Maddox glanced over his shoulder. “No shifter would stay on the main path,” He said, making me feel sheepish.
We were getting closer to the lake, I could smell the water in the air. Suddenly, a nervous feeling began rolling in my gut. I stopped mid-step.
Chase walked right into my, slamming into my back, but catching me before I fell in the mud. “Whoa, Luna, what was that for?”
The rest of the pack stopped and looked at me.
“Something isn’t right,” I said. “I can sense it.”
Chase looked around, then closed is eyes and sniffed the air. “I don’t feel anything.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s not a shifter, it’s…” I trailed off. My mouth went dry and I struggled to get the next words out. “It’s fae.”
A chill ran through our group.
“I knew I shouldn’t have come with you.” I took a step back. “Now we’re all in danger,” I said.
Chase grabbed me wrist and pulled me close to him. “Stay close, we will protect you.” He gave me a cocky smile. “I talked down that fae hunter last time, didn’t I?”
“They won’t fall for it again. That was pure luck,” I said.
“Don’t argue. Let’s just find this shifter and get the hell out of here,” Jasper said from behind us, still maintaining a guard-like distance.
Seth quickened his pace, sniffing out any sign of the puma shifter. Maddox kept a tight circle around him. Chase held my hand as we walked. I did my best not to freak out; any excess energy would enable the faerie hunter to lock in on us with ease.
We arrived at the lake a minute later. The beach was rocky and littered with garbage. A work-out dock stretched into the dark water and a lone lifebuoy swayed in the wind. The scene was beyond eerie.
“Why is this park so empty?” I whispered. “I would have expected people to be swimming or something. It’s like a ghost town.”
“Puma sightings have everyone on high-alert,” Seth explained what he heard on the radio while we were driving. “It’s better for us this way.”
Jasper nudged a discarded can with his foot. “Ravioli,” He said, reading the torn label. “Fresh. There’s still food inside.” He looked around and sniffed the air. “We might be getting close to our puma’s hideout.”
The pulsing feeling of faeries approaching did not fade. I took a deep breath and held onto Chase tightly.
Seth pulled a flashlight out of his bag and handed it to me. “For those without night vision,” He said with a wink. “But don’t turn it on unless you need to. We don’t want to risk the puma noticing us before we close in.”
I held the flashlight to my chest and nodded. I sat down on the dock, watching the four shifters split up and comb the beach for clues. The sounds of the water hitting the dock was soothing. The gentle waves began to make me feel drowsy. I shook my head and straightened my back. There was no way in hell I was going to relax when I knew a faerie hunter was close.
Then, a pale woman appeared. Her pearl-white eyes blinked, they were much too big for her face. She was one of my most unsightly fae I had ever laid eyes on. Faerie hunters were not known for their beauty. They were prized for only one thing: their ability to capture or kill.
“We meet again,” She snarled. “You’ve been off my radar for a while. Where have you been, changeling?”
I screamed. Being the idiot I was, I hadn’t thought to bring my trusty pocketknife to defend myself. I had foolishly let my faith in the pack make me weak and defenseless.
The pale fae lunged at me, bearing long fangs.
I rolled out of the way, losing my grip on the flashlight, and sending it into the lake with a splash. “Fuck!” I shrieked. “Help!”
The pack turned towards me as one. “Luna!”
The faerie hunter swiped at me. Her long nails hooked onto my leggings, slicing a hole through the thin fabric.
I pulled away, tumbling headfirst into the lake. The water was surprisingly cold. I went under and pushed myself up, gasping for air. My glamor was released, and my pink hair shone through in the dark. I gasped for air, choking, and spitting up water. I had never been good at swimming.
“You’re mine, changeling. Dead or alive,” The hunter snarled.
The pack appeared and surrounded the faerie hunter, preventing another swipe at me.
I doggy-paddled back to the beach and gasped with relief when my feet finally touched ground. I rolled myself up onto the rocks and coughed up water, still gasping for air and trembling.
“Back off, dogs!” The hunter shouted. “This is not your business.”
“It is now, hunter,” Seth growled. His eyes glittered. He stepped forward, leading his back into battle like a true alpha. “Now go before we make you regret it.” The ice in his voice confirmed that he wasn’t afraid to kill.
Chase looked over his shoulder at me. “Luna, run, now.”
I didn’t look back. Running was what I was best at, after all. I turned and made off into the woods to find somewhere to hide. The pack would track me after, I was sure. Howls broke out into the night and I fought the urge to stop. No, I must run. They can’t protect me if they’re worried about me getting hurt.
My wet shoes squelched in the mud, making it even more slippery. I nearly lost my footing but managed to latch onto a tree. The sounds of the pack fighting drifted through the trees. I stopped to listen, my heart breaking every time a yelp or growl rang out.
Was I that much of a coward that I ran? No, I was following orders. My brain went back and forth in a tug of war. Guilt squeezed my chest so hard I could barely breathe.
A twig snapped behind me. I whirled around and tripped over a root, sending myself backwards into the grass and narrowly missing a huge patch of mud. I came face to face with a girl about my age, dressed in a dirty flannel shirt and jeans.
I screamed, scrambling back.
She screamed, too.
“You can’t be out here, there’s shifters!” I blurted before realizing what I had done.
The girl’s blond hair was a tangled mess. “Shifters?” She repeated. Her eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”
“Uh,” I struggled to my feet. A jolt of pain shot through my ankle. I collapsed back down.
“You’re hurt!” The girl forgot her suspicions and helped me up.
A howl rang out again. It was strong and victorious.
“We need to hide before the shifters find us,” She whispered.
“No, they’re my friends,” I said. “I didn’t know you knew.” My eyes met hers. Her eyes were brown and gold, like a wildcat. My mouth fell open. “You’re the lost puma?”
The girl tried to pull away, but I kept a tight hold on her sleeve.
“Wait, please don’t freak out,” I said. “I’m here to help.” I took a breath and changed my hair color from pink to purple and back again.
The girl’s lips trembled. “What are you?”
“I’m like you. I’ve been running too long. You don’t need to run anymore,” I insisted. “I know you’re scared, but trust me, we’re here to help.”
Without warning, the girl burst into tears. “I’m so scared. I’m hungry. I’m cold,” She wailed.
“It’s ok,” I tried my best to sooth her. People crying always made me feel so awkward, probably because I never was given any emotional support when I was a kid. I winced and leaned against the tree.
We waited in silence until the pack found us. All four of my guys were safe and accounted for, their forms emerging from the darkness.
“That hunter won’t bother you anymore,” Seth declared. His face was scratched, but besides that he seemed fine. His eyes grew wide as he noticed the girl beside me.
“I found our puma,” I said with a smile.
FIFTEEN
————————————
LUNA
“Are you going to be ok?” Jasper asked. He held my hand as I limped away from the elevator.
“Just that stupid bird cage. It gives
me the creeps. I’ll be fine.” I grunted.
“I meant your ankle,” He chuckled.
“I’m fine,” I repeated. I pulled my key out and opened the dorm room door. I hobbled over to the bed and let out a sigh.
“You need to keep that foot elevated,” Jasper said. He helped me lie down and put a pillow under my foot.
“It’s just a little sprain,” I insisted. “You don’t have to go through all this trouble.”
“If you hadn’t of come with us, we would have lost that shifter. Now she’s here and she’s safe,” Jasper said.
“If I hadn’t come with you, that faerie hunter wouldn’t have sniffed us out,” I added somberly. I remembered how hard the pack had fought to protect me. “I couldn’t have lived with myself if any of you were hurt.”
“We’re fine. Don’t worry about things that could have been,” Jasper said. “Maybe they’ll leave you alone from now on, seeing how they know you’re under protection from the pack.”
I scoffed. “No offense, but faeries aren’t afraid of anything. They’ll come for me again, I know it.”
Silence filled the room. We both knew I was right.
“Well, I should get going,” Jasper said. He looked down at me and smiled. “Thanks again for helping us out, beautiful.” He reached for the door.
“Hey, um, I don’t want to be that girl, but would you stay with me until I fall asleep?” I asked meekly.
“Sure, beautiful. You still shaken up by the faerie hunter, huh?” Jasper sat at the edge of my bed. He was only an arm’s length away, but it felt too far.
“Something like that,” I said with a laugh.
Jasper’s eyes glittered. “Do you need help falling asleep?”
My breath caught in my throat. “Maybe.”
Jasper leaned in and kissed me. “I’d be happy to help, just say the word.” He grinned.
“I want you to touch me like last time,” I said softly.
The wolf shifter growled low in his throat and kissed me harder. Careful to avoid my sprained ankle, he laid down on the bed beside me and wasted no time, slipping his hand down the front of my leggings and reaching for his prize. “Oh, you’re wet?” He sounded surprised.
“The pack has turned me into a sex fiend,” I admitted.
Jasper laughed. “Good news for us,” He said.
I kissed him as he rubbed my tiny nub slowly, gasping and moaning against his lips. “I want to feel you,” I said.
Jasper understood and helped me undress until I was naked before him on the sheets. He undressed, not taking his eyes off me the whole time, exposing his muscular body and an impressive dick to match. He curled me up in the blanked, nestled in the crook of his arm and went back to teasing my clit in slow circles.
I was helpless in his arms. He was playing me like an instrument, a master at getting all the right noises to come from my lips. Every touch was slow, careful, and full of meaning. I was a slippery, panting mess in no time.
“Want more?” He asked.
“Yes!” I exclaimed. My thighs were trembling. I gasped as he plunged two fingers inside of me, causing wetness to leak out onto the sheets.
Jasper curled his fingers up and found my g-spot with little effort. He rubbed inside, holding me tight against him. “Don’t fight it, beautiful, just enjoy it.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to think of anything but the pleasure. His pace quickened, leaving me on the edge, trembling and begging for release.
Using his thumb on my clit, he stretched his fingers inside of me, hitting all my most sensitive places at once.
It was like fireworks. I screamed, my entire body going rigid as I came hard. I spasmed, the aftershocks coming fast until I was spent. I held onto his arm, bucking against his hand, my clit pushing against his palm, and cumming once more for good measure before collapsing.
Jasper cuddled next to me while I caught my breath. He slid one arm underneath me and cupped my breast. “How was that?” He nibbled my ear.
“You’re amazing,” I breathed.
Jasper’s hardness was pressing against my ass. He slowly lifted my leg, holding my thigh and let his dick slide down between my legs. It was throbbing against my slit. He lifted my leg higher, parting my folds and pushing with the head of his member, just letting the tip bury itself inside.
I moaned. “Oh, please,” I gasped.
“You want this?” He asked. “Does my naughty girl want more?”
“Yes,” I whispered. “Please. You do so much for me, I want you to feel good too.”
“Making you cum is what gets me off, my dear,” He kissed my ear.
“Then make me cum like this,” I demanded, pushing back against him.
Jasper’s dick throbbed inside of me, moving inch by inch until we became one. He let out a groan, sending shivers through my body. “I’ve waited so long to feel you on me,” He sighed. The wolf shifter let my leg back down, tightening my insides around him. He held onto my ass, thrusting in and out slowly.
My eyes rolled back. “Oh gods,” I gasped. “Oh, wow.” I struggled to speak coherently as the pleasure took over me. I was so sensitive from my last orgasm that even a slow stroke made me shudder.
“Nice and easy,” He whispered. Each stroke lasted an eternity; he pushed all the way in and all the way out, letting me feel every inch of him in slow motion. “I want to make love to you, Luna,” He said. “You deserve it.”
Jasper held me tight, grinding against me in perfect rhythm, letting the pleasure build slowly. He breathed in my ear, kissing my neck, and whispering to me as the strokes became faster. “I don’t know how much more I can take,” He grunted. “You’re driving me crazy. I just want to fill you up. Claim you.”
“Do it,” I gasped. “Do it. Make me yours.” Jasper rolled back, bringing me onto his lap and holding my thighs.
My head was against his chest as he took me from behind and I bounced on his lap like a sex doll. He pushed up inside me like a machine, pumping hard and fast. I let him go as hard as he wanted. The thought of his pleasure made me want to cum again.
“Let’s finish together,” He grunted as his fingers worked my sensitive nub again. Jasper’s cock buried itself all the way in, shooting a huge load deep inside.
The feeling tipped me over the edge. I bucked my hips, grinding and spasming, leaving a sticky mess of our combined juices on his lap.
Jasper set me back down, adjusting a pillow to keep my ankle up again. “Don’t need to do any more damage,” He laughed. It seemed almost absurd after how he had taken me a moment before.
I swallowed hard, trying to catch my breath. “Jasper,” I said. “That was… I don’t have words.”
“Then don’t say anything at all,” He kissed me.
I settled my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat slowing to a normal pace. “This is amazing,” I whispered.
“You are amazing,” He countered. “I’m so glad we found you. My pack needed a female to keep us together. You’re the one for us, Luna. Things might be tough. They might be complicated. But we will never let anything bad happen to you, ok? Never forget that.”
SIXTEEN
————————————
LUNA
The sound of someone knocking woke me from a deep sleep. Jasper was still in bed, now awake and alert as well.
“Who’s there?” I called.
“It’s me. There’s a problem,” Seth’s voice carried. He twisted the doorknob, finding it unlocked, and walked in. His eyes grew wide at the sight of Jasper in bed with me. “Ah, so that’s where you were. Should have known.”
“Huh? Is that what the emergency was?” Jasper groaned. He stretched his arms over his head.
“I wish it was,” Seth said. He shook his head. “No, it’s actually serious.”
“Is it so serious that it can’t wait for you to join us in bed?” I teased.
“I wish I could. No, we need to talk. Get dressed and meet me in the apartment. Both of
you.” Seth turned and shut the door.
“Do you think I took it too far?” I whispered.
“No,” Jasper said. “Because he totally would have wanted a turn if he had the time.” The shifter pulled on his boxers and jeans. “Come on, let’s see what the trouble is now.”
***
My ankle was feeling much better, almost good enough to take the stairs instead of the horribly claustrophobia-inducing elevator, but not quite. By the time Jasper and I reached the apartment, everyone else was hunkered down in the main room looking serious.
I faltered as I entered the living room. The tension in the room could have been sliced with a knife. “Is everything ok? Our shifter?”
“Gemma is fine,” Seth said. “She’s being treated for dehydration and minor cuts, but she’ll be good to go in a day or two.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank the gods,” I said.
“Don’t thank them just yet,” Seth said.
“What’s going on?” Jasper demanded. “Tell us! Don’t leave me hanging like this.”
Maddox glanced at Seth, who nodded. “The Headmistress called this morning. Apparently, she has been sent a fire message from the faerie kingdom.”
My heart shattered. My body froze. My vision went black. I became a trembling husk of a body. “But. But. But. You all said that a hunter wouldn’t find me here.”
Jasper put his hand on my shoulder and guided me to the sofa. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly what we said,” Seth sighed. “I wish it weren’t true. The Headmistress doesn’t know what to do.”
“We can’t give her up to the fae,” Chase exclaimed. “They enslave changelings! Or worse.”
I struggled to speak and failed.
“We’re not going to give her up,” Seth said pointedly. “That would defeat the purpose of Woodlock’s. This is a safe place for magical people. We’re here to reform and find out purpose in life. Going back to the fae is not her destiny.”
“What if it is?” I asked quietly.
Jasper growled. “Over my dead body it is!”
“No one deserves that fate, Luna,” Maddox said gently.
Crooked Changeling Page 8
