Chasing Payne (8 page)

Lora paced Chase's apartment.

Her purse, which contained her cellphone, was nowhere to be found. She used Chase's landline to call her sister.

Jenna answered on the first ring. “Chase, I swear to God if you laid a finger on—”

“Jenna, it's me.”

There was a pause, and then a long sigh. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” She was far from okay, but she didn't want to get into it over the phone. “Can you come over? And—bring a change of clothes?”

Nothing but silence on the other end. Lora waited, dreading the conclusions her sister would come to.

“Did it happen again?”

Lora cringed at the coolness in her sister's voice. “No, nothing like that.”

“Lora?”

“Please—” Her breath hitched. “I'll explain everything once you get here.”

She disconnected the call before Jenna could say any more. Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead against the wall and fought back tears, but she couldn't shake the pain clenching her chest.

A loud thumping on the front door startled her. She stood and wiped her hands over her eyes. Another series of bangs made her pulse quicken. There was no way her sister had gotten there that fast.

A video surveillance monitor sat suspended on the wall beside the door. It took her five attempts before she figured out how to turn it on. Austin's face popped up on the screen, and he waved at the camera as if he knew she was watching.

“I came to return this.” His voice echoed through the system, and he lifted her black purse to the camera.

She sighed and opened the door.

His eyes went icy and his nostrils flared as his gaze traveled down and back up her body. She was still wearing Chase's oversized t-shirt, her hair was a mess, and she was sure she reeked of sex and pheromones. His brooding, dark gaze said he clearly disapproved.

She took the purse from his outstretched hand. “I'm sorry about last night.”

He shook his head and took a step towards her. Grasping her arm, he trailed his fingers over the skin where the wound had been. “I'm just glad you're okay.”

She tried to pull away and his grip tightened.

“Austin, I—”

A low, muttered curse tore from his lips. “I can't believe the fucker marked you.”

“I was dying.” She took a step backwards, but he trapped her, placing his palms against the wall. “He did what he had to do.”

“I would have done the same.” He gently touched the mark on her neck. He bent down so his lips were close to her ear. “If it had been me in the backseat with you, instead of him, you would be my mate now, not his.”

A shiver of warning crawled up her spine. “Don't—”

“Don't what?” he said harshly. “Don't be honest? He doesn't love you. Not the way I do.”

She blinked in surprise, and her mouth dropped open. “You don't—you can't.”

His jaw flexed and clenched, and he inhaled through his nostrils as if trying to keep his reaction in check. “Do you deny the connection we have?”

She'd be lying if she said no. He was a beautiful man. Power emanated from him. Most women would fall over themselves to have just one night with him, but he wasn't Chase.

A heavy breath escaped her and she closed her eyes.

“I know you feel it.” His voice was a dark, deep male purr, a distinctively werejaguar sound. He ran the back of his hand over her cheek. “It should have been me.”

The edge of regret in his voice tore at her. She knew what it was like to love someone who didn't love her back. But even if she did have deeper feelings for him, she was marked. Therian law stated that she was legally bound to Chase.

“There's a way to reverse the process,” he said, as if reading her mind.

“Reverse the process,” she repeated. She'd heard rumors that it was possible. If there was a way to release Chase, to give him a chance to find his true mate, then she needed to give him the opportunity. Her voice was shaky when she spoke. “How?”

A small smile curled his lips, but there was a darkness in his eyes that made her shiver. “You don't have much time. Three maybe four days before the progression is complete. You need to choose before then.”

“Lora?” Jenna's confused voice echoed from the doorway.

Austin exhaled roughly, before dropping his hands to his side, not taking his gaze off her. “Remember what I said. When this whole charade falls apart, I'll be here. Just don't wait until it's too late.”

He turned, gave a curt nod to Jenna, and walked out the door.

Jenna's eyebrows shot up. She shut the door behind him, and followed Lora into Chase's living room. “Mind telling me what the hell that was about?”

Her composure unravelled. Tears that she had kept contained flowed down her cheeks. “It's such a mess.”

“Oh, Lo-lo.” Jenna dropped the duffle bag she carried and wrapped her arms around her. “It's all right. Whatever happened, we'll fix it.”

“I slept with him.”

Jenna stiffened, put her hands on Lora's shoulders, pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Who?”

“Chase,” Lora mumbled. His name on her lips a reminder of everything they had done.

Dropping her hands, Jenna's expression turned from concerned to seriously pissed off.

“Please don't be angry with me.”

“Angry with you? Why would I be angry with you?” Sarcasm dripped from her words. “It's not like you have any control around him, right?
It's not your fault
—That's what you tell yourself.” She raked her hands through her long auburn hair and looked up at the ceiling. “You're so fucking irrational where he's concerned.” Jenna picked up the duffel bag and threw it at her. “Goddammit, Lora, when are you going to learn?”

Lora flinched, her eyes filling with fresh tears. Jenna had never spoken to her so harshly, not even after the incident that nearly destroyed both of them.

“I didn't mean for it to happen.”

“No, you never do. Just like you never meant for this to happen.” Jenna lifted her shirt revealing a crisscross of raised ugly white scars that wrapped around her stomach and back.

Lora sucked in a sharp breath. The image of her sister's mutilated body sent a stabbing pain of guilt to her stomach. She sat down heavily on the couch and placed her face in her hands.

It was her fault. Because she couldn't control her emotions. Because she had been so obsessed with Chase Payne, that nothing and no one else had mattered. She'd lashed out at the one person who had only ever tried to protect her.

Images of the night flooded her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to block them out, but the memories were fresh and raw from her earlier nightmare. “I know I can never fix what I did, but this is different. I swore I would never lose control again and I won't break my promise.”

Jenna's eyes twitched, and her breathing came out in little huffs. “I'm not going to stand around and watch you self-destruct again.” She gave a hard shake of her head, disappointment clearly etched on her face. She turned to walk away, and then stopped. Her words were almost inaudible, “I hope you know what you're doing.”

Lora didn't have a freaking clue what she was doing, but she wasn't about to tell her sister that. Not when Jenna already believed that Lora was on a one-way road to total and complete self-annihilation. The worst part about it was she knew her sister was right.

Jenna didn't know that Chase had marked her, but Lora doubted it would make a difference in her sister's mind. She clenched her lips together to keep from calling her back, begging her to stay.

When she heard the front door click shut, Lora threw herself across the couch and sobbed. She had no clue what she was going to do, but she needed to get out of Chase's apartment. Needed time alone, to think.

Austin said there was a way to reverse the mating, and she had no reason to doubt him. When she was around him, her animal stayed dormant. With Chase, she could feel her control slipping, the lioness rising inside like a tsunami that couldn't be stopped.

She quickly dressed in the jeans, sweatshirt, and running shoes Jenna had brought, grabbed her clutch and cell phone, and called a cab.

Her sister was right. She was irrational where Chase was concerned. If she was going to make the right decision, then she needed to keep her emotions out of it, and that meant she couldn't be anywhere near him.

Chase stared at the newspaper laid out on Jacob's desk, and cursed as he read the headline.

RARE SUNDA CLOUDED LEOPARD FOUND IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN

“Where is it now?” Chase took a seat across from Jacob.

Jacob leaned back in his chair and let out a heavy sigh. “Our agents were able to convince the local authorities to hand the animal over. It's being placed with the others.”

“You're sure it's another spontaneous morph?”

Jacob lifted a brow. “The last time I checked, leopards weren't indigenous to Northern Michigan.”

Sarcastic asshole.
Chase frowned and shook his head. “So what are we doing about it? We've got our top geneticists working day and night, and are still no closer to figuring out what the hell is causing it, or how to turn the poor bloody bastards human again.”

“We've got bigger problems than just a few spontaneous morphings.” Jacob brushed his fingers through his dark hair, making it stand on end. He kept his voice calm, but there was a clear edge of anxiety that filtered through. “In the past few days, Cyber division has shut down multiple blogs and websites, each one claiming that the random shifts are nature's retribution to mankind. They can barely shut one down before another pops up.”

“Those sites pop up all the time.” Chase shrugged. “People pass them off as nothing more than conspiracy theories.”

“Usually. But whoever's behind the most recent blogs have solid evidence that can expose us to the general public.”

Chase narrowed his eyes, his chest tightening. “What kind of evidence?”

“Pictures. DNA samples. And—” Jacob twisted his computer so that Chase could see the screen. “Every secure file the Therian Agency has produced in the last thirty years.”

Chase jumped from his chair and paced. “Bloody fucking hell.”

Jacob steepled his fingers and frowned. “We've been able to contain the leaked material, but so far we've been unable to locate the original source.”

Chase swallowed tightly. If news of their kind leaked out to the general population, things would go to hell faster than shit in a handbasket. He tried to replicate Jacob's exterior calm. “Do we have any leads?”

“Nothing concrete.” He stood and made his way across the room to a metal filing cabinet. “What we do know is that those three kids you found in that warehouse were doing more than just studying the coyote. They were creating a detailed genetic analysis of its DNA from before he morphed.”

“Before? If they knew the man would shift, then it was possible they knew how.”

Jacob shook his head. Finding what he was looking for, he closed the cabinet, then handed him the case report. “They were working blind. All data came from a concealed source.”

“Did they administer something to cause the morph? If they did, then it's possible our scientists could use it to create an antidote.”

Jacob shook his head. “There's no evidence of anything being administered to the victim.”

Chase opened his mouth, then closed it. It didn't make any fucking sense. “Then how did they know he would morph?”

“The man had been caged nearly four months. The reports we obtained showed a spike in thyroid hormones just days before the full morph. Nothing atypical for a first shift—”

“If he had been a Metamorph,” Chase said, not fully understanding the implications. “What do we have on the coyote? Maybe there is something in the man's past. Something that we can trace back to whatever was done to him.”

“Scott Kehoe. Twenty-five. Human. No shifter connections that we've been able to locate.” Jacob paused, took a deep breath, and looked as if he were debating sharing the piece of information. “He worked as a research technician under Richard Boyd until the fire. After that he went AWOL until he popped up in the warehouse where you found him.”

“As a coyote,” Chase stated, needing to reiterate the absurdity of the fact.

Jacob nodded. “Werecoyote is more accurate, but yes.”

“You think Boyd has something to do with this?” Fuck, he sounded like his brother. Boyd was dead, but Chase didn't think the connection was a coincidence. It never was.

Jacob's expression remained neutral, but Chase saw the quick sliver of acknowledgement behind his friend's eyes. “It's possible someone has continued his research.”

Turner was going to have a fucking heyday with this information. The entire situation was a nightmare. He wiped his hands over his face and blew out roughly.

“We also have to deal with the possibility that we have a mole within the department.”

Another problem to add to the avalanche of shit they had to deal with. “You really think McCaffrey has something to do with the leak?”

“My team found some inconsistencies in his data log. When he was called in for questioning this morning, he didn't respond. His phone's tracking device was turned off after last night's incident. We've been unable to locate him since.” Jacob expression darkened. “You've worked with the man for four years. Has he ever given you any indication that he has ulterior motives? Secrets?”

Chase shook his head. The man was cunning, merciless, and highly intelligent. But he had never sensed any deceit in him.

“I've sent my men to bring him in for questioning.”

If Austin didn't want to be found, he doubted even Jacob's best agents would be able to find him. Chase had taught him well. Probably too well.

“
If
you can find him,” Chase said, somewhat mockingly.

His cell buzzed. He took it out and frowned—
Turner.
Normally he would have returned the call later, but he didn't want to take any chances if the call was about Lora.

Turner's angry voice echoed across the line before Chase had the chance to speak. “Do you mind telling me what the fuck is going on?”

Chase tensed. “Can you be more specific?”

“I was just assaulted by Jenna Oliver outside of your apartment. For some reason she's got it in her head that you're the devil incarnate.” He exhaled a deep, frustrated breath. “Please tell me you didn't fuck Lora.”

He grimaced at Jacob who watched him with interest. “Just keep an eye on the place and make sure she doesn't leave.”

“Too late.”

“What do you mean?” Chase growled, clenching his fists. “I told you to watch her.”

“Cool it, big brother. I'm following the cab as we speak. Looks like she's going back to her apartment. Not sure why you've got two agents trailing her. If she's in some kind of danger, I want to know what we're dealing with.”

Chase froze. “Two agents?” He pressed a code on his phone, transferring the call to Jacob's secure line, and motioned for Jacob to pick it up when it started to ring. “Who else is watching her?”

“Austin McCaffrey.”

His lion awoke with a dangerous, muted growl. It wanted out, and Chase had to fight the animal back. “Has he seen you?”

There was a pause on the other end. “Not that I'm aware of. Why?”

“Just keep an eye on him,” he said, jumping to his feet.

“Would one of you please tell me what the hell is going on?” Turner demanded.

“Go,” Jacob ordered, his lips curling in a snarl. “I'll deal with this. Just make sure Lora's safe.”

Chase didn't hesitate. Rage and fear spurred him through the halls of the agency.

He didn't know what Austin was up to, or why he was following Lora, but an alarming sense of panic tore through his chest.

His animal prowled close to the surface, too close for Chase's liking. Urging him to find his mate, to protect her, and to make sure she knew that she belonged irrevocably to him.

This was what he feared. Why he never wanted to find a mate. To allow another person that much control over you was suicide.

* * *

The door pushed open forcefully, bouncing against the wall.

Lora jumped as Chase came crashing into her tiny apartment. “What are you doing here?”

He slammed the door and stalked towards her. “I could ask you the same question.”

She turned and made her way down the hall towards her bedroom. “It's my apartment.” How long had she been gone? Twenty, thirty minutes max. She swallowed tightly at the implications, stopped, then turned on him. “Did you have me followed?”

He ignored her question, confirming her suspicion. He was such an asshole. She threw her hands in the air and rolled her eyes.

He followed her into the bedroom. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck as she opened the double closet.

“I told you not to go anywhere.”

“So you've graduated from big brother to over protective father.” She looked over her shoulder and gave him an insincere smile. “Lucky me.”

“I'm not your fucking father. I'm your mate, and when I tell you to do something, I expect you to obey.” He kept his gaze on her, boring into her, enforcing his command.

“Obey?” She laughed, bitterly, turning fully to face him. “God, you're so arrogant.”

“Maybe. But I'm not letting you walk away.”

“I'm not walking away—” Even she could hear the lie in her voice. “I just need some time to think about what I need to do.”

“There's nothing to think about.” He took a step towards her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her tight against him. “Whether it's today or tomorrow, you're moving in with me.”

She shook her head against his chest and closed her eyes, resisting the urge to submit to his demands. “Can you hear yourself? Do you even care about what I want?”

His hand slid beneath her hair and cupped the side of her neck. It wasn't only anger she saw in his eyes, it was hunger. Arousal. He lowered his head, caught her lower lip in his teeth and stroked it with his tongue. She shivered against his mouth.

He pulled back slightly. “Tell me. What do you want?”

She let out a rough breath. There was no point playing games. Either he was able to give her what she wanted or he wasn't. “I want you. All of you.”

Something dark crossed his expression, a secret that tormented him. She could sense it. He blinked and it was gone, replaced with a look of frustration. “You have all of me. We're mated. What more can I give you?”

Was he really that dense? She pushed on his chest. “I want more than a relationship based on a freaking hormone.”

A deep nerve-shattering growl ripped from her throat, and she stumbled backwards in fear. The sound continued to resonate through her body. She could sense her control faltering.

No, no, no.

Pain wracked her body as the lioness fought for freedom. Fought for some semblance of control.

“Lora.” Chase's arms were around her, trying to provide comfort, but his words only seemed to give the animal more strength.

With adrenaline coursing through her veins, she was able to push him off. She ran to the bathroom and slammed the door. Chase's voice echoed behind her. She leaned against the door and closed her eyes.

This was what Jenna had warned her would happen.

She was losing control, and if she didn't get away from Chase now, she wasn't certain she would be able to contain her animal much longer.