Page 21 of Shifter Mates for the Single Mom

“Maybe that’s good. I was worried we’d be facing down three times that.”

“‘We’ does not include you, cutie,” I said, and Nathan gave an insistent nod. “Too dangerous. He’s got shifter powers and a head full of crazy, and if he zeroes in on you, he might get to you before we can. When he comes around, and he will, you need to be inside protecting your son.”

Nathan nodded again. Madelyne looked conflicted. Finally, she said, “I just don’t want him to see me hiding from him.”

“I know. But the more layers of security between him and you, the better,” Nathan said. “You must understand why that’s practical.”

“I do. I guess this is just my heavy-fighter’s pride coming through. Not that I could armor up in this heat, anyway.” Which was frustrating. I would have felt even safer with layers of padding, leather, and steel between myself and Matthias.

“If you wouldn’t boil alive inside of it, I’d suggest you walk around in that shit right now,” I admitted. “But we’ve gotta work with what we have.”

We went mostly quiet for the remainder of the ride. Madelyne finished her drink and dozed, worn out by the heat. I finished my beer and watched the scenery as we drove along.

As we got near Madelyne’s home, however, Nathan suddenly stiffened. “Bela. Do you smell that?”

I took a big whiff and frowned. The scent of a strange shifter was trickling through the SUV’s vents. “That’s not a good sign.” I quickly texted a warning to Jamie, telling him to have them ready themselves and get Aidan into the panic room.

Madelyne blinked awake and looked at us. “What is it?” she asked in a muzzy voice.

“Picked up a stranger’s scent,” Nathan muttered as I pulled my pistol out from under my shirt. I didn’t want to shift quite yet. Not when I had a clip full of silver I could empty into the prick as soon as I had him in sight.

“Oh, God.” She and I both looked everywhere at once, especially at the trees outside the wall, but even in the bright, blinding daylight, I couldn’t make out anyone around. “What do we do?”

“Hit the gate remote and I’ll pull us in fast. Then I want you inside and down with your son.” Nathan’s grimness was back in force. I could see the hairs on the back of his neck standing up.

“Got it.” Madelyne pulled out her keyring and hit the button. The gate started to swing open. Nathan sped through the opening as quickly as he could, and she cycled the gate closed again.

Nathan practically pulled the SUV up onto the porch just as Ulf and Jamie came outside, both with their rifles. “Go,” he told Madelyne, who nodded, opened her door, and darted up the porch steps and inside. Then Nathan and I were out and joining the others.

“It’s broad fucking daylight. How is he stalking around right now without us seeing him?” I wondered aloud as Nathan pulled out his pistol as well.

“Fucker must be in Tiger form. They can hide in brush and tall grass easily.” Nathan exchanged looks with the others. “Any visual on the cameras?”

“Nothing. He must be lurking outside the walls,” Jamie said. “But he can definitely jump them.”

Nathan nodded and went to hand signs, pointing out the rear of the property. Ulf and Jamie went off that way mutely to patrol their half while we took the front half by the gate.

I sniffed intensely, trying to pick up a trail, but the enemy’s musk came and went on the shifting wind. Fuck.

This was what a lone Tiger could do that a Pack of Wolves couldn’t; sneak around effectively enough that even fellow shifters couldn’t quite pick him up. But I knew he was there. The scent was steady, not fading. Soon, he was going to make an appearance–if he didn’t slink away like a fucking coward.

Long minutes passed as we searched. Nothing, nothing… and then the scent started fading. “He’s run for it,” Nathan said, his eyes flashing with disgust and frustration. “Coward took off once he realized he was going to face some actual resistance this time.”

“I’ve got something!” Ulf called.

Nathan nodded to me. “Go,” he said. “I don’t quite trust this. It might be a trick.”

I jogged out to see what Ulf was yelling about. He was outside the back gate, inspecting one of the dry, stunted trees that dotted the property. “He left us a little calling card,” he rumbled, looking just as disgusted as I felt.

The bark on one side of the tree was completely clawed away, and deep grooves from his scratching marred the wood beneath. His stink was heavy in the air. I guessed he’d sprayed the tree, as well. “Ugh, nasty,” I muttered, irritated by his audacity. “Like having a giant evil tomcat around.”

Ulf snorted and Jamie chuckled. “He’s playing fucking games,” Ulf grumbled. “Showing us that he can get close without us catching him. But I don’t think he expected a whole Pack to show up.”

“Nope,” I agreed. “Big bad Tiger turned into a scared rabbit. Guessing he showed without backup.”

Jamie nodded and quickly sent Nathan a message. “So, what happened in town?”

"It all went pretty good," I reassured. "Madelyne's friends over at the colony are smart enough. They listened, and they're acting. And we brought home steaks for after the sun goes down."

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