Hunted (9 page)

Across the room, sitting in Matt’s favorite chair, was a small, slender woman. Her salt and pepper hair was cut short and framed her angular face. The face had more wrinkles than the last time I’d seen her. But her green eyes were just as alert. What surprised me the most was the sense of power I felt. There was no question it emanated from her. Had it always been there and I just hadn’t realized it? I certainly hadn’t felt it the last time we’d been together.

God, had it really been five years since I’d last seen her? I swallowed hard, remembering that day. I’d been living in Boston, so sure Michael would never find me there. After six weeks or so of always looking over my shoulder, I’d finally begun to hope I might actually be able to have a normal life--or at least as normal a life as one of our kind can. I’d even planned to go by the nearby community college to see about enrolling in some art classes.

I’d been a fool.

One morning I’d stopped by the coffee shop not a mile from my apartment. The barista greeted me with a smile. I inhaled the enticing aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and sighed in contentment. That was the only way to start the morning.

The world came to a screeching halt a few moments later when I turned from the counter, coffee cup in hand. Standing there, close enough to touch, was my grandmother. My cup slipped from fingers suddenly too numb to hold anything. The room spun around me. Fear washed over me. If she’d been able to find me, could Michael be that far behind. Then, without a word, she reached out, steadying me before I could fall. A moment later, I found myself sitting at one of the small tables, watching as she slid onto the chair opposite me.

For more than an hour we talked. Or rather I talked. I asked questions and I despaired. Happenchance had brought us together. Just as easily it could have delivered me into Michael’s hands. A number of clan leaders were in town. I didn’t know whether to laugh at the idea of a convention of shape-changers or to cry because things could have gone so bad so easily.

When I left the coffee shop, I went straight to my apartment and packed up. Two hours later, I was on my way out of town. My life had once more been turned upside down and all because of Michael Jennings.

Now, seeing her sitting just a few feet away, all I could do was grin. Without conscious thought, I hurried across the room. I dropped to my knees in front of her and buried my face against her legs. Her hand gently stroked my hair. But she didn’t rush me. She let the tears come. As sobs wracked me, she gently shifted positions so she could hold me. She whispered soft reassurances in my ear, a mixture of English, Irish and Cherokee, and I sobbed harder as memories of my mother doing the same thing washed over me.

“Finn?” Matt’s worried voice broke through the pain and loneliness of all those years on the run. I choked back a sob and scrubbed my hands over my face.

“I’m okay.” I sniffled, ruining any chance of him believing me. “It’s just reaction.” I reached for my grandmother’s hand, clinging to it. Then, seeing how Matt still looked at me in concern, I reached for his hand with my free one. Anchored between the two of them, I felt my emotional equilibrium returning.

“You look good, child, if a bit splotchy.”

There was just enough good-natured mockery in my grandmother’s voice that I laughed.

“Thanks--I think.” I gave Matt’s hand a reassuring squeeze and let go. Hopefully, he’d understand. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you, Grandma.”

“And you, child.” She dashed away her own tears. “You’ve grown in a number of ways since Boston.”

“Oh?”

Yep, that’s me: the great conversationalist.

“Yes,
oh
.” She grinned, pride shining through. “When did you realize you’re an alpha?”

“Honestly?”

She nodded.

“Day before yesterday when Matt asked why a female alpha was on her own and being hunted by trackers.”

Grandma’s sharp intake of breath spoke volumes as did the way her grip on my hand tightened.

“You’ve been alone far too long, child, and that is something Michael Jennings will have to pay for. But not today. Today is for us.”

“You’ll get no argument from me.” I just hoped to be there, and taking part, the day Michael finally had to atone for all he had cost me. “Right now, nothing matters but the fact you’re here and it isn’t to tell me to run again.”

“If the look on your man’s face is any clue, you’ll never have to run again.” Humor and approval colored her voice.

“My man?”

“Dear heart, even if he hadn’t told me he wanted you as his mate, there could be no mistaking it. The moment you entered the room, his cat leapt so close to the surface I could see it.” She smiled and I relaxed a little. Unless I was greatly mistaken, she approved of this odd relationship Matt and I found ourselves in.

“Grandma, I can’t explain it any other way than to say he completes me. I don’t understand it. I don’t have to. It’s enough to know that it is right.”

She nodded and motioned for me to help her up. I did and watched, holding my breath, as she moved to where Matt stood. He had to be at least five inches taller than she was but there was no question who controlled the room just then. Nor was I surprised when, as she reached up and pulled his head down so she could kiss his cheek, I whooped in relief. Then she turned to me and motioned me to her side.

“Your work?” she asked as she studied my tattoo.

I felt myself blushing, both because she remembered how much I’d love drawing when I was younger and because she recognized it as mine. Still, it was embarrassing how much blushing I’d done of that over the last few days.

“My drawing, yes.”

“You honor our family, child. Thank you.” Tears once more filled her eyes and I knew then that the years I’d been on the run had been as hard on her as they had been on me.

Michael Jennings had more to pay for than I’d realized.

“Have the two of you eaten?” Better not think about vengeance just then. Wasn’t it enough to know I was safe now and reunited with my grandmother?

“She wouldn’t eat until she’d seen for herself that you were all right.”

I grinned, suddenly realizing who she’d brought with her. My mother’s youngest brother, Adam. He’d been at college in England when my parents died. I’d been maybe ten the last time I’d seen him. But no one could ever forget his voice once they’d heard it. Mom had called him, “Singer,” claiming he could soothe any situation just by talking.

“Uncle Adam.” I dove into his open arms.

“You look so much like your mother.” He spoke softly and I felt a tear fall onto my cheek.

“Thank you.” That was just about the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me. Mom had been beautiful. I’d never be that, but for him to say I looked like her meant a lot.

“I’ll get breakfast started,” Matt said softly.

“I’ll help.” I shook my head, grinning like a fool when he started to protest. “I want to help.” Besides, it wasn’t fair to expect him to cook for my relatives when it was obvious they’d shown up before he’d expected them. “Come. There’s coffee brewed.”

Pulling Uncle Adam after me, I reached for my grandmother’s hand. Then we followed Matt into the kitchen. There was no doubt about it. The morning was certainly starting off with a bang.

“So,” Grandma began two hours later. “You’re calling yourself Finn now.”

We were alone in the house. Matt and Uncle Adam had left after breakfast, Matt muttering something about wanting to make sure everything was ready for tonight. Uncle Adam, on the other hand, had promised he’d have Matt take him by my apartment. He said it was so they could get my things for me, but I wasn’t fooled. He wanted to see if he could find anything there that might help identify the trackers. I’d wanted to protest. After all, I hadn’t been there yet and shouldn’t I be the first to check to see what sort of damage they’d done? But then I remembered Mom telling me that her brother could not only charm anyone and anything with his wonderful voice, but he was also better than most trackers. So, if there was anything there to help us find those who’d been hunting me, he’d discover it.

“Yeah.” I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the back of my chair. We’d moved into the den after I’d put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.  “I learned pretty quickly that I couldn’t use my real name, at least not all of it. So I always tried to use at least part of it. It’s going to take time for me to be able to wrap my head around the fact I can once again be Meg Finley.”

“And yet that is the name you gave Matt Kincade.”

“I’d like to say it’s because I knew in that moment that we were destined to be mated, but I can’t. I was hurting so badly from the taser--and that scared me more than you know. Then he told me how Michael was putting word around the different clans that I might be a danger to our kind. All my defenses dropped and the truth came out before I could stop it.”

She nodded, understanding reflected in her eyes. “I’m not criticizing, Finn.” Now she smiled and the knot in my stomach started unwinding. “You’ve done well for yourself and our people. If anyone has failed, it is the rest of us for not standing up for you. The time has come for the clans to start working together. We can’t continue to be autonomous. The danger everyday technology presents to our kind is too great.”

“I agree.” Especially since that technology was the only reason I could find for Michael even thinking I might be in Dallas. Either I’d been caught on some cell phone video posted to the internet or my fingerprints or DNA got flagged somehow. None of which I could have prevented. “I’m just glad I don’t have to run any longer.”

“You’re sure? This is what you want and you’re willing to take the risk of what Michael will do when he has confirmation you’ve surfaced again?”

I opened my mouth to assure her it was exactly what I wanted. Then I closed it with a snap. Everything had been happening so quickly that neither Matt nor I had really thought about the consequences of what we planned. For whatever reason, Michael had continued to hunt me for all these years. He’d violated territorial boundaries at least once and, unless I missed my guess, many times in his efforts to find me. Who knew what other laws, both shape-changer and normal, he’d violated?

And who knew what he’d do once he realized Matt had offered me sanctuary with his clan and had taken me as his mate?

But it was time to quit running. Even now, only two days after making the decision to stay, I felt better than I had in years. There was a sense of belonging I’d missed since learning of my parents’ deaths. More than that, there were the beginnings of a sense of purpose at the very core of my being that hadn’t been there before. I wasn’t sure where it would lead, but I wanted to give it the chance to grow.

“I’ll talk with Matt about it, make sure he understands that this could cause problems, but this is what I want.” I stood and moved to sit next to her on the sofa. I hated the worry reflected in her eyes. More than that, I hated the fact I was the cause of it. How many of the wrinkles marking her face were there because of me? “Grandma, I won’t say I’m not concerned. The thought of what Michael might try worries me. Hell, it scares me after this last run-in with his trackers. But I’m tired of running. I’m tired of being cut off from my family. I’ve missed being with others of our kind. If that means facing Michael at some point, I will.” Even if the thought scared the hell out of me just then.

“You have grown up so much.” She smiled and grasped my hands in hers. “You are always welcome in our pride and clan, Finn. You are one of us through blood and spirit.”

Tears pricked at my eyes and I blinked them back. “I love you.” I leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“Will you do me one favor, child?”

“Of course, Grandma. Anything.”

“Shift for me. Let me see your other form.”

Suddenly nervous, I could only nod. I reminded myself that she’d never seen me shift before. So it was only natural for her to want to now. Still, my heart beat a little faster as I stood and kicked off my shoes. It didn’t take long to strip out of my clothes. To give myself a moment to calm my nerves, I carefully folded underwear, jeans and tank top and placed them on the sofa next to her. Then I stepped back and closed my eyes, reaching inward for my jaguar.

Forcing a shift isn’t like what you see in Hollywood movies. We can’t just start running and, between one step and the next, we change from human to animal. God, were it that easy. Instead, it’s a twisting of muscles, a reshaping of bone. It doesn’t obey the laws of physics as we know them, much less biology. It may take no more than a minute or so, but it is a lifetime of agony followed by sheer power and freedom.

Once shifted, we are not fully animal. Nor are we completely human. Some of us seem to retain more of our “humanity”, that ability to think rationally and not be ruled by our baser animal instincts, than others. They are the ones who usually take on leadership roles within pack and pride. Those best able to control themselves, and others of our kind, become alphas.

“You are such a beautiful girl.” My grandmother knelt next to my shifted form, rubbing between my ears.

Shifted, I felt her power even more than I had as human. My belly dropped to the floor and I rested my head on my paws. It was the closest to bowing I could do. But I didn’t roll over, exposing belly and throat as an act of submission. The jaguar-me wouldn’t allow it. I was an alpha, and she was in my territory--or at least it would be soon.

Her approval washed over me and I purred loudly in satisfaction. It had been so long since I’d had an alpha’s approval. Too long. I’d forgotten how important it was to belong. But never again.

Never again would Michael Jennings drive me from what was rightfully mine.

“Such a beautiful girl,” she repeated and moved so she lay next to me. I nuzzled her, tentatively licking her arm. “Rest now, child. Enjoy this moment of peace.”

I nuzzled her once more and then rested my head back on my paws. She continued to stroke my head, my back, speaking softly. Purring happily, I felt my eyes grow heavy. I was home and I belonged. Nothing else mattered.