Mia shrugged. “It gives me plenty of space.”
“I guess so. I'll get outta here now. See you later, Mia.”
“Yeah. See you.”
Gage left without looking back. If he had he would have seen the sorrow and longing etched on her face before she ducked inside the lean-to and started painting.
Chapter Five
Caine
It was time. For seven years now, he'd felt his leopard's desire to challenge their Alpha. He'd worked out and trained every day. He'd pushed himself past his endurance levels in order to build up his speed, stamina, and strength. He'd bulked up so that, at twenty-two, he was broad shouldered with clearly defined muscles.
Once he felt he was physically ready to challenge Zachary, he turned his attention to the financial side of things. It would take more than brute strength to lead the Pard out of the poverty Zachary had allowed it to sink into. For the last four years he'd been slowly building his financial portfolio so that, when the time came, he would have the financial stability to do just that.
Each year that had passed with Zachary Eitenne buying himself lavish gifts and spending money on his whores, money that should have gone to help the less fortunate members of the Pard, Caine found his rage increasing. No more. The Pard deserved better, and by gods, tonight he would make that happen.
It was late evening, the fading sun stained the sky in crimson, pink, and orange hues. Cicadas sang in the trees, the croaking of bullfrogs echoed across the bayou, and every now and then the hiss of a gator could be heard. Spanish moss, which hung heavily on the trees, swayed in the light breeze. It all seemed a fitting backdrop for what was to come.
Many of the Pard were out enjoying the evening breeze after the sweltering heat of a late September day. Their gazes followed Caine as he made his way toward their Alpha's home. Those who were brave enough to follow, or let their curiosity override their fear, trailed behind him in a meandering line.
“What's dis?” Zachary was lounging on his porch with one of his whores draped across his lap.
“Zachary Eitenne, I, Caine Bordeaux, challenge you for your position of Alpha of the Black Water Pard.”
Zachary laughed. “Dis is a joke, yeah?” He couldn't believe anyone had the gall to challenge him. “You're practically a kit. You really tink you can defeat me?”
Caine just looked at him. If Zachary thought he could intimidate him, he was sorely mistaken. “I don't just tink so, I know so. You've been lax too long, old man. You tink yourself unable to be defeated?” He scoffed at the older man. “While you have done no'ting but lie around for years bein' lazy and gettin' fat, I have been trainin' every day for nearly a decade for dis moment. Are you too afraid to accept my challenge?” His tone was mocking.
Zachary snarled. “I accept your challenge, kit. I'm goin' to teach you a lesson.”
Caine didn't bother with stripping before he shifted. The action shredded his clothes but that was why he was wearing a pair of old cut-off shorts and a tank top.
Zachary, however, was a little slower. “You might wanna go on inside da house,” he told the woman before he began to undress. His clothes were expensive and he didn't want to ruin them. The woman watched everything with interest. She was among the select few humans who really knew about the Pard and their compound. For a man who disliked humans, in general, Zachary sure had an affinity for them when he had a sexual itch to scratch.
Word of Caine's challenge spread quickly through the compound and soon the entire Pard was gathered to watch. Whatever happened here tonight would have a ripple effect that would be felt for years to come.
Caine immediately went on the offense. He wanted the fight over quickly. He wasn't worried he couldn't win otherwise; he just didn't want to drag the fight out any longer than necessary. His leopard wasn't as large as Zachary's but the older cat moved slower. With Caine's speed, he overpowered Zachary within minutes. His jaws clamped around Zachary's throat and he bit down while his claws raked the Alpha's side.
Zachary believed he would be the victor. It had been years since he'd been challenged by anyone. The last real fight he'd been in was nearly two decades ago. As a result, he was cocky and self-assured. He realized, a little too late, just how wrong he was. His claws raked at the smaller leopard when he felt Caine's jaws clamp around his throat. He struggled and fought for his life. A snarl tried to escape but it was cut off when his throat was crushed.
Caine held onto the other leopard until he was certain Zachary was dead. He felt a modicum of remorse over the other leopard's death because life, all life, was precious to him, but his overall emotion was one of relief. Relief that it was finally over. Relief that now the Pard could begin to rebuild. Relief that now the Pard could be brought out of squalor.
“Build da pyre. We will pay our respects as is fittin.” Caine's voice echoed in the silence. His gaze went to Remy Delacroix and Beau Lafluer, both of whom stood closest to him. “Pick out a couple of people to help you get da wood needed.”
Remy didn't even blink in surprise. “You got it, Alpha.” He shared a glance with Beau before he motioned for several Pard members to follow them.
“Your mama would be mighty proud of you, if she were here.”
Caine's attention was drawn to Eliza Lafluer. She'd been best friends with his mama. “Thank you for dat, Ms. Eliza. I like to tink she'd be glad to see da Pard comin' under better leadership.”
“So you tink you'll do a better job?”
“I know I will. Da Pard won't be sufferin' in poverty anymore. I've got da means to make it better and I plan to see it happen.”
Eliza approached him before she inclined her head submissively. “She'd be real proud of da man you've become, Caine. I know your papa made you feel like it was your fault she died, but your mama, she loved you. She didn't care if it put her in risk, she wanted to hold her babe in her arms, and she did. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow, your mama knew dat, and she lived her life da best she could and tried to make ever'one around her happy.”
Eulalie Rousseau, Eliza's aunt, overheard them talking and moved to them. “You listen to her, cher. She knew your mama better den anyone. Her, your mama, and my Adelaide, dey were nigh inseparable when dey were girls.” Her voice hitched when she mentioned her daughter. Adelaide had left years ago, when she was a teenager, and she'd not been heard from since.
