Free NocC 024 - Katie Reus - A Jaguar's Kiss - Harlequin 2012-10 by Nocturne

and strength when he was only seventeen. She could only imagine how strong he was now.
    The wind rustled her fur as a blur of white tore past her. As she dodged another slash from the jaguar, she was vaguely aware of one of the vampires crying out in pain. In her peripheral vision she saw the vamp fall and then watched a gush of crimson pour out as Owen took its head off. The other vampire started to run, but Gabriela felt a sharp stab of pain in her gut and turned all her focus on the jaguar.
    Realizing the male had slashed right through her stomach in an effort to distract her with pain, she did what he wouldn’t expect. Instead of pulling back from him and putting herself at an even bigger disadvantage, she lunged closer, letting his claws dig deeper into her belly as she snapped his neck with her powerful jaws.
    Her teeth sliced through bone and tendons until his bloody head rolled from his body. Her jaguar silently shouted in victory even as her body screamed in agony. While she didn’t enjoy taking a life, she’d done it before in the line of duty and this guy deserved it after the innocent humans he’d killed and for the innocent lives he’d still planned to take. And all for money. Disgusting.
    Rolling off him, unbearable pain lanced through her. She stumbled and fell face-first onto the icy ground. She tried to get up, but could only emit a soft whimper as her limbs gave out. It felt as if giant daggers sliced through her middle, but she was lucid enough to realize Owen was shouting something at her.
    He was in human form, naked as he knelt next to her. His words were jumbled as he continued shouting, his voice frantic. She tried to make out what he was saying, but it was too much. The darkness beckoned. More exhausted than she’d ever been, she let the black wave overtake her.
     

Chapter 6
    With his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes closed, Owen stood by the door of Dr. Shahi’s operating room where Gabriela was inside. The scent of her blood tickled his nostrils, making him nauseous. He still couldn’t get the sight of her ripped-open stomach out of his head. Didn’t think he ever would as long as he lived.
    There was a slight sound of movement to his right in the waiting room but he kept his eyes shut, not wanting to see anyone. Gabriela’s parents, brothers and Skyler were on the right side and six members of his pack were on the left. Right now all he cared about was Gabriela.
    If she didn’t make it…he swallowed hard, shutting down that thought before it could take root. She would make it. Thankfully one of those vamps had had a cell phone and he’d been able to call his brother for help. Owen had shifted to his human form and carried Gabriela nearly a mile. There had been so much blood he could still feel it on his hands even after he’d rinsed it off.
    His brother and two pack mates had met them along a dirt road near where they’d killed the vamps and that jaguar and rushed Gabriela to Dr. Shahi’s. The vamps had turned to ash once he’d decapitated them, but the jaguar could rot for all he cared.
    At the sound of the door opening, he turned and found himself inches from Dr. Shahi. Her dark eyes were filled with warmth and reassurance. She gave him a brief, small smile. The surge of relief made him lightheaded. If the doctor could smile at him like that, then Gabriela must be okay. “There was extensive internal damage, but Gabriela is healing nicely and quickly. As long as she stays in her jaguar form for the next day, she will be fine. Technically she should be fine within twelve hours, but I’ve sedated her and would like her to get as much rest as possible.”
    Owen could hear Gabriela’s parents talking and asking questions behind him, but he nodded once at the doctor and murmured a “thank you” before hurrying into the room. The civilized part of his brain told him to let her parents in first, but he couldn’t stay away from her.
    Stretched out on the long, rectangular