Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Maya felt her joy of freedom. Not just of her freedom, but of her ability to be in the wild and call to other males. To declare she was fit and strong and looking for partners to see her sensual, alluring, very playful self.
She raced over fallen logs and through shallow creeks, heading away from the house as fast as she could to put as much distance between her and Rogue as possible. She wanted freedom while she could get it. She wanted a real chase. He should have to work to get her. She deserved that much from him.
Maya found herself smiling at Wraith’s images and emotions. Hormones wreaked as much havoc in the leopard as they did in the human. Wraith had turned almost entirely into a leopard of the wild, rushing into the swamp to announce her lovely presence to as much of the world as she could with a loud, sawing call and spraying the trees with her scent to entice any male who might be in close proximity.
She splashed through shallow creeks and dashed around two termite hills and then playfully rushed up a slope, marking two more trees before rolling in a thick pile of leaves. She sent them scattering in every direction before she was up and running again along a narrow game trail.
Wraith became aware of the big male coming up slowly behind her. He was silent. Stealthy. He was worthy of her attentions. She made certain to show herself to her best advantage.
Maya found herself sharing her laughter with Gorya at the female’s antics. She’s so impossible. What a terrible little hussy she is.
She felt so different to be out of her human form and allow Wraith to take over. The relief was tremendous. She hoped it felt the same to Gorya.
She is, isn’t she? There was amusement in his voice to match hers.
She loved sharing with him. She’d never really had that before. It was the little things others probably took for granted, she decided. Laughing together. Gorya consoling her, holding her when she was terrified of letting the other three down. Feeling safe with him. She’d never had the luxury of feeling safe before. Neither had Wraith. They’d depended on each other, but they lived so carefully and lied so much to everyone, she’d forgotten what telling the truth was until she’d made the pact with Gorya.
The relief on my body is tremendous, Gorya. Thank you for thinking of this. She hesitated but had to know. I hope you’re feeling that same relief.
I am. It also helps to see how joyful Wraith is with her newfound freedom. She likes running wild.
Maya could honestly say she’d never felt Wraith’s happiness the way the leopard was now experiencing the rush of independence and coquettish, kittenish behavior. She deserved to prance around like a wild, free leopard. The cat had been forced from near infancy to be a warrior, a killer, just as Maya had been. They had been shaped into warped killing machines at an early age just to survive. Maya loved feeling Wraith’s joy at the new experience of just being able to have freedom to be a leopard.
Thank you, Gorya. I love this for her.
Gorya flooded her mind with such tenderness and love, she would have dissolved into tears all over again if she had her physical body. She couldn’t remember being so emotional. All the hormones racing through her. She was putting it down to the unfamiliar leopard’s heat—that and the completely unfamiliar feeling of care that another human shared exclusively and seemingly unconditionally with her.
I’d like to take all the credit, but Rogue and Wraith were in on the plan. Rogue and I talked it over, and then he consulted with Wraith. He didn’t want her afraid of him if he had to fight off any other males vying for her attention.
Maya would have bitten down hard on her lip if she was able to while she contemplated what Gorya had told her. She turned that information over and over in her mind. It was almost as if Rogue expected to have to fight off other rivals.
I thought you sent the males away. She didn’t want Rogue to fight any of the male leopards who worked security for them. Those men were Gorya’s friends, or as close to friends as he had. They were men willing to risk their lives for him. In the fury of a battle for a female, Rogue could easily kill one of them.
I sent away our males, baby, he soothed. Her call is loud. The night is carrying it far. It’s possible other leopards will be drawn to her.
Gorya didn’t sound as uneasy as she thought he should be. Gorya, if other leopards come to fight Rogue, he could be injured. She had seen the leopard fight. Few, if any, could defeat him, but she didn’t want him killing male leopards unless they were enemies.