Chapter Three
Branson
“Hello.”
I hear her voice for the first time and it pulls my mouth into a wider smile. “Hey, can I come up?”
“I-I don’t even know you.”
I press my hand to my sweater, over my heart. “I’m sorry, let me introduce myself. I’m Branson Tucker, I do believe we met under somewhat strange circumstances. I’d like to explain.”
She says nothing.
I sniff the air. Elias’s scent lingers. “I know he’s up there,” I say. “Perhaps I can make sure he’s not telling you any lies about what he is.”
“Why would he lie?”
“Let’s just say Elias is not always sure about what he does and doesn’t want.”
Much to my relief, the door buzzes open. I push in to the lobby and take the steps two at a time. Elias’s scent thickens and my body reacts as always. There’ll never be another man for me. He’s ruined me for all others. Whatever it was we had going can’t be replicated.
She opens the door as I reach it and I see him standing behind her. He has brooding good looks that get me every time as do his eyes that flash with alpha confidence.
“Wonderful to meet you.” I hold out my hand to her. “Though I beg to know your name.”
She takes it, her skin warm and soft. “Maisey Shaw.”
I resist the urge to pull her wrist to my nose and find out if the faint scent of ash is in her veins as well as in the air around her. I suspect it is but I might be mistaken, in which case I could scare her off. And I don’t want to do that, now that Elias is here taking an interest in her.
It’s not hard to see why. She has tumbling dark hair that falls in wide curls almost to her waist. Her eyes are dark, as are her lashes and brows. There’s a cute freckle to the right of her full top lip and her chin is faintly pointed.
Elias has always swung both ways. Before me, he was married for two years. Losing Zena had almost killed him, had certainly shredded his heart, until I had helped heal it—or so he’d told me.
“Elias.” I step further into the apartment and breathe deep. Yes, definitely something unique going on here, the smells bombarding me are a feast for the senses and a mystery. “You beat me to it.”
“I didn’t know it was a contest.” His voice is low and gruff.
“You didn’t think I’d want to find the beauty who spotted our little adventure last night? Why not? A chase is always fun.”
“What are you doing here? Really?” she asks and flicks her hair over her shoulder. “Tell me.”
The room fills with human smells, shampoo, soap, maybe elderflower and juniper too. “I am here to answer your questions, Maisey. I’m sure you have some.”
“Not as many as five minutes ago.”
Ah, so Elias hadn’t arrived long before me, no wonder his scent had been so strong when I’d followed hers. “And what have you learned in the last five minutes?” I ask.
“That this man—Elias—is a wolf shifter.” She raises her eyebrows as though daring me to dispute the fact.
I don’t.
“And now.” She gestures to me. “I’m wondering what you are?”
“No guesses?”
“From what I saw, a cat, a big cat.”
“Sharp observation, well done.” I point at myself. “I’m a panther.”
She inhales deeply and then moves to a chair. She pulls it out and drops onto it.
“It’s a lot for you to take in,” Elias says. “Shall I get you a glass of water?”
“What? No.” She shakes her head. “I need proof. The video is gone. I want to see proof that he’s a panther.” She points at me.
“You want me to shift?”
“Sure. Perhaps I was hallucinating last night. I’ve had migraines before like that. Seen things move on their own, had weird premonitions. Strange things happen to me, you know.”
“No, I don’t know, but I can believe it.” Elias glances at me.
I nod, we both know there’s something else at play here. She is more than she appears.
“So.” She tilts her chin. “Prove it.”
“And what will you do with the information?” I ask. “No one will believe you, there’s no evidence, it’s my word against yours.”
“I just need to know I’m not going mad.” She rubs her brow. There’s a tremble in her voice and I suspect it’s not from fear but from holding back things she isn’t saying.
What depths this alluring woman has. And why did fate drop her on our path last night?
“Okay,” I say with a shrug. “I can shift for you.” I pull off my sweater and as I place it on the back of a chair I glance at Elias.
He’s drinking in the sight of my torso. His gaze is almost a caress. I tense my abdominals and slowly release my belt.
His gaze catches mine and then he looks away with a frown.
But it’s too late. I saw the desire in his eyes.
He’s denying it but fooling no one, least of all me.
I hold in a smile and shuck down my pants, my boxers go with them, and when I’ve toed off my sneakers I stand before Maisey and Elias totally and utterly naked.
“Don’t be scared,” I say to Maisey. “I’m in total control when I shift and I won’t hurt you.” I pause and chuckle. “And I’m not hungry, which is always good.”
She’s paled a little and like Elias she glances at my cock. I’m big, there’s no disputing that, and right now I’m not completely flaccid. How can I be with Elias in the room?
“Get on with it,” Elias snaps. His jaw is tight.
“Why the rush?” I bite on my bottom lip and hold in a grin as I look at him. He makes a low growling sound and turns to the window. It’s killing him, seeing me naked and not touching me. He’s practically vibrating with want. Good.
“Ready?” I ask Maisey.
She nods.
I harness my panther self, find his energy, and summon him to the surface.
My spine tingles, the sensation spreads to my ass and cock and up and over my scalp.
My skin heats and my vision blurs, my jaw aches as do my hands and feet, elbows and knees, and then a blistering burst of panther power seizes me and I give in to it.
The moment is almost orgasmic and I let out a roar as I fall to all fours landing on my paws.
My tail tugs my lower back and my sight and sense of smell is suddenly so exquisitely sharp I catch my breath.
“What the...” She clasps her hands beneath her chin. Her eyes are wide and her shoulders shake. “You ... you really did that.”
“Yes, he did. And for the record, he doesn’t do that for humans.”
“Then I’m honored.”
I step closer. My pupils are thin slits against the brightness of the window behind her. Night is my comfort zone, the cover of darkness is my friend.
But there is no escaping her. I’m drawn to her.
I breathe deep. The swirling scent of ash is stronger to me now. It is rare ancient magic, a tiny fraction of her that isn’t human but has come down from a long line of witches. A precious power lives within Maisey. What it is I don’t know. But I’ve found it. We’ve found her.
“I...” She holds out a hand as though to touch the top of my head. Her eyes are fixated on mine. I know my yellow irises are startling and I hold her gaze.
“You can touch him,” Elias says. “He won’t mind.”
She seems smaller now that I am my panther self, even more delicate, vulnerable to the power my muscles hold.
But when her hand connects with the top of my head, to my fur, I know in that instant I will do anything to protect her, fight for her, to make sure the wild road she is about to embark on will be a safe one.
I sniff her arm and let the scent go through my panther lungs and into my panther blood.
“You smell it too?” Elias is staring straight at me.
I dip my head in a nod.
He takes a deep breath. “Everything has changed for you, Maisey, now that you know our secret and now that we know yours. Your life will never be the same.”
“I don’t see how that is the case.” She continues to fondle my head and rubs around the base of my ears. “What secret do I have?”
A low purr sets up in my throat. Her touch is bliss.
“There will be time for explanations,” Elias says. “When we understand more.”
“What I need to understand more about is the attacks.” She frowns. “I have nothing to give my boss at the paper. No story to submit, I’m no further on with anything. He’s going to burst a blood vessel.”
“Attacks?” Elias says with a frown. “What do you know about the attacks?”
“That there were two animal attacks in Central Park this last week.” She stops petting me and leans back in the chair. She looks out the window. “Nasty. Awful. Brutal way to go.”
“So why were you out there?” Elias asks the question on my mind.
“Looking for clues. I told you, I need a story for my boss.”
“You could have been attacked.” Elias seems incredulous at her actions.
“I had bear spray.”
“As if that would have helped.” He shakes his head and gestures to me. “Shift back, for goodness sake.”
I draw my panther brows together. Elias has always been a bossy bastard. But I do as he says and summon my human energy. I stretch upward as my skin chills and my spine contracts and arches.
“In the name of...” Maisey is staring at me as I refocus with my human eyes. “That was...”
“Showing off. He’s always been super quick at shifting,” Elias says with a huff. “Get dressed, will you?”
“You never used to complain about me being naked.” I reach for my boxers and grin at him.
“Yeah, well, Maisey doesn’t need to see you flaunting your goods.”
I glance at her. She’s studying my cock like she’s hungry for it. It twitches and my balls tighten. I quickly pull up my boxers. What the hell am I doing getting turned on by a woman’s attention? That isn’t me. Never has been and never will be.
She gives me a half smile. “You have a great body, human and panther, I’m not complaining if you want to be naked.”
Elias laughs sharply. “You’re barking up the wrong tree. He doesn’t bat on your team.”
“Is that right?” She looks at me as if she’s seeing into my soul, at desires I don’t even know I have.
Suddenly I feel like it is only a thin veil separating me from her. As though she has cast some kind of spell on me in a language I can’t understand but want to.
“I need a drink.” She stands suddenly and reaches for a purse. “A proper one.” After withdrawing a brush, she pulls it through her long silky hair.