“It’s not just about shifters. I don’t want to put Sherrie at risk. I won’t sacrifice her for the sake of our people.”
“We have no idea what we’re up against, but you’re already running scenarios in your mind? Take it easy. I have no wish to hurt the woman.” He cocked his head and studied his would-be partner. “Why do you care so much? You don’t imagine she’s your soul mate, do you?” He drawled the words soul mate.
Wolves were so devoted to the idea of mating for life it was sickening.
“What I feel or don’t feel for her is none of your business,” Walker snapped.
“So we’ve established boundaries. You don’t try to give orders, and I won’t talk about your relationship. I think we’re making progress.”
The other man stepped close and gazed into his eyes. Grant could smell the lupine in him and it made his skin prickle.
“Let’s be clear,” Walker said. “This is about responsibility—something you cats can’t comprehend. I took this girl from her home and I intend to keep her safe until this is over.”
“Then what? She’ll go back to her normal life as if none of this has happened?” Grant couldn’t help baiting the guy. It was so easy. “Will your pack let her go? Will you?” Walker gave a disgusted growl and pushed past, bumping his shoulder. He knocked softly on the door and called Sherrie’s name. The note of longing in his voice revealed everything Grant needed to know about how Walker felt. The shifter was in love with the human, fixated on her the way only a wolf could be. It was said once they found their mate, they were nearly obsessed, and Grant believed it. This guy might kill him if he found out what Grant had been up to with her in the psychic realm. He was glad to be a cat.
Multiple partners shifting and flowing in an erotic dance was a much more natural way to live. And since he’d discovered his ability to reach across the void of space and take a lover in the astral realm, his sex life had become even more interesting.
After a moment, the door opened. Sherrie’s body was backlit, showing her curves under the polyester uniform. Her brown hair was gold-gilded in the halo of light. Grant felt a jolt in his chest, the same adrenaline charge of the heart he got when he shifted, and even though he’d just finished having her, he wanted her again.
It was an interesting effect. Luckily he wasn’t an emotional fool like Walker and could tell the connection was purely chemical. His body reacted strongly to her because it was compelled. She exuded strong pheromones that excited him like catnip. They were acting on the other man too. Grant could smell his lust and, oddly enough, Walker’s arousal spurred his own. The thought of the man’s cock stiff in his pants made Grant even harder.
John cleared his throat. “I’ve brought you clothes. After you change, we should probably get going even though it’s not light out yet. I hope you were able to get some sleep.”
“Some.” Sherrie smiled and accepted the bags. “Thanks.” She closed the cabin door, leaving the men in the dark.
Grant exhaled. “That woman is something special. I think she may be more powerful than both of us together. You’d better watch out for that one, buddy.”
He grinned as Walker stalked past him once more on the way to the Blazer. Wolves were so easy to rile.
John resented every second of Perron’s presence. He’d like to bare fangs and tear the smile right off his smug face. It wasn’t just the natural conflict between wolf and panther, but this particular man he couldn’t stand…and the way he looked at Sherrie.
Still, he couldn’t let his personal feelings interfere with the mission, which was to get to the root of the mysterious illness.
Besides, maybe it was only John’s imagination that the panther kept leering at Sherrie. Unfortunately, he’d gotten a strange vibe from her as well ever since he returned from town. She wouldn’t meet his eyes when he handed her the bags of clothing. Now, as the Blazer climbed the bumpy mountain road, she kept glancing over her shoulder at Perron in the back seat or watching him in the side view mirror. Had something happened while he was gone? Had she unlocked the door and let Perron inside?
John inhaled deeply, searching for the musk of sex. With the swirling pheromones in the air it was hard to tell what he was smelling, but his hackles rose at the mere thought of this other man touching his woman.
Sherrie leaned forward and turned on the radio to fill the silence in the vehicle. There was only one channel available up here in the mountains and the country music was interspersed with static. After several moments, she turned off the radio and sat back to stare out her window at blackness. Then she turned and looked into the backseat at Grant again.