Prey & Prejudice: Cougar Falls, Book 7 (2 page)

“Of course.” Joy studied her, and Zoe wondered what she saw.

Seventeen years was a lifetime. Zoe had picked up her share of scars and defeats throughout the years. Fights and friendships that had helped her grow, not only as a woman, but as a cat worthy of taking her pride in a new direction. The Miami cats she and her mother had left long ago had been more concerned with money and living large in Florida than embracing their animal spirits. And the news they’d continued to get, especially following Michael’s death, had both saddened and filled her with new purpose.

It had taken her a long time to overcome her obsession with material things. Zoe wanted to help. Driven to assist where needed, she’d done good in her life, but she had so much more to give. Yet had she stayed in Miami, pampered and overly protected, who knew what she might have become? The best thing her mother had done for her was to whisk her away from civilization to show her what real Ac-taw in tune with their feline selves could be. United. Safe. Strong.

And hell, let’s face it, beautiful. Thanks to Mama and some damn fine genes from her daddy, the Spirit bless him.

Joy continued to stare at her from head to toe.

“Seen enough yet?” she drawled. A six-foot Amazon, as she’d often been called, Zoe had the skills to back up her loud mouth, and she didn’t much care who knew it.

Joy grinned. “I think you’re just what we need in the pride, Zoe.”

“That’s really great to hear you say.” Time to state her case. “Because I’m here to put things right.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I plan to take over the pride, as leader.”

Joy didn’t blink. “Is that right?”

Zoe couldn’t read her, and she respected the bright woman all the more for it. “Yep. I’m pretty sure Quince will be happy to hand over leadership. I know it won’t be easy, since the pride is pretty paternal in its dealings. But it’s time to shake things up.”

“Uh-huh.”

Zoe frowned. “You know, that shit-eating grin isn’t telling me jack. My brother loves you, and from what I remember about you, I can’t see you being too attached to power.”

“I’m not.”

“So my brother stepping down shouldn’t bother you. This isn’t a power trip for me. I genuinely think I can help us grow together, not apart. Too much division has weakened us, and we have to fix that before others try to take over.”

“But you think you can do a better job than Quince, is that it?” Joy asked quietly.

“I do.” Wholeheartedly. “If the right cat for the job happens to be a woman, that shouldn’t matter, should it? I’m not saying Quince isn’t a fine man or panther, but from what Mama said and I sense, he’s not too keen on staying in charge.”

“You got that right.”

They stared at each other in silence.

Expecting more of an inquisition about the bomb she’d just dropped, Zoe was taken aback when Joy changed the subject.

“I’m planning a dinner party for you two tomorrow night. Make sure you’re there. Tonight will be something simple. That okay?” Joy said, looking a little too innocent.

“Something you want to tell me?”

“You look tired. When’s the last time you shifted and ran in the Glades?”

“Feels like forever.” Zoe would dearly like to flow into her animal spirit and run through the forest, but her mother had counseled her to tread warily. Baby steps, she’d warned. Considering what the pride had recently gone through, Zoe knew her mother made sense. She didn’t want to make things worse or hurt anyone—just the opposite.

“Dinner won’t be for a few hours. Why not go for a run?” Joy suggested. “You remember how to get there, right?”

Zoe nodded. “You sure that’s okay?”

“Word’s gotten out that you’re coming back. So the few new pride members you’ve never met won’t give you any hassle. Although…”

“What?”

“We might have to beat the males off with a stick. Did you paint those pants on or what?”

Zoe chuckled, relieved Joy seemed to be so accepting. “I have a nice ass. So let ’em look.”

“Obviously self-esteem has never been your problem. You’re a lot like your brother,” Joy said with a snort. “Go on. Have a nice run. Feel the earth under your paws. You have time enough to terrorize the pride when you get back.”

“See, that’s what I always liked about you, Joy. That common sense.” Zoe glanced over her shoulder, and seeing her mother absent, she leaned in to advise, “But you might want Quince to sit on Mama and fast. I think she has a bone to pick with a few of the judges since she was last here. And she’s too good at stepping on toes, if you know what I mean.”

Joy grinned. “I remember. No one can arouse and annoy men as fast as Esmie Castille. Your mother was my idol, you know.”

Zoe clapped her on the shoulder, and Joy stumbled.

“Oh, sorry. Okay, then. I’m off. See you at six…ish.”

Joy waved her off, and Zoe left the house with a big smile. She couldn’t wait to feel the wind through her fur, smell the salt and sawgrass and taunt the gators again. She found her bike untouched and grabbed her helmet. After putting it on, she mounted her bike, started the roaring pipes and tore out of the pride’s estate. She was happy, the path to her future clear and certain. She could do some good here, she could feel it.

“What the hell was that?”

Joy jumped and glanced over her shoulder at her annoyed brother. “Where did you come from?”

“Heaven, or at least that’s what Mom used to say.”

She snorted in derision.

“What was that noise?”

Still thinking on all Zoe had told her, Joy shook her head. “Nothing. Why?”

“But—never mind.” He sighed.

“Finally broke away from the office, hmm?”

“Taking a break. I need to run. If anyone needs me, I’ll be at the House. Quince is aware and more than capable of handling any difficulties.”

She loved Miles, though half the time he sounded as if he’d swallowed a dictionary. He and Stacey should have been twins, all that arrogance and haughty disdain mixed with such breathtaking beauty. Hmm…a lot like what she’d just experienced with Zoe, except Zoe didn’t seem to take herself too seriously. That was one cat who knew how to have fun.

Zoe. Who would soon be at the House.

“What’s that look?” Miles asked. “You okay?”

When Zoe had mentioned her intention to take over the pride, Joy had been thrown for a loop. A female in charge? It was unheard of. Yet Joy more than liked the idea. Zoe made it sound as if she cared, and not that she wanted control because she was on some power trip. Time would tell if Zoe had what it took to take over, but Joy was more than happy to watch her try. Zoe’s real problem would lie in convincing Miles she could handle the pride and work in its best interest.

More than her aspirations, though, Joy liked Zoe as a person. Granted, Zoe had been gone nearly two decades, but according to Quince, she was the same girl she’d been all those years ago. Intelligent, fun-loving and loyal to the core. Add arrogant and gorgeous to the description, and Joy could be describing her brother.

Miles—a man in need of a mate. Zoe—a woman Joy actually liked.

“Joy?” Miles frowned at her.

“Ah, just thinking what good timing it is. You have hours to relax before tonight’s big meeting. And with the Castilles rolling into town at any minute, you really need to conserve your strength.”

He groaned. “Don’t I know it.” He moved past her toward the garage, where several of the pride’s vehicles were parked. “Like I said, Quince is in charge.”

“Only while you’re gone. No take-backs,” she reminded him. Neither she nor Quince wanted to lead the pride. They preferred supporting roles. The headache of dealing with so many personalities didn’t suit Quince or her that well. She could handle the females no problem. The males got on her last friggin’ nerve.

Kind of like Miles.

“Well, it’s probably for the best,” he said over his shoulder before turning around to face her again. “You two aren’t exactly leadership material. You’re both smart enough, but mouthy. Too much attitude.” He gave her a disdainful once-over, making a face at her Target shorts and tee-shirt. “And no style. Really, Joy. Next time ask me. I’ll help you find something not from the boys’ department.” He smirked at her scowl, then turned around and headed toward the garage once more.

Nasty cat.

She grinned through her teeth and waved at his back. “Have a good time, Miles. See you at dinner.”
If Zoe doesn’t wipe the House with your face first.

Chapter Two

Zoe stretched out, rolling her shoulders and easing her joints as she dragged her claws down a thick Gumbo-limbo tree. Pleased to add her scent to the myriad smells of cat around the area, she yawned and trotted over the roots and vines crawling over the ground.

God, it had been so long since she’d been home. Africa was wonderful—if you could overlook the snotty attitude of the bigger cats. Mountain lions weren’t the same as African lions, and the big bastards had been pretty clear on reminding her of their differences. The females in particular could be pretty haughty. But Zoe hadn’t cared, too busy learning how they interacted. Watching the females handle the males, seeing how they fought by using their claws and jaws to do maximum damage.

As a Florida
panther
—not cougar, mountain lion or puma, thank you very much—she had powerful legs. She used bursts of speed and her natural strength to take down much larger prey. Though she couldn’t roar like the bigger cats, she could hiss, screech and growl. Sounds she found threatening enough in combination with her lethal brawling skills.

Of course, taunting males with her fine body and distracting them while she categorized weaknesses came in handy too. She snorted and ignored a gator that snapped at her before it slid back into the water. Men thought mostly with their dicks. Unfortunate, but true. While they stared at her breasts and her ass, she studied them, looking for vulnerabilities.

Taking over for Quince wouldn’t be too much of a challenge, not from him at least. Like the South American and Asian cats she’d met, the Miami pride would balk at female leadership. But the African lions had proven that strong female rule could prevail. It helped that the male lions had been too lazy to do too much infighting. Typical.

She trotted down a familiar path she hadn’t taken in years. The pride kept the trails out here cleared, then wove paths into the dirt by familiar panther feet.

She yawned again, jet lag setting in, and decided to take a nap while the sun beat down on her and the wind kissed her fur. Trotting around the bend, she looked for the large fallen cypress that led to a larger mass of trees, only to find the dead tree gone. In its place, however, she noted a grassy plot overlooking part of the marsh.

The sun illuminated the area, spotlighting perfection. She purred with pleasure and walked to the tiny clearing. After circling and testing the area with her paws and claws, she curled into a ball under the sun and basked in its warmth.

She let herself go and felt more rested and at home than she’d been in a very long time. She dreamed about running with tigers, battling lions and making love to a jaguar who knew how to use his tongue for maximum pleasure. She sighed and rubbed her cheek against the grass, the blessed scent of earth calming her further.

A cool breeze ruffled the warm September air, and she sniffed again, still more asleep than awake and trying to catch a tantalizing smell in the air. Warm, musky… Male?

She blinked and raised her head, only to find herself staring at a huge golden panther. He was bigger than most, a good eight feet from the tip of his nose to his tail. And by the look of him, he had to weigh close to two hundred pounds. A mountain of a mountain lion, she thought with whimsy.

“Who are you?”
he asked, his question full of authority.

“I might ask the same.”
She rose slowly and stretched, conscious he had yet to blink. She sat and began grooming, not concerned in the slightest that he might make a move she couldn’t counter.

“Not from around here. I’ve met everyone else. You’re new.”
He walked right up to her, ignoring her subtle warnings—the swish of her tail and narrowing eyes. Then, to add insult to injury, he shoved his nose at her and sniffed.

“Excuse me?”
Rude, even for Miami cat standards.

He rumbled from deep in his chest, and she was again taken by the beauty of his golden coat. Many panthers had shades of red or gray in their fur, but this cat looked impossibly blond. Very, very handsome, and he had the mien of a cat who knew it.

“You smell good.”
He licked her cheek…without asking.
“Taste good too.”

“Who the hell are you?”
she growled, one heartbeat away from gouging some good manners into his forehead.

The obnoxious male stepped back and sat on his haunches, resembling a sphinx with his knowing gaze and shit-eating grin.
“Yeah, you smell sweet. Welcome home.
Candace
.”

Only one cat had ever had the nerve to call her by her hated given name. She still had a bone to pick with her mother for giving her that moniker.
“Miles Bermin. I should have known.”