Commando Cowboys Entice Their Beauty [Wyoming Warriors 6] Read online

  “I’m on my way.”

  * * * *

  Aleron loved the feel of the wind whistling by his body. The men below were so intent on watching the fire they didn’t see him until the last minute. Aleron let out a loud shriek and raked his talons across the nearest man’s scalp. The man screamed and threw his arms up, but Aleron was already climbing high into the sky. Two of the men shot at him, but he was out of their range.

  He slowed and floated on the air currents. Far below, he saw the men, but although they stared at the blue sky, he was but a dot to them. Aleron watched as two of the men shape-shifted into huge black birds. Their wingspan was incredible, but what they gained in size they lost in speed. Aleron focused on the other men. One was putting the injured man into a car, and then he drove off. Aleron studied the other two men’s features. Then the birds got closer. This was going to be fun.

  He swept downward toward them and then cut to the right and soared out of their reach. It was like a game. They’d charge at him, and he’d slip away before they were able to touch him.

  Then Aleron saw the last two had shape-shifted and were coming toward him. “Come and get me,” he shouted telepathically.

  The largest of the four answered him. “Have fun now. Your life is almost over.” He charged headlong toward Aleron. Aleron took a tight left turn and then had to slide under another one. They were spreading out, but he knew what to do.

  The four flew at him from different directions. He waited, almost not moving. Closer, closer. Aleron’s heart beat rapidly as exhilaration coursed through his body to his wings. They were so near he could see their human eyes. Down. He did a quick somersault and headed straight toward the ground.

  The birds let out shrill, human-sounding screams as their bodies hit hard and their sharp beaks, poised to tear into Aleron, tore into each other instead. Aleron watched as they fell toward earth, desperately trying to fly out of their downward spiral. In their confusion and pain several shape-shifted back to their human form as they fell. At the last moment the largest bird regained his control and landed on the ground. The others fell to their deaths.

  Aleron sent a telepathic message to Raoul. “Tell Mitch there’s one bird shifter left alive and he shifted and is driving away. They can send the men to start digging that ditch.”

  Aleron heard a helo. He glanced back and saw Ethan waving.

  He flew under the copter’s blades. Ethan reached across and unlatched the door. With his eagle’s feet, Aleron managed to open the door, blink his eyes, and shape-shift. He fell into the seat beside Ethan.

  “Thanks for the ride. I was getting tired.” Aleron grinned at Ethan and put on headphones.

  “Man, I just hung back and watched. You are poetry in motion. How does it feel to really fly?” Ethan asked.

  “Like the best orgasm ever.”

  Ethan threw back his head and laughed. “I’d be flying up here in the blue every day.”

  “When you discover you can shape-shift, at first you do exactly that. It’s an overwhelming experience. As you mature you realize having the ability is not only fun, it’s a big responsibility.”

  “My ability to see extraordinarily well and calculate distance, speed, and such gives me exceptional skills in driving and flying planes or helicopters, but what I saw out there was incredible.” Ethan sat the helo down on the landing pad. “We’ll go in my truck to the fire line. But first you’d better grab that extra pair of jeans, shirt, and boots that I keep in the back of the helo. How does the clothing thing work? When you shape-shifted in the conference room and then back you were dressed.”

  “We are clothed if we shape-shift back in the vicinity of where we shifted, otherwise we end up naked.” He crawled in the back and dressed. “Thanks for the clothes. They fit fairly well. The boots are a little snug, but I’m not complaining.”

  They walked to Ethan’s truck. “While I drive, call Mitch for me and relay what happened.”

  Aleron punched in Mitch’s number. “Hi, Mitch. We’ve landed. Yes, I’m fine. One of the guys got away, but he may get sick from one of the beaks hitting him. All right. I’ll relay the message to Ethan.” He snapped his cell shut. “Mitch said to go by the ranch house and check on everyone.”

  Ethan took a left turn and headed that way. Phillip met them at the door.

  “I was trying to decide whether to call anyone. I know all hands are needed at the fire.”

  “What’s wrong?” Ethan asked as he and Aleron stepped inside.

  Phillip told them about the altercation in the study. “They’re all three fine. Maybe shook up a bit, but thanks to Jewel shooting into the corner, they’re recovering.”

  “Where are they now?” Aleron asked.

  “Tessa came back upstairs and made tea. They’re in the kitchen helping her fix lunch for the group below. It’s something to take their minds off what occurred.”

  Aleron remembered seeing the cook come out of the kitchen the evening they ate here. He took long strides in that direction. Phillip and Ethan followed.

  When he went in the kitchen door all four women turned to look at him. She is all right. His heart slowed down a beat. Her hair, a mixture of blonde and gold with dashes of red and dark brown, glowed in the sunlight coming through the window. She wore old, faded jeans and a yellow T-shirt that said, Don’t mess with me. He had to grin, both in relief and at the words.

  “Tell us exactly what happened,” Ethan said. “Mitch is going to have a dozen questions.”

  “He doesn’t need to know,” Sara protested. “He’ll get way too overprotective.”

  “Sara, I’m not a brave enough man to not tell him, because he will find out and then have my head.”

  “Oh, all right. It really wasn’t too bad.”

  But Aleron saw the paleness in all three faces and the hint of fear in their eyes. His eyes roamed up and down Jewel’s lovely body and his cock began to harden.

  Jewel glanced at him. She’d felt his stare. The way her body responded to him made him more certain she was the one for him and Raoul. He walked to her and took her hand in his. She started to snatch it away, but he held tight.

  “Sit. Tell me what you were shooting at in the corner of the study.”

  “You’ll think I’m crazy.”

  “No, I won’t.”

  “He better not. You saved Sara and me from having our minds controlled.”

  “What?” Ethan’s mouth fell open. He pulled out his cell and punched in Mitch’s number. “Mitch, you or Daren and maybe Garth or Cad better come home now. The ladies are fine but they had a problem earlier.” He shut his phone. Sara glowered at him. He threw his hands up. “At least one of each of your husbands will want to see for themselves that you’re all right.”

  Rae stamped her foot. “They’ll get all worried and demand we stay below from now on.”

  “They won’t be the only ones. Raoul and I intend to see Jewel stays safe, too.”

  “I am none of your business. As soon as possible I’m going back to the cabin Mitch loaned me. I have paintings to finish, and I like to be alone.”

  Aleron put his face close to hers. Her sweet scent curled into his nostrils, and her lilac eyes turned dark purple in her anger. “If you stay at any cabin, it’ll be at ours. And you are our business. We’re making it so.”

  “Back off, buster.” Jewel pushed at his chest, but he didn’t move.

  “Never, not from you.”

  When he stood back he realized all the others were intently watching him and Jewel. He shrugged. “What can I say? She’s special to Raoul and me. She just doesn’t accept us yet.”

  Chapter Two

  “You are crazy. We hardly know each other.” Jewel got her face close to his. “And you aren’t special to me.” When she looked around, the other women were smiling.

  “What’s funny?”

  “You. We all said about the same thing at some point, and we were wrong,” Rae said.

  “I’m not.” Jewel wrapped her ar
ms across her chest. Inside, she shivered. She had to keep saying those things to convince herself. She had no intention of loving a man, especially not two. Her secret prevented her from seriously considering marriage, even if her heart jumped every time one of them came into the room. She had to fight her feelings for her sake and theirs.

  Aleron started to speak, but Daren and Cad had arrived.

  “What’s going on?” Daren asked. He went to Sara’s side and brushed his hand across her hair. “You all right, babe?”

  “Just fine. They didn’t need to call you.”

  “Of course they did. We’re to be notified when anything unusual happens to you.” Daren glanced at Phillip.

  Phillip gave them a brief review of the earlier incident. He grinned at Jewel. “She shot up one corner of your study, but she saved the other two.”

  Cad had already gone to Rae’s side. He held her close in his arms. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

  “We both have a slight headache from the strain of fighting him or her off. But I’m leaning toward agreeing with Cad’s earlier speculation that we’re dealing with a woman.”

  Daren turned to her. “Why?”

  “The words, the feelings pouring at us were like an angry woman, a jealous woman.”

  “Do you think you injured her?” Cad looked across at Jewel.

  “I don’t know if you can hurt a mass that isn’t solid, but the dark blob exploded outward and disappeared.”

  “As soon as the fire’s under control we’ll have a meeting downstairs. We’ve got to get back.” Daren and Cad turned to go. “Are you two coming?” He looked back at Ethan and Aleron.

  “I’m staying to help Phillip guard the people here,” Aleron said.

  “That’s a good idea. I like having an extra man with them. Not that you don’t do a great job, Phillip.” Daren smiled.

  “No offense taken. I appreciate the help. I’ll walk with you to the door and then check on the others downstairs.” Daren, Cad, and Ethan followed Phillip out of the kitchen.

  Jewel pushed on Aleron’s arm. “Go with them.”

  “No.”

  She squinted her eyes at him. “I don’t like you.”

  He took hold of her chin and stared into her eyes. “Yes, you do, and it frightens you. But neither Raoul nor I will ever hurt you. You know that. You’ve seen how the men here at the ranch take care of their woman.”

  “I am not your woman.” Jewel stomped her foot. She hated that her heartbeat went into the stratosphere when he just touched her chin.

  Leaning down, Aleron brushed a kiss across her mouth. His scent of smoke, musk, and his own personal fragrance filled her head. Just the lightest touch of his lips on hers had her heart pounding and a coil of desire flickering in her belly. I’m only reacting this way because it’s been so long since I’ve responded to a man. I’ve been comfortable in my cocoon and he and Raoul are breaking through my defenses no matter how hard I try to fight it. Then she realized she smelled smoke on him. She pulled back.

  “You’ve been fighting the fire.”

  “Some.”

  Eyeing him warily, she joined the others in making sandwiches and tea. Her body still flushed with heat from the touch of his lips on hers, and her pussy clenched with a hunger she was trying to deny. She was drawn to them, but she couldn’t marry even if she wanted to. Her father always said no one must know her secret. Later today, she intended to talk with him.

  * * * *

  “What the hell happened to you?” Nate asked his wife Linda when he got home after the disastrous fight with the large eagle. He’d barely escaped with only one small cut from a beak. He’d taken the antidote they kept in their cars for such an occurrence. But he still felt some of the aftereffects.

  Linda’s spell had weakened after taking the medicine. If he wasn’t worried about his son and parents he’d go straight to Mitch and Daren, but he feared for his family’s well-being.

  He rued the day he met Linda. He was introduced to her a few years after he left the tribes. He’d been thinking of returning to Rae, his first love, but that ended when Linda got him under her spell. Nate had never imagined Linda had plans to destroy his people. She seemed secretive at times, which worried him. Apparently she’d been in constant contact with whoever was the major person in charge of the attacks.

  “You don’t look so good yourself,” Linda sneered. “Those two, Sara and your old girlfriend, Rae, had opened their minds, trying to find out information. I threw a mental net across and held them.” She paced the floor. “I was doing well and almost had their minds weakened enough to turn them to our side which would have made our success in taking over the tribes easier and quicker. But the stupid woman sitting to the side of them shot me.” She put her hands to her head. “The pain hit in all directions. I had trouble bringing myself back into my body. My head still rings, and my body hurts like hell.”

  “How did she see you?”

  “I don’t think she did, but I was pouring on power to get into their minds. My wraith appearance had become darker. The fool shot at a dark spot in the corner.”

  “Not too much of a fool, my dear. She got you.”

  His wife strode across the floor to stand almost against his body. “You still care for Rae, in spite of what I’ve given you.”

  Nate tried to move, but she held him in a mental grip. She placed her hands at each side of his head.

  “I ought to destroy you now. I can. I can slowly push my hands together until your brain is mush.”

  The familiar pain gripped his head as she gave him another example of her power then finally relief. Her mind bored into his, claiming him, instructing him, and making him hers again.

  * * * *

  Jewel and the others welcomed the men back at dusk. The red glow in the sky was gone. “Is the fire out?” she asked Mitch.

  “Just some embers left. The firefighters are staying through the night to be sure it doesn’t start burning again.”

  “Dinner’s ready,” Tessa called from right outside the kitchen.

  “She’s been up here cooking?” Mitch asked.

  “Tessa, Rae, Sara, and I,” Jewel said. “We weren’t alone.” Jewel nodded at Aleron. “He insisted on being right in the kitchen with us.” She smiled tauntingly at Aleron. “We made him put on an apron and help us.” When Aleron’s face flushed, Jewel grinned.

  He really had looked delectably cute wearing a blue-checked gingham apron stretched across his muscled body. He’d reluctantly agreed when they promised to quit harassing him.

  But the apron took none of his masculinity away. In some ways it emphasized how strong he was and how easily he could stop their games, if he wanted. Jewel suspected he allowed her to annoy him to keep her mind off of what happened earlier that afternoon.

  “Give us time to clean off some of the smoke, and we’ll join you ladies for dinner,” Mitch said. He and Daren headed down the hall.

  Garth hugged Rae before he and Cad headed across the street to Rae’s house. Raoul and Aleron waved as they left.

  “We’ll help Tessa take the food downstairs to the others.” Sara started to walk back toward the kitchen.

  “Do you mind if I run by my father’s real quick?” Jewel asked Sara. “I’ll be right back.” This was her only chance. Once Aleron and Raoul returned they’d never let her out of their sight.

  “I don’t think our men would agree.” Sara wrinkled her forehead.

  “They’re not here to get a vote. My parents’ home is only two blocks over. I’ll drive the truck I’ve been using and be right back.” Without waiting for another comment, Jewel strode out to the truck and drove off. She’d deal with the men later if they were angry.

  As she’d hoped, her father was sitting on the porch. He liked to enjoy the early evening in relative quiet and puff on his pipe. Inside, her mother, sister, and sister-in-law would be preparing dinner. She wasn’t sure where her brothers were, but thankfully, Dad was alone.

  “Hi, Je
wel. Are you settled in the cabin?”

  “Not quite, Dad. I saw the fire when I was unpacking my car. When I notified Mitch, he insisted I stay at the ranch house today.”

  “I’m glad. I don’t like the idea of your being by yourself at this time.”

  Jewel sat in the swing across from him. “Dad, I needed to talk with you. I’m almost certain you haven’t heard that some of the men from the third tribe can shape-shift.”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “I guess with all that’s happened Mitch hasn’t had a chance to announce it. Maybe he’s uncertain of the reaction from our people. Rae shared the information with me privately, just before she got married. Her husband and his brother and friend are all shape-shifters. Please don't mention this to anyone else just yet.”

  “I expect Mitch prefers to wait until this battle is over to tell all the tribe, but he may not be able to hold off that long,” her father said. “You aren’t thinking about telling them about you?”

  “I am. I’ve met several of the shape-shifters. Two of them say I’m their woman. And I am strongly attracted to them.”

  “But you have no idea how they or the others will react if you show yourself as a shape-shifter. I worry for your safety. I expect it may be hard enough for a man who’s a shape-shifter to be accepted, but a woman may find more danger in her exposure.” He puffed on his pipe. “Most of our people don’t know much, if anything, about shape-shifters and probably nothing about women shifters.”

  “I don’t think I can hide much longer. Being around the others makes the desire to shift stronger in me. In Oregon, I shifted whenever I wanted. That was the freedom I got in exchange for staying far from family and friends.” She blinked the tears from her eyes. “Dad, I’m beginning to want more. Husbands, a family, just like all the rest here on the ranch. I’m tired of hiding who I am.”

  Her father moved onto the swing beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. “I understand. When I met your mother on one of my vacations away from the ranch, I thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. You look almost exactly like her. I left the ranch, and we lived together. When she became pregnant, she finally agreed to marry me.”