Page 3 of Finding Her Panthers

Have I lost it, or is something else going on? I hope it means we are close to finding the one for us. My brothers and I are black panthers, but not all of our pack are. We welcome all kinds. Even though some of us have a comfortable rivalry, we need to have each other's backs. Blue, for instance, hates bears and most coyotes are low on his list of worthy shifters. James and I try to believe that everyone is worthy. Let them show their true colors, then decide.

Our bar manager, Stephan, is a panther like us. He’s trustworthy and has been by our side for years. He came from a traumatic home, and like most of us, has been searching for a place to call home. He just fell into place with us. Over the years, as his loyalty was proven, we have given him more responsibility and trusted him with so much he became more than family. We have a few lions, a fox, a couple of coyotes, and one bear, much to Blue’s annoyance. Josh, one of our bouncers, is a cheetah. He recently mated to a female cheetah and has a little one on the way. We also have a rabbit, who James loves to make fun of endlessly. It would be a mistake to underestimate them, which James has also found out the hard way. They are ruthless fuckers when pushed.

At least right now, we don’t have any vampires. I don’t expect ever to have any of that species join us. They are more solitary creatures. Throw in a couple of wolves, and we certainly have a motley crew of misfits.

When we first started the club, we met Ryker, the king of the local nest of vampires. He also runs a nightclub. We have a tentative truce, being on opposite sides of the city. We don’t mess with his business, and he doesn’t mess with ours. Despite being a vampire, I have to admit he is not a bad guy. He takes care of his area, keeps his vampires in line, even though he is a bit ruthless. I suppose he would have to be to run those bloodsuckers. They also have true mates, and they can’t control themselves at all when they meet, no matter if they are vampires or not. Living such a long time, it is said that there comes the point, in their long lifespan, if they don’t find their mate, they will slowly become crazier, bloodthirsty, and go insane.

Most of the human population does not know of our existence, living in ignorant bliss, going about their lives, not knowing the monsters around them. We do employ a few human servers but, the majority are shifters of some kind. Almost all that work here has caught on to what we are. There is only so long you can hide your true nature. I wait for the day the whole world finds out about this other world. I’m not sure if I look forward to it or dread the hate and hunters and the small-minded that will try to kill us.

"Are you staring at Cindy's ass? You're concentrating a little too hard at those screens, brother," he chuckles. My brother James can find the joke in any situation. I kind of envy him in that way.

"I would never stare at Cindy, James," I sneer. Turning back towards my desk, I watch my other brother lounge back in the chair like he does not care. His messy brown hair needs a cut, his jeans are torn at the knee, his shirt is wrinkled and states, ' I'll be your Romeo.’ I can't help but smile as I shake my head. He is a mess, but he is one of the best men I know, and I am lucky to call him brother. "How did the delivery go? All good?"

"Of course. I was the one that ordered it and supervised it. Mister Grumpy Pants came and summoned me up to the office like I did something wrong." He nods his head at Blue and rolls his eyes. "What did you find out?" He rubs his hands together in excitement.

"Nothing, you idiot!" Blue punches him in the shoulder.

James winces in pain and punches him back. "At least I do bad things in search of fun instead of locking the fun away, never to be had again," he points out.

Which inspires Blue to hit him again, growling, "At least I get shit done. People respect me and follow the rules. There is a place and time for fun, not every minute of every day!"

This, of course, causes James to hit back again. "Do you ever listen to yourself talk? Fun has a time and place," he mimics Blue's voice exactly down to the deep growl. I can't help but laugh. Blue is not as immune as he wants us to think; his lips turn up slightly at the corners. Once James accomplishes his goal, he sits back with a smile. He's a sneaky lazy asshole.

"Children, are you done?" I pause, and they both nod. "I just wanted us all to have a drink together. I know it's been a little weird lately, at least with Blue and me. Do you feel it too, James?"

"Something is happening, that's for sure. I have a burning in my chest, and I haven't said anything yet because I didn't want to make a big deal about it." He shrugs.

"I get it, but we need to talk to each other. Yes?" I press.

"Yes." They both nod.

"Now moving on, anything I need to know about?" I move to the bar in front of the floor-to-ceiling window to pour us drinks. Some nights I love to look out at all that is happening and know they can't see me. It calls to the voyeur in me.

Taking their glasses, James replies, "Cindy is getting more aggressive and desperate. I came out of my room this morning. I stayed over because I had too much to go over in the books. She was waiting in front of my door in a towel. She claims she was in the shower in her room and the water quit working." He laughs, but I can tell it is making him uncomfortable. Blue clues in and gets an intense look in his eyes. "I have made it as clear as I can that I am not interested without throwing her ass out on the street. Not sure what else I can do, but I think it is going to just keep getting worse."

I sigh, rubbing my chin in frustration. "I've put it off for too long. She came to my office the other day, half-dressed, leaning over me, and propositioned me. I was grateful Stephan came in with a question. I need to talk to her make it clear if she doesn't back down, I have to find another pack for her. Blue, I'll need you and maybe Stephan in here with me at the time. I don't trust she'd read into it if I talk to her alone."

"I'll gladly kick her ass out. She has always annoyed me, and if she's going this far and making you both uncomfortable, she needs to go." Blue has no love lost.

"Alright, anything else going on?" I urge the change of subject.

"I have been having problems with the local coyote pack. They are coming in and partially shifting, scaring people. I have to explain it away to those that see. I have kicked out more coyotes this week than wolves the whole year; that speaks for itself. I think you need to speak to the Alpha." Blue barely tolerates coyotes.

"Alright, he's kind of an asshole too, but maybe I can reason with him. If not, we may have to ban them all. If that doesn't work, we may have to gather the other packs, compare notes, and develop a solution. At least I can probably count on the wolf pack. Kerian has taken over from the old Alpha. I know he’s been having some issues. The transition hasn’t been smooth but, he’s weeding out the bad. I may have to call him.” Sometimes I get so tired of all the idiots. "How are all the employees doing?"

"Stephan says they are doing well." James pauses and adds, "But once again, Cindy is slacking, making the others cover her tables. She's also been hanging around the coyotes."

"Shit, just what we need, her to make a war start between us. At this point, it wouldn't surprise me." That talk will have to happen soon. "Let's go out to the floor, check things out, show our faces for our pack at least."

We move together towards the door. James shoves Blue back into me, racing through the door, causing Blue to growl again. My brothers are a pain in the ass, but I would never want to change anything about them, well, maybe sometimes.

Chapter Three

Harmony

We've been driving for hours, the windows down and the radio blaring. Penny is singing in her attempt to make this fun. She helped me get showered and dressed, insisting I didn't want to look like shit when I met my mate. The skinny jeans may look amazing, but they were a bitch to get on when I lived in sweats and ratty t-shirts for weeks. So I am all made up, my long black hair flowing down to my waist, in my favorite off-the-shoulder black shirt. My makeup was dramatic; she wanted me to match the night's mood. I didn't have the heart to tell her that it wouldn't matter what I looked like if we did find my mate. It's all about our scents and the bond.

"It's getting worse," I say quietly. We have stopped in traffic on a busy street. Penny looks over at me, turning down the music. "Now there is a burning in my chest, and I'm not sure what that means." I look over at her worriedly.

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