Tempted by the Jaguar #1: Transformation (Riverford Shifters) by Cristina Rayne Page A

said,
“because there’s no way you can get away with living in this apartment complex
for longer than another day or two.”
    Now Kylie was really alarmed. Exactly what types of shifters had she
been sharing a roof with?
    “I have no idea what types of animals people might be able to shift
into,” she lied. “Are there dangerous ones living around here?”
    Hunter nodded approvingly. “For a jaguar, yes. This area is the territory of Riverford’s black bear clan, and let’s just say that bears and jaguars don’t exactly
get along. They aren’t nearly as bad as the alligator clan, but that’s a tale
better told later.”
    “Alligators…” Kylie said faintly, feigning shock since she figured it
was a reaction Hunter might expect.
    Hunter’s lip curled up in disgust. “A shifter clan with almost no
redeeming qualities save one.”
    When he didn’t elaborate, Kylie prodded, “Which is…?”
    His expression was suddenly guarded. “I’ll tell you some other time.”
    Kylie fought to hide her frustration. It seemed she would have to work
harder to get him to part with any information that would truly be useful to
Paul and her, especially when he answered with the equivalent of the “I’ll tell
you when you’re older” bullshit that parents often fed to their young children
when asked uncomfortable questions. Still, it at least told her there was
something worth digging into in regards to the local alligator clan.
    Once they were in his black F150 truck and well on their way down the
freeway, Kylie ventured a question, “So, just so I have this straight, are
jaguars expected to, I don’t know, ‘check in’ with your elders every once in a
while?”
    “Do they keep us on leashes, you mean?” Hunter replied dryly.
    Kylie merely raised an eyebrow and looked back at him expectantly.
    “I think you have the wrong idea about what it means to be part of a
shifter clan. What you’re describing is more along the lines of being a member
of a cult when the clans are nothing more than an extended family of sorts, a
community. We don’t bow down to the elders as if they’re kings or crap like
that. They’re just overseers to the interests of the clan as a whole.”
    “If that’s true, then why do I feel like I’ve just been picked up by a
cop and I’m on my way to the station to be interrogated?” she said pointedly.
    He grinned sheepishly. “I suppose you’re right, but yours is a special
case. Bringing a Returner into the fold is a delicate affair all on its own,
but add to that a breach of secrecy—well, sorry but we just can’t risk leaving
you up to your own devices. Imagine for a moment that the humans ever found out
about us, the chaos it would likely cause.”
    Kylie made a face. “I would imagine that we’d find ourselves either
hunted or strapped to a dissecting table in some underground government
facility. Well, you don’t have to worry about me blabbing about any of this to
anyone, not even to my father. I’d likely end up in a psyche ward—wait—what do
you mean ‘returner’? You’ve used that word once before.”
    “You remember what I said about Deadends, that they were often sent to
live with humans? Well, normally their kids are all born as humans. However,
once in a blue moon, a human child with at least one shifter ancestor, no
matter how far back in their lineage, can be born as a shifter. Those are known
as Returners and are very prized within the clans as they bring new genes into
the community. Shifters only make up around one percent of the world
population, so you can see that any new addition would be cause to throw a
party.”
    “So—I’m not a Deadend?”
    He shook his head. “There’s really no way of knowing for sure until we
find out who your parents were. I’ve never heard of a Deadend suddenly
developing the ability to shift later in life, but I suppose there’s a first
time for everything. You being a Returner makes more sense. Either way, it
would be