Worth Fighting For

Chapter 2

Idiot. I’m surrounded by idiots. It had been glaringly obvious from Stella’s viewpoint, hiding in the bushes upwind of the locals, any type of rescue for her brother would be suicide.

Even before the foxes had arrived, there were too many wolves for their small party of hybrids to overtake. And then the foxes had shown up and the numbers became even more overwhelming.

Yet, for whatever reason, her idiot brother’s idiot right hand man had run out and attacked one of the foxes. Did he really think he could take on two entire packs?

On second thought, she didn’t want the answer to that question. Although he resembled his mother–a panther shifter–apparently, there was enough coyote in him from his father to make him dumb as a dog.

As soon as the human bitch, Julie, had escaped, they should have abandoned the plan and left, getting as far away as possible. But nooo, her brother hadn’t even told her. Had instead chased down the car the woman had used to escape. Anybody with half a brain should have known the wolves would be out in droves searching for the woman. Once she’d gotten to the truck, leaving was the only intelligent option.

Then again, intelligence had never been her brother’s strong suit. Stella was the thinker. She had as much brains as her brother Jay had brawn, which made the two of them a formidable pair.

She should have known he would screw this up for her. For months, she’d been working her ass off to line everything up.

A shiver snaked down her spine as she remembered the cheetah council member she had slept with in order to get her bill proposed. His rough hands yanking on her hair as he shoved into her… There’d been bruises on her hips and breasts for days after each of their get-togethers. Bile rose in her throat, but she pushed it back down.

Everything had fallen into place. All she’d needed was a little canine support, and who better than a Premier with a radical new take on pack leadership? Word about Jason of the Callahan Pack had even reached the hybrids. Rumor was he accepted all types of shifters into his pack. Even the humans in the town.

Stella spit on the ground.

Accepting humans when she and her brother had been rejected at every turn, banned from their mother’s pride and scorned from their father’s. What an insult. So Stella and Jay had hatched a plan to not only give hybrids the respect they deserved, but power. More power than any other breed. And no one would see it coming until it was too late.

The bill she’d labored over would demand all breeds be given an equal number of chairs in the council. Stella had spent months going over the wording, mixing in enough deception to fool the pure bloods while maintaining the hybrid’s legal rights. The felines would support the bill, thinking they would get an advantage, and with Jason’s support, the canines would back it as well. No one would realize the true winners would be the hybrids with all their different variations. Pure bloods never thought much about hybrids, except to insult them.

It would only have been a matter of time before hybrids took over completely. A new rule would form. With her, the mastermind who orchestrated the change, as Queen.

Stella sneered as she watched events play out in the clearing. Everything had been falling into place exactly as needed. Even after Jay had failed to seduce the wolf’s sister, they’d hatched this kidnapping plan. Things had been set up perfectly, but even the best laid plans could be ruined by someone else’s incompetence. If only her brother’s idiot friend hadn’t allowed the woman to escape.

Now, everything was ruined. Without the support of an influential wolf Premier, the bill would never pass. All that work down the drain.

She’d need to come up with a new plan. But this time she wouldn’t be able to use her brother. A pang of agony shot through her as she gazed at Jay. She’d heard them say they were sending him to the council for judgment, and Stella knew what that meant. There was nothing she could do to save him. She only hoped his death would be quick and painless.

Throughout her entire life, Jay had been the one constant. The one person she could always count on. After everyone else had abandoned them, they’d still had each other. But from here on out, she was on her own.

Rage burned hot in her belly. When she became Queen of the shifters, she would avenge this injustice. He should have been at her side as she ruled, reaping the benefits of their hard work.

Turning away, Stella cast one last look at her brother over her shoulder as chaos reigned below. Wolves still surrounded him on every side, leaving no opening for a rescue, even in the confusion following the attack on the vixen fox. The knowledge of his encroaching death enveloped him.

An idea took shape as she stared at the scene, imprinting every detail on her memory. Two neighboring packs against a couple of lone hybrids… She could twist this to her advantage. Before she was done, everyone would remember her brother as a martyr. More, he’d be a hero.

The wolves and foxes would regret the day they took Jay from her. If nothing else, she’d make sure of that.

Cody turned in time to see the beast tackle Misty to the ground. His heart froze as he watched the pair slide across the forest floor. Every muscle tensed as he stared at Misty’s still figure under the large animal. Fear thudded through his veins.

The thump of impact as the cat tackled her had echoed throughout the clearing. It could have broken her neck.

No. Cody wouldn’t accept that. Still in human form, he rushed to her side, but kept getting tripped up by the foxes around him. Everyone stood frozen, staring at the pair.

“Help her!” Cody shouted at the group. As if his shout broke a spell, the foxes and wolves sprung to action. Foxes leapt at the cat, forcing him backward. Still, he kept Misty trapped underneath him.

Cody tried once again to reach them, desperate to get Misty out of there. She still wasn’t moving. As more time passed without movement, a band tightened across his chest until he struggled to breathe.

His skulk continued to fight, surrounding the pair, making it difficult to reach them. As if in slow motion, Cody watched the beast remove one of the foxes from his back and throw him straight at Cody. They both went down as the fox plowed into his chest.

The Premier instinct demanded he make sure the fox wasn’t injured, even while the band around his chest tightened. Panic threatened–if he didn’t get to Misty soon, he would go crazy. The fox who’d been thrown grimaced, but nodded Cody onward, obviously sensing how close he stood to losing it.

Cody rose and looked at the pair, hoping his skulk had managed to free Misty. Although they hadn’t more than budged the beast, Misty’s back legs flailed in a futile effort to push him off. She was alive. The relief almost brought him to his knees.

Spurred to action, Cody grabbed a fallen tree branch off the ground and rushed the animal. There was no time to shift. Besides, it would be easier to grab Misty and remove her from the fray with opposable thumbs.

He shoved a couple of foxes out of his way in his rush, but finally reached his destination. Lifting the stick over his shoulder, Cody swung it like a club, hitting the cat on the side of the head. The blow did no more than turn the head of the beast. He stared in shock, bracing himself for a retaliatory attack. At least if the cat jumped him, he’d get off Misty. What was a little mauling if it put her out of harm’s way?

The beast leapt forward but was tackled mid-air by both Jason and Danny in wolf form. The two wolves working together knocked the animal off his feet, the trio tumbling to the side. Cody barely spared them a glance as his gaze shot to Misty. Her fox eyes were wide and panicked as she took large wheezing breaths.

“Damn it, Misty.” He bent down and scooped her into his arms. The fight continued on next to him, but was winding down. This shifter wasn’t as strong as the other one had been. Not that it was easy, but with Jason and Danny’s help, the beast was quickly overwhelmed.

Misty continued to wheeze, each pained breath like a stab to his own chest. Sparing a quick glance around, he caught the eye of Brad, his second in command. The fox nodded, telling him without words that he would take care of things there.

Without a word, Cody turned and hurried toward town, clutching Misty to his chest.

“I bet your inhaler is back at the bar, too. You have to carry it with you at all times, damn it.”

Her fox eyes met his human ones in frank disbelief. He could almost hear her snarky voice asking about pockets in her fur.

“I knew it was a bad idea to bring you. Look what almost happened.”

She wiggled in his arms and Cody loosened his hold, adjusting her to run a hand up and down her side. “It’s okay, baby girl. We’ll get you back to town and fix you up. You’re going to be fine.”

He kept talking, going back and forth between recrimination and comfort as he ran toward town.

If he could get to his house, he was pretty sure he still had a spare inhaler she’d left there once in a kitchen drawer. In his arms, Misty’s wheezing started to lessen, and Cody picked up his pace. Years ago, when she’d first been diagnosed, Cody had done some research, and he knew things were more serious when the wheezing stopped. It signaled she was entering a real danger zone.

Static filled his brain. All he could think about was getting home. He could fix her if he just managed to bring her home.

“It’s okay, honey. We’ll get you home and fixed up. Everything’s going to be okay.” Maybe if he kept repeating it, he’d begin to believe it.

He stumbled as Misty twitched in his arms. The thoughts flew from his head as her bones popped with her shift. Her legs stretched out, almost unseating her from his arms, but Cody kept a firm grip on her, breaking into a run as he finally cleared the trees. The fur under his hands retreated, silky skin replacing it. He forced himself to not look down, staring at his house as they neared. He didn’t know why Misty chose now to shift, but it didn’t change anything. Inside he’d find her inhaler. He had to save her.

Misty forced all the air from her lungs, trying one of the breathing techniques her doctor had shown her, and was amazed when her wheezing abated. But for some reason, Cody seemed more distressed by the improvement. His words became frantic, assuring her she’d be okay.

It was kind of charming how worried he was about her. A man wouldn’t be this panicked over a friend, right? Maybe Cody did feel something for her. She tried to reassure him that she was okay now, but her fox form restricted her.

She’d never seen him panic before, but no doubt he was now, she realized as she stared at his darkened features. Those frown lines would cause wrinkles if he kept it up much longer. Although she still felt bruised from where the cat had hit her, and the whole side of her face was burning, the breathing techniques had quieted the asthma. There was no need for his anxiety.

No matter how much she was enjoying being in his arms, she had to let him know she was all right. Focusing inward, Misty drew in her fox, pulling it, aspect by aspect, back inside until her human half took over. Her legs and arms stretched, her fur receded as her skin swelled. She expected Cody to put her down, but instead he continued forth, leaving the front door open in his hasty rush inside.

His hands on her new, overly-sensitive skin sent a shiver through her. What she wouldn’t give to be naked in his arms under different circumstances.

“Cody,” she croaked, her voice hoarse from both the change and the asthma attack. The breathing exercises had helped, but she’d need a puff or two on her inhaler when she got back to the bar.

“No, don’t speak. Just hang on. I’ve got a spare inhaler around here somewhere.” He swore under his breath as he stubbed his toe on the edge of the counter in the dark.

“But Cody–”

“Damn it, Misty. Give me one second to find it. Hang on, okay?” Cody cut her off. She could tell he was past listening as he set her on the counter and shuffled through drawers. With a sigh, Misty leaned back on her hands.

As long as she was here, she might as well enjoy the view. This wasn’t the first time she’d seen Cody naked. Years ago, it had been a regular occurrence whenever they’d gone hunting. But starting in high school, he’d shifted before meeting her. At the time, she’d barely noticed, but as her attraction toward him grew, she longed for the glimpses of Cody’s body. Now, she studied what she’d been missing out on over the years.

Was it any wonder the man captivated her? Although he had the red hair so prevalent among fox shifters, his seemed darker, exotic, and the shaggy cut he favored seemed effortless–even though she’d seen first-hand the hair product in his bathroom.

Unlike many fox shifters, who tended to be short but lanky, his build was stocky, with muscles begging to be licked. And on the subject of things begging to be licked…

Misty bit her lip as her gaze moved lower. Cody wasn’t the largest man she’d ever seen, but he certainly wasn’t lacking in that department either. And if the stories were to be believed, he knew how to use what he had. She’d bet they’d be amazing in bed together. If only she’d managed to convince him to give it a try.

“Got it,” he shouted, holding up one of her spare inhalers she must have left over here at some point.

Misty quickly raised her gaze to his, but the look in his eyes as they met hers told her he knew exactly what she’d been ogling.

Coughing into her hand, she tried to hide the smile refusing to go away. Without warning, he stood before her, pushing her hand aside and trying to shove the inhaler in her mouth.

“It’s okay, Misty. Stop fighting, this is going to help you.”

She grabbed the inhaler from him before he knocked out her teeth, putting her hand in front of her to hold him back, then stared at him in silence until he calmed down.

The breathing exercises had helped with her asthma attack, but her chest still felt sore from struggling to breathe. So Misty took a deep breath with the inhaler, letting the medicine coat her airways. After two puffs, she began to feel normal again, even though her face still stung and she’d likely have two huge bruises on her chest and back–one from the cat and one from the ground.

“You’re okay?” Cody asked, the panic starting to fade from his eyes.

“Yeah. I still hurt in places, but I’ll live.” She thought about mentioning his unnecessary panic, but was glad she hadn’t brought it up after seeing the relief flooding his eyes. No need to bring it up when it would only put him on the defensive. It had been a tough night.

“Wait here. I’ll get the first aid kit for your cut.”

Misty frowned as she watched him walk out of the kitchen. The stinging on the right side of her face became sharper as she focused on it. But was it bad enough to need a first aid kit?

All of a sudden, Misty didn’t feel quite so confident sitting on Cody’s kitchen counter stark naked. With a tentative hand, Misty reached up to assess the damage. Her breath hissed as she encountered raw flesh. Blood covered the tips of her fingers when she pulled them away.

That was one way to kill a girl’s self-confidence. She might be naked, but she’d also bled all over the man’s kitchen while ogling him. As if Cody didn’t have enough embarrassing stories about her, she had to add one more.

“Okay, tell it to me straight. How bad is it?” Misty asked after Cody reappeared carrying some bandages and Neosporin. The question seemed to startle him, and he stared at her cheek for a moment before replying.

“Uh…”

The hesitation made Misty groan. “That bad?”

“No.” The waver in his voice belied the words. “No,” He stated with a firmer tone. “The guy got you pretty good, but it’s already starting to heal. Tomorrow you’ll be good as new, but I want to put something on it to be sure.”

“I actually think it was the ground.”

“What?”

“The gash. I think it’s from sliding on the ground. He tackled my other side. See?” Misty pointed to the darkening spot on her side. “This is where he tackled me. The bruise on my shoulder and gash on my face is from the ground.”

Cody fought the urge to growl as he examined the wounds on Misty’s pale skin. Everything inside him wanted to find the bastard in the town jail and beat the living crap out of him. The cat might outweigh his fox, but the rage he felt assured him of victory.

Even though her shift earlier had likely healed some of the damage, the wounds Cody saw would take a couple days to heal completely. Which proved how bad the damage had been.

Without thought, Cody moved to Misty’s side, his hand bushing the mark on her shoulder where she claimed she’d hit the ground. Blood pooled under the skin, giving the area a bluish tint. By tonight, the area would turn black, and by tomorrow, it would already be yellow. He leaned down and placed a gentle peck above the offended flesh.

Emotions rioted inside him. He’d almost lost her tonight. If they hadn’t gotten the beast off when they did, or if her asthma attack had been worse… He shuddered. He now understood what it had cost Jason to release the man who’d captured his sister. He’d thought he knew before, but these emotions were much worse than he’d imagined.

It wasn’t until he leaned away from her shoulder that he realized his hand had been absently stroking her thigh. Her inner thigh. Snatching it back, he cleared his throat and reached for the Neosporin.

Since the first time they’d met, Cody had always felt a special connection to Misty. Being an only child, he used to fantasize about Misty being his sister. But the feelings crashing through his chest right now didn’t feel very brotherly.

“I should have insisted you stay at the bar,” he muttered under his breath as he cleaned the gash on her cheek.

“You aren’t my father, Cody. Besides, who would have guessed a second man lay in wait, or that he’d attack from behind?”

“We didn’t know what to expect. If you’re going to keep putting yourself in these dangerous situations, I have to insist you learn how to defend yourself.”

“And how am I supposed to do that? Besides the yoga classes I teach in town, there’s a youth ballet class, and a step aerobics class. What kind of self-defense am I going to learn, how to sashay the bad guys to death?”

Cody frowned at her words. She was right. There was nowhere nearby to learn self-defense classes. Most shifters developed a natural instinct to fight, but somehow Misty had missed that day in Shifter Instinct 101. Although, now that he thought about it, developing a class in self-defense for the town wouldn’t be a bad idea. It would be a great way to protect his skulk when he wasn’t around.

Cody glanced back at Misty. She needed to learn now. It would take time to develop a full class and find an instructor. They couldn’t wait that long. He wouldn’t wait.

“I’ll teach you.” Cody twitched. Had he just said those words? He’d been thinking of asking one of the senior members of the skulk to teach her, but the thought of another man putting his hands on Misty, even to teach her self-defense, made him want to throw a blanket over her and shield her nakedness.

What was wrong with him? This was Misty. His friend-who-was-like-a-sister Misty.

He looked down at the thigh he’d been absently rubbing earlier. Maybe not quite like a sister. No, he couldn’t teach her. Right now, the emotions rolling through him were too confusing. But he couldn’t let any of the other male foxes teach her, either. They’d have to figure something else out.

His gaze moved up, stopping at the growing bruise on her side, the skin there already darkening. Once again, instinct warned him not to wait. And he always trusted his instinct.

Glancing up, he gazed into Misty’s eyes. She looked downright giddy at the idea of learning how to fight. Knowing he was caught, Cody sighed. It appeared he would be teaching her. He’d just have to stifle these new, strange feelings for the time being. At least until he figured out what had caused them and put an end to it.