Authors: Shelley Munro
She disappeared for an instant, swallowed by the shadows. Felix caught sight of her again when she flitted across the street. He followed. Alert and seemingly experienced, the woman kept glancing over her shoulder so Felix had to drop back, letting the 76
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distance between them grow. One moment she was in front of him and the next she’d disappeared. A few minutes later, the throb of an engine over to his right made Felix hurry in that direction.
He was too late.
A late-model bike zipped from a narrow driveway near the railway station, moving so quickly Felix didn’t have a chance to note the number plate. He pulled up in the shadows of the railway station, cursing under his breath as the deep rumble of the bike receded. The woman’s appearance was probably innocent but it wouldn’t hurt to step up security.
Felix turned back to where he’d left his SUV parked and headed for home. He pulled up outside the family homestead and decided to grab a few hours sleep before talking to Saber. Three and a half hours later he walked into the kitchen to find Saber, Emily and Leo already seated around the kitchen table, coffee mugs in hand, discussing plans for drenching the cattle and the possibility of attending a sale to buy sheep.
“I’m worried about the feed situation for the stock,” Saber said. Leo frowned. “You think we should wait until spring?”
Felix grabbed a mug from the cupboard near the coffeemaker, poured himself a cup and dropped into an empty seat. “I saw a stranger in town this morning.”
Emily’s gaze speared to him. “What sort of a stranger? Details. We need details.”
“A woman. It’s probably nothing but Tomasine is so wary. I thought it was strange that she was loitering around the area at that time of the morning. I followed. She escaped on a motor bike before I could note the number plate.”
“A woman?” Leo zeroed in on the one thing that made Felix think his doubts might be unfounded.
“You shouldn’t underestimate a woman,” Emily said indignantly. “We’re capable of anything. We have a female prime minister, you know.”
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“Quite right, sweetheart,” Saber said, winking at his mate. “We were merely surprised.” He turned to Felix. “What made you think the woman might be a threat?”
Felix frowned, thinking back to the moment when he’d seen the woman, trying to analyze his conclusions. Finally he said, “Nothing concrete. Gut instinct.”
Saber nodded. “I’ll inform the elders. We’ll alert everyone and keep a closer eye on Tomasine and her girls. Maybe you could persuade them to move in here. They’d be easier to watch.”
“I’ve asked Tomasine to move in. She flatly refused. She wants to maintain her independence.” Felix’s jaw tightened as he replayed the conversation in his head. He’d wanted to shake her into agreement. He’d wanted to make love to her so well that she’d yearn for him, need him and be desperate to spend time with him. Bottom line—she still didn’t trust him completely and it hurt especially since Tomasine was his mate. Emily reached over the table to pat his hand. Felix felt his throat tighten when he saw the understanding in her eyes. “Give her time, Felix. She’s been on her own, responsible for two girls and she’s trying to keep them safe the best way she knows how. Tomasine needs time to trust us.”
Emily made it seem so easy but he wanted to make the relationship between them permanent. He wanted to help raise Sylvie and Gina and maybe have more children.
“Have you told Tomasine?” Leo asked.
Felix shook his head. “I haven’t talked to her today.” And part of him wanted to protect Tomasine and hide his worries from her. He wanted to keep the information from her but knew it was wrong. “I’ll head over there now and take Sylvie to school and Gina to the bus. Tomasine and I can talk once the girls are safe at school.”
“Give me a description of the woman and her bike so I can spread the word,” Saber said. “Everyone will want to help.”
“Now that they’ve recovered from the shock of her being a shifter,” Leo said, his tone dry. “I swear, some of them have earmarked the two girls as mates for their boys. 78
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You’re going to have boys crowding around your girls once you and Tomasine are settled.”
Felix grimaced inwardly but appreciated his brother’s tact and assumption that Tomasine and him would get together officially. He accepted the notebook and pen Leo snared off the kitchen counter. After thinking back to the previous night, he scribbled down blonde hair. Tall. Slender. Dressed in black. Bike—dark blue or black. No—black. Powerful. Felix scowled at the details before he handed them to Saber. It wasn’t much to go on.
* * * * *
A knock at the door heralded Felix. Tomasine could tell by the double knock followed by the long pause and two more rapid knocks. Felix’s code.
“Felix is here.” Gina glanced toward the door, her chubby face sparkling with eagerness. “I wonder if Leo came with him. Did you hear one set of footsteps or two?”
“I’m not sure.” The thought worried her a little. They were slipping. Relaxing their safety measures. She couldn’t afford to let her guard slip. While Felix didn’t believe her fears of the danger they faced, she knew better. Tomasine glanced at the clock on the wall above the table. Every time the girls left the house she worried. “Sylvie, hurry up with your breakfast or we’ll be late. If you’re finished, go and clean your teeth. Gina, do you have your assignment?”
“All ready to go, Tom.” She bustled about cleaning up in the small kitchen as she did every morning. “Do you have any assignments today?”
“I thought I might drive out to Sutton Lake and write a piece on that since it’s the only inland salt lake in New Zealand.” Tomasine opened the door and both Felix and Leo stepped inside. Tomasine’s stomach started to flutter straightaway, her nipples pulled tight and she was very aware of the way her clothes draped across her body. She wanted Felix to remove them for her piece by piece, kissing each part of her body he uncovered.
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“Hi.” Felix walked straight up to her and kissed her slowly. She felt his touch clear to her toes—heck, her toes curled.
“Ah-um.” Gina cleared her throat loudly. “If we don’t leave now, I’ll miss the bus. You’re not dressed.”
“I’ll run the girls to school for you,” Leo said.
“Good,” Gina said, fluttering her eyelashes.
When Tomasine pulled away from Felix, she noticed Gina had applied a little makeup but didn’t say anything to embarrass the girl. Leo was universally popular with all of them and she trusted him enough to take the girls to school even though it didn’t stop her worrying. “Are you sure it’s no trouble?”
Leo grinned and edged away from Gina. His tactful silence regarding Gina’s enthusiasm and bumbling attempts to flirt made Tomasine like Felix’s brother even more. “We decided to muster the stock for drenching later this afternoon so I’m at your disposal.”
“Thanks.” Tomasine stooped to kiss Sylvie and gave Gina a hug. “Be good.”
“Always,” Gina said, casting her a cheeky grin. “Do you have a girlfriend?” she asked Leo.
Tomasine caught Leo rolling his eyes before opening the door to usher the two girls out. She bit back a smile.
“Do you have a girlfriend?” Sylvie asked, taking Leo’s hand. “Gina wants to be your girlfriend. She likes you.”
“Shut up, Sylvie,” Gina snapped.
Tomasine could see Gina’s cheeks were hot enough to act as a breakfast griddle while Sylvie looked like a mischievous imp. She couldn’t help grinning at the slice of normality, the teasing between siblings.
“Sylvie, that’s enough,” she said, attempting to rein in her amusement. It wouldn’t do for Gina to catch her laughing. “Be good for Leo.” She bent to kiss her daughter, 80
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smiled encouragingly at Gina, made sure they had their bags and books and waved to them from the doorstep. She glanced over her shoulder and said, “I see Gina managed to score the front seat beside Leo.” Instead of the grin she expected, he remained serious.
“We need to talk.”
“What? You’re not going to rush me off to the bedroom?” Her attempt at humor fell flat.
He hesitated once she’d dropped into a chair at the table in the dining room. Her gut churned on seeing his expression. Surely, he wasn’t going to ask her to marry him, to mate officially? Although she was tempted, she couldn’t tie herself to one man. Cripes, how was she going to handle him if he asked her to mate?
Felix dropped into the seat opposite her. “Last night when I was walking to my car I saw a strange woman, someone I didn’t recognize.”
Oh god. Tomasine bounded to her feet, her gaze darting around the lounge and kitchen area and the portion of the back lawn she could see from where she stood, as if the stranger were in sight. Illogical, but adrenaline pumped through her veins along with the need for flight. Tomasine inhaled deeply.
Keep it together. You can do this.
“What did she look like? Where did she go?” Her questions held clear panic despite her deep breath and attempt at calmness.
“Please sit. It might be nothing but I thought you should know. I followed the woman and lost her before I could get a good description. She was blonde. Slender. She wore black and rode a motorbike.”
“I’d better pack,” Tomasine said, her mind busy as she tried to determine where to run, the best place to hide. Fatigue struck at the thought of running yet again. Tomasine shoved it aside and focused. North. She’d head north and catch the ferry over Cook Strait to Wellington. Perhaps she’d head to Auckland since it was a bigger city. Although she disliked cities, it was easier to lose followers amongst the mass of people.
“Yes, I’ll pack everything up and leave as soon as the girls arrive home from school.” It 81
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would take at least that long to pack and make the travel arrangements. Luckily, she was an old hand at this now.
Felix jumped to his feet, his larger body looming over her. “Pack? Why?”
Tomasine attempted to push past his immobile body, shoving him in the ribs when he wouldn’t move. “I can’t stay here and let them catch me. Out of my way! Don’t you understand? If they catch us, the three of us are as good as dead. They don’t leave survivors.” She shoved at Felix’s solid body again, terror clawing at her mind. It wasn’t fair. She’d been happy in Middlemarch. The girls were settled and doing well in school. She’d thought—hoped—they’d stop chasing her once they realized she had no intention of returning to Africa.
Ever
.
“Tomasine, listen to yourself.” Felix grasped her upper arms and shook her slightly until he was sure he had her attention. “I saw one stranger. Her appearance might be innocent. Saber is passing the word amongst the shifter community. Everyone will watch for anything suspicious. Running again won’t solve anything. The girls are happy. Running will unsettle them.” Felix consciously relaxed his grip on her arms. He didn’t want to hurt her. And he’d noticed that although she was talking about fleeing, she hadn’t hesitated to push him away even though he was much bigger. She didn’t fear him in the slightest, not like she’d feared her husband. That tiny bit of acceptance gave him hope—the knowledge that she didn’t dread physical harm at his hands, that she was coming to trust him. He could work on the rest. “Saber suggested you and the girls move in with us at the homestead. There’s plenty of room since the twins are living in Dunedin now.”
“No, I—”
“If you leave, I’m going with you.” Amusement flooded his mind when her mouth fell open in shock.
“You told me you’d never leave Middlemarch, that you’d tried it and hated city life. When I leave, I’ll probably head for a city since it’s easier to blend in with lots of people.”
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“I will be with you, no matter where you decide to go.” Felix didn’t verbalize his reasons, knowing she wasn’t ready to hear the truth yet. It was true he couldn’t see himself living anywhere other than Middlemarch. His attempts when he was younger had made him unhappy. But she was his mate. Just the thought of her leaving made his gut twist in pain and his heart pound anxiously. He would give up everything to be with her. If Tomasine thought she could walk out of his life, she’d better rethink her plans.
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Chapter Six
Two hours later, after much discussion and argument, Felix ushered Tomasine from his SUV toward the silent homestead, his hand at the small of her back. She didn’t look happy but running wouldn’t help. She couldn’t keep fleeing forever. Felix directed Tomasine toward the front door. Low and sprawling, the homestead was made from local schist. Emily had enticed Saber into planting flowers to add a little color and contrast with the gray stone of the house. Now under Emily’s supervision, the lavender edging the narrow concrete path leading to the front door was neatly trimmed and tubs of white and blue flowers—Felix had no idea what they were but thought they looked okay—flanked the door. When summer arrived, Emily said they were to dig some new garden beds and she’d already started a vegetable garden out the back of the house. Felix and his brothers preferred meat, but they all ate a few vegetables to keep Emily happy.
Felix opened the door and stepped into the hall. He bent to take off his boots and Tomasine followed suit. A coatrack stood in the corner, another of Emily’s changes to keep their coats tidy. The faint drift of lemon polish caught his attention when he directed Tomasine down the carpeted passage toward his bedroom. The house always smelled clean these days. Times were changing. “I’ll show you your rooms and come back for your bags. We can pick up the girls later.”
“But what if—”
“The girls will be safe at school. The bus driver is a shifter and one of the teachers at the primary school is also shifter. If anyone sees anything suspicious, they’ll alert us.”
Felix shouldered open another door and stood aside to let Tomasine enter. “This is our bedroom.”
“I’m not—”
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“You’re my mate and the sooner you accept that fact the better.” Felix dropped the bag he was carrying on the floor and tugged her resisting body into his arms. He gave her a quick squeeze before pushing her away to look deep into her eyes. “I’m not going to force the mating mark on you—I would never do that, but I want you. I want to spend time with you and keep you close. That means sleeping with you.”