Hour of the Lion by Cherise Sinclair (reading a book txt) 📕

Calum stripped, and her momentary admiration disappeared when his figure blurred. Oh, please, not again. A huge panther took his place, one that made Lachlan‘s animal seem a midget.

The cat‘s short-haired pelt was brown, paler on the belly. Its tail lashed back and forth; its eyes flashed gold in the moonlight. Vic closed her eyes, opened them, her lips silently moving, "No, this is so not happening."

She jumped when Calum—the cat—slashed the bear‘s muzzle open. The poor bear just took it. As the grizzly staggered across the clearing, all the people-shaped people turned their heads away like they didn‘t even see the animal. Vic felt a second of pity. She knew how it felt to be on the outside. The bear silently disappeared into the forest, and Calum changed back.

Vic‘s fingernails had dug into the bark of the tree. Not surprising. Well, she‘d found the shifters, and a lot more of them than she‘d figured. She pulled her hand open with an effort. Just how many werebeasts lived on this mountain?

The thought made the tiny hairs on her nape raise. What if one was watching her now? Why the fuck hadn‘t she worn her Glock? Of course, Alec might have noticed that little accessory as he stripped her.

Alec. Alec was Calum‘s brother so, oh God, he must be a shifter-beast too. Horror iced her skin, dried her mouth. She‘d kissed him—he‘d been inside her.

Get the hell out of here. She rose to her feet, her legs shaky. If she returned through the tunnel, she‘d risk being spotted by the fuzzy creatures—or worse, running into Alec. She‘d better circle around, go into town by a different route.

She eased one foot back, then another, glanced at the clearing and saw Calum lift his head and sniff. He turned…and looked straight at her.

Oh, fuck.

Before she could run, someone grabbed her from behind, tangling his fingers in her hair and yanking her head back. No words, but the sharp cold metal laid gently against her throat froze her better than any spoken threat.

Why the hell had she even gotten out of bed this morning?

Alec held the knife against Vicki‘s throat, unable to find any words to say. Heat rose from her skin, twining with the scent of her. Part of him wanted to throw the knife away and take her in his arms. The other part wanted to slice deep and spill her life‘s blood onto the forest floor.

Had she only mated with him to get information? If she‘d ripped his heart out with her bare hands, it wouldn‘t have hurt this much.

"Cosantir," he called, not bothering to raise his voice. Even in human form, a shifter‘s ears were almost as keen as a cat‘s. "You have a spectator."

"I scented her a minute ago. Bring her here."

With one hand fisted in the human‘s hair, knife at her throat, Alec guided her into the open area.

Having pulled on his clothing, his brother waited in the center of the clearing. His nostrils flared. The slight wind undoubtedly carried the scent of Alec on Vic and vice versa—the distinctive smell of sex. Anger darkened Calum‘s eyes.

Alec‘s jaw clenched. What had he done? Self-loathing rose like vomit in his throat, and his hand tightened in her hair so hard she made a tiny sound of pain. He stopped her in front of Calum, his body a wall behind her to keep her in place.

Near the trees, a huddle of people hovered near a small gray wolf. Chad? The healer knelt beside him, and Alec winced at the sight of the wolf‘s injuries.

Following his gaze, Calum frowned. "Farrah, prepare one of the mating rooms. Patrick, carry Chad for the healer."

Farrah murmured her obedience. Patrick dipped his head. "Yes, Cosantir."

As the others headed for the cave, Calum‘s attention turned to Vicki. Alec felt her muscles tighten under the impact of the Cosantir‘s black gaze.

"Kneel, Victoria," Calum said softly.

She stiffened, her chin rising. Alec pressed the knife harder against her throat until a thin line of blood appeared. He had to suppress a shudder. Stubborn female had enough courage that she‘d die before complying. And he couldn‘t…couldn‘t.

Well then. Fisting his hand tighter in her hair, he slammed his boot into the back of her knees, yanked her off-balance, and shoved her down.

Vic landed painfully on her knees. She snarled, fighting the urge to struggle. Bastard. She‘d have rather died than kneel. Her anger burned away some of the panic icing her guts.

Her scalp hurt from his controlling fist. Asshole. This wasn‘t the Alec she knew. Dammit, this was why she never let herself be sucked into relationships. If she survived this, she‘d cut her losses and get the hell gone.

She raised her gaze to the man in front of her. His pupils were as black as the night sky behind him. Fear slid into her again, sharp as the knife against her throat as she realized that she might not leave this place alive.

Not a good thought. As dread compressed her chest, she struggled to breathe normally, fighting the rigidity of her body. “Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains An" go to your Gawd like a soldier.” She was a soldier; death happened. Her muscles loosened slightly, her breath slowed.

"We accepted the small amount of information you offered when you arrived," Calum said.

"Questioning people isn‘t our way. But now perhaps we should ask a few. What really brought you to Cold Creek?" Shirt still unbuttoned, he crossed his arms over his chest.

The damned knife hadn‘t moved from her throat; Alec waited immovable behind her.

Probably her best bet would be to play stupid. Pretend to be an inquisitive woman, innocent of anything more threatening. She opened her mouth and…the words wouldn‘t come. Somehow the thought of lying to Alec, and even Calum, hurt deep inside for no reason. But why? She‘d spent the last years living untruths—why should she find it so hard this time?

Calum could probably tell anyway, she thought, meeting his penetrating