Page 39 of Stray Cat

To hell with being rational. “Why? Because Xav knows how to take care of himself? Because he’s smarter than any Lupine I know?” Lindsay glared at Graham to include him in this category.

“Because Xav’s brother is mated to Eric’s second,” Graham all but shouted. “They don’t want Eric gaining any more power. If Eric has family ties to every Feline Shifter in this town, the Lupines lose.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” Lindsay said in exasperation.

“We’d have been fine if they hadn’t tried to shove two Shiftertowns together. It’s a fucking mess, and I work every day to keep it untangled. You mating with one of Eric’s Shifters is one thing. You mating with someone deeply connected with him is another.”

“It’s none of their business!” Lindsay pressed her palms to her chest. “Ichoose my mate, not your stupid Lupines. Even if Xav was connected to the head of Shifter Bureau himself, it’s still my choice. I don’t give a shit if some effed-up Lupines don’t like it.”

“Don’t even joke about Shifter Bureau, especially not at my front door,” Graham commanded. “Everyone on the street heard you.”

“Like you’re not yelling at the top of your lungs. Why should I care?”

“Listen to me.” Graham quieted, and the authority that made him an undisputed leader cut through Lindsay’s blustering. “I’m doing what I can, but these are pissed-off, half-wild Shifters whose chances at mating were cut in a big way when they were shoved into this Shiftertown. If you and Xav mate—officially, under sun and moon—they’ll have to back off, whether they like it or not, and they know it. But the way things are now, they see Xav as an obstacle between them and you, one to be eliminated.”

Graham took a step closer, and Lindsay’s wildcat’s heart pounded with instinctive fear. Graham continued, “Either you and Xav mate, Linds, and do it fast, or you give him up entirely and make sure everyone knows it. Any other choice, and they’ll try to Challenge. Or maybe even not bother with the Challenge and go for the kill.”

The cubs stared up at Graham, wide-eyed, and Lindsay swallowed. “Diego will never stand for that,” she declared. “He’s a dangerous enemy to make.”

“No kidding. But half a dozen Lupines in mating frenzy won’t think of anything but eradicating Xav until it’s too late.” Graham softened his tone until he sounded almost sympathetic. “You can’t ignore this, Lindsay. You don’t like it—and I don’t blame you—but it’s the situation. You say it’s your choice? Then make one.”

“You mean for the good of Shiftertown?” Lindsay tried to regain her resolve. “Well, for the good of Shiftertown,youshould keep your wolves in line.”

“She’s right,” a light voice came from inside. Lindsay peered past Graham and saw Misty, his mate, at the foot of the staircase, listening to every word. “The pressure shouldn’t be on Lindsay.”

“Iknow that.” Graham’s frustrated roar returned. “I’m doing the best I can. But this on-again, off-again thing with Xav is driving everyone wild. Is Lindsay fair game or not? Is Xav a threat or a friend? We’re Shifters. Our emotions are pretty basic.”

That was true. While humans might find compromises, Shifters would battle it out. Living in Shiftertowns had forced them to work things out more peacefully than they had in the past, but a beast hovered just below every Shifter’s façade, danger waiting to explode.

There was danger inside Lindsay too, she hoped they all realized.

“I understand,” she made herself say. “I’ll give this some thought.”

“What I mean is shit or get off the pot,” Graham stated. “All right?”

“Nice metaphor, Graham.” Lindsay looked him up and down. “I remember whenyoucouldn’t figure out what to do with your hots for Misty.”

Graham flushed. “And I made the decision, didn’t I? Call Xav. Work it out. Now, I have things to do.”

Behind Graham, Misty rolled her eyes. She came down the stairs and out of the house before Graham could close the door, and caught Lindsay in a hug.

Misty was a small woman, and holding her was like embracing a fragile figurine, but Misty had a strength very few suspected.

“Don’t let him get under your skin,” Misty murmured into Lindsay’s ear. “I think you know, deep down inside, what you need to do.”

Lindsay found herself trembling. She returned the hug, wondering if the rest of the Shifters understood how wise Misty was.

“Thank you,” Lindsay whispered.

Misty released her, and Lindsay wiped her eyes, wondering why she was suddenly crying.

Graham glowered from the doorway while Misty patted Lindsay’s shoulders and gave her an encouraging smile. “Take care, sweetie.”

“I will. See you, Graham.” Lindsay turned her back, something she’d never, ever do to Eric, and walked away.

But Graham wasn’t her leader, was he? Even so, it was difficult to make the defiant gesture—telling Graham plainly he wasn’t the boss of her—to someone so seriously alpha.

One reason Lindsay had been attracted to Xav from the start was that while he was strong, and very alpha himself, he wasn’t an asshole. Graham’s wolves needed to learn that.

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