Chapter 14
Katya
“Earth to Katya.” Jessie’s voice brought me back to the present.
We were halfway through the final game of the season. The game that would determine whether our team was number one or number two. We were taking a break. The score was tied. And here I was daydreaming about having woken in Carter’s arms.
I’d forgotten to set my alarm and missed math. Carter had given me a quick kiss before promising to talk to Professor Foley, who he swore would understand completely.
Not that I’d have cared either way. Waking up to see Carter sprawled out next to me had been worth any consequence that may have come my way.
“What’s going on?” Jessie asked. “The volleyball almost hit you twice. You haven’t been yourself lately, and today we have to focus.”
“I know. I recovered and hit the ball over the net both times, remember? I’m fine. It’s just nerves.”
“Maybe grab an energy drink or something. We’re all depending on you.”
“You’re right. I’m focused. From here on out, nothing’s on my mind but winning.”
Relief washed over her face. “You swear?”
“Yeah. I’m going to grab that drink.” I jogged over to the vending machines, waving to the crowd where Carter sat with my mom and Che. Alley was with the cheer squad, doing a complicated routine to build the excitement of the crowd.
I picked out a cherry-flavored energy drink and downed it without stopping. Just after I tossed it into the recycle bin, voices caught my attention. Familiar voices.
A chill ran down my spine. They sounded exactly like my attackers. My family. The people who wanted to force me into a horrible marriage.
Because we were all jaguar shifters. A wave of disbelief ran through me. Would that ever sound normal?
“There she is!”
A rib popped. At least this time I knew why.
I glanced around. I was hidden by the sides of the bleachers and was on the opposite side of the concession stands.
Nobody would see me if my dad’s family dragged me away. It was also too loud for anyone to hear me if I screamed.
The four guys stepped around the corner. Two of them were my attackers. One of them thought they owned me.
Probably the one ogling me.
The others were rolling up their sleeves like they were preparing for a fight. They knew I didn’t want to go with them, and yet they were still going to try and take me.
I needed to run, but my feet were frozen on the floor.
They all glared at me, especially the ogler. He was currently staring at my legs. Suddenly, I felt self-conscious about the short shorts.
My heart thundered in my chest, and my mouth went dry. I tried swallowing, but it was futile.
It would only be a matter of moments before they were close enough to reach me. A rib popped, followed by a hip. A searing pain ran throughout my body, starting at the base of my neck and moving downward, spreading out to my limbs as it went.
I focused on them. They appeared more crisp and clear than anything I’d ever seen. In fact, even the lighting had changed.
Had I shifted?
I looked down. No, I was still me. But it was probably only a matter of time before I turned in front of everyone. And I had no idea what that was like.
Each of their steps echoed as they neared.
How could I hear that over the noise of the crowd?
That realization was enough to kick my feet into gear. I spun around and raced to the volleyball court—in front of everyone. Those jerks wouldn’t dare try anything with a packed gym watching everything.
“Where’d you come from?” Lola asked.
“I just grabbed an energy drink.”
“No, I mean it’s like you appeared out of nowhere.”
Blood drained from my face. “What do you mean?”
“You… you weren’t here, then suddenly you were.”
“Maybe you’re the one who needs some caffeine.” I gave her a playful shove, but I couldn’t help wondering if she was right. What if I’d run too fast? Could my jaguar nature have taken over because I was scared?
The coach called us over for a huddle to get us in the mindset for the last half of the big game. I stayed on high alert. Those four guys peeked around the bleachers where I’d just been.
My heart raced again. It seemed unreal that they wanted to take me away so that I could be a slave-wife of the creep ogler, but I couldn’t deny the feeling I got when they were around. It matched everything Carter and Che had told me.
Somehow I managed to push them out of my mind once we started playing. I laser-focused on the ball and took all my nervous energy out on it.
My team cheered for me, and so did the crowd. The excitement in the air fed into how well I was doing. Each time I hit the ball, it sailed through the air faster than I’d ever hit it before. It was like I had quickly growing abilities.
The second half of the game flew by, and our score kept going higher and higher, hardly seeming to pause. Our opposing team could barely keep up. They grumbled and complained, falling further behind.
Finally, the game was over. We’d won by leaps and bounds. We cheered, along with half the audience, then my team piled on top of me in celebration.
The award ceremony went by in a blur. It took me a moment to realize I’d been declared MVP of the game. Everything was surreal.
Once things calmed down, Alley came over to me, squealing with excitement. “I’ve never seen you play like that before! What changed?”
Guilt stung at me for not being able to tell her the truth. I made up some excuse about getting caught up in the excitement.
Alley threw her arms around me, obviously buying the story. “MVP! That’s so awesome!”
My mom, Che, and Carter broke through the crowd, giving me more hugs and congratulations.
“This calls for a celebration.” Mom beamed. “Let’s head over to your favorite restaurant!”
One of my ribs popped.
Che’s eyes widened. He turned to Mom. “Why don’t we let her get cleaned up and have a chance to rest?” He put his hand on my shoulder. “Does dinner or lunch tomorrow sound good?”
I threw him my most grateful expression. “That sounds perfect.” I rubbed my neck for extra effect. “Thank you guys so much for coming out. It means the world.”
“You think I’d miss it?” Mom looked at me like I was crazy. “I got about two hundred pictures.”
“You didn’t.” She knew how much I hated having my picture taken.
She pulled out her phone. “Two hundred and thirty-eight, to be exact.”
I shook my head.
“Well, some of them are of Alley cheering, but most were of you. Today’s your day.”
I groaned. “Just don’t put them on social media.”
“You’re no fun. Not even the best ones? Just for my friends. I won’t tag you if you don’t want.”
I glared at Che. He was the one who taught her how to tag people in photos.
“Sorry,” he mouthed. He didn’t look sorry.
“Well?” Mom asked.
“Okay, just don’t tag me.”
“You can tag me in mine.” Alley grinned. “I want to see them all.”
We agreed on a time and place to eat the next day, then Mom and Che headed back to the hotel, and Alley rejoined her friends.
Carter draped his arms over my shoulders and gazed into my eyes. “Finally, I have you to myself. You did phenomenal, you know.”
“Stop.”
“I would, but I mean it. You deserved MVP.”
“Those guys showed up at halftime.”
Carter’s grin faded. “What?”
“Those two from the hotel a couple weeks ago.”
“I know who you meant. Where did you see them?”
“Over by the vending machines. They were definitely approaching me, but I ran back over to the court.”
His expression pinched. “They dared to show up even after Che and I made it clear they needed to leave you alone?”
I studied his face. “Wait a minute. Come to think of it, neither of you have any of the bruises you had last night. Why not?”
“We heal quickly. Haven’t you noticed that about yourself?”
I thought back to a time Mom had been sure I’d broken my leg, but the X-ray had barely shown a hairline fracture. One doctor had even said it was so slight it could’ve been something else.
“Maybe,” I answered Carter.
He rubbed my shoulders. “How are you feeling? Still want to shift tonight?”
A mixture of terror and excitement ran through me. “I think so.”
“You’re not sure?”
My hip popped. “My body is. My mind isn’t.”
Carter laced his fingers through mine. “I’ll be with you every step of the way. My first shift wasn’t all that long ago. I still remember how nerve-wracking and confusing it was.”
My pulse drummed in my ears, making it hard for me to hear him. Other than fearing the unknown and the thrill of all the popping coming to an end, I also felt a spark of something else. Relief?
Something inside urged me forward.
Carter kissed my cheek. “Let’s go to my car, then I’ll take you to the woods near campus. Think you can wait that long?”
“I hope so.” We were a couple hours away from the ferry which would take us home. “I don’t suppose we can teleport?”
He shook his head. “But I have some friends who do. I’ll have to introduce you sometime.”
I stared at him. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. Come on. We have a long drive ahead of us.”
“Oh, I’d better tell Paige that I won’t be driving back with her.”
A few minutes later, Carter and I walked hand-in-hand through the parking lot.
“Did you park on the far end?” I asked.
“Yeah, I usually do.”
“Afraid of scratches?” I joked.
“Actually, yes.” He led me to what appeared to be a red Ferrari. No other cars were by it.
“Is that yours?”
“The one good thing my dad gave me.”
My mouth dropped open.
Carter remote-unlocked it and held open the passenger door for me. I climbed in, utterly in shock. I’d never been in anything so nice before.
What else didn’t I know about him? And were all his other secrets just as surprising?