Bolt

4

BOLT

Tracking the team wasn’t difficult. Bolt reveled in the feeling of his tiger shape as he prowled through the darkness night after night. He was careful about traveling throughout the day, either as a human or tiger, but the nights were made for cats to stalk.

The combined scents of the party drew him forward. He could tell there were several people in the group, and one scent in particular haunted him. Sweet and intoxicating, it pulled him toward it like a planet to a star. He did not know how he knew, but that scent belonged to Kara.

He finally caught up with the group early one evening. This was when he confirmed his suspicions that they were being followed, not only by him but by another band of humans.

He’d only had rough details to begin his search with, and based on intel from the General, he had been able to discern that this was the caravan he was looking for. Later, he had detected different scents, footprints, and evidence of another group while he tracked as his tiger. Initially, he assumed it was local tribesmen on a similar path.

It wasn’t until he finally caught up with the group that he realized the movements of the second group were not random. They were directly following Kara and her crew. The question was, what were their intentions. Good, bad, or both?

He didn’t want to charge straight in and try to warn Kara or introduce himself. He knew full well that if he did, they might react badly to him, and his mission would be compromised, as well as putting the group in more danger.

So, he watched.

The group members put up tents, started a fire, and ate simple rations. His eyes followed their movements around the camp while his body stayed completely still in a rough copse of bushes. He could smell that intoxicating perfume on the wind, but he could not see her … Not yet.

When she came into view, his heart stopped in his chest. He heard a roaring sound in his ears and felt lightheaded as the breath was stolen from his lungs. She was more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen.

He watched her leave a tent, straightening her shirt as if she had just put on fresh clothes. He let out a low, involuntary growl as he thought about what he might have seen a few minutes earlier had he been able to see into the tent.

Her hair was long and golden, spun into fine strands like spider silk. Her body was fit and strong, her skin tanned a light honey brown from her long days under the sun. She smiled at everyone she spoke to. A bright and gentle energy emanated from her. He was entranced by the bounce of her breasts, the curve of her hips, and her long, toned legs.

For a few moments, he was so caught up watching her that he didn’t notice the second group of people had come close to the camp. Even though he had already realized they were following Kara and her party, he didn’t immediately notice how close they had gotten.

He tore his eyes from her and focused his senses in the other direction. The other guys had weapons — he could smell the grease and metal, hear the clicks of the guns and the ammunition shifting in their belts. His question on their intent had been answered.

He admonished himself for his stupidity. He could have blown his mission and gotten Kara’s people hurt with his momentary distraction.

He kept his eyes on the others as the camp settled to sleep. The bad guys had almost surrounded the camp, but they did not yet attack. Bolt was tempted to sneak into the camp and warn them but decided that it would be too dangerous. He kept an eye on all members of Kara’s group, feeling unsettled as he saw her talking with her young assistant. The younger girl seemed familiar somehow. He could not get a clear look at her face, and he decided it was a protective urge involving Kara and the people she loved.

He figured the bad guys were after the tiger’s eye gem. He thought their plan would be to tail her and steal it once she found it, so he didn’t understand why they now surrounded the camp. He knew he had to protect Kara and the gem. It was his mission.

He tried to put aside his admiration of Kara, telling himself he was just appreciating a good-looking female, and her only importance was his mission. He had been in prison a long time. Of course, a beautiful woman with an enticing scent was going to affect him.

He watched the camp till dawn, waiting for someone, anyone, to make a move. Just as the camp began to stir, the tribesmen attacked.

They stormed the camp with their weapons high, screaming at the tops of their lungs. Bolt was charging in before he could think. It was obvious that these men were going for Kara. Other members of her party scattered and ran screaming into the desert, but the men did not follow. They converged on the tent where Kara slept.

He tore around the back of the camp, claws digging into the hardened sand, much faster than the bad guys. He ripped through the back of the tent and then shifted fluidly. Kara was standing in front of him, watching the bad guys approaching through the tent flap, her back to him. He pounced, clamped a hand over her mouth, and dragged her out of the back of the tent.

She kicked and struggled, but she couldn’t scream. Her body twisting against his, and her scent rising from her hot skin, almost undid him, but his most primal urge was to keep her safe. He was able to subdue her enough to drag her behind a nearby pile of rocks sheltered by scrub.

He whispered into her ear, “I’m here to help you,” he whispered in her ear. “My name is Bolt. I’m an American, not one of them. We need to get higher. Now.”

Her large eyes stared into his. What was going through her beautiful head? She had seconds to decide whether she was going to trust him. His being completely naked didn’t help, he was sure. But if she didn’t, they would be caught. He held his breath.

She gave him a nod.

He snagged his backpack and her hand, then practically dragged her up the mountainside to a point where he was fairly certain the bad guys wouldn’t check. He quickly took his clothes from the pack and dressed.