“Why? She’s not a therianthrope.”
“No, but she might be carrying one.”
It took a second for the words to sink in, and when they hit, Phoenix’s jaw dropped and his gaze lasered in on Nadirah’s. “You’re pregnant.”
At her nod, he went through a myriad of emotions, chief among them excitement—he’d never imagined being a dad, but knowing the woman he loved carried their child? Insanely awesome. As for the other feeling that hit soon after? Rage, because this bastard threatened the person he cherished most in this world, even more than his life.
“Promise you won’t hurt her,” Phoenix demanded as he stepped toward the general, hands laced over his head.
“Behave and I won’t have to.”
As Phoenix neared, the general, with a smug smirk of victory, barked, “On your knees.” At the command, Phoenix dropped to the ground, hands still on his head. “Don’t move while Badrul cuffs you.”
Badrul obviously being the pockmarked man who left the quad of remaining mercenaries and approached, dangling metal manacles.
Phoenix kept his gaze locked on Davidson. Cleared his mind of everything but his need to save his mate and unborn cub.
I have to protect.An instinct that hummed within the man, and that desperation called forth his tiger—without injury.
Holy shit, I did it.
Even better, the general didn’t expect it, and that second of surprise proved enough for Phoenix to launch himself. He knocked the general down, and luckily, the gun hit the ground without firing.
The bastard managed to get his hands up to block Phoenix’s open maw, the stubby fingers digging into fur and somehow preventing his teeth from tearing into his throat. Fucker was stronger than he looked. However, while those hands strained to keep Phoenix from biting, they couldn’t stop his paws. Clawsslashed, leaving deep gouges in the general’s chest. Blood flowed copiously from the wounds. Phoenix might have done more damage, but a gunshot to his rear left haunch had him yelping and whirling. The culprit tried to fire again, but his gun jammed and acted as a signal for the other tigers, who suddenly rushed the remaining group. In moments, the mercenary threat had been eliminated.
A glance at the general showed him gasping and bleeding out. His ribs peeked through the torn flesh, and intestines glistened. Phoenix could have put Davidson out of his misery, but he preferred the man suffered after all he’d done.
Chuffing filled the air as the ambush of tigers celebrated their victory, although it came with casualty. Phoenix counted at least four striped felines who would never see another dawn, but it could have been worse. Many more survived, and knowing his enemy was dead, and his mate with their unborn child were now safe, had Phoenix shaking his head and roaring. All the tigers ululated their triumph just as the skies opened up and unleashed a torrential rain.
Phoenix strutted over to Nadirah, who stared in wide-eyed shock. At the sight of him, she burst into tears and held open her arms. Without even thinking, he ran into them—as a man. The shift happened so naturally, he didn’t even have to think of it. He hugged Nadirah tight as she blubbered, “I’m so sorry. He ambushed us in the city and?—”
He kissed her, not just to silence her apology but to reassure himself of her safety. He’d almost lost her. “I love you,” he murmured. “This isn’t your fault, but do me a favor. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
She snorted. “I’ll try.”
“Is it true?” He didn’t have to specify because she immediately nodded and murmured, “I’m pregnant.”
“Holy shit.”
“Is that a happy holy shit or?—”
He lifted and swung her around, laughing. “Ecstatic. That is, assuming you are.” He set her down on her feet, his expression turning more somber.
“I love you. I am beyond happy to— Behind you!” Her sudden scream had him whirling to see a huge silverback rising from the ground, its fur getting soaked by the pounding rain.
What the hell? Malaysia didn’t have gorillas.
“It’s the general,” Nadirah yelled. “He’s not dead.”
At her exclamation, he noticed the human eyes.
The fucker had gone through the protocol.
Once more, without thought, Phoenix transformed, snarling and lunging, but the gorilla proved faster, racing away from him and leaping for the trees, grabbing hold of branches and swinging away.
Phoenix tried to follow on the ground, his hearing attuned but also stymied by the torrential downpour that rattled every leaf and branch. The water also ruined his ability to smell.
Despite the fact that other tigers joined him in the chase, they lost the gorilla, and after a while, they gave up and returned to the village.
