Savage Sanctuary 2: Panther Moon (12 page)

She already knew. Oh yes, she did. But Trea remained quiet.

Looking between the two warriors, she saw a look pass from one to the other.

Hudson took her hand again but then Trea sucked in a breath as Rio reached across the table to take the other.

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“Tell me,” she whispered into the sudden silence.

Hudson shook his head. “Sorry. I’m a dumbass. Didn’t mean to make you nervous

but with things happening so fast I thought you should meet our
second
. He’s my best friend in the world and he’ll be yours too, if you you’ll let him. I’ve asked him to stay in the guest room until you’ve gone through the change and settled into your beast. I felt it might be a good idea for you to get to know him before everything goes down.”

“I see.” She looked at Hudson and saw the worry in his eyes but jerked when Rio

again pressed his lips to her fingers. When he straightened again to look at her, his expression was grim.

“Chantrea, I would lay down my life for Hudson as he would me. I vow now to do

the same for you. Please trust that I will never hurt you and if anything should ever happen to your mate, I will provide for and watch over you for as long as you’ll need me. Consider me your protector. When your time comes and the fever burns through

your body, I will be there to help Hudson…and you.”

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Titus Declan leaned back in the chair behind his office desk, a file folder clutched in one fist, and surveyed the group of warriors assembled. A low hum sounded from the

desktop computer that rested near Titus’ right hand. Hudson was tense, prepared, as he focused on the face of his king. They’d been called to a late-night meeting and though he was anxious to get home to Trea, he realized something was up. Rio sat next to

Hudson in one of the two chairs arranged in front of the heavily carved walnut desk.

Trea’s brother, Max, sat sprawled on a sofa nearby, his dark green eyes narrowed. He

was nursing a glass of whiskey. Hudson knew retribution would come swiftly to the

two murderers once Maxwell got his hands on the men. The man was fierce and

decidedly dangerous.

“Tom Hawkins, the local man whom Trea recognized on the night of the murders,

has returned to his job in a welding shop. He is Trea’s age and they went to the local high school together but then, we already knew that,” Titus began. He frowned at the

written report. “A drinker and known around the area as a troublemaker and all-

around jackass. His employment record is filled with an assortment of blue collar jobs, none of which he worked at for very long before getting the boot.”

“What about the other man?” Hudson asked.

“Walter Creek. He wandered into the area a few years ago, worked odd jobs and is

a drinking buddy of our man, Tom.”

“Did he head back to east Texas with Hawkins?” This question from Rio.

Titus shook his head. “Nope. He’s no longer there. Looks like he lost his job when

he and Tom decided to follow Trea to our area. They hung around here looking for

several days and good old Walter was fired when he didn’t show up for work. From

what Kev has learned in his follow-up, he took off.”

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Kev Andress, who served as a bodyguard to their king, stood leaning against the

wall at Titus’ back. He nodded. “I’ve tracked him to Illinois. After getting fired, he moved back to Chicago and is living with family there.”

Titus set the file folder atop his desk and leaned forward, propping his elbows on

the shiny surface. A heavily carved silver ring set with two turquoise stones, a symbol of his power, flashed on the ring finger of his right hand. “I’ve contacted the King of the Illinois Panthers and he is putting some men on Walter. They’ll track his movements

and dispense justice as they see fit.”

Maxwell sat up, anger radiating from his big body. As Hudson suspected, that lazy

don’t-give-a-shit appearance was simply an act. “This isn’t their affair. This is Turquoise Moon business.”

“Ordinarily, I would agree with you, my friend,” Titus said, his voice a low rumble

of sound. “Walter Creek isn’t the dangerous one here, however. Yes, he must be

brought to justice but Tom Hawkins is the problem due to his past with Trea. He is our top priority.”

Hudson went on alert. He exchanged a glance with Rio who had gone still.

“Explain that.”

Kevin answered instead. “From all accounts among the locals, Hawkins had a thing

for Trea but she wanted nothing to do with him. Smart girl that one. When she basically ignored the man’s advances, he turned ugly. Made brags about what he’d do to her if

ever given a chance.”

“Fuck!”

“Settle down, Hudson,” Titus cautioned. “Let Kev finish.”

Kev blew out a breath. “Tom Hawkins was a lot of big talk for the most part but he

made it known that he’d get even with her for blowing him off. All of us here know that our panther women aren’t allowed to mix with human males. Your parents, Max, made

sure she was protected until a mate claimed her. Hawkins, however, wouldn’t know

this. To him she was simply an uppity bitch who was blowing him off. He’s a loud-

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mouthed redneck who drinks too much but has a decidedly deadly edge to him. Now

that he knows what she is—” Kev shrugged. “It’s inevitable that he’ll come back for

her.”

Hudson’s blood went cold. The man had to be stopped and Hudson knew it. He

also realized that dispensing justice would fall to Maxwell. It was Max’s right as the son of the fallen panthers and though Hudson would like nothing better than to
end
Tom Hawkins, his first priority now, and would always be, protecting Trea. She was so near her time he could almost taste it. It practically simmered in the air. Since Rio had moved into the guest room over two weeks ago, Trea had laid beside him in the night, her body temperature elevated to heights that would kill a human. She moved faster. Her senses were sharper. Seeing her through what was to come was more important than any kind

of vengeance. At least to him.

“What is your plan, Titus?” he asked. His hands were fisted against the arms of the

chair and Hudson forced himself to relax.

Titus sent his gaze over the men then focused on Maxwell. “I want you to head to

Chicago to help spearhead the search for Walter Creek. I know you are on family
leave from the Houston PD and this should give you plenty of time to find him. Bring him in alive if you can and return him to us.”

Maxwell nodded though Hudson could tell he didn’t like this one bit.

Titus faced Hudson. “You will take care of Chantrea, my friend, as is your right.”

“She is my first and only priority.”

The king nodded. “As it should be. Have you named your second?”

“I will serve as second,” Rio said, certainty ringing in his voice.

Titus stood. “Well then, you deal with what is to come for your mate and Kev and

the other warriors will keep a watch on the woods of Sanctuary. If Tom Hawkins comes

creeping around here again, and believe me, he will, we’ll be ready for him.”

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Shortly after the meeting broke up, Hudson got behind the wheel of his truck and

looked at Rio who occupied the passenger side. “I get the feeling Max is pretty pissed at being sent off to the Chicago panthers.”

Rio’s jaw firmed, the dashboard lights casting his face in shadow. “Can you blame

him?”

“No, if it were Elysse who was threatened, I’d move heaven and earth to keep her

safe and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to leave town under orders of my king.”

“No you wouldn’t.”

Hudson shook his head. “Our king is an intelligent man, Rio. He knows what’s

soon to come down with Trea when the change overtakes her and wants Max as far

away as possible. The change is a dangerous proposition and he’ll be helpless to do

anything but worry.”

“
Si
. I think you’re—”

Whatever Rio was going to say was interrupted when Hudson’s cell phone buzzed.

He grabbed his phone up, worry stealing like a thief through his veins when he saw his home number come up on the screen. “Trea? Honey?”

“H-hurry, Hudson. H-hurry. I feel funny. Please come now.”

Fear rocked him at the wrecked sound of her voice. He heard her terror, her

confusion and felt it as if it were his own. “On my way, darlin’. Give me five minutes.”

Hudson disconnected and stepped on the gas.

* * * * *

Restlessness marked Trea’s day and most the evening. She’d hoped to spend a few

hours just sitting around and chatting with the guys to keep her brain occupied but that wasn’t in the cards. Hudson and Rio had been called to a meeting at Titus Declan’s

place and she was left to her own devices. Her first indication that something was

dreadfully wrong happened when she’d been loading several glasses into the

dishwasher. One tall glass slipped from her wet, soapy fingers and as it hurdled

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straight toward the tile floor, she caught it in one breathless burst of speed. That’s when the shaking had begun.

No!

She wasn’t ready for this!

Soaking in a hot bath did little to steady her nerves. Random tremors overtook her

and the heat of the water only added to her discomfort. When she finally climbed out of the bathwater gone cold, a blast of heat swept her body. Her knees threatened to give way but she caught herself on the rim of the tub just in time to prevent her face-planting onto the hard, tiled floor. Somehow she managed to dry her body. The feel of the cotton towel pressed to her overly sensitive skin was almost unbearable. Then, as she dried her hair, the blow dryer slipped from her grip and she caught it midair just as she’d done with the glass earlier. She was so fast. Her reflexes were more powerful.

As a young girl, she’d been forbidden by her parents to participate in school sports

because, despite the fact she hadn’t come into her beast, she was ten times stronger and faster than human children. Now she fully realized how very powerful she would be

once this whole mating and changin’ thing was done.

Gods!

Heat swamped her, galloping along her nerve endings like a million powerful

hoofbeats. Her heart thudded and her pulse sped at a frightening pace as sexual

hunger, a more powerful lust than she’d even known before, pulsed through her core.

Moisture damped her pussy to spread over her inner thighs.

On trembling legs, Trea made it into the living room knowing she was in big, big

trouble if Hudson didn’t show his face soon. The time was upon her. Oddly, her first

instinct was to call for her mom, the single person in her life who could possibly

understand what she felt. Silly. Foolish. She’d often heard tales of dying men on the battlefields crying out for their mothers with their last breath and now she understood it.

Crazy.

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Even if her mom were here she wouldn’t be able to see her through this eclipsing

sexual torment. Only her mate could help her. Hudson’s image filled her mind and with it came another punch of horrifying, almost painful need.

“Hudson,” she whispered on a ragged breath. “Please.”

She was such an idiot!

Their psychic connection wasn’t yet established, that pathway blocked to her until

she’d actually embraced her beast and brought her to full roaring, purring life.

Frustration sank wicked claws into her belly as her mind screamed out. Helplessly, she thrust her hands past the waistband of her shorts then slipped them beneath the silky fabric of her pants. Her fingers slid quickly through the hot folds of her pussy, finally thrusting deeply into her channel. In. Out. She flicked her clit with the pad of her

thumb, embarrassment riding her hard. Many women might not think anything about

such a thing but she was a novice at this shit. What if Hudson and Rio walked through the door and saw her standing in the middle of the living room with her hands in her

panties?

A low cry surfaced from her throat as she climaxed at breakneck speed only to find

desire bursting up through her body again, this time stronger than before. Like a

tsunami wave, it rolled over her and took her under.

Trea collapsed to her knees as they gave way and though she shook like a leaf, she

managed to crawl to the coffee table where she’d left the phone. With fingers shiny

from her own juices, she gripped it. Her eyes blurred by tears, her breath tearing from her body, she punched in Hudson’s number.

Hearing his voice proved another catalyst for the raging, pulsing passion. When she

blurted out her demands, then disconnected, she lay panting in the middle of the living room floor. A low roll curled up, then expanded in her belly and she knew it was her

beast. Warm fur brushed and stretched deep inside her. The feline was ready to roar but there again was that terrifying prospect of bringing her to life that scared the crud out of Trea. As she lay panting on the floor, she tried for all she was worth to ignore the

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rapidly escalating drumming of her blood pounding a tribal beat within her body. Her

bones ached as if they were too big to be contained within the human form.

A single lamp shone from an end table and unable to stand the suddenly harsh

glare, she slammed her eyes shut.

Hurry, Hudson, hurry!

The words became a mantra in her brain and then suddenly she felt the vibrations

of boot heels striking the floor, hands on her shoulders lifting her up. She opened her eyes to find the star of her every erotic dream looking down at her, concern etched on his face.