Ecstasy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)(39)

Kougar straightened. "Once they come into their animals, they'll settle down. Just as all of you did. Eventually."

"It could take years." Lyon grunted. "Jag took centuries."

Hawke hoped to hell they snapped out of it soon. The constant fighting and stupid-ass behavior were wearing his already-fraying control thin as copper wire. They were breaking things with abandon, coming on to whatever woman happened to be within sight, which had brought the original Ferals into the fighting. A dozen times a day, he had to stop himself from diving in for fear he'd lose control. Two dozen times a day, he had to pull himself back from the brink of fury. The good news was he seemed to be getting better at it. Knock on wood, he'd only lost control and pounded the hell out of one of the newly marked twice now, and he hadn't shifted once. Not once. But whatever had been calming the rage had been absent. Faith. It was Faith who'd been absent. No, not absent. He'd been avoiding her.

Goddess, he missed her. At least he knew the bastard wasn't with her now. Maxim was in the middle of the throng of new Ferals, as he so often was, the only one they never fought with.

"What is it about him?" Hawke muttered, watching one of them clap Maxim warmly on the back. "They act like he's the football star or something."

"I've been wondering the same thing." Kougar stroked his beard slowly. "He's become the ringleader."

A shout rang out from the foyer, echoing up all three stories and back, quickly followed by the loud splintering of wood and an earth-shattering thud that rattled the paintings on the walls. As one, the three Ferals ran to find the other two newly markeds going at it with claws and fists amid the splintered ruin of one of the stair railings. Hawke looked up and shook his head. They'd fallen from the second floor. It was a damn good thing they were immortals.

This pair were two of the biggest of the new Ferals - Ewan, a Therian Guard who'd been part of Olivia's squad and stayed on to assist them in their battle to stop the Mage, and the one they'd dubbed Mountain Man, the biggest of any of the Ferals, new or old. An inch or two taller than Wulfe, he was seven-plus feet of pure, angry male. His hair hung halfway between short and long, black as pitch, his face in constant need of a shave. But it was his eyes that had them giving him a wide berth, eyes raging with anger. He was at the middle of at least half the fights, pushing, shoving, refusing to give way.

"Cease!"

Though Lyon's roar of command rang through the foyer, only Ewan attempted to pull back. And got slammed into the nearest wall for his effort. Lyon and Kougar interceded, both grabbing Mountain Man, and still they struggled. Ewan snarled but stayed where he was.

Lyon pushed Mountain Man back. "You need a serious attitude adjustment!"

The big Feral's lip curled. "I didn't f**king ask for this job."

"None of us did!"

Mountain Man threw his hand outward, motioning to the hallway that carried the sound of cheers and thudding fists from the media room. "Half of those f**kers are beside themselves with glee."

"You haven't shifted, yet," Kougar said, his voice even. "Don't knock it until you've tried it."

Mountain Man growled and muscled his way free, then stalked up the stairs. Ewan headed for the media room. Hawke, Lyon, and Kougar watched them go.

"I hope to hell they settle down once they shift," Lyon muttered. "Like Catt has."

Hawke's jaw clenched. He'd been giving the saber-toothed shifter a wide berth for the past few days, but he'd come in contact with him a couple of times, and as much as he hated to admit it, Lyon was right. The prick had turned into a new man. He followed Lyon's orders without question and was civil, if not warm, to the older Ferals. He and Hawke ignored one another now instead of battling. They might even be able to live like this.

Then again, Faith was never there. He wasn't sure what would happen if she started accompanying Maxim again.

Goddess, he hadn't seen her in four days, not since that morning in the library when he'd made her cry. The thought of it still hurt.

Jag and Kieran strolled into the foyer, shoulder to shoulder.

"Shit," Jag muttered. "Look at this mess."

Lyon turned to him. "Feel like a little carpentry work?"

"I'm good with my hands," Kieran said with that light Irish accent. "Do you have tools?"

Jag slapped him on the back. "Do we have tools, Pretty Boy? You should see the tools we have. Come on, I'll show you."

Kieran grinned. "After you, Pretty Girl."

Jag hooted with laughter and headed toward the basement.

Lyon shook his head. "Kieran doesn't seem to be affected at all."

"Everyone reacts differently." Kougar turned to Lyon. "But I do think the sooner we get this lot shifted, the better. Is the Renascence still on for tonight?"

"It is. Just before dawn. Kara's ready." But a glimmer of concern entered his eyes.

"How is she feeling, Roar?" Hawke asked. Maxim's Renascence had taken a lot out of her. Which was why Lyon wasn't bring each new Feral into his animal as he arrived.

"Lyon, what happened?"

At the sound of Kara's voice, all three men looked up. Kara stood before the destroyed railing, a look of disbelief on her face. But it was the woman standing beside her that stole Hawke's attention.