“The lady wants to see some coyotes…we wouldn’t want her to be disappointed, now
would we?”
“Have I ever told you that all your ideas that sound great usually end up with us getting
shot at?”
Caden just sighed and picked up speed. He had a bad feeling Rebecca had made a
powerful enemy today, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d be the one on the wrong side of a bullet.
Chapter Three
“Great job, Rebecca! I think you outdid yourself this time!”
Rebecca cursed as she trampled over logs and pushed through bushes, following her
earlier trail back through the thick underbrush. “You couldn’t just take down the information and
keep your distance, no…you had to get all hot and bothered over them—
both
of them. Thank
god they couldn’t smell how aroused you were. Now that would have been embarrassing. Great
way to start an investigation. Fan-fucking-tastic.”
She grunted when her shin grazed a rock, and she kicked at the snow in frustration. What
was it about the Brady boys that knocked her senses loose, replacing them with an overload of
hormones? Hell, she’d just about begged Caden if he and Talon would accompany her to the
park, before her tongue had caught up with her brain, and she’d managed to keep her mouth shut.
Now she was stuck wading through the snow as she made her way back to the Jeep, thankful she
hadn’t found anything to substantiate the mayor’s claims.
She paused, wondering what it was about the Carson’s that irritated her so much. She
knew they had different opinions and she could accept that, but there was something about the
two men that immediately put her on the defensive. And the mayor’s comment about her dad…
A tight feeling wove through her chest, and she braced her hands on her knees in an
attempt to lessen the sting. Over a year had passed, and she still couldn’t think about it…couldn’t
accept the part she’d played in his death, or hadn’t played. If only she’d visited when he’d
asked…
Tears stung her eyes but she pushed forward, allowing the cold, mountain wind to freeze
them on her skin. She could wallow in self-pity later. For now, she had a job to do. She pressed
on, stopping at the edge of the next bend. A tingling sensation built along the back of her neck,
and she turned, certain she was being watched. A lone eagle cried overhead, and she sighed.
Apparently, spending hours in the snow, watching groups of coyotes romp across the landscape
had the same effect as standing between the Brady boys…common sense disappeared and she
was left feeling confused and breathless.
She turned back, running over the next course of action in her head when a twig snapped
a few feet away. She pivoted, barely getting her hands up to defend herself, when she was
slammed to the ground, pain sparking through her left shoulder as she impacted the crusty snow.
A loud hiss sounded in her right ear, followed by pressure and pain along her side. She rolled
with the blow, pushing to her feet just as the animal regained its footing and spun around. She
stared into the eyes of the cougar, fear making the image blur at the edges. She held her breath,
frozen for a moment before her instincts kicked in. Knowing there wasn’t enough time to fumble
for her pistol, she swung her rifle off her shoulder, jamming the long shaft in the animal’s jaws
as it leaped at her, knocking her back on the snow.
The cat roared, trying to dislodge the barrel from its mouth, but she held it in place, trying
to find a way to roll the beast off her. A spray of snow pelted her face when it pawed the ground
next to her, releasing its grip as it reared back.
Rebecca scooted backwards, swinging the gun toward the cat when a flash of brown and
gray obscured her view. She jumped and tried to stand as two huge coyotes halted in front of her,
blocking the cougar’s path. The cat hissed, flashing its large canines as it paced to the left, trying
to find a way around the dogs. But the coyotes worked in tandem, keeping the animal caged as
they snapped their jaws and bared their teeth, growling at the cat.
The cougar attempted to lunge through the center, but the brown coyote attacked from the
side, catching the cat’s hind leg as the gray animal snapped at its neck. A cry of pain echoed
along the ridge as the cougar howled in fury, retreating slightly from the coyotes. Yips and howls
rang out in the distance, and Rebecca knew another pack was racing to join in the fight.
The cat roared again, but backed up, finally turning on the trail and loping out of sight.
The coyotes stood their ground, growling at the retreating cougar until it disappeared. Both
animals scratched at the snow in what looked like an act of defiance, then turned to face her,
their eyes gleaming gold in the setting sun.
She took a shaky breath, holding the rifle at her waist as she watched them tilt their heads
and yip. Something in their eyes looked familiar, but she couldn’t seem to place it. She bridged
her weight on one hand and pushed to her feet, the rifle still aimed in the direction of the two
canines, but when she tried to back away, pain buckled her leg, and she slammed down on one
knee.
The darker coyote took a step forward, a gust of wind rippling its coat. It was beautiful,
with varying shades of brown across its back and a pure white bib along its neck. Its long ears
twitched when she whimpered. Then it lowered its head and the sound of bones popping and
joints creaking lit the air. She stared at the animal, unable to move as its body shifted, its thick
fur slowly fading into sinewy muscles and taut skin. Paws gave way to hands and feet, and the
tail disappeared on a gentle swoosh.
Bright amber eyes stared back at her, the familiar gleam stealing her breath. She could
only stare as Caden uncurled his body and moved to her side, gathering her in his arms. She
glanced over his shoulder, drawing a harsh breath when the other animal shimmered into the
mist, leaving Talon crouched in the snow. Naked.
“God damn it. That fucking cat scratched her.”
Rebecca reluctantly shifted her gaze back to Caden, the worry in his voice confusing her.
What the hell was he talking about? She was fine, just tired and apparently hallucinating. That’s
why she was having trouble keeping her eyes open. Talon was at her side by the time she blinked
back the fuzzy images.
He lifted part of her jacket aside. “Only one of the cuts is deep. The rest are pretty
superficial. But she’s losing blood, and after being out in the cold all day, her body is sure to be
weakened. We need to get her out of here.”
Caden nodded and picked her up as he turned to face his brother. “You should go ahead
and get the first-aid kit and blankets ready. And warm up the truck. If she’s not already in shock,
she will be.”
Talon gave her a tight smile then bolted off, morphing back into the gray coyote in midstride. She watched him bound through the snow, certain she was losing her mind. A hysterical
giggle bubbled free. She had to be dreaming. She must have fallen asleep in the Jeep after
wading for hours through the thigh-high snow. There was no other explanation.
Caden glanced down at her, jostling her in his arms as he pulled her close. The change in
position flung her hands against his chest, and she couldn’t hold back a moan as her fingers
connected with strong, taut muscles covered by smooth, honey-kissed skin. She swept her gaze
upwards, taking in the sleek ridge of his shoulder and the sensuous spot where his neck met his
jaw. A shadow of stubble followed the strong line, and she had the sudden urge to run her tongue
along the rough skin.
Conflicting realities tumbled in her head, and she squinted at him, trying to maintain
some focus. “If this isn’t a dream, then what the hell is going on?”
Caden flashed her a wicked smile as he started off across the snow, one hand gripped
around her back as the other cradled her legs. “Do you want it to be a dream?”
“It’s the only sane answer.”
“Sane, maybe, but not the only answer.”
A mixture of fear and excitement warred inside her, and she wasn’t certain which one she
wanted to win. “Do you actually expect me to believe you and Talon can—can…”
“Can shift our physical form between that of a human man and that of an overly large
coyote?” He shrugged. “It might sound crazy, but it’s the truth.”
Rebecca shook her head, repeatedly chanting
I’m not crazy
under her breath.
Caden only chuckled. “No, darling, you’re not crazy. But you are losing a fair amount of
blood, and if we don’t get you back to the ranch and stitched up, you aren’t going to feel much of
anything for a while.”
“Blood? Stitched up? What the hell are you talking about?” She felt fine, except for the
numbness creeping up her right side and the increasingly heavy feeling in her head.
“Great. You’re already in shock.” He dropped his shoulders slightly and picked up speed,
calling out a series of yips that reminded her of the vocals she’d heard earlier from the packs.
Another voice answered from just over the next rise, and Caden launched them both over the
small protrusion, landing beside their truck.
He shuffled her into Talon’s arms before yanking open the door and grabbing some
clothes off the nearest seat. “Next time, maybe we should hide some supplies in the park in case
we have to shift before we get back to the truck. It’s bloody cold out here without any fur.”
Talon climbed into the backseat with her huddled on his lap. “Hey, I warned you that all
of your brilliant ideas end in pain and suffering.”
“No, you said we always get shot at…need I remind that no bullets were involved.”
“Right, because fighting off a hundred and fifty pound cougar was so less threatening
than a gun.”
“Hey, we outnumbered the beast. It wasn’t even a contest.”
Talon feigned annoyance, glancing down at her as Caden donned the last of his clothes.
Talon’s eyes sparkled a deep gold in the waning light, and she found herself relaxing against
him, content to drink in the heady scent of the forest mixed with the warm essence that was all
him.
“Hey, sweetheart, don’t go to sleep on us, yet.” He gave her a gentle shake. “We need to
fix you up before you close those beautiful baby blues.”
“Please let me be dreaming.”
Talon smiled, and her stomach flip-flopped. The man was dangerous on a bad day and
down right deadly when he smiled. God help her, but she wanted to kiss him. Wanted to take
those full, pouty lips with hers until she could taste the spicy scent filling the truck. She could
picture it, the long lean body she’d watched materialize in the snow pressed against her as
Caden’s strong form moved in from behind, wedging her between equally hard cocks. Two sets
of hands would caress her body, each taking their turn discovering her most sensitive areas—the
sensuous curve where her breast joined her side, the delicate hollow at the base of her neck, or
the soft spot behind her knee. Heat rose in her cheeks, and the world dimmed slightly.
Talon’s smile turned carnal and he bent closer. “Keep looking at me like that, and I might
forget you need medical attention when I strip off your clothes.”
Caden reached back and slapped Talon’s head with a handful of bandages. “Try not to
scare another life out of her, and hold this on the wound. We need to stop the bleeding so we can
stitch the cut back at the ranch.”
“Do you think we should take her to the hospital instead?”
“Do you really want her mumbling about us turning into coyotes when she’s under the
influence of Demerol?” Caden leaned back and started the engine. “We’ve stitched our fair share
of lacerations. It’s best if she stays with us until we have a chance to explain things when she’s
more coherent.”
Rebecca grunted and tried to push herself up. “You do realize I’m sitting right here.”
Talon held her tight when she tried to roll off his lap. He raised a finger and shook it at
her. “Just lie still.” His eyes softened. “Please.”
The low timbre of his voice soothed something primal inside her, and she relaxed against
his chest, savoring the feel of his fingers against her skin, even if it was to hold a thick piece of
gauze in place. She took a deep breath, snuggling into his warmth as the truck lurched forward,
the low drone of the wheels along the snow-packed gravel lulling her into a groggy daze. It
wasn’t until a swirl of cold air buffeted her face, she realized Talon was carrying her up to their
house, the tell-tale howl of a lone coyote echoing in the background.
Talon glanced down at her as he jogged up the steps. “That brown male you met this
morning sure has a thing for you. He hasn’t stop calling since we arrived. Maybe you are half
coyote.”
“What the hell? Why are you…?” Some of the fogginess had lifted and she tried to
squirm out of his arms when a wave of pain rolled down her body. “Oh, God.”
“Looks like the shock’s wearing off, and the pain’s setting in.” He paused as Caden
opened the door for them. “Easy, sweetheart. We’ll get you something in a second.”
The next several minutes passed in a blur as the men settled her face down on the couch
and gathered their supplies. She’d resisted when they’d stripped off her shirt and bra, but had
finally relented to hiding the bare essentials with a thin towel so Caden could get a clear view of