A Leopard's Path (7 page)

Tingles skittered over his skin and seeped inside his heart. She was his, and he’d make it up to her by giving her the courtship she deserved. Even if the dance only lasted a few days.

He broke the kiss and thrust deeper inside of her, holding her gaze as he made love to her like he hadn’t before, gentle and demanding at the same time. Ana moaned and moved her hips with him, meeting each thrust. She shuddered under him and cried out as an orgasm tore through her. His own release crashed over him a moment later, explosive and raw.

After pressing a kiss to her forehead, he rolled to his side and cuddled her into him. With a gentle squeeze, he kissed the top of her head. Her power was still unshielded, and even without the bond he could feel it.

“How do you deal with this much power?”

She threaded her fingers through the light dusting of hair on his chest and lifted a shoulder. “It’s better than turning into a monster, and that’s exactly what would have happened if Sable hadn’t shared her power with me.” Her tone was flat before she inhaled, nuzzling her nose into his neck. “Sable helped me build shields to contain it.”

Noting the sadness in Ana’s tone, he hugged her. “We’ll find her, but I have a feeling Jared will beat us to it.”

“I’m not sure if that would be good or bad.”

He wanted to tell her everything would work out, but he wasn’t a hundred percent sure. The war had only gotten started, and with Savannah free, he couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot worse.

Ana yawned. “We have a busy day tomorrow.”

“Yes. Go to sleep.”

She nodded and relaxed into his side. A few moments later, light snores came from her. He kissed her temple and sighed. “Sweet dreams, my mate.”

Chapter Ten

“I can’t believe how much he looks like Jared and Sable.”

Ana smiled at her new sister, Shayna. “They are his parents.”

The tigress meet her gaze, then rolled her eyes. “I know that, silly. Josie looks like her mom,” Shay pointed to the photo of Travis, Josie, and Josie’s mother, Myra, over the fireplace. “But she still looks like
her
. Nigel looks like a clone.”

Suddenly, Nigel’s spine straightened. A moment later, a knock sounded on the door. Shayna wiggled in the sofa to get up, but Ana placed a hand on hers. “I’ll get it.”

The other woman smiled brightly, but it didn’t hide the tiredness in her features. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Ana went to the door. Shayna was eight and a half months pregnant, which was a half month overdue for most shifters. Pulling open the door, Ana frowned at Jared. “Hello.”

“Morning,” he said and entered.

“The males are at Blaine’s. They’ll be here shortly.”

He nodded before locking his gaze on Nigel. Ana growled as she walked by and sent Jared a thought. “
He’s your son. Get over it and talk to him.
”

“
I plan to,
mindbender.”

She’d been about to snap back at the comment, but she heard a whisper of amusement in the telepathic statement. When she reached the sofa, she shook her head at Shayna’s curious stare. The other female pursed her lips but smiled when she glanced at Jared.

“Well, I’ll have to be sure to take a picture of you. Jeans and a T-shirt. So casual.”

Nigel and Ana chuckled at Shayna’s teasing. Jared’s lips twitched as he bent down to kiss her on the cheek.

Travis walked through the door at that moment and let out a low, playful growl. “Watch whose mate you put those lips on, cat.”

Straightening, Jared met Travis’s stare, then shook his head as Josie skipped through the door with little Max - Blaine, Cam, and Graham’s son - in tow. Both of them had an armful of toy cars. When they reached the middle of the living room floor, they dropped their loot and sat.

As if catching Nigel’s scent, Josie looked right at him. She tilted her head and sniffed the air. “Who are you?”

“Josie,” Shayna said in warning.

Nigel smiled. “It’s okay. I’m new, and she’s curious.” He studied her for a moment. “She can shift.”

Travis stepped closer to his daughter, and Ana sensed it was out of instinct more than aggression. “How do you know?”

“I’m part witch. Besides, all the children in Onyx can shift.”

It was Blaine’s turn to move in closer. “How is that possible?”

Nigel glanced to Ana as if unsure what to say. She grabbed his hand and spoke to the group. “Felix uses fear and aggression to bring on the change early.”

Several growls cut through the room. Max covered his ears. Josie took his hand and gave him a new car to play with.

It had amazed Ana how mature the four-year-old was. That was until she discovered that Josie had come in contact with the mutant serum, and that Luna had to force the change on the child to save her life.

“Felix will pay for everything,” Kieran bit out as he sat on the arm of Ana’s chair. “We need to find him, which is why we are here this morning.”

Travis nodded. “Nigel, Blaine, and I will go to where she was taken. I just hope the scents are still there.”

“I’m going, as well,” Jared said.

Blaine nodded. “I was hoping you would.”

Travis glanced to his mate then to the Alpha. His brows dipped and he wiped his hands on his jeans. Ana’s heart melted. Of course the wolf wouldn’t want to leave Shayna when she could deliver at any moment.

“Kieran and I will stay with Shay. If she experiences the slightest amount of discomfort, I’ll come get you.” She glanced to Blaine as he cleared his throat. “Everyone will find out sooner or later, I might as well tell them now. I can teleport, and I have enough aggression running through my veins that my powers are amped times ten.”

Kieran nudged her and she closed her eyes. She was already the outsider of the Pack, she really didn’t want to give them any more reasons to distrust her. But they did need to know. “I can also control minds.”

Everyone fell silent. Dread crawled up her spine and her stomach soured. The urge to run for the door was strong. Kieran closed the small gap between them and hugged her back to his chest. “Ana uses up a lot of energy containing her power. She did it in Onyx to stay off Felix’s radar. Here in Ashwood, she hides it out of fear of being cast out.”

He kissed her temple, reminding her why she was so close to giving her heart to him forever.

Before she responded, Jared spoke. “I was a lone jaguar raising his sister. When I felt she was safe in Ashwood, I left. I found my mate, bonded with her, and we spent six months together. Then I found out she’d lied to me about who she was. So I broke the bond, not caring that it could kill one or both of us.”

Travis met Ana’s gaze. “I use to be the Alpha of Hunter Ridge. My den was attacked and everyone was infected by the mutants.” He held his hand up, palm facing the ceiling. Flames appeared, coiling around his hand and up his arm. “I burned my den to the ground, killing everyone but my mate, Myra, our daughter, Josie, and my mother. Although Myra died about twenty-four hours after escaping.”

Ana sagged into Kieran’s arms, feeling like a weight had been lifted, while at the same time, her heart ached for Travis. She couldn’t imagine having to kill her Pack, feeling each soul disconnect and die.

Her vision blurred, but she blinked away the tears. “I have never felt as much love and honor as that which comes from Ashwood. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m home.”

Blaine stepped in front her and tugged her into a hug. “You see, we’re all a bunch of misfits, and each one of us has been touched by this war in one way or another.” He pulled back and held her gaze. “It’s my and Luna’s job to see how you can use that power to help kick ass.”

Of course. She could use her powers to fight Savannah. “I could help take out Savannah.”

Kieran immediately said, “No.”

She glared at him. “You felt my power last night and you know how powerful the witch is.”

He worked his jaw, his leopard flashing in his eyes. “It’s been a long time, and Savannah’s powers could have grown. She’s been asleep and could have stored power.”

“Excuses.” Ana crossed her arms.

“Umm, hey, guys.” Shayna’s soft, panicked voice drifted from the couch, freezing them in place.

Travis rushed over to her. “What is it?”

“My water just broke.”

Chapter Eleven

Kieran fisted his hands at his sides and glared at Ana’s profile from across the waiting room of the medical center. The female hadn’t spoken to him since they’d followed Travis, with his mate in his arms, to the small clinic/hospital in the center of town.

He didn’t want Ana anywhere near Savannah. The witch would know the moment she saw Ana that she was his mate and would do anything to destroy him.

And hurting Ana would destroy him.

He couldn’t take another loss of a loved one. Especially the loss of his mate.

Ana was his, and he’d do anything to protect her. Even if that meant driving her away. His chest tightened as he watched her speaking softly to her father.

Keegan’s forehead was creased, and he constantly watched the closed door to the room where Dani and Sasha had taken Shay and Travis. Next to Keegan sat his mate, Addyson, who wore her black silk gloves—the ones she’d worn before she learned to rebuild her shields to block out others’ nightmares upon touch.

“You know you’ll never win that argument.” Blaine stopped beside Kieran.

Kieran lifted one shoulder. “I don’t have to like it. Savannah will go after each of the three who imprisoned her. Ana has a huge-ass target on her just by being my mate.”

Blaine folded his arms over his chest. “So do Addyson, me, Alec, Shay, and the whole den.” He let out a breath. “I don’t like it either, but my experience with a female equally as stubborn as Ana has taught me the best thing to do is back her up. Literally. Find a compromise both of you can live with. It’s not worth losing your mate over.”

Glancing over, Kieran studied the Alpha. “When did you become so old?”

A soft chuckle escaped before Blaine answered. “After I lost my mother and almost my father. And then more when I became Alpha.”

Kieran’s phone dinged but he ignored it, knowing who it was. After one last scan of the room, then a glance at the clock, he clasped Blaine on the shoulder. “There is no other male, besides your father, I’d rather follow. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have something to take care of.”

Darting out of the door before Blaine could question him, Kieran walked the two blocks to his house. Once inside, he pulled out his cell and dialed. The other male answered on the first ring.

“Took you long enough.”

Kieran growled. “I was busy.”

“Yes, I spoke to Keegan briefly a moment before calling you. Babies are a true blessing.”

“What do you want, Donovan?” Kieran clenched his jaw and fisted his hands.

“There’s a rebel group of rogues about fifty miles north of Ashwood. They need to be dealt with.” The bear Elder’s tone was void of emotion.

“I thought the bears were neutral in this war.”

The bears of Blackrock lived deep in the Cohutta Wilderness Area of Georgia. Their den was secured within the forest with only a small circle of homes, a school, and a recreation building in the center.

The layout was too unorganized for rogues to attack one specific area without being detected, so Felix left them alone. Kieran never understood why.

“Blackrock is neutral but we are not without our own enemies. Since I stepped up as the bear Elder, it is my duty to share information as I receive it.” Annoyance entered Donovan’s tone.

“I’m not an assassin anymore. This is why we are setting up the Sentinels. We can discuss it further in the Elder meeting tomorrow.” Kieran was about to hang up, but Donovan spoke again.

“My source says there are mutants living in the group, and there may be info on where to find Felix.” The bear hung up, ending the conversation.

A moment later, Kieran received an email with the location of the rebel camp and instructions to gather the information needed and then eliminate the group.
Fuck
.

He sent a text to Donovan.
I need a few days to prepare. I’ll let you know when the job is done
.

Ana filled his thoughts and he growled. He couldn’t leave with her mad at him. As much as he hated to admit it, Blaine was right. Kieran had to let Ana fight in the war. Hell, she had as much motivation as he did.

Turning on his heels, he headed back to the medical center where he hoped to drag Ana away for a little heart to heart.

****

Ana’s heart thumped rapidly as she approached the bed. Josie had been the first to rush into her stepmother’s room and climb up to sit next to her and her new brother.

A boy. Travis and Shay had smiles on their faces that brightened up the room.

Shay met everyone’s gazes, one-by-one. “Meet Wesley Shane.”

As the small group of their family moved closer to Shay, Ana sank back, feeling like an outsider crashing an intimate family moment. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. When she reached the door, she glanced to the happy family. Shay met her gaze, the tiger’s brows drawing together with concern. Ana offered her adopted sister a gentle smile before she slipped out of the room.

Stepping out into the crisp fall air, Ana drew in a deep breath. A hint of wood burning from a few fireplaces lingered on the clean mountain air. She needed to find her place here, but she had no clue what to do. Sure, the Andrews had done nothing but welcome her with warm hearts and open arms. Yet, there was something more she should be doing.

The sound of yelling caught her attention. Fixing her gaze on the group of teens in the middle of the street a few yards away, she advanced toward them. Two of the adolescents were Hayden’s stepkids, Bryce and Brenna—twin wolf shifters and the newest members of the Pack. The other two were leopard males about a year older than the twins. Ana didn’t know their names, but she had seen them many times around the den.