The Jaguar Star (Tales of the Were: Jaguar Island Book 4) by Bianca D'Arc (e book reader android .TXT) 📗

mage. Her mother was my sister.” A shadow passed over his face, and Ren didn’t ask but had the sad feeling that young Nerene was now an orphan. Rufus shook his head just once, as if to banish a memory, then put his hand gently on Nerene’s forearm. “Tell them what you told me about the man you saw,” he said softly to the girl, who was clearly a little apprehensive in such company.

Nerene looked nervously at Monty then began to speak. “I see things, sometimes,” she said hesitantly. “When the incidents started three days ago, I saw the image of a man, stalking the woods. He was big. Very muscular, in the way of humans that lift weights at gyms. I couldn’t see his face, but yesterday, I saw that he had some sort of tattoo on his arm. It looked almost like a military symbol, but not from this country. I’m not all that familiar with such things, but that was the impression I got, though I couldn’t see the design distinctly. I think there were wings and maybe a snake. Perhaps a sword.” She shook her head, and her gaze was slightly unfocused.

“That’s all right, Nerrie,” Rufus told her gently. “Tell them what you saw today.”

“A light,” she said with more certainty. “Shining off his head. He was bald, or he’d shaved his head.”

Ren thought immediately of the bald man who had been hassling Katrina back in the States. T.J. Cochran. Former Marine. A chill went down his spine followed swiftly by anger.

“It was dark in my vision. He was in the forest. Prowling. Hunting. I feel like he’s out there right now, looking for a way in.” Nerene shivered.

Ren could see she was a gentle soul, troubled greatly by what she’d seen. Even as anger and dismay coursed through him at this renewed threat to his mate, he took time to see that the less dominant werewolf received praise for her willingness to help and reveal what she’d seen.

“Thank you, Miss Nerene,” Ren told her, schooling his trained voice to gentleness. This girl seemed fragile in a way shifters seldom were. Of course, losing her parents could have done that, especially when her father was a mage and she shared at least some of his gifts. “I owe you a debt of gratitude for sharing what you know and telling me of this threat to my mate. I will not forget your kindness.” The girl blushed as he praised her, and he realized this little one needed such attention if she was ever going to grow out of her shyness.

Ren shifted his gaze to Rufus and caught a short nod of approval. The Alpha was protective of his young Packmate, and Ren’s actions had earned him a point in his own favor. Ren hadn’t been nice to her for that reason, but he didn’t mind that his natural instinct to be kind to a less dominant creature was helping him forge a better relationship with this unexpected canine Alpha.

“There was a man fitting that description harassing Kat in the States. He posed as a photographer, but he never seemed to actually take any photos,” Ren told them.

The Hilliards were sitting next to Greg, and Ren motioned to them to fill in the blanks of the research they’d done previously on T.J. Cochran. The werewolves seemed particularly interested in the Hilliards’ information, and Ren added his own observations of the man.

“We’ll be looking for Cochran,” the Alpha said in a grim tone, “but we won’t put all our eggs into the single basket. We’re watching for all threats, both to your people and to our primary concern, which has always been Monty’s safety.” Rufus nodded toward Monty, seated quietly at the head of the table. “He wants you all here, though to be frank, I disagreed with the entire idea. A film will draw attention to the estate, and with you in it, Ren, it’s going to be successful. I really don’t relish the idea of dealing with your fans wanting to get a peek at the castle where you once walked.” Rufus rolled his eyes, but Ren understood the man’s concerns.

“There are bigger issues at stake here than you know, William,” Monty told the Alpha wolf, speaking up for the first time from his post at the head of the table. He used the wolf’s first name, rather than the name his friends used, which seemed significant to Ren. Apparently, Monty’s easygoing manner hid a formality carried over from his earlier days. “I agreed to this, despite the possibility of added concerns for you down the road because Lady Sonia asked.” Monty nodded regally toward Sonia, who sat at the other end of the table, which was much smaller than the giant dining room edifice but still quite impressive and definitely antique.

“Establishing myself in this realm quickly is important,” Sonia said in her musical voice as all eyes turned to her. “To that end, Lord Montague and Alpha Pepard agreed to help. Monty graciously granted me the use of his castle and lands for a short period of time while the Jaguar Alpha helped me get Ren to agree to be in my movie. Once this film hits, my entrée into the elite circles I need to move in will follow. I haven’t told anyone but Marc Pepard and Monty why this is so important, but suffice to say that I believe some of the news and entertainment fed to mortals is being subverted by dark forces. My mission is to counter that and be in position to identify which of the elite in those areas serve the enemy and who might be counted on to help our fight, when it comes.”

This was news to Ren. Everyone around the table seemed surprised by Sonia’s words, except, of course, Monty. It explained a lot, though. Ren’s mind spun out the possibilities. If Sonia was probing the media world, were there others doing the same in other parts