Travis's Gift (Riley's Pride #3)- Sandra R Neeley Page 0,67

at the same time Lucas moved to his right. They moved stealthily through the trees to the part of Travis’s property covered in natural hardwoods and underbrush. He kept the land in its natural form along all perimeters, and that’s where they’d tracked whoever, or whatever it was.

Roman stopped again to listen for movement of any type, but all he could hear was Lucas’s voice.

“We know you’re here. Nobody’s gonna hurt you, so why don’t you just come out? We’ll get you some food, give you a warm place to sleep. No reason to be skulking around in the dark like this.”

Roman waited to see if anyone would respond before continuing on in the direction that would lead him to Lucas. Soon as Lucas came into view, Roman shook his head, and Lucas did the same.

“Fine, have it your way. But, don’t make the mistake of approaching the house, or anyone who lives here during the night. You’ll get shot if you’re lucky, worse if you’re not. We’re your welcoming committee, come out now, or don’t come out at all,” Roman said, standing with his feet planted shoulder width apart, his hands hanging loosely at his sides, almost like he was daring someone or something to come at him.

They stood silently for almost ten minutes more listening for any proof of movement, scenting for anything unusual, but there was nothing.

“You ready to head back?” Roman asked.

“Yeah. In a bit. I’m going to wait a little longer just to be sure,” Lucas said.

“Okay. I’m going to let Travis know we didn’t find anything. Might offer to stay the night,” Roman said.

“So, you agree with me, something doesn’t feel right,” Lucas said.

Roman shrugged. “Can’t be too careful. They just mated. Don’t need any unexpected trouble,” Roman said. “You going to be long?”

“No. I’ll be right behind you,” Lucas said. Lucas watched as Roman moved quietly through the trees and brush leaving him alone in the darkness. He didn’t mind. He could see perfectly well in the night, and there wasn’t much that could threaten a full grown Kodiak Bear. He walked a few feet more before looking around himself again, then up into the trees.

“You still out here?” he asked quietly. He got no reply, but as soon as Roman had left, he’d felt like he was being watched again. “I don’t mean you any harm. In fact, I’d like to help you. It’s rough being on your own trying to move through cities and towns while avoiding everyone you see. Keeping to the unpopulated areas until you figure out where you’re heading can be lonely. People celebrating the holidays and congregating can easily draw your attention. The smell of the food and the hot coffee. It’s enough to make you want to come closer,” Lucas said.

Lucas got absolutely no reply. He didn’t hear any kind of movement at all. He couldn’t even hear the natural sounds that should have been there, and that in itself was telling. There wasn’t much that could frighten the wild animals into silence. “Have it your way. Stay hidden. But if that’s what you’re going to do, you need to move on. Leave my friends alone, or you’ll have to deal with more than just them. The Tiger can handle you on his own, but the rest of us would be more than happy to help if he’d allow it. You feel me?”

Lucas stood statue still and waited, but there was no indication of anything moving in the still of the night. Having delivered his message, Lucas turned and calmly walked out of the woods surrounding Travis’s land. He didn’t look back. It wasn’t necessary. Whatever had stalked him silently all evening hadn’t shown itself, and obviously had no intention of doing so. But he should have looked back. If he had, he’d have seen two glowing red eyes, sitting high up in a tree barely two feet from where he’d issued his command to move along, staring at him, watching him go.

~~~

The outcast sat perfectly still in the treetop, refusing to move or speak in reply to the offers of shelter and food that had been spoken only moments before. Her nostrils flared as she scented the males beneath her. She knew them immediately. One was a Gorilla. The other? The other was a Bear — a large Bear, but that wasn’t all he was. He was also hers. She’d doubted the instinct that had drawn her here, following some unfamiliar inner voice for weeks