Scent : Animal Senses Series Book 2

Chapter 10

10

Gage cleared the trees, not pausing to see what was going on around him. Moving faster, he headed to the fenced in yard, clearing the six-foot chain link barrier without touching it. Landing on the other side, he straightened to his full height and moved slowly toward Noah.

Cooper was there, talking in a low voice, hunched forward, he had his arms out beside him and was moving slowly toward the three cats in the corner. Both Blair and Jake were in cat form, low to the ground, poised in wait to spring if needed. Noah was backed into the corner, his sides heaving. Gage paused; Noah was a huge animal with vibrant orange markings that shone brightly, even in the fading light.

With cautious steps, he moved closer. "Noah, you need to calm down." He kept his voice steady, but with enough authority in it to be heard.

Noah emitted a low yowling cry. He was in touch with his human and listening, but too panicked to do anything.

Gage cursed silently to himself. A panicked or trapped tiger was more dangerous than one on the hunt. "Noah," he moved closer, keeping his stance with arms out to the side in case he needed to move quickly. "Enough." He rarely used the harsh tone that came with his position, but a calming tone wasn't going to get Noah's attention.

Blair's large white body was pulsing as his muscles contracted, ready to pounce. He emitted a low warning hiss to Noah, only making the orange animal focus on him, ears flattened back against his head.

Carefully, Gage's hands went to his belt and undid it; if he needed to change in a hurry he didn't want anything in the way. "Noah, we're trying to help you."

Cooper moved closer, his shirt already off. "I should have brought the tranq gun."

"You didn't know." Gage pulled his shirt free from his jeans as he unzipped them. Without moving too quickly he pulled the shirt off and dropped it on the ground. "Noah." He tried again to inflect enough dominant tone to grab the man's attention.

Jake chirruped, trying another approach to get the frightened man's attention. Noah didn't even pay him any heed; he was too focused on the white cat, his tail twitching with impatience.

Before Gage even sensed her, Kelsey pushed between Cooper and him and came to a sudden stop.

"Can't you see you're all scaring him and making it worse?" She shoved Gage against the shoulder and took a step closer to the three coiled animals. "Back up."

Gage chanced a quick glance at Cooper, who had the same gobsmacked look on his face that he was feeling. "Kelsey," he said trying to keep his tone non-threatening, "back up, slowly." He noticed that Noah had his full attention on her as he moved closer to the ground. Jake and Blair had inched back a few feet, putting themselves between her and the man they that was a danger to her.

"No. All of you back up and give him some space." Her voice shook but left no doubt that she wasn't going to listen. She inhaled a startled noise and looked at the animals in front of her. "Blair..." her voice was filled with awe, "Jacob, leave him alone."

Later, when his heart wasn't paralyzed with fear, he'd ask how she knew who they were, but for now he had to get her out of harm's way. He took one step and then Cooper grabbed his arm. Looking at him, his eyes wide as if asking what the fuck? Cooper only shook his head. He was insane if he thought he was going to back away and leave his mate open like that.

"Let her try," Cooper said no louder than a whisper.

Cursing under his breath, Gage gritted his teeth. "Jake, Blair give him space."