Hour of the Lion

Chapter Fourteen

It was approaching noon the next day when Vic followed Calum down the tiny trail and into the “village” of scattered cabins. “This looks like one of those old west towns in the movies.”

“Very close. We bought the property from a mining consortium and fixed up the abandoned cabins.”

Deep within the mountain range, the village nestled at one end of a small valley under a light layer of snow. Vic frowned. Things didn’t look right. There weren’t any real streets, for one. “Where’s the Main Street? The stores and all that.”

“None.” Calum stepped down onto a ledge and turned to help her.

She ignored his hand and jumped. “Where’s the power lines, electricity, cable?”

“None.”

“Too bizarre,” she muttered. The scent of wood smoke wafted past. “And everybody has to walk to get here?”

He dropped back to pace beside her on the wider trail. “It doesn’t take as long in animal form,” he said. “A dirt road gets as close as the nearest cliff. In the winter, we use snowmobiles to get that far.”

“Grocery? Bookstore?”

“We bring them supplies every few months.”

“Damn.” Although the sun was high, the air still held a nasty bite. She eyed the tree-covered mountains. “At least they won’t run out of firewood.”

His hard hand gripped her nape, and he drew her close enough to take her mouth in a long, thorough kiss. Her knees sagged. Pulling back, he ran a finger over her swollen lips. “I will keep you warm, cariad, never fear.”

Cariad. It sounded more intimate than darling. She sighed. The night she’d spent with him had been terrifying. He’d taken control and kept it, satisfying her with hands and mouth, taking her hard and then gently, again and again. She’d never experienced anything like it, the way he pushed her one moment, cared for her the next. Why had she let him? Let him? Hell, admit it, she’d totally gotten off on doing whatever he commanded, surrendering her will to his. And he’d reacted as if he’d both expected, yet treasured, how she’d…submitted.

Fuck, she’d submitted to him. Like a whipped dog. She pulled back and glared at him.

His eyes narrowed, and he studied her, slowly, his gaze moving over her face, her body. “Little cat, what has you upset?”

“I’m not a dog.” He wasn’t getting it, so she added, “I don’t go belly-up for a man.”

“Ah. This is about last night.” His lips quirked. “No, I doubt you’ve ever gone…belly-up…before.” The utter confidence in his expression, in his whole body, sent a quiver through her. “I’m pleased that you would surrender to me, Victoria. Did you not enjoy making love?”

He’d broken down her defenses until her emotions had been as open to him as her body. He’d made her beg, dammit. She averted her gaze.

His hand cupped her cheek, turning her back to face him. His voice held an officer’s stern determination with that thread of tenderness that undermined all her resistance. “Answer my question, little cat.”

She’d never wanted to lie so bad in her life. But aside from the necessities of the job, she didn’t. Dammit. “Yes. I enjoyed it.” She turned her head. “Too much. I don’t like that I liked it.”

“Look at me.” Gray eyes should be cold, but his were warm. So warm.

“This isn’t who I am, Calum.”

“You only surrender to me because you trust me. And because you want to.” He brushed a kiss over her lips. “This is who you are when you sheathe your claws. You don’t have to stay on guard all the time, Victoria.”

Her mouth flattened. Yes, I do.

He smiled slightly, then started them back down the mountain, leaving her more confused than before. Sometimes when he looked at her with that penetrating gaze, it felt as if he’d touched her soul.

The man scared her spitless.

As they walked past the houses, Vic saw a guy step out of one, bare-assed naked. Without looking around, he shifted into a bear and lumbered up the steep slope. Damn, right out in front of God and everyone.

Calum rapped on the door of a larger cabin.

Vic scowled. Being with Calum was one thing-meeting a bunch of shifters? Entirely different. She didn’t know how to act around them. Deep breath. Things change-deal with it. At least he’d knocked; they obviously observed a few human courtesies.

An old guy, as tough and stringy as a piece of jerky opened the door. “Cosantir, we weren’t expecting you.” His nostrils flared, and his brows went up as he looked between her and Calum. “Well, well. Come in.”

Calum let Vic precede him into the house. She checked the exits: front door, two front windows, and another on the left, door at the rear to a hall leading somewhere. They were in the living area with a woodstove radiating glorious heat. Unlit lanterns hung from hooks on the wall, and woven rugs brightened the wooden floor. Looked like a hunting cabin but without any mounted animal heads or antlers.

After helping her out of her jacket, Calum said, “Victoria, this is Aaron. Aaron, meet Victoria. She has an interesting story for the Elders.”

Vic nodded politely. Great, she’d spend the day being interrogated. She’d been insane to come here.

The old man opened the woodstove and poked at the fire. “Are you staying for a bit?”

“For tonight. One room will serve for us.”

God, just announce to the world that we’re having sex. Vic gave him a nasty look.

Calum’s eyes lit with amusement. He ran his hand down her arm, a touch that soothed even as it sent a wave of heat through her. Those hands were… She stepped back and scowled at him. Sneaky cat.

Aaron cleared his throat.”I’ll summon the Elders.” He inclined his head in a slight bow to Calum, smiled at Vic, and left the cabin.

The small meeting room at the back of the house contained a round oak table with eight chairs. The first Elder to arrive was a wizened old woman.

“Maude, you look in good health,” Calum said.

She smiled and thumped him affectionately along the ribs. “And you also, laddie. Gi’ me a squeeze.”

He hugged her, having to bend almost in half to reach her. Turning, he said, “Maude, this is Victoria. Victoria, Maude who is an Elder of this territory.”

“This territory?” Vic repeated. “There are others?”

“Of course,” Maude said. She studied Vic with sharp blue eyes. “What area are you from?”

Good question. Vic glanced at Calum.

“Mine, Maude.” Calum seated the old woman. “I’ll explain when the others arrive.”

Even as Aaron appeared with a pot of coffee and cups, three more came in. Abigail, Leland, and Perry. All with leathery faces seasoned by sun and wind, keen eyes surrounded by an abundance of wrinkles, and the stringy leanness of barn cats or coyotes.

Aaron took a place at the table and so there were five Elders. Calum pulled out a chair for Vic, and she joined them reluctantly. Whoopee, stuck at King Arthur’s Round Table. She glanced at Calum out of the corner of her eye; at least the king was a hunk.

“You summoned, Cosantir. We’re here. Spit it out.” Leland was taller than the rest and had the bowlegged stride of someone who’d spent time on a horse.

“First, let me finish introductions,” Calum said. “This is Victoria, a new shifter who has not yet experienced her first trawsfur.”

With their impassive expressions, Maude and Leland must play poker, Vic decided. The rest stared at her in blank shock.

“At her age? How can this be?” Aaron asked.

After Calum explained, Maude had tears in her eyes. “I taught the lad in his First Year. Filled with pranks. I didn’t think he’d paid attention, but he remembered when the time came. Well done, Lachlan.” She lifted her cup. “Goddess willing, he will return to run with us again.”

The rest raised their drinks, saying, “As She wills.”

Calum smiled at Vic. “Lachlan has brought us a strong woman; she rivals Alec both in courage and sheer stubbornness.” As the Elders laughed, he said seriously, “I bring Victoria, a werecat, to be Seen.”

There was silence as the Elders studied her. Their eyes seemed to burn deep inside her, exposing her weaknesses, the darkness in her spirit, even the men she’d killed.

She wanted to slink down in her chair, to disappear under the table. So she firmed her spine, straightened her shoulders, and stared back.

The Elders spoke together. “We See Victoria.”

Calum raised his cup again. “Rejoice, Daonain, the clan increases.”

And cups clinked.

That evening, Vic lay on one of the twin beds in the room and watched Jamie pull clothes out of a backpack. To everyone’s surprise, Alec and Jamie had shown up an hour before, having driven as far as possible and hiked the rest of the way. Vic and Calum would have a ride back to Cold Creek tomorrow.

“What kind of a party will this be, anyway?” Vic asked. “I didn’t bring any nice clothes.”

Looking between two T-shirts, Jamie said, “It’s not a fancy party, not like we have in Cold Creek or anything. Nobody here has dress-up stuff.”

“Well, that’s a relief. So this is all right? Jeans and a shirt?”

“Yeah.” Jamie finally picked up one shirt-a blue one that matched her eyes-and pulled it on. “Everybody will bring stuff to eat, but we don’t have to since we don’t live here.”

Vic grunted. “Good thing. I’m not much of a cook. That’s a nice color on you, Jess.”

“Thanks.” The kid looked up from under her lashes. “I’m glad Lachlan made you a shifter. I didn’t want you to leave.”

Vic blinked as warmth enfolded her like a hot bath. “Well. I-” She sighed and let the words spill out. “I would have missed you, munchkin.”

“Were you going to miss Daddy too?”

Look out, Sergeant. This conversation is booby-trapped. With relief, Vic heard a door open and cheerful voices from the living room. It sounded as if more people arrived. Oh, wonderful, she had two no-win options: being polite while strangers stared at the new freak shifter, or discussing a this-can’t-happen relationship with a man’s daughter-or niece-and wasn’t this so totally screwed up?

She chose the least dangerous option and said with a groan, “Guess we’d better get our butts out there.”

Jamie snickered. “Oh, Vicki, it won’t be that bad.”

“Easy for you to say.”

Jamie took her hand and pulled her off the bed. “I’ll take care of you. It’s not a Gathering, so nobody’s gonna fight.”

“No fighting? What’s the point?”

Giggling, Jamie dragged her into the living room. To Vic’s horror, people surged through the front door like ocean breakers.

Aaron trotted over and handed her a big mug of hot chocolate. “I made this for you, young lady.” He gave another one to Jamie before hustling away.

Vic stared at the mug. No beer? Dammit, she really wanted a drink. With a sigh, she sipped, then choked as it burned all the way down, not from the heat, but from the amount of peppermint schnapps Aaron had added. “Good God.”

She pulled Jamie’s cup out of her hands and sniffed it. No peppermint, just chocolate. “Okay, you can drink it.”

Jamie took it back with a suspicious look. “I bet yours is better.”

“And when you’re twenty-one, you’ll get to find out, won’t you?” Vic answered. “Um. What are we supposed to do now?”

“We mingle and…and schmooze.” Jamie frowned. “I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds cool.”

“Come, come, let’s introduce you around.” Aaron popped back and chivvied Vic and Jamie forward like a hyperactive cattle dog. He stopped beside two women in their thirties seated on the sofa. “Victoria, this is Sarah and Gretchen. They’re here visiting their mother until Samhain.”

They offered chill nods.

Vic recognized Gretchen as the woman in Cold Creek who’d run her hand over Calum’s chest. She was tall, slender, and fucking gorgeous with porcelain skin and French-braided platinum blonde hair. Her sister looked completely unrelated with a curvy build, dusky complexion, dark brown eyes, and wavy black hair. Also beautiful. “Nice to meet you,” Vic lied.

“Jamie, Maude’s grandson is here. He’s just your age.” Aaron dragged Jamie away. Traitor, Vic thought at the child, then sighed and took a chair. Although the women looked at her like she’d crawled out of a garbage can, she managed a polite smile.

“So you arrived here with Calum?” Gretchen asked, obviously already knowing the answer.

“That’s right.” Should she mention the attackers? God, someone should have briefed her before this party. “Um, we hiked up from Cold-”

“Hiked?” Sarah interrupted with a thin laugh. “Why didn’t you trawsfur? You made the Cosantir walk like a stinking human?”

Vic considered being polite for all of two seconds and discarded the idea. They disliked her, for whatever reason, and the feeling was mutual. She rose and without one swearword-truly a miracle of self-control-walked away.

“Well!”

Vic didn’t look to see who had spoken. Next stop? A mess of older people, including the Elders, mingled on the other side of the woodstove. Three middle-aged men stood by the door. A handful of women had taken over the kitchen. Jamie was engaged in a vehement argument with two boys about her age. No Calum, no Alec. Damn them.

Maude disengaged from the Elder group. “Come, child, there’s food in the kitchen, and people want to meet you.”

Vic glanced back at bitch one and bitch two. “Sure they do.”

Maude tracked her gaze and gave a womanly snort. Tucking a hand under Vic’s elbow, much like Calum’s habit, she guided her into the kitchen. “Perhaps I should say most want to meet you. Some unattached females, well-”

“I usually have to do something before someone gets all huffy.”

Maude laughed. “Oh, you did, Victoria, you did.”

What had she done? Vic had no time to think as she was introduced to Heather and her mother, Helen. Round and soft with kind blue eyes, Helen smiled and took Vic’s hand in both of hers. “We’re delighted to have another woman for our Clan. Welcome, child, welcome.”

“Thank you,” Vic managed.

The woman’s daughter laughed. “Every female is a stray chick to my mama, no matter how old they are.” Heather was a tall, lanky woman about Vic’s age wearing a russet sweater that matched her hair. She handed her mother a plate of sandwiches. “Here. I saw Leland looking in a few minutes ago. Of course, I’m not sure if he hungered for food or for you.”

Helen flushed and frowned in mock disgust at her daughter. “Such notions you get.” But she took the plate and Vic noticed, headed straight for the tough old Elder. He looked at her like a starving man spotting a McDonald’s.”

“Looks pretty gone on her,” Vic commented.

Heather leaned back against the kitchen table and grinned. “The poor male’s tried to get her into his cabin for years. He’d lifemate her in a heartbeat, but she wants to stay unattached for a while.”

“Ah.” Lifemated was the same as married, right? Why in the world hadn’t Alec or Calum provided a furball dictionary?

Heather tilted her head. “You having an up-close-and-personal encounter with culture shock?”

“I’m past culture shock and well on the road to a major melt-down.” Vic glanced at the crowd. “Is there a way to tell which shifter turns into which animal?”

Heather shoved a package of broccoli toward Vic. “Why don’t you cut those up and we’ll put out some dip.” She started slicing up carrots. “The werecats, like Calum and Alec, usually have a prowling kind of gait. Maude and Aaron and Mama and my brothers are all bears; their walk is more bouncy. A wolf’s gait isn’t as distinctive.”

“But if your mama is a bear, then how come you’re a wolf?”

Heather rolled her eyes in a duh response. “My father or his ancestors must have been one. Me and my brothers are Gather-bred, so we’re not sure of our fathers. But it’s simple genetics, just like red hair or blue eyes.”

Fathers? Before Vic could ask, a commotion at the door got her attention. Alec and Calum. Her spirits lifted so fast it was frightening. The men were quickly engulfed in greetings, but after a minute, Alec looked around, spotted Vic, and headed into the kitchen.

“Hey, Heather,” he said, snatching a carrot from under her knife. “How’s it going? You still CEO of that company?”

Heather gave him a thin smile. “You bet. We’re raking in money hand-over-fist.”

Alec shook his head, grinned at Vic. “Wolves. Nobody’s better at teamwork, and they know right when to close in for the kill.” He plopped down in a chair beside Vic.

Just needing to touch, she stepped closer and patted him on the head, trying not to notice how silky his hair was. The way he smelled of pine forests and masculine musk made her want to nibble on his neck. “Where’d you guys go? The party started a while ago.”

“The village has bathing springs.” He tucked his big hand around her leg, his fingers warm against her inner thigh. His thumb inched up to press on the seam of her jeans-right over her pussy.

She almost cut herself with the knife. Flushing, she glared and tried to move away.

He pulled her closer.

Heather snickered. “Oho, so that’s the scent in the wind. How’s Calum feel about this?”

What exactly was this? Vic glanced down at Alec. Surely Heather wasn’t meaning some relationship.

He had a lazy smile on his face. “Oh, Calum is all in favor.”

“Well, damn. About time.” Heather presented Alec with a carrot as if awarding a prize.

God, she hated being ignorant. “Okay, guys, I’m confused. What are you-”

“I’ve noticed some gaps in her education,” Heather said, frowning at Alec.

“No time. And”-he gave Vic an appeasing smile-”we didn’t want to scare her to death.”

“Scare me? What would-” A squeal from the doorway interrupted her.

“Alec!” Sarah, bitchy-sister-number-two, rushed in and pulled up a chair beside Alec. Her wide hips were balanced by equally large breasts, and she’d placed herself where Alec couldn’t miss seeing all that cleavage.

Feeling positively puny, Vic concentrated on her cutting. She didn’t care. She was leaving, wasn’t she?

Heather’s eyes held sympathy. “Mom and I are making cookies tomorrow. We could use some help. Stirring without an electric beater is tiring.”

Vic managed a smile. “I’d like that.”

“Good. Around ten or so. The house has a blue door since Mom had a feng shui kick a while back.” She picked up the broccoli Vic had sliced and dumped it on the tray. “If you bring the dip, we’ll take this out to the living room.”

“Hey,” Alec protested as they left him.

“That woman reminds me of kudzu,” Vic said, glancing back. “Whatever it wraps around will suffocate and die.”

“Good description,” Heather agreed. “And Alec is so polite with women, he won’t tell her where to take herself. Should we go back and rescue him?”

All that cleavage-he probably doesn’t want to be rescued. The thought made her voice harden. “He’s a big boy. If he wants to turn down what’s being offered, he knows how to do it.”

Going into the living room provided no escape, for there was Gretchen chatting animatedly with Calum, one fragile hand on his arm while she gazed up into his eyes. Seeing the guys with other women hurt, dammit, like someone was slicing her chest open, and that didn’t make any sense. Sure, she’d slept with Calum, slept with Alec, but hell, she didn’t own them. Not even close.

Heather set the tray down on a coffee table in front of the Elders who had taken over the couches. “The dip?” She held out her hand, then followed Vic’s gaze. “Oh, girl, you’ve got it bad.”

“It’s not like that. I-I’m not even sure I’m staying. We’ll probably never see each other again.”

“Well, honey, you just keep telling yourself that.” After setting the dip down, Heather looked around the living room. “Meantime, hmmm…”

“What?”

“You know, when I was a teen, and we first learned to trawsfur, Alec and Calum would leap out of the trees and pounce on me. They almost scared me to death.” Heather’s lips curved into an evil smile. “Although, I did bite Alec once, that’s not nearly enough payback for all the misery they caused. A delayed revenge is much sweeter, don’t you think?”

“Mmmmh, I guess I’m more of a kill-them-now sort of person.” Would anyone notice if she escaped to her bedroom?

“I’m not. There he is… C’mon, I want you to meet my brother.”

Vic hesitated and then followed, shaking her head. Men usually talked sense-women could be totally incomprehensible.

Heather’s brother was a whopping big dude, Marine-sized, with keen brown eyes, shaggy brown hair, and a mouth made for laughing. She liked him immediately.

“Now look at what my little sister brought me today,” he said, taking Vic’s hand and holding it to his very muscular chest.

Heather cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Daniel, but I’m still here. And you’re only my big brother by all of ten minutes. Victoria-”

“Vic or Vicki; nobody calls me Victoria. Almost nobody,” Vic corrected. Although it didn’t sound wrong when Calum said it.

“Vicki, then.” Daniel kissed her fingers before releasing her hand. “I’m Daniel, crippled from being raised with this evil woman.” He grinned at his sister.

“Oh, sure. And all those scars you and Tanner gave me after you learned to trawsfur? The way you’d swing at me with your giant claws, and you call me evil?” Heather punched his arm, grinned at Vic. “I left a six-pack of beer outside, want one?”

“Something cold and alcoholic? You bet.”

Heather wrinkled her nose at her brother. “She sounds just like you.” She took a step, then touched Vic’s arm and whispered, “He’s completely healthy and entirely single, in case you wondered.”

Vic stared after Heather. No, she hadn’t wondered, and although Daniel was exactly the type of man she enjoyed, she sure didn’t need any more guy problems.

“You look like a lost lamb,” he said and linked his hand with hers. “C’mon, we’ll find a corner to commandeer and avoid the wolves…and cats. In fact, I think I’ll keep you to myself for a bit.”

“That won’t be possible,” a cold voice said from behind Vic. Calum moved in, standing close enough that his hip and shoulder brushed hers.

Daniel lifted her hand, pushed her sleeve up to her elbow, exposing the bare skin. “Well, now, doesn’t appear like she’s lifemated. Are you lifemated, Vicki?”

“I’m not sure I know what it means, but I don’t think so.”

“Oh, you’d know,” he assured her, although his steady gaze never left Calum’s.

Alec appeared on her other side, just as close as Calum. She was beginning to feel like a t-bone in front of starving animals.

When she heard an actual growl coming from Alec, Vic turned to stare at him. What the fuck?

“Vixen,” Alec wrapped his big fingers around her biceps. “Let’s go over-”

Oh, right. The minute she found someone to talk to, they’re all over her like bees on honey. Not happening. She pulled her arm out of his grasp, and her hand from Daniel, and glared. “Excuse me, Sheriff, but I think you have some cleavage-I mean Sarah-to see to.” Before he could react, she spun to face Calum. “And I’m sure the Ice Queen desires your presence.”

When Daniel laughed, she lost it completely. The hell with it if her behavior wasn’t very rational. And weren’t they lucky she didn’t have her Glock? She stepped out from between the two brothers, pausing to smile at Daniel. “Maybe some other time when I’m in a better mood. I’m partied out.”

As she walked away, she heard Daniel say plaintively, “Mommy, I want that one. Can’t I-” and then he choked and groaned.

Reaching her bedroom, she shoved a chair underneath the door handle and flopped down onto the bed. What a wussy, abandoning the field to Cleavage and Ice Queen. Very bad strategy.

As Alec watched, his brother stalked past the stunned guests and escaped outside. “Well, that was a surprise,” he murmured. Calum’s famous control had snapped with a vengeance.

“By Herne’s horns, he hits harder than you do,” Daniel wheezed, still hunched over his stomach. “You know, you two used to have a sense of humor. Especially about women.”

“Not this time.” Spotting Aaron’s glare-no fighting inside-Alec pushed Daniel out the front door. The frigid air slapped against his face, restoring his equilibrium.

“Yeah, I get that.” Daniel waggled his eyebrows. “She’s incredibly appealing. Does she even realize you’re trying to court her?”

“No, she doesn’t,” Calum said. He was leaning against the wall. “Forgive me, Daniel. I did lose control.”

Daniel laughed and slapped Calum on the shoulder. “Good to know you’re not perfect, buddy. And though it’s been thirty years or so, you still throw a wicked punch.”

“Indeed. I see you can still provoke a fight faster than anyone in the territory.”

Daniel gave a mock bow. “Thank you, my son, thank you. So what’s the story with the little lady? She looked lost as a heifer without a mama.”

“That’s a disgusting analogy,” Alec said. “I take it you and Tanner are still running the Summerland in Rainier Territory?”

“Yup. Aside from the hellhounds increasing-we lost a new shifter to them last month-we’re doing good.” Daniel brushed the snow off a wooden chair and sat down, propping his boots up on a protruding log of the cabin wall. “Are you going to tell me about Vicki? I’d like -”

“No you wouldn’t,” Calum said flatly.

“Got it.” Daniel shook his head ruefully. “I heard she joined us by way of the Death Gift. What form is she?”

“Lachlan was a cat,” Alec said, “so she must be one too.”

Daniel stared. “Must be? She hasn’t shifted yet?”

Calum sighed. “She was not completely certain she wanted to be a shifter.”

“Hell, littermate, be honest. She knew she didn’t,” Alec said. The thought of her leaving chilled him faster than the air outside. “I’m not sure she’s changed her mind, especially after meeting”-he snorted, remembering her words-”Cleavage and the Ice Queen.”

Daniel’s laugh sounded like a bull’s bellow and echoed off the mountains. “You should have seen your faces, like she’d kneed you in the balls.”

“She was angry with us for some reason,” Calum agreed. “But-”

“Damn, you’re blind, man. With anybody else, you’d see it. The girl’s jealous of you both.” Daniel gave a snort of disgust. “If she hadn’t shown me that, do you really think you could have kept me from her?”

Alec managed to close his mouth. Jealous? He saw the slight smile appear on his brother’s face. “We’re idiots, all right,” Alec said.

“I’m gonna go get some sleep.” Daniel stood up and stretched, then glanced at Alec and Calum. “The way you both arrived within seconds of me touching her, I’d say the jealousy goes two ways, wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah, well, we knew that,” Alec said, then saw the blank look on Calum’s face. “Or not.”