Cat, Shifted

By Laran Mithras

Attacked by pirates and jumping blind into an asteroid field, Beth and Sven crash on a planet of the reclusive Sapath, a cat-shifting species.

As much of a surprise to Beth as to the Sapath, the humans are considered potential mates. The only problem is, Sven and Beth are married. The introduction of human hormones to the Sapath pheromones creates changes in the shifter society that most view as dangerous.

Interrogated, tested and studied, Beth just wants to resume her life with her husband as farmers on a human colony world.

Alavine, Princess of the Reaah Republic, and second highest voice in the land, finds herself drawn to Sven. The resulting ripples of dismay in her society puts all their lives in danger.

NOTE: There is some extreme violence in this book. Also, fans of the cat-shifter genre will not find this book "fitting" into what they expect. I do not copy; I write an original storyline. I have not read any other cat-shifter books, but I have heard enough about them to know my book isn't like them. My characters do not have sex with half-shifted characters to insert bestiality kink.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laran Mithras
• Release date: Mar 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781386960195

Laran Mithras

I write sexy stories that skate along the edge of modern relationships. I don't like cliffhangers, endless chapters, or ongoing fighting and misunderstanding until the last page of the book. So, I don't write those in my books. Many authors think they're being edgy and have an alpha-male alien who's never heard of Earth running around saying, Jesus Christ! every two pages. Ridiculous. So, yeah, I don't do that, either. No religious expletives in my books.I write from the standpoint of realism. My heroes and heroines are normal people who make the extraordinary leap to sexual and emotional fulfillment. Most of my stories are HEAs and are designed to provoke a deeper thought about where we stand with our relationships.I don't live with two dogs or cats who rule my life; I have two pet rats. Yeah, really.Comments on stories or other questions can be directed to: [e-mail]. Connect with me on Facebook: Laran Mithras. Happy reading!

Book preview

And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

~ Mark 13:27

CHAPTER 1

Pirates! The Captain's shout echoed on the stunned bridge.

The Starfarer was a colony ship, transporting settlers to Gamma Epsilon IV. While the settlers were worth little to pirates, the manufacturing modules certainly were.

Initiate jump!

Heads turned to look at him.

We're not prepared, Captain, said his navigator.

Without proper coordinate entries, they could jump straight into a planet. Jumping had to be precise.

The captain surged from his command chair to his feet. Jump anyway or we'll all be dead!

*  *  *

A screeching, vibrating sound rended the hull.

I think we're being attacked, Sven said. He gripped his wife protectively.

That sounds like the metal is ripping. Beth sounded panicked.

"Ja, they use particle beams causing vibration. Rips a ship open like a can opener."

But who?

Ach, I do not know. He was tall, muscular, and blonde with blue eyes. His Norwegian accent barely restrained under a couple decades of schooling and exchange programs.

Beth's eyes were wide, fearful. Why now? I hate spaceships.

He looked at his wife, stroking her brown hair. Maybe we can find a porthole and see—

The ship shook violently.

She clung to his large frame, seeking the comfort he normally gave but couldn't in this situation.

*  *  *

The captain eyed the panels frantically, seeing the red flashes of damage, the critical status of his ship, his crew, his passengers, and his own life. They had seconds, no more. Jump! Jump! Jump!

But— his navigator said.

He didn't have time to argue. None of them did. He dashed forward to the navigator's panel and hit the large jump-drive button with a solid slap of his palm.

Sir! the navigator said.

He backhanded the young man to shut him up. The boy was trained well. He knew his job, but the captain knew they would all be dead if they didn't get away from the two pirate ships pounding their hull. The Starfarer was not equipped with shields. It was not equipped with weapons. Its only defense was to run.

For the umpteenth time, the captain cursed the builders of the Canadian-class vessel that thought a colony ship would not be a target for profiteers.

The lights of stars streaked on the screen and then became a swirling blob of multi-colored light. Jump travel.

*  *  *

Beth gripped her husband around the waist, looking out the porthole. We've jumped. Are we safe?

"Ja, if we jumped, we are away."

So we're safe. She heaved a nervous sigh and laughed, but it was forced.

Mmm, he said.

Her husband often just hummed or grunted. Not that he was the silent type, but offering his nonsensical utterances in acknowledgment of what she said. Not that what she said was stupid, just indicating he was listening and agreed. She gripped him tighter. I just want to be down on the ground again. I hate spaceships.

*  *  *

The captain watched the swirl of lights as they turned into streaks. The streaks slowed and blobs appeared on the screen. Close. They clarified into asteroids. Very close. Too close.

Oh shit, he said.

There was no time to turn the ship as it sped toward an enormous asteroid. He knew they were dead.

*  *  *

An enormous crushing sound of impact tore through the ship. Outside the porthole, Sven saw asteroids. The hull breach klaxon sounded, loud, overhead. The ship began to slide and drift sideways, fast, towards more asteroids. They were thrown to the wall, a sickening feeling of motion the wrong way afflicting them.

Maybe... he said, getting up.

What? What's going on?

We jumped into asteroids. But I think the ship is out of control.

What?

He looked at the nearby pod door. Without any more thought, he shoved his wife towards it. The pod, hurry!

We can't just—

Go! He pushed her in and dived in after her, slamming her against the control console. He slapped the escape release by the pod door and the door whooshed shut. A static sound followed by a small explosion thrust their pod out from the ship.

What are you doing? Beth cried.

The ship can't survive—

The Starfarer collided with a large asteroid, broadside. There was no sound. On the ship, the noise would be deafening. On the pod, there was a faint vibration. Even in space, there were particles to carry some vibrations, even sound if they were close. The ship began to break apart, sections collapsing, and others exploding outwards. Other pods also ejected, but too few.

Sven, said Beth. Her eyes were tearing. Her voice worried.

He glanced out the view screen. They were rapidly approaching an asteroid. He tried to activate the controls. Faster, come on. Fire up, damn you!

Sven! Beth said.

I know.

Sven, we're going to—

I know. His hands flew over the controls, trying to maneuver the pod to miss the asteroid in their viewscreen. It was not going to be in time. Beyond the rock was a blur of a planet. Gamma Epsilon IV? He did not remember anything about a surrounding asteroid belt.

It was not enough.

They felt the thrusters finally kick in, beginning to turn the pod. But they were going too fast. The asteroid loomed large, growing bigger. In a panic, Sven hit the jump button.

It was too late. As the pod began vibrating and moving forward in a burst of speed, they clipped the asteroid. The pod spun, ridiculously fast. The dampeners could not compensate. They shot out from the asteroid, out of control, and sped towards the planet.