Undercover lion shifter.., p.1
Undercover Lion (Shifter Protective Services), page 1
Undercover Lion
Bethany Shaw
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
Undercover Lion
First edition. July 27th, 2023
Undercover Lion © 2023 Bethany Shaw
Cover Art: Taurus Colosseum
Contents
Undercover Lion
1. One
2. Two
3. Three
4. Four
5. Five
6. Six
7. Seven
8. Eight
9. Nine
10. Ten
11. Eleven
12. Twelve
13. Thirteen
14. Fourteen
15. Undercover Tiger
16. About Bethany Shaw
17. Also by Bethany Shaw
Undercover Lion
If they catch me, they will kill me.
Poachers murdered my family in cold blood and I’m the only witness.Now they are hunting me like I’m their prey.It’s a long trek to civilization, but I know the wilderness like the back of my hand. I was raised by tiger shifters so I’m used to moving through the trees undetected.But when I run into Agent Levi Daughtry from Shifter Protective Services, I think he’s here to help me.I couldn’t be more wrong.
He’s here to arrest me and bring me to justice. Everyone thinks I killed my family.It gets worse. The moment Levi touches me, it triggers something in him. I’m his fated mate. It’d be great if he didn’t look at me like I was the worse scum on the earth.I need him to believe we are on the same side before it’s too late. The poachers are closing in on us and we are running out of time. I’d love a chance at a happily ever after, but I’d settle for escaping these woods with my life.
One
Scarlett
I smashed my foot on the accelerator. They were right behind us. I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to outrun them.
My heart hammered and my mouth went dry. I gripped the wheel with sweaty palms and focused on the rocky terrain.
The Side by Side ATV teetered to one side as we went over a brutal bump. My butt lifted off the seat and my belly flip-flopped as I was weightless for a few seconds. We hit the ground with a jar; I pitched forward, almost smacking my face on the wheel. I eased off the accelerator long enough to get control of the vehicle.
That was too close.
My brother Cole put his hand over mine. It was rough and caked with dried blood. “Careful, Scarlett. You’ll tip us over. You need to slow down. You know this path is uneven. This vehicle isn’t meant for this. Not at this speed.”
He was right. This trail was anything but flat. It was barely passable. If I thought Cole could run, we’d be better off on foot. In his condition, I was surprised he was even conscious. We had to get off this mountain and away from the lunatics chasing us.
We were so far from civilization and nearing some narrow and dangerous trails. This ATV wasn’t going to cut it for long. We were going to have to take to the woods. The trail was unpassable by vehicle in another mile or so. Between the rocks, drop-offs and over abundant trees, taking the four-wheeled vehicle along it was suicide.
My heart pounded as I glanced at my brother. Would he even be able to stand?
Oh god. He’s so pale.
Cole had lost so much blood. His shirt and pants were covered in it. The dried blood caked it, making them a disgusting blackish color. We’d had to hide most of the day, waiting for a moment when we could get away. I’d tried to tend to him as best I could, but he needed a hospital and medical supplies.
The gunshot wound on his back was still oozing. We’d ripped his shirt so he wouldn’t have to keep taking it on and off. I could see the bullet hole out of the corner of my eye. It was red and puckered where infection was already festering.
Bile crept up my throat.
I really hated the sight of blood. I blinked as a bout of light-headedness filled me. Dots blurred my vision.
Don’t you dare pass out!
I’d managed not to embarrass myself so far thanks to the adrenaline. I’d really like to keep it that way.
A spray of gunfire erupted behind us, making me scream. I ducked down, accidentally jerking the wheel too hard to the left.
The engine revved as we started up an incline. I tugged the wheel in the opposite direction, causing my elbow to ram into Cole’s side. He grunted and coughed. I cursed under my breath as I brought the vehicle back under control.
Cole’s hand came over mine, and he gave me a nervous smile. He drew in a shaky breath, like it was hard for him to breathe before he let it out.
Tears pricked my eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. We are going to get you help.”
All this jostling around couldn’t be good for him. The bullet in his shoulder had gone straight through, but there was still one in his back. What if it moved? It might hit his spine.
He could be paralyzed. Or worse. What if it punctured an organ? He could bleed internally. What if he already was? A lump formed in my throat. My mind went to my two other brothers. They hadn’t been so lucky. The bullets had killed them.
Cole gave my hand a squeeze. “You are doing good. Just keep us moving. When we hit the trees ahead, we can hide. We know these woods. We just need to get out of the open.”
There were plenty of crevices and caves we could hide in, and plenty of manmade ones that we had built, for a just in case instance, but these men weren’t going to stop searching. We needed a better plan. “Cole, you can’t keep hiding. We have to get you help.” The longer he went without medical attention, the worse it would be for him.
To make it worse, I couldn’t just take him to a hospital. He was a shifter and needed a shifter doctor. I didn’t know any shifter doctors, and I doubted Cole did.
One thing at a time. We needed to get off this mountain first.
Cole coughed. His ragged breathing drew me from my thoughts. He put his hand over his mouth and cleared his throat. “Just until night fall. Then we’ll start moving again when we have the cover of the darkness.”
My eyes widened, and I turned to him for a moment before looking back at the terrain ahead. “That’s crazy.”
“They are blocking the road. The trails are the only way down.”
I shook my head. “No. No way. These cliffs are narrow. One wrong move and we are both done for.”
Cole grunted as he adjusted himself in the small passenger seat. “It’s our only choice. I’m not dying today, and neither are you.” He patted my hand. “We’ve hiked them before; we know the way. We just have to be careful.”
I gritted my teeth and narrowed my eyes at the tree line. It was so close, but it seemed like miles away. We would be there in about five minutes. Cole was right. We knew these woods. It would be easy for us to slip into one of the hundreds of hideouts until these maniacs lost us. Then we’d follow the trail into town.
If we made it to the trees.
Five minutes might be too long. One of the ATVs behind us was getting awfully close. The only thing keeping them back was the jagged rocks on both sides.
I’d moved along the trail enough times to know exactly where to drive to avoid them. They had not. But there was a flat clearing ahead. They might be able to cut us off then.
I’d never driven one of these stupid ATVs before. But thanks to the idiots chasing us and leaving the keys in this one, I was getting my chance.
Cole groaned as he twisted in his seat. “Break to the right. We’ll get to the trees faster.”
I shifted my gaze to him. There was a smear of fresh blood across the tan cushion where his back had just been. My stomach twisted. He was bleeding again.
I blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay. “Are you going to be able to run?”
He gripped the side rail tightly and looked out at the tree line. “I can run. Don’t you worry about me. I want you to keep going. You got your phone?”
I slapped my hand against my back jean pocket. It was empty. My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. The air whooshed out of my lungs. “I…”
I’d been in the middle of one of my YouTube videos when all hell had broken loose. I must have dropped it.
Cole let his head fall back as he slid down in his seat. “It’s okay. I don’t have mine either.”
I gripped the wheel so tight my nails dug into my palms. “I’m sorry, Cole. I’m so sorry.”
“Hey,” his voice came out a growl. “Don’t you blame yourself. You didn’t come out there guns blazing. None of us saw this coming.” He scrubbed a hand over his face.
Tears trickled down my cheeks. “Do you think…” my voice hitched and my vision blurred as I sobbed.
Cole cleared his throat. “It was quick. They probably didn’t even know what happened.”
My throat burned as I drew in a sharp breath. I didn’t want to believe it, but in my heart I knew it was true. Two of my brothers were dead.
Cole reached out and swiped the tears off my right cheek. “The best thing we can do for Davis and Brent is to get out of here alive. Let’s not let their deaths be in vain.”
I shivered. Even though it was well over sixty today, I was cold. Numb. My heart was heavy and chest tight.
Cole pointed. “I want you to gas it and go right as soon as we hit flat ground. Drive straight into the trees, then we are going to run like hell to the falls. We’ll lose th em in the river.”
I nodded and used the back of my hand to wipe the tears away. The river. The falls. Looks like my brothers would finally get their wish. I was going to have to jump. Only two of them wouldn’t be here to see it.
I flexed my fingers on the wheel and as soon as we hit level ground; I pushed the gas pedal to the floor. The ATV sped up. The tree line was in sight. Almost there.
The men in the ATVs behind us hooted and hollered. An engine roared behind me. They were so close.
Too close.
Something hit the back of the vehicle. We jerked to the right, fishtailing. I shrieked as we veered towards the trees, my hands leaving the wheel to protect my face from the low-hanging branches.
The tree branches bit my skin, snapping against my face and arms. I screamed as one whipped my neck. I tried to keep my face covered, but it didn’t do much good.
The ATV hit a tree, sending me barreling forward. My elbow hit the wheel, then my chest. The air whooshed out of my lungs, and white-hot pain raced through my body.
Cole groaned next to me. He coughed, sputtering.
My heart raced. I forced my aching body upright, turning to look over my shoulder. The vehicles chasing us stopped at the top of the ledge. The doors opened and the crazy hunters leaped out.
I blinked, trying to clear my blurred vision. We had to get out of here.
Cole put his hand over mine. “Scarlett, you have to go. Have to run. Get help.”
I turned my attention to him with a frown. “What? I’m not leaving you.” They would kill him for sure. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I’d lost two brothers today. I wasn’t going to lose another one.
Cole met my gaze. I could see the defeat swirling in his brown eyes. A fine sheen of sweat beaded on his brow, and he was ghastly pale. His breathing was ragged.
I swallowed down the bile rising in my throat and shook my head. We both got out, or we both faced our fate together. I was pushing for the former because I had no plans of dying today.
I gritted my teeth and narrowed my eyes. “I’m getting you out of here.”
My gaze darted around the cart. The right front end was completely smashed in, trapping both of his legs under the mangled mess.
Crap.
I grunted as I wiggled my way free of the cart, casting a quick glance over my shoulder. The men had gotten their hunting rifles, and they were coming this way. At least they weren’t shooting at us. Yet.
Girl, you better move your butt!
I hoisted myself out of the cart, crying out when my ankle twisted on the uneven ground. My shoulder hit the cart as I fell against it. I grasped the seat with my hand and pulled myself upright. I used the cart as leverage to maneuver around it until I made my way to the passenger side.
I kneeled next to Cole. My heart sank. My belly flip-flopped. The metal had twisted and dug into his leg. There was so much blood and the way the cart had wrapped around him, it would take nothing short of a miracle to get him out in the next thirty seconds.
Cole glared at me. His breath coming in labored pants. “Scarlett, you have to run. They are coming.”
“No.” I searched the area for anything that could be used to pry him free. There was a large stick, thick enough that it shouldn’t break. At least I hoped it wouldn’t.
I reached for the stick. Cole grasped my wrist and squeezed it tight.
“Scarlett, you have to go. Go now.”
Tears pricked my eyes. A lump formed in my throat. I couldn’t breathe. My gaze darted to the hill.
There were at least ten men coming towards us. I met Cole’s eyes.
He reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m going to be okay. Get help. Come back when you can. It’s the only way we both make it out.”
A sob tore free from my throat. Tears blurred my vision. We both knew he was right. I nodded and stood up, taking a few steps back. “Promise me you’ll stay alive until I get back.”
Cole gave me a grim smile. “I promise I’ll do what I can. Now go before it’s too late.”
I stumbled backwards and nearly fell over. My hip collided with the sharp end of a broken tree branch, sending a jolt of pain from my side and down my leg.
One of the men lifted his rifle in the air. He hooted before firing off a shot into the air.
I flinched as I took a couple more steps back. I took one last look at Cole before turning on my heel and running down the rest of the ravine.
Thorns and sticks pricked my skin. My thighs and lungs burned. I didn’t stop running.
I could hear the men hollering with excitement behind me. A few of them had continued after me. My body went numb. I stumbled, tripping over my feet.
My hands shot out; my palms smacked the base of a tree. The bark rubbed against my bare skin, making me grunt.
I looked over my shoulder. The hunters were closing in on me.
They thought I was easy prey. I was going to prove them wrong.
I stood up straight and stiffened my spine before hurrying down the ravine. There was a ledge just ahead with about a five-foot drop. The terrain was even more slanted after the drop off. I had the home field advantage, and I was going to use it.
I grunted as I jumped off the ledge. My already sore ankle almost gave out and more pain exploded through my foot. I whimpered, but I kept moving.
The Creek was just up ahead. With any luck, I would lose them there. The rushing water echoed in the distance. I was almost there. Just a few more feet.
A gunshot clapped in the distance, followed by a howl of pain. My heart stopped. I tripped over my feet and tumbled onto my knees.
I looked over my shoulder. I could hear laughter and yells of the men screaming with what sounded like joy.
I couldn’t breathe. Dizziness swam through my head. Cole. Was he alive? Had they killed him?
My mouth went dry and my stomach rumbled as bile crept up my throat at the thought. He was still alive. He had to be.
I remembered my promise to him, and I pushed myself up to my feet. I was getting out of here. I was going to get him that help, and these crazy assholes were going to pay for what they did.
I made it to the creek in record time and followed along the shore until I came to the waterfall.
It was about a twenty-foot drop. My brothers jumped all the time. It was safe, and the water was deep enough. They’d take turns jumping, seeing who could make the biggest splash or do the craziest jump.
They liked to come here in the summer once it got warm enough. It was barely spring. The water would be ice cold.
It wasn’t the water I was afraid of. It was the height. I wiped my clammy hands on my pants as I peered over the ledge. I’d never jumped before. My brothers teased me about it all the time. It was too bad none of them were here to see me now.
I closed my eyes and drew in a shuddering breath before letting it out slowly and opening my eyes. Then I took a couple of running steps forward and leaped off the edge.
I was weightless. My stomach jumped into my throat. The sound of the racing water matched the frantic staccato of my pounding heart.
I plunged in feet first. The icy water pierced my body like a thousand knives and stole my breath away.
My lungs screamed as I sank below the surface. The murky water swallowed me whole, pulling me to the bottom as the current grabbed me. I kicked my feet and looked up at the disappearing light.
Swim!
I clawed my way to the surface. My arms and legs were leaden from the chill. My lungs were about to burst. I kept my eyes on the surface, kicking and paddling as hard as I could.
I gasped as I broke through, drawing in large gulps of air. The water sloshed around me as the current pulled me down river. Goose flesh pimpled my skin.
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to keep the shivering at bay. It didn’t do much to help, and I needed the current to carry me further downstream. It would make it harder for the hunters to track me this way.
Water splashed into my mouth, making me cough and sputter. I wiped my forearm over my mouth. Not that it did any good. I needed to get out of here.
I grunted as I reached one arm out and then the other, swimming along with the current. My movements were choppy. I couldn’t stay in this frigid water for too long. It would be dark in a few hours. Hypothermia would be bad.
