood and rage assailed her nostrils, too many sounds pummeled her ears. After ten years of being human, her extra senses threatened to shut her down.
The werewolf advanced, a hard glint in his hungry eyes.
Cries of pain and death swirled in her head. Agony rippled on the breeze. Shoving those away, she focused on the threat, acutely aware of the cub nestled safely inside her. A maternal snarl hissed past her lips.
Even through the confusion, an awareness grounded her. Different. She was different from before. More powerful, more deadly ... either from the werewolf virus or from mating Jordan. Maybe from both.
Jack held a paw up, growling and allowing his claws to elongate. Sharper, much longer than any claws she’d ever seen. Although he’d inflicted damage already, he’d been keeping them sheathed. Smiling, he followed suit with the other paw. Make those hands. Furry hands with claws deadlier than any hunting knife.