Page 2 of Mysterious Mate

The power boat slowed, the larger craft unable to match her agility among the rocks. The searchlight panned the shoreline, looking for her. Willow saw an opportunity and took it, maneuvering the Zodiac, which was now on life support, into a shallow cove. She cut the engine and grabbed the emergency paddle, rowing with all her might. The Zodiac’s punctured side was sinking lower, but she was close, so close.

She hit the sandy beach and jumped out, dragging the deflating Zodiac behind her. She scrambled up the rocky incline, the sound of the power boat receding as it struggled to navigate the treacherous waters. She didn’t stop until she reached the cover of the trees, her chest heaving as she tried to stash the remains of the Zodiac and catch her breath.

Willow looked back toward the water. The power boat was still out there, its searchlight sweeping the area, but they hadn’t spotted her. Not yet. She knew she couldn’t stay here long. Frank’s men would be relentless. But for now, she had a precious few moments to rest and plan her next move. She would survive this. She had to.

The soft cry of a falcon caught her attention—mostly because falcons were not nocturnal hunters. She turned back to see if the power boat had made land.

“It hasn’t beached yet,” said a woman’s voice from behind.

Willow whirled around, lifting the oar up in a defensive posture. The woman was petite and curvy, with silvery blonde hair and dark eyes. She was also stark naked.

“I’m going to assume you’re Willow Carlyle,” she said, pulling on leggings, sneakers, and a bulky sweater. She extended her hand. “I’m Mercy Bowen, and I’m with the Shadow Sisters. We need to get out of here. I’ve got a car waiting. Come on.”

“Not so fast. Who are the Shadow Sisters? Why should I trust you?”

“Because Katie O’Neill sent me, and the Shadow Sisters are the sworn enemies of the Shadow League. Good enough?”

Willow dropped the oar, which would be too burdensome to carry. “It is for now.”

Together, the two women raced through the trees and up to a road as they made their way to a small car, getting in and speeding off into the darkness. Willow looked back over her shoulder. It was as if she could see her old life fading away, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but where the future might take her was anyone’s guess.

CHAPTER 2

CAGE

In the dim light of the forest clearing, the massive grizzly bear stood tall and imposing, its fur a blend of dark browns and silvers under the moon's glow. Muscles rippled beneath its coat as it came down onto all fours, moving with a grace that belied its size, each movement calculated and deliberate.

The bear sniffed the air, inhaling deeply and chuffing—frustrated and angry as it failed to detect the scent for which it had been searching for years. Cage had become aware of her existence and had known her scent from the time it had awakened many years ago at Windsong, the stronghold of Colby Reynolds. He now stood in the forest that surrounded St. Piran’s Abbey on the coast of Devon. He wasn’t sure why he’d expected to pick up her scent, but he had. The bear roared into the night.

Seconds passed, and the bear's form was surrounded in a violent sort of controlled maelstrom of thunder, lightning, and color. With a sudden surge of energy, he could feel the body of his bear shifting in a transformation that was a breathtaking display of primal power and ancient magic. Cage Weston had been born a shifter. He’d been able to shift since he’d been a child, but still it never ceased to amaze him how his entire being transformed: bones rearranging themselves, fur receding into skin, claws retracting into fingers, and the muzzle becoming a human nose and mouth. It wasn’t painful in the least and happened in the space of a heartbeat, but it was miraculous, nonetheless.

In moments, where the grizzly bear had once stood, now stood a man. A very naked and aroused man, but then, shifting did seem to have that effect on males. His chest heaved as he took in deep breaths, adjusting to the sudden change in form. His skin bore faint scars, souvenirs of battles fought in both his human and bear forms. Brown hair clung damply to his forehead, and hazel eyes, still bearing a hint of the bear's intensity, scanned the clearing with a mix of vigilance and despair.

The transition had left him momentarily vulnerable, but it was a risk he willingly took, knowing the power he wielded in either form. As he gathered his bearings, the sounds of the forest returned to normal around him, the night settling back into its familiar rhythm.

Cage was a formidable presence, his large, muscular frame a testament to years of rigorous training and discipline. His brown hair was kept relatively short although longer than it had been when he was a Ranger, revealing the sharp angles of his face and the determined set of his jaw. Hazel eyes, flecked with hints of green and gold, held a depth that spoke of experiences far beyond those of ordinary men. A former special forces operative, Cage had seen the worst the world had to offer and had come out stronger for it.

Now, Cage worked for Colby Reynolds and the Resistance, a force dedicated to ending the Shadow League, the oppressive regime that threatened the world of humans and shifters alike. As a grizzly bear-shifter, Cage possessed not only exceptional combat skills but also the raw power and resilience of his bear form. His ability to shift into a massive grizzly bear in the blink of an eye made him an invaluable asset to the Resistance, his sheer physical strength and animal instincts often giving him a unique edge in battle.

Cage's loyalty to Colby and the cause was unwavering. When his unit had been betrayed on his last mission as a Ranger, it had been Colby who stepped in to ensure his dual nature wasn’t discovered and Cage had recovered from his injuries at Windsong. Colby had also given Cage a new purpose: combating the Shadow League—a way to channel his skills and experiences for a cause that truly mattered. It wasn’t important that most people would never know his name or what he’d done, but when he closed his eyes for the last time, he would do so knowing he had made a difference.

The memories of his time as a Ranger still haunted him, but they also fueled his determination to fight for a better future. Despite the scars he carried, both visible and hidden, Cage remained determined and committed, inspiring those around him. Colby had once called him a hero, but Cage had disagreed. In the end, he was able to accept Colby’s designation of warrior.

He headed into the changing room and pulled on some clothes. One of the nice things about St. Piran’s was that most people didn’t really notice someone coming in from outside without a stitch of clothing on. He entered the main building and made his way to the office Colby shared with his mate, Brie. Colby was one of the top commanders in the Resistance, heading up their intelligence network. Brie was the leader of the Shadow Sisters, a group dedicated to funneling oppressed female shifters to freedom, and who worked hand-in-hand with the Resistance.

Opening the door, he realized he would be meeting with both Colby and his mate. If Brie was involved, then whatever it was Colby wanted him to do was something that involved the Shadow Sisters. The tension in the air was palpable as he stepped into the room, his presence commanding attention even in the midst of the two lynx-shifters.

The fight with the Shadow League had become more common knowledge within the shifter community as the Resistance recruited supporters from all over the world. The stress of the fight, as well as trying to ensure Colby’s mate was kept safe, had taken its toll on Colby. Although he had been the alpha of Windsong for many years and had been running clandestine operations, his hair now was graying at the temples, and there were lines around his piercing eyes. Colby greeted Cage with a nod of acknowledgment. Brie hovered close by—separate but supportive as she kept her eyes on a nearby bank of monitors displaying maps and surveillance feeds.

"Cage," Colby began, his voice steady yet edged with urgency. "We've got a situation in the Mediterranean. It involves the wife of La Faucheuse."

“Frank Carlyle?” asked Cage. He and Carlyle had history. It had been Carlyle’s cowardice and greed that had wiped out Cage’s unit and almost killed Cage himself.

Colby nodded, his jaw tightening imperceptibly. “I know it’s not ideal.”

“Ideal?” Cage asked sarcastically. “I can’t imagine why you’d say that. I have no interest in the princess. Killing Carlyle would be more up my alley. What’s wrong with her?”

“We believe she holds vital information not only for the Resistance, but Interpol, as well. It could very well be what we need to put an end to La Faucheuse, which would be beneficial to both of us and could deal a severe blow to the Shadow League.”

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