A Leopard's Path (4 page)

“K is a spy. It’s his job to lie.” Sable cupped Ana’s cheek, drawing her attention. Her teal-colored eyes stood out against her mocha skin. “But he loves you. Never doubt that.”

Ana chuckled. “He just said the same thing.”

“You need time together. Just the two of you, no thoughts or conversations about this war.” The last word was said with an edge.

Silence fell over them. Ana wanted to ask Sable about mating, but knew it was not a subject the female spoke about.

“Don’t make my mistake,” Sable whispered. “I had my out, my way to escape from Felix, and I fucked it up.”

Ana’s chest tightened, knowing Sable was talking about Jared. “What happened?”

“We spent the best six months of my life together and mated. When he found out I was the daughter of his enemy, he broke the bond and left me.” Sable took a deep breath before continuing. “I buried the pain and hid the restlessness by doing what I needed to do in order for you, Nigel, and me to survive. Only now I’m a fugitive, wanted by both sides of the war.”

Not responding, Ana stared at the pile of rocks blocking the cavern. Sable was one of the few Ana couldn’t read. The female had built up so many shields to keep Felix out of her mind and to hide the amount of power running through her veins, it also kept Ana’s telepathic abilities from connecting to her spirit.

After a while, Sable stretched. “What do you need?”

“What do you know about your mother?”

Sable went still, her hands fisting. “Felix said Ashwood killed her, but I found out after Nigel was born that my mother was captured and placed in a deep sleep because she was too powerful to control.”

Ana ignored the twist in her gut and braced herself for Sable’s reaction to her next statement. “Felix has freed her.”

“Fuck! Stupid bastard.” Sable stood and began to pace. “Do you know what this means? The witch will come after me and Nigel.”

“Do you know where she and Felix would hide?”

Sable shook her head. “No.”

Chest tightening, Ana reached for her sister. “Please bring Nigel to Ashwood. They can protect him, and you.”

“No. I can’t. Not with Jared there.” Sable’s gaze scanned the forest around them. “I have to go.”

Without another word, she darted off too fast for Ana to track. Sable’s mixed witch and shifter blood gave her abilities beyond any Ana had ever known.

“Sable!”

It was no use. The female was gone.

Ana sank onto a nearby rock and growled as she sensed Kieran closing in on her. “I said no one was to follow me.”

“I need to talk to you.”

“You’ve said enough.”

He stepped into her view and sat. “No, I haven’t. I’ve been insensitive. Sable is right. We need time for us. No more lies, and no talks of the war.”

Ana tried to stay mad at him for a little longer. She wasn’t ready to let down her defenses, but her cat was. “You’ve been here that long?”

“Sorry.”

“No you’re not.”

Only the sounds of the forest, the leaves blowing in the breeze and birds chirping, surrounded them. Evening was approaching, and the temperature had dropped enough that she shivered. Kieran moved to sit next to her and wrapped an arm around her. She sighed and leaned in to his warmth. “Sable was scared.”

“She has a right to be. Savannah would do anything to build up her army.”

Dread burned Ana’s belly. “Nigel needs to be protected.”

“Sable is very powerful. She can shield him.”

“For how long?” Ana’s heart ached for the boy. At fifteen, he was too young to be forced into fighting for the evil Felix had surrounded himself with. “Should we tell Jared?”

Kieran tightened his hold on her. “Not yet. Try to talk Sable into coming to Ashwood. I’ll take full responsibility for her actions.”

Ana lifted her head and gazed into his golden eyes. “Not alone you won’t.”

His mouth lifted. “Jared isn’t going to like her being there.”

“He’ll just have to deal with it.”

Kieran dipped his head and claimed her mouth in a fiery rush of need and possession she’d never felt from him before. Opening for him, she met his tongue with her own. Heat rushed through her, chasing away the chill from the fall evening air.

Breaking the kiss, his gaze held hers. The gold in his eyes brightened, indicating that his leopard wasn’t far from the surface. “Move in with me. Tomorrow, when we move to Ashwood. You and I will take one of the apartments.”

Her lips twisted and a sense of playfulness filled her. “I don’t know. What will my father think?”

Kieran squeezed her hips, sending a shot of need and pleasure straight to her core. “You are my mate, and I want to wake up with you in my bed every morning. No more lies.”

She raised her brows. “None?”

“None.”

“So, you’ll answer all my questions.”

He nodded. A calm came over her and she relaxed. “Okay, I’ll move in with you.”

His lips captured hers in a hard, passionate kiss. “Come. We have to meet with Travis to see if he can track down Felix and Savannah.”

She stood. “First, I need to put on some clothes. No need to upset his pregnant mate.”

“Or me.” Kieran stood and raked his gaze over her. “Although, I like you naked.”

Laughing, she shifted and ran toward MoonRiver, leaving Kieran no choice but to chase after her.

Chapter Five

Jared, Ashwood Pack’s Justice, lifted his head as the door to his office opened. Luna, the wolf Alpha of Ashwood Falls, entered. A swirl of too many emotions to name lit up her gaze. He and Keegan were the only ones who could see through her shields, see the pain and horror that haunted her.

“What is it, Mama Wolf?”

She started to shake her head, but released a sigh and sat on the brown leather loveseat to the left of Jared’s desk. Magickal energy surrounded her, telling him she’d had another vision.

“What have you seen?”

“Nothing new. Although it is the real events that have me worried.”

Okay, she’d gotten his attention. Sitting back in his chair, he folded his arms and waited. Luna was a strong female. She had to be with everything her decided mate had put her through. The bastard.

Her electrified green gaze locked with his. “Felix has found Savannah and freed her.”

“Fuck. That’s not good.”

While he hadn’t had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting the witch, the stories of her wrath were legendary. And frightening as hell.

“We just had a meeting with the security team. Ashwood is ready. We’re going to start moving everyone tonight through the tunnels.” She dropped her gaze, then peered out the window behind him. The sense of something else weighing on her mind nudged his awareness.

“Any idea where Felix is hiding?”

She shook her head. “I’m betting Savannah will hide them with a spell.”

“We have our own witches. Surely they can track them.”

Luna hesitated for a brief moment. “That will take time, but I’ve asked Robyn to work on it. Ana left a while ago to speak with Sable.”

A low growl escaped him. Luna cut him a warning glare. “Sable is our best bet to track down Felix.”

“If she is willing to help, which I doubt unless there is something for her to gain.” He raked a hand over his face, then down to his aching, empty chest.
Damn female
.

A thought formed, sparking the tiny bit of hope he clung to.
Nigel
. What if she brought their son to Ashwood? Why the fuck would she?

Another frustrated growl erupted. He pushed away from his desk and stood, no longer able to sit still. “Keep me posted.”

“Of course.” Luna stood, walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. At five-foot-three, her head only came up to his chest.

With a sigh, he hugged her back. It was too bad they couldn’t be more than friends—their animals didn’t want any more than that.

No, his beast only wanted one female. The mother of his son and his enemy’s daughter.

The Fates had one sick sense of humor.

****

Sable burst through the door of the small shack she shared with her son. “Nigel!”

Her mind churned over the grave possibilities of her mother’s freedom. She never knew the witch, but Kieran had told her the stories. Stories that made Felix look like a fucking saint.
Damn it
!

“Mom?”

She whirled around at Nigel’s soft, concerned voice. At five-foot-eleven, he was only a couple of inches taller than she was. His honey-toned skin was a few shades lighter than hers, and he had his father’s blue eyes.

Every day, the boy looked more and more like Jared.

Dropping her shoulders, she went to Nigel and pulled him into a tight hug. He stiffened as if sensing her edginess, but relaxed and hugged her back. “What is it?”

“Go pack a bag, we have to leave. We’re not safe here.”

He pulled back and searched her face with narrowed eyes. “Not safe from who?”

“Your grandparents.” He opened his mouth, but she grabbed his hand and led him to the bedroom where he slept. Grabbing his backpack, she threw in random articles of clothing and other items, not really focusing on what she was doing. “Please, just trust me. I’ll explain later.”

She should go to Ashwood, but she didn’t know how friendly the den would be to her. After all, she was wanted by the Council for a number of crimes she’d helped her father commit. Sure they had taken her sister in, but Ana was the Alpha’s sister.

“Where are we going?” Nigel took the backpack from her and moved to the dresser in the corner to add a few personal items to the pack.

“Not sure, hon.”

As the words left her mouth, she caught an all too familiar scent drifting in through the open window.
Felix
. She moved to Nigel and gently gripped his chin. “When I say run, I mean in your jaguar form, and as fast as you can. Head south toward Cherokee and don’t stop until you reach an opening surrounded by ash trees.”

“I can’t leave you.”

“Please, Nigel. I’ll be right behind you.”

After a few moments, he nodded. She kissed his cheek then eased to the door. She opened it a crack to peek out. The forest around them was too quiet. No leaves blew, and no animals stirred. An inky magick reached out to her. She shivered and her blood ran cold.

She motioned to Nigel. When he reached her side, she grabbed his hand and opened the door. Stepping outside, she came face to face with her mother.

It was like looking in the mirror. They both had light mocha skin, black hair, and teal eyes. Behind Sable, Nigel sucked in a breath. Whether it was from the raw power the witch put out, or facing his grandmother for the first time, Sable didn’t know.

Releasing Nigel’s hand, Sable backed up, forcing him to do the same. Just then, Sable’s father walked up. “Hello, Felix.”

“I’m hurt, Sable. I am still your father.”

She didn’t take the bait. He’d never cared about her or Ana. All he cared about was the things they could do for him, the power they held that he could use to destroy the shifter world. Not anymore.

“I grew up. The little-girl fantasy of the wonderful, caring father has ended.” Sable glanced at him briefly before returning her gaze to Savannah. The female just stood there, staring, like she was shocked to face her daughter.

Suddenly, the witch turned to Felix. “You were supposed to bring her to our side, not push her away. Have you noticed she smells like the leopards?”

Fuck. Ana
.

Taking another step back, Sable whispered. “Run. Now.”

Nigel let out a growl but did as he was told.

Closing her eyes briefly, Sable pushed away the ache of sending her son away and straight to his father.

Once Nigel had shifted and was out of earshot, Sable charged, deciding to hit her father first. She roared, alerting the rebels who camped nearby, and plowed into Felix. They tumbled to the ground, rolling as she tried to overpower him.

A shockwave of raw power slammed into her back and shot through her. She screamed as her body seized, and Savannah picked her up. Fear twisted inside her. Her legs and arms stopped working. Scanning the area, she saw what was left of her Pack—the rebels who’d stuck by her—come into view.

But it was too late. Savannah had already begun to teleport them away.

Please, gods, see that Nigel makes it safely to Jared.

Chapter Six

Kieran caught up to Ana a few yards from her brother’s home in MoonRiver. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her toward him. Their bodies came together like two puzzle pieces knowing exactly where they fit.

He threaded his fingers through her long, black hair and pulled. A half-growl, half-purr escaped her, and he ground his hips into hers. His already hard cock jerked. “I should take you right here.”

Her lips lifted. “You wouldn’t.”

The challenge in her statement pushed him to release his claws. Only the clearing of a male throat stopped him. Laughing, Kieran buried his nose in Ana’s neck. “I think your brother needs to speak with us.”

“Yes, it’s about the move.”

He released her and popped her on the ass before they advanced toward the Alpha standing on the back porch.

When they climbed the stairs, Blaine shook his head. “You two need your own place.”

“Working on it.”

The Alpha raised his brow at Kieran, then glanced to Ana. “You going to shack up with this loser?”

“Yep. I’m hoping he’s trainable.”

Kieran’s lips twitched. He reached out to her, but she darted away. He let out a low, playful growl. “What’s the plan for tonight?”

Blaine nodded toward the door then led them inside. In the living room, Cameron sat cuddled up to Graham. She raised her arm in the air and waved. Blaine walked to where her feet rested on the sofa, then lifted them and sat, his hand instantly going to rest on her rounded belly.

Kieran smiled at the scene, feeling a warmth bloom in his chest. The idea of Ana round with his child filled his mind. Man he was stupid. He needed to just mate her already, Savannah and Felix be damned. After all, Ana was more than capable of taking care of herself. Plus, having a psychic bond with her would help ease his leopard, wouldn’t it?