Animal Nature: A Paranormal Romance (The Animal Sagas) (3 page)

Deciding she had played hard to get long enough, Sonya stood up, stretched, and lithely jumped down from the tree. Stretching, once she landed back on solid earth, she taunted him, still in cougar form, by lightly swatting at him with a large snowy mitten. Still, she didn’t want to have to repeat her last hunting time with him. She had been caught up in the desire to obtain her prey, and in doing so, Clay had been torn through the woods at such high speeds that he did not even have time to slow down and avoid the treacherous pines.

That time he did climb the tree to get her down. She could still see him clearly in her mind trying his best to climb that tree. And as a general rule, wolves are not known for their tree climbing skills. Sonya had been forced to pluck pine slivers from Clay’s legs for hours, while Lynda lectured her about not mistreating her bodyguard. As if it was her fault that Clay couldn’t keep up. As if it was her fault that he was always managing to keep her from evading him completely. It was his choice to chase her after all. She wasn’t a kid but sometimes Lynda could really treat her like one.

Landing next to the well muscled man, Sonya gave him a playful head butt knocking the soft fur of her forehead against the chilled skin of his side and hopped a few feet away. “Knock it off she-cat. I’m hungry, cold, aggravated and it’s time to head home. It’ll be dark soon so let’s go,” he snapped as he glared down a her.

Just then the striking young man, she guessed about thirty or so, she wasn’t sure exactly, turned back into his wolf form, huge and grizzled grey with light yellow-green eyes. Sonya playfully hopped back beside him, gave his muzzle a quick lick, actually slapped him this time with a large snow filled paw and then leapt away as he play snapped back at her. He could be such a grouch, she often thought to herself. With that Sonya turned and began making her way back towards the cabin Ben and the pack had given her to call home. It wasn’t at all like the cabin she had shared with her parents, and most recently with Lynda, all her life, but it was nice enough and they did keep her well stocked with everything she might ever need. Except for a cell phone and internet service!

She often wondered how Clay really felt about having to share living accommodations with a full grown woman that he wasn’t sleeping with. She had no idea what the other pack members said to him about his new “baby-sitting gig”, but she could imagine that they really gave him a hard time about it, if only behind his back. It could not be easy for him to be domesticated without the benefits. Despite all the teasing and trouble she gave him, Sonya felt sorry for the handsome werewolf. It couldn’t be easy on him just watching but never touching – she knew that.

She had seen him stealing glances at Lynda and Ben when they went out together, or as they finished their night curled up next to each other in the midst of the pack. He was at a point in his life that most would consider a time to mate. Clearly he wanted to take a mate himself. He was certainly of age to do so. It was obvious to her, even if it wasn’t yet to him. But she was convinced that he had been thinking about it even if he would not admit it. Probably he had been thinking about it for a while now at his “advanced age” she thought to herself and then chuckled. Yet most of the female wolves in the pack were already mated, or too intimidated by the Alpha’s second to consider ever approaching him in a romantic fashion. Not to mention he was now stuck following her around, 24-7 any way.

It could not be exactly easy for him to nuzzle up to a female while Sonya stood by watching. Maybe there was something she could do to help him. Sonya soon became determined to play matchmaker. Perhaps if he had his own mate to be concerned about, he would ease up on her just enough for her to obtain a little bit of freedom from time to time.

Chapter 6

Maybe there was something she could do to help him out in this situation. Hmm… definitely something to think about. The wheels started turning… When they finally reached the cabin, Sonya shifted back into her human form, swinging her hips tantalizingly as she walked in the front door. Just another way in which she loved to tease Clay. She could feel his eyes lingering on her, but he did not let a single growl escape. It was definitely a Yukonia thing. Or at least a she-cat thing! She grabbed her clothes which hung on the wall just inside, then threw Clay his sweat pants back over her shoulder as she passed down the hallway. She could hear him give a frustrated sigh as he caught the clothes and she headed to the kitchen.

“Aw come on Clay. It wasn’t that bad, you only had to wait half an hour this time! And you didn’t even have to climb up after me either!” She looked over her shoulder at the young man who now stared at her with an eyebrow arched and damp towel in hand, wiping dirt from his face and hands. “Come on, I will make those deer steaks you brought back from last night’s kill,” she said matter of factly.

“I’m going to take a shower.” He grunted at her, trying to look anywhere but at her. “I’ll be back out when the food is ready. Don’t forget… ”

“I know, I know. To let you know if I hear, see, think or smell anything suspicious.” Sonya finished the sentence for him. “I know, I know. Get going, will you? You stink! And don’t use all the hot water either – I want a shower tonight too!”

Sonya pulled the steaks and a few other mixed vegetables from the fridge and laid them about on the counter as she dug through various pots and pans in search of her favorite cast iron skillet. She fried the venison steaks in her cast iron skillet with some potatoes and onions, added a little mustard, some salt and pepper and a few mushrooms too while she pondered Clay’s current romantic problem. The trouble was he needed to get out of pack territory and meet a few new women who weren’t intimidated by his status in the clan. Sonya actually knew of a few nice female weres who lived in the nearby town. Maybe he should meet a few of them. Might be just what he needs to cheer his grouchy old self up.

However, after the kidnapping incident of five months ago, and all the conflict between the Strongheart and the Dark Fang clans, she had been forbidden from returning to town by Ben, the pack Alpha. As it was, the town was just outside of Strongheart pack territory, and it was considered simply too dangerous for her to go down there without several wolves in attendance. And Lynda had expressly forbid her from going to town too. An unmated Yukonia were would be a prize many would like to claim. And no way Ben would ever allow that to happen! Plus she didn’t want to repeat the drama with Jon again. That guy is crazy, no two ways about it, she thought to herself.

If she tried to go down there with just Clay, she would get both of them in a lot of trouble from both Ben and Lynda and she knew it. Much more trouble than it was worth. Plus, Clay was terribly strong, she knew that, but there was no way one were could stand up by himself to a pack and come out unharmed. And she didn’t want to see him get hurt. Sonya sighed to herself as she turned the steaks over in their pan and stirred the vegetables about.

But,” she smirked to herself as she stirred the onions. “If they were to come here,” her devilish smirk was enough to make her look sinister in the steam rising from the pan. Sonya sighed as she turned the steaks in their pan once again. By the time Clay was drawn to the kitchen by the heavenly scent of her cooking, she had managed to work herself into a deep sexy pout. She was very familiar with how to get what she wanted.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as she carried their plates to the table.

“Oh nothing,” she shrugged dismissively. He nodded as if that solved everything, and sat down at the table. Sonya slumped down in her chair across from him. She rested her chin in her palm and heaved a very heavy sigh again.

“Sonya?” Clay glanced up at her reluctantly. He had gotten to know her well enough to know that she could get into some serious moods.

“Oh I’m sorry,” she frowned. “I just was thinking of my friends.”

“Friends?” he asked and took a bite of the venison steak. “Mmmmm,” he sighed at the flavor. “Awesome.”

“Thanks,” she smirked a little. She always enjoyed it when he praised her cooking. She knew that he would be just as kind to one of her friends.

“Now what about these friends?” he asked.

“Well it’s just, ever since I’ve been part of the pack,” she paused a moment when she saw his eyes glaze over with loyalty. “Not that I’m not insanely grateful,” she hurried to explain. “But, I haven’t had a chance to see any of my old friends.”

“Sonya,” Clay said with warning in his voice. “You know Ben said no going into town. It’s too dangerous right now.”

“Right,” she nodded a little as if she could care less about her own freedom. “But don’t you think they could visit me here?” she suggested with a bit more of a pout. “I mean, I only ever have you to play with.”

He looked up at her sharply and she hid a smile.

“I mean spend time with.” Her bright blue eyes were full of pleading as she fixed them on him. “What would be the harm? At least you would get a little relief from my teasing,” she pointed out.

Clay sat back in his chair. He really wasn’t sure if he could agree to the visit. “I’ll have to check with Ben,” he said with a frown.

“Ben, Ben, Ben,” Sonya rolled her eyes a little. “Can’t you make a decision for yourself?”

Clay nearly choked on his next bite of venison steak. “Uh, of course I can,” he growled. “I always ask Ben’s permission out of respect for him, as the Alpha of our pack.”

Sonya sighed as she heard his usual speech. She was used to Clay being such a goody two shoes, she had just hoped to avoid the scenario.

“We’re talking about my friends visiting, not anything terrible,” she reminded him. “We can meet out in the woods, so they won’t be anywhere near the pack, okay?” she asked as if he had already agreed to it.

“Sonya I don’t know,” he hesitated.

“Well then I’m going into town,” she said flatly. She stood up abruptly and was ready to walk right out the door when she felt Clay’s strong grasp on the crook of her elbow.

“No,” he barked out, nearly choking on his steak, and she jumped a little at the intensity of his voice. She very rarely saw Clay behave so aggressively. It spoke to her own animal nature and stirred thoughts in her that she knew that she should not be having about Clay. With his hand still around her arm he pulled her gently back toward him. “Please, don’t make me bring this issue to Ben,” Clay said sternly. He was already embarrassed that he was always being run around by Sonya.

“I won’t, just let me get together with a few friends,” she shrugged and pulled her arm out of his grip. “You’ll be there, so you can keep me safe,” she smirked.

Clay hesitated. He knew that making a choice about Sonya without Ben’s approval might get him into a bit of trouble. But that was a risk he was going to take, not just to avoid embarrassment, but because he could understand Sonya’s need. Her entire life had changed, and she had left behind her old friends.

“Okay, we’ll meet with them in the woods, but no running off,” he growled and met her gaze.

“Of course not,” she smiled innocently.

Sonya made the arrangements for the next day with her friends. She knew that they would be excited to meet Clay. He was a bit of a superstar in the were world for being second to an Alpha and as handsome as he was. When it was time to meet up with them, Clay reminded her once more.

“No running off, I mean it,” he said arching a brow high into the air.

“Sure,” she nodded and headed out the front door. When they met up in the woods, Sonya could tell that Clay was a little distracted by the beauty of her friends. Two women, both weres themselves, with striking dark eyes. One had rich chocolate brown hair, and the other was a redhead. She knew that Clay would like them. After she had introduced them, she winked at her friends. She had promised them a show they would not soon forget.

“Why don’t we get more comfortable?” she suggested and began to shift into her were form.

“Sonya,” Clay warned, but it was too late. She was already a mountain lion, ready to run. Her friends had transformed too. They were both werewolves with shiny coats and sharp bared teeth. Clay stared at the three and then sighed with defeat. He knew he would not be able to convince them not to do this. He shifted into wolf form as well and began running with them. When Sonya began running faster than the others, Clay broke free of the other two and tried to keep up with her. Of course, she found the nearest high limb and jumped right up into it.

Clay snarled and barked at her to come down, but she ignored him. The two other wolves began to catch up. Clay was so frustrated that Sonya would not obey him that he transformed into human form without even thinking about what he was doing. Soon he had two wolves ogling him in his completely nude form.

“See,” Sonya purred to them as if she had planned out the whole thing. This only seemed to upset Clay more, and he shifted back into his wolf form. He sat down on his haunches and growled at Sonya.

“Maybe we should go,” one of her friends said. The other nodded quickly. They knew when a strong male wolf was angry it was not the best place to be.

“But wait!” Sonya called after her friends, but they would not stop. Her plan had not worked the way she had expected at all. When she looked down at Clay he was still growling.

“You have to come down sometime, Sonya,” he stood and began pacing back and forth patiently. Sonya waited until he was facing the opposite direction and then leaped down from the high branch. She sprinted as fast as she could back toward the cabin. But it was no use, all of Clay’s anger was fueling him. He pounced on her from behind, and when she felt his body slam against hers, something deep within her burned with need. He shifted into human form, with her still pinned beneath him, and she did as well. He turned her over to face him. When she saw his light green eyes she expected them to be full of anger, but instead they possessed a large amount of hurt.

“Why did you do that to me?” he asked her. For the first time Sonya realized he had not been as enraged as he was embarrassed. She had treated him very cruelly.