A Leopard's Path: Shifters of Ashwood Falls, #8

By Lia Davis

Stolen from her family as an infant, Ana Darwin-Andrews has to piece together her past and present. Her whole life is a lie. There's only one man she feels she can trust, but even he has secrets.

Kieran Michaels keeps a tight lid on his past, but the Onyx Alpha knows his darkest secrets. Kieran will stop at nothing to destroy the rogue before the past is revealed. Ana can never discover his hands are as bloodstained as their enemy's, because life without her is not an option.

• Language: English
• Publisher: After Glows Publishing
• Release date: Jul 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781623221430

Lia Davis

"Lia Davis is the USA Today bestselling author of more than forty books, including her fan favorite Ashwood Falls Series. A lifelong fan of magic, mystery, romance and adventure, Lia's novels feature compassionate alpha heroes and strong leading ladies, plenty of heat, and happily-ever-afters. Lia makes her home in Northeast Florida where she battles hurricanes and humidity like one of her heroines.When she's not writing, she loves to spend time with her family, travel, read, enjoy nature, and spoil her kitties. "

Book preview

A Leopard’s Path

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Stolen from her family as an infant, Ana Darwin-Andrews has to piece together her past and present. Her whole life is a lie. There’s only one man she feels she can trust, but even he has secrets.

Kieran Michaels keeps a tight lid on his past, but the Onyx Alpha knows his darkest secrets. Kieran will stop at nothing to destroy the rogue before the past is reveled. Ana can never discover his hands are as bloodstained as their enemy’s, because life without her is not an option.

Chapter One

Revenge would be his sweetest victory.

Fury burned through every pore of his soul. Ashwood Falls would pay for getting in his way. Somehow. Someday. Soon.

Over fifty percent of his Pack had been destroyed, and his daughters, along with most of the survivors, had fled like traitors. It was time for Felix Darwin—Alpha of the Onyx Pack—to take shit into his own hands and do something he should have done centuries ago.

Seek out his mate and free her. Only he hadn’t known she was still alive until recently.

He faced a bunker built into the mountain about a mile north of the Tennessee border. It hadn’t taken him long—only about three months of tracking her magickal signature—to find the prison that housed one of the darkest and most powerful creatures he’d ever known. The Council of Elders, what there was left of them anyway, thought they’d hidden his mate from him. They’d succeeded for the last two hundred years, and if it hadn’t been for her awakening, Felix wouldn’t have found her so soon.

His only explanation was that the Council had kept her in some kind of sleep; muting the bond she shared with him. Therefore, making him believe they had killed her. He didn’t understand why they’d never used magick to break the mating bond completely. An oversight on their part. An asset for him.

Idiots.

They would pay for their mistakes.

Focusing on the stone face of the mountain where the bunker was hidden, he drew in the earthy aromas of the forest, along with the floral scent of his mate. Yes, she was inside. He chuckled, rough and wicked.

Silently, he crept to the entrance and studied it. The large boulder appeared as if it hadn’t been moved in the two centuries it’d been there. Vines and other weeds grew out of the cracks, covering most of the rock. Brushing aside the foliage from the edge, Felix pushed against the boulder. It didn’t move, so he tried again with all his inhuman power. Still, the rock didn’t budge.

He ran his hand along the seam where the rock met the mountain face. A static-like energy tingled through his hand, making him jerk back at the sudden charge of magick. Yet, he wasn’t surprised by the ward. He’d expected it.

Reaching into his pants pocket, he pulled out a small linen bag of salt—a natural neutralizer. Pinch after pinch, he sprinkled the salt around the seam of the entry. Instantly, the ward broke down, and he tried pushing the boulder out of the way again. To his satisfaction, it moved. Once the entrance was cleared, Felix waited; not trusting the Council to not set traps.

Who’s there?

He closed his eyes and smiled at the small, yet husky sound of Savannah’s voice. They’d been separated for too long, and too much time had passed since he’d heard her voice, smelled her soft rose scent.

Before he answered, she let out a low growl. Felix. What the hell are you doing here?

She was pissed, and had every right to be. But not at him. I’m freeing you, love.

He rounded the curve of the cavern and stopped as he spotted her in the middle of a cage barely big enough for her to stand. Her waist-length black hair had streaks of white running through it, contrasting with the mocha color of her skin. When her ice-blue eyes met his, he hardened, and his palms itched to touch her. She wore the same peach-colored gown from the night the Council had attacked their home and taken her.

Half dark witch, half leopard, Savannah was the most powerful female he knew. Together, he and she could rule the Council and all of shifter-kind.

You are as beautiful as ever, my love. Beautiful didn’t begin to describe her.

She narrowed her gaze and snarled. You set me up. You allowed them into our home.

It was not me, he shot back, releasing his Alpha power. Don’t you remember? Sable ran into the room, and you told me to take her.

Sable, their daughter, had only been two years old at the time, and frightened. When she’d run into the room, it had been their only warning. Moments later, the Council and the bastard enforcers stormed into their home.

Savannah’s icy glare bored into him as she moved forward and gripped the bars of the cage. You never came for me before. Why now?

I didn’t know where they had taken you. Besides, I couldn’t feel you inside me anymore. Until you woke three days ago, I thought you were dead. He swallowed the lump in his throat, not wanting her to pick up on any type of weakness. Not until he knew for sure she’d help him.

She watched him, never letting go of the bars. You’re lying.

There was no use being untruthful with her. She’d know. Her senses were ten times stronger than his. The witch blood running through her veins, strong and connected to the natural world around her, gave her an advantage over any other shifter alive. No Alpha could top her. I’m not lying. The bond fell quiet, and I thought you were dead. He repeated the latter on a whisper then released a low growl for showing the weakness he’d wanted to hide. In truth, when he’d lost his tether to her, his heart had broken, and all he could see was red; the need for revenge against those who had taken her from him strong.

Straightening his spine, he met her hard stare. It wasn’t until you started to awaken that I felt the connection again. I searched right way.

What do you want?

I need your help. When she let out a hiss, he held up his hand. It will not only give you the freedom you crave, but also allow you the revenge you desire.

She laughed, the song-like sound bouncing off the cavern walls around them. What do you get out of it?

His lips lifted as he smiled, humorless and wicked. I get you by my side. We’ll once again be a mated pair, stronger than any of the other Alpha couples.

Where is Sable?

He clenched his jaw and anger rose inside him. The female had gathered her own army and turned his Pack against him. Felix was sure she’d run straight to Ashwood, to her mate and the father of her son. Yet another matter he’d have to take care of. She has betrayed me.

Savannah fell silent, her gaze still pinned on him, accusing. Your fault, no doubt.

Stepping forward until he stood a few inches from her, he nodded. So much had changed. Technology would be the biggest thing Savannah would have to get used to, but she was smart, and he had confidence she’d learn fast.

I will show you what the world has become and will teach you. He reached through the bars and cupped her face. Relief flooded him as she leaned her cheek into his palm. Savannah, my mate. I’ve missed you so.

Her skin warmed under his touch, and a moment later, the lock on the cell clicked open. Magick charged the air, nipping at his arms. She exited the cage, her bare feet soundless on the dirt-covered stone floor as she came to him and blasted him with a ball of energy. His back slammed into the bars, and pain shot up his spine. She held him against the cell with her telekinesis and hardened her glare. Just because we are a mated pair, doesn’t mean I trust you.

He offered her a forced smiled while his arousal spiked, making him harder than he’d been in a very long time. When have you ever trusted me, my mate?

A smile lifted her lips, and she released her hold on him, forcing him to grab on to the bars to keep from falling on his ass. Never. Our mating has always been a business arrangement with benefits.

Keep telling yourself that, mate. He knew the truth she hid from everyone, felt it along the mating bond even after the time they’d been apart. Of course, love. He pushed off the cell and paced toward her, stopping when he reached her side. "Come, there is much I need to