“Thanks. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Daniel replied and set off at a run. If Lance taken the bike, then he was looking for River, and if River was in danger, he was going to be there with her, no matter what.
His cell began to ring again as he raced out towards the Christmas Tree farm.
“Daniel, I’m sorry, he had her bike, she went out to confront him, and he just took her!” Alice cried down the phone.
“Which way did he take her?” Daniel asked, not missing a beat.
“The road out of town, past the dairy,” Alice replied.
“Thanks, stay where you are. I’ll call you when I’ve found her,” Daniel replied and hung up.
That’s enough. It’s my turn,his cougar said and Daniel knew he was right. He was far enough away from most of the town that he could shift without causing a major panic.
He slipped behind a large hedge, took off his clothes and folded them before pushing them into the branches, out of sight of prying eyes. He’d come back for them later.
He felt the rage of his inner cat bubbling to the surface.First his eyes changed shape, then color, golden fur sprouted out of his skin and his muscles and bones began to move until the powerful mountain lion stood where Daniel had a moment before.
In his cougar form, he was faster, stronger, his hearing was better, and his eyes could see everything, even in the dark. It was only three p.m. but already the night was drawing in and he would need every advantage he could muster.
Let’s go. He raced forward, tearing up the distance between him and the road out of town. The powder snow sprayed around him, the cold of it not bothering him as he was focused on one thing, and one thing alone–his mate was in danger.
As he reached the road the scent of the ex, the motorbike, and River’s fear told him exactly where he needed to go. Without hesitation he moved. He was the hunter stalking his prey. He was the master of these woods, and anything in there was there only because he allowed them to be there.
The scent grew stronger as he ran through the trees, parallel to the road. Then he heard River scream.
The scent of her fear was everywhere, but he knew where his mate was. He ran straight for a line of trees that acted as a natural screen from the road and burst through them without a second thought.
The bike was on its stand, close by the trees to keep it out of sight. River was lying on the ground in a skirt, jacket, and kitten heels that were not at all suited to snow, and the ex was standing over her, his belt in his hands.
Don’t kill him, Daniel warned his cougar.
He deserves to die,his cougar argued, fighting him forcontrol.
That’s not our call.
If he hurts our mate, he dies.
It was logic Daniel couldn’t really argue against, but though he knew that River would be much safer with the man dead, he knew that a mountain lion mauling so close to the village would just cause a panic and an innocent animal to be hunted down. Death only brought death.
No,Daniel said firmly, and the cat stopped arguing, sensing as he did that they needed to be united in this. They had to protect River, and everything else could come later.
He growled and the ex turned slowly to face the mountain lion. River’s eyes were wide with terror, but Daniel forced himself to focus on Lance.The threat.
“Get out of here, stupid animal,” Lance shouted and kicked snow at Daniel, no doubt expecting him to skitter. But Daniel only curled his lip and snarled. He slowly moved forwards towards Lance, his teeth barred and his fur standing on end.
Lance seemed to realize the danger he was in and tried to run for the bike, kicking up a cloud of powdered snow in his wake.
Daniel leaped, putting himself between the cowardly man who had abandoned River on the ground, and the bike.River’sbike.
Daniel gathered himself on his haunches and sprang. It was obvious that his enemy had no knowledge of survival in the wild. Daniel landed square on his back and sang his claws into his flesh. Lance screamed in pain and the cougar roared.
Movement caught his eye: River was mid-crouch when hemet her eye, and then suddenly her widened eyes narrowed, and the fear melted from her face.
“It can’t be,” she said, canting her head, and then a smile tugged at her lips. “You ass.”
Daniel couldn’t help but bark a laugh at River’s response to his form.
“Help me!,” Lance yelled. “Please!” he cried.
