NocC 024 - Katie Reus - A Jaguar's Kiss - Harlequin 2012-10 Read Online Free PDF Page B

his brother. “I’m going to bring Skyler home and get to the bottom of this.” Owen looked at Leta, one of his most trusted wolves. Of average height she was lean and lethal with a blade when necessary. In her wolf form she was even more of a threat. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight braid as she stood there at attention. “Call me if there’s an emergency, but otherwise I’m trusting you to keep everyone calm.”
    Wordlessly, Leta nodded. The reserved she-wolf had a calming effect on almost everyone and while Owen loved his younger brother, Ethan was too young and arrogant to keep the pack united and more important, calm. In a few years he’d have the maturity to be a leader but now he didn’t seem to realize that his actions could affect the entire pack.
    Owen felt more than heard Gabriela move. As she fell in line next to him, he plucked the keys from her hand and nodded for her to follow him. Once they reached her truck he slid into the driver’s seat.
    As they tore down the dirt path toward the main highway that ran through town, he risked a look at Gabriela.
    Her expression was shuttered as she watched him. “My brothers would never hurt Skyler. No one in my family would ever hurt her. And if Israel was taking her somewhere, it was to help her.” The note of conviction in Gabriela’s voice mirrored the feelings in his heart.
    His sister was just too sweet for anyone to want to do her harm. While his inner wolf was angry and ready to draw blood, he couldn’t jump to a conclusion yet. Not until he found his sister. “Call your brothers,” he said, though Gabriela was already digging in the center console and pulling out her cell phone.
    Seconds seemed to drag on as she hit one of her speed dials. When she hung up, dread filled his gut, but she punched in another number. “Axel,” she breathed out, sounding relieved. “Where are you?”
    Thanks to his extrasensory abilities, Owen could hear where Axel was and his entire body tensed at the address Gabriela’s younger brother gave. They talked for a few more moments and when it was obvious Axel wouldn’t answer any questions about Skyler over the phone, Gabriela snapped her phone shut.
    “Go to—”
    “Cindy Shahi’s place. I heard.” Cindy Shahi was the local doctor in Bear Mountain. She’d replaced Doc Johnson about three years ago and everyone in town loved her. She was also a jaguar shifter, though not part of the Segura pack. She wasn’t part of any pack, but a loner, and she’d set up a private office behind her house for shifters. Since humans didn’t know about their existence, it wasn’t always conducive to shifters’ survival to visit the female doctor in her public office. If Owen’s sister was at Dr. Shahi’s private office, it couldn’t be good.
    Owen’s grip on the steering wheel tightened until his claws came out and he’d completely slashed through the leather-like material. Next to him Gabriela was silent but he could feel the tension pulsing off her in waves. The bitter scent she emanated was a mixture of anger, fear and worry.
    Despite his own concern, he still wanted to comfort and soothe Gabriela.
    He probably broke half a dozen traffic laws but he made it to the doctor’s in ten minutes. Using the side driveway that led past Dr. Shahi’s house toward her private office, he stopped behind a truck he recognized as belonging to Israel..
    Gabriela was out of the vehicle before he’d even stopped.
    Cursing, Owen slammed the door shut as he hurried after her. As he stepped into the simple waiting room, his eyes narrowed at the sight of Axel, his shirt covered in a spray of blood. It was Daniel’s blood-that much Owen could scent.
    “Where’s my sister?” he growled, barely containing his inner wolf.
    To his surprise, Gabriela placed a gentling hand on his forearm, but didn’t look at him. Her focus was on Axel, who was currently attempting to stare Owen down. “What’s going on?” she asked.
    Axel, who