A Leopard's Path by Lia Davis

Pack.” Kieran turned his hand over and linked his fingers with Ana’s. His warm palm was tense but gentle.
    The sense that he needed to get it off his chest came through the bond, so she snuggled into him and asked, “What happened next?”
    “Like I said, Ashwood was one of Onyx’s biggest allies, so I approached Keegan about leaving Onyx. He suggested that I tell Felix I’d go to Ashwood as a spy.”
    She paused and scanned his face. When he opened his mouth to speak again, she placed a finger over his lips. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been so crazy lately. My whole world was turned upside down and I didn’t know where I fit in. Still don’t. Then you avoided any talk about mating… I thought I’d lost you. Thought you didn’t understand. But you do.”
    He gripped her arms gently and tugged her to him until she was flattened against his chest. “I wanted to keep you safe. Savannah will come after me, Keegan, and everyone that means something to us.”
    Ana lifted her head to gaze into his eyes. “Then we fight together, do everything we can to protect the den and the Alphas. I’m not cowering behind wards, waiting on the witch to make her move. It’s not who I am.”
    “I know. That’s why I want you to help me train the Sentinels for Blaine and Luna.”
    She opened her mouth, then closed it. Her heart melted, and pride straightened her spine a little. “I’d love to.”
    Framing her face, he tugged her head down until their lips meshed together. When he broke the kiss, he met her stare, his gold eyes glowing with the desire she felt through their bond. “Ready to go storm the camp?”
    “You bet. With any luck, we’ll find a few mutants to take down.”
    He tightened his arms around her and nipped at her nose. “You will be the death of me.”
    “Not anymore. I can show you through the bond how to track and kill the beasts. Did you forget I’ve been doing it since I was eighteen?” She gave him a quick kiss and wiggled out of his hold.
    “While that is true, I am still your mate and will continue to protect you.”
    “And I’ll pretend to let you.”
    When he moved, she squealed and darted to the bathroom, shutting and locking the door before he reached it. Yet, it was no use. Kieran broke the knob and pushed his way inside.
    Laughing, she said, “You’ll have to pay for that.”
    One side of his mouth lifted. “They can take it out of the deposit.”
    Her laugher turned into a gasp when he stopped in front of her and snaked an arm around her. “What will you do with me?”
    He kissed her cheek, then nipped at her earlobe. “Anything I want.” Without another word, he bit down on her shoulder.
    Fluid fire pooled between her thighs and she dug her nails into his shoulders as an orgasm rocketed through her.
    Mine . Yes, the woman agreed with the leopard. Kieran Michaels was hers.
     

Chapter Seventeen
     
     
    Kieran raised a hand in a silent command to Ana and the two sentries he could sense somewhere in the forest. Coming to a stop at the edge of a clearing, Kieran leaned into Ana. “That’s some heavy fucking magick.”
    “Yes. It makes me ill. But there are no wards, strange.” She reached out with one hand as if feeling the air. After a few moments, she pointed and whispered, “Show me.”
    He followed her gaze to the open space. Like a veil lowering, the camp appeared. It wasn’t much of an encampment. Only a handful of tents were scattered among the brush. He wondered if a rebel group this small was even a threat.
    He felt a slight pull on his subconscious as Ana called to the earth around her. Vines lowered from the trees and crawled on the ground toward one of the tents. He was about to ask her what she was doing, but he caught the rotten scent of mutants.
    Ana’s spine went straight and she flicked her gaze to his, then in the direction of the half-human, half-beast creatures. Her emotions flooded the mating bond, fueling his own fight response. His leopard growled, wanting