Endangered Mate: The Warriors of Eclipse, #1

Chapter 1

Her scent drove him insane. He had caught whiffs of her over the last two days, but being enclosed in the coffee shop with her overwhelmed his senses. There were two dozen people in the crowded store, but his keen abilities picked up only his target.

This had been his first time in Austin, Texas, but he had been too absorbed in the woman to check out any of the attractions the city had to offer. She occupied every conscious and subconscious thought he possessed since first laying eyes on her.

Just being near her generated emotions alien to him. His usual sharp focus faltered, resulting in his mind wandering. With involuntary precision, he clenched his jaw.

The cougar within him stirred, aroused by her proximity. Never before had his cat reacted to a woman in this fashion. Off balance, he needed to get his body and emotions under control.

Gerald Stark had been watching Catherine Andrews for two days, waiting for the attorney’s letter to arrive. Rather than checking her mail each evening when she returned home from work, Catherine grabbed it every morning. He didn’t want an audience when he approached her, but there was no getting around it now. Time would soon run out.

He had no idea how many people would have discovered she inherited the desirable land. It was critical no human developer purchased the parcel. Land outside Eclipse needed to stay in shifter hands.

She stood in line to order her coffee, the letter clenched in her hand. Her hair appeared black in the coffee house’s artificial light. However, he knew when the sun touched it, her tresses were a dark auburn. It flowed down her back like dark molten lava. Gerald always had a thing for redheads.

What he didn’t like was the neat, professional pantsuit she wore and the long sleeve turtleneck underneath the jacket. There wasn’t an inch of her skin exposed. The tailored pants hid her long, colt-like legs. Gerald could almost imagine them wrapped around his waist. His cock hardened at the thought.

He wasn’t sure the color of her actual complexion because of the thick makeup she wore. She was a beautiful girl. He couldn’t understand why she needed to hide her true self. His fingers itched to remove her clothing and explore every delicious inch of her.

Can I help you? the barista asked.

Gerald hadn’t noticed the line moved, too absorbed by his erratic thoughts. Catherine had already retrieved her coffee and with grace moved toward the station where she added sugar. Her morning ritual mirrored his own.

He looked at the elaborate menu of coffee drinks. At home, his morning java came from a cheap coffeemaker once belonging to his mother. A teaspoon of sugar sweetened the bitter liquid. After listening to Catherine order the last two days, he repeated her exact words.

In the past, the woman behind the cash register would have captured his attention. Today, compared to Catherine, she faded into the background. Not a spark of attraction existed.

A woman shrieked in the direction Catherine headed. Gerald shifted his gaze and then sprinted toward the commotion. His heart hammering in his chest.

He didn’t miss the shadow in black exit the coffee shop. Rather than getting a good look at whomever escaped the scene, Gerald’s attention focused only on Catherine. Only she mattered.

Call 911, a man shouted.

Catherine stood over the man she’d been behind in line. He squirmed on the ground choking. His body convulsed as gurgling sounds escaped his throat. If Gerald were to guess, the man had been poisoned.

He took my coffee by accident, Catherine muttered, her voice barely audible to the human ear.

Even through the makeup, he noted all color had drained from her face. Her red colored lips stood out compared to her wan complexion. The mind of the warrior he’d trained to be, moved to the forefront of his mental capabilities. He needed to assess the situation.

His eyes left her shocked face and scanned the area around the now dead man. The Good Samaritan who called for help earlier tried to find a pulse on the man’s neck and then shook his head. No one volunteered to try to revive the man with mouth to mouth resuscitation. A cup with Catherine’s name lay beside the corpse. The lethal beverage had clearly been meant for her.

Gerald had only a couple of minutes before the police arrived to either flee the scene or prepare to be a documented witness to the murder. Catherine’s eyes were glued to his. If he left now, she would never trust him when he approached her for the purpose that brought him to town.

Why don’t you sit? Gerald said as he pulled out a chair and indicated for her to join him. The police will want to take your statement.

Catherine blindly followed his orders. Shock had set in. She had that lost look about her. Tears ran down her cheeks, causing streaks in her once perfectly applied foundation. He folded his arms across his chest to prevent himself from touching her.

Both their heads turned as two police officers entered the coffee house. No patrons or employees had left since the poisoning, except for the man dressed in black. Whoever attempted to poison her had to be long gone.

The store manager approached the officers. He didn’t look any better than the woman he sat with. Gerald tried not to squirm when the manager pointed in their direction.

The police triaged the witnesses and selected Catherine and him to interview first. She appeared in no condition to move, so Gerald joined the second policeman at another table. His first thoughts dealt with her comfort. An odd behavior for a cougar, except related to one’s mate.

You’re a long way from home, the officer said after returning Gerald’s driver’s license. He had written down all the pertinent information off the government ID.

I represent a group interested in purchasing land a resident of Austin recently inherited, Gerald informed the officer. He didn’t bother to fabricate a lie. The hotel I’m staying at has atrocious coffee, so I decided to get a decent cup before contacting the heir.

It would be foolish to admit Catherine was the beneficiary he sought. Any connection between the two of them at this point would make the cop suspicious. He would answer the questions in a laid back manner, doing nothing that tied him to the poisoning or the intended victim. The quip about the coffee managed to do the trick based on the smile on the interviewer’s face.

The police officer laughed. There’s nothing sadder than starting your day with bad coffee. Our station has the worse java in Texas. Police hang out at donut shops for a reason and it’s not for the sugar high. You were in line when the incident occurred?

Yes, Gerald responded. I had just ordered when someone cried out. Unfortunately, my back had been turned when whatever happened transpired. My peripheral vision caught someone in black leaving, but I didn’t get a good look at him. All I can tell you is he was of average height and weight. Nothing about him stood out.

The officer jotted down notes as Gerald communicated what he saw. He gave him the only description he could of the culprit, but not enough to get him involved in a line-up.

Hopefully, someone closer to the door got a better look at him, Officer Brody said. His name was type-set on a gold tag adhered to his shirt. Do you know Catherine Andrews?

Who? Gerald asked. His survival on many occasions required him to master lying.

A smirk replaced Brody’s blank expression. The lady you were sitting with.

Oh, he said, we didn’t introduce ourselves. She looked like she was going to faint, so I got her a chair. Catherine said he drank her coffee. I would’ve freaked out too if my name had been on the cup. Besides, she’s hard not to notice. She’s a beautiful woman.

Any red-blooded male would have come to the aid of a female who looked like Catherine. He noticed how often the officer’s eyes roamed over to where his partner interviewed the subject of their discussion. Gerald had to admit, he didn’t like the way the cop looked at her. He suppressed his cougar’s growl.

You’re free to go, Officer Brody said. If I have any further questions, I have your contact information.

Gerald knew it would appear odd if he loitered in the coffee shop, so he headed out. He’d find a strategic location where he could spot Catherine as soon as the cops released her and he could intercept her. It seemed doubtful this would be the only attempt on her life. His simple assignment had become very complicated.

Catherine’s concentration faded in and out as Officer Stapleton fired question after question at her. Exhausted from the lack of sleep the last two nights made it hard to concentrate. She felt numb after what had just occurred. Catherine had been about to tell the unfortunate man he had picked up her coffee when he crumbled before her.

She fisted her shaking hands. Her rapid heartbeat continued to pound in her head. No one had ever died right in front of her.

At first, she thought he had a heart attack. However, when he started foaming at the mouth, it appeared he’d been poisoned. He had sipped the beverage intended for her. Someone had bumped into her when she added sugar to her coffee, momentarily distracting her. She placed the top on the cup she believed belonged to her. The honest mistake saved her life.

Her hands continued to quiver, regardless of how hard she tried to calm herself. Someone had tried to poison her and she didn’t have a clue why. She worked in a department store, but not in a position where she could’ve discovered some type of incriminating evidence against someone. That’s what happened in action-adventure movies. People were crazy and rude during sales, but nothing that would lead to homicide. Her life had been boring up until this morning.

The one distraction that kept her from falling apart had just left the coffee shop. She had noticed him the last two days, but had been too shy to approach him. Her body and mind weren’t immediately attracted to men, but there was nothing ordinary about him. He fueled her X-rated dreams the last two nights, one of the reasons she hadn’t slept.

Did you notice anyone in the store acting unusual? Stapleton asked her for the second time. Catherine couldn’t understand why he cross-examined her. She had been the intended victim.

Like I told you before, Catherine said, trying not to sound aggravated, I came in to order coffee like I do every morning. I wasn’t paying attention.

That had been a partial truth. Ordinarily, she didn’t notice the people around her. The policeman didn’t have to know about her attraction to the Greek God who had been there the last few days. Her body heated just thinking about him. She had overheard the other officer call him Gerald.

The man she lusted after had short wavy jet black hair and the most unusual amber-colored eyes. His chin was covered with stubble, not a full beard. She had struggled to pull her eyes away from his face, but she couldn’t help noticing the rest of him. He was lean, but powerfully built. Based on his muscle definition, he must spend every spare moment in the gym.

The drop in Austin’s temperature didn’t seem to bother him. Each morning he had worn a solid, dark T-shirt with no jacket. She had found it difficult not to stare at his massive, tanned biceps. Today, he stood behind her in line. How she wished she’d had the courage to turn and pick up any type of conversation with him. There weren’t any guarantees he’d continue patronizing the coffee shop.

Catherine, Officer Stapleton said, pulling her out of her daydream, I need you to concentrate and answer my questions. Do you know, Gerald Stark, the man who offered you a seat?

No, Catherine admitted, I could barely focus on anything other than that poor man on the floor. It was terrible. A disjointed voice suggested I sit, so I did. My knees had grown weak and I figured it was good advice.

To Catherine’s amazement, when she came out of the fog, she found herself sitting next to the man who had grabbed her attention and dominated her dreams the last two nights. It wasn’t the way she had imagined them coming together in reality. There wasn’t anything romantic about their first encounter.

Time passed as more questions were asked or repeated. Anxious, she looked at her watch. Catherine was already half-an-hour late for work. Surely, her employer would take into account her witnessing a murder and not fire her. Would she require some kind of note, like when she was in school? The small family owned department store didn’t provide much flexibility when it came to the hours she worked.

Maybe it was time for her to ask a question or two of her own. Am I in any danger? That man drank from my cup.

The coroner has to determine the cause of death, Officer Stapleton answered. "If he didn’t die of natural causes, we’ll have to determine if the attack was targeted or