Xiomara spit blood on the ground as she came to a grinding halt. She rolled to her feet and shifted into a crouch all in one movement. Her tangled black hair swung around her.
Ranulf had laughed as he tossed her, naked, from the still moving van. He intended to disgrace her as she had done him, yet again. She sent the cretin a one finger salute as the van raced out of the upscale neighborhood.
Her long black hair covered most of her body as she crouched near a bush. She looked around and raced between the houses. It was early morning in the spring. She should not see too many children. But housekeeping and gardening staff would soon arrive.
She needed to get out of sight and find some clothes.
Half an hour later she neared the tree line. A clothes line? She turned and backtracked. A small rundown cabin, she laughed. It was the last hold out to the American housing market.
She grabbed a pair of jeans and a white tee shirt. Then she looked around the yard. Here there might be something she could use. She pulled on the shirt. It covered just a bit more than her hair. The jeans were another matter. Too short and too big, she would have to make them work.
She head back into the neighborhood. She collected a pair of scissors left on a patio table. And a twenty from a bulging wallet left lying on a poolside chair. Then she discovered a pair of flip flops abandoned beside a swing set. And thankfully they fit.
She headed into the trees with her supplies. Ranulf thought he could slow her down. He thought he would win. He was wrong. She would make him pay.
She cut the legs off the jeans. And quickly cut one leg into thin rope. She cut three pieces and braided them into a belt. She pulled on the short jeans and belt. The other leg she turned into a bag. Cutting and tying the bottom, then adding another braided for a strap.
She pulled off the tee shirt, a couple of quick cuts and ties later and she was done. She pulled the shirt back on. She placed the money, scissors, and left over denim rope in the bag.
She smiled her dark eyes flashing as she slipped the flip-flops in to the bag. Time to work. She took off running in the woods. She knew Ranulf, the inept cur, would not place her near her target.
∞
Victor looked around his brother’s bar and grill. Gregorio and his bride, Catalina, had just left for their honeymoon. He would be watching the place until their return. They deserved this time away. He would not begrudge them. Even though Gregorio was his baby brother and now he was the only member of his family without a mate. His mother would have all her focus on correcting that abnormality.
He smiled as he wiped the bar top. The lunch crowd was still small. Fiontan was working the grill in the back. He loved when humans came in to eat; most of the shifters in the place preferred their meat rare. The fire demon loved the smell of roasting flesh.
Berdine, the waitress, was working the crowd easily. Her French accent lilting as she teased her way around the room. Her brown hair was piled on top her head in a sloppy topknot; she was always struggling to contain it. The non humans in the club knew how hard that was for the slim bear.
Gregorio believed in giving everyone a fair shot. He even had a couple of humans on staff. His brother was much more tolerant than he was. But working the bar would give him a place to hide from his mother until Gregorio returned or one of his other brothers announced the arrival of their cubs. They had decided withhold that information from their mother until after Gregorio celebration was over.
Victor had smelt the change on the females immediately.
“Victor, when are you going to allow me to be a grandmother?” Esparenza asked.
He sighed. “Why are you not with Imelda?”
She sniffed in return, taking a sat at the bar, “Ramon had me removed this morning.”
Victor closed his eyes and cursed under his breath.
“I can still hear you.”
“Well, don’t listen.” He ordered as he walked away.
She continued to sit at the end of the bar. The blond hair female was attracting more than one male’s eyes. If she would just release his father’s memory, Esparenza would have a number of companions to keep her busy and out of his life.
It was time. There had to be a male worthy of his mother’s time and attention.
Victor felt the female enter the bar and automatically turned to assess the species and therefore the dangers of the new customer.
He had never smelt one like her before. She was a curvaceous beauty with waist length midnight black hair tied at her nape. Low slung cutoff left miles of dusky lean legs exposed. A strategically cut tee shirt hugged her full breast, baring a taunt tan stomach and flaring hips. She had some kind of barely there foot ware. More was exposed than covered by her outfit.
His body reacted instantly to the heat she produced. Living in a world of shifters he had been raised to think nothing of the nudity of another. And to not react to the nudity of a female was ingrained. Yet as this female entered the bar he had to shift to remove his discomfort.
His mother noticed as the female caught his attention. That would not do at all. Her warm brown eyes were speculative as she watched the female approach the bar.
The female sat at the bar placing herself in Victor’s favorite place. Her back was naturally to the wall and all those in the bar were in plain sight. She had chosen the best place for a female traveling alone. She knew not to expose herself.
He approached unhurried. Esperanza was watching.
“What can I get you?”
“A sprite and a burger, med please.” A small smile accompanied a whisper soft voice. Her dark eye never rest for more than a moment as she observed the others in Gregorio’s.
Victor stepped away to place her order and not give his mother any more to speculate about. He had not even taken the deep breath he had wanted to in her presence. He still could not tell her species. Not human, but clouded.
Feline, maybe, she had to be an immature one who had never experienced the change. That placed her completely out of the area where he would spend his time getting to know her. He was no cradle robber. He had jeans older than her. He shook his head and took the burger and drink to her.
“I have never seen you here before.”
“Just passing through.” She never met his eyes and quickly inhaled the sandwich.
The female ate like she had not seen food in a while and did not know when she would see it again. He tilled his head as he viewed the puzzle before him. She did not smell human. But she did not eat alike a shifter. No one worth their salt let a fire demon do more than touch their meat.
He stepped to the other end of the bar to pass a beer to the bear that walked up. The one who not half an hour ago had been targeting Berdine. The dark male was indeed trying to make the rounds. She had attracted more attention than just his own.
Mara swallowed the bite she had been chewing. She could not believe how good the meal had tasted. The fire demon she smelt in the back had done a wonderful job. The humans in the place attested to that.
She noted the massive dark bear that had moved to the bar. He was eyeing her luviously. The other patrons of this mixed specie establishment were more speculative. The bear was easy to read. He was hunting a female.
The bear picked up his beer and slid closer to her. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Mara worked to hide her accent.
He leaned in closer even through he had no cause to do so to hear her words. The bear was going to be a problem. “I could buy you lunch then.”
She smiled softly. It was too soon for them to know she was in the area. She had only stopped to eat and relax for a couple of minutes. This bear and his death would draw too much attention, she thought angrily. “No thanks.”
“How about you join us for some fun?”
She looked at the bear and then his friends and smiled wickedly. “I don’t think you could handle me.”
The three bears from the table saunter over. She eyed each one, young, cocky and full of themselves. Time to defuse this now. She turned to them and cross one long leg over the other.
“Boys, I don’t have time for all of you. But if you want to fight over me and then see if you can catch me afterwards, I might think about it.”
“Now come on!” The fair haired bear grouched.
They all knew if she got a head start they would have to spend the day hunting her. They did not know that if she got a head start they would never see her again. Not until she killed them.
“Or we could play a hand of black jack. If one of you can come up with some cards.” One dark brow rose over a sparkling brown eye.
“Black jack?”
“What do you have to play with?”
“Well, after I pay for lunch, about 10 dollars. But I have something you want more.”
“Black jack!” they cheered.
They all slid to the table as she paid for her lunch. She nodded to the male behind the bar. He was beautiful. Something she had not appreciated as she struggled to control her hunger. With her stomach full another hunger was sweeping though her.
He had hair the color of warm butterscotch, perfect to drive into. He was feline, 6’3”, lean with whip chord muscle. She just bet he was beautiful as he ran. He smelt of warmth and sunlight and wonderful male. And his warm brown eyes had noted and dismissed her. His mistake.
Victor watched as she picked up the money from the bar and saunter to the table. She kicked a chair into the spot she wanted and straddled the chair. He tilled his head intrigued despite his hand off policy of avoiding young females. He had lived to many centuries to change now.
“Let’s see those cards.” She demanded her long limbs wrapped around the back of the chair she straddled.
“What?” Beringar pulled a deck from his pocket.
“Give me.” A dark brow rose as she waited.
“Are you accusing us of cheating?” The bear growled.
“I am not prey.” She snapped her fingers. “Bartender, you got a new deck back there?”
The bears snickered. They knew who was tending the bar, who the female had insulted. The head of the North American jaguar clan strolled to the table with a new deck of cards. Victor smiled as he watched the bears. The female was not intimidated.
She barely acknowledged him as she handed him the bear’s cards. He felt the faint hum of magic as she took his deck. She had picked up the magic before she touched the cards. The female had been exposed to magic. Maybe she was a witch.
Many witches hide who they were in a club filled with shifters. Magickind were some of the physically weakest beings. Definitely a disadvantage when they traveled alone.
“Do you want to check the deck?” They all mumbled in the negative as she pulled the clean new deck out. “You may deal.” she handed the cards to one of the bears.
“Can we know who we play with?”
“Mara. And you are?” She never took her eyes from the cards
“Arturo.” He shuffled easily and pointed to his left. “Beringar and that is Tarben.”
“I’m Ursus.” The dark bear from the bar said.
“Deal, before you wear the color off those cards.”
Tarben laughed as the first of the cards hit the table.
“Lunch is on the house.” Victor said as he slid her money back to her.
She never acknowledged him nor touched the money. An hour later she had cleaned all four male’s pockets, yet still they watched her stand and stretch appreciatively. She slid some of the money in her pocket and some in the bag she carried.
“You have to give us the chance to win our money back.” Tarben wheedled.
“Arturo, don’t play with these guys anymore. They are just fleecing you.” She turned to the bar and laid the ten back on the counter. “Thanks, but I pay my own way.”
“And where would that take you?” Victor wondered.
“To many ferocious and diverse places.” Mara stepped away from the bar. She had the money she needed for the night. Plenty, she could buy food and maybe some clothes and if she was very careful a bed.
“Young lady, where are you going?”
This was the first time the matriarch had address her. She had known the lady jaguar was present but had avoided her. Now she approached softly. Mara bowed her head and stepped backwards away from her. Difference and respect in every move she made. She had hoped the matriarch would not acknowledge a lone female.
“I must go.” She never met her eyes.
“Where?” The question stopped her short.
“I don’t know.” The truth hung in the air.
“Then stay here.”
“I cannot.” Truth again. She could not stay and continue to hustle the customers. Once in the bar was enough.
“Victor, do you not need an extra waitress until Catalina returns?” Her tone stating the decision was made.
“You know we are short one.” He never looked at her.
She knew every male that was watching her move. These past months she had grown more and more uncomfortable in her own skin. She needed to move, to run, and to hunt.
“I could not.” Mara began backing away. She would never turn her back on another female.
“Mara, would you please help me by working at Gregorio’s?” Mara bowed her head and turned towards the door to run. “I would consider it a personal favor.”
“Yes, Matriarch.” She whispered, feeling trapped.
“Good. Son, find this young lady an apron to wear and she can work this afternoon.” The Matriarch stepped behind the bar
“Yes, Esparenza.” He nodded to his mother.
∞
Victor slowly walked from behind the bar. His mother had hired the female and as such he could not fire her. He led the way into a back storage room. He needed to get rid of this female now.
“You do not have to stay and work here.” Victor said as she stepped into the room.
“I told the matriarch I would do it and I will.” She hissed her brown eye now cold and flinty.
“I just thought you did not want to be here.”
“I do not do what I don’t want.”
He handed her an apron with Gregorio’s logo on it. She hissed at him and started to turn away. As his hand would have touched the bare skin on her arm she leapt to the side.
He lowered his hand. The female was quick to be agitated. He did not need this in his life. He stayed still as she calmed and a reserve slid over her beautiful face.
He stood admiring her as she backed away from him. She had beautiful skin the color of milk chocolate. Just the thought of which was enough for him to want to lick her all over and see if she tasted as good as she looked. Her cheek bones were high and hinted of an ancient American heritage. Long straight locks of black hair hang down her back. And he wondered how those locks would feel wrapped around his fist as he feasted from her mouth.
This female was even more dangerous then he had thought. He would need to avoid her and the machination of his mother until she left.
Mara backed away from the heat in the male before her. She had no time for this. She would do as the Matriarch asked. Then she would run at the first opportunity. Ranulf was most likely hunting their prey even as she stood here.
This delay could cost her more than she was willing to pay. And for a male who was fighting his interest in her.
∞
Ranulf stocked about the shambles of the empty offices. Every piece of furniture had been attacked. Leather torn from the couch floated in the air with circuits from the pair of destroyed computers. Claw marks covered the desk and paneled walls.
The realization that their prey had escaped them infuriated him.
In fact he had not been in this location in quite some time. The scent was cold now. His informant was wrong.
“Find the jackal and skin him.” He kicked a chair across the room embedding it in the wall. “I want to know where he went to.”
Four wolf trackers stormed out of the office. They would find him. He would not be able to hide from them.
∞
Mara strolled down the hall and out into the parking lot behind the bar. She should never have stopped here. Now she was trapped by her word to the Matriarch. And as if her grouchy thoughts had called to her the Matriarch appeared.
“So Mara.” She smiled as the females chin dropped. “What interest has you in my son?”
“Your son?”
“Yes the bartender.”
She smiled. But Mara was not fool. The males rules by their strength, but they all bowed before a Matriarch. She ruled her family by her wits.
“I have no interest other than he is a beautiful specimen.”
“Beautiful specimen.” She chortled, “If only his brothers could hear that.”
Dark brows rose. “He is not beautiful?”
“He has always been beautiful to me. But too few others.”
“Are you warning me away? Or drawing my curiosity?”
“It is time my son had a mate-“
“Warning me away!” She exclaimed turning to run.
“Mara, you promised.”
Her head crashed to her chest as the matriarch’s soft voice reached her at the tree line. Two more seconds and she would have been out of her reach. She stalked back and picked up the apron.
“Tonight only. No more!” She growled.
Esparenza watch the young female storm into the bar and grill with a smile on her lips. If her son needed more than one night to claim his mate she would eat her hat.
Victor watched as Berdine walked Mara through a few orders. The waitress explained all she would be expected to do that night. Mara preformed all that was asked of her but not happily.
“I never thought I would see that scowl leave her face.” Berdine said an hour later.
“What?” Victor asked, as he pasted the beers over the counter.
Berdine nodded to the far side of the room where three wolves were eyeing the new waitress. The apron tied low on her hips drew their attention to her flat stomach that was now dancing as she struggled to hold in her laughter. She was a beautiful sight with her dark eye flashing and her lips quirking.
Jaguars on the other side of the bar slid to the tables away from the anger that momentarily filled Victor’s face. He could not believe the possessiveness that filled him at their attention. And at her response to them, she had never smiled at him. Yet she was almost laughing at the wolves.
“Son, you are frightening all the customers. If you continue this way, Gregorio’s will close and your brother and his new bride will move in with you.”
“And why not you?” he glowered.
“Because, I am not glaring daggers at them.” She smiled and shook her head. “She is quite beautiful.”
“She is young, and works here.”
“Is that the reason you are trying to keep them away for her?” She nodded to the customers ogling the new waitress.
“She should not have to deal with having them paw her.” He filled another glass while trying not to keep one eye on Mara. One young girl should not cause this much chaos inside him.
“She is no one’s mate. There is no one to protect her-“
Suddenly a body slammed to the floor. And laughter from the front of the bar captured everyone’s attention.
“You want to regrow that paw.” Mara growled.
“Now sweet cheeks…”
She leaned down giving everyone in the place a view of the sweet curves exposed by the short denim. She flipped the wolf on his back and raised his arm to an uncomfortable angle. She crouched over him angry.
“Sweet, this would be so much more fun if you would just flip me back.” He nodded to where her lags straddled his shoulders.
“Can a wolf think with nothing except his-“
“Mara, do you need help.” Victor asked as he stepped to her side. He had launched himself across the bar so fast. Those around drew in startled breathes.
She squeezed the wolf’s wrist until she heard a bone crush. “No, we have an understanding. Don’t we?”
“Sure, sweet thing,” he said eyeing her over his shoulder. “It was worth it.”
She leaned down, then said with a whisper and a smile. “Next time I will cut something off you will miss as it regrows.”
The other wolves laughed as they helping their friend scrabbled from under the dark female. Meanwhile Victor pulled her angry form away. She was ready to attack them and he was most sure Gregorio would disapprove.
“The waitresses are not here for you to paw.”
“Come on.” They whined.
“Next time I’ll let her carry through her threat.” He returned placing his hands on Mara’s shoulders and guiding her away from the wolves, and out the back door. “Never worked in the public?”
“He is likely all I broke was his wrist.” She snapped stepping away from the warm male. “I told her this was not a good idea.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry none of the others will touch you,”
“Why, because you say so?”
“No, because to have that part of your anatomy remove while you have an erection can cause serious blood lose.”
Mara’s stance relaxed and one corner of her mouth rose. But it was her taunt stomach that caught his attention. It rolled and wiggled as she controlled her laughter. Nothing showed on her face. But that inviting skin laughed with him. It drew him and one hand reached to touch it.
“Are you trying to lose some blood now?”
He shook his head. “He touched your stomach?”
“And I broke his wrist.”
“He wanted to feel your laughter.” For some reason that angered him more than the thought of the wolf grabbing her, he did not want her to share her laughter with others.
“What?” confusion filled her soft voice.
“When you laugh the only place it is visible is your stomach.”
“Well, that is nice to know. No more bare stomach for me.” She growled disgusted.
“I like it.”
“Enough to risk your parts?” Her stomach rippled again.
“As the wolf said it was worth it.” He raised one dark blond brow.
