Tane's Mate: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (Shifter's on the Run Book 1) (14 page)

Leza wondered if her good deed would come back to haunt her, still she couldn’t regret it. They walked out to the camper. Jay held up a hand and walked around it.

“Someone tampered with it,” he said, coming to stand in front of Tane.

“What was done?”

“It’s been wired. I can undo it but it will take longer than we have and we can’t be sure they didn’t get inside.”

“Let’s go.” Tane turned around and started walking.

“Where are we going? I hate to point this out but we’re stranded on the side of the road with no wheels. How far can we get and what makes you think they’re not following us right now?”

She sighed in frustration and increased her stride to catch up with them.

“They think we may be in the camper, but they’re not sure. That’s why we didn’t drive up to their door. We stopped in an area where other large vehicles routinely come through. So they may have spotted and wired the camper but they have other vehicles they are looking for also. As long as we don’t move it they can’t trace us,” Dai explained as Jay raced ahead of them. They were on the highway again he was on the edge of the road while the rest of them were standing in a small sheltered area.

Leza watched as a car slowed down for him. He got in never looking back to acknowledge them.

Dai winked at her and he disappeared down the road.

“What’s happening?”

“If the four of us are spotted on the road or picked up, someone is going to put it together,” Tane explained. “Now it’s just the two us with car troubles trying to make it to the next town.”

They walked along the side of the road hand in hand looking like a couple in love. Tane didn’t want to ask for help and Leza didn’t question him. She was beginning to understand a little how his mind worked. If they were making a target out of themselves then Dai and Jay would have a chance to make it to safety.

A car pulled over beside them an older gentleman rolled down the window.

“Where you two headed?”

He had some silver in his hair, skin a little darker than Leza’s and kind eyes. All of this should have put her at ease but she couldn’t help think about her kindly old doctor.

“We had some car trouble a way back and we’re just trying to get to the next town.”

“Get in I’ll take you. I can see you’re not from around here. Where are you from?”

“We’re just passing through. We don’t really have ties to any place special.”

The man nodded and rolled up the window as they got in. Tane sat up front while Leza climbed in the back.

“That was mighty nice of you picking up two strangers,” Tane said his voice taking on a friendly southern charm.

“We have to stick together. You know the government has eyes and ears everywhere.”

Leza felt her body stiffen as she waited for Tane to make a move.

“I know, sometimes my girl and I talk about that kind of stuff.”

“I knew you were smart, son, from the moment I caught sight of you and your girl, she sure is a looker. In fact, if a picture of her was flashed on the screen it would be hard not to notice her in a crowd.”

“Yes Sir, she is that pretty.”

“I was in the military you know.”

“You don’t say.”

“Yeah, I was.” His chest expanded with pride. “My boy, Duncan he followed my steps and went into the military too.”

“He still in?”

“No, dishonorable discharge, they called him crazy and a danger to himself and others. He lives at home now in the basement. Ain’t been right since he came home. He talks about things like experiments they were doing on him and others. Says he’s one of the lucky ones because he was allowed to leave.”

“Sorry to hear about your woes, sir.”

“That’s ok, he’s better than they think. Everyone waiting for him to die but that animal in him, it’s too strong to let my boy die.”

“Your boy should know he’s not alone, Sir.”

“I never thought he was. It came as a bit of a shock to discover that my military wasn’t the same one that my son found. Heart breaking to be honest.”

Tane relaxed enough to sit back against the seat. Leza stared at their driver wondering what he wasn’t saying.

She waited but their driver never offered his name and never asked for theirs.

“Is there any place special I can drop you off?”

They pulled into a mid-size town; it wasn’t a bustling city but there were a lot of businesses from what Leza could see.

“No sir, you can let us off anywhere. We sure appreciate you giving us a ride.”

The gentleman pulled over, parking his car on a deserted street.

“My boy always says to me, ‘Poppa, if you meet anyone different, give them this message from me’. Well I ain’t ever met anyone different, but I always wanted to give the message out. Do you mind if I tell you? It would make this old man feel good.”

“Sir, I appreciate the ride and any message you have will be taken to heart.”

The man nodded. “My boy says, swing low sweet chariot. There ain’t nothing like a buggy and never stop at the lighthouse, but dinner in hell is rather swell.”

“I’ll remember that sir. Please tell your boy that black pants and a gold shirt are always the right colors. There’s gold up there in them hills. Oil isn’t the only thing that’s black, and red can be controlled.”

“I’ll make sure I pass that message along. Safe travels.”

They climbed out of the car and watched as it drove down the street turning the corner to disappear.

“What was that?” Leza kept her voice low.

“His son was part of the test. He escaped, dishonorable discharge, before they realized the test was successful on him. I knew a few had made it out but not according to the military. He gave his father a message to pass along to soldiers who were used as test subjects by the military. There’s a place we can spend the night that’s safe. Someone who is sympathetic to our plight where we can get a car and a place where others like us meet.”

“How did you get all of that from what he said?”

“He used a basic military code that was revived and added to when we found ourselves being tested. It’s been passed down from one group to the other. Changed enough that regular military would be clueless. Let’s meet up with Dai and Jay.”

He took her hand leading her into an alley.

“Why are we walking down the alleyways?”

“Because they must have flashed your picture on television. And right now you’re very distinctive looking. Maybe a haircut and some dye would help, but we’ll start with a pair of sun glasses.”

Could they make it to freedom? Did any such place truly exist? When she ran the only thing she was concerned about was her life. Now there was so much more to worry about.

Her hand tightened around Tane’s. His response was quick and reassuring as she felt him squeeze her hand.

They thought they were one step ahead of the government, but what if it was the other way around. What if the government was simply reeling them in slowly so they wouldn’t be the ones that got away?

“Tane?”

“I’m listening.”

“What if we’re being tracked but the person tracking us is so good that we don’t know. Maybe it’s someone like us.”

“I’ve been considering that. What would be in it for them?”

“It could be something as simple as the safety of parents. We already know what that threat will make a person do or live through.”

“If we’re being tracked by our own kind it won’t matter if we leave the country; if they want us they will eventually find us. But stealing a plane would be a little trickier than what I have in mind.”

“I like that about you.”

“What?”

“Your absolute faith in your abilities.

He shot her a smile before whispering. “Quiet, we are almost there.”

They walked another two blocks before they stopped. A bird call came to greet them. Tane answered before stepping out from behind a tall building. Jay and Dai were waiting for them.

“What took you so long?” Dai greeted his brother.

“Took us longer to flag down a car.”

“Uh huh, or were you setting yourself up as bait just in case.”

“Never, but I did get some good intel. There’s a small inn around here where we can safely spend a night.”

“Dai and I hit a bar when we got here. Picked up on a rumor that there were things going on in town that was making the locals uncomfortable. They said as long as people minded their own business nothing happened.”

“Sounds like what I heard. There’s a meet and greet for people who aren’t people. First let’s find a place to stay,” Tane said.

“Where are we going?” Dai asked.

“Swing low sweet chariot.”

Dai broke into laughter. “I know where we are going.”

The inn was an old white mansion with a chariot on the door. An older woman opened the door ushering them in.

“Come in, you all must be cold from standing on that porch.”

“No Ma’am,” Leza replied. “We’re rather warm actually.”

“We’ll why didn’t you say anything. I’ll get you some nice glasses of cold lemonade. You stand right there and wait.”

Leza turned to find the males smiling.

“What are you smiling about?”

“She’s so cute. You just know she’s somebody’s grandmother.”

Leza grunted then mentally chastised herself. Tane must be rubbing off on her.

The woman came back walking slowly with four glasses in her hand. They each took one thanking her.

“How can I help you?” The woman smiled as they drank.

“We were hoping you might have a few rooms for the night,” Tane said taking a swallow of his drink.

“You need four rooms?”

“If you have it we need three, if not my brothers will bunk together. My wife and I will share a room.”

The woman looked at Leza and Tane with a frown on her face. She opened her mouth to speak looking at Leza again before staying silent.

Tane looked her in the eyes, the woman sighed.

“Times change and people change too. Follow me and I’ll show you to your rooms.”

“Where do we register?” Leza asked as she led them up the stairs.

“Why, are you planning on using your real names? No? Then why register? It’s one twenty a night per room. I expect cash.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” they said as she led them each to a room.

Tane and Leza were the last to be led to a room. She opened the door and handed the key to Tane.

“One night is all you can stay. If you’re here too long they will notice you.” She turned around and walked away.

Leza walked in and waited for Tane to close the door. “My day has been filled with strange encounters. What’s her story?”

“Besides the color of your skin?”

“Yeah, besides that. Funny how being held and experimented on can eclipse little things like people not liking you for something you can’t help.”

“Did you get a sense of anything from her?”

“She’s old. Older than she looks. That comment about people and times changing. Didn’t sound like she meant the last fifty years.”

“I agree she wasn’t acting like I would think a grandparent or even a great grandparent would act.”

“What are you thinking?”

“Lore has a theory that maybe there are other beings like us out there the government never experimented on. They were born that way. I wonder…”

There was a knock at the door. Tane pushed her away from him indicating for her to step into the attached room and remain silent. Then he pushed himself flat against the wall and reached out turning the door handle. No one entered the room instead a small bird call came out that he answered.

Dai rounded the corner, a gun in his hand before Jay came in. Tane stood back and put his weapon away.

Leza came out of the room frowning. “Why so edgy?”

“Don’t you feel it?” Tane asked.

“My animals are ripping me up inside, clawing at me to get free to hunt something,” Jay added.

She let out a slow sigh. “Yeah, I feel something, but I thought it was just me. Others like us are around.”

“It’s more than that. There’s a buildup of otherness in the air. It’s the best I have. You know how it feels when you’re around humans?”

Leza nodded. It was a feeling that hit you in the solar plexus and depending on their level of dominance she usually wanted to hunt them like prey.

“This is the same, but different. It feels like we aren’t the baddest thing around,” Dai finished.

“Makes you want to challenge whoever is supposed to be in charge.”

Tane’s eyes flipped as one of his animals peeked out.

“This is what I have to go through. Making sure he doesn’t kill himself. It’s my constant battle.” Dai walked up to him until he was standing in his face. “No dominance battles.” His voice came out low and fierce.

Tane growled low and looked at Dai not that Dai seemed to notice. He stood toe to toe with Tane. Leza waited for one of them to strike out claiming first blood before Tane blinked. That was all it took. Dai was on the other side of the room and they all looked around like nothing had happened.

Leza did a slow blink of her own trying to figure it out. Tane had acknowledged to his brother that he had a right to care about what happened to him. He was still Alpha, still in charge, but he acknowledged that as his brother was his second he would listen to Dai.

She shook her head wondering if this happened all the time. From the way the males acted as if this were a routine occurrence, she was going to put it down to normal. Family. What an amazing thought, not just Tane and Dai but all of them. They came together as one well-oiled machine knowing what worked for them and what didn’t.

She blinked again thinking of Amy and her family. Then thoughts of how she was beginning to belong with these males made her smile. It was one thing to think you belonged, it was another to actually want to belong and that’s what she wanted. To be integral to the running of this well-oiled machine.

“What next?” she asked.

“Dai and Jay are going to procure us a vehicle. We are going to checkout a night club.”

“I’m going to put my hair up so I won’t be recognized but it would help if we could stop by a store and get some spray in color I can use as highlights to help throw anyone looking for me off.” He nodded his head.