Chapter One

The females leapt on each other, their slim, sexy bodies intertwined. They were young, energetic and enjoying the hell out of themselves. Sleek, aggressive, they fell to the ground, rolling over each other as they growled and nipped at one another.

Race Ogden remained unnoticed, hidden in the trees and shadows. He controlled urges that pumped furiously through his veins. As long as the winter breeze continued from the north, they wouldn’t pick up his scent. Which was a damn good thing. The smell of his lust and carnal desire smelled thicker than anything else around him.

All three females were perfect, gorgeous and primed for the taking. They were wound up, frisky and attacking each other without hesitating. They rolled around on the cold, hard ground. They all had sleek golden fur and black rosettes that made it hard to tell at times where one female ended and another began. Their claws and white teeth dominated against the dark backdrop surrounding them.

Race fought to calm his raging cravings so that he could smell his surroundings—other than the females and his lust. It was cold and snow was on the way. The frigid temperatures kept the scents in the air crisp, held on to them and didn’t allow them to mingle with each other. He didn’t smell intrusion, but he forced himself to pull his attention from the glorious view before him and look at his surroundings.

The females didn’t know he was there, not that he feared their attack, if anything he craved it. But for now, he would enjoy being a voyeur and allowing the females down time they obviously craved. Although they’d never seen him in his fur before, if any of them got a good whiff of him, they would know who he was. Leopards’ scents were stronger in their fur than in their skin but still the same. Race kept his presence unknown though, a skill he’d mastered over the years as a hunter. The females went to some effort to get away from the leopard sanctuary and enjoy time alone. He would go to the same amount of effort to enjoy one hell of a seductive show.

If another male caught wind of these three while out on a run, the females would get his protection whether they wanted it or not. Times were bad and single females, especially ones as wild and hot as these three, were in danger the moment they stepped outside alone. Hell, if it weren’t for his level of self-control and ability to hide his emotions so they couldn’t be smelled, they wouldn’t give him the time of day in his flesh. None of the three ran with any other leopard when they were in their fur. They were a tight litter, enjoying only their own company.

Race jerked his attention back to the females. Karma Sheridan, the middle littermate, roared, slapping her tail from side to side as she curled her lip and strutted sideways toward her littermates. Before she could pounce once again into the pile, the oldest of the three, Maurie, rammed into her, sending both of them toppling into the youngest, Darla. The three females rolled over each other, looking like a large pile of golden fur with black rosettes and teeth and claws.

If they weren’t the sexiest litter Race ever sniffed out!

Winter so far was nasty fucking bad. They were all shacked up in a group of cabins, a new project set up by one of the other hunters where leopards, or any species, could stay and be guaranteed protection. Not even the hunter or his mate who ran the sanctuary were sure why the females had arrived, but they’d settled in and kept to themselves. Once winter attacked hard, none of them were going anywhere. For several months now while blizzard after blizzard whipped through the place, he watched this female litter, pouncing when he could, and loving it every time they struck back. Normally he hated wintertime, but these females could melt snow. And if he were patient, possibly before spring he could get a piece of tail. If not, he would make sure no one attacked them while they played.

The three females had a secret and maybe that was their reason for coming to the sanctuary. Race doubted anyone else at the cabins realized this, but the three of them saw visions and fought to keep anyone from knowing. If it weren’t for his voyeuristic addictions, he probably wouldn’t have found out. While most leopards bragged that they caught glimpses of the future, whether they did or not, the Sheridan litter did everything in their power to keep anyone from smelling out their secret. Honestly, he didn’t blame them. Lately, rogue leopards were coming out from under rocks, anxious to snag a gifted leopard and take them to Leo Pard, a bastard who was willing to pay cash for leopards, as if he were buying a fucking pet.

Again Race sniffed the air. He was hard as a rock from watching the three females play with each other, although dwelling even for a moment on how fucked-up things were lately turned the air around him spicy with his outrage.

He shifted his gaze, and his muscles worked into a fury as the smell of other leopards was suddenly too strong to miss. The females stilled to stone. They weren’t alone anymore.

Karma shifted, sniffing the air and stepping in front of her littermates. Maurie bit Karma on the shoulder and curled her lip as she grumbled a quiet reprimand. Darla sunk to the ground, her bright golden eyes nervously glancing around at the darkness. But Karma looked ready to attack and kill anything or anyone who moved. He didn’t doubt for a fucking second she’d take a bite out of him if he stepped in to offer protection. As it was, she lunged at her older littermate, refusing to back down, and pushed Maurie and Darla together before again turning to glare at the dark woods around them.

It took more effort than he usually used not to leap out from his hiding place when the snow crunched and several leopards appeared through the trees and strolled toward the females. Race smelled the ugliness building in the air. The rogue males grinned, but the smell of lust mixed too strongly with the pungent odor from greed. He feared their secret wasn’t as well kept as they thought it was. These leopards might have rape on their mind, but they were hard from picturing the reward they expected to get once they turned these females over to Leo Pard. Race had seen it too many times in the past and it made him want to fucking puke that his species had come to this. His own kind would hunt down and sell each other for profit.

Well, no one would capture any of the Sheridan litter tonight. Not while he still breathed.

The wind picked up and blew furiously around Race, forcing the bare branches to rustle against each other. Their scratching sound didn’t tick him off as much as the thick smell of testosterone that damn near made him gag. And kick tail until the mangy punks were knocked down far enough that their egos didn’t stink.

The males moved closer and Race tensed, ready to say fuck to his cover and take out two of them just to show the third one how much he would suffer for sniffing around these three females.

His muscles twitched in his hind legs. Race saw his shot, a clear line between two small saplings where he could leap and land on the closest male. His heart raced and he held his positioning, ready to jump, waiting for just the right moment. This wasn’t the first time he’d scoped out a scene and waited through torturous pain for the exact second when he knew his attack would be victorious. Race always fought with honor and always to kill.

Maybe none of them were his females. But he’d been staying at the sanctuary with them for several months now. They were fighting hard to keep a secret from smelling. Maybe their personal lives weren’t his business, but he’d talked with these females, shared kill with them, and he would protect them. Hell, he’d fuck them too if they gave the slightest indication any of them were interested. Especially Karma. But no matter how hard any male tried getting close to this litter, all they got for their efforts were bloodied and bruised.

Karma growled louder, glaring at the males while standing in front of her younger littermate. Maurie stepped around Karma, swishing her tail from side to side. These females didn’t flirt with any male. Yet Maurie made her intentions so blatantly obvious the males in front of her looked ready to attack for the honor to be the first to enter her. Maurie purred, appearing thrilled that the males wanted her.

What the fuck?

If any leopard described this scene to him he would call them a liar to their face.

Maurie’s scent changed quickly enough that even the frozen night couldn’t keep it from drifting to him with his next breath. She strutted around the males, behaving so differently than usual, he almost worried something was seriously wrong with her. She rubbed against one of them. He growled loudly, very willingly accepting her invitation.

Race looked at the other two males, and then at Karma and Darla. As hot and bothered as Maurie seemed, her littermates stood and watched her blankly. He didn’t smell a single fucking emotion coming off either one of them. That was about as odd as Maurie’s sudden hot-to-trot attitude.

Maurie moved between the males, slapping her tail and strutting like a bitch in heat. The males might not be as stunned as he was, but they were noticeably affected. Single rogue males seldom found a single female anxious and willing to raise her tail for him. Maurie rubbed her fur against one of the males’ muscular side. His eyes glowed and he grew aroused so quickly that Race wasn’t sure how much longer he could stand by and watch.

Something else drifted through the air. These three males weren’t alone. There were other leopards moving in slowly around them. Race wasn’t sure he wanted to see how this scenario played out. Now he knew their time was up. Another second or two and it might be impossible to survive the attack. The females would be gang-raped and then hauled off for the reward money offered when turned over to Leo Pard.

Race had attacked under worse odds before, but every time he was smart enough to attack before the fight lost honor. He wasn’t sure how many more leopards worked their way through the frozen woods, but best to attack while the odds were somewhat in his favor. He got ready to leap, and if he weren’t watching the small party in front of him closely, he might have missed what happened next.

Race stared in disbelief when Maurie turned on the male she snuggled up against. She attacked so quickly, so viciously, that the metallic smell of fresh blood filled the air before Race saw a sticky dark fluid cover the male’s coat. The male collapsed, spasming a couple times as he bled out, before resuming his human form. The other two males gawked like idiots by Maurie’s sudden change of behavior. Karma and Darla took advantage of the moment and sprung into the air before the males could react. The three littermates attacked the other two and killed them before either could howl out a warning.

Holy fucking crap! Race was so damn impressed by their fighting abilities it almost got him hard all over again. Darla jumped on her older littermates. Maurie growled a fierce reprimand, snapping at Darla. Karma nuzzled the younger leopard, glaring at her older littermate while offering Darla a bit of reassuring comfort.

The comfort didn’t last long though, before Karma raised her head and sniffed the air. The females smelled the same thing he did. The other leopards were approaching quickly. Standing over the mutilated bodies and letting the smell of their deaths confuse the issue wasn’t a smart strategic move.

Race almost made his presence known. He needed to get the females out of here. But they headed out, although they weren’t going the right direction. The cabins were behind him, through the trees, and the three females darted to the west, in the opposite direction of the approaching leopards. They tore at the ground with their claws ripping into the frozen land and tearing clumps of hard mud that showered the air behind them.

Race didn’t hesitate. Granted, now the females would attack him, acting before thinking and believing him to be one of the other leopards. One thing being a hunter taught him over the years was to sniff out a leopard in a situation, noting their strengths and weaknesses. He didn’t know the extent of the females’ visions, but he did know that leopards with the gift all saw things at different levels. Maybe the littermates possessed a form of telepathy, which made them almost an invincible force if they could communicate at a level other leopards couldn’t detect.

This wasn’t the first time Race dealt with leopards who saw visions. Although sniffing around the females for several months made this a bit more personal. Lately, word traveled that leopards were sniffing out their own kind—those who had visions. They captured their own kind and then sold them out to one insane motherfucker, who seemed convinced that Earth would be a better place without leopards on it—at least not leopards who ran free and made their own decisions. Pard wanted to own leopards, breed them as he saw fit. None of that would happen while Race was alive.

Events in the past didn’t matter right now. Race was given his name for a reason. The icy chill in the air made his eyes water and a cold mist in the air froze to his fur, but he didn’t give a rat’s ass. He ran full speed, pacing the females easily, and knowing his presence would make them run faster. They would assume he was part of the posse with the three dead leopards, which would make them haul ass faster.

He slid on the hard-packed snow when the females split and ran opposite directions around a lake.

What the fucking hell? Race glanced at the youngest and oldest, Maurie and Darla, as they high-tailed around the embankment of the lake. Karma took off in the other direction. Stupid little female. Granted he’d only spoken to her a few times at the leopard sanctuary, but he could think of a few choice words to growl at her right now. One of them being she was way too fucking hot to be running alone. Especially with the smell of death lingering in the night air. She might think she could take care of herself, but with so many males behind them, she ran with a death wish. If that were the case, she wouldn’t get her wish tonight. He’d fucking see to it.

Tearing around the slick edge, he only took a moment to take in the frozen lake. Anyone who lost their footing at this speed would slide at least to the middle of the iced-over water. He didn’t plan on finding out how frozen the lake was.

The lake was pretty good size though. There better be a damn good reason why Karma suddenly felt the urge to race through the night by herself. Although he was sure by now she knew she wasn’t alone. He watched her shoot a furtive look over her shoulder but return her attention in the direction she ran so she wouldn’t trip and send that hot fucking ass of hers sliding over ice.

As awesome of a view that he had watching her slender and athletic body run at full speed, Race looked ahead of her and breathed in all the scents around them. It was definitely colder than it was when he left his cabin, and the frigid air smelled clean and undisturbed.

Where are you running, little cat? There wasn’t shit around them that he could see, other than the lake and miles of snow-covered ground. Even the trees were sporadic this way.

Karma looked over her shoulder and they made eye contact for a moment. He slowed when she did, and if she were focused, Karma would see he didn’t plan on attacking or she’d be underneath him by now. Not that the idea didn’t have its appeal, but he was here as protector, whether she liked it or not.

As the bank curved and the end of the lake came into view, Karma slowed more. There wasn’t anything around them though, not even trees. A hell of a lot of undisturbed snow spread out in every direction and the sky was pure inky black. Stars barely twinkled, as if it were too cold for them to come out and shine. If he didn’t know better, Race would think they were completely alone out here in this frozen wilderness.

Sucked that they weren’t. He could think of quite a few ways to stay nice and warm with this hot little female.

Karma barely trotted now and danced sideways, watching him warily with warm golden eyes. Race couldn’t help feeling he was being played, but he didn’t get her game. It would take nothing to pounce on her, force her down and slide into that tight, hot pussy of hers. She didn’t look as if she extended an invitation. But she watched him, moving toward the end of the lake but no longer running.

You don’t smell like you want to be caught, little female, he growled.

Karma flattened her ears and her eyes widened.

Those males aren’t going to hesitate when they get here. Are you going to help me kill all of them?

This time she looked to the north, toward the other side of the lake. Race glanced that way as well. She lowered her head, letting out a low rumble while muscles flexed in her shoulders. Her golden fur with black rosettes was shiny and sleek over her slim body. Karma’s head was narrow, her cheekbones high, and when she opened her mouth, long white teeth contrasted against the darkness around them. But it was her scent, rich and musky, that slowly wrapped around him and created a need inside that grew painful and ruthless the longer he studied her. It mixed with the powerful urge to protect her at any cost.

He felt the ground move before Karma stiffened and looked past him nervously. The other males were catching up with them.

Maybe Karma didn’t have a game. She didn’t move, but instead suddenly looked nervous and smelled worried. That’s when it hit him. She was the bait to distract the group of males from her littermates. She studied the other side of the lake, searching for her littermates. Why would the three of them decide to sacrifice her to protect the other two? And where were her littermates headed?

Damn the brave little female.

It’s time to go, Karma. He moved in on her, growling orders. She didn’t move and he pushed up against her. That’s when she stiffened and raised her head quickly.

He growled loudly. Did it take you this long to recognize my scent, little cat? We’ll discuss this later. Now it’s time to haul ass. Lead the way or I’ll haul you. Either way, unless you’re into gang rape, we’re leaving now.

He lowered his head, pushing against her with his forehead, and then nipped at her soft fur. Karma’s fresh aroma filled his nostrils. She smelled so damn good. And later they would discuss the motivation behind her actions, but right now it was time to protect her cute little ass.

Grabbing her in his mouth by her nape, Race lifted Karma and then tossed her forward. Then butting her with his head, he got her moving after she tumbled head over paws once or twice. Karma picked up speed, and within a few minutes ran as hard as she could around the lake until they were on the other side.

Now she headed back in the direction of the cabins, racing along the other side of the lake. Race stayed on her heels, glancing across the dark, still water and seeing a group of leopards who circled the area, sniffing the ground and then looking their direction. Karma didn’t run as a single female anymore. With Race at her side and his smell mixing with hers, she wouldn’t be attacked by the males. For now she was safe.

But her actions, the way she and her littermates attacked and killed the males as if they planned the trap and sprung it with excitement, and then breaking off from her littermates and becoming bait, didn’t make a hell of a lot of sense.

They were almost halfway past the lake when suddenly Karma bolted away from him. Race leapt after her and slid on the snow before hauling ass and grabbing Karma. She turned on him, attacking furiously.

Since it wasn’t his intention to hurt her, Karma got the edge and slid away from him on the hard, frozen snow. Regaining her footing, she raced to the north. It was hard keeping his footing but Race didn’t lose her. He couldn’t catch her though, as she ran with all the speed she had, which wasn’t near as fast as Race could run, but curiosity drove him now. He wanted to know where the hot little female was going.

Then, surprising him again, Karma slowed drastically until she stopped and turned around to face him. Race breathed in her scent, and if he didn’t know her somewhat, he might have misunderstood the change in her aroma as being aroused. Karma started strutting toward him, batting her tail mischievously as her eyes grew wide and she looked up at him with more interest than he’d seen in her since he met her.

Chapter Two

Karma couldn’t let Race see the cabin not too far ahead of them. She couldn’t shake him loose. He was bigger and faster. If she’d gotten wind of him sooner and realized he wasn’t part of the group of males, she wouldn’t have headed this way. But damn it. There was no way she would return to sanctuary and not know that her littermates were okay.

Maurie was a hell of a lot better at this than she was. But Maurie held on to the proper motivation. Karma would too. She stared into Race’s golden eyes and concentrated on her breathing while trying to picture the sexiest images she could to get herself turned-on.

One problem. Her mind was a blank. Okay, there were two problems. Staring at Race’s broad cheekbones and his thick fur that covered broad shoulders forced her to notice roped muscle that shifted under his flesh while he glared down at her. She didn’t need to conjure up nasty thoughts with Race looming over her.

It was hard enough avoiding him at sanctuary. Obviously, it was impossible to lose him in a snow-packed wilderness.

What the fuck was he doing out here anyway?

Karma held her head high and stepped carefully, dropping her gaze so his brooding stare wouldn’t raise the hairs down her spine. He moved closer, his musky male scent doing a number on her insides. She didn’t dare pull her gaze away from him, which meant she couldn’t miss how his thick hide smoothly covered thick, perfectly sculptured muscles. Whenever he moved, they flexed and rippled. And he continually moved closer.

Damn him. He would call her fucking bluff. Could she pull off having sex with this rogue male?

And if she did?

Maurie and Darla were probably safe at the cabin by now. But it would be a couple hours still before the others showed up. Karma needed to be there to keep things organized when the litter on the run showed up. For over a year now, since leopards with visions were dragged from their litters and turned into slaves for breeding purposes, she and her littermates worked with an extremely secretive group of leopards, Vision Controllers, helping those who needed to relocate and start over get a safe and undetected start.

It was dangerous. Every single time they arranged a meeting, the planning process took an unbelievable amount of time. Something always smelled wrong. Run too quickly or not fast enough and they would be discovered. As it was, she and her littermates came to sanctuary hoping they could keep a low-enough profile. It was the third time they’d relocated in a year, running at the first sign of being sniffed out. They didn’t anticipate on so many hunters hanging around there. If anyone discovered they had visions it would draw attention to them they couldn’t afford to have. And hunters knew more about visions than most leopards. If it weren’t for the fact all three of them had visions showing how much help and success living in this snow-packed frozen world would bring Vision Controllers, Karma would insist they get the hell out of here. Every day she smelled more and more danger lurking around.

Even if the danger disguised itself with the wonderfully musky scent of the male who stood close enough to her now that she could feel his body heat.

How was she supposed to shake her tail free of him?

Karma glanced up at Race when he brushed his large body against hers. Damn it. She would have to go through with it. This sucked so bad. Every time Race walked by her, his thick curly blond hair always tousled, adding to his bad-boy look. Shivers would race over her flesh and her insides would quicken. If life were different, Race would be one hell of a hot lover.

Complaining about any of this would be the most incredibly dishonorable thing she could do at the moment. Karma had to do this. Hell, Maurie strutted up to those three leopards earlier, sticking her neck on the line, and she could do it too. It wasn’t as bad for Karma. She knew Race, and he was a hundred times hotter than those skanky leopards who tried hunting them earlier.

When she sucked in a breath, his scent filled her lungs and then went straight to her head. Race circled her, pushing his head against her side. He possessed incredible strength. With little effort he knocked her over and the cold snow barely managed to soothe the fire burning wildly inside her.

Karma’s pussy swelled, the urge to fuck him, take her time and enjoy every inch of perfect masculinity becoming the prevailing thought in her mind. Her littermates could handle things without her tonight. Darla needed to learn how to take a larger role in things anyway. After fucking Race, they could take their time returning to sanctuary. He would never learn what her littermates were doing.

And he would be on her tail as if he had a right to her every minute after they returned. Even if she ignored him, told him to chase his own tail, Race would watch her. Karma easily sniffed out his type. Race was the kind of leopard who protected what mattered to him in every honorable way. Being watched closely was the worst thing she could allow to happen to her litter right now.

Which left only one alternative.

Karma needed to kill Race. Just like her littermate killed earlier, she would use sex as a weapon and then destroy. It was the honorable thing to do.

She repeated that statement in her head, lying on the freezing ground on her side and looking up at Race. When she pulled herself out of her thoughts and focused on his golden eyes, burning like sunshine in the darkness, it dawned on her that he wasn’t trying to mount her. Instead, he tilted his head, watching her as if he could sniff her thoughts while they played out in her mind.

Karma moved to her feet, rising slowly and praying she appeared seductive. God damn, Maurie worked it so well earlier. Karma could do anything her older littermate could do, fucking anything. She was sexy—at least as hot as Maurie, if not hotter.

Seduce and kill.

Shit.

Race must have earned his name for his speed. Karma squealed like a cub when he leapt on her. It took a moment to realize he wasn’t mounting her. Instead, Karma felt herself being dragged over the smooth, icy, snow-covered ground.

What the hell? Karma growled, her wits waking up and sniffing out what was happening to her.

Race dragged her along like freshly killed meat. He wasn’t trying to fuck her. Instead, they were heading north—in the direction of her littermates and the remote cabin built specifically by Vision Controllers as a meeting place for leopards on the run.

Not so fast, leopard. Karma despised the way she sounded whiny. No matter that Race would rather drag her than fuck her. She growled loudly, trying to clear her throat. At the same time she fought to regain her footing and get him to release her nape. The heat from his breath as he held her firmly in his mouth at the back of her neck burned her flesh. It might be cold as hell, but damn, if she felt anything but the pressure swelling inside her and burning hot enough to melt the snow.

Karma extended her claws and dug into the ground. Race didn’t fight her but stopped, releasing her and then watched without moving while she shook herself until her fur no longer clung to the back of her neck. Turning slowly, she swished her tail, determined as hell to see this through, and purred. Dropping her gaze, she got stuck on his broad chest. Muscles bulged and flexed as he shifted, again seeming anything but interested in fucking her.

Don’t tell me I don’t turn you on? Karma rumbled, letting her attention drift down his long, thick body. His black rosettes were so perfectly symmetric and arranged over a beautiful shade of gold.

Race returned the growl and stepped closer until her nose almost touched his chest. Her heart raced almost as fast as her thoughts. But she forced herself to think of the litters they’d helped, litters who very well would be dead or separated, never to see each other again if it weren’t for Karma and her littermates’ hard work.

Leaning forward, she ran her tongue over his coat, tasting the feral virility that pumped against her with his solid heartbeat.

Stay focused. It doesn’t matter how hot he is. You know what you’ve got to do.

Karma licked him again, smoothing his thick fur and fighting the urge to clean the rest of his muscular body. She opened her eyes, staring at his neck, and then opened her mouth as she leapt.

Aiming for the jugular, she got a mouth full of fur and swore she tasted blood. But then Karma flew backward with enough force that when she hit the hard, frozen ground, all air rushed out of her lungs and her head hit packed snow. Her world rushed around her, everything swarming in warm shades of purple and reds. Staring up, Karma spotted Race moving over her.

That’s it, leopard. Come a little closer. Try to fuck me and I’ll kill you. She was ready now. If everything would just quit spinning around her.

Once again Race moved faster than she expected. Karma felt a sharp sting at her neck and then the shades of purples and reds faded to black.

Moments later the void surrounding her took shape and color returned. Along with a splitting headache that pierced through the middle of her neck. A high-pitched scream made her jump and then every inch of her throbbed uncomfortably.

“Oh God. Karma!” Darla dragged her into the small cabin.

She looked around, feeling the heat from the fire as she breathed in the smell of burning wood and newspaper.

“What the fuck happened?” Maurie demanded, dropping to her knees and then lifting Karma off the floor.

She was damp and in her flesh. The cold from outside still clung to her and she started shivering uncontrollably as she glanced down her naked body.

“What?” She squinted, and then pressed her palm to her forehead. “I’m bleeding.”

“We noticed. You crashed into the door and scared the crap out of us. What happened?” Darla hurried over to the cabinets on the far wall. “If we don’t get you cleaned before that litter shows up…”

Karma pushed herself away from her older littermate and held her head with her hand, willing the room to quit spinning. “Nothing will go wrong tonight,” she insisted, interrupting Darla and straining to hear any noises outside.

Maurie moved in front of Karma and frowned while Darla pressed a cloth soaked with incredibly cold water to Karma’s neck.

“You were attacked,” she surmised. “Are all the leopards who chased you dead?”

Race must have bit her and threw her hard enough to knock her out. He didn’t rape her though. In spite of the pain from her wound on her neck, Karma knew her body wasn’t violated further.

“I don’t know about all of them,” she answered honestly. “But no one followed me here.”

Again not a lie. If she even tried telling her littermates something that wasn’t true they would smell the lie before the words were all the way out of her mouth.

“And I wasn’t raped. I think I passed out before I changed and hit the door,” she guessed.

Her littermates assumed she was right. Maurie cocked her head, glancing over her shoulder at the door. Pressing her hand over the cloth at her neck, Karma smiled at Darla, patting her hand reassuringly.

“You’re okay?” Darla asked.

“I’ll be better once I get dressed.”

“Over by the fire,” Maurie gestured at the folded clothes.

Karma patted her neck with the cloth and then pulled it away. Leopards healed quickly and already the bleeding stopped. Tossing the bloody cloth into the fire, she wrinkled her nose over the stench of the burning rag and pulled her sweatshirt over her head.

Obviously, Race left her at the door of the cabin, but where did he go? She slipped into her jeans and then sat on the floor in front of the hot fire, pulling on socks and putting on her boots.

“Okay. We’re all here and ready.” Maurie pressed her fists into her waist and looked at Karma. “Are you sure you’re okay? We have to drive this litter to the border tonight.”

“I know what we have to do.” Karma prayed her littermates couldn’t tell how dizzy she was when she stood. “I’m going to make sure there aren’t any strays outside.”

“It better be secure out there,” Maurie snapped. “If you came here while still being hunted, the meeting will be jeopardized.”

“We would be shunned from Vision Controllers,” Darla hissed.

“Which isn’t going to happen,” Karma snapped, curling her lip at Maurie and then glaring at Darla. “Have some faith in me. Do you think I would bring dishonor to our litter?”

They didn’t answer, but Karma knew neither of them thought she would betray them. And she wouldn’t. Now she needed to sniff around outside and make sure she was right. Tugging a thick knitted sweater over her sweatshirt, she felt almost too stiff to walk by the time she put on her down coat.

“We stay together from here out,” Maurie decided, and grabbed her coat.

“We aren’t all going outside together,” Karma hissed, refusing to make the air smell with her worry. “We are all together—in this meeting. But I’m going out there to make sure we’re alone, and you are both staying in here in the warmth. If we’re all frozen when the litter arrives, we aren’t going to be too reassuring.” When Maurie pressed her lips into a flat line and suddenly smelled bitter with resentment over her decision being overridden, Karma knew if she didn’t press her argument home quickly, Maurie would get Darla on her side and overrule Karma’s decision. “Maurie, get coffee going and, Darla, put all the blankets you can find stacked in front of the fire so they’re as warm as can be. You know things go better if we can make them comfortable and the place smells relaxed and in order.”

“Don’t howl as if you’re in charge here,” Maurie growled, but turned and headed to the sink, grabbing the coffeepot.

Karma let the comment slide. Another time she would attack, but right now her head still throbbed and her neck wound stung fiercely. Besides, she won the fight. Karma opened the cabin door and slipped into the incredibly cold darkness.

As quickly as the fiercely bitter air wrapped around her and made her shake from head to toe painfully, the elements faded and the black night changed to bright daylight. A chill still hung in the air, but Karma wasn’t as bogged down with clothing now. Instead, her snug sweater hugged her flesh and she hurried across an open grassy area. The muddy ground challenged her and she almost lost her shoe to a mud puddle before sidestepping it quickly.

“You were perfect last night,” a rich baritone purred from behind her.

Karma tried turning around but strong arms lifted her off the ground and the rock-hard muscular body that pressed against her backside did a number to her insides. She looked over her shoulder into green eyes that glowed down at her.

“We were perfect last night,” she purred, and felt her pussy swell.

Karma took a step forward and almost slipped on the hard-packed snow. She hugged herself and stared at the black night. Her vision lingered in her mind—and her body. There weren’t any doubts that as empty as she felt inside right now, in her vision just now, she was a female who’d just been fucked very, very well. Doing her damnedest to hold on to the almost burning heat that slowly faded from deep in her womb, she scowled at the quiet night.

It was a hell of a lot harder to see or smell anyone or anything that might be hiding at a safe distance and watching the cabin. At some point in her future, Race would fuck her and speak to her as if they were close. Her visions were never wrong. He told her she was wonderful. Was it sex he was talking about, or something else?

The emptiness inside her grew along with the throbbing in her head. Her heart pulsed too strongly in her neck as she walked away from the cabin and stared as hard as she could at the desolate, snow-covered world that seemed to continue for miles and miles in every direction.

“I don’t fuck leopards without honor,” Karma whispered, knowing that if Race were out here in his fur, he would hear her. And no way in hell he would watch them out here without staying as warm as possible. “And if you have honor, you won’t disturb what must happen here tonight.”

She didn’t hear a thing. The cold made her shiver beyond control, which aggravated her neck wound even further. Pain racked her body and her eyes watered.

“And, motherfucker, you’re going to pay for this,” she hissed, raising her trembling fingers to her neck. Maybe it was her imagination, her will to hear an answer, but Karma swore a low rumbling growl crept toward her in the darkness.

Chapter Three

Karma stepped out of the shower and dried quickly. Staring at herself in the mirror, she checked out the small scab and slight bruises on her neck. It ached, but by tomorrow the scab would be gone and the bruises fading. Unfortunately, the pressure simmering inside her didn’t seem intent on going anywhere.

“And as soon as you walk outside, you’re going to sniff him out,” she told her reflection.

“What?” Darla called out from the other side of the bathroom door.

Sometimes living in such close quarters with her litter drove Karma crazy.

“Nothing.” Karma grabbed her robe and dropped her towel. Walking out of the bathroom in a shroud of steam, she glanced at Maurie, who still slept in her bed.

Darla sat cross-legged on the single bed next to Maurie’s with her laptop on her lap. “The Kimball litter is reported as secure at the next stopping point.” She looked up at Karma, her pale green eyes shining with a hint of gold that not many leopards had when they were in human form. She brushed a thin strand of blonde hair behind her ear and returned her attention to her computer screen. “It also appears that quite a few leopards were found dead north of here last night.”

“Oh? It says that on the VC website?” Karma pulled open her drawer in the dresser she shared with her littermates.

“Of course not, silly.” Darla giggled, sounding like the cub she was. It didn’t seem right that at eighteen, Darla ran fiercely and fought to the death when she should be scrapping with other young leopards and flirting with males instead of killing them. “The PI website has a small announcement about it. All bodies will be burned tonight and any litters missing male members are encouraged to come forth to learn if any of the dead leopards are relatives.”

“Maybe the rest of their litters will have better luck hunting,” Karma mumbled, knowing she would be better if she said something to assure her youngest littermate that what they did last night helped a litter with young cubs find a new life. The litter they escorted across the border last night wouldn’t have to run and hide any longer. “I’m heading into town for a while.”

“I want to go.” Darla pushed the laptop off her lap and hurried to her feet.

“I’m going alone.” Karma hated the pouting look Darla gave her. But if Karma didn’t get some down time and clear her head, she would fill their small cabin with the smell of her frustrated lust, which might be a bit hard to explain since her littermates assumed she killed the males last night. “We don’t have anything scheduled for tonight, right?”

“Not so far.” Darla continued staring at Karma, her expression quickly souring.

“Then if we can talk Maurie into it, maybe tonight we can all go out.” She left their bedroom and hurried into the living room, grabbing her coat and heading for the door.

“Good hunting,” Darla mumbled.

Karma didn’t answer and prayed her littermate didn’t add meaning to the well-used expression. It wasn’t as if she were going out to hunt. She was getting away a bit to clear her head. If it weren’t for that damn vision last night, it would be a hell of a lot easier to simply want revenge for her injured neck. More than anything, she needed to get over wanting anything other than retaliation.

“Female!”

Karma turned, trepidation seeping over her flesh as she stared at Chan Bard, who lived with her mate in the large cabin in front of the one she stayed in. Chan and her mate owned and ran sanctuary. So far, Karma wasn’t ever forced to have to speak with her, but it would be a gross display of disrespect to not acknowledge the female who owned all this land.

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name.” Chan spoke calmly, pressing her hand against her lower back as she waddled toward Karma. Her cheeks glowed from the life growing inside her, and from the way she moved, Karma would guess her close to full term.

“Karma Sheridan,” Karma offered quietly when Chan was just a few feet from her.

“Karma, please come speak for your litter. A hunter has been assigned to bring closure to the attacks last night north of here.”

Crap. Karma nodded once and walked slowly behind Chan, her stomach twisting painfully. Why were they making such a big deal and sniffing around a few dead leopards? Her species was violent. Death happened all the time. It was survival of the strong and only the honorable and righteous had a right to live. Scum who lived without honor and stunk the air around them with the smell of idiocy and lack of morals deserved the worst of all deaths.

Karma reached around Chan and pulled the screen door open the rest of the way so the female of the house could waddle inside.

“Thanks,” Chan murmured, giving her a sheepish grin. Chan smelled like clean laundry with a splash of something citrusy. “I can’t wait for these cubs to be born so I can have my body back.” She laughed easily and patted her tummy, but then yanked her attention away from Karma quickly and looked into the kitchen where they entered. “I brought one female from their litter, so we have representatives from everyone here.”

She spoke to her mate Josh Bard, who stood solemnly at the other end of the kitchen. His hard stare made Karma’s skin crawl. It softened considerably when he focused on his mate and then moved quickly to her side.

“You should have sent one of the males to their cabin.” He didn’t smell reprimanding at all as he slid his arm around his mate’s waist.

“You don’t send single males to a cabin full of unmated females,” Chan scolded. “Besides, I didn’t have to walk all the way to their cabin. I found her heading up the side of the house.”

“Were you heading somewhere?” Race stood in the doorway, stepping around Josh so Karma could see him for the first time.

“It can wait.” She stood tall, daring to stare into his deep, dark green eyes.

“You’re right. It can. This is very important.” Race ignored Chan when she looked over her shoulder, appearing concerned that Race approached Karma, and her mate led her out of the kitchen. He continued staring at Karma as he moved in close enough that his musky scent covered up all other smells in the cabin. “This won’t work.”

Karma flinched and then growled, despising that Race affected her when he raised his hand to her face. The corner of his mouth twitched, although his features remained serious. He flipped the collar of her coat up and then adjusted it so that he concealed the injury on her neck.

“You didn’t kill anyone last night,” he whispered, his face close enough that their bodies almost touched. “You and your littermates went on a run and you never saw anyone. You headed directly north of here. Not once did you veer to the west.”

She opened her mouth to inform him she didn’t need coaching when it came to answering for her actions. But Race grabbed her arms and almost lifted her off the ground before facing her toward the living room and letting go of her. She moved away from all that packed muscle, all too aware of him moving right behind her.

There were quite a few leopards in the living room, as well as a couple of owls. Karma couldn’t remember when she last entered into a crowd. A mixture of emotions created a variety of smells. There was anger and concern as well as frustration. As strong as the scents from the other leopards and owls were, they didn’t cover up the intoxicating musky scent behind her. Race didn’t touch her, but he stood directly behind her.

Which proved more than a distraction. It took all her strength and effort to focus on everything everyone said just so she wouldn’t react further to the male behind her, who was as strong and powerful-looking in his flesh as he was last night in his fur.

“Everyone who is staying here is present?” A male stood with the front door at his back and addressed the question to Josh.

“The female here,” Josh said, and then turned and stuck his thumb out at her, calling all attention in the room on her. “She stands in for her litter. Otherwise, all are present. And for you who don’t know,” he continued, looking at her as if she might be the only one who didn’t know, “Thad runs Pierce’s Lair in Wheeler’s Point with his mate. He is a hunter and assigned to investigate all the deaths that occurred last night. His presence can be vouched for by many leopards since he was at the bar all night.”

Immediately everyone in the room announced who their alibis were during the previous night. Thad held up his arms and howled loud enough to shake the walls until everyone silenced.

“First of all, this is an investigation concerning the deaths of ten leopards last night.” Thad didn’t look in her direction when he spoke.

Which was a damn good thing. Karma shifted her weight but strong fingers wrapped around her forearms and gave them a slight squeeze. Instantly, heat simmered to a boil inside her womb. Swelling pressure reminded her of how raw and well fucked her body felt last night in her vision. But the hint of lust that crept into the air hid her panic, which would have surfaced when Thad mentioned how many leopards died last night.

Karma knew of three deaths. There were other leopards chasing them, but they were behind Race, who caught her first. He took her to the cabin. That much she didn’t doubt. So who killed the other seven leopards?

Did Race kill them to prevent them from sniffing her out after he left her at the cabin?

Thad continued, pointing to each leopard, and even the owls, hearing what they did the night before. He moved around the living room until he stopped in front of Karma.

“Where were you last night?”

“With my littermates.” When he continued staring at her, Karma straightened. “Maurie and Darla and I went on a run—north of here. We were gone until almost sunrise.”

Thad looked content with her answer. And she wasn’t lying. Although in her heart, Karma knew not sharing all of the truth was a form of a lie. What she did with Vision Controllers though, was so damn important, she would lie through her teeth and not stench up the air. Thad glanced back at her, cocking his head while his gaze shifted.

Karma stepped backward when Thad reached for her. Race’s hard-packed chest was similar to backing into a wall. She raised her hand to block Thad’s hand and he grabbed her wrist. Then Thad moved her coat collar.

Standing almost sandwiched between two males, even if one of them was mated, proved more than she could handle. Karma jumped out of the way, but Thad pinched her wrist when he kept her from moving away from him.

“What happened to your neck?” he asked, his voice a gruff baritone.

Karma’s howling for others like her helped now when she didn’t flinch and instead glared at Thad.

“It looks as though you were bitten. One of your littermates do this to you?” Thad demanded.

Karma ignored the whispers around the room. It wasn’t the first time that living like hermits with her littermates caused all kinds of growls and hissing when false rumors floated through the air.

“What happened to cause this?” Thad demanded.

“It was foreplay.” Karma ripped her wrist out of his grasp. Her flesh burned, but it was better than her cheeks burning from embarrassment.

Race stared at her but she didn’t give him her attention, instead studying Thad’s hard expression.

“Foreplay,” he said, repeating the word as if trying to digest her implication.

“Yes. Foreplay. Is foreplay a crime now?”

“Not as long as it’s consensual.”

“It was,” she said, not hesitating.

Thad’s expression remained hardened, but after searching her face a moment longer he nodded once and turned away from her, walking through the group of leopards and questioning the rest of them. She wouldn’t look at Race but continued watching Thad move through the group. Listening to what each of them said helped her learn more about the leopards around her, and it helped her concentrate on something other than the strong scent coming off Race that seemed to be slowly wrapping around her.

“I’m satisfied that no one in this room had anything to do with the deaths of the ten leopards last night,” Thad finally announced.

“Very good.” Josh walked into the middle of his living room. “You’re all free to go. The corpses will be burned at midnight tonight with a traditional ceremony. I would appreciate any of you howling the news of their deaths so if anyone is missing littermates they can come forward and hopefully give our dead identity.”

Dying with no name wasn’t the most honorable ceremony to partake in. Although personally, Karma figured once she was dead, the burial ceremony wouldn’t be for her as much as it would be for the living. It was how she died that mattered. Identifying any of the leopards from last night wouldn’t make their deaths any more honorable.

“Good hunting,” the leopards called to each other as they began dispersing.

Hanging around to hear gossip might be a smart move. She and Maurie didn’t agree on much, but both knew smelling out the locals always made planning a run easier to do. It helped knowing what leopards in the area had planned, be it a community run, to learning favorite hunting grounds and when litters hunted, any knowledge made it easier to plan meetings.

The thick aroma coming from Race would make it impossible to learn anything other than he wanted to fuck her as badly as she ached to have him inside her. Which would be a bad move—a very bad move.

Karma hurried past Race and out the back door, catching only a few comments about some of them heading to the bar for a game of pool. Breathing in the chilly fresh air helped a little in soothing her rattled nerves. She walked quickly around the cabin and toward the front drive where all of the cars were parked, squinting against the bright sun as she gulped in breath after breath of the fresh, cold air.

Spending time in Wheeler’s Point, maybe doing a bit of shopping, would do her a world of good. The sooner she cleared her head of Race and the knowledge that so many leopards died last night, the easier it would be to focus on the next run. She would also need to tell her littermates that the small cabin up north might be compromised. God, it would suck if they needed to sniff out a new meeting location in the frozen wilderness.

“Foreplay, huh,” Race said from behind her.

Karma didn’t turn around but picked up her pace until she reached the car she shared with her littermates.

Race forced her to turn around and then pushed her against the car before she could pull open her door. “You know what happens after foreplay, don’t you?” he growled.

“You had your chance last night,” she hissed, curling her lip and once again ripping her arm out of a male’s grip.

“No I didn’t. If you wanted to fuck me last night, you would smell the way you do now,” he informed her, keeping his comment at a low, rumbling whisper. Moving closer, he lowered his face to hers as if he would kiss her. “At least we’ve gotten the foreplay out of the way.”

“Get the fuck away from me,” she growled, pushing against his muscular chest. As much as she hated this part, if she didn’t chase him away today, Race would keep sniffing her out every chance he had. And damn, if life were different, she would love to explore what would lead her up to the vision she had last night.

Not that she’d ever seen something that didn’t eventually come true. Maybe what she saw happened far enough in the future that she wouldn’t be helping with VC anymore. But until then…

“You’re not going anywhere yet.” Race grabbed her.

Karma spun around, swinging with all the strength she had, and felt a rush of satisfaction when she connected. She hit Race on the side of his face. He looked startled for only a moment, but that was enough time for Karma. His fingers scraped down her arm but she got away and pulled open her car door.

Race flipped her around and she fell against her car before he grabbed her jaw and tilted her head just enough so he could devour her.

As good as he smelled, Race tasted even better. It didn’t surprise her that he had skills. And the way he tore across open ground last night, his strength and ability to pin her against her car wasn’t a shock either. But when he gripped her jaw and his lips moved over hers, Karma wasn’t ready for the way her insides melted and then swelled with a pressure so strong she couldn’t breathe.

Race’s fingers brushed against her jaw. There was confidence, experience and calm control in his actions. Karma swam in an overwhelming sensation that she was grossly outmatched in a fight and she wouldn’t win even the first battle. There was no catching her breath, no coming up for air so she could clear her brain.

And if she didn’t get her head on straight quickly she would drown. Drown in the rich, aromatic aroma that wrapped around her, powerful and commanding.

When Race growled, a sound reverberating from deep in his chest and then climbing slowly until it crept over her flesh like a rush of heat that burned her alive, his kiss softened and deepened. He controlled her nervous system, her senses, her entire body with his actions. The kiss turned slow and sensual. Race nipped at her lips and his tongue dipped into her mouth, brushed over her teeth. He created chills that made her shiver while her insides continued burning out of control.

She hated the moment that passed when his lips left hers. If she pushed away from her car, tiptoed, it would take nothing to press her mouth against his again. Funny how in the few seconds when he tilted her world and showed her a level of aggressive control that she completely forgot how to fight.

A moment after he ended the kiss, a fog still hung heavy in her brain. Her lungs were full of his scent, and all she could see was his broad, muscular chest blocking her view of anything behind or around them. Every inch of her was numb when she turned and almost stumbled into the driver’s seat of her car.

Race grabbed her arm, lifting her like a rag doll. “I’m not done with you.”

“Yes. You are.” Her voice was husky and she barely had the strength to fight him. Worse yet, she didn’t want to. Dark green eyes searched deep into her soul. She needed to look away, fight him, fight herself. “Get your paws off me now, leopard.”

Race lowered her and then placed her in her car. She gripped the steering wheel when he let go of her and stared out the windshield.

“Where are you going?”

“That’s none of your business,” she growled, and then shoved her hand into her pocket and pulled out her keys. The sooner she got away from him, the better.

“You’re my business now, little cat,” he informed her.

But she didn’t miss the warning in his tone. That’s when it hit her. As much as his kiss affected her, the longer she sat here with her brain slowly clearing, she saw the embarrassing truth. Race was in control, his breathing steady, his scent musky but smelling like he always did. His growl was demanding, not faltering.

He didn’t fuck her last night because sex wasn’t what he was after. And he didn’t reek of lust now because even after kissing her, he was still in control of his senses. Simply put, she didn’t turn him on.

But she had a secret, and he got a whiff of it last night.

Race was a hunter.

If he’d been hired to learn about her and her littermates, possibly report to Pard, he wouldn’t stop until his job was done. Karma cranked over the motor and slammed her car into gear. “I’m not your business now any more than I was five minutes ago. Go chase some other tail.” She was proud as hell of herself when she gunned her car and the wheels spun over the paved drive toward the highway. Slamming the car door shut, she didn’t slow down when the guard hurried to open the gate and let her out of sanctuary.

Ignoring the sour smell of regret that filled the car, she focused on her littermates. The three of them lost everything when one insane leopard, Leo Pard, decided he would capture all leopards who had visions. Karma and her littermates never told anyone they saw the future. Their mother made them swear, even with her last living breath, that they would never howl the litter’s secret. So when the hunt came down and leopards were suddenly yanked from their litters, she and her littermates were safe.

But safe wasn’t good enough, not for Karma, or for Darla or Maurie. All three of them saw immediately the unfairness of it all, the dishonor that stunk so bad it could be smelled across the country. When Karma caught wind of the group of leopards who called themselves Vision Controllers, and soon learned how her sire and mother helped form the covert organization, it didn’t take much for her littermates to quickly agree they needed to help. Ever since then, they ran only for VC. None of them had lives of their own other than saving leopards from life in a cage.

If Maurie and Darla found out about Race, they would have her hide. The sooner she got him out of her head and the taste of him off her lips, the better off she would be.

When her cell phone buzzed, she almost jumped out of her skin as she freed the phone from her waist, her palms clammy enough that she almost dropped the damn thing.

“Get a fucking grip,” she hissed. There wasn’t any way Race would be calling her. He didn’t have her number.

Once again ignoring the pang of regret that twisted into an uncomfortable knot in her gut, she answered the phone, praying her tone sounded indifferent and relaxed.

“What’s up?” she asked, balancing the phone against her shoulder and feeling the pinch from her injured neck.

“Where are you?” Maurie sounded tired.

“I went into Wheeler’s Point.”

“That’s what Darla said.” Maurie chewed on something and swallowed in Karma’s ear. “She also said that there was a meeting in the Bards’ home. She saw you leave when it was over. What’s going on?”

Karma fought the urge to growl over the fact her younger littermate spied on her, but Maurie didn’t ask about the male who stalked after her when the meeting let out, so maybe Darla didn’t watch too closely.

“Everyone was questioned about the deaths of leopards last night. It was standard protocol, nothing confrontational.” Karma wondered why she made light of it to Maurie when it was apparent that, if they were going to secure the safety of VC, some serious regrouping needed to go down.

“Are we compromised?”

Karma needed to say something. And she really needed to figure out what smelled so weird when she actually hesitated. Nothing mattered more than VC—nothing.

“I don’t know about compromised,” she said slowly. “But more leopards died last night than I realized.”

“What are you saying?”

Karma blew out a breath and pulled into a parking lot right after entering town. Putting the car into park, she rubbed her forehead and then gripped her phone. Her neck was still a bit tender and she placed her fingertips over the scab.

“Probably nothing. I’m sure the leopards fought among themselves and killed each other. Like I said, there weren’t any claws pointed. I think the Bards just wanted everyone staying at sanctuary cleared of any association to dishonorable deaths. I vouched for our litter and that was the end of it.”

“Do you smell trouble?”

She smelled trouble in the largest, most muscular feral form she’d ever seen in her life. “Well, if all the leopards who chased us last night are dead, we won’t have to worry about finding a new location.”

“Do we know they’re all dead?”

Karma knew beyond any doubt that one of them was very much alive. “No. We don’t.”

“Well hell.”

“What I thought,” Karma admitted. “I wanted time to sort it all out. And sniffing around a bit in town wouldn’t hurt either.”

“Good idea. Keep a low profile.”

“Don’t worry. You two stay away from everyone at sanctuary. The fewer questions asked, the less we have to answer.”

Maurie must have been as worried as Karma because she agreed. Maurie never agreed with anything Karma said. When she mumbled her goodbyes, something prickled down the back of Karma’s neck. If Maurie started sniffing around sanctuary, she might learn about more than the death of those leopards.

Crap. What if someone saw Race kissing her?

A few more cars pulled into the parking lot and Karma glanced up as several of the leopards got out and strolled toward the bar. She remembered hearing that a group of them would meet at Pierce’s Lair, the bar owned by Thad and his mate. Reaching to turn off the motor, she thought maybe having a beer and keeping her ears alert might give her a clue if they were in jeopardy of getting discovered or not.

Karma pulled the keys out of the ignition when a truck pulled into the lot. Race hopped out from the driver’s side, his faded jeans hugging long, muscular legs. His blond curls were windblown and fell in disarray almost to his shoulders, which were broad and thick. God damn. Male leopards shouldn’t be allowed to look so fucking hot!

Race closed his door and then tucked his thumbs into the jean pockets. If he wasn’t danger wrapped up in denim and flannel, then she didn’t know what the hell was. Two choices existed as she saw it. She could go into the bar or turn tail and run.

Karma never ran from shit in her entire life. Getting out of her car, she shoved her keys in her pocket and ignored him as she headed for the bar. Not that it surprised her at all when he fell into stride alongside her and reached over her head to pull the door open for her so she could enter. But when he placed his hand over the small of her back as they walked into the bar, the thought of them entering the establishment smelling like they were some fucking mated couple wasn’t going to go down.

She snarled at him, turning and slapping his hand off her back. “I don’t have time or the desire to train you, leopard. You either stay the fuck away from me or I’m leaving.”

Race grabbed her hand, and in spite of her efforts to yank her fingers out of his grasp, he brought them to his mouth and then bit her fingertips. “If you didn’t want me near you, you wouldn’t have gotten out of your car, little cat.”

“God. You’re a jerk. I don’t want anything to do with you,” she spat, fighting to free her fingers.

Race’s grin made wicked look tame. “Want me to make you come again while I kiss you and prove otherwise?”

Her throat went so dry while outrage bubbled over until it exploded. Since he refused to let go of her hand, she brought up her other and hit him in the jaw as hard as she could. Karma swore every bone in her hand shattered when she hit what felt like a stone wall.

But Race let go and then slowly narrowed his gaze on her.

So much for sniffing around the local leopards and trying to figure out what any of them might know. If she weren’t already angrier than she’d ever been in her life, his cocky arrogance would piss her off even further. There wasn’t any room left inside her to be more outraged though. Karma marched out of the bar, once again needing to clear her head so she could figure out the ramifications of last night.

Hurrying across the parking lot, gravel crunched behind her at the same time she sucked in Race’s dominating scent. Before she could turn around, strong hands grabbed her and swooped her off the ground.

“What the fuck?” she howled.

Race threw her over his shoulder and then turned and headed to his truck.

Chapter Four

Race climbed into his truck while Karma struggled to straighten next to him. Peeling out of the parking lot, he glanced at Karma as she shoved her long blonde hair away from her face. Her spicy anger didn’t hide the hint of sweet lust that clung to her flesh.

He hit the highway, knowing exactly where he would take her. His body screamed to be inside her, and his more carnal side insisted he fuck her immediately. But Race was a hunter first. Karma wasn’t the first gorgeous leopard whose aroma made it damn hard to think straight. One thing he learned as a cub while working with his sire was that females came in all sizes and shapes, and more than one would tempt him beyond his ability to think straight. But any single female was wild, on the prowl and dangerous. Karma took it one step further. She was on a mission that led in one direction—death.

No one howled for him to sniff out the situation. But possibly the reason was Karma and her littermates were so good at what they did that no one noticed they were up to no good. And what a way to hide something dishonorable. Karma’s litter moved into sanctuary, three single females who knew they would cause every single male to go nuts trying to get a piece of them. Race definitely enjoyed watching the three of them shake their tails. While he, and every other male, drooled and snarled over them, none of them paid attention to what the three of them were doing.

And they were definitely doing something.

Whatever it was, if he hadn’t killed the rest of those rogues last night, it would have been discovered and possibly got all three of them killed.

“The way I see it,” he began, glancing at the back of her head as she looked away from him and out the passenger window. “There are a few things we need to talk about. We’ve tasted each other, and it’s going to be hard as hell not to fuck. But I’m an honorable leopard—”

Karma made a snorting sound and he paused, realizing she insulted him. If she found him dishonorable by reacting to her strong scent, he would show the little leopard what honor was all about.

“Maybe honor isn’t a trait you know a lot about.” He gripped the steering wheel and fought to keep his emotions composed. “Sometimes when we get tangled up in situations it’s hard to smell good from bad.”

“Go fuck yourself,” she hissed.

And then to his surprise, she opened the passenger door and leapt out of his truck.

Fucking hell! He was going about forty-five miles an hour and accelerating as he headed toward the highway that led to Josh’s sanctuary.

“Damn it, little cat,” he hissed, searching his rearview mirror to find her as he slammed on his brakes and squealed his tires.

He barely brought his truck to a stop before slamming it out of gear and then jerking forward when he pushed on the brake. Race jumped out of his truck and raced down the side of the road, searching the trees to his left and sniffing the air for Karma’s scent. He picked up on her smell still lingering around a clump of trees and undergrowth just off the road.

Leaping over the small ditch next to the road, Race hauled ass into the thick growth of trees and pushed branches out of the way while running deeper into the undeveloped terrain. Her scent grew stronger as he pounded the ground, running in his boots. Even in his flesh, Race could run faster and longer than a human could. His adrenaline pumped harder, his lungs and heart working stronger than his current state would be able to endure for much longer.

Although he could slow and strip out of his clothes in order to change into a leopard, he wanted to capture Karma in his current form. First of all, if he found her as a leopard, after tasting her and knowing in his heart and mind that she responded to the kiss with as much eagerness and need that pumped inside him, he would fuck her whether she wanted it or not. Primal need and instinct prevailed in his fur. As a human, he would honor her wishes, even when he knew she lied when she claimed she wanted him to leave her alone.

It didn’t take long to catch up with her. Race spotted her through the trees, running as if her life depended on it. Her long blonde hair flew wildly down her back, and her jeans hugged perfectly curved hips and long, slender legs. She batted at branches while running fast and hard. When she glanced over her shoulder, he caught her panicked expression. It burned into his brain like an acid that then sunk into his gut.

At the same moment that he leapt into the air, he wondered at the apparent reality that Karma really didn’t want him to catch her. As much as she smelled and tasted as if she ached for him, she also didn’t want him around. It was a puzzle he planned on solving very quickly.

“That’s enough, little cat,” he snarled, grabbing her and then taking the two of them down.

She howled when she hit the ground, but then turned into a wild animal in human form when she frantically attacked, kicking and scratching while continuing to scream.

“I said enough!” Race twisted his body so he didn’t land on top of her, but then quickly wrapped his arms around her torso, pinning her arms to her sides.

“You have no right,” she hissed, panting hard while shaking her head.

“Explain why you run when I suggest you’re tangled in a mess too deep for you to get out of, and show me that I have no right.” Race relaxed his legs over hers, propping himself over her so he could study her face.

“I don’t have to explain shit to you. You’re the dishonorable rogue who is attacking me,” she snarled, spitting her cruel words in his face while her expression contorted in anger.

She breathed hard, her breasts rising and falling against his forearm, and her hair lay wildly in a tangled mess around her face. But her green eyes, bright with fury, glared at him as if she would kill given a moment to do so.

He fought to keep his head clear, to not allow her incredible beauty to sway him. Her soft body squirmed underneath his, and he felt her everywhere. Until he understood why she ran when he said they needed to talk, Race needed to keep his focus on understanding what she was about. Keeping his cock from turning harder than stone was almost as tough to do as smelling only her rage and panic, and not the underlying lust and curiosity that laced the less appealing smells.

“First of all, little cat, you’re not being attacked. You ran, I caught you. Pretty simple.” He was sure he wasn’t hurting her with most of his body to the side of her and only his arms and legs restraining her. “And second, I would be showing no honor only if I ignored a very questionable situation that I witnessed last night.”

Her eyes widened at his comment, but then she twisted even harder, putting every bit of strength she had into getting away from him.

“Why wouldn’t you want to talk to me about it?” he mused out loud, and re-secured his grip, stilling her in a powerful hug. “What is so important that you would set yourself up as bait to prevent your littermates from being gang-raped, Karma?”

She quit moving, letting out a long breath and relaxed on the ground. Race brushed hair from her face, but she turned her head from him, closing her eyes.

“Tell me, little cat. I’m a hunter, sworn to protect all leopards from any and all harm until I die. What the hell is going on?”

“You’re a hunter.” She turned her head quickly, her gaze turning cold as if the title were something despicable. “Hunters were hired by Leo Pard to gather leopards he deemed would be better off in fucking cages. Don’t throw that title out at me and expect it to do anything other than stink up the air.”

“There is nothing more honorable than being a hunter,” he snarled, her words a worse attack than her kicking and scratching his body. Moving quickly, he grabbed her by her arms and pulled her off the ground. “Yes, we responded to Pard, but only because his claim smelled so vile that it needed investigating. If I ignored his request, I wouldn’t know today what he was about.” He gave her a quick shake, needing her to understand the truth. “And I wouldn’t have been there to help so many leopards break out of those damn cages. You have no fucking idea what I saw, what was done to those males and females. Don’t you ever spit out the rank of hunter as if it were something despicable.”

Pushing her back to the ground, he released her and jumped to his feet. She didn’t understand. There would never be a moment he didn’t howl with pride that he held the rank of hunter. Leopards were so fucking messed up after the atrocious acts of Pard that many of them no longer trusted their own shadows.

He turned his back to her and combed his hair with his fingers, ignoring the tangled mess and turning again to glare down at her. Karma moved to a sitting position but didn’t show any signs of bolting. Not that he worried about that, he could catch her in a minute if she ran.

“If I worked for Pard, which I don’t, don’t you think I would have turned you and your littermates over to him the moment you arrived at sanctuary?”

She frowned at him. “You wouldn’t have any reason to do that.” Karma looked down quickly, straightening her hair and then adjusting her clothes under her open jacket, stretching her knit sweater over her full, round breasts.

“All three of you have visions,” he said quietly, watching her carefully for her reaction to his admission of knowing her secret. Although after last night, Race knew now there were a lot more secrets wrapped around this hot little cat.

“You’re not a very good hunter if that’s what you think.” Her laughter was tight, hardly sincere.

Race fought the urge not to pick her up and shake her until she quit with the lies and cutting accusations. “It’s what I know,” he said through clenched teeth, fighting to keep his anger from taking over. “What I plan on learning now is what last night was all about. I killed seven males to protect you. When you stood outside the cabin and told me you don’t fuck leopards who don’t have honor, you also said that if I possessed honor, I wouldn’t disturb what must happen there.”

She looked up at him wide-eyed then bit her lip while she studied him silently. At least she wasn’t spitting insults at him.

“Now it’s your turn, little cat,” he said calmly, loving how a small ray of sunshine reflected against her hair, making it look like gold. “I honored your request. Now you honor mine.”

“It doesn’t work that way.” Karma rose to her feet slowly, brushing off her jeans and slapping her ass a few times. She again pulled her knitted sweater down, which showed off how hard her nipples were as they pressed against the material underneath her open coat. “For whatever reasons you did what you did last night, it’s appreciated.”

“I did it because it saved your life.” He wondered if she was always this bull-headed or if she lied so much that she’d mastered keeping her lies from smelling.

“I would have been fine last night,” she retorted quickly. But when she met his gaze, he learned the answer to his question.

Karma was stubborn to a fault. But she knew damn good and well she wouldn’t have survived last night without his help. Her words created a bitter smell that hung heavy between them.

Race moved closer while her gaze widened and she continued staring at him.

“Seven males chased after you and your litter last night,” he began, stopping when he was inches away from her. “You chose to run one way while your littermates ran another. You slowed your pace, keeping your scent fresh so the males would chase after you and not your littermates. If I didn’t have a lead on the other males and they reached you first, do you really think you would have survived all of them fucking you?”

Karma pressed her lips together, sucking in a breath and holding it while she stared defiantly at him. He doubted she believed she would have survived, but instead was simply too stubborn to admit he saved her ass. Not that he was trying for a bit of gratitude, but he wouldn’t have her believing he was despicable for being a hunter.

“You can’t handle the thought of one leopard fucking you, let alone seven.” He grabbed her by the back of the neck, holding on to a bulk of her hair.

This time Karma didn’t fight him but let her head relax against his hand, exposing the slender length of her neck to him. He looked at the healing wound where he’d bit her the night before. His mark on her, and by her own words, an act of foreplay.

“You’re wrong, leopard,” she whispered, her scent turning musky as she grew aroused.

“I know I am. You love the thought of sex. And you want to fuck me,” he added, watching her cheeks flush and knowing at that moment how much truth was in his words. “So why do you run?”

She closed her mouth, making it clear she wouldn’t answer him. Karma left him one choice. He wanted to understand her before taking her. But she wouldn’t cooperate. If he didn’t fuck her soon, she would fill his system, distracting and controlling him with the wonderfully delicious scent of her craving for him.

“I look forward to when you answer that question,” he whispered, moving his hand underneath her sweater and lifting it until he cupped her breast.

Karma flinched, but he gripped the hair at her neck harder and lowered his mouth to hers. Nipping at her lips, he tasted her, licking her chin and then pulling her head back forward while he nibbled at her neck.

“I’m not going to answer that question.” Karma moaned when he scraped his teeth over her collarbone.

Her body shivered under his touch. Reaching inside her coat and cupping her breast, he felt her nipple pucker against his palm and her heart increase its rhythm until it pounded furiously in her chest.

“Yes. You will.” Race shoved her coat off her shoulders until it fell to the ground. He pulled her sweater over her breasts, loving that she didn’t wear a bra, and ran his hand from one breast to the other. “You will when you trust me. So it’s my job to gain that trust.”

“Why do you care?” Her eyes were closed and her lips parted as she panted, and her aroused state turned to a ripe, pungent aroma that was about to drive him nuts.

Race lifted her in his arms, but then went to his knees and gently laid her down over her coat. He reached for the button on her jeans and met her gaze when she covered his hand with hers. Race took her hand off his, unbuttoning her top button to her jeans as he did. Then pulling, he forced the zipper down. His breath came so hard in his chest when he tugged on her jeans, creating clouds of steam in the chilled air around them, that getting his mind to work so he could answer her question proved harder than he thought.

“That’s what I thought,” she snarled when he didn’t answer. “You don’t care. You’re a rogue who simply sniffed out an unmated female and wants to get his dick wet.”

He wasn’t sure why it bothered him so much when Karma insulted him. Most times when he took a consenting female, foreplay consisted of fighting and berating each other until it exploded into wild, incredible sex. It was the way of their species.

Maybe her words got under his skin because he knew she was wrong. And she knew it too. He smelled it on her.

Grabbing her jeans, he pulled her ass off the ground and lifted her legs into the air when he peeled them to her ankles.

“Are you out of practice, little cat? At least smell as if you mean your insults,” he snarled.

“What I do or don’t practice is none of your damn business.” She sat up quickly, with her legs tangled around her jeans.

It took little effort to hold her legs and remove her shoes. Karma couldn’t stop him from tossing her jeans to the side.

“It’s my business because if I weren’t there last night, you would have died. And if you pull another stunt like last night, and I’m not there, your blood will be on my hands.” He lifted his gaze from her almost naked body and stared into her bright green eyes when she looked at him. “That isn’t going to happen,” he whispered, his voice rough as he breathed in how turned on she was.

“You’re right.” She rolled to her side, twisting and giving him one hell of a view of her perfectly round ass. “I’m not your problem, Race. And doing anything with you would be a terrible mistake.”

“I never said you were a problem.” And he would argue that any mistakes were about to happen. She didn’t possess half his strength. Spreading her legs so they were on either side of him, he touched her pussy with his fingers. “God damn, Karma. You’re wet as hell.”

“That…that has nothing to do with anything.”

But when he ran his fingers down the length of her neatly trimmed folds, she trembled, squeezing her eyes closed and biting her lower lip. Her scent grew so strong Race swore he could see it floating in waves before him. The chilled air seemed to grow hotter. The frozen ground, with patches of snow here and there, would sizzle and melt if they lay on it. He stared down at her slender, sexy body with her sweater still pushed over her full round breasts and her tummy flat and going up and down quickly while she appeared to struggle not to show him she panted.

“Are you trying to tell me a male would turn you on if he didn’t appeal to you?” He pressed his finger between her folds, his insides boiling while he fought to maintain control and get Karma to admit her craving for him.

“I’m not a slut,” she growled, opening her eyes quickly. “Not that my personal life and who or how many times I howl for a male is any importance to you.” For some reason, the spiciness of anger mixed with her arousal smelled better than anything Race ever inhaled before. Her eyes glowed with a fierce intensity while her body continued to quiver against his touch. “I don’t want you,” she hissed.

He hated her lie as much as the stench that fouled the wonderful aroma he enjoyed until this moment. And as much as he ached to rip his clothes from his body and sink his cock deep inside her, Race leaned forward, his large frame making it impossible for her to pull her legs together. Two fingers glided into her heat, and the cream that instantly soaked his flesh affected him more than he imagined. In spite of her attempt at replacing her lust with outrage, the closer he moved to her face, Race saw her fear, her craving to take him, and knew she lied to herself more than to him.

“Then tell me to stop,” he growled, leaning over her and pushing his fingers deeper into her pussy. “Fight me and order me to stop.”

“Stop,” she whispered, her voice cracking when she caught her breath and arched into his touch.

“Do you mean that?” he asked, knowing more than anything that she didn’t.

“Yes.” Closing her eyes, it looked as if she squeezed them closed to prevent tears from drifting down her cheeks.

Race was many things. And he’d done many wrong things in his life. But being a hunter kept his tail out of trouble. No way would he do anything to compromise his reputation today and lose the honorary title and rank that came with being one of the few selected to protect his species. He wasn’t a rapist.

Leaning forward, Race brushed his lips over hers. She quivered against his touch, and her sigh did a number to his equilibrium. The carnal side of him fought to surface, to demand that she put out. Hell, he didn’t have to demand. Karma couldn’t stop him. He was a hell of a lot stronger than she was. And she wanted him. Damn it. He knew how to smell leopards. In fact, he was a fucking expert at it. Karma wanted him more than possibly she ever wanted another male.

Ignoring his thoughts that demanded his attention, Race bit her lip and then sucked it into his mouth. Karma’s cry was the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard in his life.

The pain he endured when he pushed away from her and then managed to stand damn near blinded him. Maybe he’d gone too long without getting laid. Females didn’t manage this kind of control over his body and senses.

“What?” Karma muttered.

Race glanced over his shoulder. Karma pushed herself up on her elbows. She pulled her coat over her, although the lust burning in her eyes made her look anything but cold. If he continued staring at her, he would be right back on top of her. There was no way he’d be able to stop himself twice.

“You fucking want me, Karma,” he growled through his teeth, feeling his body tighten and add to the pain already attacking him furiously. “I might be as cocky as the next male, but I’m not an idiot. Not only do you want me, but your level of compassion is strong enough that you can’t put out if your agenda is something non-sexual. Last night was proof of that. You tried to seduce me the way your older littermate seduced those males, and it’s not in you. What I smell on you is sincere and real, just like last night when I didn’t smell your lust even though you tried to appear willing.”

Karma flew off the ground, grabbing his attention in spite of his determination to quit drooling over her semi-naked body. “You have no idea what you’re fucking howling about,” she snarled, her fury making her teeth grow slightly. Her suddenly altered facial features gave her an even more erotic look, that and her blonde hair flying wildly about her.

“Don’t I?” Race shoved his fists into his waist just to keep his paws off her. “Whatever you’re trying to pull off, you’re in over your head. Your honor is strong enough you would sacrifice yourself for the safety of your littermates. But you can’t fake being turned-on when you’re terrified of what is going on around you.” He moved closer, breathing in her rich mixture of anger and the intoxicating cream he would bet still clung to her pussy. “And now you can’t pull off not wanting me, although something has you terrified to be with me.”

Karma stared at him a moment longer, her expression softening, although her eyes still burned bright from emotions that swirled around inside her. They made for an interesting scent. Finally, she gave him a small tilted smile, flipped her hair over her shoulder and turned around. Bending down in front of him put him to a test he doubted most males would pass. Karma scooped up her clothes and turned, an edge of disappointment proof she wanted him to break and attack her so that she wouldn’t have to release her pride and jump his bones.

“You’re right.” Her smile didn’t smell of happiness or joy. “Obviously I can’t hide the smell of the truth from you. Must be why they made you a hunter. I guess now that you know the truth, you run your way and I’ll run mine.”

She stood on her coat and made quick work of dressing. Then bending over once again in front of him, she picked up her coat and slid her arms into it. Wrapping it around her like a shield, she hugged herself while studying him a moment longer.

“See you,” she said, waving over her shoulder while she started walking through the woods back toward the bar.

Race scrubbed his hair, but the frustration only built inside him. He leapt after her before finalizing what he would say when he caught her. “You aren’t walking back. I’ll drive you.”

“I didn’t ask for a ride.”

“You don’t have to.” He put his arm around her, turning her around and then heading toward his truck. “One way or another, you’re going to learn how to smell when a leopard can be trusted.”

Karma shook her head but didn’t try to get away from him. “You don’t get it, Race. This isn’t about trust.”

“What else is there?”

She licked her lips, looking as if she knew the answer but hesitated in saying it. “You’re a hunter,” she finally whispered, and then stopped walking while the trees still surrounded them.

Race turned and faced her, letting his hand move over her shoulder and then petting her hair gently while he studied the turmoil that ripped at her expression. Sucking in a slow, long breath of all the emotions attacking her at that moment, he didn’t smell fear. Karma and her litter weren’t bad leopards. He refused to accept that. For several months now he’d watched her and her litter. Race chased down enough bad leopards over the years to pick up the scent of deception long before anyone learned he was a hunter.

“Karma, you have my word.” He paused, assuring himself that he wasn’t thinking with the wrong head here. “Whatever you and your litter are about, you will never smell trouble coming from me. I will always have your tail. Do you understand me?”

He never took his gaze off her face while he spoke. That was the only way he noticed her eyes dim. For a mere moment, maybe two, her scent changed. Race was overwhelmed with a fresh, clean smell. Her expression softened, the worry and defiance fading.

Race quit stroking the side of her head but kept his hand in place, feeling her smooth, silky hair against his palm. He didn’t say anything but waited out the few moments, knowing she didn’t see him in front of her even though he was right before her. Whatever Karma experienced, it was good and brought her peace.

Ever since dealing with the ordeal Pard brought on to his kind, he’d spent time with leopards who had visions. And he’d bet a full night’s kill that Karma was experiencing a vision right now. The way her scent changed, her expression changed, didn’t have shit to do with anything he just said to her. Karma already showed him she was stronger than that. Nothing he would say to her would change her mind—not that quickly. Gaining her trust, her loyalty, would take time and patience. Whatever Karma experienced right now brought her peace and made her scent smell so damn good he drank it up like a parched leopard.

As quickly as the relaxed expression washed over her face, it took a minute longer for her to pull out of it. Karma looked confused, suddenly breathing quickly, and then looking around before tilting her head and giving him a wary look.

“You’re fine,” he whispered, cupping her head and slowly burying his fingers in her long hair. Instinct kicked in, the urge to protect and keep her safe, even from her own thoughts, taking over.

Race lowered his face and kissed her. She tasted too damn good. Every time their lips touched it was better than before. Karma didn’t push away from him. If anything, she relaxed against his body and opened up to him. He pulled on her hair, adjusting her head so he could feast on her better, and impaled her mouth while he enjoyed how perfect she tasted.

Whatever vision she just had, it brought her peace. Race wasn’t taking advantage of that, but damn it, he didn’t want to walk away from her. She and her litter were hot, there wasn’t any denying that. But it was more than the fact she got his dick hard. And it was more than knowing Karma held on to a secret that scared her. He would fuck her, and he would learn her secret. But Race knew by the way he couldn’t let her go that Karma stirred something inside him worth exploring.

Most hot females were worth the chase only until they started howling no. That bored him and he moved on without regret. All Karma told him was no and here he was devouring her mouth. Definitely worth exploring.

Pushing his hand underneath her coat, he cupped her ass and lifted her against him. Blood rushed through his veins at a dangerous speed. When she sighed into his mouth, his cock swelled and throbbed painfully. He tasted her submission, felt the moment she consented to having sex with him. A raging desire to give her the pleasure she consented to taking hardened him to steel and he could barely move.

“Karma,” he growled, and lifted her into his arms, unable to form the words to tell her what he wanted.

Moving back from the road, almost to where they were when he removed Karma’s clothes, Race sat down, putting her on his lap and parted her coat so he could lift her sweater. She curled up against him as if she would climb his chest. Her nails and teeth were sharper than they were a moment ago, and she scratched and nipped while growling. The rumbling releasing from her throat ignited energy inside him that proved damn near impossible to control.

“Lift yourself, little cat,” he instructed, gripping her soft, round rear and then reaching between them to quickly undo his jeans.

It surprised the hell out of him when Karma cooperated. It didn’t bother him when she berated him, tossing insults and growling her disgust. All along he smelled her lust and understood in her way, she was flirting, testing, demanding to see his strength before submitting. He sure didn’t mind her submissive side either. Karma moaned, adjusting herself while he pushed her sweater up her body so that her full, round breasts were in his face. Race didn’t even think but latched on to a nipple, holding it between his teeth while lashing the erect puckered flesh with his tongue. Her willingness smelled as good as her defiance. In fact, Race was convinced so far that there wasn’t a scent about her that he couldn’t drown in and be a very happy male.

“God damn it, Race,” Karma hissed, and dug her nails into his shirt.

Maybe she tore his shirt. Race didn’t care when the sharp pinch from her grip ignited strength inside him to conquer, devour, claim and make her his.

Karma’s scent totally changed after having her vision. It was as though she let go, released the barrier she hid behind and allowed her cravings for him to come forward full force. Once the thick fog of lust and need cleared from his brain, he would learn what her vision was about. If she told him now, he doubted he’d remember any of it. Her hot little body pressed against him stole his ability to have any rational thought at all. He might be in his human form but instinct definitely prevailed.

Fuck now, talk later. Worked for him.

Although it took some effort, he got out of his shoes and pants. When his cock was no longer restrained, even more blood flowed into his shaft, making him swell and grow, threatening to explode.

Karma dragged her nails over his shoulders again, scraping flesh she’d already punctured, but the pain kept him grounded. Nibbling more on her nipple, he loved how it grew and lengthened. She was as aroused as he was, and he wouldn’t be surprised if anyone driving down the highway would be hit by the aroma from their sexual arousal as if it were a brick wall. Not that anyone of their kind would mess with a leopard who was claiming a female—unless he wanted a fight on his paws.

Rubbing his face over her swollen breasts, Race loved how silky-smooth her skin was, how incredibly sweet and musky she smelled, and how she purred. The sounds she made, often very quiet but louder when she exhaled, were hypnotic and pulled him over the edge.

“You aren’t anywhere near your heat, are you?” he asked, his voice huskier than he thought it would sound. He might be lost in a hypnotic spell she put him under but that didn’t mean even in this state he wouldn’t be responsible. Taking a female when she was near her heat, or worse yet, in it, would breed her. Race had no desire to sire cubs.

“No.” She shook her head and her long blonde hair fell over one breast.

“I’m going to taste you, Karma. Every inch of you.” He lifted her, kissing her belly button before encouraging her to stand over him.

“Oh God. Yes,” Karma murmured with a husky purr, and stood with her jeans pushed down to her ankles and her long coat hanging over her exposed body. It was as if she was covered from the world, exposed only for him. He made sure her coat was wrapped around her, reaching inside and stroking her soft flesh. She combed his hair with her fingers, digging in and then holding on to him by grabbing his hair.

Race dragged his tongue over her soft pussy. She kept herself trimmed and the coarse, short hairs tickled his lips. But the way she tasted turned him into a starving leopard real fucking fast.

“Better than I imagined,” he growled, and spread her bare ass, reaching with his fingers until her moisture coated them.

Spreading her open, he probed her tight ass with his fingers. Touching her there did something to Karma. She shifted, almost jumped, causing him to hold her tighter so he could get his fill of her.

“Crap,” she snapped, sounding irritated but smelling even more aroused. “Damn it, Race.”

She didn’t tell him to stop. Although he drowned in the taste of her, in the sweet flow of her come when she spasmed over him and dug into his scalp. He might not have heard her if she did.

He adored how smooth and soft her ass was when he ran his fingers over her asshole while dipping his tongue inside her pussy. She was so hot, so damn wet. And although tasting and touching her intimately was enough to make her come, it also proved to him it had been a while since any leopard touched her.

And that knowledge got him even harder. The urge to devour her, give her pleasure that would topple her world over and possess and dominate until all she lived and breathed was him, burned inside him like a feverish obsession.

Ever since her litter moved to Josh Bard’s sanctuary, Race sniffed after them, watching them. And Karma, who snarled at him louder, ran from him faster and herded her littermates away from him and the other males, snagged his attention the most. He now understood why.

Race moved his fingers, bringing one hand around to her front, and then rubbed her soaked clit.

“Race,” she growled, hissing his name as if it were a warning.

He was about to push her too far, take her possibly to a level of pleasure she hadn’t been offered by any other leopard. And that was where he wanted her.

“You’re fine, little cat,” he growled into her soaked flesh.

Then spreading her flesh open with his fingers, he lapped at the rich, thick cream that welled around her entrance.

“Oh God. Shit!” Karma buckled over him, her orgasm hitting hard.

“That’s it, baby,” he rumbled, doing his best to taste the fresher thick cream that poured free from her hot pussy. “You taste so damn good.”

He grabbed her before she could fall over his shoulder, wrapping his arms around her waist and then holding her as she slid down his body.

He cradled her, finding her mouth and kissing her savagely while his cock throbbed against her smooth, soft ass.

“I need to fuck you,” he informed her, continuing to plant small kisses over her chin and jawbone.

“Yes,” she panted, and then moved until she straddled him again.

Karma reached between them, turning aggressive when she freed his cock from his jeans.

“Little cat. Shit,” he hissed as her fingers wrapped around his shaft and stroked him, exploring while her gaze dropped to the act.

She nibbled her lower lip, seeming completely engrossed watching her fingers move against his length, hardening him while his balls tightened. Blood boiled inside him. It could have been below freezing outside and he wouldn’t have known it. Her hands touching him like that drew out a carnal side of him that blazed into flames threatening to burn him alive.

Her long hair tapered down her slender back, ending before it reached her perfectly round ass. Long blonde strands parted around her full, round breasts, creating a sensual picture he could drool over for hours. The thick, ripe aroma from her orgasm hung heavy in the air around them. Race adjusted her coat around her, making sure she was covered. Just because he was burning alive inside didn’t keep him from forgetting it was a chilly day, in spite of how the thick trees around them sheltered them from the cold wind that usually blew and prevented snow from landing and remaining on the ground here.

“You need to fuck me right now,” Karma purred into his ear.

He couldn’t wait to learn what changed her mind about him. Once he’d enjoyed her, had his fill, he would understand what this vision was. She’d gone from refusing him to demanding he take her. Not that he minded. But curiosity still reigned strong inside him.

“Hold on, little cat,” he growled, gripping her waist and feeling the warmth of her body trapped inside her long coat. With the ground cold underneath him and her body so hot he damn near melted, the contrast created a fever inside him only she could extinguish.

Race lifted her, pushing his cock between her soft flesh and feeling her moisture quickly cling to him. Her jeans slid off one foot, remaining tangled around her other as she straddled him. She dug her fingers into his shoulders. When he pressed forward, he slid inside her, filling and stretching her easier than he thought. She was so soaked, so ready for him, that although he anticipated her to be tight, and wasn’t off base with his assumption, it took no effort to fill her.

“Oh yes,” she cried out, arching her back. “Fuck me, Race. Now. Do it hard and fast.”

Race smiled, watching her hair glide over her shoulder while thick strands waved over her perfect breasts. Her face was partially hidden from strands of hair. But when she moved, he sunk in deeper. He hissed when all of him filled her, and then she contracted around his shaft.

She would suffocate the life right out of him. “Don’t worry, little cat.”

“Now damn it. Now!” She shook her ass, encouraging his movement.

Race slid his hands down, gripping her smooth ass, and lifted her off him just enough to allow him leverage. Then rocking forward, he started friction that quickly ignited, burning him alive. “Oh shit,” she howled, digging her nails through his hair, tugging, pulling as she held on while her body tightened.

“Trust me, Karma,” he growled. “Hold still and you’ll get what you need. We both will.”

Karma dropped her head, but only for a moment. She slowly raised it, her hair shrouding her face, and sucked in a loud breath.

Race stared at her flushed expression and how her eyes glowed with lust as he slowly pulled out of her but then filled her again, enduring the many tiny muscles quivering around his cock as he fucked her.

She was hot, so fucking perfect, and embraced his cock with her soaked pussy every time he thrust inside her.

“Fuck me, little cat. Ride my cock.” Smacking the other side of her ass, he loved how she hissed, tossing her head, and then growled as she lifted herself off him, dragging her fingers down the side of his head and gripping his shoulders to brace herself.

“That’s it, sweetheart. God, I love how you purr,” he told her, gripping her waist and helping lift and then lower her down onto his swollen cock.

He wanted to build her to that point, to that very moment, so that when he let go and fucked her with all that he had, it would take her to a place she’d never been to before. And if he did it right, she would never return, but remain there, his forever.

“You think I’m soaked because you’re so good and I’ve been with so many males who don’t match your perfection.” The coy tone was back in her voice.

“I know you’re soaked because you haven’t been with that many males.” She was too damn tight, her muscles constricting around him as if not used to the depth he reached. She was too confident to be a virgin, not that he cared about being her first. “But little cat, you’re also soaked because you love how it feels. Right?”

She stared at him with her hooded gaze, parting her lips as she panted but refused to howl his praises.

Race gave her ass one more quick smack, the sound of flesh hitting flesh turning him harder than stone. Karma sucked in a quick breath, her eyes widening as her tongue darted out, quickly licking her lips. Her flushed expression, along with how tight she got around his cock, answered his question, but he ached to hear her words.

“Tell me if you like it,” he growled, gripping her hips and leaning back. Then he impaled her, taking over the act and sinking deep into her searing heat.

As he fucked her, slowly increasing the pace, one thought filled his mind, exploding with amazing clarity. Karma was meant for him. It would take some time and effort that he’d never thought to apply before when fucking a female, but he would make Karma open up to him, share her secrets, let him in on the visions she saw. And the only way to do that was to gain her trust and her complete submission.

He built the momentum and focused on her hard panting. “Do you want all of it, little cat?”

“Yes,” she said quickly.

“Then tell me how much you like it,” he said, his voice gruff.

He moved his hands, cupping her ass and rubbed his thumb over her asshole. Her pussy convulsed around his cock while she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face against his neck. She cried out, panting furiously while clawing his back.

“Tell me how much you like it,” he repeated.

“I like it,” she hissed. “Yes, I like it. A lot,” she panted.

But she regained her composure quickly, arching her back and pushing away from him until her body was almost at arm’s length, which gave him an even better view of his cock gliding in and out of her and the thick cream that coated him as he impaled her.

“And this won’t be the only time.”

“No.” She didn’t hesitate. “It’s good. So good.”

“Yes. It is.” And every time he took her it would be better. He rubbed his thumb over her ass again, pushing slightly against the tight, puckered opening.

Karma howled and her pussy tightened against him with so much strength that he couldn’t handle it any longer. Moving his hands quickly and gripping her ass hard so she couldn’t move, he gave her all he had, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes as he thrust deeper and harder, filling her completely until he exploded. So many sparks ignited before his eyelids they created a fire that roared to life with a rage he barely could control. And as he spilled everything he had inside her tight pussy, an unexpected aroma hit him so hard that he felt his world shift.

He wanted Karma again soon. And he doubted he’d make it too long if she tried holding out on him. Something he couldn’t name crawled over his flesh. He shivered. Releasing the last drop of his orgasm, he rubbed his hand up her spine, feeling the moist sheen that covered her under her coat and watching as she shivered against his touch.

Slowly, Karma collapsed against him and he pulled her coat around her securely while his cock enjoyed the heat she offered.

“Don’t ever run from me,” he growled.

“And if I do?” she asked, teasing him and grinning mischievously.

“Then I’ll catch you.” He lowered his mouth to hers, tasting her and smelling her happiness. But there was something else, something he didn’t like.

Karma smelled nervous, almost scared.

Chapter Five

Karma trembled when she parked to the side of the main cabin at sanctuary. Her palms were damp and the smell of her sweat from nerves was almost as strong as Race’s scent that covered every inch of her. Maurie’s, and even Darla’s, concern or anger from any of her actions never bothered her if she knew her actions were justified.

She already knew the pros and cons of her actions, had argued both sides for the past hour while her body continued sizzling from the aftermath of incredible sex. No matter what she said, Maurie would have a fit. Even if there weren’t possible ramifications, Maurie would growl and act like a bitch. If Karma got something that Maurie didn’t, then Maurie always howled and hissed.

If her visions carried merit, and she knew they did, Race wouldn’t do her wrong.

Race drove her to her car at the bar and didn’t follow her when she left. More than likely he went into the bar. He would carry her scent, which would make it a bitch if he tried talking to any single females while he was there. Even if he ignored the females, any males he talked to would smell her on him too. They might not know it was her scent, but they would know he just got laid. What she had to believe was that Race didn’t fuck and howl.

She needed space and time to think through everything that happened last night and today, and to talk to her littermates. Maurie would go nuts the second she got a whiff of her. But once she shared the visions she had then hopefully Maurie would chill out. Darla always supported Karma, but then she never crossed Maurie either. Sometimes Karma didn’t get how her youngest littermate managed to keep on both of their good sides without smelling like an ass-kisser.

Karma hurried down the incline and around the backside of the Bard cabin to the others behind it. The ground was hard and frozen and slick in spots, but she kept her balance, willing herself to get to her cabin without being seen.

As much as she couldn’t wait for the protection of her litter, she dreaded seeing them as well. The turmoil built inside her until she was sure it would cover Race’s scent. Reaching her cabin, she hurried inside, closed the door and then leaned against it, feeling an overwhelming urge to smile and even laugh. It was as if she just lived through a perilous adventure and arrived to her litter safely.

“What’s wrong with you?” Maurie twisted on the couch, glancing at her before returning her attention to the TV.

Karma fought off the smile, knowing Maurie would hiss even louder if she knew how much fun Karma had while Maurie sat here with Darla at the cabin watching TV.

Darla glanced up from where she sat on the floor, their laptop in front of her. She didn’t look away as quickly but met Karma’s gaze and stared at her. A moment later, she rose to her feet, squaring off and facing Karma. She noticeably sniffed at Karma, her brow narrowing.

“Who is he?” she whispered, her green eyes looking exceptionally golden.

“What?” Maurie spun around, and then stood as well. “Do we have a problem here?” She made a show of walking around Karma, tapping her lips with her finger. “Have you already fucked things up for us here?”

“Maurie,” Darla instantly complained.

But Karma was ready for Maurie’s reaction and anticipated the stench that would fill the air when she threw out her cruel accusations. Karma knew a lifetime of her littermate’s hasty accusations and mean temper.

“You would love it if I did, wouldn’t you?” Karma snapped. “Sometimes I think you smell more as if you live for me fucking up than you do trying to help leopards like us get to safety.”

“How dare you,” Maurie hissed, pushing Karma hard enough to back her up against the wall. “Who did you fuck? And he better not be anyone who matters since he’s going to die!”

“Only if he won’t fuck you too?” Karma hissed, shoving Maurie out of her way and walking across the room. She turned and faced her littermates, one outraged and the other concerned. “Trust me, I care about VC. And I know no other litter can pull off what we’re doing. We’re invincible because we’re all females, and no male looks at us as a threat.”

“But they will if we start smelling like sluts,” Maurie snarled venomously. “Or if we get sloppy and leave a trail behind us.”

“Or if we make too much noise before a meeting and draw the attention of a hunter.”

“A hunter?” Darla whispered.

“What do you mean, a hunter?” Maurie demanded.

“We were followed last night.” Karma knew she needed to share everything she knew from the beginning for her littermates to understand her visions. “When we attacked and killed those three males last night, we were sniffed out.”

“By whom?” Maurie demanded.

“And then I was followed when I broke off from you two.” Karma fought the urge to get mean and suggest that it was Maurie who acted like the slut sliding up to those leopards as if she would fuck them. If she strayed from what needed to be said, it would be damn hard to get her littermate back on track though. “He made sure I made it to the cabin safely.”

“Safely?” Maurie howled. “You were slumped against the door, unconscious.”

“Because he put me there,” Karma said quietly, and then watched her littermates as the smell in the air turned from outrage to concern and panic.

“Our meeting place has been compromised.” Maurie threw her hands up in the air and turned from Karma, pacing the length of the cabin and then spinning around with a determined scowl on her face. “His name. Now!”

“I turned him down last night, even after I realized who he was.” Karma wasn’t sure why she added this fact. It wasn’t pertinent information. Maybe it mattered that her littermates didn’t think her a slut, which she sure as hell wasn’t. “When I went outside, after dressing by the fire, I had a vision.”

“What did you see?” Darla asked quickly.

Maurie scowled at the ground, obviously not swayed by knowledge of a vision. Not that Karma expected her to calm down just because Karma had proof that Race wouldn’t betray them.

“It was spring, I think. The ground was muddy and I only wore a sweater. But I walked across a grassy area and a large male came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. He told me I was perfect last night. I turned to see his face and told him that we were perfect last night.”

“Who was he?” Maurie asked flatly, continuing to scowl at the ground.

“Race Ogden.” She waited for shit to fly.

Maurie looked up at her slowly, her eyes radiating with outrage that smelled spicy enough to make Karma’s eyes water. “You fucked Race?” she hissed, her eyes turning gold as her teeth extended. “Why you stupid, fucking…”

Darla crossed her arms, glancing from one littermate to the other, but as usual, remaining quiet while she digested everything.

Karma ignored her littermate’s disgust, although Karma didn’t smell disgust. Underneath all the spicy anger there was another scent lingering, slightly fouler. Jealousy maybe?

Watching Maurie warily, she spoke quietly, willing the emotions to settle so her littermate would hear her. “He approached me again today, when I left here.”

“Of course he did. Because you didn’t put out last night. Or did you just tease and torment him last night?” Maurie pounced quickly, grabbing Karma’s hair and twisting her neck. “Now I understand why there is a bite on your neck. I can’t believe I didn’t smell your lie last night.”

“She didn’t say anything last night,” Darla pointed out.

“He attacked me and knocked me out.” Karla ripped her hair out of Maurie’s grip, ignoring the sting and shoving her hair behind her shoulder. “I tried distracting him like you did with those males. But as he pointed out today, I’m obviously not as good at coming on to males unless they appeal to me.”

“So he didn’t appeal to you last night but he appealed to you today?” Maurie curled her lip and snarled. “Don’t try to feed me your line of crap. You could fuck for knowledge or as a tool if you needed to.” Her eyebrows shot up then and a condemning look of curiosity crossed her face. “Oh, but wait. You’re trying to make us believe that you fucked a hunter because you thought it would be to our advantage somehow. You’re saying that he overwhelmed you. His good looks and charm smelled so good you just bellied up and said take what you want.”

Karma hit Maurie hard, slapping her across the face while anger swept over her. Maurie staggered backward and Karma leapt at her, taking advantage of her being off balance to shove her down on the couch.

“I told him repeatedly today that I wasn’t interested, knowing damn good and well that getting involved with a hunter would ruin all we’ve worked so hard to pull off.”

“You’re damn right,” Maurie hissed, and struggled to get off the couch.

Karma pressed her hands against Maurie’s shoulder, pinning her while leaning over her. “I left him and drove into town, needing to clear my head.”

“But of course he followed you,” Maurie sneered under Karma’s weight, but snarling at her regardless, even though she didn’t try getting up.

“Yes.” Karma nodded. “And when I walked out on him at the bar, he followed me to my car, grabbed me and threw me into his truck.”

“Then he raped you,” Darla announced behind them.

“No.” Karma couldn’t even allow that suggestion to smell up the air. “He didn’t. I jumped out of his truck on the highway and he parked then chased me into the woods. Although he got rather aggressive, when I persisted in telling him no, he finally stopped, announcing that no one ever would call him a rapist. He said that being a hunter meant too much to him.”

Maurie snorted and then got vicious, using her legs to try to throw Karma off her. Karma shifted quickly, unwilling to let her littermate get the upper hand or hurt her. It was too important that she get her littermates to back her decision and to see that she seriously believed Race wouldn’t cause them trouble.

She jumped backward but pulled Maurie to her feet. Karma held Maurie’s shirt and let go of it just when the threads in the fabric started popping.

“He said I could go and I started walking back toward the bar and our car. But he stopped me, and while he held me I had another vision.”

“How do we know you had these visions?” Maurie demanded.

“I don’t lie about visions,” Karma snarled, her temper damn near burning out of control. Maurie would never imply that she was deceitful enough to use their gift to cover for some wrong act. It was her outrage and determination to win a fight that fueled her ridiculous accusations. “Suggest that I do again, and I swear I’ll tear you apart,” she warned, hissing as she glared at Maurie.

Maurie didn’t look away but glared while her own outrage continued to make her stink.

Karma sucked in a breath, willing her anger to chill. She would only convince her littermates if they saw how strongly she believed what she saw. She tried brushing Maurie’s hair out of her face, but Maurie slapped her hand.

Karma shook her head, turning and focusing on Darla. “While he held me, I saw him in a room with all of us. We were talking about a meeting. You said all was good and Race said he had all of our tails.”

“And Race knows about this?”

“No.”

“No?” Maurie raised her eyebrow, showing her disbelief. “Why did he think you fucked him?”

Karma opened her mouth to say that he thought she wanted him.

“We do what we always do.” Maurie looked past her at Darla, her voice cold with authority. “Karma had her fun. Her scent is on him and we’ll argue it was self-defense.”

“What?” Karma shook her head. “We don’t need to…”

She stopped when a new scent drifted toward her. Instantly, her insides swelled with need as she breathed in the rich, dominating aroma. Maurie turned her attention quickly to the door just as someone knocked.

“Stand back,” Maurie hissed, sniffing the air while pushing Karma with some force.

Karma regained her balance as Maurie opened the door. “You may enter,” Maurie said softly, standing to the side and allowing Race to enter the cabin.

Race walked past Maurie, not even looking at her but focusing on Karma. His bright green eyes penetrated right through her, stirring something deep in her womb that quickened. The pressure she felt when she picked up his scent spread inside her while her need to feel him inside her again swelled until she couldn’t catch her breath. A male shouldn’t make her feel like this.

“Attack,” Maurie ordered.

“What?” Race turned around, cornering Maurie, but she pushed off the wall next to the door and leapt at Race.

Darla followed her littermate’s orders, leaping from the side, her teeth and claws extended.

“No!” Karma screamed. She lunged at her littermates, doing her best to protect Race.

Maurie attacked quickly and with one intention—to kill. Teeth and claws fully extended, she dug into Race’s arms and chest, the metallic smell of blood filling the cabin. Darla lunged from the other side, her growls just as vicious. She would always follow her oldest littermate’s lead, her honor toward her litter that strong.

Karma grabbed Maurie, knowing Race could probably throw Darla off him on his own.

“You are one stupid female,” Race growled, twisting his body quickly so Karma couldn’t grab him and Darla fell backward. He yanked Maurie off him, ignoring the blood that soaked his shirt, and threw her against the wall.

Maurie slumped to the floor, her snarling hiss and the way her eyes glowed a furious pale gold enough to show she was more pissed than hurt.

“How dare you insult my litter,” Darla growled, and leapt at him again, in human form, but her mouth open and her teeth fully extended. She tilted her head, reaching for him with her focus on his neck.

“You’re the fucking idiot, poking your dick where it will never poke again.” Maurie used the wall for leverage, kicking off it and flying through the air. “And if you think any of us are stupid, you don’t deserve to live for that alone.”

“Maurie, no!” Karma screamed, leaping at her littermate. “You don’t even know why he’s here.”

Maurie and Darla hit Race at the same time, ripping at him with a fury that went beyond protecting their highly secretive runs for VC. Karma didn’t take time to guess her older littermate’s motivation, other than possibly hating hunters for what they did to all of them. Right now though, she needed to get her littermates under control before they killed Race.

The weight of both of her littermates wasn’t enough to cause Race to falter. Male leopards were often quite larger than females, and Race was a large male. But it was his initial hesitation and entering a litter that he didn’t know would attack that gave her littermates the edge. And almost always when they attacked, their effectiveness came from keeping the smell of their fury hidden until after the first strike.

If Race weren’t a skilled killer, trained to be better than most, they would have him down after their first attack. But when both females dug in with their claws the second time, more blood flowed. Race threw Maurie again, but Darla held on, hissing and snarling so furiously it was hard to believe she was only eighteen.

“Darla, stop,” Karma ordered, ignoring Maurie when she pushed herself to her hands and knees and grabbed her younger littermate instead. She prayed the blood covering them was predominantly superficial and that a crucial blow hadn’t been delivered—to either her littermate or to Race. “Listen to me. I’ve never lied to you.”

“How can you see the truth when you’re too busy sniffing after a piece of tail?” Maurie roared, screaming, but then quickly lowering her voice before finishing her accusation. “All of this ends now,” she whispered in a deadly tone that was cold enough to chill Karma’s blood.

Karma wasn’t sure that Race heard her until he flipped Darla over his head but then grabbed her to prevent her from hitting the ground too hard. Maurie took advantage of Race having his hands full and leapt at him. Karma leapt at the same time, but Maurie stuck her fist out, hitting the side of Karma’s head and then landing on Race’s back.

Since he was already bent over, this time he did fall forward while Darla fell to the ground underneath him, growling furiously while crawling quickly out from underneath him.

Karma staggered backward, the blow to her head making everything in the room tilt to the side for a moment. But the smell of Race, of his blood spilling while her littermate stubbornly continued attacking, was incentive enough to keep her wits about her.

“Killing a hunter, regardless the reason, will bring even more attention to us,” Karma said, her voice surprisingly calm when she stepped forward to grab Maurie.

“Stop her,” Maurie ordered, instructing Darla without stopping her attack on Race. She aimed her extended claws at Race’s face but he grabbed her wrist. Maurie used his hold on her against him, jumping while Race held her wrist and kicking him hard.

Karma howled, fearing Maurie connected with a dangerous blow, but Darla lunged into her and the two of them fell backward. Karma hit the wall, again feeling the wind knocked out of her.

“Darla, listen to me,” she hissed, grabbing her younger littermate and holding her at arm’s length while Darla growled at her. “Attacking like this is too dangerous. How long until others outside the cabin smell our fury and the blood? Help me stop her,” she whispered.

Darla stared at her with golden eyes before relaxing slightly. Karma got to her, but even then, her littermate continued pushing against Karma, trying to keep her from Maurie.

“She’s not smelling this out right,” Karma whispered in Darla’s face and then out-powered Darla, lifting her and moving her out of the way.

“We can’t let a male harm our litter,” Darla said, grabbing Karma’s arm.

Karma shook herself free of Darla. “Visions are never wrong. You know that.”

Karma turned from Darla in time to see Maurie, lifted in the air by Race, who looked ready to throw her.

“Race, no,” Karma yelled, hurrying toward them.

Race hesitated, his shirt blotched with blood. His expression was tormented and he smelled more than a little pissed. But he stopped, holding Maurie, and pinned Karma with a hard stare.

“I’ll talk to you outside,” Race growled.

“Like hell you will.” Maurie turned when Race released her.

Leaping with speed that made her the incredible killer that she was, Maurie leapt at Race, grabbing his shoulders, and bit his neck. Race howled, his expression turning from shock to pain. He fell forward, shaking the floor when his large body hit the ground.

Maurie jumped back, suddenly drenched in blood.

“What the fuck have you done?” Karma howled, crumbling next to Race and pushing him over. Blood soaked his neck and face, as well as the front half of his body.

At the rate that it pumped from his neck, he would bleed out in minutes.

“What have you done?” Karma smeared blood across Race’s cheek and stared down at his blue eyes, which seemed to dull as he stared at her. “You’re not going anywhere,” she ordered him, and pressed her hand against the wound on his neck. Looking up, she ignored Maurie and focused on Darla. “Towels. Now. Anything to stop the bleeding! Move now!”

Darla turned and ran to the bathroom, returning a moment later with a small stack of washcloths. She knelt next to Karma.

“Get up, Darla.” Maurie’s tone was cold. “Help me clean up all of this blood. Once he bleeds out we have to get rid of him.”

“He’s not going to bleed out,” Karma informed her littermates, although she kept her attention on Race. “Why the hell did you have to come here?” she whispered, pressing the washcloths against his neck, praying he was strong enough to help heal himself. “Damn you, Race. Don’t die.”

Someone pounded on the door and Karma jumped. Darla hissed and Maurie glared at the door.

“Open the door, Maurie,” Karma demanded. “Whoever it is can smell the blood,” she whispered.

Maurie turned a hateful look toward Karma. “If you get us exposed, I will personally see to your death,” she snarled under her breath, and then turned to open the door. Even though she stood in the doorway as she pulled open the door, Karma could still see Josh Bard’s large frame standing outside.

“What has happened here?” he howled, sounding very fierce.

“He pushed his way into the cabin. We attacked to protect ourselves.” Sometimes it was shocking as hell how Maurie could lie without making her words smell.

“Holy fucking crap.” Josh pushed past her and almost slid to his knees.

He scooped Race into his arms and pushed himself to his feet, holding Race’s massive frame in his arms as if he weighed nothing. “You’ll be here to answer questions later. Don’t try to leave,” he snarled, and almost ran out of the cabin, carrying Race with him.

Chapter Six

Race kicked blankets off him and felt every muscle in his body scream in pain. “Fucking son of a bitch,” he hissed, and rolled to his side.

Immediately, his gut resented him trying to move and rolled, threatening to make him puke if he tried the stunt again.

“Take it easy for a few,” a voice growled.

Race blinked, relaxing against a thick mound of pillows, and thought about simply crashing again. The dreams he was having were a hell of a lot better than trying to regain consciousness. He tried to pull his brain back to the pleasant state he’d been in while unconscious, or maybe it was just well knocked out in a deep sleep, but either way, Karma had been naked and willing. Thoughts of her full, large breasts brushing against him were a hell of a lot nicer than the pain that attacked him even if he as much as tried dragging in a breath.

Consciousness won out and then turned cruel when memories rolled over his brain. Like a swift punch to his gut, Race remembered going to Karma’s litter and the vicious attack that followed.

“Karma,” he growled, his voice rough and scratchy. He coughed and his stomach churned, bile crawling up his esophagus to his throat and burning every inch of the way. He clenched his gut and tried again to sit up. “Tell me she’s okay.”

“Her litter is fine,” Josh said. “For now.”

Race was halfway between sitting and lying when soft hands grabbed his arms. He blinked, willing his eyes to focus, and stared into Chan’s concerned expression. Josh stood across the room, arms crossed, and looking anything but happy as his mate helped Race sit. Chan studied him, backing up a step, her expression full of concern, and then moved in on him again, reaching for his neck.

“I’ll take the bandage off soon and we’ll see how bad the damage is.” She smiled at him. “Are you hungry?”

“God. No.” Race reached for his neck, growing accustomed to the pain ransacking every inch of him as he moved, and touched the gauze that was taped to his flesh. “And thank you for taking care of me,” he added, his voice growing stronger the more he talked. “I’m in your debt.”

“I’ll make that decision once I’ve sniffed out exactly what happened.” Josh stepped forward, and at the same time Chan turned and walked to him. He gripped her shoulder but frowned at Race. “When you’re ready, I’ll hear what happened when you went to the Sheridan litter. Then we’ll make our decision.”

“Decision?” Race’s head pounded and his stomach growled, hunger surfacing but nausea still swirling dangerously. “What decision is that?”

“Attempting to murder a hunter is grounds for death.”

The room wasn’t cold a moment before but suddenly Race wanted the covers he kicked off him back on him again. Looking down caused his head to pound even more, but he confirmed that he wasn’t naked. Instead of covering up, he threw his legs out of the bed and pressed his feet to the floor. Chan stepped forward, but her mate grabbed her. Ignoring both of them, Race managed to stand, endured the room spinning for a few minutes while he growled and grit his teeth.

The pain wouldn’t subside, but he managed to stare at Josh without the two of them seeming to be on some fucking merry-go-round.

“Bring Karma to me,” he snarled, and then slowly sat down again.

“Why do you want her?” Josh asked.

“The decision as to whether my life was marked or not is mine.” He moved his body until once again he reclined against the mound of pillows. “It’s my right, Josh,” he growled. “Bring her to me and I’ll learn why I was attacked.”

“Race. You’ve lost a hell of a lot of blood. We have the litter locked down for now, but you need a couple days, man. You almost bled out.”

“Are you afraid her litter will run?”

“They’ve already tried several times,” Chan told him. “Two insist you entered their cabin and tried to rape them.”

“You’re kidding.”

Chan turned to look at Josh and he focused on her while she pressed her hand to his chest. Josh petted the side of her head. “I know and I agreed with you from the beginning.” He looked over his mate’s head at Race. “When a litter can howl a pack of lies and not make them smell, they are dangerous. Why did you go to their litter?”

“I went to see Karma.”

“Why did you want to see her? And which one is Karma?” Josh asked.

“You didn’t smell him before he was attacked.” Thad leaned in the doorway, tilting his head to see around Josh and Chan. When all turned to look at him, the male entered the room. “You look like shit, leopard.”

“Thanks.” His head pounded even more as the realization slowly sunk in as to how serious the situation was. And the last thing he wanted to endure right now was everyone trying to sniff answers out of him. “I’ll take that food now, Chan.”

“No problem.” Chan turned for the door, pulling Josh with her.

“My guess is her litter wasn’t too thrilled with her carrying your scent.” Thad walked to the end of the bed and then scowled, backing up. “And if the female smelled anything like you do now, no wonder they attacked you.”

“Fuck you, man,” Race snarled while the others fought to keep straight faces. He growled at Thad, who simply grinned back at him. Race closed his eyes, starting to think he was better off unconscious. “Bring Karma to me,” he said.

When he woke up again, the room was dark. The smell of meat made his stomach growl and he was grateful his head didn’t pound quite as bad as it had earlier when he managed to sit. A tray sat on the dresser next to his bed, and he crawled out from under the covers, walking to the tray. A large steak and a mound of French fries covered the plate. Picking the steak up with his fingers, he ripped part of the meat off with his teeth and chewed slowly, enjoying the hell out of how damn good it tasted. He turned his attention to the window and then walked over to it, staring at the leopards outside. Josh and Thad stood talking to Dover. Race wondered why the owl was here. He also wondered why they never brought Karma to him.

Finishing his food, he sat on the edge of his bed and pulled on a pair of jeans. Bending over to get his shoes on made his head pound so furiously he almost puked. Jeans were better than boxers. Giving up on the shoes, he decided he wouldn’t push his luck with a shirt. Race headed out of his cabin, embracing the cold, fresh night air.

He was aware of the males immediately giving him their attention, but he didn’t walk over to them right away. Instead, he stared at the other cabin, shrouded with darkness across the yard.

“You up to being out of bed?” Josh asked, leading the procession over to Race.

“You wouldn’t think caging a few females would be so much work.” Dover followed Race’s gaze over to the dark cabin.

“They been giving you hell?” Race asked, the frozen ground doing a number on his equilibrium as he walked toward the cabin with bare feet.

“Yes.” Josh touched his arm. “And don’t make it worse.”

“I’m talking to Karma.” He doubted any of them would stop him, and they didn’t.

Walking toward the cabin, Race smelled outrage and frustration before the cabin door opened. Instantly, a few other leopards he didn’t realize were lingering in the shadows appeared.

Race held out his hand, stopping them, but his attention was on the females hovered together in the doorway. “Karma,” he said.

Karma didn’t wait to hear more but ran to him. All the pain that ransacked his body diminished from the pride and powerful need to protect and make right. She stopped before touching him, although her gaze was all over him, searching his body as if determining his physical and mental state with her eyes.

“Your litter won’t suffer any further,” he told the two females hovering in the doorway. One of them glared at him with cold hatred while the younger stared at him in awe and panic. My God, she was nothing more than a cub. He nodded to them once. “You have my word as a hunter. I’ve got your tails.”

“I have a right to know what’s going on,” Josh demanded, sticking to his side when Race turned, putting his arm around Karma and headed back to his cabin.

“When I know I’ll let you know.”

“I want to be present when you talk to this female.”

“No.” He might have used Karma for a crutch more than he wanted to admit as they walked over the fucking cold-as-hell ground, but he didn’t mind when she wrapped her small arm around the back of his waist and squeezed slightly when he told Josh no.

“It’s for your protection, leopard. You’ve got a grievance with this litter and…”

“There’s no grievance. Just a misunderstanding.” Josh stopped at the door to his cabin. “I’ve dishonored your litter by my own actions.” Already his injury in his neck was throbbing as if someone used a jackhammer on him. “I will set things right and ensure your sanctuary remains safe and reputation strong.”

Josh eyeballed him for a moment, sniffing the air around them. But Karma pushed open his cabin door and then started guiding him inside.

“I will take care of him,” Karma told Josh. “His bandage needs changed.”

Josh’s gaze diverted to Race’s neck. He didn’t like being looked at as if he were some kind of fucking invalid.

“I think my mate left gauze and tape in his room,” Josh said solemnly.

“I will take care of him then,” Karma repeated. She might have pushed him into the cabin but she turned, in front of him now, and held on to the door. “My litter is grateful that you haven’t sent us running,” she offered quietly, her soft, calm tone smelling incredibly appreciative. “Good hunting to you and your litter. And I won’t let anything like this happen again.”

There was silence for only a moment before Josh nodded. Karma shut the door and then turned, her smell turning concerned while all fear washed off her.

“God. Race. Crap, this is all my fault.” The cabins were the same floor plan so it wasn’t surprising that she wrapped her arm around his waist and turned him toward his bedroom. “I was so convinced you were dead and they just weren’t telling us.”

“I just woke up and came to get you. I’m far from dead but a bit confused. Your litter fought for death.”

“You were asleep for two days.” She reached up and touched his shoulders, although her actions weren’t sexual. Instead she pushed until he sat on his unmade bed. “We’ve been caged, not allowed to hunt or anything. Maurie attacked anyone who came close. It hasn’t been fun.”

God damn. Two days? He watched Karma while she focused on his neck and her gentle touch brushed over his flesh. He wasn’t positive if the fever rushing through him came from her touching him or the intensity of his injuries. Her litter was dangerous though, which meant, unless they were rabid, they held on to one hell of a secret.

Her expression remained serious while she removed his bandage, which was rank from dried blood. Then moving around his cabin comfortably, she returned, all business, and began cleaning him. Her long blonde hair was darker than usual and hung disheveled down her back. Even the tight jeans and pale blue sweater she wore looked wrinkled and hung wrong on her, as if she’d been in them for a few days. For the life of him, he couldn’t remember what she wore when he last saw her and trying to kick-start his brain only made his head pound more.

“We need a shower,” he suggested, raising his hand to her waist and then moving his fingers underneath her sweater.

Karma didn’t stop his efforts and even smiled softly. “Once I re-bandage your wound and you take a small nap, we’ll have that shower. I promise.”

He didn’t want to sleep, he wanted to understand why he was attacked so savagely. But Karma made quick work of tending to him and then pushed him back against his mound of pillows.

She stretched out next to him and then began exploring the rest of him. His mind entered a fog mixed with lust and exhaustion while she ran her fingers over his chest, his arms, and then down past his stomach. Pain or not, she stirred need to life inside him that just made his brain pound even harder when blood drained to his cock.

Karma’s laughter was melodic. “I guess you aren’t dead,” she purred, letting her fingers linger over his growing shaft while raising her face to his. “You’ve damn near bled out though, Race,” she added.

Even though she arched against him, her soft body stretching into him, the worry in her eyes showed him she didn’t expect any performance out of him at the moment.

“I’ve killed handfuls of outraged male leopards in their prime,” he began, feeling his body relax into his mattress while enjoying her warm body next to his. “I’ve run with the males outside, battled alongside them. The reason why I allowed a litter of females, with one of them damn near still a cub, to practically kill me will have to be really good.”

“I know.” There was sadness in her tone but nervousness too. “That’s what I told my litter,” she added, whispering.

He saw her clean his wound, knew she only used soap and water, but damn if he didn’t feel drugged as hell. His eyelids weighed heavy while he struggled to remain focused on her pretty face as she watched him. And it sucked that it took almost all the energy he had to lift his arm and bring it around her until she relaxed her head on it.

“Usually if a litter doesn’t approve of a male they send him running, at the most with a few scratches to lick along with his wounded pride.”

“Any other single male who would have approached us would have been killed quickly and without mercy.”

How could her litter have settled among all of them without any of them noticing how deadly a secret they carried? If the three of them weren’t hot as hell, moving silently around the sanctuary with sultry curves that forced even the owls to quit pruning and taking a minute to stare, then maybe they would have sniffed out sooner that something wasn’t right about them.

Race felt sleep take over and didn’t fight it. Karma relaxed next to him and didn’t act as if she planned on running the second he was out. When he woke up, he would learn why they attacked the moment he stepped foot inside their cabin two days ago and remained caged without offering any explanation the entire time he was out. But first, sleep. With Karma by his side, he faded away knowing at least one thing, she wanted to be with him.

This time when Race came to, the glare of the sun attacked him while his stomach growled furiously, informing him if he didn’t eat immediately he wouldn’t like the consequences. He sat up, rubbing his greasy tangled hair and feeling the stubble on his jaw. Kicking the blankets back and placing his feet on the cold floor, Race reached for the bandage, which hung at his neck. He ripped it off, tossing it into a wastebasket, and then rubbed his fingers over the mending wounds at his neck.

At first, soft whispers tickled his ears, and he stood, noting this time he was naked and that his body didn’t stink as much as he imagined it should. Instead, he detected the faint smell of his soap. Had Karma washed him while he slept?

Scratching his head and imagining that he looked like hell run over, he turned absently, searching for clothes. The soft voices continued and he glanced at his open bedroom door, picking up on Karma’s soft tones. She hadn’t left him.

The female remained by his side, nursing him while he slept and allowed his body to mend. A powerful sensation hit him, forcing him to straighten while his insides hardened. There were many unanswered questions and he needed to be by Karma, protecting her, until he understood completely what the hell was going on.

Pulling on jeans, this time adding socks and boots to his ensemble, he left the bedroom bare-chested as the soft voices coming from his living room grew in volume and intensity.

“There’s no litter to dishonor here since you’re a guest, and this cabin belongs to me,” Chan snapped, her anger drifting into the room.

Race sauntered into the room, ignoring his itchy scalp and the hunger pangs that attacked him. Maybe he’d been rendered useless the past couple of days by entering into a ring of females ready to attack, but that didn’t stop him from moving in behind Karma and pulling her to his side as he stared at Chan, who stood with arms crossed and looking more than pissed at his front door.

“You honor my litter by entering,” he said quietly and seriously.

Chan simply raised an eyebrow at that one while Karma stiffened slightly. But Chan strolled into his living room, looking around as if she could tell with a glance and a sniff if anything were out of place. That’s when he noticed how spotless his cabin looked. Karma had kept herself busy while he slept, and a rush of pride attacked him.

He rubbed her slender back, noting that she felt thinner than she had the last time he explored her sensual curves. Also, her hair was damp and she smelled like soap. The little female made herself at home. The pride inside him swelled into a strong urge to possess, mark her again. As good as Karma smelled, she would smell a hell of a lot better if his scent clung to her as it did when he entered her cabin—God, how many days ago was that now?

“You look a hell of a lot better now than you did the last time I saw you,” Chan said, keeping her arms crossed over her swollen belly but turning to face him. “How do you feel?”

“Hungry enough to eat a fucking bear.” He smiled and massaged Karma’s shoulder, deciding she needed to be fed as much as he did.

Karma turned and looked up at him before Chan could respond. “I don’t know about a bear, but I’ll get you some fish and prepare you a feast. Would you like that?”

“Very much,” he growled, holding her gaze and watching while her bright green eyes started smoldering. “I will definitely eat your kill, female.”

She blushed but her look hardened when Chan cleared her throat. “The female can’t hunt—not until her litter answers for attacking you, and the two other guards who managed to stop them from trying to escape.”

“You tried to leave?” he asked Karma.

“No.”

“How long have I been asleep?” he asked, needing to ground himself a bit by at least knowing what day it was.

“It’s been four days since you almost bled out,” Chan announced. “I’ll bring you some meat. Josh will want to know you’re up and about.”

“Thank you, Chan,” Race said, pulling Karma to him when she acted as if she might turn on Chan. “And I would be honored if you brought enough for both of us. I will repay twice over as soon as I can get out and hunt.”

“You’re welcome to come and go as always,” Chan told him, turning toward the door but then stopping and leaning on the doorknob while the sun reflected off her back and showed off the red streaks in her thick blonde hair. “It is her litter that will remain confined until sentencing is issued,” she said coldly.

Karma acted as if she might lunge at Chan, but Race grabbed her, easily restraining her, and enjoyed feeling the full strength of his body returned. He moved Karma to the other side of him while Chan watched, her gaze shifting as she noted how familiarly Race touched the female at his side.

“Give me time to shower and eat, and then I’ll meet with Josh.” He moved his hand to the back of Karma’s neck and squeezed, silently informing her to pay attention to his promise. “When I do, I’ll have answers for him.”

Karma stilled and Chan nodded, giving Karma an appraising look before shifting her attention to Race’s face. “I wish you good hunting soon.”

She closed the door behind her and Karma turned, running her hands up his chest and focusing on his neck while her fingers seemed to know exactly where to travel to inspect the other smaller injuries on his torso.

“I’ll bring clean towels for you so you can bathe,” she announced, and then quickly moved around him, hurrying toward the small closet in his hallway.

Race followed her, noting when she opened the door that the few towels he owned were folded neatly and stacked on top of each other. She grabbed one and Race pulled out a second towel before she could close the door. Ignoring her curious glance, he guided her into the bathroom and then closed them into the small space.

“First of all,” he began, cupping her face and tilting her head while he lowered his mouth to hers. “Thank you for caring for me while I was out the past few days. I don’t think this cabin was this clean when I moved in here.”

Karma’s lips were soft and moist and her breath clean and minty, as if she recently brushed her teeth. She opened to him on a moan that turned to a hungry growl when she leaned against him, stretching her body against his while her fingers dug into his shoulders.

Race nipped at her lip, scraping the full, ripe flesh with his teeth while every inch of him hardened with a hunger that no amount of meat would satisfy. His cock raged to life, throbbing between them while he ran his hands down her back and cupped her ass. He pressed his finger against the seam of her jeans and felt the heat from her pussy burn him through the denim.

With every kiss, Race needed more of her. She smelled so good when the aroma of her lust filled the small bathroom. He dragged his tongue down her cheek and then scraped her jawbone with his teeth. More than anything he wanted to devour her, taste her sweet juices as they flowed from her pussy. He wanted to watch her come and feel her tighten around his cock when he buried himself deep inside her.

He planted kisses over the fading bruises that were all that was left from when he bit her and knocked her out the night he found her north of here. God. That seemed so long ago now. Race knew he stumbled on to something that night, and even now as he replayed the events he witnessed that night, there wasn’t any doubt that Karma and her litter were wrapped up tight in some scandalous mission that pushed them to kill in order to protect whatever it was they were doing.

Now was the time to learn the truth of what Karma was about. For her sake and for his, he prayed it wasn’t dishonorable.

“You’ve shown a lot of honor in nursing me, little cat,” he whispered against the throbbing pulse in her neck.

“It was the least I could do after my litter attacked you.” Her voice was rough and her head fell back, relaxing against his hand that rested at her nape.

“Is that why you cared for me? Are you here simply to right a wrong?” He straightened and lifted her head as he did so.

“No,” she whispered, her eyes dark with emotions and her cheeks flushing. “I’m surprised you asked me that.”

“It’s the first of many questions.” Race let go of her and reached for her sweater, pulling it over her head and then letting it fall to the floor. He took a moment to enjoy the wonderful view of her white bra confining her breasts and creating luscious mounds of soft flesh that created a breathtaking amount of cleavage he had to stroke with his fingers. “You show me you have honor, but now you must tell me that there is no dishonor in anything you do. My guess is now that I’m up and around, Josh and the other hunters won’t wait long before passing judgment on your litter if you don’t come clean with solid answers. Attempting to kill a hunter carries deadly consequences.”

“Do you think if I were living in dishonor I would have allowed you to sniff after me for a moment?” She sounded hurt as she searched his face.

“No. I don’t.” He caressed her breasts and her breathing grew deeper, forcing them to press against his touch. Reaching around her, he unsnapped the clasp. Her straps slipped from her shoulders and she didn’t stop the garment from sliding until her large breasts toppled out of the cups. “Nor do I think you would want to run down any path that wasn’t completely honorable.”

“You’re right,” she said on a breath, standing and not moving when he removed her bra and dropped it on top of her sweater. “But Race,” she began.

He frowned, noting turmoil that created lines of worry at the edge of her eyes and mouth. “Karma,” he growled, interrupting her. “Why did you care for me for two days? I’m sure your litter would rather you didn’t. Were you that bound with guilt that you needed to see me mend?”

Karma stepped away from him, her torn expression hardening. “I’ve already answered that. What the hell do you want me to say? That you turn me on? That I’m intrigued? Does your ego need stroking that bad?”

Race grabbed the waist of her jeans, unbuttoning them as he yanked her back to him. Power that had days to rejuvenate now exploded inside him, motivated by her growling that she wanted to know him.

“Why did your litter attack me?” he demanded to know, ignoring her implication that he gathered strength from her opening up to him. There was truth there, but it didn’t have anything to do with his ego. “Do your littermates despise you so much that they would kill to prevent you from being with a male?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but then hesitated. “I wish you’d word that differently.”

Race shoved her jeans past her hips and then left them, trapping her movements while he focused on undressing himself. Karma stepped out of her jeans and underwear then turned her back to him, opening his cabinet and taking out a hair clasp that wasn’t there before.

“Why was I attacked?” he asked, his gaze dropping to her perfectly round ass. He ached to stroke the spot where her rear curved into her slender thigh, and then to move his fingers over her tight asshole and watch her body jerk, her nipples harden and her breath catch. “Tell me what secret your litter would kill to protect.”

Karma’s hair drifted over her shoulder and she gathered it, piling it on top of her head and then securing it with the clasp. The results offered him a wonderful view of her neck, showing off how long and slender it was. She chewed her lower lip when she turned to start the water and adjust the shower curtain. Finally, with hot water pouring from the jet, she met his gaze but then quickly dropped it to his chest.

“I can’t answer that question,” she murmured.

“Karma,” he growled. “If you don’t, you will die.”

“I’m not doing anything wrong,” she insisted, smelling more determined than he’d ever known her to smell before.

“Tell me.” He pulled the curtain back and pressed his hand against her lower back, encouraging her to step into the water. Then following her, he turned his back to the spray, his body blocking the water so only a moist sheen covered her. “Because, Karma, there is no way I could pursue you without knowing that honor and trust exist between us.”

Water clung to her lashes when she blinked and stared up at him. “You pursued me when you knew nothing about me,” she pointed out. Then licking her lips, she reached for the washcloth and soap. “Let me wash you, Race,” she said quietly.

Something bit painfully at his heart. He could get the truth out of her, but manipulating, seducing or using physical force to learn what she kept from him would mean the end of any relationship that might be kindling between them. Although, damn it to hell, if she refused to open to him, he would have to leave her alone. Just thinking about walking away from her hurt worse than his injuries did.

“I didn’t anticipate your honor being questioned.” Maybe showing her how serious this was would help her open up to him. “Whatever you are hiding, will it discredit a hunter to know about it?”

“I would never do anything to dishonor any leopard.” When she looked down, a long strand fell from the clasp and clung to her cheek and neck.

Karma’s small hands pressed against his muscles, rubbing the soapy cloth over his arms and chest, gently around his injured neck and the few other lacerations that were quickly healing. Her meticulous attention felt better than anything else he could imagine, shy of being buried deep inside her. She repeatedly lathered the cloth, creating streams of soapy suds that flowed down his body.

“I’ve seen some incredible things while running as a hunter. My imagination can go in so many directions imagining what would be so horrific that you would kill to keep any leopard from getting too close to sniff it out,” he growled softly, relaxing and enjoying her cleaning him. “Yet if this deadly secret doesn’t dishonor you, I’m confused why you won’t share it with me. Especially knowing I’m a hunter.”

Watching her hard nipples while droplets of water and suds rushed over them was a view he could get damn accustomed to seeing. Karma ran the soap-covered washcloth down his body and then knelt before him, glancing up.

Race forgot to breathe when she wrapped the cloth around his cock and began stroking him, her touch so gentle and the cloth just rough enough that he was harder than steel and swollen within seconds.

“It’s because you are a hunter,” she whispered.

The rush of blood through his veins made his ears ring and he wasn’t sure he heard her right. But the salty smell that suddenly clung to the drops of water pounding his back and shoulders forced him to focus on her face and not her actions.

“Why would my being a hunter make you nervous?”

She blinked water out of her eyes several times while looking up at him. “You don’t make me nervous, leopard,” she growled, and then let the washcloth drop. Keeping her gaze locked on him, she pressed her lips against the engorged head of his cock.

“Karma,” he hissed, grabbing the twisted pile of hair on top of her head.

Her eyes fluttered closed as she opened and then sucked him into her mouth. Heat wrapped around his cock while her tongue darted over him, torturing and feeling so damn good at the same time. Her lips closed around him and she sucked him deep into her mouth. Watching his cock glide into her mouth while she tilted her head so he slid into her throat made it so damn easy to forget about everything else.

“Little cat, that feels so damn good.”

She purred, the vibration from her throat about making him lose his balance. Dragging her nails across his ass and then around his hips, Karma then ran her fingers over his balls. She cupped them, barely squeezing before stroking as she continued sucking.

Karma created sensations inside him that would make him forget his name. The saltiness faded in the air and the rich, sweet smell of her arousal wrapped around him. He drowned in her scent, in the way she lavished him with her tongue. She looked so incredibly beautiful on her knees, making a feast out of him. A weaker leopard would explode, spilling everything he had into her hot, sweet mouth.

His rational thoughts were buried behind a fog of lust and focusing on them was a bitch, especially with her making such an effort to please him. The last thing he wanted to consider was that she sucked his cock simply to divert him from the intense line of questioning he started putting her through.

“Come here.” He lifted her, his body tight with need and aching, not from his injuries but from the sudden overwhelming need to be inside her.

Chapter Seven

Karma felt lightheaded when Race lifted her, his strong hands under her arms and holding her easily, giving no indication that he’d practically been unconscious for the past four days.

“You didn’t like it?” she teased, knowing damn good and well that she almost took him over the edge.

“Little cat, you know better,” he growled, his eyes darker than the sky right before an intense spring storm.

She licked her lips. They were numb, swollen and tingly. The taste of him lingered there as well as in her mouth and empowered her.

“You’re right. I do. And you should trust me.” She ran her fingers over his wet skin to his shoulders and then glanced at his wet hair. “I need to wash your hair.”

Race didn’t move or say anything while she ran her fingers through his thick locks, tousling it while he stared at her with hard, brooding eyes. Nor did he comment on trusting her. It hurt that he thought her actions might not be honorable. She knew some of her past actions weren’t completely honorable. But overall, she was a good leopard, and for the most part throughout her life, no one had ever doubted that.

“Hand me the shampoo?”

“It’s behind you.” His expression didn’t change.

Karma pulled her gaze from his. She didn’t smell anything to be wary of, but something about the way he looked at her made her shiver. Turning around, she bent down and reached for the shampoo when strong hands gripped her waist.

“You can wash it in a few,” he growled, pushing his foot against hers so that she spread her legs.

Karma slapped her hand against the shower wall, keeping her balance while a strand of wet hair fell into her face. Pushing it out of the way, she strained to see over her shoulder while inhaling the strong smell of desire.

Race positioned himself easily and the swollen tip of his hard cock pressed against her pussy. Karma balanced herself, both of her hands flat against the wall. Her insides swelled, greedy and ready to have him inside her. She pushed all thoughts of trust and honor out of her head, wanting only to enjoy the moment.

The past couple of days while Race slept, she watched him, checking his wounds and wiping his body with clean washcloths. Even with his injuries Race was beautiful, the sexiest male she ever laid eyes on. Karma felt guilty touching him while he slept, but she did. And he got hard as steel, hard as he was now, except he didn’t react otherwise in his sleep. Now his strong hands holding her in place, his breathing turning to guttural growls, got her hotter than touching him while he slept.

Licking her lips, she again tasted him, causing her insides to boil. She leaned back against him and Race growled louder.

“Hold still, little cat.” Race’s fingers pinched her waist and then his large cock impaled her.

Karma howled, scraping her nails down the shower wall, which made a screeching sound that any other time would have chilled her blood. But his cock hit that spot deep inside her with his first thrust and her legs weakened while wave after wave of desire, caged for the past few days, ripped free and flowed furiously inside her.

“You needed that, didn’t you, sweetheart?” he growled behind her.

Race kept her in place, his firm grip preventing her from dissolving into a pool of lust at their feet. He moved slowly, allowing her to feel every inch of him stroke her insides. And as much as his pace made her insane, the need for hard, rough sex growing with her every breath, Karma easily felt him throb, and his cock twitch when he paused once he filled her completely.

“Feels like you need it too,” she hissed, trying to arch her back to pull him deeper inside her.

“After that hot mouth of yours? Little cat, you could do damage with those skills.”

She laughed, trying for a cool, indifferent scent that wouldn’t clue him in to the fact she didn’t have any skills. Sucking his cock got her off because she wanted him. Damn it, it might be her death wish, the demise of her litter, but she didn’t want to believe that.

And she swore she wouldn’t dwell on any of that, but only enjoy how good he made her feel.

“I’m not the only one who’s got skills, leopard,” she growled, a rough purring in her throat making her words come out on a husky whisper. “But if you’re going to fuck me, I wish you would. Or are you not in control as much as you smell like you are?”

Race let go of her waist and grabbed her pinned-up hair, pulling hard enough to rip her clasp free. She heard it drop in the tub at the same time her hair tumbled down her back. “Maybe you don’t realize how much control I possess.” His baritone sent a rush of heat surging through her.

He pulled her hair so that her head yanked backward and then glided deep inside her, thrusting forward once he’d filled her. The tip of his cock pushed against muscles unaccustomed to being touched. Karma squealed, and unable to hold on to the flat wall in front of her, she reached behind her, only to have Race grab her wrist.

She didn’t fight him but twitched her ass and pushed against him. “Maybe you don’t realize how much I do know about you.”

“I do realize,” he growled, twisting her hair and holding her wrist. “I know you’re a fighter, Karma.”

His pace started increasing, his cock easing in and out of her pussy. The friction finally started appeasing the itch that only Race could soothe. Karma closed her eyes, no longer interested in bantering but instead enjoying how perfect he felt inside her.

“I know you and your litter are deeply involved in something that you’re scared I won’t approve of.” Race didn’t slow down as his words slowly growled over her.

Karma opened her eyes, hating that she needed to concentrate in order to answer. No way would he push her to a point where she would slip and tell him something that she couldn’t share with him without her littermates with her.

“I’m…not scared.” But she was damn close to exploding. Friction created heat that burned her alive. The way his cock twitched and throbbed, repeatedly caressing her, made her ache to hold out as long as possible.

“Good. Then you’re going to tell me what you and your littermates are up to.” He fucked her harder, releasing her wrist and hair, and once again grabbing her waist.

Karma flattened her hand against the wall so she wouldn’t fall into it and braced her legs, taking all he gave her. She couldn’t tell him anything—not yet. Not alone. She wouldn’t dishonor her litter by sharing their secret without them present. And there wasn’t any way she could tell him that now, not with him filling her so damn perfectly.

She started panting, unable to hold back when the pressure inside her released. “Race,” she cried out, feeling the swelling inside her burst and wave after wave of mind-blowing pleasure whip through her.

“Damn, my little cat,” he roared, holding her tighter and thrusting his cock deep into her womb.

“Come, Race. Come. Now.” Her world tilted to the side and she exploded again just as his cock swelled, stretching her and filling her pussy while she constricted around him.

His growl vibrated the tub while he came, releasing heat inside her that burned and soothed better than anything she ever imagined. The rich, ripe aroma soared around them while his arms wrapped around her.

“You’re incredible, Karma,” he whispered, and then scraped his teeth over her shoulder.

Turning to curl into him would pull him out of her, and even as the steel in his cock relaxed, she didn’t want the moment to end. Race slid out of her and pulled her against his chest. He cupped her breasts and growled, which made his chest vibrate against her back.

“Now it’s time for you to talk to me,” he said in a low, brisk growl.

She twisted in his arms and felt sparks ignite inside her when her nipples rubbed against the coarse hair on his chest. “Now it’s time to wash your hair, leopard.”

He looked and smelled very satisfied and happy when he let go of her and turned to adjust the water. She let her gaze travel down his muscular back and stared at his hard ass. The water hit her when he bent over, spraying her face and soaking her hair. Flipping the wet strands over her shoulder, she grabbed the shampoo bottle and squeezed some into her palm.

Race turned around and she reached up, pressing her hand to his head. “Bend over, leopard,” she ordered.

He obliged, bowing so she could reach his thick, curly golden hair. She scratched his scalp with her fingernails, working the shampoo to a nice lather, and was rewarded with rich growls of satisfaction and pleasure. Karma found her work cut out for her. His hair was tangled and a challenge to work her fingers through. After rinsing and then applying a generous amount of conditioner, in spite of Race’s protests, Karma managed to clean his hair and detangle it so she could comb her fingers through it.

“Let me get your towel,” she offered, stepping out of the shower before he turned off the spray. She quickly wrapped a towel around her. Then grabbing the second towel off the counter, she held it when he stepped out. “We don’t want any of those injuries to open back up,” she said, and rubbed the towel over rippling muscle.

“I’m in better shape than that,” he growled. “They won’t open back up. I’m damn-near healed.”

And he was right. Leopard metabolism usually allowed them to heal within days unless the injuries were life-threatening. His wet curls covered the wound on his neck, which would be the only one that might take awhile to mend completely.

“Fine. Dry yourself.” As if she would admit she enjoyed running her hands over all that hard-packed muscle.

She turned quickly when someone knocked on the door, sparks shooting up her spine while an urge to protect attacked and demanded she put on a little muscle.

“Take your clothes to the bedroom.” Race handed her clothes to her and then reached for his jeans. He managed to pull them over his still-damp legs and then buttoned them.

His scent grew rich, almost spicy, and she inhaled it deep into her lungs. Already she smelled him wrapped around her, but now he was in her as well, making him part of her. Tingles from damn good sex still ransacked her body and mixed with something more primal, something raw that ached to come forth and keep harm away from what was hers.

What was hers? She already feared his stand as a hunter would condemn the cause she lived and fought for, and yet she embraced the urge to lunge at the door to the cabin and learn who wished to see Race.

“I’ll see who’s there,” she informed him, fighting to pull her clothes on over her wet flesh.

He stood in front of her when he opened the bathroom door. “Karma,” he growled, grabbing her jaw and lifting her face to his. “You’re not my mate and no one will see you like this and start rumors that might tarnish your reputation.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t go all traditional on me, leopard. My litter tried to kill you and you think your scent on me will change how they think of me?”

Whoever stood outside the cabin pounded harder on the door. “Race, open up or I’m entering on my own,” a demanding baritone yelled.

It surprised her when Race grabbed her hair and pulled with a fierceness that made her eyes water. He pulled her to him and then kissed her savagely. “You didn’t try to kill me, my little cat,” he growled.

“No.” Her words stuck in her throat and she couldn’t elaborate. That was the second time he referred to her as his little cat.

“You’re going to tell me why your littermates attacked me.”

She blinked, taken back a moment by his aggressive, commanding tone. “It is their right to tell you.”

Race’s expression hardened and he seemed to grow until there was barely enough room in the bathroom for both of them.

The front door flew open and Race spun around, stalking into the living room barefoot and without a shirt. Muscles rippled in his shoulders as he walked away from her. She stared in awe and appreciation at the powerful leopard whose scent remained as strong on her as it did when he walked into the other room.

“Is everything okay?” Josh demanded, although the authoritative tone he used when demanding someone open the door was gone.

“We’re fine,” Race told him, his tone also relaxed.

“Good. My mate prepared food for both of you. And also,” Josh said, his growl dropping a notch, “her litter is demanding she return to them.”

Karma growled as she fought with her clothes and then took her towel and rubbed her hair. At least it wasn’t thoroughly soaked, but either way, it took some forceful tugs to brush through it.

“I’m sure as hell not holding her captive,” Race growled.

“Her litter does have some rights,” Josh said hesitantly, although it was impossible to pick up his scent over Race’s. “Granted, I’d do anything to send them packing on their tails. But until I know what the fuck is going on with them, my paws are fucking tied in the matter.”

“Don’t ask. She hasn’t told me yet.”

Karma adjusted her sweater and attacked her hair again with the brush, willing it to look decent enough so she could join Race. She didn’t want him being attacked with questions, but at the same time she would stink the living room up with her humiliation if she went out there looking unkempt. Already the leopards here thought of her and her litter as dishonorable without knowing anything other than Race was attacked.

“Don’t you want to know why those females tried to kill you?” Josh hissed. “I’d question if their actions were justified if the female wasn’t here right now.”

“If you thought for one minute that you smelled any kind of dishonorable act on me,” Race roared.

Karma couldn’t wait any longer. Her hair was barely detangled. And she didn’t have any makeup here, so she couldn’t worry about that. She marched into the living room, unable to stop the spiciness from her anger that tainted Race’s rich scent on her.

“Do all hunters question each other’s integrity?” she snapped, coming to a halt when Race spun around and Josh looked at her, surprised.

“Karma,” Race growled, his bare chest more than distracting when he moved in on her.

She forced herself not to stare at Race too long so she wouldn’t start panting for him. Instead, she narrowed her gaze on Josh, needing only for him to see that she wasn’t a dishonorable female. “I won’t say if my litter’s actions were justified or not since doing so without my littermates present wouldn’t be proper. But I will say that I didn’t ask Race to come over. I didn’t invite him into our cabin. I didn’t suggest he be attacked. And I never aided in that attack.”

“You didn’t want him at your cabin?” Josh asked.

Race turned around, muscles in his back rippling and again grabbing her attention. She stepped closer to Race but focused on Josh’s wary gaze. “I didn’t say that. I said that I didn’t invite him over.”

“Why was he attacked?”

“My littermates didn’t want him there,” she offered easily, and then took the food Josh brought. “Please thank your mate for bringing your kill,” she added, softening her tone and praying she sounded gracious.

Josh ignored her gratitude although he willingly handed over the covered dishes. “Did your litter realize they tried to kill a hunter?”

Karma placed the dishes on Race’s coffee table. The tension in the room thickened and when she turned to face the males, Race stared hard at Josh.

“Drop it, Josh. Don’t make this into a rank-smelling drama.”

“They would have attacked no matter who he was,” she snapped before Josh could say anything. “I’d just started explaining to them why I came home smelling like I did when Race came to the cabin.”

“And how did you smell?” Josh demanded.

“I said drop it,” Race snarled.

“I smelled like I’d just been fucked.” Karma ignored Race, knowing if she could turn the attack into looking as though her litter fought for her honor without knowing all the facts, then her litter’s honor wouldn’t be questioned.

Josh stared at her for a moment but didn’t say anything. So many emotions clogged the air she doubted he would detect any concern on her. She straightened though, clasping her hands in front of her and refusing to look away from Josh until he did.

He looked away finally, focusing on the ground as he ran his fingers through his curly hair, messing it up while exhaling loudly. “Your litter demands that you return to them.”

“I plan on going home.” She jerked her attention to Race when he practically jumped at her response. When he growled, she walked up to him, placing her hand on his warm chest. “You’re the one who just said we don’t want this smelling foul. But I know my littermates. The sooner we put all of this to rest, the better.”

“Tell her littermates they can come here if they want to see Karma.”

Josh scoffed at that, quickly shaking his head. “I thought you would help me build more cabins, not aid in having the two we have destroyed by insane females.”

“My littermates are far from insane,” Karma snarled, turning on Josh.

Race wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her against his hard-packed body. Instantly his raw strength and obvious domination turned her on more than she ever thought it would. “There’s no reason to discredit her litter. We will assume they fought for their littermate’s honor until we learn otherwise.”

Josh raised a questioning eyebrow but didn’t say anything for a moment. Finally, he turned to the door. “Walk outside with me,” he said.

Karma didn’t need to ask to know he meant to speak to Race without her hearing. Race ran his hand up her front quickly, squeezing her breast while Josh’s back was turned, and then let go of her. Her nipples turned hard instantly and she sucked in a breath. Crossing her arms, she turned when he walked around her, meeting his gaze. His green eyes darkened, confident and knowing that his unexpected touch turned her on even though he’d just fucked the shit out of her. As he passed her, his ripe smell was thick with confidence.

She stared at roped muscle that flexed in Race’s back as he followed Josh outside and then closed the door behind them. Standing in the middle of the living room, Karma wondered where all of this would end. Her litter would be furious if she suggested she wanted to keep seeing Race. And if she saw them soon, which she needed to do, they would smell him on her. Maurie would insist they relocate immediately.

Not to mention the Vision Controllers. If they didn’t already smell the trouble brewing here, once they did, Karma knew they would demand her litter run quickly, and would immediately quit using the meeting place she and her litter helped create to help litters run into Canada.

Before they figured out what to do about VC, Karma needed to sniff Race out better and figure out how her visions would come into play. If she moved too close to the door, Race and Josh would smell her and possibly not speak as openly. But she really wanted to know what they were talking about.

Karma stood, closing her eyes, and fought to hear what the males said to each other outside. Their soft baritones tickled her ears when she dared not even breathe or move and focused on their words.

Josh’s voice was too soft to pick up. When Race responded, his tone showed he didn’t agree with whatever Josh said. They growled at each other for a minute and Karma finally moved to the coffee table, unwrapping the dishes and then straightening, her new position putting her closer to the door. As well, the smell of the food would possibly distract the males from realizing she was closer to them and could hear them better.

“Keeping them here will make it a lot easier to learn what the hell is going on,” Race growled.

“What do you think is going on?” Josh asked.

“Not sure yet. Those females didn’t attack me because they were pissed I fucked their littermate though.”

“They’re obviously too dangerous to be allowed to run without being watched.”

“Trust me, Josh. If I’d fought back, I wouldn’t be ripped up as bad as I was. I promise you, none of those females were injured.”

“I’ve seen you kill. And I’ve seen all three females. But obviously they have no problem ripping a leopard to shreds whether he defends himself or not. Do you think they might have something to do with all of those leopards being killed the other night?”

“No. No way.”

“How do you know?”

Karma stepped closer to the door before she realized her actions. Holding her breath, she fought not to press her ear to the door. Her heart thumped in her chest though, a mixture of fear and anger threatening to start stinking if she didn’t get a grip. Even with slow deep breaths, sparks still popped in her spine. Everything she and her littermates fought to build here was crumbling around them. And Maurie would point her claws at Karma, blaming her for their efforts being sniffed out.

“Because Karma was with me,” Race lied.

Karma looked wide-eyed at the door. In the next moment she realized it wasn’t a lie. Race followed her all the way to their meeting place the other night. They were together. He did offer her protection though, when he could have answered differently and told the other hunter that she and her littermates were out there where the leopards were killed. Her litter would be in a hell of a mess if he’d done that.

She didn’t catch what Josh said next but jumped when Race opened the door and stepped inside with a rush of cold air entering with him.

“Were you eavesdropping, little cat?” he growled, moving quickly to her and wrapping his arms around her.

“As best as I could.” There wasn’t any point in trying to lie. Not to mention, gaining his trust would be the only way she could learn how well she could trust him. Already, witnessing his protection of her and her litter showed he didn’t intend to turn them in. “Thank you for defending me.”

“When I tell any leopard that I’ve got their tail, it’s what I mean,” he said seriously.

He wanted her trust as well. And for good reason. Karma easily smelled that he would offer her protection and support to learn what she and her litter were doing. Bitterly, she reminded herself that a good hunter would do just that.

“I believe you,” she assured him, dropping her gaze from his seductive eyes to his bare chest, which still carried the chill from outside. “Sit down and eat,” she ordered, knowing even as he did, it wouldn’t change the subject.

“Contact your litter and tell them to come here.” Race walked around the coffee table and sat, scooting to the edge of the couch and then reaching for the plates. “You have your cell phone?”

“Yes,” she said, studying him as he reached for a slab of meat and ripped half of it into his mouth. “If they aren’t being let out of their cabin, how are they going to come here? Not to mention, I doubt Maurie will agree to come here even if she could.”

“Get your phone and come eat. I doubt you’ve eaten much more than I have in the past few days.”

She sat a minute later, placing her phone on the coffee table. “Why would Josh say he’d question your actions if I weren’t here with you now?”

Race stopped chewing, turning and piercing her with a fierce look. “He was joking,” he growled, his mouth full of food. He continued chewing but searched her face, obviously holding back as his anger slowly drifted to her.

If tempers got out of hand here, so be it. Karma would know his beliefs and where his honor lay without smelling any doubt before calling her litter.

“He seemed rather serious to me.”

Race swallowed and stared at her, his expression hardening while a vein pulsed in his neck. “Did I rape you?”

“No.”

“Did I start to rape you?”

“No.”

“Then where the hell is your mind, little cat?” he whispered, which he probably did in an effort to restrain his temper.

But his anger showed her what he thought of forcing himself on a female.

“I need to know you, Race.” She whispered as well, watching him carefully. “It’s one thing to have a physical relationship. I know some leopards do it. It’s not something I can do though.”

“Nor am I asking you to,” he informed her, returning his attention to the plates and this time picking up the fork and knife. Stabbing a thick, juicy steak, he sliced the knife into the meat and drew it back until he’d cut a piece he stabbed with the fork. He lifted it to her lips. “I’ve never given thought to chasing down a mate,” he offered, his eyes once again bright green. Damp curls bordered his broad forehead and a strand fell over one eyebrow. “Being a hunter means that I don’t stay in one place very often.”

“Is that why you’re staying here?” She opened her mouth and slid the piece of meat off the fork. The juices coated her tongue and her stomach growled greedily. Race guessed accurately when he said she didn’t eat much while he slept.

Race immediately cut off more meat, pushing it to the side of the plate. He ripped a larger piece free and brought it to his mouth. “Josh needs help building more cabins and I have worked construction long enough to have good connections to get him supplies. I also heard this hot litter of females was staying here and that added incentive to hang around for a while to help build more cabins.”

She almost choked on her steak and grabbed the half-gallon of milk, ripped the cap off and drinking greedily. Then wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she watched him pick up his steak and stuff it in his mouth. “You’d heard about us?”

He studied her a moment while chewing, his gaze dropping down her body before slowly returning to her eyes. Heat rushed over her, his gaze similar to fingertips stroking her flesh and torturing without mercy when she ached to be in his arms.

“Little cat. Your litter is hotter and sexier than most females. And all three of you in one litter. I doubt your litter could go anywhere without drawing instant attention to yourselves.”

Damn. Karma knew she and her littermates were beautiful females. Their mother and sire were exceptional leopards. And their deaths were only part of the reason they needed to overcome their appearances and how it might cause the single males to sniff around closer than they should.

“So it’s coincidence that you hunted me and not my littermates?”

Race smiled, stabbed another small piece of steak and fed it to her. “If any of you would do, I would have hunted down your two littermates when you broke off at the lake north of here the night I met you. What male doesn’t fantasize about having two hot females? But Karma, I chased after you.”

She wrapped her fingers around his thick wrist, holding the steak to her lips but not taking it. Instead she let its rich smell torture her while staring over it at his handsome face. “Why, Race?”

“You intrigued me,” he offered.

“Oh really? A hunter like you. One who has chased many females and males. You’ve captured so many leopards who were good and honorable and turned them over to be caged. None of them intrigued you?”

Race pulled his hand away quickly, leaping off the couch and towering over her, his outrage so sudden it almost made her sneeze from how spicy it was. “Is that what this is all about? All of the hesitation I smell on you? If you think for one minute I worked for Leo Pard or had anything to do with helping him. Do you even know what atrocities he planned?”

“Actually I do,” she said calmly, reaching for the fork he dropped on the plate and bringing it to her lips, sliding the chunk of meat off and sucking it into her mouth.

“And because I told you that I knew you had visions, you think I’m with you for some ulterior motive?” He turned from her, pacing the length of the room and then pounded his fist into the wall, splitting wood with the intensity of his aggression. When he spun around, his hands both balled and his chest rippling with hard, bulging muscles while green eyes pierced her with glaring rage. “I saw where he took those leopards,” he said with a deadly hiss. “I know what his plans are. Trust me, little cat, Pard would do everything in his power to kill me if he knew I sniffed after you. Leopards with gifts are to be bred only with other leopards like them. All under Pard’s scrutinizing and watchful eye. If I ever see that fucking asshole again I’d rip out his throat before he had a chance to howl once.”

Karma stared at him, feeling the passion in his words while his body grew harder and larger as he hissed at her. His fury didn’t ebb but it didn’t stink of lies either. Pushing herself off the couch, she walked around the coffee table and approached him slowly.

“What if I gave you the opportunity to see Leo Pard again?” She dared to press her palm flat over his steady beating heart. His skin was warm, flushed with anger, and smooth over solid steel. She felt his power and focused determination. But overall, she saw and detected with all of her senses his honor to do everything in his power to keep leopards strong and respected. “I would love to watch him bleed out.”

Chapter Eight

Race downed his beer and slid the empty mug toward Thad.

“Megan is going to get pissed if I don’t close down soon.” Thad shot a furtive look at the clock on the wall.

Race rolled his eyes, the beers giving him a buzz and his mood bordering on grouchy from waiting. “The collar getting a bit tight?”

Thad grabbed Race’s mug and dunked it in a sink of soapy water behind him. Pulling it out, he rinsed it and then placed it on a strainer with other mugs. “Megan is getting better at keeping books and entering daily information on the computer. I don’t want to mess things up for her by keeping the bar open after closing time.”

Race nodded, not caring enough to keep poking at Thad. “I’m going to get some fresh air.”

“When are they supposed to be here?”

“Any time. We agreed on two a.m.” And he’d watched every minute crawl by for the past three hours.

Hell, it was longer than that. Ever since Karma called her litter last night and they damn near threatened to throw her out if she didn’t come home, Race found himself pacing, willing the time by until Karma was with him again.

“All three females are coming here, right?” Thad sprayed the counters with something that smelled lemony and then wiped it down with a cloth. “Will they have escorts?”

“Josh and Dover. Karma and her littermates are driving here. Josh is leading them and the owl is following on his bike.”

“Leopards weren’t meant to travel in fucking packs,” Thad grumbled.

Race couldn’t agree more. “Josh and Dover aren’t coming in here though. That’s the deal. They’re just making sure the Sheridan litter doesn’t haul ass out of here first chance they get.”

“No offense, man. But would you blame them? I mean, the females attacked you. And you don’t have to tell me there’s probably not a scratch on them. Josh is getting a bit too cozy with his mate if he doesn’t remember how wild unmated females are.” Thad tossed his bar towel by the sink and then walked around the bar. He started pushing chairs up against tables. “Maybe I should just push all of these out of the way instead of trying to clean up before your little party.”

“I appreciate you letting me use your place as neutral ground to meet with Karma’s litter. You have my word that we’ll keep it cool.”

Thad laughed easily. “Don’t offer your word on something you have no control over. My money is on those females trying to take you out within minutes of being here.”

“Then why did you agree to let us meet here?” Race scowled at Thad, who simply laughed at him.

“You can’t tame a female if you aren’t around her.” He sounded very sure of himself on that one.

Race almost demanded to know what made the asshole think he wanted to tame anyone. But the words wouldn’t come out. Mainly because he wouldn’t make a hypocrite out of himself. One day away from Karma and he paced like a caged animal waiting to breathe in her scent again.

“I’m going to get that fresh air,” Race said again, and headed to the door. There wasn’t any point in watching Thad clean and getting ragged at over a female.

“I’ll join you.” Thad was on his tail and propped the door open when they stood outside so that light flooded a small area outside the building. “There’s something I wanted to ask you about anyway.”

Race caught a whiff of the seriousness in Thad’s words and guessed the subject didn’t have anything to do with the females. “What’s up?” He studied Thad’s profile for only a moment before focusing on the streetlight out in the parking area that created a circle of light over the empty lot.

“Have you ever heard of Vision Controllers?” Thad watched him while he asked.

Race frowned, looking at Thad, who stood next to him in the darkness. “What is it?”

“It’s a them.”

“Huh?”

“Apparently they’re a group of leopards who call themselves Vision Controllers, or VC.” A cloud formed around Thad’s face from the cold as he spoke.

“I’ve never heard of them. Is Pard stinking the neighborhood up again?”

“Not how I understand it. And I don’t know much. Megan was approached a couple days ago about it.”

“What?” Race noted the scowl on Thad’s face and the lines that creased around his eyes as his mood darkened. “Tell me what you know,” he insisted.

“A mated couple stopped in the bar the other day. Of course it had to be while I wasn’t here. VC is a group of leopards who have created an underground network. They help leopards with visions relocate, get new lives. Apparently, they’re making it so these leopards can’t be sniffed out by Pard anymore.”

Maybe there was hope for his species yet. “Go on,” he encouraged.

“Megan talked to them about it for a bit. She found the whole thing incredibly exciting and wonderful, a great big fucking adventure.” Thad squinted into the night, watching the road as a car drove by. It didn’t slow but kept going until only carbon monoxide and the faint odor from burning oil lingered in the air. “She’s been howling at me ever since that we should make Pierce’s Lair a part of VC’s underground network.”

“Sounds as if you don’t like the idea.” Race saw how dangerous it would be, but hell, he and Thad knew danger on much larger scales. “What would you have to do?”

“If it weren’t for Megan, the idea fucking rocks.”

Race nodded, understanding. “Why did they approach her and not you?”

“What I’ve been wondering. And I haven’t met this mated couple yet either. They’re supposed to come in the first of next week then I can sniff them out better.” Again Thad searched the road. Another car approached, this time slowing. “Between you and me and no one else,” Thad said quietly, giving Race a hard look, “this isn’t the kind of shit a leopard can go around howling about.”

“Fuck you, asshole,” Race growled. “You think I don’t have the sense to know that?”

“I wouldn’t be telling you about it if I did.”

Race nodded, knowing Thad trusted him but smelling the leopard’s tense concern. “You need to sniff the situation out very carefully,” he growled, looking toward the car when it turned and headlights momentarily beamed on them. Another car followed and Race immediately recognized it as Karma’s. A loud bike brought up the rear.

Race started toward Karma but Thad grabbed his arm. “If this mated couple doesn’t stink of foul play, I might consider being part of VC. Not like they want. I don’t want Pierce’s Lair being a haven for trouble, especially since Megan is here every day.”

“I agree.” Race met Thad’s troubled gaze. “They can howl and hiss all they want, but I wouldn’t want any female of mine wrapped up in something like that either. I’ll try to come by Monday and sniff them out with you.”

Thad nodded his consent and Race turned from him. The cars and bike were parked and the females huddled together next to their car. Karma’s scent reached him over the others and he cleared the distance between them with quick, long strides.

Ignoring her littermates’ hisses and growls, he grabbed Karma and pulled her into his arms. “I’ve missed you,” he growled, burying his nose in her hair and breathing her deep into his lungs. She carried the biting chill from the night on her clothes, but her flesh was warm and smooth.

Karma’s hair brushed against his chin until she lifted her face to his. Her bright green eyes captured the light from the streetlight and glowed when she grinned up at him.

“Same here,” she whispered, searching his face and then pressing her lips into a tight grin. “You try to kiss me now and you’re going to get attacked right here in the parking lot.”

“They had their moment,” he informed her, still whispering, although he would bet good money that every leopard around them tuned in on their conversation. “No one is going to attack me tonight, little cat. You have my word.”

Maurie growled and then hissed, moving toward them so that he caught her in his peripheral vision. “What kind of male gives his word on something he can’t control?” she growled.

Race let go of Karma and turned on Maurie with a fierce growl. “I didn’t stop you last time,” he warned her. “This time I will.”

Maurie stopped and Race noted that the youngest, obviously from a litter birthed a few years after Karma and Maurie, at least, grabbed her older littermate and tried pulling her backward. Race looked past the face etched in outrage and into the one of terrified innocence. His protector instincts grabbed hold and dug in ruthlessly, causing every muscle in his body to tighten.

Maurie didn’t allow her younger littermate to drag her backward, but she didn’t pull against her either. Although her scent gave proof of her anger, he detected hesitation and worry when he focused on her olive green eyes.

Damn it. He’d never seen a litter of females running so scared before that they would kill quick and without mercy to keep others away from them.

Maurie opened her mouth to say something but he ignored her, adjusting Karma so he stood between her and her littermates. “Let’s go inside,” he instructed, and then looked over at Thad, who was rubbing his jaw and studying the three females. “We won’t be long.”

“Maybe I should come along,” Josh started.

Karma stiffened. Race gave her a quick squeeze and then shook his head at Josh. “It’s all good. I’m talking to this litter alone.”

Pulling the door open, Race held it and allowed the three to enter ahead of him. He didn’t look back at Josh and Thad, or Dover, who remained on his bike, but let the door close behind him and then turned the deadbolt. The wooden door was solid and fairly new. But if a leopard wanted in or out the lock wouldn’t hold them.

“I don’t know what you think you’re going to accomplish by meeting like this,” Maurie began, snapping at him the minute he walked away from the door.

“Maurie, cut the crap,” Karma hissed.

“Enough,” he roared.

The youngest jumped noticeably but then boldly stared at him while the other two fumed.

“This is how it is,” he started, and Maurie grunted and opened her mouth to interrupt. When he made a move as if he would leap, she stepped back instinctively, her teeth growing when she curled her lip and growled at him. He glared at her. “Your litter is in deep shit.”

“Whatever,” Maurie snapped, and turned her back on him, a direct insult to any leopard because it showed she didn’t believe he could attack well enough that she should watch him.

When Race grabbed her arm and spun her around, Karma gasped. But this was necessary and he’d decided his tactics earlier. These females lived a life on the run, killing or brutalizing anyone who got in their way. He would learn tonight why they did it, and he would communicate in the language they understood best.

“The shit isn’t deep because you attacked me.” He lowered his voice, realizing the leopards outside might have more cause to eavesdrop than just ensuring his safety. This old bar was pretty damn sound, but that didn’t mean he would chance advertising their conversation. “The problem is now that you three have every leopard in the area watching you every time you swish your tail.”

“You think that’s a problem we don’t always have?” Maurie slinked into a chair, crossing her arms and one leg over the other while leaning back and giving him a chilling smile. “What do you want, leopard? You want Karma? Take her. She’s no good to us anymore.”

“Bitch,” Karma hissed.

“Maurie,” the youngest complained. Then surprisingly, she sat next to her oldest littermate and looked up at Race with green eyes that were speckled with gold flecks. “You don’t know anything about us,” she said in a soft tone that would turn dangerously sultry within the next couple of years. “And I can’t believe you know that much about Karma either. Can you blame us for wanting to protect her?”

Maurie and Karma didn’t comment and Race guessed the one thing both of them possibly agreed on was allowing their youngest littermate to continue to see the world as an honest and perfect place.

“I wasn’t attacked out of honor for Karma. I was attacked because I’m a hunter and your litter has a deadly secret.” He focused on the youngest when he spoke and was immediately rewarded with confirmation of his suspicions. She paled considerably while the smell of her fear almost turned to panic.

“That wasn’t fair, Race,” Karma scolded him while hurrying around the table and putting her arms around her youngest littermate. “Darla, he isn’t going to hurt us. And he won’t do anything to prevent us from our work.”

“What work?” he asked.

Maurie scowled at the table while carving a notch into it with her fingernail. She looked up at him quickly, unable to hide her surprise.

At the same time Karma scoffed and slapped Maurie on the head. “I told you I didn’t tell him. See? There is your proof.” She kept one arm wrapped around Darla but waved her free hand at him.

“Karma,” he growled. “Come here.” He hated being left in the dark and he had a feeling with these three, many could be made to feel that way.

Karma let go of Darla and walked around the table toward him. “When I returned to my litter I explained to them that after talking with you, learning your mind and knowing how strongly you smell about some things, that you would be a better ally than enemy.” She didn’t walk into his arms but turned in front of him, forcing Maurie to narrow her gaze on her. “We’ve torn into each other too many times to count, Maurie. But if you don’t smell things clearly right now, it’s going to be all of our hides. Don’t let your anger taint the air so that you can’t smell honor and integrity when it stands right in front of you.”

Maurie stood and then turned and whispered something to Darla. She then shoved her chair under the table and started toward the door. Darla followed but shifted her attention from Maurie to Karma, as if torn over which littermate to side with.

“As I already said, take her. If you want her litter’s blessing, this is the best you’re going to get.” Maurie stopped at the door, and for the first time there almost seemed to be something softening her features—possibly regret. “You’re a fool, Karma. You think I hate you, but I don’t. We have tough lives but not impossible ones. Mount a male like him and you kill us all.”

It surprised Race that before that moment, he never noticed how similar Karma and Maurie looked. They weren’t identical, but physically they were damn close. Maurie sucked in a breath, forcing her sweater to tighten over full, round breasts. Her waist and hips were narrow and her slim, muscular legs looked very much like Karma’s.

It was the cold edge to Maurie that made the two females appear so different. Whatever it was that destroyed Maurie and filled her with continually simmering rage left a hard shell on the outside, one that wouldn’t crack and made her look older than she probably was. Truth be told, Race would guess that Maurie and Karma were probably birthed at the same time.

“I smell your happiness and I wish you well.” Maurie gestured for Darla to come to her with a nod of her head. “May good hunting turn your lust into love, Karma. We’re leaving and you can’t come with us.”

“Maurie, don’t.” Karma didn’t run after her littermate but her scent turned sad so quickly that the air smelled salty like tears that probably none of these females would ever shed. “Race won’t try to stop us.”

“She’s right,” Race said, although he still didn’t know what task these females deemed as work. “But you’re not going to make it through the night,” he added, and Maurie turned toward the door, ignoring him. “Let alone try to arrange another meeting and see how successfully you pull it off. Already they’re sniffing around your litter, wondering if you actually could have killed ten leopards last week.”

That comment forced Maurie to spin around. Her look was cold yet tentative as her expression went blank and she simply waited, apparently willing to hear his words for the first time since arriving.

“I told them Karma was with me that night so your litter couldn’t possibly have been out that way or had anything to do with those leopards getting killed.”

“Why would you lie for a female you hardly know?” Maurie asked.

“I wasn’t lying,” he said quietly, and then allowed time for the meaning behind his words to sink in.

“That means I interpreted my vision right.” Darla’s face lit up and the gold in her eyes glowed, almost as they would if she were in her fur. The young female was captivating, a distraction to say the least. It would be very easy to kill to protect her honor.

“What vision?” Karma demanded. “You had a vision?”

Maurie turned on Darla. “We won’t discuss that here.”

“We will too discuss this here,” Karma demanded, walking toward her sisters, her ass swaying perfectly while the jeans she wore hugged her like a second skin. “Why wouldn’t you share your vision with me, Darla? Don’t we always tell each other about our visions?”

“Is there anything about our litter that you haven’t shared with this male?” Maurie hissed.

“Darla, what did you see?” Karma asked.

Race watched the three females, how they interacted with each other, the incredibly tight bond that existed among them and also the animosity that hung heavy around them as well. To a point, he envied the close litter, even with its imperfections. As large of a litter as he came from, he couldn’t even say where his littermates were right now.

“I saw him.” Darla nodded at Race.

“Darla,” Maurie hissed furiously.

“Go on,” Karma insisted.

Darla glanced from one littermate to the other then, gathering inner strength, she straightened, staring at Race and more than likely not realizing how she showed off her perky, round breasts. He honored her by holding on to her golden gaze and silently encouraging her to continue.

“He picked Maurie off the ground. She was knocked out or hurt. I don’t know. All I saw was him yelling at us to hurry and we ran with him to safety.”

“How do you know it was to safety?”

Darla’s hair was the same color as her eyes. Her skin was a couple shades darker than her older littermates, giving her a golden hue that added to her sensually innocent aura. When she stared at him, slowly licking her lower lip and obviously having no clue how the act would drive most males insane, Race offered her a small smile. Darla’s eyes widened and she quickly looked at the floor and then to Karma.

“You know how visions are,” she said, as if Karma asked the question and not Race. “I felt the danger and smelled that we ran toward safety.”

“I understand,” Race said, and Karma and Darla both looked at him. “Any idea when this happens?”

Darla slowly shook her head, shooting a furtive look at Maurie, who stood with her arms crossed, scowling at the floor.

“From what I hear, visions always come true.” He moved slowly around the tables until he stood behind Karma and then dragged his fingers over her thick blonde hair. Pressing his hand against her lower back, he looked past her at her littermates. “Darla’s vision shows us that the trouble will come. You can blame me for it if you want, but I don’t smell any stupidity in this bar.”

Maurie looked up at him quickly.

He held her gaze. “You kept your litter together and have made it this far. Times might get tough on you but don’t be the reason your litter dissolves.”

“Smell as righteous as you want, male.” Maurie’s cool tone matched her icy gaze. “But you cannot be part of what we’re doing. You’re a hunter. And if that doesn’t make sense to you, I’m sure Karma would love to explain.”

Aggravation and anger jumped to dangerous levels in the room. Race watched Maurie and Karma stare each other down. Neon lights from a couple of beer signs hanging on the walls and one overhead light back by the door leading to the office helped cast shadows that accentuated their striking features. Two so incredibly hot females but with so much hatred for each other that it was destroying both of them. In spite of not knowing the details around this work they howled about, Race saw that if they didn’t clear the air of the stench, they would never sniff out the right way to run.

“Right now, without anyone else’s authorization,” Race began, dropping his hand from Karma’s back and slowly stalking Maurie, “I could kill you and justify it as protecting our species from an unstable litter. No one would question my actions and as a hunter I would be completely in my right.”

Darla growled and stepped toward Maurie. When Race walked closer to her, Darla jumped out of the way, leaving Maurie standing alone.

“Race, you don’t need to prove anything to her,” Karma said, wrapping her fingers around his arm. “I wanted all of us together and then would explain what we’re doing. But it’s honorable, so damn honorable, and must be done to save our kind.”

Race stopped when he stood inches from Maurie, who glared up at him, although he picked up on the fear she fought to hide. Karma tugged on him but she wasn’t strong enough to make him budge.

“I don’t smell any dishonor on you or your littermates,” he rumbled, staring deep into Maurie’s dense green eyes.

She didn’t blink or tremble. Holding her ground, the female held his gaze, her expression hard and focused.

Race looked down at Karma, who instantly shifted her attention from her littermate to him. He needed to stay focused right now and not drown in those sensual green eyes. “If this work you do is so damn honorable, then there shouldn’t be any problem filling me in on the details,” he told her, and lowered his gaze when she licked her lips and sucked in a breath that drew attention to her cleavage in her low-cut sweater. “I will support and guard all of your tails with my life, making sure that no one stops you from doing what you do, but only if I completely understand what you’re about. Karma, it’s time to fill me in on the details.”

“We don’t need your protection.” Maurie’s cool tone didn’t falter as she held her ground. “You’d be wise, male, to accept my offer to take Karma and let it go at that. Our litter doesn’t need you.”

“You fool,” Karma hissed. “Darla told me that even you’ve had visions about Race.”

“Do you think if I walk out of here without all of you that the hunters outside are going to let you go?” Race drawled, placing his hand over Karma’s when she dug her fingers into his arm. “You’re all seeing things that show you I’m here to help. Why do you hesitate?”

Maurie didn’t look at him but focused on her littermates. “Both of you know visions are shown out of context. Who’s to say why any of us saw him doing any of the things he did? We’re doing fine without him and always have. Our last time out is proof of that.”

“When you killed three males and then split up, running on opposite sides of the lake?” Race demanded. “If I hadn’t been out there, the rest of those males would have followed you all the way to that old cabin. Karma probably wouldn’t have made it to you alive if I hadn’t left her at the cabin door.”

“You knew he was in on the run the other night?” Maurie stepped toward Karma, her hands clenching and unclenching.

Karma pushed in front of Race, as if she would protect him from the rank odor of outrage her littermate emitted. “I knew the next day. But telling you would only blind you with anger. You’re so mad right now you aren’t seeing the obvious. Race shares our beliefs.”

“How do you know, because he told you what you wanted to hear?”

“I can smell truth when I hear it,” Karma spat, stepping forward so her face was inches from Maurie’s. “You’re so filled with hate and anger that it’s impossible to sniff truth or honor out on you. You’re the one who will destroy us by turning your tail on our one strong chance to take what we’re doing to the next level.”

“With a hunter?” Maurie hissed, searching Karma’s face quickly as if not understanding why Karma would say what she did. “And he would tell you whatever he thought you wanted to hear because you’re a piece of tail.”

Karma lunged at Maurie, bulldozing into her and sending both of them flying over the table next to the door. Race leapt around the table, wrapping his arm around Karma’s waist and lifting her backward into the air while she kicked and hissed.

Maurie jumped up, ready to attack while he held Karma firmly. But Race grabbed her arm and quickly spun her around, bending her over another nearby table and pushing her wrist into the middle of her back.

Darla raced over, bending over the table while her golden hair fanned over her shoulders and covered her and her oldest littermate’s faces.

“As it stands now.” Race didn’t see any reason to bite and claw over shallow insults over who put out for whom. He didn’t have any intention of hiding the fact he wanted Karma. But he did intend to learn the root source to this anger before anyone went anywhere. “You met a litter when you went to that cabin north of here. Since it smelled very abandoned, I’m guessing the cabin is a designated meeting place. Right now, you and whoever you are working with, and me, know about that cabin. No one else. But you’re going to tell me now what you were doing there.” His baritone boomed off the walls.

Race let go of Maurie, backing up with Karma almost crawling up his chest.

“I’m going to tell him.” Karma looked at her littermates.

Darla hurried around the table when Maurie straightened and then pushed her hair out of her face. Darla started petting her arm as she tried soothing her silently.

“It’s a mistake,” Maurie said quietly, sounding surprisingly deflated. “We’ve accomplished so much, helped so many litters, but you both know there is still endless hours of running left to do. The moment we let a hunter into this, we’ll be sent packing. It’s no secret what hunters have already done.”

Race didn’t know of any act committed by hunters that wasn’t completely honorable. If anything, since the tirade of Leo Pard began, all five of them struggled to put an end to the bastard and his efforts to cage and reorganize leopards. Granted there were a couple of hunters out there whose methods Race might question. But it wasn’t common knowledge who the five hunters were. Nothing Maurie said made any sense.

But he stood there, his demand on the table, waiting for Karma and her litter to decide on the right thing to do.

“There are leopards out there who need our help,” Karma offered, her fingers brushing over his shoulders when she pressed her large breasts against his chest. But then moving to arm’s length as her hands trailed down his arms, her expression turned serious while all fear and anger seemed to wash right out of her. “Before we left our litter our parents were killed. Our home was burned to the ground and our sire and mother murdered. None of us knew why at the time. So often leopards kill for hunting ground or over a mate. Although it didn’t fit that such a barbaric excuse would end our parents’ lives, we accepted it and ran close, keeping out of sight of humans and being careful where we went until the three of us entered adulthood.”

“I remember when we were in town using a computer and learned there were others like us,” Darla said quietly, her eyes almost completely golden and staring at him, unblinking. “They were suffering and litters were being destroyed because they saw things that hadn’t happened yet, just like us.”

“No one else should know the pain we endured losing our parents,” Karma told him, rubbing his arm and then stopping when he looked down at her. “It was around that time that we learned our sire and mother had started an organization, howling to other leopards like them, and like us, and showing them how they could safely exist without worrying about being told who to breed and living in a fucking cage.”

“Our parents knew about Leo Pard long before anyone was howling about it on the Internet,” Darla added, pride in her voice as she raised her chin and stared at him solemnly with her unique-shaded eyes.

“When we found out there was something we could do to help, there wasn’t any discussion necessary.” Karma glanced over at Darla and then Maurie, who didn’t look back at her. She then returned her attention to Race, her enticing scent tainted with a hint of defiance when she met his gaze. “We jumped in with all paws and haven’t regretted a moment since then. Maybe it’s similar to how it was when you decided to become a hunter.”

“Maybe,” he muttered, knowing without any doubt he never regretted being a hunter, even when the jobs he ran grew so frustrating he couldn’t howl or attack enough to fix the problem.

“He’s not going to understand.” Maurie spoke quietly, looking at the floor while slowly dragging strands of hair away from her face and then raising her lashes quickly and pinning him with a heated stare. “Maybe,” she drawled, parroting him, although for the first time since they entered the bar together, the spicy scent of anger wasn’t that strong. “He’s never been so passionate about something that he felt the pain if he didn’t see it through.”

Race wasn’t going to list different jobs he’d known since being a hunter. Maurie would smell and hear what she wanted. And it wasn’t his job to change that.

“What did you jump into?” He looked away from Maurie and down at Karma. “You’ve shared with me all of the emotions and heartaches that this noble line of work has given you. Now cut to the core, my little cat. What is it exactly that you do? And who do you do it for?”

“We do it for every leopard who has a vein of decency inside them,” Maurie snapped, her cold tone enough that it could easily grate on his nerves and make him quickly forget that she was damn near as sexy as her littermates. “We take care of our kind, protect them and ensure they are safe and happy. Not something you would understand, hunter,” she added, voicing his title as if it were a derogatory word.

Race ignored her, purposely, feeling a warped sense of satisfaction that it irked her more so than if he were to roar and attack over her ridiculous insults. Instead, he trained all of his attention and energy on Karma, encouraging her silently to answer his questions and ignore her littermate as well.

Karma never quit looking at him, and her relaxed, solemn expression proved she too was well trained at blocking out her littermate. She licked her lips, her fingers softly moving over his forearm. The gentle touch managed to draw out the need to protect her even more. Whatever it was these three were committed to, he prayed they weren’t defying anything that would be deemed endangering leopards. As long as he could justify that, he could keep them alive.

Karma sucked in a breath. “We’re part of a covert organization that is helping leopards with visions escape Leo Pard and restart lives where he can’t sniff them out.”

Chapter Nine

Karma searched Race’s face for a reaction to what she just told him. His scent didn’t change and not one muscle moved on his face. Roped muscles twitched under her fingertips though, as she brushed them up his arms.

Before she could sniff out his reaction, something banged against the door to the bar. Both of her littermates growled behind her. Race turned quickly and she dug her fingers into his arms.

“Stay put,” Race ordered, and removed her fingers from his arms before turning to the door.

She glanced over as Maurie moved in next to her and felt Darla brush against her on the other side. She focused on her older littermate, whose scent seemed to be more worry and concern than it did anger.

“Everything going okay?” Josh pushed his way into the bar the moment Race unlocked the door.

“Just thought we’d check on you, make sure these females didn’t kick your tail again.” Thad was right behind him.

Odd though, Josh’s mate Chan hurried into the bar alongside her mate. She had almost a wild look about her as she glanced at Race but then focused on Karma and her littermates.

“Things went well.” Race’s calm tone grabbed the small group’s attention. “We were just getting ready to come out.” When Race wanted to look jovial, his expression and scent relaxed so incredibly, one might think he didn’t have a care in the world. “You honored me by allowing us to use your bar,” he said to Thad and slapped the leopard on the back.

“I’m impressed nothing looks broken,” Thad offered, grinning, although his expression appeared a bit more strained.

Karma noticed immediately the small group who entered smelled upset, frustrated over something. She couldn’t guess what they might have discussed while she was in here with Race and her littermates.

“So we’re cool in here?” Josh asked Race, but then glanced over at Karma and her littermates.

“We’re good.” Race nodded to Thad. “Good hunting. I’m heading back to my cabin.”

“And the females?” Josh asked, pinning his gaze on them, his wound-tight stance enough to show if Race said the word, he’d attack and ask questions later.

Karma felt her insides harden, ready to defend herself to the death if necessary. Race turned and looked at them, his bright green eyes glancing at each one of them. He turned, walking toward them, his focus finally pinning Karma until he reached her. Taking her by the wrist, he turned, guiding her toward the door.

“They won’t give you any trouble. Everything is fine,” Race said seriously.

Karma wasn’t sure how to react to the emotions that plunged deep in her gut. Maybe, for the first time since her sire died, she knew protection. Prior to her parents’ death, she believed in invincible force fields that allowed her to feel, to laugh and cry and believe her world was safe and indestructible. The day she watched her home burn to the ground, all of that was destroyed.

But Race wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. Not that she worried a moment before that she couldn’t defend herself. Knowing beyond any doubt Race would kill for her filled her with a pressure that burned beyond her ability to control it within seconds. Like molten lava tumbling through her, Karma felt the heat singe her yet didn’t know how to put it out. Worse yet, she wasn’t sure she wanted it extinguished.

It was a strange feeling. And with it came an even more bizarre realization. As strong as the thrill was knowing with certainty she and her littermates were protected even more so than the three of them could protect themselves, it scared the crap out of her knowing every leopard in this room would now see her as Race’s female.

“Were we giving you trouble before?” Maurie snapped, ruining Karma’s moment with her cold, vicious attack.

All concerns about Race vanished when Karma turned to face Maurie. Her littermate walked around the tables until she was within feet of the hunters. The bit of comfort that started soothing Karma’s insides faded instantly. Maurie stalked the leopards surrounding Karma as if she possessed the power to annihilate all of them.

“Not until you attacked a hunter.” Josh didn’t hesitate answering her.

“We didn’t attack a hunter. We attacked a male who sniffed a bit too close to my littermate.”

“Attacking a hunter is a death sentence,” Thad growled. “The law is simple.”

“A law created by hunters,” Maurie growled. “Where is it posted so any leopard would know this? Why isn’t there a law that defends all leopards if attacked?”

“That’s why we’re here, female,” Race growled. “No amount of hunters can stop leopards from being the killers we are. And I doubt you would tolerate anyone trying to tame you,” he added, his baritone dipping to a dangerous tone. “Not that any sane male would want to waste his effort,” he grumbled under his breath.

His comment was immediately backed with at least one of the other males surrounding him growling their consent. Chills rushed over Karma’s flesh. It wasn’t too often she wanted to step forward for her older littermate, but Maurie stood there, willing to take on these hunters to defend her litter and their right to exist without being harassed.

Karma pulled free of Race, moving quickly, turning and facing him as she stood next to Maurie. “We wouldn’t tolerate being tamed any more than any of you would,” she announced, aware that Maurie shot her a surprised, if not wary, look while Darla moved in behind her, silently offering support. “If you believe any of us are going to belly up and purr some kind of gratitude to you because you’ve finally realized we’re an honorable den when that was a simple and obvious bit of truth the three of us have known all our lives, you’re sadly mistaken.”

Karma pressed her hand against Maurie’s back and held on to Darla as she pushed through the males to the door.

“We wish all of you good hunting,” she said, feeling the cold night air attack her system and embracing it.

Darla hurried alongside her toward their car, glancing at Karma more than once with a wide, toothy grin. Her excitement smelled as fresh as the night air did cold. Maurie surprisingly didn’t say anything, nor did she try to move away from Karma’s touch. They made it to the car before a strong, determined hand landed on her shoulder.

“Ride with me.” Race’s growl was a question and demand rolled into one.

Maurie acted as if she didn’t see or hear Race. When she reached their car, she unlocked it and then slid behind the driver’s wheel. Darla turned, glancing past Karma to Race for only a moment before shifting her attention to Karma. Her eyes glowed against the street light, more golden than green, proof her emotions ran so high it was hard to keep the animal inside her at bay.

“Go with Maurie,” she said, turning Darla around and petting the back of her head until Darla got into the car.

Maurie started the car and Darla barely closed her car door when Maurie gunned the engine, spinning the tires, before taking off out of the parking lot.

“Race.” Josh’s boots crunched over the gravel as he approached them.

Race opened the passenger door of his truck. “Get in,” he told Karma, his large hand sliding up her arm and then over her shoulder until his fingers snaked around the back of her neck. But his powerful grip held her to him when Josh and his mate stopped next to them.

“What happened in there?” Josh didn’t hesitate asking.

“I’m sure Karma’s litter would be happier if I disappeared.”

Something sparked in the frosty night air in spite of Race making light of Josh’s question. She focused on Chan, who cuddled next to her mate, her scent surprisingly smelling angry.

“I can’t exactly call the place a sanctuary if leopards start howling that attacks occur there,” Josh said.

“Don’t fuck me over, Bard,” Race growled, his sudden change from being relaxed to quickly looking ready to attack, surprising not only Karma but Josh and Chan as well. “Ever since you arrived at that cabin and decided to try to make it a place where leopards could stay if they wished, there have been attacks.”

“I was there. I know this,” Josh answered without missing a beat. His expression didn’t change, nor did he seem braced to attack. “That doesn’t mean I don’t wish to bring peace to the place. I need to know her litter isn’t going to attack again.”

“That’s not fair,” Karma hissed, saving Race the need to either belly up or turn on a male she believed he viewed as a friend. “Can you say without any doubt you won’t bare your teeth before sunrise? None of us could ever make that promise.”

Race’s fingers moved on her neck, caressing her nape before once again tightening his grip and pulling her closer to him. “Karma’s litter just has the three of them. Like any of us, they will fight and kill to protect their own. I know without any doubt that no one in her litter will attack me again.”

Chan looked at Karma quickly when Race made his announcement then lifting one eyebrow, her expression turned doubtful when she lifted her gaze to search Race’s face. “What makes you so sure of that?” she asked, ignoring Josh when he suddenly scowled at her.

Karma wasn’t sure if Race noticed it seemed the two of them worried about something that they weren’t comfortable asking. So instead, they would stand here in the cold and dark in their flesh and endure roundabout questions.

“Her littermates understand that I didn’t bring dishonor on any of them,” Race said stiffly. His tone was enough to show he picked up the hostility Josh and Chan suffered to hide under civil questions. “I smell how worried you are.” Letting go of Karma, he popped Chan on the head, forcing the female to duck into her mate. “And it stinks,” he added, relaxing and wrapping his arm around Karma, pulling her against his rock-hard chest with enough force to almost make her stumble into him. “Her litter had some misconceptions about hunters, but other than that, they are three females without the protection of a sire or mother. They are all each of them has. They won’t bring trouble to your sanctuary. You have my word on that. So quit worrying.”

“You can’t blame me for—”

Josh interrupted Chan. “Your word is good for me. Good hunting.” He turned, pulling his mate, who seemed a little reluctant to end the conversation, and walked across the parking lot to their car.

Race turned and held the open truck door for her.

She climbed in, a wave of relief hitting her at the same time a rush of exhaustion kicked in. Race didn’t tell Josh or any of the others about seeing them up north, or that her litter was helping other leopards with visions. Granted she didn’t share with him the name of the covert organization. But it wasn’t necessary to give him every detail. He knew enough to cause them trouble. Karma smelled him out right though. Race wouldn’t drag problems to her litter.

He closed the passenger door and she breathed in his scent, which hung heavy inside the cab. She watched his thick curls move with the breeze that wrapped around him as he walked around the front of the truck, the emotions she knew until that moment were replaced with something hotter, breathtaking, that tightened every muscle in her body.

Karma watched Race take long strides around the truck, his confident stance and solid, hard-packed body making her fingertips itch. She wanted to touch him, more than that, she wanted to rub up against him, climb his body and mount him. Riding him until all worries and emotions from the night disappeared sounded like the perfect way to end the night.

Race opened the driver’s side door and slid behind the steering wheel with ease considering his size. He closed the cold air in with him, which probably helped hide her growing smell of desire.

“You didn’t tell him that we’re helping other leopards,” she began.

“Did you want me to?” He looked at her with a hard, piercing gaze.

“No,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

He grabbed her sweater between her breasts, his knuckles brushing against her chest when he yanked her up against him with a quick, hard jerk. “It will never be my wish to cause you trouble,” he growled, and then captured her mouth with a quick bite. “But it is my wish to know you better.”

She captured his lower lip between her teeth and flicked at it with her tongue while watching his eyes smolder with dangerous promises she ached to explore. “Maybe you shall,” she uttered, getting off on his rough treatment.

Race pushed her backward with the same amount of force he used to bring her to him, attacking her neck with nibbles and licks. He shoved her sweater up over her breasts, none of his actions gentle or slow. He was rough, demanding, not asking for anything but taking greedily, applying more than just a little muscle. His fingers grazed her flesh as did his teeth and tongue.

For all Karma knew, there could still be leopards in the parking lot. All she smelled was Race though. He controlled all her senses. His large body hovered over hers and moved over her, adjusting her while he made quick work of loosening her clothes, making it hard to hear, see or feel anything else but him.

“I’m not sure I can wait to fuck you,” he whispered between her breasts, and then dragged his fingers over her swollen flesh as he ripped her bra out of the way.

The sound of fabric tearing mixed with his panting and low, guttural growls raked over her senses, getting her so fucking hot she was willing to help tear their clothing to shreds so they could fuck.

“God. Race.” She grabbed his head, tangling her fingers in all of those thick, coarse blond curls and let her head fall back on the seat. “Who said you had to wait?”

He sucked her nipple into his mouth and then lapped at it with his tongue. Pressure swelled inside her womb, painful and dangerously close to exploding. He latched on to her moist nipple with his teeth and tugged, allowing it to slowly slip from his mouth. His hot breath tortured her already tormented flesh when he found her other nipple, sucking hard, like a starving cub until she bucked against his rock-hard body.

The already rich aroma in the cab of his truck turned ripe and musky as she came hard, aching for their clothes to simply disappear so she could rub against his solid, muscular body.

“I really hope you don’t like the clothes you’re wearing that much,” she warned him. “Because I’m seriously getting ready to rip them to shreds. They’re in the way.”

Race’s deep chuckle gave her chills. But then her neck almost snapped when he yanked her up, straightening the two of them in the seat with incredible agility. She reached for him as he pulled her upright. Grabbing his shoulders, she ignored the strands of hair that fell over her face and instead drowned in his gorgeous eyes.

“You would fuck me in the cab of a truck,” he said, his voice husky, as if that thought made him ache for even more.

She tilted her head, not smelling anything that might suggest his words were an insult. “You attacked me, leopard. Are you saying you would start something and not finish it?” Her voice was so raspy with need she growled more than spoke coherently. “Because you sure better not have a problem with fucking me right now.”

“As long as I’m the only male you’re fucking in trucks, or anywhere else, then there is nothing wrong with it.”

“Do you mean the great hunter, who watches and knows my every move, isn’t sure if I’ve been with another male or not?”

She decided she liked his small, crooked smile and the way it made his green eyes bright, even in the dark cab.

“I’ve watched you since I arrived here, and you distracted the hell out of me. Now I watch you and make sure you’re safe.”

“My protector,” she teased, and ruffled his curls with her fingernails. “Does this mean I need to start watching your tail and keeping you out of trouble as well?”

“If we’re going to run together,” he began, his expression growing serious while he adjusted her in his arms.

She slid down his body enough that her rear touched the seat and the steering wheel against her back kept her nestled against him. “I’ve never really thought about…” She faltered, the word “mating” somehow getting stuck somewhere around her tonsils.

Race pet the side of her head with his fingers and roped muscle flexed against her shoulders. His scent changed when he seemed to sense the serious direction their conversation headed. He pressed his lips together, his eyes darkening while his expression turned so intense it stole her breath.

“Like I said, I want to know you better.”

“Okay,” she said slowly.

“We’ll see where it takes us,” he offered.

“I think that’s best.” She couldn’t say how long her litter would be here. Leaving Race would suck big time. But the work she did for Vision Controllers mattered more than anything she’d done in her entire life.

Race reached behind her and turned the key in the ignition. His truck roared to life and air blew on to the windows, creating a rush of wind that stirred their emotions around them in a small whirlwind.

“Tell me more about this organization that you’re working with to help leopards with vision.” His calm request made it sound as if he asked her to share her thoughts on the weather.

But his words hit her hard enough that she froze. Race searched her face, his expression darkening while he lifted and turned her so that she sat next to him in the cab of his truck once again.

Karma licked her lips, straightening and placing her feet on the floor while adjusting her clothing. “What do you want to know?” she asked quietly while her brain raced as she struggled to prepare satisfactory vague answers to questions she anticipated.

The defroster created circles that grew larger on the windshield while she watched. The mist created from their moment of passion slowly dissipated while silence grew between them. He shifted the truck into gear and turned it around in the parking lot. Everyone else was gone.

Race reached over and moved her hair away from her face and she jumped then hissed for being distracted enough not to notice him move.

“You’re nervous about answering any questions,” he said quietly.

She turned to look at him and he cupped his palm over her cheek, a soft, comforting touch that she couldn’t resist nuzzling into. “We’ve never told a soul about what we do,” she told him, closing her eyes and relaxing against his hand.

He stroked her cheek with his finger until she opened her eyes and looked at him. Race focused on the road, his profile strong and serious as he gunned the truck and accelerated toward the sanctuary and their cabins.

“Why is it such a secret?”

“You can’t always smell the fact someone is working for or with Leo Pard.”

He looked at her, his brooding expression accentuated by dark shadows. She felt like cuddling closer to him, but at the same time experienced a small pang of fear that discussing their runs with him would cause more trouble than she could fix.

“So when I told you I’d rip his neck out that bought me points, huh?”

“I needed to know your feelings without influencing them in any way.” She straightened, shifting in her seat so she faced him, and took his hand in hers. He immediately wrapped his large fingers around her, his warmth surging up her arm and adding to the heat already simmering inside her. “You must know it became common knowledge that hunters worked for Leo Pard.”

“He howled for us, and as with any request, a hunter responds.” He continued holding her hand but focused on the road. The way he spoke made it sound as if this weren’t information he shared with just anyone. “As soon as we responded to his call, several of us immediately smelled something sour.”

“Several of you? Aren’t there five hunters?”

“Yes. There are. I can’t speak for all of us.” He glanced at her but then looked straight ahead. His large body, relaxed as he drove, still looked as if he could pounce in for a kill at moment’s notice. “I knew Thad and his cousin is Josh. We decided to see out the hunt so we could find out what this Pard character was all about. And if you paid attention to current events at the time, you would know we also destroyed his home and freed many of the leopards taken there.”

“So you know where he lives?”

He gave her a sharp look. “That is not somewhere you’re ever going to go.”

“Race, he’s got to be killed.”

“I agree. But there is an intricate network in play right now. Killing Pard today would cause many leopards to rise and try taking his place. Without him in play, there would be many little tyrants and we would have to hunt down each one. I won’t sanction any activity that would destroy our species.”

“So you aren’t doing anything about it?”

“A leopard learns more listening quietly and sniffing out their surroundings than they do howling and attacking without knowing the ramifications of what killing will do.”

She chewed on his answer, hating the taste of it but knowing he spoke the truth. Every time the topic of Pard was brought up, she couldn’t control her anger. Too many litters didn’t make it through the line with VC before they were captured. She couldn’t count how many times a meeting was arranged, only to be notified that it was cancelled because the leopards they were supposed to help through the line were killed or found and turned over to Pard before they made it through.

Karma hated Pard for that. And she hated him for killing her parents. Although she and her littermates never found the leopards who did it, they learned enough after her parents’ death to know Pard was behind it. Her litter barely held on, the anger and damage all three of them carried threatened to destroy them daily. And because an insane leopard thought they would be better off in cages, being bred to males who he thought a fit mating for them. All in the name of making leopards stronger, better.

Karma knew it was really all in the name of making Pard stronger and putting him in complete control of her species. What she wouldn’t do to be the one to puncture his jugular and smell the stench of his blood while he bled out.

Race slowed and then turned off the highway, taking the long, narrow road that led to the gate into the leopard sanctuary. He pulled his hand from hers and put both hands on the wheel.

“I want to hear more about what happened at that cabin last week,” he said, slowing and waiting for the gate to be opened for him.

“I was kind of out of it when I got there,” she reminded him. Then watching the gate open, she crossed her arms. Her nipples rubbed against her bra, tingling and growing hard while she dropped her gaze to her lap. He was so close to her, so much muscle and raw, untamed power. “But a litter with three cubs showed up and we took them across the border into Canada.”

“Where did you take them?”

“To another meeting place. It’s what we always do. We won’t know their final destination. It’s what keeps the underground running safe for these litters. And it’s their only chance to escape the danger closing in on them.”

Race didn’t say anything as he followed the drive toward the Bards’ cabin and then pulled up alongside her car. At least her littermates were here. Not that she thought they would run without her. Nonetheless, seeing the car parked there brought her a rush of relief.

“Does the same leopard always call you?”

“Usually.”

Turning off the engine, Race opened his door and then grabbed her hand, dragging her to his side and then lifting her out of the truck. She slid down his body and couldn’t resist dragging her nails down perfectly defined muscles in his chest. His scent ripened, a mixture of lust and determination, while he stared down at her.

“Karma,” he growled, tilting her head back with his knuckles pressed under her chin. “Who is in charge of all of this?”

“It’s not just one leopard.” She searched his face and could tell instantly that he saw her withholding information. Sighing, she licked her lips and decided this would be the bite that would show her how well he could be trusted. “My parents helped start it a year or so before they were killed. They heard the howling and saw the visions of what Pard would do before he did it. But they didn’t run fast enough,” she hissed. “Pard killed them.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, little cat,” he said sullenly, stroking her cheek and staring at her with brooding eyes. “Go to your litter. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

She didn’t want to be with her litter. “But…”

“No.” His tone grew harsh, demanding, and a hint of anger suddenly sparked in the air between them. “Go inside to your litter,” he growled.

Karma kept getting the oddest sensations the next morning. It was as if a vision were ready to kick in but never actually got started. She padded barefoot into the kitchen, using the cold wooden floor to help keep her grounded.

“Your leopard not put out for you last night?” Maurie snarled as she watched Karma walk to the kitchen counter and then simply stare at the coffee pot.

“Something’s going to happen.” Karma ignored her littermate’s question and grabbed a mug out of the strainer then poured coffee.

“What’s going to happen?” Darla appeared in the doorway, her long golden hair wet from her shower.

“I don’t know. Nothing.” Karma joined Maurie at the table, knowing whether she wanted to or not, talking about meeting Race last night would help prevent emotions from starting to smell stale. “I did talk to Race last night though, about the runs we do.”

“He’s really sexy as hell,” Darla murmured, her smell sweet with approval.

“He is, isn’t he?” Karma turned, grinning at her younger littermate.

“Shit. If I said that, you’d scratch my eyes out,” Maurie growled.

“It would depend on how you smelled when you said it,” Karma said quickly. “I admit, I never would have imagined a male like Race would be someone I’d sniff after.”

“He’s a fucking hunter,” Maurie snapped.

“I know. I know.” Karma fought not to bite. The three of them needed to talk this out. She wouldn’t lose her litter, not for any male. “He told me hunters are required to respond to anyone who howls for them.”

“Even if it’s to murder innocent litters?” Maurie placed her coffee cup on the table hard enough that coffee spilled on her hand. She ignored it, glaring at Karma. “Would you so easily turn your tail on the death of your parents for some male because he smells hot?”

Sparks popped up Karma’s spine when a fierce urge to defend Race attacked her viciously. Gripping her coffee cup until she worried she might shatter it, she forced herself to let it go and slowly raised her gaze to her littermate’s triumphant expression. Maurie loved nothing more than to push Karma to the attacking point.

“So you admit he’s sexy too, don’t you?” she said as sweetly as she could manage.

Maurie slapped the table and jumped up, growling fiercely. Karma hurried to her feet just as quickly.

“Nothing will remove the pain from our parents’ murder. And I think you know that,” Karma hissed.

“Tell her about the phone call,” Darla said.

Karma spun around to look at her youngest littermate, but then turned and focused on Maurie. “What call? When did we get a call?”

“Last night. When you took forever to return to your litter,” Maurie said bitterly. “We’re fired.”

“What?” Karma hissed. “The VC fired us? They can’t fire us. Our parents helped start VC.”

“Well they did. We’ve been compromised and are now too exposed to be part of the runs.”

Someone knocked on the door and Karma turned, growling at whoever dared interrupt their discussion. Darla hissed as well, stepping out of the doorway but then keeping close to Karma when Karma headed toward the door.

“If it’s your male, we can all thank him for getting us fired,” Maurie hissed venomously.

Karma wanted nothing more than to slap her older littermate senseless. “It’s a female,” she announced quietly, sniffing the air when she reached the door. Then grabbing the doorknob, she asked louder, “Who is it?”

“Chan,” the female announced through the door. “I’ve been asked to speak with you.”

Curiosity bested her and Karma opened the door, staring at the female who stood facing her. “Good hunting to your litter,” she offered, sounding passive but looking and smelling wary. “May I come in?”

“Come in.” There was nothing they could do other than to honor the female who owned the land where they were staying. Karma turned and gave Maurie a warning glare before nodding to Darla. “Bring our guest some coffee.”

Chan accepted the coffee when Darla brought it to her and sat on the edge of the couch with Karma’s litter surrounding her. Karma sat opposite of her and Darla plopped down on the floor, sitting cross-legged. Maurie leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her expression tight. At least she had the good manners to stifle her emotions and not stink up the air.

Chan sipped her coffee and then stretched her hand protectively over the growing bulge under her loose-fitting sweatshirt. In spite of the swell of her pregnancy, her legs were slender and arms thin while her face glowed from overall happiness as she took her time staring at each one of them.

“There’s something I think you should know,” Chan began, studying her coffee mug but then turning a guarded gaze on Karma. “I see visions too, like all of you do. I lived alone before meeting Josh, without a litter in Seattle, working and completely surrounded by humans.”

“Why do you want us to know that?” Karma asked, fighting an anxious feeling that tried creeping over her flesh.

Chan smiled, although her green eyes remained alert while her long blonde hair waved past her shoulders and down her arms and back. She was a pretty female, smaller than most women but with an aura around her that made her come across as ready to attack, even in her current state. “One night I came home from work and there was a male leopard in the hallway of my apartment complex,” she said, instead of answering Karma’s question. “Obviously a single rogue, I knew he was trouble. But I could take care of my own. I ignored him, entered my apartment, locking the door.”

“Did he break in?” Darla asked, awe in her voice while her excited nervousness filled the air around them.

“Of course.” Chan smiled as if she remembered it all fondly and sipped her coffee, building the suspense. “Like I said, he was rogue. I didn’t need to smell him out to know what he wanted.”

None of them spoke but waited for her to continue, a good howling a welcome diversion.

“It was Josh,” she told them, bringing the suspense in the air down quickly. “He was called out to hunt me down and bring me to Leo Pard.”

Her words created a spicy smell in the air that grew thicker and thicker until Karma covered her mouth, glancing at Chan, who once again focused on her coffee.

She cleared her throat, almost coughing from the intensity of anger that reeked in the room. “He wouldn’t let Leo have me though.” She glanced over at Maurie. “You see, hunters are howled for to hunt. And they always respond. But when the hunting has no honor, they will fight it out until justice is served. We ran from Leo Pard, who did eventually capture me. But Josh and Thad and Race came to me, helping me to escape and others too. They didn’t run from the hunt because it was foul but embraced it in order to give it honor.”

“Why are you telling us this?” Maurie asked, sincerely sounding as if she wanted to know.

“Because I don’t want your litter to believe that hunters are bad. Regardless of what decisions you make, you must know that hunters are the reason leopards still run free. We aren’t perfect, and there are bad leopards among us. But our hunters will do everything in their power, always, to tear the throats out of all evil.”

Chapter Ten

Race’s ears tickled as the voice on the other end of the phone continued speaking. Thad frowned, holding the cell to his ear before finally interrupting.

“There really isn’t any way to guarantee no one will be in the bar unless we close the doors,” he said firmly. “That’s not good for business.”

Thad’s mate Megan slapped the bar towel against the counter and then pressed against her mate, leaning to hear what was being said. He turned away from her, heading out from behind the bar. Megan marched right after him, pushing her way through the swinging doors and then disappearing into the back office.

“Looks as if there might be some decent excitement for a Monday after all,” Dover offered.

Race stared at the owl’s solemn expression. There was humor in his tone, Race was sure of it, but damn if he could ever sniff out what an owl was truly thinking. Max, the large leopard who worked behind the bar as long as Race had been coming here, walked over to them and refilled their coffees.

“Any idea what’s going on?” he asked casually, his deep baritone matching his size. Max was large for a leopard, pushing well over six feet and probably a good two hundred and fifty pounds.

“Sounds as though we’ll find out soon enough.” Race nodded toward the door leading to the back room, unwilling to say anything else if Thad hadn’t already filled in his only employee.

“I’m going with you,” Megan snapped, stalking Thad when he returned from the back office. “They approached me in the first place.”

“No. You’re not.” Thad turned on her, towering over her, although Megan didn’t look the least bit intimidated. “Until I know what the hell this is all about, you’re staying here. We’ve got a business to run.”

“Max can run the place just fine,” Megan argued.

“Yup.” Max simply raised an eyebrow when Thad glared at him.

“Good. It’s settled. Let’s go.” Megan grabbed her purse and headed around the counter toward the door.

Thad looked as if he couldn’t decide if pouncing on his mate would make matters worse or better. Megan pulled open the door and then disappeared out into the parking lot. When Thad turned his anger on him, Race downed his coffee and then stood.

“What’s the plan?” he asked quietly, ignoring his friend’s spicy outrage.

Thad blew out a loud, exasperated breath and turned to the door. Race followed. Dover brought up the rear and the three huddled against a nasty mid-morning frigid wind when they walked across the parking lot. Megan sat in their car, waiting on her mate with the engine running.

“They want a more discreet meeting place than what the bar might have to offer. Apparently, they’re incredibly concerned about secrecy and don’t want any leopard sniffing them out without having been screened first.”

“Screened, huh.” Race could only imagine what someone might think of some of the things he’d done in his past. “And they’ve screened you and Megan?”

“Beats the hell out of me.” Thad rubbed his head and glanced toward his mate. “My curiosity is piqued though.”

“We’ve got a duty to do some screening of our own.” Race lowered his voice when a few humans pulled into the parking lot. “I’ve never heard of these Vision Controllers before and I want to know what they’re doing and why.”

“Exactly.” Thad started toward his car.

Race didn’t know if he was invited along or not, but wanted to be part of this meeting one way or another. He followed Thad to the driver’s side of his car. “Am I in on this?”

“I think it would be a good idea.” Thad didn’t hesitate. “Dover, want to do me a favor?”

“Possibly.” Dover’s expression, as usual, remained relaxed. He didn’t even flinch against the harsh wind that did its best to freeze them to death where they stood.

“We’re meeting over at our home. Fly around and keep an eye out for who all comes in with these leopards. Keep me up on what you might see.”

“It’s a perfect day for feathers.” Dover turned into the wind, breathing it in while his silver hair blew off his shoulders behind him. He looked regal, like the calm against a storm. Slowly shifting his attention to Thad, he nodded once. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

The owl strolled over to his motorcycle, looking like someone to reckon with in his thick leather and long silver hair. The owl was proof that a creature couldn’t be judged by appearance alone. Dover was one of the gentlest souls Race had ever known.

Wheeler’s Point wasn’t a large town and although predominantly human, Race didn’t mind the times that he’d spent here. Since leopards didn’t run in packs or parliaments, there weren’t many communities where they dominated, but he found himself feeling almost at home as he drove through town to Thad and Megan’s home.

No one else was there when he parked across the street. Thad and Megan pulled into their driveway and Megan hurried inside while Thad glanced up and down the street.

“He said he’d be here at eleven.” Thad sniffed the air then glancing at his watch, he nodded toward his den. “I guess we wait.”

“What do you know about these Vision Controllers so far?” Race followed him inside where the smell of coffee dominated in the otherwise happy-smelling home.

He turned to see Megan squatting in front of the fireplace, adding kindle to get it going. Thad’s mate rushed to prepare for guests arriving, making sure they were honored with warmth and drink. Odd, he never paid attention to how mated couples moved so easily around each other before, but Thad jumped in, taking over the fire while Megan handed him newspaper and then matches.

“Not much,” Megan answered. “The male who came into the bar simply said they needed to focus on this area.”

She bent over Thad, helping with the fire. Any other time Race would steal a moment to enjoy a hot body, the way her hips curved into a narrow waist and her petite body still managed to fill out her sweater and jeans and create an enticing view, and although he noticed, he found himself comparing her to Karma. Also small, as most female leopards were, Karma made Megan dim in comparison. There was something dynamic about Karma with her sultry eyes and perfectly shaped breasts, not to mention her tight, round ass.

Race quit looking at Megan, but the image of Karma in his mind refused to fade as fast. Forcing himself to think about the matter at hand, he stared at the blank wall, commanding control of his thoughts before Thad got the wrong idea when he started smelling turned-on and kicked him out of his home.

“What’s so special about this area?” he mused.

Megan straightened when the fire burst into flame, slapping her hands together. “He said they have a network of leopards throughout the country, so that no matter where a leopard needs to run, there is someone at the next stopping point, ready to receive them and take them to the next location.”

He was about to question her further when a car pulled up out front. Thad stood at the same time Race walked over to the one window in the living room.

“I’ll check the coffee,” Megan announced, and hurried out of the living room.

Race stepped back but kept his angle to where he could see out the window and watch as an older leopard walked up to the house. Two younger leopards were with him, one male and one female, and all paused halfway to the door, sniffing the air and then saying something to each other.

Thad opened the door, catching all of them by surprise and giving himself home turf advantage. “You’re at the right home,” he announced quietly.

The older leopard was definitely the most relaxed, approaching with a calm command of one who’s spent years learning how to control his emotions.

“Welcome to our den,” Thad announced, stepping aside and holding the door so the older leopard could enter.

The male stopped in the middle of the living room, immediately giving Race his full attention. It wasn’t often that Race ran into a leopard who appeared possibly close to sixty. Their species led violent lives, and not many lived as long. Race nodded, showing his respect to the older male.

“Who are you?” the older leopard asked Race.

“Richard Ogden,” he announced, offering his full name in honor of the older leopard. “My friends call me Race.”

“I was under the impression this was the Pierce litter.”

Thad closed the door and walked around to face the older male. “I am Thad Pierce. We spoke on the phone and I believe your people met my mate at our bar last week.”

Megan appeared at that moment, carrying a silver tray with coffee cups steaming with the rich aroma of fine quality-brewed coffee. “You must be Laird Bradford,” she said softly, her scent fresh and clean as if this were the happiest moment of her life.

Thad turned and took the tray from her while Megan made a quick fuss about Laird sitting in the most comfortable chair their litter had to offer. Then, ignoring the two younger leopards, who decided to make themselves comfortable on the couch, she sat on the edge of the coffee table, taking two cups of coffee and handing one to Laird.

“I’ve seen you in a vision, my dear,” the old leopard offered, relaxing in the large, well-stuffed recliner and sipping at his coffee. His green eyes were pale, almost clear, and his hair white and combed back with no part. In spite of wrinkles, his skin looked almost leathery, as if even in his human form he spent a good part of his life outside. But it was his scent, or lack thereof, that put Race on his guard as he watched the exchange closely. “I knew then that you were the one I should talk to. But your mate,” he added, pausing and looking up at Thad who stood near the fireplace, although close to Megan. “Thad Pierce, you are a hunter. Is that correct?”

The two young leopards on the couch didn’t hide their smell of surprise as they looked at Thad warily. Race sniffed the air, determining quickly from the change of smell in the room that their guests didn’t approve of hunters.

“I have been a hunter for seven years now,” Thad answered without hesitating, never once taking his attention off Laird. “However, we’re honored to have Race with us today. He’s one of the most established hunters, having held the title now for twelve years.”

All eyes turned to Race and he straightened, feeling a wash of pride he didn’t anticipate when announced so formally.

“Why are we in a room with hunters?” the young male on the couch hissed, standing quickly.

Race stepped forward, remaining calm when the stench of the young male’s outrage hit him. “It sounds as if it’s a good thing you are.” He stared hard at the male, who continued fuming while backing down from Race and shifting his attention quickly to Thad.

“Sit down, Daniel,” Laird said calmly. “The hunter is going to tell us why it’s a good idea that we’re in their company.”

Race didn’t hesitate, already damn tired of hearing how hunters somehow were being howled at as if they were the bad guys. “Hunters fight with honor to protect all leopards. Every moment that I live, every day that I wake, every night that I run, I exist to serve our species,” he said solemnly, searching the faces of the two young leopards and receiving blank stares in return. He turned his attention to Laird. “All a leopard has to do is howl for a hunter, and that means any leopard, and that hunter will respond. Whether that leopard is good or bad, we will come forth.”

“And if this leopard is bad, and howls for you to carry out some task, you will do it?” Laird asked.

“If a leopard is bad and demands that a matter be taken care of, we will enter into the situation, sniffing it out thoroughly and learning the way of it. Then I promise you, as history will show you if you take the time to learn the truth of it, a hunter will fight tooth and claw to see out the task in the most honorable fashion, regardless of the request that was initially howled.”

Laird nodded and then leaned back in his recliner and sipped at his coffee.

“We know you’re trying to cover up for what you did with Leo Pard.” The female sitting next to Daniel gave Race a triumphant grin.

He fought the urge not to growl. “There is nothing to cover up since I’m honored to say I was part of that hunt.”

“Honored to have captured leopards and turned them over to a monster?” she snarled.

“Joanne,” Laird growled, sounding fierce when he bellowed her name.

Joanne stood up quickly. “I vote that we leave now, Laird. This is not an appropriate litter for us.”

“How dare you judge my litter based on false howlings and half truths.” Megan spun around, standing as well, and looked ready to pounce on Joanne. “Stuff that damn anger of yours so you can smell the truth. My mate has shared with me the hell he went through fighting to make sure every leopard on Pard’s list made it through that ordeal alive. You should be thanking the hunters, not blaming them. If it weren’t for them, you might be in a cage right now.”

Thad stepped forward and grabbed his mate, pulling her to him in spite of her efforts to keep fighting on his behalf. Race couldn’t help feeling a stab of pride that she spoke so highly of hunters. And at the same time, envy washed over him that Thad had a female who would fight so viciously to protect his honor.

“Enough,” Thad announced. “I seriously doubt that you’ve run your organization as long as you have without thoroughly sniffing out any situation before entering it.” Ignoring Joanne, who continued to snarl as she stood by the couch, he turned to Laird. “You knew we were hunters before coming here.”

“Very true.” Laird nodded once, remaining calm and relaxed in his chair.

“I might also guess that you anticipated this outburst before coming here.”

“I didn’t have a vision telling me that it would. And I don’t see the future clearly.” Laird took his time looking at everyone in the room. “Sit down, Joanne. We aren’t going anywhere. We were informed that hunters might have interfered with a run. Yet the run went smoothly. It was necessary to see for myself how you would react to who we are.”

“Then why don’t you tell us about you,” Thad suggested, his commanding tone quieting the room. “Tell us exactly why you’re here.”

Laird pursed his lips and finally put his cup down on the small table next to his chair. He took his time standing, although Race would guess the leopard probably was a lot more agile than he let on.

Walking across the living room toward the door, Laird turned his back to it, focused a moment on Race and then at the others in the room. “I helped start VC years ago, before most knew anything about Leo Pard. There were odd smells in the air and strange happenings occurring that many of us didn’t like,” Laird offered in his quiet, slow drawl.

Even as he stood closer to Race than the others, there still was no detectable scent on him.

Race’s skin prickled, a sensation of unease washing over him. He hated the feeling that a leopard anywhere might have an edge on him. And not being able to smell a leopard made him a very dangerous creature.

“The internet was becoming popular, but you can’t smell a lie as easily online. The Panthera Incognita website launched and posts appeared with questions about leopards who could see the future. Up until that point, having visions wasn’t something a leopard talked about. A few of us decided to run across the country, see for ourselves what rumors were true and which weren’t. We sensed that leopards with visions were in trouble.” Laird walked across the room and picked up his coffee cup but didn’t drink. “That’s when we learned about Leo Pard.”

“What did you learn about him?” Thad asked.

Laird gave him a long, appraising look, but Thad didn’t flinch. Race stood his ground, enduring the moment and knowing Thad wouldn’t offer any information they knew about Pard without smelling out what these leopards were about first.

“I learn more about him every day. But then that’s how it is with our nemesis, isn’t it?” Laird asked, instead of answering the question directly. “When it all started, there were howlings about a group organizing, making leopards strong, uniting them. But then it was out that only those with visions would unite. These leopards were better, faster, stronger and would prevail over those who couldn’t see the future.”

“And you believed this?” Thad asked again.

Laird lowered his face to hide a smile. “Cub,” he grumbled. “Is a leopard better because he can run the fastest? Or because he can jump higher?” Laird shook his head, sighing, and again staring at his coffee cup. “No. Every leopard has his qualities and his misgivings. And believe me, I’m not always sure which category having visions falls under.”

“So you know it began with the uniting of leopards with visions smelling like something great,” Race said.

“Yes. That’s how it began.” Laird turned his attention to Race, which if Race weren’t watching him, he wouldn’t have noticed. It was damn unnerving that the leopard didn’t have any scent.

“And that’s how it began with hunters. When I was howled for to hunt down a group of leopards for Leo Pard, the hunt smelled honorable. It wasn’t until I rounded up the leopards I’d been asked to sniff out that the stench became apparent.”

“Yet you still turned them over to Pard?” Joanne demanded.

“Actually, no.” He met her hard gaze, really not caring what she thought of him. “I took them to a nest in Seattle. An owl I know there agreed to take them in while we explored the situation better.”

“But Pard moved his own leopards in and managed to round up and take against their will those who were at that nest and first drug and then fly them out of there.” Thad jumped in, finishing the story. “By this time, it got real personal. Our honor was at stake.”

“You might have helped some of the leopards escape from Pard’s home, but then you just went on your way, leaving us to pick up the pieces. Since then, every one of those leopards, and others he didn’t howl for who have visions, have lost their litters and been forced to run just to survive.” Daniel glared from Thad to Race.

“If you’ve come to ask for our help, we’re hunters, and will honor your request and fight to the death to assist however possible,” Thad said quietly.

“We’ve come to find assistance but not from hunters.” There was a pleasant sound in Laird’s tone, implying he meant no dishonor with his words. He glanced at Thad, and then when his gaze met Race’s, he offered a small smile and nod. “Megan works with her mate in a bar here in Wheeler’s Point, and since we recently discovered the leopards assisting in the runs up this way were compromised, she appears a possible candidate to help us with our goal.”

It really sucked not being able to smell the old leopard’s emotions. Race focused on every word, on the male’s body language and his facial expressions. It was all he had to read the leopard and it was barely enough.

“Leopards were compromised?” Megan frowned, glancing at Thad.

“There is no way you can ask for her assistance and not also be asking for assistance from a hunter.” Thad didn’t look at her but scowled at Laird. Thad’s scent was easy to pick up. The strong protectiveness coming off him filled the room.

“Working for VC is at least as honorable of a task as any hunt a hunter would be sent on.” Laird leaned forward, coming within a foot or so of Megan when she sat at the edge of the coffee table. “We don’t ask to see things that haven’t happened yet, but some of us do. Most who do remain quiet about it, learning how to cope with it or use it to their advantage as they reach adulthood. In all of my years, I’ve never known a leopard to cause trouble with his or her visions until Pard started stinking up the scene. But until we stop him, we must help the litters he’s trying to destroy. Would you like to have someone decide who you should mate with? When you should breed?”

“You know I wouldn’t,” Megan answered quickly, sniffing the air as she stared into his eyes. “What happened to the leopards who were helping you?”

“Every leopard with VC is protected as well as all that we help to safety. You have my word that they will be kept as safe as you will be working with us.”

“No one has said a word about her working for you,” Thad pointed out. “I want to know exactly what you expect us to do, and what happened to the leopards that were working for you. If they were in this area, I know them.”

Laird finally looked at Thad, turning his back on Race. But Thad’s expression was hard, serious and determined. Race quit leaning against the wall. He wouldn’t interfere, and he’d never known Thad to attack without cause, but he was ready if his friend got pushed too far.

“The only way to show you how protected you and your mate will be working for VC is to not satisfy your curiosity about who else helps us or has helped us in the past,” Laird said quietly. “I’m not concerned with whether you know the leopards. What I see already, your honor, your loyalty to protecting your species and your concern that Pard be stopped, is everything that I need for you to work with VC.”

“If any leopard around here was compromised, I want to know who they are and who compromised them. As loyal bound as you are to VC,” Thad growled, “I am that loyal bound to all leopards. A hunter protects everyone, whether they have visions or not.”

“Which is why I’m allowing this merger of sorts.” Laird’s tone and scent remained annoyingly neutral, not giving any indication why he would say such a thing. “The closer you are, the easier you can smell friend or enemy.”

Race turned his attention to the front door the moment he heard footsteps outside. He picked up on a ripe, salty smell the moment someone rapped on the door.

Thad moved quickly, grabbing Megan and lifting her out of his way when she headed toward the door. Daniel and Joanne jumped to their feet, moving toward Laird, who remained in his chair. If anything, Race seemed the only one in the room who didn’t seem upset by the intrusion of company.

“Is there a problem?” Thad asked when he opened the door far enough to see who stood on the other side.

Race couldn’t see who it was, but the angry smell that drifted toward him shocked him and he stepped forward, looking over Thad’s shoulder into Karma’s outraged, bright green eyes.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded, almost physically moving Thad out of the way to get to Karma.

Karma’s expression confused him. She looked past Thad at Race, and her furious glare turned to one of surprise. But sniffing the air, she tried looking past the two of them, which was impossible to do with both of them in the doorway.

“What are you doing here?” she asked Race quietly. “I thought that…”

Race pushed past Thad and was ready to leave the home and take her outside.

“It’s okay to let her in,” Laird said from behind them. “Let her release her anger inside instead of drawing attention to all of us outside.”

“Are you sure?” Megan whispered. “I thought you didn’t want…”

Race didn’t pay attention to the rest of the conversation. Suddenly he understood. Karma and her littermates were the leopards who were compromised—by him. Which proposed another question. If he was the reason Karma and her litter were compromised, why would these VC leopards consent to a meeting with Megan, whose mate was a hunter? Or have him present if he’d ruined things for Karma’s litter?

Grabbing her by her arm, Race lifted her off the ground and pulled her up against him as he dragged her inside. Karma’s nails were in his chest, her fury once again peaking.

Thad closed the door and the small group stared at her while Race prevented her from pushing away from him.

“There’s always something that I don’t know.” Laird watched Karma struggle in Race’s arms. “Karma, it’s been a while, apparently too long. You are now with a hunter?”

“How do you think my parents would howl if they were alive to see you do this to us?” she hissed, ignoring his question and struggling furiously against Race. “Let me go, damn it.”

“You aren’t going to dishonor this litter by attacking in their home,” he whispered into her ear.

Karma turned, looking up at him with wild eyes that glowed as her hair fell tousled around her face. He loosened his grip and then let go of one of her arms to brush a strand from her face.

“Your sire would do exactly what I’m doing,” Laird said.

Karma turned around, taking in a deep breath and then almost deflating against Race as she took in the leopards all watching her.

“I don’t know who you are,” she said, her attention on Daniel and Joanne.

When Joanne appeared ready to jump in with her introduction, Laird slowly stood, causing her to snap her mouth shut and watch him.

“Daniel and Joanne travel with me since I’m not the young leopard I once was. As well, Daniel howls when a run is about to happen. He is the one who calls you. Joanne is amazing with her mapping skills and her ability to organize the runs and help so many litters travel without overlapping each other or letting anyone sniff out their whereabouts.”

“You’re the one who is amazing.” Joanne apparently couldn’t stay quiet any longer. She was a far cry from gorgeous, but for the first time her features weren’t cold and cruel. She smiled at Karma. “My mate and I are so honored to be a part of what your litter helped create. You and your littermates amaze us again and again with everything you’ve so successfully pulled off.”

“Thank you,” Karma nodded, her body relaxing further with the compliments, which helped soften the spicy smell of anger that began fading from the room. Karma turned her head, her back almost pressed against Race’s chest, and Megan looked at her when Karma shifted her attention to her. “Laird, why are you here talking to this litter?”

“You are part of VC?” Thad asked, looking at Karma but then lifting his gaze to stare Race in the eye. It was obvious he tried determining if Race already knew this.

“I’m here because it’s time for some changes to be made,” Laird offered before Karma could answer Thad.

Once again, Karma’s muscles in her petite frame suddenly tightened as if she might pounce. Race held her firmly, willing to sniff the scene out. But he didn’t like how Laird didn’t smell optimistic. He didn’t smell hateful either, but the glint in his eye told Race there was more at play here than just a casual meeting.

Chapter Eleven

Karma didn’t like the vision she’d had an hour before, but now, watching it play out, she worried she might puke if she didn’t strike out and attack first.

“Your litter was already contacted.” Laird’s mild manner and his incredible knack at hiding his emotions, or the smell of them, bugged her now just as it did when she was a cub. “If there’s anything you need, you know we’ll take care of you.”

“This isn’t necessary.” She wouldn’t puke. Digging her fingernails into her palms, she focused on the pain to ground herself. “We’re better at this than…” She broke off, wishing so many weren’t staring at her and breathing in her emotions. “Laird, I can’t let you do this.”

Laird lowered his gaze to the floor and ran his thick fingers over his white hair. Thad moved in next to his mate, and Daniel and Joanne stood motionless, watching Laird. While the group grew silent, she was way too aware of roped muscle flexing against her back.

More than likely, even if Laird had a scent that she could pick up, she wouldn’t have smelled him at that moment anyway. Race’s rich, powerful scent wrapped around her tighter than his fingers did on her arm.

“I’m going to leap out onto a branch here,” Thad announced, breaking the silence.

Laird didn’t look at him but instead handed his coffee cup to Megan. “Would you please bring me more coffee?”

“Of course.” Megan took the cup and hurried around Race and Karma.

“Karma, and possibly her litter, were working for VC. Now how is it that they’ve been compromised?” Thad asked.

“I’d like to hear the answer to that one too,” Race added. He moved his hand from her arm to the back of her neck and then guided her so she stood next to him. His brooding stare damn near melted her insides. “Who has compromised you, little cat?” he growled under his breath.

“Tell him, Karma.” Laird’s calm tone didn’t change when he accepted the coffee and thanked Megan for bringing it to him.

Karma couldn’t pull her gaze from Race, although she felt Laird staring at her. Megan moved around him to stand by her mate, but Karma didn’t turn to look at them. Race’s possessive aroma filled her lungs while she drowned in his all-knowing gaze. Did he know all along that she ran with VC? Is that why he was here?

“There is nothing to say.” Her mouth was dry. Heat rose inside her, threatening to create a pressure that would be damn hard to hide if she didn’t ignore the reaction she had standing so close to Race. “I haven’t been compromised.”

“Karma, I don’t smell a lie,” Laird said, sounding surprised.

Karma looked at Laird quickly, searching his face to understand why he would say that. “Of course you don’t,” she said, wishing everyone wasn’t studying her with inquisitive stares. “I’m not lying.”

“There are other reasons than just these hunters. I’m making the right decision.” Laird sipped at his coffee and then leaned over to place it on the table by his chair. “We’re done here for today. Daniel, Joanne, shall we go?”

Karma doubted there was any way she could say anything to Laird without it being overheard. But after following them outside, along with the others, she stood by the open door when Laird climbed into the backseat.

She squatted, holding on to the door and stared at the old leopard’s calm resolve. “Laird, you’re wrong to fire my litter,” she said quietly, praying Race would stay in the yard with Thad and Megan.

“Karma,” he said quietly, squinting at her while the sun made his white hair shine. “Howl for me when you figure out why you can’t run for VC right now. You think I hate hunters for helping Pard. But, my dear cat, I smell the big picture. Imagine what would have happened if a hunter hadn’t intervened in your last run. The three of you aren’t invincible. Fix things and then come to me.”

When she pulled to a stop alongside the cabins in the sanctuary, Karma already felt creeping unease churning inside her. Race’s willingness to let her leave, without questioning her too much on where she was headed, bothered her more than she thought it should. She didn’t belong to him and she sure as hell didn’t answer to him. But the pang of regret, after he held her so possessively inside the Pierces’ den, didn’t fade when she parked her car.

Karma hurried against the biting wind toward her cabin. Pushing open the door, she skidded to a stop, sniffing the air while she turned slowly.

“Maurie? Darla?” She knew she howled at an empty cabin. Her shoes echoed over the hardwood floor as she walked into the bathroom then their bedroom and finally the kitchen.

Cabinets were opened and she closed them slowly. The furniture that was in the cabin when they arrived was still there. All the dishes were washed and stacked neatly, just as they’d been when her litter started staying here. Maurie’s and Darla’s clothes and personal bathroom items were gone though.

“Why would you leave without me?” Karma swallowed a lump of pity growing in her throat and left the kitchen before she smelled the stench of feeling sorry for herself. “Because Maurie thinks it’s all my fault that VC fired us.”

She needed to find her littermates. Even if when she did, she beat the crap out of Maurie for suddenly deciding to shun her, they were still her littermates and wouldn’t go running without her.

Many times they’d discussed where they would run if problems started stinking too bad. But now, the small cabin north of here, their agreed-upon meeting place, was compromised. Would her littermates go there if they thought Race knew where it was?

“There’s only one way to find out.” Glancing around the cabin one last time for any sign of where they might have run, Karma growled in frustration. “Nothing,” she hissed, already feeling sparks of electricity attack her spine.

All she needed to do was head out the door, rip her clothes off her body and allow the change to tear through her, empowering her with the strength and power to race after her littermates. She would hunt them, sniff out their scent and learn why in the hell they left her.

Doing what she wanted didn’t always work out though. Karma barely slipped one arm in her coat, stepped outside of the cabin and then froze. A group of leopards stood toward the front of the Bards’ cabin. Karma instinctively stepped backward into the shadow of her cabin, keeping the door open and gripping the handle while sniffing the air and watching the group interact.

Thad and Race stood next to each other, facing a female with hair blacker than night. Her black pants and jacket appeared to be made of leather. She easily stood out with a figure that would distract a male of any species. And as Dover stood to the side, staring at her with his oversized eyes, she imagined that whoever this female was, she was accustomed to a captive audience. When the female pranced around Dover, her creamy skin contrasting perfectly against her silky black hair, Karma wondered for a moment if maybe the female was an owl.

The female strutted up to Race, shaking her ass as if she had something to offer. Karma growled, her nails growing and her teeth pressing against her lips. Owl or not, suddenly the female needed an attitude adjustment.

“Touch him and you’ll bleed out, bitch,” she hissed, the sparks attacking her spine pressing into the rest of her body.

She stepped out of the cabin as the breeze shifted and Race’s scent, along with the ripe smell of leather, drifted toward her. As quickly as she was ready to pounce, a reality check hit her like a slap to the face. Mere seconds ago she was ready to run after her littermates. That would mean leaving Race. If she left, any female might come sniffing around. Allowing that thought to form into images in her mind was painful as hell.

“Shit,” she hissed, backing up again into the protection of the shadows.

Finding her littermates was paramount. Understanding why Laird decided VC was better off without them mattered to her more than anything.

“More than anything,” she muttered, voicing her thoughts as the pain made her insides ache. “And Laird told me when I figured it out to howl for him. Damn it. Fucking damn it to hell.”

She studied Race, the female and the others with them. It seemed they discussed something that smelled rather serious. Karma ached to learn who the female was. Did Race know her? Why was she here?

The female looked toward Karma. Her eyes looked as black as her hair, eyeliner adding to the appearance of someone who didn’t want the world to know what she really looked like. But her eyes weren’t shaped like an owl’s.

She started toward Karma, her hips swaying in her tight leather pants as she moved quickly across the yard. “There’s only one way to find out,” the female howled, glancing over her shoulder toward the males standing behind her.

With lightning speed, Race leapt after her, grabbing her arm and yanking her off her feet. “Why do you care?” he growled fiercely.

Karma’s heart pounded so fiercely in her chest that the change threatened to break loose inside her. Muscles twitched while her bones ached to stretch and alter shape. When the female fell backward, turning and slapping her hand against Race’s chest, Karma leapt into view, unable to stop herself. And once she started, she couldn’t stop.

Worse yet, she didn’t want to stop.

Karma charged the female, breaking into a full run and not stopping even when Race spotted her and tossed the female toward Josh. Karma reached the bitch before she could turn around and grabbed her shoulders, ignoring the males around her. Digging her nails into smooth leather, she flipped her around and then growled low and deep, sounding dangerous even to herself.

“Touch him again, bitch, and I’ll rip your throat out.” Releasing anger and frustration that stemmed from everything she’d endured today felt so damn good. But not as good as giving in to the reality that she wanted to fight for Race.

“You don’t know who you’re messing with.” The female purred as a small smile played at her glossy, full lips. Her green eyes were bright, almost too bright, as if she wore human-colored contact lenses. The bitch wore so much makeup she covered her true appearance with a mask shaded with strong black and shades of mauve and lavender.

“Yes. I do. Even through all that leather I can smell a slut!” Karma hissed, adrenaline pumping with so much fury she couldn’t see straight.

Karma plowed into the female, toppling her backward and then falling down on top of her. The smug look on the female disappeared quickly as surprise turned to anger and she put some muscle into fighting back.

“As much as I’d love to watch this,” Race said behind her, and scooped Karma into the air.

“This isn’t a good idea,” Josh finished the sentence, blocking the female from charging when she tried leaping off the ground. He grabbed her neck, holding her in place while she struggled furiously.

“What the hell is going on?” Chan wobbled around the side of the cabin, moving faster than she probably should as she held her belly with one hand. She skidded to a stop when she saw her mate holding the painted hussy. “Josh?” she questioned.

“You remember Jin Rose,” he told her calmly.

Karma stilled at the sound of the female’s name. Race wrapped his powerful arms around her, his hard muscular body touching her everywhere. “You really don’t want leopards howling that you’ve attacked another hunter, do you?” he whispered into her ear. “Although, little cat, I’m flattered.”

She ignored the torture that his soft breath did to her flesh. And since he already knew the answer to his question, she didn’t bother addressing it. Even if she knew before attacking that the female was a hunter, she probably would have done the same thing. But she didn’t know—any more than her litter knew Race was a hunter when they attacked him.

“What were you going to find out for yourself?” she snarled at Jin.

Josh released Jin, possibly because his mate stood there scowling at the female in his arms, but stood between Jin and Karma.

Jin still managed to flash her intense green eyes at Karma while speaking coolly. “You’ve answered it for me. I thought a mated couple stayed here but apparently they are gone now.”

Jin gave Josh a knowing look. Karma remembered helping a couple and their young cubs run a few days before she and her littermates started staying here. As if she would tell Jin that.

“Why would you care who stays here?” Karma asked instead.

“Yes, please, Jin. Tell us why you care.” There was a hard edge to Race’s tone that she hadn’t heard before. He sounded cold, ruthless. And his anger mixed with her scent, which smelled very much like his, she noticed.

“I care because their lives were in danger,” Jin hissed.

“It’s hard to smell any compassion on you with all of that damn dead flesh you’re wearing,” Karma snapped.

Jin ripped off her leather jacket and tossed it at Josh. The sweater she wore underneath clung to full, large, round breasts. And the bitch didn’t wear a bra. She smiled triumphantly at Karma, which made Karma believe Race’s gaze dropped to her breasts, just like everyone else’s did.

Karma relaxed in Race’s grip and shook her head, making a show of trying to smell as compassionate and remorseful as possible. “Are you really such an idiot that you’re forced to use everything but your brain to get what you want?” Karma purred. “And to think I believed that hunters were here to represent and protect what was best about our species.”

“My work is cut out for me if you are judging by appearance.”

“How can I not when you go to such efforts to throw your appearance out instead of your scent?”

“Quite often that is to my advantage,” Jin purred, matching Karma’s sweet tone.

“This is all fine and good. You were told what would happen if you returned here, or to Wheeler’s Point. Don’t think because you’re a hunter you’re invincible,” Josh interrupted. “You know what you want to know, Jin. Get the hell out of here or I’ll kill you myself.”

Race let go of Karma and pushed her behind him, moving in next to Josh. Jin moved quickly though, pouncing around Josh until she stood in front of Karma. The males turned, both of them appearing larger than normal with tension making their muscles bulge against their clothing.

Jin didn’t scare Karma though. She’d dealt with worse over the years. And without her jacket on, Karma picked up the slightest edge of uncertainty on the female. Jin hid her scent and her appearance with enough crap to distract anyone from seeing how much confidence she lacked.

“I didn’t know Race had a mate,” Jin said quietly.

Karma continued studying her face, the hard lines that showed she was possibly close to thirty, although she fought to look younger.

“Or are you just fucking him?” she added, her tone turning cold. “He’s not bad as far as a piece of tail goes.”

Karma focused on Jin’s lips and the gloss she’d painted on them. But with her final comment, Karma shot her attention to Jin’s eyes. She’d be damned if the female would get a rise out of her with such crude comments.

“I hope it’s a good memory for you.” Karma fought the urge not to rip her claws deep into Jin’s face, deep enough to scar that pretty, seductive smirk. “Your escorts are waiting for you,” she added with a deadly whisper.

“Who are you? Are you staying here with Race?”

“I’m none of your business.” Karma noticed Race step closer, as if he were ready for the conversation to end. She didn’t need his help against this female. “Although I’m tempted to make it my business why whatever you’re hunting doesn’t appeal to other hunters. Are you going to allow the rest of us to howl how hunters aren’t united?”

Jin snorted, her smell growing even richer as confidence replaced her hesitancy. “Be careful that you smell the side you take before taking it, female,” she sneered.

“There are sides here?” Karma glanced past Jin at Race and Josh, whose outraged expressions looked a lot fiercer than the scents they obviously fought to keep under wrap.

“The only lines drawn come from hunters choosing to hunt for leopards some of us don’t approve of,” Race offered, walking around Jin and facing Karma. “Jin here chooses to hunt for Pard. Any other claims she makes are lies,” he added, searching her face, waiting for her reaction.

Karma guessed he meant that he didn’t fuck her. But she didn’t dwell on that comment as much as his first. Looking past him to Jin, she found it odd that the female suddenly had a mask of complete indifference.

“Are you hunting for Pard?” Karma asked.

Jin’s expression didn’t change. Instead, she lifted her thick eyelashes, her green eyes piercing with the intensity of emotions that she did a damn good job of hiding. “You need to teach your bitch manners,” Jin sneered then tilted her head and pursed her lips, focusing again on Karma. “You don’t ask a hunter who they are hunting.”

“Yes. She hunts for Pard.” Chan stepped around Josh. “You forget, Jin. I was there. I saw whose paws you licked.”

Karma didn’t quit looking at Jin when Josh and Race focused on Chan. She wasn’t sure if they caught the look of disgust that forced her to curl her lip at Chan’s accusation.

“Both of you hunted for Pard. Don’t stand and judge me, howling in front of your females about how fucking righteous you are,” Jin snapped.

“We saw his insanity long before we smelled it,” Race sneered.

“And I’ll never forget you in his home,” Chan growled, looking as if she might pounce on Jin at any moment. “You don’t forget when someone puts a collar on you and then tells you that you’ll learn to like it,” she added in a deadly whisper.

Josh watched his mate, but Karma couldn’t take her attention off Jin. As much as the female’s appearance screamed of promiscuity, the longer Karma watched her, saw how she hesitated, how her gaze shot warily from one leopard to the other, it became more apparent that she dressed as if she did not want to draw attention to herself but to prevent anyone from noticing who she really was.

Karma couldn’t hide her curiosity in spite of the fact that the smartest thing she should do right now was get away from all of them. But as long as everyone focused on sniffing out Jin, they wouldn’t focus on her. And she seriously doubted she’d be able to run far with three hunters so close around her, not to mention, the last thing she would do is bring to any of their attentions that her littermates were gone.

Because Karma watched Jin, she saw the female curl her upper lip from disgust that made her fingernails and teeth grow just a bit. She seemed intent on not letting them smell her reaction to the hateful growls from Chan, which was weird. What leopard would want to hide being offended by insults?

“You put collars on leopards because Pard asked you to?” More than anything, Karma wanted to see a reaction on the female’s face. She wanted to smell something, anything. But if it didn’t smell close to remorse or insanity, Karma would tear her throat out—and God help any leopard who tried to stop her.

Jin looked at her, and her cool confidence disappeared. Glancing toward Josh and Race, she must have sensed they weren’t going to stop Karma. Which showed both of them were intelligent males.

“Did you?” Karma asked, her words barely audible from the level of outrage that suddenly boiled over inside her.

“She did,” Chan answered for her.

“Hunter or not, you’re going to die,” Karma informed her. It was all the warning she planned to offer.

The hell with Laird and her littermates, with all of them demanding discretion and secrecy in every move she made. Fuck all of it. The whole reason she ran for VC was because she believed in what she did. And that was to protect leopards from the shame and humiliation Pard would feed them in a bowl—and apparently while collared and caged. Every bit of her being, of her soul, screamed justice in ending this female’s life.

Jin stepped backward when Karma moved in on her until her back hit the cabin wall. She didn’t look away from Karma, possibly sensing that the others might not stop Karma from killing her.

“Karma,” Race said quietly.

“Leave if you don’t want to watch.” Her tone was hard and she didn’t look away from Jin when she spoke to Race. “But you won’t stop me.”

“Yes!” Jin hissed, her gaze narrowing on Karma. “Yes to all of it. Okay? I ran with Pard, did his bidding. Kill me for those crimes, please.”

“It will be my pleasure,” Karma told her.

“Karma, wait,” Race said, placing his hand on her shoulder. His touch wasn’t aggressive though, but surprisingly gentle. “You’re finally willing to admit your offenses, Jin? You realize this will relieve you of your hunter status.”

“I don’t run with him anymore,” Jin spat, suddenly looking wild-eyed at all of them. “Pard is dead. I killed him.”

The silence that fell around all of them dripped with animosity. Karma slowly started shaking her head. “You’re responsible for litters being destroyed, for our species turning against each other, and why? Did you really think that you could control leopards and make them heel on a leash?”

“My reasons for running the way I did are my own,” Jin growled. “If you’re going to kill me, do it now. But know that you’re not perfect either. None of you are,” she howled, narrowing her gaze on all of them.

“If Pard is dead, then why are you here?” Josh asked, his hands fisted at his side and his teeth extended enough that his words were slightly garbled.

“A lot is going on up here. Not because of Pard. Leopards are still being uprooted, relocated, and the smell grows stronger here at your sanctuary,” Jin told Josh, her straight black hair bordering her face and falling almost to her shoulders. She didn’t quite pant, but her heavy breathing forced her breasts to press against her sweater, their distracting large size becoming an annoyance. “I ran here because, Joshua Bard, it appears your sanctuary might be more than it appears. And if a hunter is in allegiance with a covert organization, that jeopardizes his standing as a hunter.”

“My mate isn’t doing anything wrong,” Chan snarled, and lunged toward Jin.

Josh put his arm out, blocking his mate but scowling at Jin. “There is no organization using my sanctuary. What the hell are you howling over?”

“Sounds to me as if you’re howling over nothing simply to distract the fact that your crimes are strong enough that not all the dead animals or makeup or human lotions and perfumes can cover the stench you’re letting off,” Karma growled.

She jumped on Jin, unwilling to allow the female to howl any louder. Under different circumstances, she’d beat the crap out of her and learn everything Jin knew. It sounded as if she knew a lot too. Although she didn’t smell any lies on her, Karma wasn’t sure she believed Pard was dead. Unfortunately, she couldn’t risk allowing Jin to growl any further, especially when it sounded as if her true reason for coming up here was to sniff out news about VC. Already too many leopards were sniffing out what couldn’t be allowed to become a common smell.

Karma crashed into Jin, feeling the air rush from her lungs when she slammed her against the cabin wall. Karma didn’t lack compassion. The ways of her species were grounded, simple and clear, as they had been since the dawn of time. Leopards didn’t have jails. There were no courtrooms or juries or judges. If a leopard did another wrong, they died. It was simple. No questions asked.

She would administer this small amount of justice, destroying part of Leo Pard’s despicable administration. If he were dead, then those who ran with him would die too. If he weren’t dead, one less leopard helping him would only help her race.

Karma went straight for the jugular, willing to make Jin’s death quick and painless, in spite of the pain and torment she inflicted on so many. But as she dug her claws into Jin’s shoulders, the female’s body transformed.

Jin screamed, her pitch turning into a blood-curdling howl as her mouth changed form. Clothes stretched and snapped, flying off her body as Jin transformed into a leopard. The popping of leather matched the sound of a whip cracking fiercely in the air. Karma barely managed to reach her source, her teeth scraping over skin that hardened under her touch, when she flew backward with more force than Jin possibly could have administered.

“Not like this,” Race growled, lifting Karma by the back of her neck and slamming her backside against his steel body. He let go, but then wrapped powerful arms around her so her feet didn’t touch the ground.

Jin leapt free, falling to all fours and hauling ass across the yard. Josh growled something that Karma didn’t catch and then quickly shed out of his clothes.

“Let me go.” Karma twisted frantically in Race’s arms, watching Jin disappear quickly.

“I can’t,” Race whispered. “Or believe me, I’d let you.”

The taste of the female still lingered on her lips when she finally managed to jump free from Race’s arms. Turning on him, needing a source to release her energy, she reached to slap him, wanting nothing more than to hear and feel flesh smack against flesh.

Race grabbed her wrist, moving with lightning speed and then gripping her hard enough that she almost cringed when she felt her bones press together. He pulled her to him, continuing to hold her wrist until her fingers brushed against his collarbone.

“Little cat,” he growled. “You can’t kill a hunter. Already there are too many sniffing around you, and I won’t have it.”

“Won’t have me kill a hunter? Or don’t want me killing your old lover?” she hissed.

Race’s eyes smoldered until they were darker than a thunderhead, ready to explode. The corner of his mouth twitched while he glared down at her and his grip on her wrist cut all circulation off to her hand until it felt as if it were a cold lump at the end of her arm. But she didn’t back down, wouldn’t cower as he glowered down at her. No one, no matter how close they were to her, would ever intimidate or manipulate her. And he damn well would learn that right now.

“Get your paws off me,” she growled.

Race let her go quickly, as if she’d just burnt him, and then backed up a step or two, a low, dangerous growl erupting from deep inside him while he clenched his head.

Karma noticed for the first time that they stood alone. Josh and Dover were gone. She wasn’t sure where Chan went, but she didn’t smell her around either. They stood alone alongside the cabin and possibly alone at the sanctuary. Whatever guards Josh had working along the fence probably jumped in on the chase of Jin. Only she was deprived a kill that should have been hers on several counts.

“You’re right. Go,” he demanded, glaring at the ground now instead of at her.

She stared at him, her anger warring with a new emotion as she studied Race. Even with his muscles still bulging and adrenaline obviously pumping through him hard enough to challenge his ability to keep his human form, something else stirred inside him. She smelled it.

“Race,” she whispered, tilting her head and then using her hand that still tingled to brush hair out of her face. She sniffed the breeze and swore she smelled something damn close to sadness coming from him.

“I said go,” he growled, lifting his gaze and then burning her with the torment she saw swimming in his bright green eyes. “You know as well as I do that I’m the one who compromised your run. Your litter was tossed out of VC because of me. Being associated with a hunter will ruin your life. And you’ve shown me just now that fighting for VC, destroying all that Leo Pard is about, runs in your blood thicker than anything else.”

“There are many who believe hunters helped Pard,” Karma admitted. “But you aren’t the reason we were compromised.” She remembered Laird’s comment about how their last run might have ended if Race hadn’t interfered.

“Don’t lie to me,” Race hissed. “Your litter and your Vision Controllers have made it very clear they believe we worked with Pard instead of sabotaging him. If you run with VC they won’t approve of you running with me.”

“I’m not going to give up on VC any more than I would expect you to give up being a hunter.” She fought the urge not to walk into him. His scent grew stronger, turmoil, anger, regret and sadness creating a disturbing aroma that created a pit in her gut. He scared her the way he looked at her now more than he did a few minutes ago with his blind fury. “Are you saying that because of who you are and because of who I am, we can’t be together?”

His expression didn’t change. Race focused on her but she feared he no longer looked at her. She wanted to scream, to leap on him and pound sense into him. But the lump in her gut grew until it swelled in her heart, painfully throbbing and creating a bile that rose to her throat. She barely shook her head once when he again growled.

“I said go,” he grumbled, finally pulling his gaze from hers and again dragging his hand through his thick curls.

Karma couldn’t watch him walk away from her. And she hated the pain that threatened to eat her alive. Turning, she ran toward her cabin. More than likely Maurie and Darla ran from her in hopes of holding on to all they knew. Karma’s association with Race slowly destroyed everything around her. And those who were closest to her wouldn’t tolerate it.

At least she knew he wouldn’t follow her, she thought with painful clarity. Wallowing in pity was a stench she couldn’t tolerate. There was only one thing to do, and that was what she planned on doing before seeing Race outside when she left the cabin. Karma walked inside her cabin and toward the bedroom. Then pushing up the back window, she climbed out. She needed to catch up with her littermates.

Chapter Twelve

The cold wind slapped the crap out of Karma when she struggled out of her clothes. She shook so hard that her fingers barely worked to unsnap her jeans. Painful emotions attacked more brutally than the cold did.

God damn. She would leave a trail of nauseating emotions so thick anyone would be able to follow her.

Not that they would.

Race had walked away from her.

Damn him anyway.

“Fucking jerk,” she growled, her lips quivering from the cold and the urge to cry. “Some fucking hunter you are. You aren’t even strong enough to handle who I am.”

And she didn’t need some male in her life who would make her regret doing what she believed in more than anything. What she and her litter did was more honorable than anything any other female he would ever sniff out would do.

Maybe that was it. Maybe Race couldn’t stand the fact that her running with VC was as honorable as his being a hunter. Well good riddance to him and his bruised ego. She didn’t want to smell his sadness ever again. Sadness because he realized that what she did conflicted with his running—his hunting.

“Fuck you, Race Ogden,” she growled, and her teeth pierced her lower lip as they grew.

She licked the blood, the metallic taste filling her mouth as she managed to twist her clothes and tie them around her waist. Then moving away from the backside of the cabin, her legs shaking almost too much to carry her, she embraced the change.

Sparks shot up her spine, snapping and igniting the sweet pain that caused her muscles to take new shape and her bones to stretch and change. Her senses became more acute and her world around her grew sharper, more alive. Gazing at the rough wilderness behind the cabin, and the long, tall fence that surrounded sanctuary, she breathed in the frigid north wind but no longer detested how cold it was.

Her skin thickened, helping make her immune to the world around her that now seemed so much clearer to her than it did a few moments ago. Dropping to all fours, Karma embraced the strength, the power and the energy that sizzled inside her. She took off running, hitting maximum speed in seconds.

Instinct took over, guiding her, becoming her navigation as she raced over frozen ground and patches of snow and ice. Her human emotions didn’t beat her up as badly in her fur. Raking the ground as she continued racing at high speed, her world was as clear in her mind now as it was around her.

Allowing her heart to guide her through life destroyed everything. And not just for her. Race was a hunter, something she didn’t know about him when she first caught his scent. But now, in less than a couple of weeks, she knew four of the five hunters. If she walked away from the thick aroma of blossoming love with anything, it would be knowledge that would help her litter to continue doing their calling. And that was to protect other leopards with visions and to help them maintain control of their own lives.

No one would put a collar on any leopard, not and live through the disgusting and humiliating act.

It wasn’t too late to fix everything. She repeated that mantra in her head while her muscles loosened and she got into the high-speed run. Finally her adrenaline had an outlet, which allowed everything around her to fall neatly into place. As soon as she found her littermates, she would battle out everything with them and be damned if they would run without her again.

There was no way she would lose everything in one day.

Karma slowed when she reached the lake then dropped her head to the ground, sniffing the frozen earth as she picked up smells of other leopards. She almost felt the heat from their paws that so recently were here. Coming to a stop, she searched the terrain, squinting as she looked across the water toward the direction of the cabin. Instead of running along the opposite side as she did over a week ago when Race followed her, she headed northwest, taking the quickest route to the small cabin.

Now not only did she smell other leopards, the ripe, metallic aroma of blood made the hair on her back prickle and stand on end. Karma stopped walking and panted, her heart pounding harder than it had in ages. As good as the hard run felt, caution took over now and she stood perfectly still.

She sniffed the air, learning the direction of the pungent aroma. Her heart beat harder when she felt certain she smelled human blood. Moving slowly, remaining alert, Karma searched the long shadows while the sun seemed to drop quickly behind the horizon. Not that she didn’t know this land like the back of her paw, but she felt an urgency hit, as if it were imperative she find whoever was bleeding before something terrible happened.

Karma wasn’t ready for the low growl that sounded ahead of her. She was searching for a person but was greeted by a growl. And when she finally spotted the leopard, again she barely found time to react before the leopard leapt.

Darla almost knocked her over, whimpering and licking Karma’s coat with an anxious greeting. Karma smelled the blood on her, and after allowing a moment of joy to trip her, grateful to at least have found one littermate, she pinned her littermate to the ground and frantically sniffed her from nose to tail.

Darla didn’t have Karma’s strength, but she fought Karma anyway, twisting and hissing until Karma let her up. Then howling anxiously, she ran with Karma falling in alongside her.

Karma dug her heels into the ground when she saw the body lying next to a clump of trees.

“Oh God. Thank God.” Maurie’s voice shivered and she sounded weak. Her face was pale as hell and she shook furiously. “Karma,” she wailed.

Darla hurried around her older littermate, using her body as a shield against the wind as she cuddled up against Maurie.

“It hurts like fucking hell,” Maurie hissed when Karma sniffed the bear trap that dug its teeth into Maurie’s leg just above her ankle. Already her leg was soaked with blood, and although she wore her sweater, her jeans were only pulled up over her non-injured leg. “We were in our fur,” Maurie explained. “It hurts so fucking bad. I couldn’t prevent the change. It hurts too much for me to change back. And I’m freezing.”

Darla nuzzled closer, doing her best not to knock her older littermate over but trying hard to wrap her large body around her to keep her warm.

Karma sniffed the bear trap again, breathing in the fresh blood and her littermate’s intense emotions, but Maurie howled in pain, causing Karma to jump back.

“You’re going to kill me. Fucking stop,” she hissed. But then a sob tore through her and she looked at Karma pathetically. “I’m sorry, Karma. I know you think I hate you and I don’t. I’ll keep quiet.”

Karma didn’t like how pale Maurie looked. Her face was stained with tears, and as many times as she despised her older littermate’s dominating smell, seeing her broken and helpless didn’t sit well with her either. Very carefully, she pushed on one end of the trap with her paw and then grabbed the other end with her teeth. When she pulled, her mouth slid off it.

There was another option. Maybe Darla had tried it and wasn’t strong enough, but Karma was older, more powerful—in human or animal form. Stepping back, she tugged on her clothes that were tied around her waist until they fell to the ground and then clearing her mind, she searched for the sparks that ignited in her spine.

The change hurt more than usual, the cold air biting cruelly when her fur disappeared and her sweat-covered flesh couldn’t fight the elements.

“What are you doing?” Maurie demanded, even though her voice was no more than a whisper.

“I can grab it better with hands.” Karma’s teeth chattered while she quickly dressed.

Then pulling Maurie’s jeans over her exposed leg, she brushed her fingers as close to the gashes in her leg as she dared.

Maurie moaned but didn’t complain. She bit her lower lip and fresh tears welled in her eyes as she watched Karma’s hands. “I wouldn’t blame you for leaving me here,” she whispered.

Darla growled and Karma grunted, seeing no point in discussing their grievances while her littermate was in no condition to hold up her end of the argument.

“The only way to hold on to VC was relocate. I knew you wouldn’t leave your male.”

“Obviously you don’t know me like you think then,” Karma said bitterly.

Maurie raised her gaze, skepticism smelling saltier than her tears. “You ran from him to join us?”

“Something like that.” Karma wrapped her fingers around the frozen metal, gripping it and fearing her palms would stick but clinging to it nonetheless. Then closing her eyes and gritting her teeth, she willed the change to come forth enough to give her some muscle. “Don’t scream,” she ordered, and then before Maurie could question her or give instruction, Karma focused on the sparks popping furiously while the change toyed with her system.

Fighting to keep her body from transforming but giving way enough to slightly alter her body was a tricky task at the least. Pulling it off for any length of time took skill and training that not many leopards exerted a lot of time or energy to master. Karma knew it was possible though. And she knew if Maurie didn’t get out of the cold and get her wounds tended to, her leg would be badly disfigured if not crippled when she healed. As it was, if Maurie were human, she would already be passed out from the severity of her injuries.

The metal burned her hands. It was so cold and so solid, more than likely left there by some human with little concern to the damage it could do if set off. She focused on the cruel indifference some creatures possessed who walked this earth and the injustice it brought to those who craved life and fought to make it an honorable existence. Then adding to that the thoughts she’d managed to keep stuffed until this moment, she allowed her conversation with Race to replay in her mind.

Anger aided her strength. She pushed with all of her might, tugging the cold metal jaws open until the metal squeaked and Darla growled anxiously.

“Pull your leg out,” Karma hissed, continuing to apply all the strength she could master while keeping her current form. “Get it out now.”

“I can’t move it.”

“Move it,” Karma demanded.

“I can’t,” Maurie yelled.

Something pushed against Karma. Every bit of her attention was focused on controlling her body, keeping her metabolism racing without letting it accelerate out of control. She didn’t notice someone approach from behind her until the large body knocked her over.

Maurie screamed and Darla let out a blood-curdling scream and leapt over Maurie, attacking with all of her force to protect her littermates from the intruding leopard. She got tossed backward for her efforts, and Maurie rolled over, exposing her bare ass, and pulled her injured leg, which was now free of the trap, up against her chest.

As quickly as he appeared, Race trotted away from them. Darla growled, her hackles on end, and started after him.

“Darla, come here.” Karma didn’t know what to think. It made no sense that he was here. “It’s Race. Help me with Maurie.”

Darla didn’t need to be told twice to retreat.

“We need to get you dressed if you can’t change.” Karma didn’t wait for Maurie to answer. Her older littermate shivered and held herself, making sounds that could be crying, but it was such a foreign sound to be coming from her that Karma wasn’t sure.

Ignoring her groans, Karma lifted her littermate and made quick work out of putting her jeans on for her. “Put your arms around my shoulders,” she told her.

Maurie didn’t move.

“Maurie?” She spoke quietly and then moved her littermate’s hair out of her face. “Maurie. Wake up. We’re going to carry you to the cabin.”

Maurie remained curled in a fetal position and her sobs faded until Karma could barely hear her breathing.

“Crap.” She stared at Darla, deciding on her best move, but then looked up quickly when Race reappeared.

He hurried toward them, dressed and with a serious brooding expression that was impossible to read. He smelled good though, too damn fucking good. All she could do was watch and then move quickly when he scooped Maurie into his arms.

“Go get a fire going,” he ordered Darla.

“Go,” Karma repeated when her littermate looked to her for approval.

Darla turned, racing off in her fur, and was out of sight in moments. Race took after her, taking long strides while holding Karma’s littermate securely in his arms. Karma almost jogged to keep up with him, not that she complained, his showing up, although surprising, couldn’t have been better timing.

“Why are you here?” she asked, unable to bear the silence surrounding them any longer.

“Because you are,” he said simply.

She looked up at him, shoving hair out of her face, and stared at his serious profile. “You told me to go.”

“Yup.” He didn’t look at her but continued hurrying through the growing darkness toward the cabin.

“But you came after me?”

“Yup.”

She wanted to clobber him to get him to elaborate. Even though he didn’t, a warmth swam through her that no amount of cold air could extinguish. Keeping close to him, almost running to keep up with the fast pace he pulled off with his much longer legs, she breathed in his rich, powerful scent. It was filled with determination, just the slightest amount of spiciness, which could be attributed to still being angry with her to finding her littermate damaged as a result of some human trap, and something else. And it was that rich, clean, almost sweet smell, which stood out over his other scents that almost made her smile.

“Damn good thing,” she said finally, and then hid her grin when he looked down at her.

Race raised an eyebrow and openly looked surprised. “Why is that?” he growled.

“You might have been humiliated when I showed up and dragged you away from whoever you were with.”

Never in her life had she seen a male’s expression soften as much as his did at that moment. “Little cat, you wouldn’t have found me with anyone else. Your scent isn’t going to leave me any more than my scent will leave you.”

She wanted to ask what that meant, but the lump in her throat made it impossible to speak. Not to mention, knowing he wanted her didn’t change things. Truth be told, even when he told her earlier to go, she couldn’t accept he really wanted her to run from him. Her calling didn’t allow room for a hunter, and being a hunter meant Race would sniff around VC until he was satisfied they were honorable. The conflict between them might be too strong for either one of them. There was no way she would allow VC out of her life. And she could never ask Race to quit being a hunter.

The cabin came into view and Race picked up his pace. When he pushed ahead of her, she studied his broad shoulders and muscular back. Karma ran ahead of him, knowing he wouldn’t risk running and jostling her littermate around any more than needed. But she reached the door, smelling the fire Darla worked to get going inside, and opened it when Race reached her.

Darla looked up quickly, her large eyes reflecting the flames from the fire and looking more golden than usual. She was barefoot, her shoes and socks tossed along the wall, and her sweatshirt was twisted, as if she dressed in a hurry.

“I was just getting blankets,” she said in form of greeting and hurried from the fire, her bare feet slapping against the wooden floor as she almost ran to the small closet.

“Finish getting dressed,” Karma told her, taking the pile of folded blankets from her arms and smelling her younger littermate’s pain and worry.

Darla didn’t look at her but instead focused on Race, who continued holding Maurie in his arms. “Thank you,” she murmured, staring solemnly at him.

Race nodded, his features etched in stone when he looked away and slowly took in the small cabin. When Darla kept watching him, Karma simply moved around her younger littermate, deciding she could stand there and gawk at him all she wanted as long as she stayed out of the way. It wasn’t too often Darla was in close, continual contact with grown male leopards. Now wasn’t the time to worry if she and Maurie sheltered her to the point where she would be clueless around males.

Karma carried the pile of blankets to the fire then dropped them and began spreading them open until she created bedding thick enough to be fairly comfortable. Race didn’t need instruction but squatted next to her. Karma helped lower Maurie onto the blankets and then tried pulling up Maurie’s jeans to get a closer look at the damage.

Maurie sprung to a sitting position, hissing fiercely and swatted at Karma’s hand.

“Fine,” Karma growled, yanking her hand back to prevent it from being filleted, and scowled when Maurie fell backward, rolling to her side, sticking her injured leg close to the fire without saying anything.

“She’ll be protective of it until she wakes up,” Race said quietly. Taking part of one of the blankets, he pulled it over her, covering Maurie with only her head remaining visible. “You can clean it once she’s slept off the worst of the pain.”

Karma stood and Darla looked at her then headed over to grab her shoes and socks. “Maurie did what she thought was best,” she mumbled.

“I’m not mad at either of you,” Karma offered. “At least not now.”

“What do you mean?” Race asked, stepping cautiously around Maurie and picking up the poker to work the fire.

“These two left before I did,” she explained. “I just realized it when I left the cabin and saw you with the others.” There wasn’t any point to bring up Jin Rose. One issue at a time was about all she was willing to shoulder at the moment. “Were you two headed here?” she asked Darla.

“No.” Darla glanced at Race and then chewed her lip as she returned her attention to Karma.

“In order to gain trust, you must offer it,” she told her younger littermate. “Do you smell anything that bothers you?” she challenged her.

“He’s a hunter.”

Karma fought not to release a sigh, hating how terribly gullible her littermate smelled sometimes. “He’s a leopard,” she said firmly, refusing to think about Jin and how disgusting she probably would have smelled if she didn’t go to such efforts to hide her scent. “Like you and me, he’s capable of honor as well as deceit. Do you detect anything on him that bothers you?”

“No, Karma.” Darla looked down when she slid her feet into her socks. “If you want him, that’s good enough for me.”

She did want him. Hating the pain she’d endured earlier when he sent her running, but knowing it meant how securely he’d latched on to her heart, she accepted the truth. “Where were you headed?” she asked again.

“Home,” Darla announced, and then shoved her feet into her boots.

“You were going back there?” Karma couldn’t believe it. “We don’t even know if anything is left. And damn it, Darla, it might not be secure at all.”

“Maurie said we needed to regroup. If the foundation is solid, then we can build it back up and then we were going to howl for…” she paused.

“Go on,” Karma prompted.

“For Laird,” she said.

“Laird?” Race asked, and then understanding made him frown. “Had he already spoken to your litter?”

Karma nodded. “Maurie blamed me for getting us fired. Race, it’s all any of us know, running for VC. And it’s one thing I agree with Maurie over. We need to fight to get Laird to accept he doesn’t have any better runners than us.”

“We weren’t aware of Vision Controllers until last week.” Race finished poking the fire and walked away from the dancing flames. The shifting light created moving shadows, which intensified his sober expression and the curls hanging in disarray around his face. “Obviously, we aren’t the only ones who’ve sniffed out your group. It’s going to make it incredibly dangerous work to do from this point forward.”

“It’s always been dangerous work, but necessary. Without our help, many litters would have died or worse.”

“For now, we’ll focus on resettling your litter. I’ll go with you to your home and learn its condition and how safe the place is for you. Once we know you aren’t being hunted for your connection with those leopards, I’ll feel a hell of a lot better.”

“One way or another, we’re going to continue working for VC.” Karma didn’t like his tone.

When he looked up at her, his possessive scent drowned out even the smell of Maurie’s wounds. But his determined stare pierced straight through Karma, stealing her breath.

“We’ll discuss that later,” he growled quietly.

“We can discuss it whenever you wish,” Karma said without hesitating. If she backed down from him even a little bit, there would be no fighting him at all, and Race wouldn’t decide what she could or couldn’t do based on how dangerous it might be. “But that won’t change how things are going to be. I plan on calling Laird in the morning as soon as I know Maurie is okay.”

“You’re not going to walk into a dangerous scenario, Karma. Not until I can sniff out what is going on. Jin showing up…”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass why she showed up,” Karma snapped. “And I wouldn’t tell you that you couldn’t be a hunter because it’s too dangerous.”

“That’s different.”

“Like hell it is. It’s your calling. This is my calling. I’m not going to quit doing it.”

Race appeared to grow before her eyes, his spicy anger mixing with the pungent odor of his protectiveness. Before she could move, he cleared the space between them and grabbed her jaw. Then tilting her head back, he planted an aggressive, demanding kiss on her lips. He didn’t ask but moved inside her with skills that made her insides explode. Grabbing his shoulders, she dug in with her nails, holding on the best she could while he impaled her mouth and filled her with the taste of him.

And as quickly as he shifted her world into a dazed state of lust, he ended the kiss but continued gripping her jaw. “I’ll sleep outside in my fur and keep watch tonight,” he growled with a whisper that raked over her flesh and sent chills rushing over the fire burning furiously inside her. “Keep the fire going and watch your littermate.” Then brushing his lips over hers one more time, Race let go of her jaw and turned, leaving the cabin smelling of him and her deprived state of frustrated lust.

It didn’t surprise her she couldn’t sleep any more than it did that Darla curled up next to Maurie on the blankets and was out in no time. After successfully turning the blanket she lay on into a knotted rope, Karma finally stood and stretched. She inhaled and smelled Race’s warm, protective scent and headed for the door.

Wrapping her blanket over her shoulders, she opened the door and stepped outside quickly, closing it just as fast to keep the cold from getting inside. As warm as it was in the cabin, it was extremely bitter cold outside.

She stepped into the darkness and then froze when Race appeared in front of her.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“Coming outside.” She hated admitting his protective domination turned her on, but at the same time, it was obvious he needed serious taming. “Where have you been?”

“I checked out the surroundings and then came back here. You’re going to freeze,” he added, rubbing his cold knuckles down her cheek.

“You think I can’t handle the cold?” She stretched the blanket, holding it like a cape as she opened it up and then walked into him, leaning against his hard chest and wrapping the blanket around both of them. “I was whelped not too far north of here, leopard. I’ve known this cold all of my life.”

“Then you know not to be in it when you don’t have to be,” he countered.

“You are so damn stubborn,” she informed him, her anger long since cleansed out of her after lying on the cabin floor for so many hours. “Did you sniff anyone out while you were out here?”

He shook his head, staring down at her while not commenting on his character attributes. His arms snaked around her waist though, pulling her closer. He didn’t feel cold. In fact, far from it. Race’s rock-hard body was not only as solid as his determined nature, it was warm and felt better than anything she’d felt all day.

“Come inside then.”

“I’m not going to dishonor you or your litter by sleeping in the cabin. Not when none of you are mated.” His lips moved as if he would say something else, but then he pressed them together, once again giving her his brooding stare, one she was quickly learning meant he intended not to be swayed from his decision.

He would learn she could be just as stubborn. “You’re going to dishonor me if you remain out here when I’ve offered my litter’s hospitality.”

“Is that what you’re offering?” he growled.

She opened her mouth to confirm it was, but dwelling on those beautiful eyes of his already warmed her as much as his hard body did pressing against her. “Come inside now, leopard,” she hissed, her words rough and raw.

When his thumb pressed into her spine and then stroked her gently through her clothes, her flesh sizzled. Before her aroma changed, she backed away from him, letting her hands slide down his arms. He quit holding her but then intertwined his fingers with hers and allowed her to guide him inside.

Chapter Thirteen

Race closed the cabin door behind him quietly and then studied the flimsy lock on the handle. A hard wind could break the door down. The cabin was temporary shelter at best, but it still bugged him it wasn’t more secure. This obviously wasn’t the first time this litter stayed here.

He glanced down at the females lumped together under blankets and sleeping soundly by the fire. One was injured, the other no more than a cub in a body that would more than tempt most males. He would kill for either one of them and already had.

Switching his attention to Karma, he watched her move quietly as she lifted one of three chairs that were around a very small table and place it by the wall. She silently moved another chair, placing it about five feet away, then opened the door to a large closet and pulled out several more blankets. For a cabin that gave all appearances of being abandoned, the place was well stocked.

Karma dropped two of the blankets on the ground and opened the third, draping it over the chairs and creating a makeshift wall. She looked up at him, her eyes dancing triumphantly, while squatting and opening and spreading the blankets.

Race took off his boots and moved toward her. She finished with his bedding and then patted the floor. “I hope the accommodations suit you,” she whispered.

He growled, knowing anything he said at that moment would either be crude or reveal emotions he wasn’t convinced she was ready to hear. His heart swelled though, pride and happiness creating a clean, fresh scent that possibly would have made him blush if she didn’t beat him to the punch. Stretching out over the blankets, he caught a glimpse of her flushed cheeks before she stood quickly and walked away from him. Pulling his shirt over his head, he placed it next to his bedding and then lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.

Was he to enjoy his private accommodations alone? That might be more torturous than if she’d left him outside. Granted, it would be the honorable thing to do, allow her to return to her littermates on the other side of the blanket. But damn, Karma said it once before to him, not every one of their actions was always one hundred percent honorable.

Resting his head against his hands, Race focused on his breathing, doing his best to relax and possibly catch at least an hour or two of sleep. He knew without worrying if any noises or smells crept into the night that didn’t belong there, he would awaken quickly. Unfortunately, every breath he dragged into his lungs smelled like Karma. It would be damn hard to sleep with his cock throbbing painfully against his jeans. He pulled the second blanket over him, at least allowing him the chance to save face if he were watched while he attempted sleep.

Wood crackled and snapped as flames created shadows that danced along the walls. Race turned his head toward the blanket, realizing Karma stirred the fire and brought thick warmth back into the cabin. In the next moment she silently appeared, standing over him, her long, thick blonde hair falling over her full, ripe breasts.

He didn’t move a muscle when she moved slowly, first to her knees and then to her hands as she crawled over him. Her hair tortured his bare flesh but he didn’t move when she lowered her mouth to his.

Karma nipped at his lip and then his cheek before grazing her teeth over his earlobe.

“What are you doing, little cat?” he whispered.

“What do you want me to do?” Her breath tickled his ear and sent shivers rushing over his flesh.

Reaching under her sweater, he stroked her back, enjoying how soft she was and hot from standing by the fire. He pulled her sweater up and she lifted one arm then the other until he pulled it over her head. Long blonde hair fanned around her face and fell like silk over her breasts. She pushed herself up until she sat on his throbbing cock with her legs spread on either side of him. Her hair looked wild around her confident, sultry expression and she pinned him with her gaze while undoing her jeans and then unzipping them.

“Come here,” he growled, pulling her down on top of him and then holding the cover so she could stretch out next to him.

He helped her strip out of her jeans and loved that she didn’t wear underwear. It didn’t surprise him she complied, torturing him until his blood boiled when she cuddled into him and tangled her legs with his. This is what she wanted. Not only did she want him inside her, she wanted to control him, tame him into accepting how she wanted to run.

Her aggressive confidence appealed to him as much as her sultry curves did. Karma didn’t see that she ran with a litter that handicapped her. If they made this work and he mated with her, she wouldn’t run with this litter anymore. She would run with him. Not only would he take on her craving to get him to adhere to her wishes, he would take on VC. Karma didn’t want him having the final say with her running for them, but VC and Laird wouldn’t act without clearing it through him, not if they wanted her.

And until he smelled otherwise, the entire situation was getting ready to explode. Karma wouldn’t be in the middle of the fireworks. No one would lay a claw on her and live through it.

Karma draped over his body, relaxing and spreading her legs while wrapping her arms around his neck. Her lips were soft and moist. She opened for him, purring softly as her tongue moved sensually around his.

Stroking her flesh made him even harder. Blood pumped furiously through his veins and burned with a fever, which made it hard to focus on anything other than her hot, perfect body rubbing against his.

He moved his fingers over her ass, gripping and spreading her open. Then running his fingers over her tight asshole, he tensed, fighting to maintain control when she jerked then relaxed, sighing into his mouth. Karma didn’t know how much trust she showed him by not moving and allowing him to caress the most intimate, tempting part of her body. Just thinking about gliding into her tight ass was enough to send all blood rushing to his cock.

Stretching her open more, he moved his fingers over her smooth, soaked pussy. Her moisture clung to his fingers and he ached to taste her, to smell her rich, sweet desire for him.

There was so much he wanted to do with her, but with her littermates sleeping on the other side of a blanket stretched over chairs, all he could offer her right now was relief. Karma ached for him as much as he needed her.

Holding her close, loving how her breasts pressed against his chest, Race rose up, keeping her in his arms, and rolled over so she was under him. She looked up at him wide-eyed while her fingernails brushed over his over-sensitive flesh.

It was all he could do to undo and remove his jeans with the most glorious view spread before him. “Remember to be quiet,” he whispered, barely making a noise as he lifted her legs and spread her open.

Karma nodded, her hair fanned wildly around her face and her sultry gaze pinned on him while she slowly licked her lips.

Positioning himself at her entrance, he breathed in how ripe and ready she was for him. Then focusing on his swollen cock, which seemed thicker and longer than usual, he sucked in a harsh breath when he gripped it with his hand and pressed into her heat.

Karma dug her fingernails into his hips, pulling on him while lifting her hips and doing her best to drag him deep into her pussy. She hissed, wrapping her legs around his waist and then running her hands up his body until she wrapped them around his neck.

“Kiss me, Race, now.” Her voice was strained, a raspy whisper as she tugged him to her.

Race lowered his mouth to hers. “Afraid you can’t be quiet?” He shouldn’t torture her. Waking her littermates with their lovemaking would be wrong. But he glided deep inside her, his face inches from hers, and felt her breath on his face when she panted, her full lips parted while she stared up at him.

Wrapping her legs around his waist, she held on to him, lifting her hips and trying to control the motions while slowly licking her lips. “I don’t want your howling to frighten Darla and Maurie.” Her soft whisper not only tortured his ears with the soft caresses and her sultry tone, but her continual efforts to dominate and control his actions made it damn hard not to smile.

“I’ll do my best not to terrify them.” He nipped at her lips, keeping his eyes open and watching her lashes flutter over her eyes.

Her soaked pussy clung to his cock, sucking him deeper. The way her muscles constricted, vibrated and stroked his shaft felt so damn good he could fuck her all night and know paradise as if it never existed before that moment.

As much as he enjoyed taking his time, feeling every inch of her tighten around him while he traveled deeper and deeper inside her, Race smelled her anxiousness along with her lust. She’d been through hell today and wanted physical relief. Karma might not notice how her fingers grazed over him, how her legs wrapped around him, keeping him as deep inside her as she could, or how she watched him.

In almost two action-packed weeks, her behavior around him changed. And while he carried her older littermate here, he saw Karma glowing with happiness. When she admitted to him that she would have hunted him down instead of letting him go, Karma confirmed what her actions showed him now. His little cat was falling in love with him. And as complicated as it would be running alongside each other with their lives as they were, Race knew it would be a worse hell running without her.

Another time, which he prayed would be soon, Race would take his time, loving how her pussy stroked his cock. Receding far enough he felt the chill in the air accentuate how her cream felt clinging to his cock, Race plowed quick and hard, plunging into her heat. As her eyes widened and her lips parted farther, he pounced on her mouth, swallowing the cry she couldn’t stop.

He growled low and deep into her mouth, impaling her with his tongue and his cock. She dug into his back with her nails, whimpering and panting heavily. He hit that spot and every inch of her tightened underneath him while her breath caught and her lashes fluttered closed.

“Race,” she whispered when she turned her head. “Oh God. So perfect.”

Her orgasm racked over her body while fresh cream soaked him clear to his balls. They tightened, filling and aching while her come tickled him so he could barely stand it. If it weren’t for her teasing him and claiming he wouldn’t be able to stifle his growl, he probably would have erupted with a howl before being able to stop himself.

Instead, he picked up the momentum, knowing her tight pussy would destroy him at this pace. “Karma,” he hissed, barely able to get her name out as pressure reached the exploding point inside him.

She raised her eyelids, blessing him with the sultriest gaze a leopard could ask to see. Race grabbed her jaw, forcing her to quit turning her head from side to side. But kissing her required he unclench his jaw. And every inch of him was too hard, wound too tight to relax now.

“Damn it, female,” he snarled through clenched teeth.

Moving his hips, bracing his legs and holding himself off her enough he could continue staring into her face but still feel her large breasts jiggle against his chest, he gave her everything he had.

And this time, Race felt the rush of heat when he came deep inside her, a heat that burned hotter than just coming could create. He burned for her, and not just for her sexy body or how fucking her felt so damn good, but for her soul, her mind, her gutsy, feisty, determined nature. The heat that poured over him again and again didn’t just come from his cock but from his heart.

“Karma,” he grumbled, feeling the words rise to his throat. Although he managed to silence them, not wanting to share with her what she meant to him like this, he couldn’t control the change in his scent as he spilled his come into her already-soaked pussy.

He kept a firm hold on her jaw, although she didn’t try to look away. Instead, staring deep into his eyes, gold flecks suddenly danced around her green irises, her own emotions soaring to a dangerous level pushed her to the edge of losing control of her human form. Her pussy constricted around him tighter, muscles contorting and pulsing until she wrung him dry.

Fighting to breathe without grunting or creating more noise than they already had, he also focused on relaxing his body. Her soft body was covered with a glistening sheen of sweat and her flushed cheeks glowed while she licked her lips and studied his face.

“I could take a lot more of that,” she whispered.

“Damn good thing.” He shifted and reluctantly pulled himself out of her before thoughts of taking her again made him too hard to move. “We’re not going to risk disturbing your littermates more tonight though.”

She pressed her lips together, looking as if she warred with the idea of deciding she didn’t give a rat’s ass what her littermates thought or heard. And before she started in on her persuasive demands, Race moved off her, sitting next to her. Taking in her naked body and breathing in her rich aroma, so perfectly mixed with his, Race was immediately harder than stone.

Karma rolled to her side, showing off perfect curves as her hips dipped into a perfect slope at her slender waist. Her breasts pressed together and her nipples were hard pebbles that made his mouth water.

“Put your clothes back on,” he growled, forcing himself to look away and then found his own clothes, which were piled with hers. Handing her clothes to her, he pulled his shirt on and then dragged his jeans up his legs. Maybe the cold air would clear his head and soften his dick so he could sleep. “I’m going outside to sniff around for a few,” he whispered. “I want you to sleep with your littermates.”

He stood quietly, moving away from her before he could hear her whispered response. As he stood and adjusted his jeans then zipped and buttoned them, a quick blur grabbed his attention. The smell of their lovemaking made it damn hard to sniff out anything else in the small cabin and his senses were dazed. He didn’t expect any reason to be alert when all he did was stand. That’s what he told himself though, when he questioned what he thought he just saw.

Flames from the fire cast eerie shadows as he stared at the two lumps under blankets. Race would swear moments before Darla knelt against the wall, positioned where she could see around the blanket wall Karma built. When Race stood, she’d darted under the blankets.

Had the young female watched him fuck her littermate?

* * * * *

Karma blinked when someone kicked her in the hip. The moment she moved, stiff muscles helped remind her where she was. That and the lingering aroma from fucking Race last night drifted to her nose when she pulled her blanket over her face.

This time she was kicked in the shin. “Ouch,” she complained, pushing herself to her elbow. Her blanket drifted down her shoulder and the cold air in the cabin made her shiver.

“What the fuck is he doing in here?” Maurie snarled, obviously back to her old self.

“I wasn’t going to make him sleep outside all night,” Karma said blandly, and endured the chill in the air when she crawled out from under the blankets and over to the fireplace.

“Why not? Did you not want to fuck him in the cold?”

Karma ached to drop a few logs in the fireplace and get the cabin roaring with heat. Instead she stirred the embers, which would at least raise the temperature in the cabin a bit. As soon as they were all organized, it would be time to head out.

“You should be a bit more gracious,” Karma snapped. “Race carried you here last night and he was strong enough to release your leg from the trap you got it caught in.”

Maurie ran her hand over her tousled hair and then made a face as if she swallowed something that didn’t appeal to her. “You’re right. At least you created a wall for privacy.”

Karma would have gawked, but letting Maurie see how shocked she was that Maurie said something nice would probably result in her older littermate biting her head off again. Karma was too groggy and cold to hiss at Maurie right now.

“How are you doing?” Karma asked instead, and watched Maurie stand slowly, fighting the urge to grab her when she seemed unable to put a lot of weight on her leg.

“I’m fine,” Maurie announced once she stood. Leaning on her good leg, she surveyed the blankets all over the floor and then the one blanket draped over the two chairs. “Why is he still with us?”

“Would you rather I protect us by myself?” Karma merely glanced at Maurie before bending down and grabbing a blanket then folding it.

“I can help protect us,” Darla said, her voice scratchy as she crawled out from underneath blankets. “I don’t mind Race being with us though.”

She stood and stretched, her shirt rising to show off her flat, hard stomach. Then turning toward where Race slept, Darla reached for the blanket draped over the chairs.

“Darla, let him…” Karma began.

Darla ignored her, pulling the blanket free, and Karma stared at the neatly folded blankets on the floor. Race wasn’t there.

“Seems your male has run off on you already.” Maurie shifted, working her injured leg so she no longer stood on blankets.

The door opened and a rush of cold air made Karma shiver. But the smell of fresh fish grabbed her attention and she quickly disregarded the chill wrapping around her when her stomach growled greedily.

Race looked very satisfied as he held his kill up for all of them to see. “Anyone hungry?”

Over an hour later even Maurie was in agreeable spirits as they doused the fire and stacked the last of the dishes after filling themselves on a damn good breakfast. Karma put the last of the blankets in the closet and closed the door then glanced at the small area, determining everything was in order.

“We’re not going back to the leopard sanctuary,” Maurie told Karma as they stepped outside.

Karma held her arm, offering herself as a crutch so Maurie could walk. “I know. I don’t get why you felt a need to run without me, but I’m going home with you.”

Maurie paused, searching Karma’s face and then glancing beyond her at Race. When she met Karma’s gaze, there was almost a smell of sadness around her. “You’re with a hunter now, Karma,” she said quietly. “VC won’t work with us as long as they smell him around our litter. You can run with us to our old home. That’s your right and I wouldn’t deprive you of it. But once we determine if we can settle there again then you must choose, your litter or Race.” There was a softness in Maurie’s tone that almost sounded maternal. She licked her lips and exhaled slowly. “Karma, you’ve found a good male, I’ll give you that. I can smell his honor on him. Granted, although I always thought it would be me who would leave our litter first, this is one of the few things I won’t hold against you.”

Karma couldn’t believe it. Maurie was the oldest and therefore head of their litter, and she just gave Karma her blessing. Not that Race or she had discussed anything that even smelled like mating, but knowing Maurie approved meant more to her than she ever thought it would. Sucking in a breath, she blinked away the moisture that tried welling in her tear ducts and nodded.

Once again she remembered what Laird told her outside Megan and her mate’s home. Karma feared Maurie believing she could do no wrong might have as much impact on their being fired from VC as their associations with hunters. There was no proof, other than her interpretation, and she was sure Maurie would have interpreted what he said differently.

If she commented on anything Maurie just said, she would start crying like a cub. “We really should clean your wounds and make sure they’re closing right so the scars won’t be too bad. Are you up for the run?”

Maurie squinted at the rising sun, which reflected off her long blonde hair. More than likely, her hair looked as tangled and disheveled as Maurie’s, but a hot shower would be a luxury they wouldn’t enjoy today.

“We’d be better off running and worrying about bathing and cleaning wounds once we know we’re secure and the area is safe,” Maurie decided.

“I agree.” Race’s baritone made the decision final. He moved in behind Karma, putting his hands on her arms and warming every inch of her instantly. “I didn’t smell any leopards when I caught breakfast, but it wouldn’t surprise me if a hunt is organized.”

“Who would hunt us?” Darla focused on Race.

“I don’t know. But we can all rest assured someone will. It’s just a matter of time before we’re found.” Race turned Karma and started walking away from the cabin. “Everyone change and let’s head out,” he announced.

He continued leading Karma until he put some distance between her and her littermates. Then letting go of her, he stripped out of his shirt. Race respected her littermates enough to change without looking at them, giving them what little modesty was allowed in the open field surrounding the cabin.

Karma stripped out of her clothes, focusing on Race’s muscular body as he too undressed. The cold air still made her shiver, but the heat, which quickly swarmed and swelled inside her, had her thinking of anything but the cold, bitter early morning wind. She was grossly aware though of the fact that pulling her away from her littermates and changing into her fur by his side was the act a male would perform if he were mated.

When she exhaled, a cloud formed in front of her face. Her spine stretched and sparks snapped when her vertebrae altered shape. Karma breathed in Race’s rich aroma. She filled her lungs with him, her thoughts swaying from speculation over his actions to more primal thoughts.

Race was her male. Her senses became more fine-tuned and her flesh hardened while fur spread over her and protected her from the harsh cold. Before she dropped to all fours though, something flashed in front of her. She blinked, not understanding why it wasn’t bright out anymore. Growling and shaking her head didn’t bring back the sun. Instead, it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness around her.

Karma searched her surroundings and realized she wasn’t seeing what was really in front of her. It was a vision, although usually she recognized her surroundings when her brain carried her to an unknown time in her future. As she stared at the structure in front of her, several leopards appeared, running quickly toward her.

One of the leopards, who was a large, very powerful-looking male leapt at her. Karma ducked, howling as she prepared to defend herself. Out of nowhere, Maurie sprung into the air and knocked the male to his side.

Karma blinked and then lowered her head quickly when the morning sun once again blinded her. It was Race standing over her now, his large, round golden eyes glowing with confident domination. She lay on her side with him standing on top of her and shifted her gaze to his thick cock. The shock from her intense vision back to reality made it take a moment to gather her wits.

Staring at his large cock didn’t help either.

Race growled fiercely, grabbing her by the back of her neck. Karma reacted without giving it any thought. Instinct demanded she defend herself.

Don’t tell me what to do, she snarled, scooting out from underneath him as long, sharp teeth scraped her fur.

Race roared, slicing his tail through the air as he lowered his head to the ground and slowly stalked her. In their fur, life was a hell of a lot simpler. There were the dominating and the submissive. No gray areas.

Karma hated labels, especially when she could manage a run perfectly without any help. At the same time, she followed direction without hesitating if the leopard in charge was honorable.

Let’s get going! She growled, raising her head and taking on his aggressive domination. The black rosettes on his golden fur brought out the contrast of his bright, possessive glare. Race was one hell of a sexy creature no matter his form.

Letting him see the urge to belly up that crept through her would only make his cocky arrogance much harder to control.

Maurie ran between them at that moment, helping to break the control Race fought to issue over Karma. Darla followed, keeping in stride with her older littermate. Maurie ran with a small limp, apparently able to manage the pain better in her fur than she did in human form. She snapped at Karma then tossed her head, making a show of ignoring Race, and headed out for the lead.

Karma would argue any time that a long, hard run might easily be described as a religious experience. It was soul cleansing, invigorating, and offered peace not only to her body but also to her mind. The events of the past couple weeks that had plagued her mind and uprooted her life faded and no longer smelled annoying. Even figuring out her future didn’t seem so much a challenge. Her muscles burned and the crisp air stroked her coat. Life was good—challenging, but that was okay.

It seemed natural running alongside Race. As the hours passed and the sun peaked above them and then started its descent toward the horizon, shadows accentuated fine-tuned muscles that rippled under Race’s coat. He was almost twice her size, but she ran next to him easily, more than likely because he didn’t run so fast she couldn’t keep up. Knowing he wanted her running next to him and glancing continually at his perfect body, Karma never knew happiness smelled so damn good.

She must have noticed their surroundings smelled familiar around the same time her littermates did. Race looked back at her when she slowed and then circled her, coming in close so his solid body brushed against hers.

Darla slapped her tail from side to side and let out a roar. Karma wanted to laugh, and probably would have if her mouth was shaped right. They were home.

Every rock in the ground, the trees stretching to the sky around them, even the variety of aromas hanging in the air, seemed exactly the same as when she was a cub. How many times had she run this exact same direction, racing her littermates home for dinner or because her sire just arrived with fresh kill?

Karma came to a quick halt, as did Darla and Maurie, when the shell that once was their home appeared through the trees. What remained of the burnt structure stood tall, proud, as if daring time to destroy it completely.

Race pushed into her, nipping at her clothes tied around her waist. She met his gaze, momentarily drowning in the confidence and power she saw there. Karma jumped at the sound of a twig snapping. It didn’t come from around them but through the trees, toward where their home once stood.

She growled, sniffing in that direction while her insides tensed. It was impossible to focus when Race damn near pushed her over, becoming a wall of security that was difficult to see past.

But when she stumbled to the side, her hair prickled down her spine as she focused on three shapes bounding toward them. It was exactly what she saw in her vision before they started running this morning. One leopard pulled into the lead, his massive frame and broad cheekbones adding to the dangerous scene she panicked was about to play out. Long, sharp teeth appeared to glow against his dark orange coat. But the roar that ripped from his throat curdled her blood.

Karma couldn’t pull her attention from him. Her heart beat furiously but she managed to look to her side and witness her worst nightmare.

The leopard leapt into the air, ready to pounce on her and Race. Race’s snarl was deafening, but her heart exploded when Maurie leapt into the air, screaming her fury, and landed on top of the male before he could attack.

Chapter Fourteen

Race roared, unsure whether he should send the female rolling or praise her for fighting to defend her littermate. It had been a few months since he’d crossed paths with Tore Mann, but the oversized leopard was easy to spot in a crowd. Or in this case, in a pile of outraged females.

He wasn’t sure about the other two males, but the moment they smelled Maurie’s insane outrage, they held back, pacing warily around Tore while he did his best to keep the female from hitting a major artery.

Tore managed to send Maurie flying. She tumbled over Karma and Darla, and Race slid into the three of them, growling fiercely. There’s no battle here.

Then turning and growling at Tore, who raised his head but didn’t attack, Race herded the females toward the burnt foundation that once was a house. Darla and Karma watched the three males warily, but Maurie stood and then fell over again.

Damn female.

He’d give her this, she didn’t yelp or howl in pain. But her eyes almost glowed red when he returned to her. If it were a longer haul, he’d have to change into his skin, but getting her to the burnt property wouldn’t be difficult. That is, if she cooperated.

God help the male who was fool enough to try to take on this female.

Lying on the ground, on his belly, next to her, he ignored her snarling but instead remained still until she decided to crawl over him. Either that or she was hurt worse than she wanted to let on and could barely move. If that were the case, they might have problems.

Race could only hope she held on when he pushed himself to his paws. Maurie draped over either side of him and he walked toward Karma and Darla with the smell of Maurie’s blood thickening in the air with every step he took. The males stood and watched solemnly.

Karma hurried into the broken home and then turned anxiously when Race found her in a middle room. As he lowered his body and Maurie slid off him, it dawned on him where they were. This was Karma’s litter’s home. Knowing sent an eerie sensation over his skin. Something horrible happened here, yet Karma and her littermates embraced what was left of this home, racing over the remaining foundation as if the most despicable of acts couldn’t wash away the many wonderful memories that happened here.

Leaving the females, Race sniffed out the males. Noticing them dressing among the trees past the ruins of the home, Race stepped back into the shadows and allowed the change to pump through him. As the sensations of ghosts of another time slowly drifted away from him, Race shivered against a cold wind as he wondered why the females came here. If this location was the only place where they felt safe, it was going to take some work to secure it.

Race moved slowly, his spine adjusting and allowing him to put his weight on his hind legs. Then stretching, standing, muscles shifted around bones, his heart pumping furiously while sweat covered his flesh.

He was positive he’d quickly freeze to death trying to untangle his clothes. Race glanced around the partial wall, still standing, and spotted the three males. Then looking behind him as he struggled to climb into his jeans, he sniffed in the direction of the females. His human form restricted him from dragging Karma’s scent deep into his lungs when she was this far away. But he heard her and her littermates talking quietly.

“Race!” Tore bellowed.

It sounded as if Darla yelped from the echoing sound of the leopard’s baritone. Race pulled on his socks, slipped into his boots and then moved around the partial wall so the male could see him.

“I didn’t know you were running up here,” he offered in form of greeting while setting his sweatshirt right side out.

“I could say the same of you.”

Race didn’t need to explain himself. He had home turf advantage. Apparently Tore didn’t sniff that fact out though and raised an inquisitive eyebrow. A long, deep gash puckered his flesh, traveling from the edge of his brow almost to his mouth. It added to the undeniable bad-ass rogue look Tore tried very hard to maintain.

“She sure as hell better not look as bad as you,” Race grumbled, tilting his head and studying the wound.

Tore pulled up his shirt sleeve, baring his arm and showed off another gouge that looked a bit worse. Race hissed out of respect to Maurie’s fighting abilities. The little female attacked only with the intention of killing.

“Honestly, I’m surprised she couldn’t get up,” Tore said quietly, and glanced past Race toward the structure where the females were. “All I did was throw the feisty female off me. Who are you running with?”

Race didn’t growl, but only because he forced the sound back down his throat. Tore looked at him quickly, picking up the possessive smell Race couldn’t hide.

“Hey, man, if one of them is yours, it’s all cool.” Tore held his hands out in surrender. “God help you if it’s the one who attacked me.”

“No. It’s the one you tried attacking,” Race answered, this time the growl coming through. “What are you doing up this way?”

Tore stiffened, his broad shoulders pressing against his flannel button-down shirt. “Some leopards are running up this way,” he offered quietly while glancing down and carefully straightening his shirt sleeve over his injured arm. “I’ve learned many are escaping Pard’s claws and then resettling. Unfortunately, there are other leopards who aren’t so thrilled to have them around. They worry their presence will bring trouble. Let’s say I’m here to keep the place smelling peaceful.”

“If you keep peace by attacking first and sniffing out the truth later, you and Maurie will get along famously.”

“Maurie?” Tore asked.

Race nodded to Tore’s injuries.

Tore snorted and then glanced toward the males who were with him when they sauntered over to join Tore. “Clay and Saul are part of the Rivers litter,” Tore offered, pointing his thumb at the two males. “We heard the howling over a small group of leopards running this way. Since the Rivers litter is near here, these two were helping me sniff out the land. We were sure you were them.”

“We might be. What did you hear about them?”

“Several things.” Tore combed his straight dark blond hair with his fingers and scowled, looking over Race’s shoulder. “One, they were running from that leopard sanctuary south of here,” he growled, although it was no secret Tore and Josh would just as soon spill each other’s blood than spend the time talking. “Another being that a hunter was involved.”

Race met Tore’s knowing look. “Sounds like your work is done for the day.” He smelled more to the story than what Tore shared. Either he didn’t want to mention the rest of the facts in front of the two Rivers leopards, or he wanted to know more about Race before sharing it. “So this land belongs to your litter?” Race asked the two males, deciding changing the subject would keep things light until he could sniff out how safe this area was.

“No,” Clay answered, who appeared to be close to Race’s age. A bit on the skinny side for a leopard, his hair was short, like his littermate’s, and his pale green eyes alert. “All of this is Sheridan land. Always has been. No one’s been able to buy it, even after they got burned out.” He nodded toward the remains of the house behind Race.

“You can still smell death around the place,” Saul offered, his voice low with respect. “From what we know, none of them are alive, but since it can’t be proved, no one can buy up their land.”

“Well then, you just attacked their ghosts,” Race offered, grabbing all three males’ attention.

“What?” Tore demanded.

“Those females are the Sheridan litter.”

“So this is where you were headed?” Tore frowned at the structure.

“The litter is all females?” Saul asked, turning toward the ruins and quickly sniffing the air.

Race growled, deciding it was imperative at least one law be laid down real quick. “Yes. They are. One of them is damn near still a cub, the other would just as soon rip out your jugular than wish you good hunting.”

“I can guess which one that is,” Tore snarled, touching his face.

“And the third—you touch her and I’ll tear out your jugular.” He remained serious, calm, and didn’t show any anger. As long as the males knew to stay away, he wouldn’t make trouble.

“Good hunting to you then.” Clay grabbed his littermate’s arm, more than likely anxious to return to their litter and share the ripe smell of new gossip. “Tore knows how to howl for us if anything is needed.”

Race nodded and watched the two males depart through the trees. He glanced at Tore, noting the calm aura around the male. Whatever he was doing up here, running around and playing law, it was treating him right. The last time he’d seen the leopard, he’d been wound tight and blood hungry.

“The hunter we were searching for was Jin,” Tore offered without looking at him. “Seen her lately?”

“Yesterday.” He looked at the house ruins when he heard female voices but hesitated in joining them yet. There was more to learn from Tore first. “Why are you hunting her?”

“She’s got a mark on her head.” Tore met Race’s gaze but didn’t say anything for a moment.

Race guessed the male reflected back to the night well over a year ago when the two of them took turns fucking Jin. It was a different world then, everything smelling wrong and everyone wound so tight they hissed at their own shadows. Jin Rose was a hot little female and a damn good hunter. Lately though, she seemed to be making enemies every time she arrived on a hunt.

“I haven’t heard this,” Race offered. “And when she showed up at the leopard sanctuary, she didn’t seem bothered that any of us knew she was there.”

“Pranced in as if she owned the place, huh.” Tore laughed without needing his guess confirmed. “They’re howling she killed Leo Pard, but I’m here to tell you, I don’t smell the leopard’s death.”

“There’s a death that would create a stench clear across the continent. She did announce that she’d killed Pard, but not that there was a mark on her head.”

“I figured if I caught her first, at least I could protect her cute little tail. Whether she smells of guilt or not, she’s going to go down.”

Race turned when he heard something. Karma stood at the edge of the cement slab, her hands clasped in front of her. Even though darkness settled around them, he noticed her chewing her lip, hesitating, as if deciding whether to approach them or not.

Race headed toward her, Tore falling in stride alongside him. He breathed in her fresh scent before reaching her, but then grabbed her, wrapping his arm around her and holding her hair at her nape as he pulled her next to him.

“Karma, allow me to present Tore Mann, another hunter.”

Tore straightened, taking the introduction seriously, and nodded, his expression blank.

Karma nodded as well, keeping any reaction to the fact he was a hunter to herself. Tilting her head, she pressed her palm over Race’s heart and stared up at him with bright green eyes.

“We didn’t bring a lot of supplies,” she said quietly. “I don’t think any of us remembered our home being quite this dilapidated.”

“What do you need?” Tore spoke up quickly. “The males I ran with are from a nearby litter and confirm this land is yours. If you’re staying here,” he added, nodding to the remains of the burnt home, “give me an hour and I’ll bring supplies to help you out. Our nights up this way get mighty damn cold unless you plan on sleeping in your fur.”

“You honor us,” Karma said quietly. She was smart to accept anything Tore might offer.

Race guessed Maurie wouldn’t be traveling much more tonight.

Tore backed up, accepting his new mission eagerly. “Give me an hour and I’ll be back with supplies.”

Race spent the hour Tore was gone gathering firewood. The home’s chimney remained intact, and it didn’t take too much work to clean out the flue and then start a fire in the fireplace. Although there weren’t walls anymore, the cement slab was divided by partial walls and it was clear where doorways once were.

Maurie rested on a blanket in a room at the corner of the house, which possibly might once have been hers. Her littermates convinced her to move closer to the fire though, and the females huddled together, talking quietly and predominantly reminiscing their lives here as cubs.

Race listened, learning more about Karma and what sounded like a healthy, happy upbringing. He easily picked up on their scents that all of their lives changed drastically when their parents helped form Vision Controllers. No wonder Karma was so adamant about being part of the organization. It tugged at Race’s heart and didn’t sit well with his desire to protect her. He doubted he’d admit it to her, but it crossed his mind during their run to mate with her and then forbid her to have anything to do with VC afterward.

He paced the edge of the slab, staring at the dark trees that formed a barrier against the elements and surrounded the ruined structure. Race spent a lot of time over the years doing construction, but rebuilding this place would take a hell of a lot of work. The way the females talked, it sounded as if they wanted to stay here. He would have to start quickly and work long hours to create a structure that would protect them from the weather while in their flesh, and from surrounding litters, who would hunt down females no matter what shape they were in.

Race growled, and Karma and Darla jumped to their feet when the sound of an engine interrupted the quiet around them. Karma reached his side when he spotted headlights, looking like wide, glowing white orbs coming through the darkness in the trees.

An SUV drove around the last clump of evergreens and then parked on the uneven ground not far from the home. Tore jumped out and headed to the back of the vehicle.

“Your surrounding litters wish you good hunting and offer house-warming gifts,” Tore announced when Race and Karma, with Darla behind them, walked around the back of the SUV with him.

“Wow,” Darla exclaimed, grinning as she looked in the windows at the contents in the back of the SUV.

Boxes were stuffed full of blankets and toiletries and food.

“You pulled in quite a haul. Did you bring us your kill too?” Race teased, although all of the supplies would make life a hell of a lot easier, at least for the next day or so while he figured out whether they were staying or returning south.

“Possibly.” Tore watched Darla curiously, his thick lashes concealing his brooding stare.

The young female was oblivious to how the male watched her and eagerly helped pull a box out and then headed back to the slab and her older littermate. She called out to Maurie, talking quickly while telling her everything that was brought to them.

“When you said practically a cub,” Tore began quietly.

“You keep looking at her like that you’ll have more than your face torn up, leopard,” Karma hissed.

Race swelled with pride, simply raising his eyebrows at Tore when the male looked to him for help.

“I promise you, female,” Tore growled, “I don’t rob whelping boxes.” He looked from Karma to Race. “You’re going to have to keep an eye on that young female though. I can still smell her innocence.”

Race handed Karma a box before she could continue chewing Tore’s head off and then accepted another box while Tore grabbed the last one.

Tore nodded at the remaining contents in the back of the Jeep. “You still good with a hammer and a nail? I know it’s not enough, but I figured you might at least be able to create a temporary wall or two to help keep the heat in.”

“Hopefully I’ll be able to honor you the same in the near future.” Race was beyond thrilled to have enough supplies to help get them started on having something they could refer to as a den while they were here.

He led the way back to the females and the fire and put his box down with the others. Darla already dug through her box, pulling out its contents and purring with excitement.

When Maurie snarled, everyone in the group paused. “Step one paw in my home and more than your face will be ripped to shreds.”

Race took Karma’s box from her and placed it with the others. Then smelling the growing outrage, he grabbed Karma, pulling her to his side. At least she and her littermate would be out of the line of fire. He doubted Tore would attack Maurie, but Race didn’t doubt he sure as hell would defend himself.

“Maurie, he’s a hunter,” Karma hissed.

“Oh, isn’t that fucking lovely. Why don’t we have them all over? It’ll be a hunter party!” Maurie pushed herself to her feet.

“Your growl is as bad as your fucking bite, female,” Tore announced, pausing only for a second and then stepping onto the cement slab. He carried his box toward Race and the females.

“Will they let anyone be a hunter?” Maurie howled. “I swear I don’t smell an ounce of honor on you. And to be told you aren’t welcome and to enter anyway!”

Race took the boxes from Tore, and just in time. Maurie moved surprisingly fast for a female with an injured leg.

Her claws extended and her teeth pressing against her lips, she swung at Tore. But Tore had years of training when it came to defending himself, even if it was against an injured female who was half his size and weight.

Tore grabbed Maurie’s wrist, either keeping her at bay or holding her up so she didn’t fall. Race couldn’t tell. But an odd smell slowly drifted toward him, one he sure as hell didn’t expect.

“Maurie!” Darla screamed, lunging forward.

But Karma grabbed her by the waist, pulling her back against her and then tumbling to the ground with her.

“What the…” Darla began.

“Leave them alone,” Karma hissed. “Take care of the supplies. Maurie is fine.”

Race squatted next to Karma, keeping his eyes on Tore and Maurie while they bantered and howled at each other. But Karma smelled the same thing he did. Arousal. And it wasn’t coming from Tore, although Race would bet damn good money his friend picked up on the scent as well. Maurie was flirting with Tore. And damn if Tore didn’t seem to be enjoying it.

Karma glanced at him, her eyes wide with amusement. It took Darla a moment longer, but when understanding crossed her pretty, young face, it was almost comical. She looked up at Race, but then her cheeks flushed and she got busy organizing supplies. It was an interesting litter he’d found himself intertwined in, and one he might easily become very used to being around.

Stars brighter than any Race had seen in a long time cluttered the sky by the time they’d organized the area and created a makeshift home. Karma and Darla kept the fire roaring and gathered enough wood to maintain it well into the next day. Although Maurie hissed anytime Tore got near her, she remained on her blanket by the fire, nursing a bottle of whiskey Tore offered her after she attacked him.

Race wasn’t sure he’d ever seen the male turn so docile around anyone, let alone a mouthy female who would rather chew on his head than kiss it. But he appreciated Tore hanging around and helping create barriers against the fierce, wintry elements.

“It will work for a few days,” Race said, staring at the blankets nailed to wooden frames that now served as walls inside the ruins of the old home.

“That female’s temper over there should help keep things warm as it is,” Tore added.

Race grunted, deciding Tore enjoyed Maurie’s sour smell a hell of a lot better than Race did. He turned when Karma walked around one of the old, crumbling brick walls.

“Darla is out like a light,” she whispered, and then pressed her hands into her lower back and stretched.

She wore an oversized baggy shirt that buttoned down the front, but it was open, showing off her skintight tank top underneath. The view she offered as she arched her back and grunted turned every inch of him to fucking stone.

She brushed her hair over her shoulder and smiled at Tore. “You honor our litter by helping. My littermate was injured prior to coming here or I’m sure she wouldn’t be quite so rude.”

Tore grinned at Race. “She smells pretty good when she lies.”

Race laughed easily, pulling Karma into his arms. She stiffened, ready to defend herself, but he just tightened his arms around her and nuzzled her to him.

“How long are you going to be here?” Tore asked Race.

Karma looked up at him and he stroked her hair, meeting her sultry gaze but then focusing on Tore. “At least a couple days. Once her litter is settled, I’ll know more.”

He would know more when he talked to Karma. Although taking care of her litter meant keeping her happy, and he loved that smell on her.

Tore nodded, satisfied with the answer. “I’ll come around and check on you.”

Both of her littermates were sleeping when Karma led Race to a pile of bedding. “I know we won’t get as much warmth from the fire here, but there’s a bit more privacy.”

“I doubt you’re going to feel the cold, little cat.” He couldn’t wait to get her inside the sleeping bags she’d zipped together.

Karma knelt on the bedding, unzipping the side and creating an entrance. “This used to be the kitchen,” she told him, glancing around in the darkness and then sliding the shirt off her shoulders. When she looked up at him with wide, bright green eyes, and her thick blonde hair falling over her bare arms, his heart swelled fiercely. “Our bedroom was over there,” she pointed, gesturing toward where Darla slept. “My littermates sure would like to stay here. There’s a security here, you know? It’s as if the ghosts of my sire and mother protect the land and no one can harm us here.”

He wouldn’t mention the first thing that happened when they ran onto this land was they were attacked. Race saw in Karma’s eyes, in the sweet, incredible scent clinging to her, it wasn’t just her littermates who loved this burnt-down shell of a home.

“It could be rebuilt,” he said slowly. Hell, he could build anything. And for Karma, he would build a palace. Kneeling next to her when she slid out of her jeans and then slid her bare legs into the bag and under blankets, he knew, with incredible clarity, he would do anything for his little cat. “Is this where you want to stay?”

She licked her lips and dropped her gaze to his chest. “I guess that all depends,” she whispered, her voice cracking with raw emotion she couldn’t hide from him.

He undressed without ceremony, needing to feel her flesh against his, the smooth silk of her skin and her hot breath torturing his body. She lifted the blankets and he tangled his legs against hers. She sat next to him, placing her palm over his heart, and slowly lifted her thick lashes to show him all the feelings she’d yet to howl. Race took her tank top and lifted it, exposing her large breasts. He hissed in a breath while watching her nipples pucker against the cold night air.

“Running for VC is very dangerous work,” he began, ignoring the way her expression instantly hardened and her body stiffened. “I admit I didn’t want you to be part of it as soon as I found out about it.”

“I not only run for VC, VC runs in my blood,” she informed him.

Race pushed her down until she lay flat underneath him with her thick hair pooling around her face. As incredibly beautiful as she was, he saw past the physical and into a heart so strong, so large, she would risk her life as long as she breathed to ensure other leopards could run freely. Kind of like what he did as a hunter.

“I see that. Which is why I’ve decided I won’t forbid you to be part of it.”

“Mighty big of you, cat,” she sneered, puckering her lips into a scowling pout.

He fought the urge to grin, knowing Karma needed to feel in control, to know the actions she performed were done because she decided to do them. But when she hesitated in telling him how long she would stay here, Race also saw how much she wanted to be with him. In spite of her determination to run free, honorably, and taking the path she chose, he knew in his heart she wanted him to run with her as well.

Race nipped her pouting lip and then lowered his head to her breast, lashing her nipple with his tongue. Karma quickly started panting, dragging her nails across his back and pulling her legs out from under him. She ran her feet up his outer legs, spreading herself open. The aroma of her soaked pussy intoxicated him and he latched on to her breast, sucking greedily and loving it when she moaned.

“There are some stipulations,” he said, moving from one breast to the other and inhaling the scent off her flesh as he did.

“Stipulations?” she whispered, her voice scratchy while she tensed and then tried relaxing underneath him.

“Yes.” Race took his time adoring her breast, soaking her nipple and then cupping her breast with his hand while he sucked her into his mouth.

“What…what stipulations?” she asked, dragging her nails over his shoulders and then tangling them in his hair.

Her touch sent shivers rushing over his flesh and a growl erupted deep inside. Scraping his teeth over her nipple, he tugged and looked up to see how her mouth formed a perfect circle.

Karma’s lashes fluttered over her eyes until she must have sensed him watching her and lifted her head. Her eyes glowed with passion as she held either side of his head and then made an effort to push his mouth back down on her breast.

As much as feasting on her breasts appealed to him, he fought her just to watch her expression turn determined. He loved the way her eyes flashed, the way she pressed her full lips together while concentrating, and most of all, the way her scent changed and became richer, fresher and so damn sweet, as if every pore in her body released the craving welled up inside her.

“What stipulations?” she growled, barely moving her mouth.

Race rose up over her, forcing her to extend her arms and then finally release his hair and let her hands brush down his chest.

“I’m going on the runs with you,” he informed her, and then placed his finger over her lips when she opened her mouth to speak. “These Vision Controllers have an inaccurate view of hunters and it sounds as if the best way to improve our smell and show your organization hunters truly are the leopards who fight to the death to make sure everyone runs free and lives how they want to live is to get involved with what they do.”

Karma sucked his finger into her mouth, which damn near pulled every ounce of blood clear out of his brain. His cock hardened painfully as she closed her eyes and then lashed her tongue around him, stroking the length of his finger seductively.

He didn’t have the will or the strength to stop her. Finally, she pushed him out of her mouth, her lips moist and full as she lifted her gaze lazily and then twisted underneath him. She purred softly, looking incredibly pleased with herself and then slowly stroked the hair on his chest.

“I never know when they will howl for me,” she said quietly, watching him intently as she spoke. “Not to mention, last I heard, I was fired.”

“I know you, little cat. You get what you want.”

“So you’ll support me in fighting to regain my status with VC?”

He would love to keep her in a well-built home, safe and comfortable. The thought of having her there with his kill prepared on the table and her soft body always eager to cuddle up next to him appealed to him more than any thought he’d ever given to his future.

“Yes. I’ll support you,” he told her, and was rewarded with the most beautiful, happy grin. He leaned over her, brushing his lips over hers and adjusting his cock so it nuzzled against the entrance to her heat. “And when you take on this battle, you’ll make sure they know we run together.”

She searched his face for only a moment. “I could be howled for at any time and usually that means we have to run immediately.”

“Sounds like the life of a hunter,” he growled, using more strength than he wanted her to see in order to remain at the entrance of her pussy and not slam his cock deep inside her.

She wiggled against his cock, torturing him further. “Then you know you can’t wait for someone to show up when you need to leave.”

“Who would you be waiting for?”

“You.”

“No. You’ll be with me.” He grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands from his chest then pinned them to either side of her head. When he knew she couldn’t scratch him, he plunged deep into her pussy.

Karma screamed, fighting against the restraint he pushed on her wrists while thrashing her head from side to side. Her hair tousled wildly around her face and she lifted her legs, curling into him so he glided deeper into her heat.

“Race,” she hissed, pressing her thighs against him and holding on as best she could.

He moved hard, fast, with deep sweeps, giving it to his little cat just the way she loved it. And she rewarded him quickly. Her pussy swelled and burned him alive when she exploded and soaked him clear down to his balls. But aggressive sex turned him on too, especially when so many little muscles constricted and relaxed around his cock. It was a boiling hot, soaked vibration that would put him over the edge quickly.

“Karma, open your eyes,” he growled, gritting his teeth and keeping his body tight while he moved deep inside her.

“Yes,” she whispered, panting hard while she stared at him with green orbs flecked with gold. She looked wild, on fire, and smelled so perfect he could breathe her deep into his lungs for the rest of his life and never grow tired of her rich, ripe aroma. “Give it to me, leopard. Fuck me just like that,” she purred.

There would be times when she would struggle for the upper hand, but this wouldn’t be one of those times. Race had no problem following her order and giving it to her just the way she liked it. As much as he enjoyed taking his time and allowing her smooth, hot pussy to stroke his cock, impaling her, building a fever that threatened to explode without notice, felt so damn good he couldn’t argue.

“Come again, Karma,” he told her. “Come one more time for me, my little cat.”

“If you keep doing that…” But she didn’t finish. Clinging to him with her thighs clamped down hard on either side of him, she stared up at him, wide eyed, as her moans turned into howls.

When she exploded again, Race allowed her to suck everything he had clear out of him. He jerked, feeling the pull start deep inside his balls. Then as the pressure built and she pumped his orgasm, he released everything he had with a ferocity that damn near rendered him blind.

It was all he could do not to collapse fully on top of her.

Karma massaged his back before he realized he didn’t hold her wrists any longer. “My leopard,” she whispered, her soothing words floating slowly through his foggy brain. “Will you be mine forever?”

“My little cat, I’m supposed to ask you to mate with me.”

“I thought you were too nervous to ask.”

Race lifted his head, his eyesight taking a minute to kick in just as his brain did. He didn’t mean to laugh. And he deserved it when she reached up and punched him in the shoulder.

“Karma, I love you,” he said softly, the words spilling out of him as if he’d said them a million times.

“Is that a yes?” she asked, tilting her head and shifting underneath him so her nipples hardened and scraped against his chest.

“I am honored to be your mate, little cat,” he purred, answering her seriously.

“Race, I love you too,” she cried out, and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his mouth down to hers.

He feasted on her and grew hard while still inside her. She was so damn wet when he started moving slowly, and when she purred loudly, he knew she didn’t mind a bit that he moved slowly this time. Even if he had the rest of his life to be with her, tonight was the first night of their mating. And he planned on paying close attention to detail while he fucked his mate and enjoyed the beautiful aroma of the love they shared with each other.