Leopard 03 - Burning Wild

always trying to get into the house.”
    “I can check the phone jacks for chips or recorders,” Greg offered.
    “Don’t bother, my security can take it from here,” he said, dismissing the man, and stalking away. He wanted the man the hell out of his house.
    Jake didn’t want to go. He had to go. He had to find Drake, to run, let the leopard loose where it couldn’t do any harm. Breathing hard, he turned away from them, striding through the kitchen, stopping abruptly when he saw Joshua with his feet up on a chair, drinking coffee and eating a slice of freshly baked bread.
    “I thought I told you to stay with Emma,” he snapped.
    Joshua jumped up so fast he knocked the chair over. “You said stay in the house and I’m here.”
    “That’s bullshit and you know it. You’ve got some man in my home staring at Emma like she’s the candy in a store, while you’re fucking feeding your face. Throw the son of a bitch out of here and have security check the phone jacks again, not just with equipment, but visually. If they can’t do their job, get rid of them.”
    “Fine, it’s done,” Joshua tried to soothe him.
    Jake was pacing, swinging his head in agitation. His face had gone dark, his eyes clouding, going almost completely gold as his vision shifted from human to animal.
    Grabbing the radio hanging at his side, Joshua spoke into it quickly before moving to put the table between him and his boss, barking out the orders for security to check the phone jacks visually and then calling to Drake for backup.
    “Jake. Listen to me. Concentrate. You’re in a thrall. A fit of madness. You have to fight hard against it.
    Come with me now. Let’s get you out of here before it’s too late.” Joshua’s own voice roughened, his vision changing to bands of colored heat. All senses immediately sharpened, heightened.
    Jake heard him as if from a distance, the voice fading in and out. His muscles ached. His back bent. He wanted Emma underneath him, screaming his name. The image filled his vision and then his sight went red as he scented other males.
    “Damn it, Drake. Hurry,” Joshua called again into the radio. “I’m not going to be able to hold him by myself.” He held his palm out toward Jake. “You brought me to your ranch to help you, Jake. I’m trying to do that. Go run. Let your leopard loose.”
    Thunder crashed in Jake’s ears. His blood surged hotly, the need to claim his mate so strong he shook with it. The animal consumed him bit by bit.
    “Your other is riding you hard. We don’t want a fight in your kitchen.” Joshua’s own leopard rose to meet the aggression of Jake’s. This was going to be a disaster.
    The door burst open and Drake limped in. He hissed a command in the language of their species, one Jake couldn’t understand, but the leopard did. “Jake. Go to the truck. We have to go now.” His tone left no room for argument. The situation was going to turn ugly fast.
    Jake glanced toward the room where Emma’s voice could be heard, still murmuring softly to the repairman.
    “Evan’s coming to escort him off the property,” Joshua assured.
    Jake recognized he had little control and struggled to rein in the leopard, fighting for supremacy at least until he could make certain Emma and the children were safe. It was going to take both Joshua and Drake to control the snarling cat clawing and fighting for a kill. He tried to speak, but mostly what came out was a rumble of madness. “Emma.” He couldn’t—wouldn’t leave until he knew someone was watching over her.
    As if that one growling word made sense, Drake snapped an order at Joshua. “Get Darrin in here. Tell him to call up two other hands and guard the house with the kids and Emma until one of the three of us gets back.” Even as he spoke, he ushered Jake out of the house.
    Jake could barely walk, his body so heavy and throbbing, so aroused that every step was painful. The leopard fought him every inch of the way, trying to get back, to circle around Drake, snarling menacingly, using mock charges to threaten. Drake snarled back, his own leopard shepherding Jake.
    Joshua helped the moment he was able, careful to keep a distance as Jake paced back and forth, the growls rumbling louder and more ferocious, but, in effect, herding him toward the truck.
    The biggest danger would occur in the close confines of the truck. Drake and Joshua had to rely on Jake to stay focused and hold his leopard at bay until they could get him