He tackled Nicholas to the ground. Their bodies collided, rolling across someone’s perfectly manicured lawn. Nicholas took a swipe at Damon with his paw, and Damon backed off. He didn’t want to fight his brother. Damon moved around him, corralling Nicholas, forcing him to stay put.
“I’ve got a clear shot,” Michael warned.
Damon jumped back. He heard a whoosh of air before a dart embedded itself into the jaguar’s hip. It took effect fairly quickly. Nicholas whined pitifully as he lay down. He looked at Damon as if he’d been betrayed. It cut Damon, breaking his heart. He didn’t want to hurt his brother. Damon sat beside Nicholas, offering comfort while the tranquilizer worked its way through his system. When he went limp, Damon shifted back into his human form.
“Here.” Michael tossed him a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. “You’d better get dressed before you scare the neighbors.”
Damon snorted. “Thanks, man.”
“What’s going on?” Michael asked. “Why isn’t Nicholas shifting?”
Damon sighed. “He was hunting for his mate.”
“Do you want me to carry him back?” he offered.
“Yeah, sure.”
Michael squatted down and wrapped his arms around Nicholas, lifting the jaguar into his arms.
“If he won’t shift to his human form, you’re going to have to drive him to Virginia to see Adam.”
“And how exactly am I going to transport him there? Should I put my brother in a cage or just drug him?”
“He wants his mate, Damon. The animal isn’t going to stop until he gets what he wants.”
“I know,” he murmured. “I’ve got to call Adam.”
They walked back to the house in silence, steering clear of the street lights in order to stay hidden.
Damon’s mind was spinning. He was tired, but more than that, he was worried about his brother. Nicholas had been asleep for almost twenty-four hours, his body healing. Now that he was awake, the jaguar wasn’t going to allow Nicky to shift to his human form. It wasn’t really a surprise. The animal wanted his mate, and he wasn’t going to allow Nicholas to keep them apart any longer.
When they reached the house, Damon opened the front door. He stepped aside, allowing Michael to go in first. The other shifter strode inside and placed Nicholas on the couch.
“The tranquilizer will keep him out for a few hours,” Michael stated. “You’d better figure out your next move before he wakes up.”
“Can you find me a crate large enough to house him for the drive to Virginia?”
Michael nodded. “Sure, no problem.”
“Thanks, man.”
Damon jogged up the stairs, heading for his bedroom. When he stepped over the threshold, Rory jerked upright.
“Did you find him?”
He knelt down beside their bed and pulled out a couple suitcases. “We need to start packing. We’re taking Nicholas to Virginia.”
Rory climbed out of bed and started packing. While Rory collected their clothes, Damon grabbed his cell phone off the bedside table. He dialed Adam’s number and hit the send button.
“Is he awake?” Adam asked when he answered.
“He woke up a little while ago, but he’s not shifting.”
“What do you mean?”
“The jaguar is in control. He broke out of the house in order to find you, but I managed to track him down. We had to use a tranquilizer to contain him. I don’t think he’s going to allow a shift until he gets what he wants.”
“Are you willing to pack his bags and drive him here? Or should I catch a flight?”
“We’ll drive him to you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Chapter Seven
Adam couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t even sit still. Walking through the house, he waited impatiently for Nicholas’s arrival. He’d already sent word to the rest of the pack, telling them to stay away for a couple days. He didn’t want his jaguar mate to be bombarded by the other wolves. There would be plenty of time for that later. Now, Adam needed some private time to bond with his mate and get acquainted.
With each hour that passed, Adam started to fidget.
As soon as Nicholas, Damon, and Rory passed over the territory line, Adam felt their presence. Taking a deep breath, Adam blew it out, trying to calm his frayed nerves. He couldn’t believe how anxious he was at seeing Nicholas again.
Adam opened the front door and walked outside. He stepped off the porch, watching as a large white van pull up the driveway. When the ignition shut off, he strode toward the vehicle, intent on seeing his mate. Damon opened the driver’s side door and climbed out.
“How was the drive?” Adam asked.