Chapter Six
Focusing on the job had been Navi’s best avenue after she’d left Finn at the bar with his girl, since the two of them obviously had a talk in store. Not like she cared. Well, that was a load of horseshit—not like she should care. However, when she’d hopped in the Plymouth and headed into town to scope out the best avenues through the woods, a much bigger distraction had smacked her in the face.
The general store was burning down.
Flames licked the surface of the store, climbing up the old wood with a vengeance. The charred scent of burning cedar tingled her nose even from the distance and oily tufts of blackened smoke rose to the sky. The heat threatened summer’s own, battling the humidity with every gust like forge billows. She’d called the human authorities at once, since a human-owned store fell under their jurisdiction, despite the shifter interference. Then she’d called Finn, willing the charming bastard to pick up his phone, and left messages when he hadn’t.
Time to get to work.
The burning building was beyond her control, but she could keep the flames from spreading to the nearby stores. If the fire moved, the rest of the town would go up like tinder. Navi loped around the back of what looked like an ice-cream shop and prowled back and forth in search of a bucket lying around. No dice.
Except she had other avenues. Navi climbed the back steps. The moment she rattled the knob to find the door locked, she altered her nail into a claw and began jimmying the lock. It clicked open and she shoved her way inside. Even in the darkened kitchen of the place, her panther eyes could see with ease and she slunk over to the sink where underneath lay a bucket that she filled with water to start. She’d summon the rest once she got there.
Dampen any tendrils of flames crawling closer. Reach out with my powers to pull the water from the ground. Refill the bucket. Continue the cycle.
Sweat poured down her forehead from the heat from the fire, warmth from the summer night and sheer exertion. Navi didn’t falter. Until the fire trucks arrived, she needed to keep the flames from spreading. It wasn’t until she heard the first wail of the sirens that she stopped in the middle of summoning more water.
Navi jogged up, droplets of sweat tickling while they trickled down her forehead, her neck, her arms. Her tank top plastered to her chest with sweat from the humidity and the heat from the fires. The firefighters set to work at once, a swarm of efficiency as the squad attached the hose and got the water flowing. By the time she made it to the roadside, the first jet of water blasted into the general store.
The red-and-blues flashed and a police car pulled up around the same time, coming to a screeching halt in front of her. A wide-eyed officer hopped out, the sort of green she’d expect out here. Navi didn’t hesitate as she trekked in his direction, wiping the sweat from her forehead and sweeping the strands of her pixie cut back in place. As the governing force on the shifter side, she’d had plenty of run-ins with human law enforcement. Even though they packed silver bullets to handle her kind, in a one-on-one fight, she’d always have the edge. Tribe members didn’t intimidate.
“Investigating a trafficking ring amongst my species, Officer,” Navi called out, stepping in front of him before he approached the firefighters. No need to waste time. “I’m thinking the bastards I’m tracking down are behind this arson.”
The officer eyeballed her, pausing on the tattoos up and down her arms. “Your kind did this?” he said, far from incredulous. “I’m going to need to verify your identity—standard protocol and all.”
Her gaze heated and, based on the way his hand jumped to his pistol, her eyes must’ve flashed silver. With the amount of shifters living around here, the law enforcement should’ve been used to her kind—except from what she’d seen, the two species tended to stick to their own turfs.
“Navi Tremere of the East Coast Tribe,” she said with a smile, extending her fangs for extra emphasis. The man near dove into his car before punching the information through the system, the screen illuminating his pasty skin. Even if the cops gave her a little trouble at first, once her credentials followed through, humans stepped the hell in line. For that matter, shifters did, too.
The cop slunk out of his car again, his gaze skating the ground as he refused to make eye contact with her. A member of the Tribe, Navi’s powers placed her high on the food chain, but those abilities came at a price. No one wanted to be friends with a monster.
“Ms. Tremere, feel free to continue with your investigation. I will forward any information we find regarding the arson your way,” he said, growing docile like the rest. In fact, only one man had the brass balls to treat her like an equal—like she was normal. Yet he remained wrapped up with his piece from the past and none of her business.
Navi swallowed, hard, and nodded. “Appreciate the help. I’ll see if the culprits are within running distance.”
Headlights on this lonely street drew her attention past the blare of the sirens and the rotating red, white and blues. A familiar Dodge Challenger came to a screeching halt yards away, since no one in the Red Rock pack could drive like a sane person.
Navi didn’t bother saying goodbye to the cop, just walked toward Finn’s car. Even though the adrenaline from trying to quell the flames had petered out when the fire truck appeared, her heart picked up speed the second the handsome bastard stepped out of his car. He wore the same tee from earlier, too well, as the honed muscles of his upper arms were on clear display with his rolled sleeves. His umber eyes near glowed with concern when he met her halfway.
“Looks like the assholes from this morning took notice of our visit.” Navi hooked her thumbs through the belt loops and rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet.
Finn swiped a hand over his buzz cut, his mouth twitching. “Fuck, I saw the texts and thought something happened. The old biddy who owned the shack was a shady bitch—I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Navi winked. “That’s cute, babe. You do realize I could knock out most folks with my pinky, right?” A prickle of a flush rose regardless, one she was grateful didn’t show for an inch.
He shrugged. “Doesn’t mean I can’t worry.”
Damn the man. And damn me for reacting when I need to be retreating. No drama and no attachments, the two rules she’d followed her entire life when it came to hook-ups. Finn Kelly somehow threatened those rules in every way possible, even though she’d trained herself in shutting people out. Navi thanked the Spirits she hadn’t felt the mating bond snap into place. If she ever ended up with a mate, her ship was beyond sunk.
“Well, if you’re done dragging your heels, we’ve got work to do,” she said, tilting her head toward the woods behind the general store. He loped past her, those long legs outpacing her tread in seconds.
“Waiting on you, sweetheart,” he said, flashing her a smile. The hungry gleam returned to his eyes, so different from the sheepish awkwardness she’d dealt with before—this was the predator she’d come to respect.
Navi jogged to catch up, directing them away from the path through the woods they’d traveled before. Chances were, the Landsliders would have left someone as sentry to send the heads-up of any further investigation. They might not have realized the pot they stirred in attempting to outsmart Navi Tremere, but they would soon.
Navi and Finn passed the ice-cream shop, and she directed them past another empty lot to where the woods thickened, closer to the section she’d uncovered earlier. Navi stepped to the edge of the forest, the leaves scraping around her ankles and the long grasses brushing at her calves.
“Shift,” she commanded as she stripped off her shirt and shorts and tossed them to the ground. Even as Finn did the same, she could feel his gaze on her, a brand she didn’t want to admit she liked.
Given the timing of the blaze, whatever idiots had set the storefront on fire couldn’t have gotten far on feet or paws. She didn’t give a damn if they were the fastest wolves in the region. She was a panther. She was Tribe.
Navi shifted, the switch as natural as breathing. Her tattoos kept the wild side of her close to the surface even in human form, so the change rarely affected her. That black and white nature, the aggressiveness and the enhanced senses were always close at heart. Her hands turned to paws, she sprouted vicious claws and the thick fur coated her body when she settled onto all fours.
In this form, doubts didn’t cling to her, worries faded away and the hunter’s clarity settled in. The whole change was addictive. Too many times she’d shifted into panther form and sometimes for so long she forgot how to be Navi Tremere.
A huff came from behind her as a big silver and rust wolf approached. Finn. Navi took the first couple of steps toward the woods, padding across the dry leaves and soft dirt. Already, she caught the scent of unfamiliar shifters on the breeze. She nudged her muzzle forward, catching Finn’s gaze, those piercing eyes that seared right through her.
Together, they ran.
As the breeze filtered through her fur and the mud churned under her paws, the joy of the hunt swept through. In their haste, these shifters had been sloppy. Their scent marked everywhere with no effort to hide it and branches were bent, leaves trampled. Even though Finn lagged a couple of feet behind, he made a valiant effort to keep up. Her panther form was bigger and thick corded muscles burst with energy, so, at a flat run, she outpaced. The forest quaked where she landed and, in this form, the raw power of the panther spirit-bonded to her radiated through.
Navi slowed upon reaching a stretch of caves with openings that swallowed darkness. The scent trail led straight up to the entrances. Even with her enhanced vision, she couldn’t make out what lingered in those black holes. She paced the ground in front of the entrance, unable to quell her suspicion. The Landsliders might be in a panic, but they hadn’t been complete idiots so far. Backing themselves into a corner would snap a noose around their necks, meaning this was a trap. Diving in would be sheer lunacy.
Finn sailed past her, not pausing for a heartbeat.
Into the depths of the cavern he plunged, disappearing from sight. Her heart slammed as her muscles tensed to leap. Not like she could leave him to get eviscerated on his own inside. He’d made their choice the second he thundered in. Navi let out a low growl that reverberated through her chest before racing into the caves after him.
The air was stale and cool, the dust swirling around her feet when she bounded inside. With the light vanished, her other senses took over. The scent of the Landsliders threatened to overwhelm here and, apart from the pounding of Finn’s feet ahead of her, slight rustles from the side of the cavern stole her attention. The moment he passed them, they’d launch their attack.
Damn it all.
Navi let out a loud roar, one that quaked the small cavern. The reverberations shook the loose stones, making them clatter onto the floor.
Finn skidded to a halt, and just in time. In the seconds they’d been inside, her eyes had begun adjusting to this darkness and inky shapes surged from behind a rocky crag. The spirit of the panther inside rushed to the forefront, demanding quick and terrible retribution. Despite the way her Great Spirit tried to override her over and over again, Navi maintained an iron grip.
Another cave-shaking roar exploded from her mouth as she rocketed forward. Even though Finn would get a tongue lashing when they were done, she wasn’t about to let the Landsliders tear him to shreds.
She charged toward the figures on the other side of the cavern, three by her estimation, even though she could barely make out the forms in the liquid dark. Their ragged breaths came out in rasps as the Landsliders burst past their cover. A black bear thundered toward her, ready to attack, but Navi wasn’t in the mood to play.
The other two shifters lunged for Finn, wolves by the sleek shape of their figures. He let out a snarl that echoed through the cavern and leapt for the nearest one. His sharp teeth descended and he latched on to the wolf’s neck.
Before the black bear could rush into her, Navi pivoted around to ram headfirst into him. The shifter let out a low roar, skidding a couple of paces under the force of her blow. The bear’s solid muscle didn’t stand a chance against her thick skull. Three shifters had been lying in wait for them here. Her stomach twisted. Seemed off—three made for a pitiful trap.
The bear lunged for her, slashing with those sharpened claws. Navi remained fluid and ducked out of the way with ease. She slammed her paws to the ground, tapping into the Great Spirit she was bound to as the power rushed through her.
“Stop,” Navi called out, unleashing a roar of a command. The bear halted mid-stride, the compulsion binding him on the spot. As Tribe, this was their most important tool in governing the packs, the damage control necessary against shifters who’d worked themselves into a frenzy. Otherwise, stepping in the middle of a riot of claws and fangs was tantamount to suicide.
Except, after a second of freezing, the bear swiped for her again.
Navi snapped to attention—too late. Those vicious points sank in past her fur before Navi could skid back. Ice filtered through her veins. Her command should have worked. Her Tribe compulsion had always—always—worked in the past. The wolves hadn’t responded to her order, either, and both of them snapped their jaws at Finn, pushing him closer and closer to the opposite wall of the cavern. Whatever change allowed this, Navi knew in her bones this had everything to do with their rogue Tribe member, Mackey Kendricks.
The scent of blood from where the bear had swiped did little more than enrage her panther and, before the beast made another attempt, Navi pounced. She was claws, fangs and fury.
Under the onslaught, Finn scrambled back as fast as possible, farther and farther into the cavern. Except he only had so far to go before the shifters backed him against the wall. Navi crouched down and surged forward again. Her head slammed into the bear, sending him staggering to thud against the cavern’s side. Enough wasting time. These shifters had been left as distraction. She whipped around to where the wolves pressed in on Finn. Navi launched forward.
Even outnumbered, the Red Rock beta put up a fierce fight. He rammed into one of the wolves, only to pivot back around right when the other descended. Even still, he’d only accumulated a couple of scratches. Navi gave no warning, with a quiet approach only her kind could accomplish. She crashed down between the two wolves right as they reared to lunge for Finn. With their backs turned, they didn’t see her in time.
Swipe. Smash.
One swayed from the force of her blow, but, before the other could respond, Navi rerouted, smashing the beast in the side. The wolf lost his footing, skidding across the uneven ground to land with a crash. Finn didn’t pause. His gaze flashed when he caught sight of her, and he followed through her initial attack by leaping upon the wolf. The bear crept behind her—she could hear those plodding footsteps—but he was sorely mistaken if he thought he could sneak up unnoticed.
She rebounded off the nearest boulder surface to whip around and face the bear shifter fool enough to take her on. Gravel sprayed in the wake of her fast motions.
The moment she turned, a slight beep pricked her hearing, one that pierced through the whole cavern.
A second later, a boom came from the front of the cavern and the ground shook under her feet.