A Bear Temptation

| Chapter Five |

It was a tense silence, one that was both unnerving and curious. Everyone sat around the fire the rain had long put out. Finding the words that would explain her situation were difficult especially when they wouldn't be the complete truth.

"I understand this must be difficult especially with so many eyes on you but we all need to know what we are up against." Wolff pushed. "I also need to meet with Jeff to discuss matters."

Katze looked at Zeke's cabin which held Zeke's Mum and Dad. They had made their excuses that they needed to get their things in order and get settled as would be staying a few days. Katze had a feeling the man didn't want to listen to her story as he didn't want to lie to his son about what he was hearing. Maybe she was reading too much into things.

"Tell us." Zeke whispered by her side gripping her hand tightly, instantly Katze's animal settled. It had been clawing inside her skin since they sat down.

Taking a deep breath she looked at her feet. She had to tell the story to get them on side.

"They took my sister." She could feel the tears well in her eyes.

"Who?" Maxton grated. He had made it clear he didn't want to help her.

"Our species are different to yours." She breathed. "We are a dying race. The strongest of us have formed what they call The Allegiance. We answer directly to them and it is them who answer to the Council."

"So why have they taken your sister?" Fleur asked her eyes curious.

"They want us to grow in numbers. My sister is strong, she was showing signs of strength at an early age and for that my father took her to The Allegiance. They want to marry her to one of the members so their children will have a greater chance of increasing our numbers." Katze looked up at the many confused faces.

"I don't understand - " Neve whispered " - Why would they force her into a marriage?"

"Only two panthers can have a panther child. If they mate with a human then the child will be human not that it ever happens the Council don't allow it, Serena has made that very clear. And with our kind ninety percent of the children that are born are male. We were destined to fail from the outset I think. They want to widen their chances of survival and they don't care how they do it even if that means marrying a nine year old child to an adult so that when she comes into her first heat cycle they will mate."

The tears had come now, drenching her cheeks. The story she told wasn't a lie. It was the truth however it wasn't the complete story. That she would keep to herself.

"It's going to be OK." Zeke whispered wiping the tears from her cheeks. She smiled at him her cheeks reddening to a cherry red as her animal purred deep in her throat.

"They have a ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the future of our kind. My sister will be there along with all the others. That is the best chance at getting her."

"How do you know all this?" Wolff asked his tone as steely as ever.

"My brother is on the inside. He works alongside The Allegiance gathering information for them. He feeds out what he finds."

"And we are supposed to just trust your brother?" Maxton grated getting to his feet.

"Yes." Katze answered bluntly. "What he is doing is a crime that would be punished by death. He doesn't agree with what they are doing and he knows the only way to help is to pass on what little information he gets."

"Oh come on Wolff. This is an absolute joke. She could be leading us into a trap. She is probably working for the council." He seethed.

Neve stood walking over so she was right before him, her small frame completely dwarfed by his yet she didn't seem threatened, not even slightly.

"Look at yourself before you start throwing accusations Maxton. I don't care what issues you have going on in that mangled head of yours, from now on you are either a part of this Clan or you are against it. Make your choice. Questioning your Alpha isn't going to get you anywhere. If we are against each other how are we supposed to fight as a unit?"

Turning on her heels Neve made it to the tree line before the bear took her skin. Wolff nodded at Fleur who followed her. Katze sat in silence watching the tense atmosphere between Wolff and Maxton. Several minutes passed before Maxton turned slamming the door of his cabin behind him once he entered.

"I don't mean to cause friction." Katze aired felling more than a little awkward.

"There was friction long before you appeared. So, on Thursday we attack. You need to give me every bit of information you have. We have four days so from now we train, we patrol, we prepare and plan. We will get your sister back. It is not in my Clans nature to fail." Wolff nodded walking into Our Wood in the direction his mate had just gone, the worry oozing from his pours.

It was just three of them left. Deon stood quietly smiling towards them his young face unsure before he made the way to his own cabin. Katze frowned as he did, she had barely heard him speak the whole time she was here.

"He tends to keep to himself. I think he is holding a lot in." Zeke answered her unanswered question with a frown of his own.

"I'm sorry about your sister."

Zeke brought their entwined fingers up kissing hers lightly. Again her animal purred loudly. He smelled like heaven which of course didn't help.

"Your animal likes affection." He admired with a cheeky smirk.

No, it just liked his. She didn't say that aloud. Soon, this lie would be all over and Katze knew she would have to face her reality. How, she didn't know.

"I guess she does." She smiled back.

"We will get her back." He promised his features turning serious. She nodded in return.

Looking up into his deep chocolate eyes she knew he was telling the truth. Zeke was an honest person, a good, kind genuine man who didn't know just how special he was. She was going to change his world forever and he didn't even know it but now while she was here she would help him because in her heart she knew it was the last and final gift she could give him.

"I can smell your bear you know. I would never lie about that. He is more distant than the others but he is there." She grinned at the genuine smile that lit his handsome face.

"Sometimes I think that I can feel him, usually it's just a dream but for a moment he is there and I feel like myself." He whispered.

It was like he was telling his darkest secret. The thick potent smell of his sadness was making her light headed.

Katze stood from the log coming around so she was kneeling before him. Taking his chin in her index finger she lifted his face so his glistening orbs stared into hers. It was difficult to see him like this, her animal rumbled lowly, taking a deep breath she pushed the cat down.

"You are the same man Zeke. It's time to realise that. You can't isolate yourself forever, they need you. I haven't been here long yet I can see you were the glue that held your Clan together. They miss you." Katze smiled as he rolled his eyes.

"You are lucky to have these people." She added with a bitter smile. She would give just about anything to have a family like his.

"Son." Katze jumped back as Zeke's Dad appeared beside them sitting down.

"Dad." Zeke responded dryly.

"Sorry to interrupt this moment but your Mum's having a minor heart attack." He sighed.

"Jeff, this isn't a joking matter." His Mum shot from inside.

"Do you remember when you were young and I bought you that ball for the toilet? It used to float in the water so you could stand on your little step and take aim. At the end of the first day you were peeing like a king." Jeff queried his voice soft with a hint of amusement and pride.

"I do." Zeke answered slowly his voice wary.

"I thought so, he has a good memory - takes after his father." Jeff winked at Katze before looking back at his son.

"Dad, get to the point."

"I was just wondering how at the age of twenty five you have managed to retrain your brain to pee anywhere but the actual toilet bowl?" He aired sweetly.

"Dad..."

"Don't Dad me, your house is a tip and your Mum has started to clean. I need her to discuss matters with Wolff so why don't you be a good son and get the marigolds off your mother so you can spruce the place up nicely. You know I love her too much to leave her alone for more than five minutes."

He patted Zeke on the back then leaning forward he squeezed Katze on the shoulder. Smiling up into his warm eyes he nodded before standing and making his way back to Zeke's cabin.

"Resume." He shouted with a clap of his hands before disappearing inside.

"You definitely have the dream Dad." A laugh left her lips before she could stop it.

"He has his moments." He chuckled.

Leaning forward before she could stop herself Katze let her lips lightly brush his. They were softer than she thought, like two plump clouds. A spark ignited in her blood, a blazing heat that instantly surprised her. She had only meant it as a thank you for speaking with Wolff yet as she pulled back she realised to her that one peck meant more.

It would be a moment she would never forget.

"You have a toilet to clean." She sounded gruff as she spoke.

Standing Katze walked towards her car needing some space. Not once did she dare look back. Her animal was clawing inside her to be free. It wanted to run - to him. She felt exposed especially telling them what she just had. It was unsettling and for her sanity she had to put distance between them.

"Panther - " That voice did things to her. She stopped waiting for him to speak. "- next time I want a real kiss."

Walking again she chuckled feeling like all her Christmas' had come at once. Somehow Zeke made her feel like everything would be fine.