Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
The males surrounded her, but they couldn’t force her to speed up. They didn’t dare shoulder her; her mate would never have permitted it. Joshua was careful, now that she was in motion, to keep her moving. Sonia was certain he knew that if his leopard tried to reprimand her female, she would shift again and attack him.
It took a very long time to retrace their steps to his plantation. Twice, two of the leopards, one she knew was called Carter and the other Fergus, broke off from the group and backtracked, as if they suspected they were being followed. That made Sonia uneasy. She hadn’t kept her voice down, not even when Joshua admonished her to. If the hunter had heard them and let loose his dogs, he might be able to track them. He had a gun. He could shoot any of the leopards, or it was possible they would have to kill him. That would be on her. An innocent man, probably one just trying to find food for his family, didn’t deserve to be torn apart by leopards he stumbled across.
For the first time, she forced her mind to think beyond her own misery. Right at that moment, she thought she didn’t care if Joshua died. She even thought she wanted him dead – that was until she realized a hunter could be trailing them. She didn’t want anyone to die, least of all Joshua. Conflicted, so confused by her own vacillation, she urged Gatita to pick up the pace.
Fog had begun to creep through the trees, turning the dark night to a gray veil. There was little breeze and the insects were abnormally quiet, choosing to stay hidden when the pack of leopards invaded their territory. Sonia began to feel a kind of dread, her stomach knotting with every step they took. She didn’t like the way the leopards were acting, taking turns to drop back and go along their back trail. She didn’t like the fact that they were close to Joshua’s home and she might not get another opportunity to escape.
Why are the males so uneasy?
They caught the scent of an outsider.
Did you catch it? Ordinarily, when Gatita smelled something, she shared it with Sonia.
I thought, for a moment, I did, Gatita admitted, but it is elusive and it was gone within seconds. Still, the others have checked repeatedly.
Sonia tried to think of a question that would gain her information. Talking with a leopard through images and heightened emotion was difficult sometimes. Do you believe we are being followed?
Yes.
Sonia’s heart lurched. Joshua had been right to believe the hunter might hear her. He was stealthy as well. Any hunter capable of throwing seven male leopards and Gatita off his track and scent had skills.
Get moving faster. I don’t want the hunter shooting at us.
I do not believe he will shoot.
Sonia blew her breath out in exasperation. Gatita was thoroughly angry with her mate. She didn’t want to cooperate in any way.
I kicked him for you, Sonia reminded.
They betrayed us. There is no forgiveness. Gatita made that very clear. By not warning me that your man was like Sasha, Shadow is equally to blame.
I agree, Sonia said a little reluctantly. She didn’t want Gatita doing anything that would get the male to turn on her. When they killed her, Sonia was determined they would kill the human, not the leopard, so Gatita wouldn’t feel it as much.
The back of the plantation house loomed up through the gray fog. Sonia wanted to hide in Gatita’s form, fear crawling down her spine. She would have to face Joshua again. It was the last thing she wanted to do, but it was inevitable.
Do you remember what I did with my cell?
It was in the “go” bag.
That was a different one for emergencies. She knew Gray had the bag around his neck. It wouldn’t do her much good now. What did I do with my everyday cell, the one I use for work?
There was silence as Gatita navigated the branch leading to the upper deck. The other males fell back, making a show of circling the house so she would know she was a prisoner and if she got away a second time, she would be hunted down.
Your phone was in the master bedroom, on the little table between the chairs. There was the image in Gatita’s mind.
Joshua shifted and opened the French doors to allow Gatita through, into the master bedroom. He stepped back to let them inside and then closed the double doors and locked them.
Get close to the table.
Gatita obeyed, her tail swishing dangerously as she padded across the room to the table. Sonia shifted, her hand closing over the phone as she turned to face Joshua. His face was a mask, all traces of the man who had been seemingly loving and gentle gone. In his place was a cold, hard stranger. Dangerous as hell. Scary dangerous. His eyes were that crystalline blue, but now arctic cold, so cold she shivered. One moment he was across the room from her, the next he was on her, his hand closing around her wrist like a vise. He tore the phone from her hand and flung it across the room.