Animal Senses Book 3 - Passion

The truth doesn’t always set you free. Trained as a healer since childhood, Shaelan never realized why no one ever moved from her village or visited. Something wasn’t quite right, but it wasn’t until she saw the truth with her own eyes that she realized. She...

Chapter 1

Calum paused when the voicemail came on. Devin was probably busy with his mate, again. He grinned, “Guess your busy with… royal mating... stuff.” He chuckled, “I’m at the bottom of some mountain, in the middle of the back-country nowhere—even more than your camp nowhere kind of deal. I’ve tracked my missing clan members to here.” He glanced up the incline to the dense, foliage-covered mountain. “I’ll let you know when I find out more.” He hung up and sighed. Maybe being away right now was a good thing. With Devin newly mated and Kelsey coming home to Gage… it was going to be messy with a whole lot of true-mate issues that Calum didn’t have, couldn’t relate to, and hoped he’d never have to go through himself. His responsibilities with the alliance didn’t leave him time for those distractions.

Turning off his phone, he stuffed it into the waterproof bag and sealed it, then jammed it into his pack. Normally he didn’t take his phone with him, but this was an unknown area and knowing he’d have it, just in case, made him feel better. The challenge would be not to lose his pack, as he’d been known to do occasionally.

The small village he’d stopped at had warned him away from coming here, despite confirming they’d seen the men from his clan in the photos he’d shown. They’d said there was bad juju on this mountain, and few ever came down off it. Calum wasn’t sure about the juju garbage, but if there was even a small chance of the males from his clan being on this mountain, he was going up to find them.

That little village was on the strange side. The way the people watched him gave him the creeps. He wondered if they could smell an outside shifter in their territory, but he picked up no scents that led him to believe there were any shifters among them. He may be paranoid, and they could only be watchful of strangers. With the missing males from his clan, and Tomas’ association taking females from other clans, he was allowed to suspect everyone of nefarious intentions. If anyone had a problem with his suspicious nature, they could eat dirt as far as he was concerned.

It had taken him over an hour to get this far up with his car. He was definitely considering getting a truck when he got back. His car hadn’t been much good for off-roading. He looked around the area he’d parked. It may have, at one time, been a parking area or rest stop, but it was long deserted, overgrown and ignored. If anyone managed to get up here on the not-really-a-road trail he’d taken, they were more than welcome to break into his car. Locking it, he tucked the keys behind the front tire’s rim. He’d learned a long time ago to never take keys on trips into the great wilderness. Losing your clothes or pack was almost always a certainty, losing your keys left you trapped.

He looked back down the way he’d come again before turning toward the incline. “This should be fun.” He sighed and started climbing.

His senses were on overload, so many scents, all familiar, but not, at the same time. He took his time moving through the thick vegetation, checking for anything that might set off his animal instincts. His cat was already on full alert, which wasn’t necessarily unusual, but it made him more aware of what was around him, and a little jittery as well. As soon as he found something to follow, he’d shift and let his animal side take over the tracking.

He walked along a flat area, happy for the break from the upward climb, watching for somewhere he could stow his pack so it wouldn’t be found, not that he anticipated this being a high traffic area, he just couldn’t take it with him. Nothing said ‘not a normal wild animal’ like a big black cat carrying a pack around his neck. He chuckled at that thought.

A few times his cat moved against his skin, telling him to hurry up. He wasn’t sure if it was the new area to explore, or if he sensed something, but it wasn’t like he was drawing this out like a holiday or anything.

When he finally found a spot he’d be able to locate again, he stripped down and stuffed his clothes in the pack. For half a heartbeat, he thought about pinging his location to Devin, just in case, but doubted there would be any signal here.

Shifting, he stretched to his full length and then wasted no time getting moving. This was more like it, four paws meant for this terrain carried him faster than inflexible boots and man-length strides ever would.

When he cleared the dense growth, he paused and scented the area around him. There was a faint smell that tasted familiar, but it was too difficult to tell where it was coming from. He crept through the plush leaves along the ground, trying to see if he could pick it up again. At least one of the missing men had been this way, but not recently enough to be able to pinpoint their every step. The growth here was like it was at Devin’s camp, but on steroids. The leaves a deeper green, the trees were twice as thick and taller. All this made staying out of sight easy, but seeing what was around him more difficult.

As soon as he located the members of his clan, he was going to find out what had led them here. They had enough area to run and roam, that was a hell of a lot closer to home. There was no reason to come this far and trek up this stunning chunk of dirt. If it turned out to be for some stupid hormone-enticed reason… he was going to smack them in the head. With a large paw. A few times, at least. He had enough going on right now with Devin learning the ropes to lead the Alliance, he didn’t need to be traipsing around some damn mountain looking for stray cats.

Stopping, he sniffed the air. There was… Crouching low, he tried to identify the scents. A nervous twitch moved over his coat, something was off. He inhaled and took more time trying to analyze what he was smelling. Slowing his breathing, he listened. Ears flat, alarms going off in his head, he looked around him. With years of carefully honed animal intuition, he knew he needed to get the hell out of here. Now.

Spinning back in the direction he’d just come from, he paused for a heartbeat and realized he was too late.

Chapter 2

Shaelan stood with her arms crossed, looking out the large bay window. From this viewpoint atop the ridge, she could see down into the whole village. This view alone should make the position of the village healer a coveted job. With the scenery and quiet space, who wouldn’t want this?

The job wasn’t popular though, then again to live in this house and hold that position, you had to start training and learning early in life. From around eight years old, the lessons started. With the remote location of the settlement, you had to learn every plant, animal, and mineral, on the mountain then utilize all you could. Accessing modern medicines was virtually impossible. They had some brought up in the regular supply runs, but those took a week, sometimes two, depending on the season. Knowing how to deal with any situation using what was at hand was of the utmost importance.

Shaelan had known this was for her, even when she was a child. While her friends were playing hide and seek, she was studying the plants on the ground. It felt like a calling, even then. She’d gone against her father’s wishes and climbed the hill to the medicine woman’s home and knocked on the door to ask for training. Since then, she hadn’t thought of anything but healing.

Her mother supported her, when not in sight of her father. Honestly, Shae could never recall any tender moments with the man. He looked at her with… disappointment? Loathing? Something, she wasn’t sure what, she always saw it in his eyes. Billie, her best friend, said it was because Shae wasn’t a boy. So, essentially it was nothing that was her fault.

Turning back to the window, she watched—what was his name again? Morris… she watched him come up the path to get Nona-Eve, their healer, medicine woman and Shaelan’s mentor. He was one of the guards at their prison. A place Shae had never been, but knew when she took over it would be on her list of responsibilities. Something she was both looking forward to and dreading at the same time. Nona-Eve was, she had no idea how old, but when she retired, Shae would be the medicine woman in the village.

You weren’t just the healer of the people, but all of nature as well. Helping the animals in the area also helped the environment the people needed to live in. Shae took her responsibilities very seriously. She planned on being the best medicine woman in the history of the village.

It had taken her a year to persuade the village council and her father, the head of it, to let her go off the mountain and attend one of the schools there. That had never been done before. Very few left this village for the ‘outside’ world. She’d been so shocked when they had finally agreed to let her go, she hadn’t even paused to find out where they were sending her.

Once settled into a small house, in a town not much bigger than the village, she was then transported to and from the campus. The couple she stayed with were quiet and kept to themselves. In the two years she was there, she could probably count the conversations she had with them on both hands and have fingers left over. A man, she still knew nothing about, lived over their garage and took her to school each day. It wasn’t what Shae had intended when she got down off the mountain for schooling, but she took advantage of the two years without her father’s cold or indifferent glances.

In that time, she’d taken as many courses as she could that might help her to be a better healer, as many as her brain and body could cope with. Sucking up the knowledge while she had the chance. She wanted to help her people and change things. Nothing drastic, just enough to make their lives easier. She’d taken courses on plants and medicines, but also on agriculture to help their crops and maybe bring a few new methods and techniques to help her people thrive.

She also used the time to soak up as much as she could about life outside the village, finding any and every excuse possible for her escort to take her to malls, libraries, and other public gathering places. Within reason of course. She couldn’t justify needing to go to a club or party, not that she was sure she would have, but anywhere else she could manage to finagle she did. Once she came home and took over as the healer, she knew that’s where she’d be until the day her last breath left her body.

Society off the mountain had been so different, and at times, absolutely terrifying. The horrible things people did to each other almost had Shaelan coming home early more than once. It may have been one of the first confirmations that she’d had that proved the life of the village, in such segregation from the rest of the population, was a good thing.

The knock on the door had her heaving out a long sigh before turning to go open it. She pulled the door open and gave Morris a brief empty smile.

“Is Nona-Eve available?”

Stepping back and motioning for him to enter, she nodded. “I’ll go get her.”

Going quickly to Nona’s bedroom, she opened the door and peeked in. Nona sat on the chair by her window. “Oh. I wasn’t sure if you were still sleeping.”

“Heh, I could only wish for such things, child. I’m awake with the dawn each day whether my body is rested or not.” She got up slowly and straightened with care. “The curse of this life, dawn is the only quiet moment you can ever find, so you learn to take advantage of it.” She motioned to the door. “Who’s out there?”

“Morris?” She still wasn’t sure of his name. “One of the guards.”

“Tall and gangly-looking one with a twitchy eye?” Nona cringed one eye to exaggerate what she said.

Shae grinned, “Yes, that’s him.”

“Morris,” Nona said solemnly and walked by her. “You should come with me. Grab my bag and make sure there’s disinfectant and bandages in it.”

Shae nodded and went to grab it. Checking the bag, she made sure it was well stocked, then rushed out to the waiting area.

“She has to find out someday, unless you all plan for her to do this job blindfolded.” Nona told the guard with a clipped tone as she struggled to put her jacket on.

Morris gave Shaelan a skeptical glance and then looked back to Nona. “You’re sure I don’t need to check with…”

Nona paused in what she was doing and waved in an annoyed way toward the door. “Yes. Go.”

Chapter 3

“Calum, please, for the sake of my sanity, sit down.” Jake growled.

Turning, he looked at Jake, then realized everyone was staring at him. “Sorry.” He glanced to the entrance again. “Walls are closing in on me.” Rubbing the back of his neck he went to start pacing again and stopped himself. “She said morning…”

Gage heaved a loud sigh, “It’s been dawn for about ten seconds. Sit the fuck down and let me pretend I’m still sleeping.”

“Won’t someone wonder if a bunch of women leave?” Kelsey asked in a sleepy voice. “I mean how bad is it there, are people free to come and go, do they monitor everyone?”

Calum had been wondering the same thing for the last hour, and was still kicking himself in the ass for knowing before he left his mate there.

“Someone better bring coffee, or I’ll go end this tyranny once and for all, single-handed.” Rayne moaned.

Devin chuckled the nodded. “And she would too. Vicious she-wolf without her caffeine.” Rayne smacked him.

Jesse came wandering in. “There’s a group coming. Will take them a bit to get here though, they are only halfway down the hill on the other side of the ravine.”

Calum frowned at him, he’d just checked a few minutes ago and could see no one from this location.

Smirking, Jesse pointed to Kelsey, “used her tree-view trick.”

“Later on,” Calum said as he turned toward the entrance, “I want more details on that adventure.”

Devin stood up and stretched. “Figured you had enough going on right now, you don’t need to go even the score on that front too.”

Calum paused and looked at him. “They abducted your mates, that is my business and someone will pay for it…” He backed up a step closer to the entrance. “I just have to clear up a few other things first.”

“Yeah, like deal with his mate!” Gage chuckled.

Snarling at him, Calum turned back to watch for the women. If Shaelan wasn’t with them, he was sending someone back to get her. It had almost killed him being away from her this last day.

It felt like hours, as he stood there watching in the direction of the village. He knew it was quite the treacherous path to navigate, having done it in the dark, and if they had Nona or other elders with them it could take a while. He exhaled loudly, again, and jammed his hands into his pockets as he stepped few more feet away from the cave to see if he could spot them.

He heard the others come up behind him, but didn’t turn to look.

“Not a word,” Rayne said in warning, most likely to Devin.

Calum had at least been right about something in all of this. Gage and Devin were never going to let him forget how he’d harassed, lectured, or ribbed them about mates. Ever. He still hadn’t told them how he met his mate, or that he’d marked her. There just weren’t the right words without it sounding bad, especially in front of the women. Mostly, he was going on instinct with all of this. His knowledge of true mates was limited, so he relied on his gut. Which right now was tied in knots.

When he caught a brief glimpse of pink, he started moving in that direction. There was only one thing that color on this entire mountain.

As they got closer, he counted a dozen heads moving through the gulley that lead up to the cave. There was only one he was interested in seeing at this point, and when he spotted her it was like the light from the sun was only shining on her.

He glanced behind him to see everyone had followed. Jake and Jesse were looking all around them, keeping watch for anyone coming from another direction.

Unable to look away any longer, he turned back to see Shaelan had stopped walking and was looking up to where he stood. His cat rubbed over his skin, his heart jumped up into his throat. Fuck staying out of sight. He moved out of the shelter of the trees and started in her direction while at the same moment, she dropped what she’d been carrying and started running up the hill.

His feet slipped a few times on the steep incline, and he slid a few feet, but he kept going and didn’t slow down until she was almost in front of him. She threw herself into him with such a force he landed on his butt on the hill, still holding her, he sat up and buried his face in her hair. Cinnamon. Cat and man were back in synch, and a feeling of contentment came over him.

Leaning back, he grasped her head to see her face. Her jaw was slightly bruised and her lip was still healing, but the swelling was gone. Her eyes moved over his face in the same way. “Are you okay?” He searched her eyes, trying to see for himself. She shook head, then dropped her head to hug him tightly again. She snuggled her face into his throat and his cat started prancing inside him, excited by having her this close.

“So many lies,” she whispered.

He ran a hand over the hair hanging down her back. “I know. Your aunt filled me in.” He smirked, “then the guys held me back from coming to you.”

She leaned back. “I wanted to see you too, after I found out.” She bit her lip for a second, “I don’t understand any of this, Calum.”

When she said his name, he dragged his eyes from her mouth. “I know.” He sighed, “this is not how it’s supposed to be.”

“I don’t want to be away from you again. That’s the only thing I know for sure, even if I don’t understand why.”

She closed her eyes briefly and his heart jerked in his chest when she opened them and he saw they were filled with sorrow.

“It’s horrible, what the women go through… and probably the men.” She took a shaky breath. “My friend Billie was with one of your clansmen. Dale. Another woman was with Marc…” She looked behind her. “Shoot, my bag.” She turned back to him, looking panicked. “I have the book of all the men, women and babies since it started.”

“We’ll get it and we’ll deal with all of it…” He looked at her mouth again and lightly grasped her chin. As he lowered his face to kiss her, a shadow moved over them. Pulling her closer to him to shelter her, he looked up to see a woman with black hair grinning down at him.

“Hi. I’m Billie.”

Shaelan sighed and turned while still sitting on him to look at her. “My bag…” Billie held up a cloth bag. “Thanks.”

She moved to get off him, and whether he agreed with it or not, he realized they weren’t going to get any more alone time right now. Standing, he set her on her feet and grasped her hand. Leaning down, he whispered, “tell me someone brought coffee.”

She grinned. “We’re not that uncivilized up here.”

He hugged her against his side, tucking her under his arm. “Then your clansmen are safe from the Rayne.”

Billie looked up at the sky. “Not a cloud in the sky.”

Calum chuckled. “This is going to be a long meeting.”