WOLFE POV
A/N I know it's been a while xD
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I was a little surprised that I managed to get to the Lion camp before they did; not only had they had a head start, but Maxx had known where he was going. Of course, I wouldn't waste too much time thinking about the logistics. I might've been absolutely furious when I left, but I'd calmed down soon enough and now I had to set up. I had to be prepared when they did arrive, and that meant setting up a place to shoot from without being seen. My sniper rifle would be good for the beginning, so I could gauge the amount of hostility and anger directed toward them.
After unloading my bag, I set up my gun and peered through the scope, adjusting until I was satisfied with my position. Though I'd hated it at the time, I now thanked God for the rigorous training the previous Alpha had put my through; I could lay still for hours, without so much as twitching a muscle. It helped, of course, that I was downwind of them, and that they weren't anticipating a threat.
I watched the tent flap open as one of the Lion males emerged, tail unhidden and swishing back and forth. The Lions were such an odd breed, refusing to even try to blend in with the humans. They believed that it softened the Pride, made them more vulnerable to attacks. The Pride females, they feared, would develop a longing for a human male, one who would stay faithful to her for the rest of his life.To those outside the Pride, they seemed barbaric and very nearly cruel to their females, but as it was the only life they knew, and the only life they'd likely ever know, the women didn't mind it.
They were nomads, moving so often from place to place that it was almost impossible to pinpoint their exact location. They lived without caring who saw them in their natural and half-shifted forms, unworried about the ramifications of such actions. Normally, I'd care a bit more about the fact that any hapless human could stumble upon them, potentially endangering every species of shifter, but I couldn't find it in me at the moment to really be upset. Oh, if they entered further into my territory, I'd likely have to say something, but for now they were at the bottom of my list.
I turned the scope ever-so-slightly to see the opening to their camp-site, focusing in on the path. When I saw the familiar sway of a black pony-tail, a little spark of shock went through me. I knew she'd be there--I'd smelled her long before she'd actually been close enough to see--but the sight of her just blazed through me. I missed her. I wanted her by my side. She hadn't been gone long, but knowing she'd been gone was what had really killed me.
Maxx walked next to her, a bit of a troubled look on his face. Sheeba trotted in her wolf form slightly behind the others, watchful eyes scanning the crowd of cats as well as the trees.
I let my ears change shape, straining to hear the conversation about to take place. This was the crucial moment, the deciding factor.
The first male that approached took one look at her and snarled, crouching to attack. My heart pounded in my chest, and I squeezed the trigger a little bit harder.
"I just want to talk. I'm not here to be killed, or kill you. I just want to talk."
The half-shifted Lion growled at her, asking, "Why would we want to speak to you?"
She shrugged, glancing up into the trees at where I was. I startled, watching her eyes stop exactly on my place. How she'd known I was there, I had no idea. I continued to watch, surprise and fear for her life racing through my veins.
"Because I have the one Alpha you fear more than any other waiting in the trees for the moment he gets to take you out. One wrong move, and you'll all be dead before you even see the bullet."
The Lion's thick mane flattened a bit, incisors shrinking. He straightened, glancing at the trees where he'd seen her look before gesturing for them to stay where they were. Cat sighed, turning to Maxx and Sheeba.
"Now, I'm pretty sure I'll have to go in by myself, and if that's the case I'd like you two to go find Wolfe. I know he can hear me, and I want to tell him I'm sorry for leaving without saying anything, but I want to make sure you're both safe." My wolf ears flattened against my head, anger beating at me.
How dare she assume I'd just let her waltz in there without providing her some protection. If those two idiots were in danger and so was she, there'd not even be a choice.
"We can't do that, we have to be here with you in case something happens." Maxx protested.
Cat shook her head, hands on her hips.
"I can't afford to be worrying about you both while I'm in there. Wolfe will protect you. I know he will keep you safe."
I scowled at her, knowing she couldn't see me but still needing some way to show my disapproval. I might be able to protect them, but that definitely didin't mean I wanted to. Though she somehow knew that using the implied "I trust him" would make me do it, no matter how much I didn't want to. They'd go in with me if I had to extract her from the situation, but I'd make sure they stayed sage.
I'd get her back for it when we got back to her house.
Maxx gritted his teeth, and Sheeba whined.
"Fine."
She smiled, just enough to make my breath catch in my chest. God, she was gorgeous.
The Lion, now glaring intently at her, told her to follow him while the others waited. She walked into the tent after him, resignation written plainly on her face. She glanced at me one last time, and then disappeared into the tent. I moved the scope a bit, watching a grumbling Maxx and an excited Sheeba follow my scent to where I lay. Certain they'd find me soon, I refocused on the tent, using my hearing to determine what was happening inside the tent.
"You realize that I can't pardon you." an old, gruff voice muttered.
The whisper of cloth and creaking of a chair.
"I'm aware of that. But the problem is, I can't afford to have this bounty on my head. Neither can my mate. Banish me from the Pride, tell me I can never return, but rescind the bounty."
A harsh laugh.
"I can't do that, pup. You knew what the consequences would be when you made the mistake, and now you must own up to it."
"I didn't do anything! I was framed! Beyond that, it's rediculous to use that as an excuse. You want me gone because the females are uncomfortable having someone more powerful than they in the Pride. Fine, allow me to leave and never return."
The crunch of leaves and the scent of Lion moving toward me made me grab my knife, glancing toward the direction of the noise. It might be Maxx, it might be a patrol. Until they came into view, I had no way of knowing as Maxx's scent hadn't been imprinted yet.
"They're going to kill her." Maxx's voice whispered, "That old man isn't going to let her go."
I nodded, gesturing for him to sit beside me.
"I won't let them so much as touch her. She is my mate, and therefore under my protection. I will die before anything happens."
Maxx grunted, then looked around him at the array of weapons laid out around him.
"Jesus, you came prepared, didn't you?"
I refocused on the tent, unconcerned with him.
"She will not die."
"Do you have anything else you need to say?" The old man's voice grumbled, and the snarl and snap of jaws caught my attention. Outside of the tent, various half-shifted males and females were surrounding them, tales swishing and teeth elongating. It seemed Cat noticed as well, for she suddenly muttered, "fuck it", and I could hear the hiss as a knife was pulled from its sheathe.
"Shit." I muttered, handing Maxx a machine gun, "Get ready."
The dull thud from inside the tent was heard all around, even by the children playing in the courtyard.
The growls turned to roars, and several of the cats lunged at the fabric, slashing with claws until they could get inside. I picked a few off with my rifle, certain I wasn't going to be able to do as much as I'd like, and grabbed my Katana. With a whispered prayer, I charged down to the mass of Lions, hearing the yelps of a cornered wolf echo in my ears as I went.