The Snow Leopard's Pack (Glacier Leopards 5)

“Shouldn’t’ve gambled with a loser like that, should you?” Gordon snapped at him.

The irritation was evident in his voice. Wayne had caused a whole lot of trouble for him, and Cal knew he’d realized that he couldn’t take this any further without risking too much for too little gain.

Wayne, Cal thought, would be held on a tight leash for a while going forward.

Cal felt a hand on his shoulder. Lillian had come up beside him—further up than he wanted, but she was still surrounded by seven alert snow leopards, at least. And he doubted anyone was going to attack now. “It’s over?” she breathed, as though she couldn’t quite believe it.

Cal nodded. “It’s over. You’re safe.”

And he hadn’t, of course, expected Lillian to collapse sobbing into his arms or anything silly like that, but he had to admit to being started when she took a long breath and shouted, “Lew?”

There was a moment of startlement that hung over the whole group, and then suddenly a face popped up behind the crowd of mountain lions at the door. Disbelievingly, Cal watched as Lillian marched forward to the front of the group, and the lions actually parted to let Lew through to talk to her.

“Lil,” Lew gasped, coming forward. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on, but you gotta—you gotta...” He trailed off, staring out at the array of snow leopards, most of them now sitting tall and alert around Cal.

Alethia, however, had padded forward, and was now pacing a careful circle around Lillian, both eyes on the mountain lions.

Cal, who had been debating shifting himself, just to be extra-sure no one sprang at Lillian, stayed human. But he came forward to stand behind Lillian’s shoulder. Grey followed, and so it was the two of them standing stock-still, facing the mountain lions, flanked by the slow movements of his most capable leopard and his mate. And behind them, their pack.

It felt...right.

“What the hell are you mixed up in?” Lew gasped, his eyes fixed on Alethia’s prowling form. She was eying him with the same mistrust as she’d given all the lions, for which Cal could only approve.

Lillian lifted her chin. “I’ve found a place, Lew. This is for me, and from now on, I’ll thank you to stay away from me.”

“But—but—” Lew’s eyes darted back and forth to the mountain lions on either side of him. But then they inexorably traveled back to the arrayed snow leopards.

Cal would have almost found it funny if he hadn’t hated the man so deeply.

“Stay away, Lew,” Lillian repeated. Her tone brooked no argument. She hesitated for a second, and then her lips firmed and she added, “Or you won’t like the consequences.”

Lew’s chest heaved with his rapid breaths. He nodded vigorously. “Got it. I got it.”

“Good.” Lillian’s eyes shifted to Gordon. “I am not connected with him in any way. Any trouble he gets himself into is none of my business. Is that clear?”

Gordon nodded, and Cal was amazed to note the respect that the gesture contained. “That’s clear, ma’am.”

Lillian nodded once, and then turned to Cal. “Let’s go.”

Cal felt the smile starting in the muscles of his face, even if it hadn’t made it to his lips yet. “All right,” he said. “Let’s.”

And the pack turned and left as one.

***

“And then she said, ‘Is that clear?’ and I thought, hell yeah, that’s my sister!” Teri waved a French fry triumphantly.

“All right,” Lillian spoke up. “We were all there. I think we can do without a third recap of everything that happened.”

Teri grinned, unrepentant. “Are you kidding? I’m going to be telling that story until you’re ninety-three and I’m eighty-five. Your grandkids are going to be hearing all about it, believe me.”

Lillian shook her head, smiling, and leaned into Cal’s encircling arm. Grandkids.

It was amazing to think that she might actually have grandkids for Teri to tell exaggerated stories to.

But Cal squeezed her shoulder, and she believed it.

They were all out at Oliver’s, the local diner, seated in an enormous circular booth in the back. Lillian almost never went out to eat, and never to diners, but Nina, who worked here—though not tonight—had recommended her favorites.