Page 22 of Hunting Isla

The smile on the merc’s face was cruel. “Bob says hi. The cub’s pelt will look good on his wall.”

“No!” I heard the tiny scream over the sound of the gunshot, and my own yell. The heavy bullet thudded into my chest, and I saw Bohdie hanging from the merc’s neck before darkness flooded my vision and everything went black.

I’d failed.

CHAPTER 12

ISLA

Iinstantly knew what sixteen-year-old Kara would have seen in Billy. He was good looking, even now, five years and an entire lifetime older. He had that golden hair that I was beginning to realize was a lion feature, but his hair was a dozen different shades, from deep, tawny gold to flaxen. He had a fresh scar running from his full bottom lip, down over his jaw. Bright, golden eyes were flecked with green. Just like Bohdie’s.

Actually, staring at him was like glimpsing Bohdie in the future. We probably didn’t need a paternity test.

“I didn’t even know she was pregnant,” Billy said, running a hand through his hair. “I was in town for maybe two days. I was there to warn her dad, the old Regent, that my father had his eye on Chatsville. He dismissed me.”

Axel remained silent, his unblinking eyes staring down at the other lion.

“Bob burned them to death,” I stated, watching his reaction.

He flinched, but nodded. “I know. He’s unhinged. He murdered my mother, my two older brothers. All sanctioned by the Shifter Council. Told them they’d gone savage, that it was a family trait from my mother’s side. He was Regent of the area, so his word was law. I ran. Joined the Resistance, but I had to warn your old Regent first. No one deserves his version of a hostile takeover.”

Wyatt let out a low growl. “And you thought you’d taste the daughter of the Regent while you were in town? Fuck her and forget her?”

Billy winced. “It wasn’t like that. Kara chased me.” A small smile curled his lips at the memory. “She was very persuasive.”

I huffed out a sad laugh. He wasn’t wrong. Kara always had a way of turning a person to her point of view.

Axel stood and prowled around the room. “What do you want?”

“I want to see my son.” The low growl that bubbled from Axel was echoed by Wyatt. Billy held up his hands. “I don’t want to take him, I swear. I live underground; it’s no place for a kid. Plus, there is no way I’d rip him from the only mother he’s ever known. I’m not my father. I just want to look at him, you know. Talk to him.”

I tilted my head at him, trying to take his measure. “We are going to kill your father.”

“Good.”

“And I think you should take his place.”

Billy looked like I’d hit him in the face with a rubber mallet. “What? No!” Even Axel and Wyatt looked shocked. Vance just looked amused.

“Hear me out. Bob’s Pride would know you, feel more comfortable with you as leader. And Vance told me that your Revolution was about changing our society from the ground up. Be the change you want to see and all that shit.” Vance choked back a laugh, but remained silent, thankfully.

Billy didn’t look any more convinced, but I could see the consideration in his eyes. “I’ll think about it. But I’d like to see Bohdie, if I could.”

I let my lioness take his measure. I took a deep breath, sucking in his scent for the sourness of deception, but there was none. A small brush of my lioness let me know her thoughts. “Okay. But in a couple of days. He’s had enough upheaval, and I want him to prepare him for a long-lost father.”

Billy nodded his agreement. Not that he had any choice. It was my way or no way. As far as I was concerned, he’d lost all his rights when he knocked up Kara and walked away. A sensible, logical part of me argued that he hadn’t known. But the part of me that loved Bohdie was neither logical nor sensible. It was fierce and protective.

Axel’s phone rang, and he looked at it. “Yeah?” The look of horror on Axel’s normally expressionless face was my first clue something was wrong. He jumped to his feet. “Don’t move. I’ll be right there. It’s going to be okay. Just be still and quiet. I’ll be right there,” he repeated. “Don't move. Bohdie? Bohdie? Are you there?” He looked over at Vance. “Do you have bears near our location? The twins?”

Vance was on his feet too, phone already out. “Yes. They’re guarding the den.”

“I need them at my place now. They’re under attack. Bohdie thinks Archer’s down. The line went dead.”

I didn’t hear anything else as the blood rushed to my head, thundering in my ears.

Bohdie.

I was running to the car faster than my human legs could carry me. I’d shifted mid-stride somehow, but didn’t fight it. I just let her carry me into the backseat—although she wanted to run all the way to the cabin, she knew the vehicles of man would be quicker. She snarled at Wyatt to hurry, snarled at Billy when he slid in beside us. She didn’t snarl at Axel, though, as he slid into the driver’s seat.