Heart of a Lion by Lacey Thorn

Chapter Three

Quinn wasn’t sure how long she sat there before she heard the door open and footsteps heading toward her.

“Thought I saw you head in here.” Ariel, the tiger shifter who’d found her and called the pride for help in getting Quinn to safety, sat beside her. She glanced around, never once looking at Quinn’s face, which Quinn imagined was ravaged from her quiet crying jag. “Of all the places on this ranch, this is where you picked to unbottle?”

Quinn laughed. Ariel bumped her shoulder.

“You know, I’m a pretty good friend.”

“And risk angering your best friend, the bear shifter? You think I have a death wish?”

Quinn had met Ariel’s best friend, Rissa, when two of the Holloways, Slade and Jensen, had arrived to try to get information on some missing female bear shifters from their den. Rissa was mated to Slade Holloway. Slade had been injured in one of the attacks that continued to plague the pride, and once he’d healed up, he and Rissa had headed back to the den in Wyoming. Jensen Holloway had stuck around to work with Tony. Quinn knew he was hoping Talbot would mention something about the missing females from his den. She didn’t share that hope.

Ariel laughed. “Rissa wouldn’t hurt you. She’s a pretty amazing friend also. Unfortunately, she’s back in Wyoming with her mate so you’re stuck with me. My ears are pretty incredible, and my shoulders are strong. In case you need one to lean on.”

“Thank you. Looks like things have gotten uncomplicated between you and your mate.”

When they’d first met, Ariel had denied Daniel as her mate, saying things were complicated. By the time the two shifters had returned to Oklahoma and the pride, Quinn had noted they were very much a couple. The two had obviously found their way together, and the love between them was easy to see.

“Oh, I promise you, my man is completely complicated.”

“But you love him,” Quinn prompted.

“I love him,” Ariel agreed then turned to completely face Quinn. “Talk to me. Let me be here for you.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ve said that phrase a time or a million myself, and more often than not, I was lying the same as you are. You’re not fine. That’s easy to see. You’re not going to be until you open up and let someone help you. Me. Mitch. Laura. Hell, anybody here. Any one of us would be there for you. You just need to let us in.”

Quinn pressed her lips tighter together. She couldn’t. Not until she knew for sure what was happening to her. She didn’t think Mitch would turn away from her, but then her judgement was questionable. She liked Ariel, and despite their initial meeting, they weren’t friends. Laura, the pregnant mate of another shifter in the pride, was nice but not someone Quinn would consider unburdening to. She wasn’t sure any of them were ready for her story, but she knew if she ever opened her mouth, it would all come tumbling out until she’d completely purged it. When the time was right. When she had more answers and less questions. Not yet.

“I’m fine, Ariel. I promise.”

Ariel didn’t believe her but didn’t call her on it either. Quinn was grateful.

“Diane said you needed another transfusion. Daniel’s giving blood now. I told him we’d meet him there.”

“I’m sorry.”

Quinn hated the fact she needed shifter blood to protect her son. Hated that Talbot had kept it from her in order to keep her weak, to keep her child weak. Hated that the pride alpha and Ariel’s mate were stepping up and offering her theirs. Without question. Without reserve.

Ariel shook her head as she came to her feet and offered her hand to Quinn. “We’re glad to help. You’re one of us. Don’t you get that? We were looking for you before I ever came across you outside the trading post. We protect our own. That’s you and the little Leo you’re carrying.”

Quinn took the hand offered but kept her lips pressed tight. She wasn’t one of them. Hell, she wasn’t sure what she was. What Talbot had turned her into. Not knowing was driving her insane. She needed one person she could trust. One person who wouldn’t toss her out on her ass if her worst fears were confirmed and she turned out to be some monstrosity even shifters didn’t want around. A little voice in her head reminded her that she did have one person. Mitch. He’d stand with her, but at what personal cost?

“We’ll head back to the lab, then Daniel and I are dragging you to eat dinner with the rest of us. You can’t keep holing up in that room in the medical building. I know you need to stay there while you’re pregnant, but as soon as you’re able, we need to start looking for a cabin for you or even a room at the main house. All this alienation and repressed anger isn’t good for you or the baby.”

“I’m not angry,” Quinn denied, surprised at the other woman’s comment.

“Aren’t you?” Ariel challenged. “You’ve barely said two words to anyone not named Mitch since you’ve been here. Including your father.”

“I’ve spoken to him.”

“Passing pleasantries don’t count, Quinn. He’s your father. One who’s afraid of saying or doing anything that might send you running away from him again. And your silence is hurting him.”

Quinn paused midstride. She knew her actions hurt her father as much as her leaving in the first place probably had. She’d been young and hot tempered then, an easy mark for Isaac Erikson to twist into his pawn in a game she’d been unprepared to play. Now, she kept the distance, so her father wouldn’t be caught in the middle of whatever hell was going on with her. He deserved better.

“I—”

Her words were cut short by the screech of the perimeter alarms going off. It was happening too often. Groups of hunters creeping onto the pride land in hopes of getting to Talbot. They couldn’t lose their prize doctor.

“We need to run!”

Ariel’s voice snapped Quinn into action. They moved toward the med center as quickly as they could. They hadn’t gone far when the crack of a rifle filled the air. Quinn’s blood froze as she waited to feel the crush of a bullet. Instead, Ariel fell at her side, a snarl ripping up her throat as she reached for the dart sticking out of her shoulder.

“Run,” Ariel panted out to her as whatever drug they’d used on the dart began to move through Ariel’s system.

Quinn ignored the command, jerking the dart out of Ariel’s skin and dropping it before crouching over her, trying to protect both her baby and the woman who’d just offered her friendship. She wasn’t leaving Ariel. Where the hell was everyone?

“Go,” Ariel urged, but Quinn could tell she was in no condition to protect herself. She wouldn’t leave the other woman vulnerable.

“Not leaving you, so be quiet and let me think.”

Her gaze took in the area again. It wasn’t dark yet, but it would be in the next hour. The alarm should have brought others heading toward them. Daniel would know where Ariel had been. No way he wouldn’t head right for her. Unless whoever had attacked had managed to get to the medical building. Since it was pretty much in the center of things, that made no sense.

“Can you move at all?” Quinn whispered. “We’re closer to the barn than anywhere else.”

“Leave me. Get to the main house. Think of your baby.”

“I always do,” Quinn vowed then flipped Ariel onto her back, hooked her arms under Ariel’s arm pits and began dragging her back toward the barn. “Daniel will find us.”

Ariel didn’t say anything, but Quinn didn’t need the other woman’s confirmation. She’d been around enough shifters to know the bond they shared with their mates was awe inspiring. They shared a link humans could never fathom. One Quinn wished she’d been able to experience even once in her life.

A gun cocked behind her, and Quinn turned her head while keeping her belly forward, her back shielding Ariel. Please, God, don’t make me choose between my baby and the woman.

“Drop the shifter and come here, or I’ll shoot you.”

She eased Ariel down, noting her closed eyes. If she had to guess, she’d say the other woman was playing possum. The dart had dropped her pretty quickly, but it hadn’t knocked her completely out. As if answering her unspoken questions, Ariel’s eyes blinked open briefly then dropped closed again before Quinn turned and faced the man watching her.

“I don’t know where he is.”

“I’m not here for him. I need you and the abomination in your belly. Talbot’s on his own.”

Quinn shook her head. “I won’t let you hurt my baby.”

The man gave her a sick, twisted smile that sent shivers down her spine.

“Your baby?” he questioned. “Nothing belongs to you. Certainly not that monster inside you.”

“You’re wrong,” Quinn challenged.

He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Either way, that thing’s getting ripped out of you. Shouldn’t have been put there in the first place.”

“You won’t touch my son.”

Something came alive inside her. Something strong and fierce and ready to rip out the man’s throat for threatening her child.

“Monster. That’s what that thing is. It’s unnatural. Doc went too far this time.”

“Is that what all these attacks have been about?” Quinn questioned. “Not freeing him but taking me?”

“Have they given you blood yet?”

Something inside warned her to lie. She shook her head. “I was on my way to get my first transfusion. For the baby.”

She slowly edged closer to him, being sure to keep herself between him and Ariel.

“Can’t let that happen. You leave with me or you die here.”

“Sounds like my death is on the agenda no matter what choice I make,” she countered.

“Ariel!”

The primal yell from Ariel’s mate filled the air followed by the roar of an enraged lion. Help was on the way. Finally. Where the hell had they all been?

“Here it is.”

He lifted his gun and pointed it at her stomach. She charged, knocking the gun from his hand as he fired. She felt the burn of something graze her side but couldn’t stop to check as he pulled a knife. Another roar split the air, and she was terrified to realize it came from her throat. She attacked. The claws were back, replacing her fingertips and drawing blood as she raked them across the threat in front of her. Her lips peeled back, and though she managed to contain another roar, growls fell in its stead.

She gripped the hand holding the knife and snapped his wrist with ease, wrenching a cry from him as she tossed it aside. He was no menace to her now, but that something inside her wouldn’t back down. He’d threatened her child. Called him a monster as if they weren’t the monsters. As if she hadn’t watched her child’s father tortured repeatedly before death finally took him. As if she hadn’t promised him that she’d protect his son with everything she had.

Hands reached for her, trying to pull her off, pull her away. She turned with a snarl and met the gaze of the alpha’s second, Reno Esponetti.

“He’s mine.”

“He’s dead,” Reno told her.

She glanced down and noted the ripped throat, the deep wounds she’d inflicted, the eyes wide open and staring at nothing. Still, she couldn’t contain what he’d unleashed. She shoved Reno away, knocking him on his ass. People surrounded her. Too many. They were going to hurt her. Hurt her baby. Take him from her. She had to protect him.

She backed away, staying in a crouch with one arm over her belly. Blood dripped from her fingers. No, her claws. They weren’t going away this time. There was blood on her face, on her clothes.

“Quinn.”

She snapped her gaze toward that voice. Mitch. Mitch was here. He’d come for her. As if he were her mate.

“Honey, you’re hurt.”

“They won’t take him,” she vowed.

“No one’s going to take him. I promise.”

“They’re coming for him. They won’t stop.” Her gaze bounced back toward Reno and noted the alpha now standing beside him. “You’ll make me leave. I’m too much of a threat.”

“You’re not a threat,” Tah countered, his alpha rumble washing over her and bringing a small modicum of calm. “You took care of the threat. Let us help you, Quinn. Let us protect you and the baby.”

Terror took over again, and another snarl left her lips.

“You won’t take him from me.”

“Quinn. Honey. Look at me.”

Her gaze flew to Mitch again. Was he closer? Had he moved closer to her? Her vision was getting fuzzy. Why was her vision starting to blur?

“You’re hurt, honey. I want to help you. Trust me.”

She shook her head, but it was slow and awkward.

“You know you can trust me. You know I won’t hurt you. You know that, honey. Trust in that. Trust in me.”

“Won’t hurt me. Trust.”

She was getting weak. Had they hit her with a dart? Mitch’s hand touched her side, and she hissed at the fire that lanced through her.

“She’s been shot,” Mitch said.

“My baby.” It was a scream in her head but came out so softly she wasn’t sure anyone else heard.

“I need to pick you up, Quinn. I need to get you out of here, so we can take care of you. Do you trust me?”

She met Mitch’s gaze and slowly nodded. He scooped her up in his arms then stood and moved quickly toward a Jeep she hadn’t even noticed.

“Get her to the med center,” Tah yelled. “Don’t argue, Tony. It’s closest, and she needs immediate attention.”

She didn’t catch the rest but was aware enough to know the conversation flowed around her. She was fading fast. She’d be vulnerable. She wouldn’t be able to protect her son. She reached up and gripped Mitch’s shirt, pulling his attention to her once more.

“Don’t…let…them…hurt…him…”

“No one’s hurting you again, Quinn. I’ve got you.”

“Protect…him…”

“I’ll protect both of you. Now, save your strength. We’re there.”

He hopped from the seat with her in his arms and hit the ground at a full run, jarring her and sending black to cloud around the periphery of her vision. She hurt. Whatever had risen inside her was quiet now. Resting? Or was it gone? Warmth filled her, and she knew she wasn’t alone. She prayed to a God who’d let her down too many times in her life.

Please don’t let me lose my son. Please don’t let us die.