After a long night, dawn approached. The Carpathians went to ground. Solange and Jasmine went back to their safe house.
Sitka and her brothers refused to sleep indoors. Sitka made her point clear by shifting and heading to a tree. She circled before settling down. Her ears went back, as if she was daring anyone to protest. Her brothers followed her lead, Tawny staying up to act as a lookout.
The Chavez family shrugged and went back to their work.
The Lycan slept the day away, shifting lookouts several times. It was Sitka's turn when twilight came. She felt the Carpathian male sneak up in the bushes behind her. Without disturbing her brothers, she shifted and headed toward the shrubs.
"Can I help you?" she asked politely.
"Will you take a walk with me?" the shadow asked. His voice was deep and sent trickles of lightning through her veins. Sitka was wary of her reaction.
"Alright," she agreed. "But try to take my blood and you'll end up with no teeth!"
The teeth in question flashed in a smile. "I will do nothing you can't live with," the male purred.
"What's your name?" Sitka asked.
"I am Zacharias De La Cruz. And you?" The way he said it made her know that he already knew her name.
"Sitka Sandmoon Forthsyng."
"A pleasure to meet you, Sitka."
They stepped onto the moonlit path. Now Sitka could see the male. He had hooded eyes that seemed to see into her very soul. His jaw was shadowed, he had classic features, his hair was pulled back with a leather tie. He wore a t-shirt and jeans. Though his clothing was simple, he made Sitka ashamed of her ragged shorts.
She was nervous about the fact that he made her flesh tingle. She stretched to hide that she was checking to see if her knives were in easy reach.
"What do you do in your spare time?" Zacharias asked.
Sitka bared her teeth. "I hunt. Vampires, Rouges, whatever! It's gotten to the point where they avoid our territory like the plague." She snorted, "Cowards."
"Why do you do that? Why risk yourself?" Zacharias asked. He couldn't figure this woman out.
"Why do anything? It's my calling, what I'm good at. Tawny got the heal-people gene, I got the kill-people gene."
"What's your family like?" Zacharias had only known what it was like to be Carpathian, he was curious.
Instead of answering him aloud, Sitka opened her mind to him. Zacharias was filled with the images of a family playing outside a small cabin. Tawny healing her knee, later healing a stab wound. Lyle teaching her how to fight, praising her while his face was smashed into the dirt.
Images of her parents. Her father was a conservationist. There were images of his lectures and of him showing her how to think critically. Her mother teaching her how to track and holding her when she cried about how Josh wouldn't leave her alone.
Sitka quickly placed a barrier, but not before Zacharias saw an image of a man that she hated, giving her flowers.
He growled. The beast rose up inside him, demanding blood. He closed his eyes, fighting it. They snapped open when he felt Sitka edging away from him. He tried to smile reassuringly. He knew he failed miserably.
"I have a temper," Zacharias apologized.
"All male Carpathians do." Sitka said, "That's why we avoid you."
Zacharias closed his eyes again. Sitka felt an overwhelming need to comfort him. Her body disobeyed her brain and went toward him. She offered him her hand.
He took it, whipping her into his arms. Zacharias didn't know what he was doing. All he knew was that he wouldn't last another second unless he claimed her.
Sitka's struggles melted away when he kissed her. He was heat lightning in summer, commanding and masculine.
She gasped and his tongue swept into her mouth.
You are my lifemate. I claim you as my lifemate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give you my allegiance. I give you my heart. I give you my soul. I give you my body. I take into keeping all the same that is yours. Your life will be cherished by me for all time. Your life will be placed above my own for all time. You are my lifemate. You are bound to me for all eternity. You are always in my care.
Zacharias bit down on her neck. Sitka gasped at the erotic pain. Dimly she remembered promising to punch him if he bit her.
Zacharias had never tasted anything so sweet. He forced himself to only take enough for a true exchange. He kept his mind merged with hers. Smiling at her irritation about her confusion, he swept his tongue across the pinpricks, healing them.
His nail sharpened as he drew it across his chest. He drew her mouth toward the wound. His breath escaped him in a hiss as her mouth moved, taking in his blood, binding them together. He groaned.
Sitka licked the wound one last time, looking up at him. He was everything she had ever looked for in a man. She had merged with him. She knew he was a leader as she was. There would be friction but it could be resolved. She claimed his mouth with hers once more.
You are really not upset? He asked. Sitka saw images from his brothers memories.
Let me work up to it, she teased. Besides, you'll have to deal with my brothers.
Zacharias smiled. He was shocked that he remembered how. He had spent such a long time in the darkness. My love, he whispered, kissing her gently.
A rumbling growl came from the path. Sitka scented her brothers. Sharing the information with her lifemate, she pulled away and shifted. Her wolf was just as dazed as she was. Zacharias shifted to a wolf as well.
It's okay! Sitka told her brothers.
He BIT you!
You are so dead, Lyle promised Zacharias. He growled in return. Sitka cuffed him with her paw.
To her brothers she said, He's my lifemate, my litter-father.
Zacharias made a note to ask about that term later.
What about the pack? Josh? Tawny asked.
Zacharias growled, She's mine. Josh will be hurt if he interferes. Violence dripped from the remark.
Sitka nuzzled him. I can take care of myself.
You don't have to now, Zacharias said. Sitka was unnerved by the fact that he sounded serious. She directed her attention back to her brothers. I don't want to have to embarrass you but I will if I have to. This is what I want. If he hurts me, I will turn him over to you.
Zacharias shuddered at the thought that he might hurt her. I would, and will, never hurt you, he promised.
Zacharias, Jaguar men have been scented on our territory. Jasmine and Solange are in the safe house, Manolito said, Juliette is staying with them.
Sitka and her brother's growled. Jasmine and Solange had told their story the night before. Tawny bared his teeth. They are so dead, he vowed.
Oh dear, commented Sitka to Zacharias using their private mental path, It appears that my brother has a thing for Jasmine.
Zacharias sent her an image of bared teeth. If he hurts her, he's dead. She has gone through too much.
The group started running toward Manolito. Tawny slowed, I'm going back to the safe house. I'll help if they attack.
Sitka nodded. She knew that Tawny wanted to reassure Jasmine. There was also less of a chance that there would be a battle there. Tawny was a lover, not a fighter.
Would you go back there too? Zacharias asked her. I don't want to risk you near the Jaguar men.
Sitka thought, it was more sensible to go back. The brothers had worked together, she would be a third wheel. Zacharias followed her thought process and approved.
The second I feel you in danger, I'm coming straight to you, she promised him, before following Tawny back.
Sitka touched Tawny's mind, it was filled with turmoil and a firm resolve that the Jaguar men would have to go through him to get to Jasmine. This worried Sitka, Tawny was in far deeper then she had thought. Maybe he can heal her, she mused.
They were nearing the safe house. Instinct warned Sitka, They are already here, she told Tawny. She stretched her mind and warned Juliette. Fear and determination came in waves.
Sitka stopped. There were three Jaguar men in the trees near the house and another on the roof. Sitka growled. Go to the left, you take out the two on the far side. I'll handle the other ones. She felt Tawny's assent.
Sitka calmed the birds, telling them not to alert the Jaguar men. Her wolf snuck through the underbrush before taking to the trees. NOW! She told Tawny, leaping at the Jaguar with his back turned.
Her teeth ripped through flesh, Sitka broke his neck before leaping at the man on the roof. He was prepared. He leaped at her, wielding a long knife. Sitka went in low, tearing out his hamstrings. He gasped and fell of the roof, taking her with him. The knife stabbed into her leg. The wolf took the pain, leaving Sitka's mind clear. She went for the kill, ripping out his throat. He fell off.
Sitka yanked out the knife with her teeth. Limping, she walked toward the safe house. A dart caught her before she got near. Zacharias! She screamed as her world went black.