To Lie With Lions: A BBW Shifter Romance (Wolf Rock Shifters Book 4) (10 page)

BOOK: To Lie With Lions: A BBW Shifter Romance (Wolf Rock Shifters Book 4)
4.25Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

And the worst of it was that he was inflicting it all on Cecile, and trying to extract the tiger from the woman. It couldn’t be done; it would be like he’d torn her very soul away.

Six

 

 

That evening as seven o’clock approached, Nash made his way to Zoe’s house. The map indicated a densely wooded area not too far from the wolves’ cabin, but when he arrived at the location, he saw no buildings; only trees. Nash was left to sniff his way the residence, knowing that a group of shifters would be relatively easy to make out amid the smell of forest.

As he d
rew close, following tracks in the shallow snow, he realized that in fact there was no house; at least not on the ground.

The footprints
led him to the base of a thick tree trunk, and he looked up to see lights high above him among the uppermost branches. Clearly Zoe, like him, enjoyed spending time up in treetops.

Nash
began the climb, which was facilitated by some rungs that had been built into the tree itself, intended for shifters or humans to be able to access with their hands. He could imagine that a wolf might have a hell of a time climbing such a trunk, and he was fairly sure that at least one wolf would be showing up to the evening’s meeting.

For an inadvisable moment
he’d considered asking Cecile along, but things had grown too complicated and it seemed wise to give himself and her some space. There was no question of his attraction to her, or even hers to him. But their relationship, fractured as it was, had no place in this area of his life. It was imperative that she remain separate while he sorted everything out. And given that her father was a suspect in what appeared to be some sort of crime syndicate, it made no sense to get her involved. Whether she had any knowledge of his own inner circle or not, it wasn’t right to bring her into a situation which would invariably result in a conflict of interest.

Besides, she had a habit of distracting
Nash, whether deliberately or not, and he wanted more than anyone to get to the bottom of everything that was going on. In him, at the end of it all, was a violent war between his attraction and desire for her and his need to protect his territory and that of all of his extended network in Wolf Rock.

He arrived at the top of the ladder to find an open trap door, and he pulled himself up and into what was a surprisingly well-manicured treehouse. It had every amenity that one could imagine; even a large-screened TV, though
Nash couldn’t begin to figure out how even a shape-changer could manage to lift such a heavy object to such a height.

Until he saw Zoe’s mate, that is.

Colson was a bear shifter, and like Nash, a large man. He was muscular and tall; a typical protector. Nash could see in him a dominant nature as soon as he shook his hand.

“So you’re the lion,” the man said. “Good to meet you. Zoe told me about your little encounter with those jackasses who are trying to stir things up around here.”

“Yeah, I’m still trying to figure out who their boss is,” said Nash.

“We all are,” said a woman he didn’t recognize, who’d been standing in a far corner. “I’m Kyla,” she said. As she walked towards him, he saw the familiar bright blue eyes of a wolf shifter. There was an intelligence in them and as she approached him,
Nash felt almost nervous, as though she were looking through him.

“You’re the one with…” began
Nash.

“The visions, yes,” she laughed. “Zoe told you, I’m sure. They’re a bloody nuisance, really. I have these moments when I see things so clearly. Like that wolf of yours. I know what he looks like. But I have a suspicion that we’re not looking for a wolf shifter.”

“So you don’t think it’s Dascha or anyone in your pack?”

“No. I don’t. I’m not a fan of
Dasch’s, not really. But he’s oblivious to everything that’s going on. I’m just as happy for him to stay out of the way. I think we’re looking for someone from out of town.”

“Why’s that?”

“I’ve had foggy visions of a man, of meetings. When they’re so nebulous and confusing usually it’s a question of distance.”

“Sorry,
but I need to ask something,” said Nash, pausing for a moment. He looked around at the group that had congregated in Zoe’s house. “There’s a shape-changer here, and a psychic. Do you all have superpowers?”

Zoe laughed, and Colson spoke up. “I don’t,” he said. “I’m just a bear shifter. Though we’re learning more and more that every shifter’s got a talent. It’s just that most remain hidden. You’ll find that in you is something that you may not have extracted yet,
Nash.”

“I’m fast. That seems to be the height of my mad skills,” said
Nash.

“Well, don’t underestimate the value of speed.” Now the speaker was another large man who’d remained silent.

“Nash, this is my mate, Maddox,” said Kyla. “He’s a changer.”

“Like Zoe?” asked
Nash.

“Not quite,” said the large, dark man. “I’m a grizzly shifter who’s working on mastering changing. But I don’t have Zoe’s gift to shift into other people. That’s something special.”

“But you can change into other animals,” Nash mused.

“Yes. I can.”

“All this time I’ve felt so weird, at college, for being different. I had no idea how damned normal I really am. I’m downright boring.”

“Not at all,” laughed Zoe. “I suspect that before too long you’ll have worked out how interesting you can be.”

“We’ll see,” said Nash. “Anyhow, we need to come up with a plan of attack, don’t we?”

“We do,” said Kyla. “We had a thought.”

“Oh?”

“How would you feel about cozying up to the bad guys,
Nash?” she asked. “We need someone on the inside.”


Um, I don’t see that happening. Not for me. I don’t think I’m exactly popular with those folks.”

“Well, no, probab
ly not. But you’ve been to Conrad Malcolm’s house. You’ve argued with him. You could offer to bring them information, or at least mention an affiliation with the man.”

“You think they’d seriously go for that?”

“Well, can you act at all?”

Nash
pondered this for a moment. “I’ve done some acting actually, in high school and college. Nothing big.”

“Doesn’t matter. You just have to react t
o them. Let them know that you want your ranch protected. That Malcolm wants you gone and that you have nothing to lose. That you wanted his daughter but he’s forbidden it and you’re out for revenge. He’s likely to be their biggest target, you know.”

“And you’re sure he’s not in on this whole thing?”

“Positive,” said Kyla. “He’s not a sweet man, but he’s not in on the racket, I’m fairly sure.”

“But what about Cecile?” asked
Nash.

“What about her?” asked
Maddox.

“I don’t…I wouldn’t want to hurt her. I’d have to lie to her.”

“Are you two a couple?”

“Well, no, not really.”

“Nash, think about the town. The people, the shifters. We need to find out who’s in charge of all this. You have an in with the wolf pack and with Conrad Malcolm. You’re more flexible in all this, because you’re single. Any of us would have a problem because we’d be putting our mates at risk.”

Nash
realized as Kyla spoke that she was right. Things were precarious at best with Cecile; much as he wanted her, he knew that it wouldn’t, couldn’t work, though the thought caused him an indescribable agony.

There was too much in the way. At least here he had a chance to make things right in Wolf Rock.

“All right,” he said. “Tell me what to do.”

Nash felt suddenly as though he was part of something larger than himself. After a life of solitude,
of fending for himself and defending his territory and even his heart, he was working with others; no longer a leader or loner, but a collaborator. Something in it filled him with a sense of pride.

They all sat on various chairs and sofas while Zoe handed out drinks.

“You’ve met up with their thugs,” said Maddox. “And so naturally they’ll be wary of you. But if you tell them your parents are too stubborn to pay but that you want to get in on this money-making opportunity, it could work. At first they’ll probably test you. There’s no way they’ll let you know who’s the boss, for a while anyhow. But your job is to find out.”

“Okay, that’s all nice and simple,” said
Nash. “But one small thing: how the hell do I find these bastards?”

“That’s where I come in,” said Kyla.
“I told you some of my visions are fuzzy. But some aren’t. I’ve seen where these guys are. And the good news is it’s pretty damn easy to find them. They’re in a motel just outside of town.”

“So what do I do? Just go u
p and knock? Say, ‘Hiya, I threatened to kill you but let’s be friends now. And tell me all your secret shit while we’re at it.’”

Kyla laughed. “Something like that. Listen, you’re a shifter. You know how to behave. Submit. Do all the things that are totally counter to your
nature. Make them feel like they have control and that you’ll do whatever you need to, because ultimately you’re looking out for your pride.”

Nash
thought, at least, that he could accomplish this. It didn’t involve a lot of lying, which was a relief. And of course he genuinely wanted to protect his family and the entire town.

“There’s just one downside,” said Maddox. “You’re probably going to be asked to spy on the pack and others, including Cecile and her father. If this is something you’ll have a big problem with, tell us now. It won’t be easy for you.”

“I’m okay. I can do it. Listen, I saw that wolf attack a calf. I saw them set fire to my barn. I’ll do whatever it takes. I’d rip their heads off if someone let me.”

“Don’t go severing heads until we find out who the ringleader is,” said Maddox. “As soon as we do that, I’ll be right there with you. We can pull off some limbs, too.”

“I’m looking forward to that like you don’t even know,” said Nash. “I’ve got one question, though. Zoe, you’re a changer. If you can morph into other people, why aren’t you getting in on this?”

“I’m skilled,” she said, “But not that skilled. I can’t change sex. I suspect that they’re all men, and they’re not about to accept a woman in their midst.”

“Okay, that makes some sense at least. And this wolf? The one who attacked the calf. Do we have any idea who he is?”

“None,” said Kyla. “Like I said, I saw him in a vision, in wolf
form. But not as a human. There was something off about him. I’ve been a wolf all my life—well, most of it—and this shifter wasn’t like the wolves I know. Keep an eye out for him. We need to find out what makes him tick.”

“I will.”

The rest of the evening was spent planning Nash’s infiltration. He would go the following day to the motel. The manager had already given Kyla the room number, and Nash had only to knock, which seemed almost like an intimidating prospect, even to the lion.

Guns weren’t allowed in Wolf Rock, and for the most part would be pointless anyhow against the speed and agility of shifters. So at the very least,
Nash knew that he wouldn’t be shot. He could, however, be subjected to all sorts of other punishments if he were found out, and so it was vital that he keep quiet about his intentions. He was not even to tell his parents.

As he headed home that night he thought of Cecile. He would have to surrender any hope of being with her, as it would endanger her to remain close to him.
But it wouldn’t be easy; if anything, her father’s attempts to separate them only made him want her more. This would do nothing to quell his passion. But it would offer him peace of mind to know that he was doing what he was meant to: protecting.

He was designed for the job.

Nash’s father was a large man, and especially in his younger days had been a formidable lion. In the years when Wolf Rock had largely been populated by humans, Richardson had terrified many of them when he’d spent time roaming the hills and valleys, stalking prey and protecting ranches. It was hard not to fear a beast whose head was three times the size of a human’s.

Now that shifters were the norm in tow
n, the lions were regarded as noble, respected for their strength and their wisdom.

But it was the white tigers who’d recently come to town who caused the greatest stir, and
Nash had trouble releasing the beautiful female from his mind.

Seven

 

 

The motel sat on a quiet road, separated from the town by a heavily wooded area. It looked like a place that had seen better days; the sort of establishment that tired travelers migrated to for its cheapness and convenience, rather than for any luxury.

The couple who owned it were the sort of
earthy, warm folks who might set up shop in the mountains merely to have mountains to look at, and who would be content spending their days inhaling fresh air and the odd puff of engine exhaust, or, more to their liking, weed. It seemed the unlikeliest and yet likeliest location for an organized crime syndicate to set up shop.

BOOK: To Lie With Lions: A BBW Shifter Romance (Wolf Rock Shifters Book 4)
4.25Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke
Blood Marriage by Richards, Regina
Tightly Wound by Mia Dymond
Mission: Cook! by Robert Irvine
Big Time by Ryan, Tom;
River Of Life (Book 3) by Paul Drewitz
The Whole Truth by James Scott Bell