Okay everybody- I'm sorry but I am a bit behind where I thought I'd be a few months ago but here is a small snipit of the half way done Lynx In Shadow (working title)  to see what you think-



Run, Run!        He had to keep moving. Protect his mate. Run!Winter dried leaves and branches broke and crunched underfoot as he ran, his back legs burning with adrenaline and lungs strained with urgent fear. If the hunters caught him then he couldn't protect his mate.Protect mate, must protect. Must run!            Claws digging into the frozen he gave one last push before leaping into the air and flying towards freedom – BANG! Scolding paint shot through his shoulder.BANG! His breath escaped him in a painful rush as his chest felt as if it were caving on itself from the bullets, but he couldn't stop. His thick rusty fur was now blotched with red, the stain growing, he could feel it spreading like a damning sentence but if he fell then it would cost him everything. His mate, his pack and there would be nothing left to live for. He couldn't. Must protect mate.He couldn't let himself be caught or run to his pack or mate for shelter, if he led his hunters to his mate then there would be nothing left for him. He couldn't cause his mates death, no matter his own suffering instead.He couldn't stop, couldn't rest, had to lead them away. Away from his mate, his pack... his home. One last howl and he left everything behind. The hunters would follow. They always did. He couldn't feel his mate as the bond grew thinner and thinner until the darkness drowned it. The bond had silenced. There was nothing. Nothing but darkness. And pain.

"JAY- Mate! Wake up! It's just a dream, you're safe. I promise. I won't let anyone hurt you again," his mate's voice drifted to him but it didn't break through the fog. It was the same dream every night for a week. But this was different. Before he'd just gotten images or feelings but this was the whole surround sound, smell and touch 4D experience.            "Again," he sobbed. Would this happen every time he closed his eyes?Jay had to get away though, had to get the dirty terror off of his skin. Trying to escape that helpless feeling that kept dragging him back into hysterics he ran in to bathroom, fighting the tears that ran down his face. Turing the cold tap on and filling the large His & His sink, Jay dunked his head under the freezing water.He refused to come up until Ky gently smoothed his bare back followed by a wet wash cloth, cooling his fevered skin."Its okay, Jay."After a few long minutes strong arms wrapped around him and though he should feel panicked the scent of his mate reassured him and made him feel safe. His mate lifted him with ease and carried him, clutched to his chest like precious cargo, back to the huge bed.His heart was still beating so fast it felt like it would burst "mate, you need to calm down, focus on your breath. In… and out. In and out, good now try to match your heart beat to mine, concentrate my love." Ky emphasised the gentle order by taking his hand and placing their entwined hands over his heart.Ba-boom. Ba-boom. Ba-boom. The steady beat slowly brought Jay's down back to calmness, the adrenaline that had been rushing through him now gone, leaving him shaky and his skin damp with sweat."Are you ready to tell me what happened baby?""Hunters," he forced out as his heart skipped a beat.