Page 8 of Elusive Mate

Caye laughed. “Don’t I wish. You’re two and half to three days from here, but I can rendezvous earlier if you need.”

“Actually, no. The SUV is really nice. Thanks for getting me the sunroof. Should I check in?”

“Yep. Mark the time. Ten hours from now, call in and we’ll go from there. If you have any trouble or think they’re on to you—I don’t care how remote a chance you think it is—go ahead and hit the emergency signal on your phone. It’ll get your coordinates to the person closest to you. If it isn’t me, I’ll be on the phone with you and walk you through to safety. We’ve got you. The Shadow Sisters haven’t lost anyone yet, and you’re not about to be the first.”

“Thanks, Caye. I don’t know what I would have done…”

“I know. And someday you may be in a position to help. Take care and stay safe.”

Zenya ended the call and plugged in the new coordinates Caye texted her. She took the time to finish her food and have a little nap. She plugged her eclectic driving songs into the MP3 Player and got back on the road. She might not be driving into the sunset, but she sure as hell was heading for her very own happily ever after.

CHAPTER 4

LUCIAN

Ice Storm Stronghold

Otter Cove, Alaska

Lucian paced back and forth. He still couldn’t believe they’d lost her. How could that have happened? How could one tigress escape her brother and four warriors? He glanced at the mantle clock in his study. Zaiden wouldn’t be back for another couple of hours. Removing his clothes, Lucian called forth his tiger and sprang from the room and out onto the white tundra, galloping away from the main house. He ran for the tree line and disappeared up into the forest, gaining ground with each stride. He could hear the river up ahead.

Unlike most cats—large or small—tigers loved the water and were powerful swimmers. Lucian ran, his muscles stretching and rippling. He splashed through the cold, fast-running water and bounded up the bank on the other side. The bank was muddy, and he almost lost his footing, scrambling up the other side before charging onward. The ground beneath his feet was soft. spongy and velvety.

There were only a handful of large cats that could run faster than a tiger, but none were more powerful. Tigers had tremendous speed due to their strong musculature, long legs, and fairly flexible spines. Their sharp claws also helped as they gripped the ground to propel themselves forward. Their powerful physique gave them stability and speed over rough terrain.

In a chase, Lucian preferred flat, open plains. However, frustrated and angry as he was, he needed the complexity involved in running through an obstacle course of sorts. It forced him to think and to let his white tiger take control. The exercise wasn’t as successful as it usually was, as his tiger had been looking forward to claiming their mate as much as he had. Lucian had waited a long time for Zenya, and yet another delay had not been part of his plans.

He maneuvered over downed trees, large boulders, and the uneven terrain. There was a reason the Resistance wanted him to commit his warriors to their cause. They were a formidable force that would strengthen the Resistance’s fight against the Shadow League. There were multiple courses and multiple ways to run each course, making for an erratic zig zag.

Lucian pushed himself to the extreme. He always believed you did not ask more of those you led than you were willing to give yourself. Slowing his pace to a gallop, he exited the forest and made his way back to the main keep. He stopped at the top of the hill to gaze at the fortress below—and it was truly a fortress. It might not have a moat, but there were clear fields of fire and the walls which enclosed the main buildings were tall and almost impenetrable. He had made sure of that when he’d made himself alpha.

His people and their safety came first. That was the reason he had yet to commit men and resources to the Resistance. It wasn’t that he didn’t, in his heart, support the Resistance. It was simply that he had no intention of backing the losing side. The Baihu Clan had always remained neutral—or at least appeared to, ensuring they were left alone to increase their fortunes and become even more powerful than those who were less strategic in their allegiances.

Two SUVs from the landing strip approached. They carried a combination of Zaiden, Zenya’s personal effects and the retinue of men who had gone to San Francisco.

Watch her. He snorted in his mind. They’d watched her elude them. She had outmaneuvered him, but more than that, she had thwarted his plans. Shaking his head, he charged back to the house, entering his study, shifting and dressing before he went into the foyer to confront Zaiden and those who had been tasked with bringing Zenya home.

Lucian stood in the foyer of the main building, his arms crossed, his anger and frustration infusing his body and making those who had to be there give him a wide berth. He could hear the two SUVs pull up and expected Zaiden and those who were with him to enter the dwelling and report. Instead, it was only Zaiden who entered.

Zaiden entered and knelt down on one knee, saying, “Alpha” without looking up. Zaiden had the ability to steal the spotlight when he needed to.

“Oh, for god’s sake, get up. Let’s go to my study,” said Lucian who turned without waiting to see if Zaiden complied with his order or not. The man might be willing to focus the attention on himself to defuse his alpha’s anger and displeasure, but he wasn’t foolish enough to disobey his alpha.

Once inside his study, Lucian sat behind his desk, suppressing his smile. He was pissed at Zaiden, at the men who were with him, but mostly at his mate who was proving to be elusive and intelligent—not the worst traits to have in a mate. Zaiden joined him, closing the door behind him. Zaiden had known Lucian wouldn’t vent his wrath at a man kneeling in supplication and loyalty. His beta had also thought to protect those who were with him from catching the sharp side of Lucian’s tongue.

“I have failed you, my alpha,” said Zaiden.

“Oh shut up, will you?’ Lucian responded. “Just tell me, how the fuck did you let this happen? How the hell did she get away? You convinced me to let you go in my stead. You said she had finally accepted her fate and that she had no choice in the matter. You said it would be easier on her and would make her feel as though she wasn’t cornered. In fact, it was you who persuaded me to let her go in the first place.” Lucian was starting to warm to his anger again.

“She was a child. For as long as I have known her to want anything, she has wanted to be a vet. Even you agreed that her training would be good for the clan.”

“And what bloody good are her services and training if she isn’t here to provide them?” he snarled. “I’ll ask again, how the fuck did you let this happen?”

“I didn’t let it happen, Lucian. She was prepared, and she had help. Hell, she didn’t even take her purse with her when she went to the restroom.”

“You let her go to the restroom by herself?”

“Of course not. I have never been truly convinced that she had actually accepted that she would be your mate, and I told you that. I had hoped we’d be able to talk and that I could bring her more fully around to the idea.”

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