Glenna wasn’t there when I got home, and that meant I didn’t have to contend with her obnoxious behavior. Her bedroom door was ajar, so out of curiosity, I peeked inside. There were papers spread out over the bed. It was unusual for her to leave the room a mess, seeing as she was a neat freak. Without overthinking it, I went inside and discovered they were bank statements. Statements that only had her name on them. Where was my dad’s? They had a joint account. I picked up one to have a closer look and saw that the ending balance was two hundred thousand dollars. Where could she have gotten that kind of money?
My body stiffened in shock, while fear and anger knotted inside me. Something wasn’t right. Whatever Glenna was up to, it couldn’t be good. I took my phone out of my backpack and snapped a half-dozen pictures before leaving the room.
My mind was awhirl with a million different thoughts when I plopped onto my bed. Did my father know that his wife had her own account with a lot of money in it? Doubtful. Maybe this would finally make him see Glenna for what she really was. Somehow, I had to get in touch with him. I had no idea what time it was in his part of the world, but maybe luck would be with me, and he would answer my call. I dialed his number, but on the first ring, I heard the front door open and then Glenna’s heavy footsteps barreling up the stairs. I quickly hung up, determined to try again soon.
Her bedroom door slammed shut, and I assumed she was gathering up the bank statements to stash wherever she’d been hiding them. A few minutes later, there was a knock on my door.
“Piper, are you in there?” she yelled.
“I’m getting changed. I’ll be right out.” I quickly put on my bathing suit, and then slipped on over it a pair of faded jeans and a T-shirt. When I opened my door, Glenna was standing in the hall with her arms crossed over her chest.
“How long have you been home?” She eyed me warily, and there was a critical tone to her voice.
I knew she was wondering if I’d seen her bank statements. “Not long,” I replied nonchalantly, not wanting to give away the fact that I knew her secret. “Just a couple of minutes before you came in.”
“Are you having dinner here tonight?”
“No.” The last thing I wanted was to spend time with that witch. “I’m going out,” I said as I pushed past her.
“Enjoy your second night as a sea griffin,” she retorted in cold sarcasm.
I ignored her remark and left in silence. The sun was just beginning to set, and the sky was ablaze in a starburst of vivid color. I studied the different patterns as I made my way down to the beach.
The waves rolled gently against the shore, and I stood there a while staring out at them before taking off my clothes. The shock of what I’d become had begun to wear off. In its place was a feeling of utter hopelessness.
As if in a trance, I left my clothes in the sand, and then slowly trudged into the sea. Just like last night, when the water reached my waist, my legs went numb before turning into a tail. My arms transformed into giant wings, and my nose a huge beak. Only this time, when I took off out of the water, I felt stronger and more confident, so that I was soon soaring through the air as the powerful and magnificent beast that I’d become.
I circled the water a few times before heading toward the ridge that had become my new home. However, I was intercepted by the nighthawk. He flew in front of me and then took off in the opposite direction. When I didn’t follow, he came back again and again after that. It was evident that he wanted to show me something, so I decided to find out what it was.
After a few minutes into our trip, I realized that we were heading for the other side of the island where the cliffs were higher and the ledges deeper. A better place to sleep, perhaps. My keen vision honed in on what looked to be a good spot, but as I swooped in on it, a sea griffin emerged from between the rocks. And it wasn’t the only one. There were many. The nighthawk had brought me to a colony of my peers. Joy bubbled up inside. I wasn’t alone. There were others just like me.
I landed on the ledge above them, thinking I’d wait a bit before making my introduction, but a sea griffin with wings much larger than mine shot up into the air and then down toward me like a bullet. This wasn’t the welcoming I’d hoped for.
The nighthawk tried to intercept but was no match for the massive beast. The smaller bird was tossed in the air like a football. I let out a loud shriek of horror as it tumbled and then began to plummet toward the ground. That bird had tried to help me. I had to do something to stop it from falling, so I plunged into a deep dive, zooming by the nighthawk, and then circling under it so that it fell onto my back. We weren’t out of the woods yet, though. The sea griffin was still after us. But I was fueled by adrenaline, so I was able to outfly the larger bird, and soon with the nighthawk clinging to me, glided back to our side of the island.
I coasted onto the ledge. The nighthawk fluttered off my back and perched beside me. He didn’t appear hurt. Only a little stunned.I wrapped my wing around the bird, and he nestled against me. We spent the night that way, and in the morning, we flew off in different directions, knowing that come evening, we would meet again.
When I reached the beach, I regained my human form, slipped on my clothes, and then headed home. As I walked, I realized that not only had I shifted physically, but I had mentally as well. I was a warrior now. No one, not Glenna or the mermaids, would get the better of me. Neither would a colony of sea griffins. Maybe someday, they’d even come to accept me. And gone were the days of being a loner. I had friends now. A nighthawk who put his life on the line to help me, and Ethan who related to me on a level I had never thought possible. My stepmother cast her spell to destroy me. Instead, it empowered me. I wasn’t sure what the future had in store, but I was ready for whatever would come my way. And I planned to find out where Glenna got all that money, and then let my dad know exactly what she was up to. Revenge was bound to feel really good.
The End
ECHOES OF DARKNESS is the prequel to the Reef Ridge Shifters Series. If you enjoyed this story and want to find out what happens next with Piper and Ethan, please visit www.RaineEnglish.com for information on additional books in the series.
About the Author
USA TODAY BESTSELLING author Raine English began her career as a journalist, but writing romance novels was her passion. Her stories have won many awards, including finalling in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart and winning the Daphne du Maurier Award. Along with paranormal romance, Raine also writes sweet contemporary romance and Gothic romantic suspense. When not behind her computer, you can find her reading. She lives in New England with her family and her two French bulldogs, Dolly and Bailey.
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Additional Books in the Reef Ridge Shifters Series are coming soon!
Read More of Raine’s Books
No Time for Romance
No Time for Love
Amy – Beach Brides
Love’s Light
Bree – Perfect Match
Shadows and Lies
From Now On
The Christmas Gift
A Little Romance
At Second Glance
THE BETRAYAL OF WOLVES
A The Shades of Wolves Prequel
K.B. Everly and Crystal Ash
About The Betrayal of Wolves
Can an act of betrayal incite a war?
It was supposed to be a moment of celebration.
Two powerful packs joining as one.
My best friend Rose would become my sister, having found her soul mates with my twin brothers. It gave me hope I’d find my own.
But just when I thought I did, everything was ripped away.
Now two families who were supposed to be o
ne were set out to destroy each other.
Blood must be paid for in blood.
Can the future generations right our wrongs?
Or will this war destroy us all forever?
CHAPTER 1
Emmaline
“Rosie, oh my...”
I clapped a hand to my mouth, and then my chest as my best friend stepped out of the dressing room. Tears sprang to my eyes. I never saw anyone who looked so beautiful.
“What?” Oblivious to her own radiance, as always, she turned in front of the full-length mirror. “Do you think it looks weird?”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” I squealed in disbelief, shooting an arm out to indicate her from head to toe. “Have you seen yourself? My brothers are going to drop dead!”
Her floor-length gown was predominantly white, similar to a human’s wedding dress. But the difference was in the alternating strips of black lace in the skirt and train. The trim of the strapless top going across her chest was also black, carefully embedded with small black jewels that dazzled under the dress shop lights as she turned. The same jewels, along with pale moonstones, would be woven through her raven black hair at the mating ceremony.
Rosie was a beautiful bride, to be sure. But she was so much more than that. We grew up together, running amok and causing trouble since we were pups. Everyone joked that we were littermates, and that Rosie’s dark fur was from all her time running through mud to piss off her parents. We always saw each other as sisters, and soon it would be official.
She, the alpha’s daughter of Pack Nyx, was about to be mated to my two brothers, Elias and Erik, of Pack Lux. Their union would join two powerful packs together. Our history of being neighbors and friends was about to enter a new chapter—we were becoming family.
“You really think so?” Rosie turned back to the mirror, sliding her hands along the waist of the bodice. Her hair swished along her back like a dark waterfall. “The jewels aren’t too much? My mother insisted on them, but I know the guys prefer simpler designs. I don’t want to make them feel like—”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I cut her off with a growl building in my throat. “I know my brothers better than anyone. They love you almost as much as I do. They don’t care what kind of package you’re wrapped in.” I walked up behind her in the mirror, smirking to reveal one of my canines. “I’m sure they’d prefer you unpackaged, but they understand how big a deal this ceremony is. The jewels are pretty. Leave them.”
Rosie’s mating ceremony to my brothers had been in planning for months, ever since the three of them realized they were soul mates. Such a rare, unbreakable bond had to be celebrated. Plus, the fact that she was next to be alpha, fated to two brothers of a different pack, made the occasion all the more significant.
Pack Nyx, as Rosie’s family, were funding a large portion of the event. Their ancestors integrated with humans a few generations back, and many were now accomplished business owners and investors. Sure, they liked to flash their money around, but never looked down on us in Pack Lux for living more simply.
We preferred the woods over the city, to stay in touch with our animal natures. Our ancestors prided themselves on the fruits of their physical labor. We were humble carpenters, craftspeople, farmers and fishermen. While Rosie’s family paid for the clothes, alcohol and entertainment, we provided the venue in our lush forest.
In the center of our territory, our best carpenters created a beautiful gazebo and dance floor for the ceremony. We were also providing the flowers, handmade centerpieces, decorations, and food.
This was basically the royal wedding for us wolf shifters, so I could understand Rosie’s nervousness.
Still, I thought she would at least smile at my unwrapped package innuendo, but she chewed her bottom lip as she stared back at me in the mirror.
“I have to tell you something, Emmy. But you can’t tell anyone.”
“Oh God, what did those idiots do?” I grumbled with a fold of my arms. “Did Erik prank the pups with a rubber chicken again? If he wasn’t getting mated to you, I swear I’d tear a chunk of his ear off.”
“No, nothing like that.” She turned away from the mirror to face me, hands wringing in front of her. “Worse. And actually serious.”
“Rosie.” I took hold of my best friend’s arms, now seeing the fear on her face and not mere nervousness. “What is it?”
Her eyes darted around the room once, but we were completely alone.
“I’m pregnant.”
“You’re... you are?”
That was the last thing I expected to hear. Wolves were not normally as concerned about virginity as humans, except when it came to our alphas. To prevent rivalries in the leadership and fights over mates, alphas were strongly encouraged not to risk having pups until officially mated.
“I only took about a dozen tests this morning, so yeah.” Rosie’s cheeks flushed pink. “I am.”
“And...it is by one of my brothers, right?”
Her nostrils flared. “Of course it is! I’m not sure which one exactly, considering the three of us were—”
“Lalalala, I don’t need to hear that part!” I stuck my fingers in my ears.
“Sorry,” she huffed. “I’m just so nervous! What if my scent changes and people start to suspect before the ceremony?”
“Relax.” I rubbed her shoulders. “It’s next week, and you just found out. You’re not even showing yet. The father is someone you’re mating anyway. Nothing will happen.”
“But when I do start showing, what if someone figures out the baby was conceived before the mating? If someone tries to say my pup is illegitimate—”
“Stop worrying,” I told her. “No one would do that. Every wolf, from the valley to the mountains, wants our packs to merge. This ceremony is one where everyone benefits!”
“Not everyone,” she muttered.
The wolf inside me growled protectively. I ground my teeth, forcing her back before I started shifting right then in a human-owned bridal shop.
“Dario is powerless,” I reminded her. “He can’t touch you. My brothers, mates, and even I, will have him by the throat if he comes sniffing anywhere near you.”
Rosie looked off at nothing, playing at the fabric of her dress while her mind clearly ran like her wolf after a hare.
I couldn’t imagine the stress she was under. In just a few days, she’d be the center of attention of all the local wolves in the area. An unexpected pregnancy certainly couldn’t be helping. But she had something rare—she found the loves of her life, her soul mates for all eternity, and created a life with them. I had to remind her to focus on that.
“You have my little niece or nephew in there.” I covered her hands with mine on her belly. “And he or she is going to be loved and adored by two packs! One huge family. We’re all here for you, Rose. The ones who aren’t don’t matter. They’re just squirrels and we’ll bite their heads off.”
That finally got a small laugh out of her. “You’re right. I just have to get through this and then I can finally be with those who matter most.” Her eyes glittered as she thought of her mates, my brothers.
“I’m so excited for you, sister!” I squeezed her hand as I glanced up at the clock. “The seamstress will be coming in soon, but will you let me play a quick song for the baby?”
“Emmy!” she gasped delightedly. “I’d love that!”
I walked over to my violin case and carefully unclasped the lid. My pack didn’t usually bother with music lessons for school-aged pups, but my mother finally relented after I begged her. At first, the reason was so I could spend more time with Rosie. But she dropped out soon after, while I fell in love with the violin. It was my one and only love until I found my two mates, Quinn and Trent.
I brought the instrument under my chin, then set the bow across the strings. I decided on a simple lullaby. The pup likely couldn’t hear it yet, but the soothing melody would hopefully calm Rosie.
Whenever I played, it felt like the violin c
ame alive and I was the instrument. The music demanded to be played, and I obeyed the command. It took me away, but I was never lost. I was free. I might as well have been in my wolf fur, running wild through the forest.
Once I finished playing, I opened my eyes to see Rosie’s eyes glittering with tears.
“That was beautiful, Em.” She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “I’m so glad you’re playing at the ceremony and reception. I don’t think anyone else could come close.”
“Are you kidding me?” I grinned wolfishly at her. “I wouldn’t have turned down this gig for the world.” I set the violin back in its case just as a knock came to the door. “That must be the seamstress. Do you want me to stick around?”
“No, don’t keep your mates waiting.” Rose breezed over and kissed my cheek. “I’m going with my mom to pick out the outdoor lightning next.” She rolled her eyes.
“Fun,” I laughed at her. “I’ll see you later then. I hope you’re feeling better about things,” I added with a squeeze of her hand.
“I am. Thank you, big sister,” she beamed at me.
“Come find me if you need anything, little sister.” I gave her a final hug before letting the seamstress in and sliding out the door she came from.
I barely stepped off the dress shop’s front stoop, when I nearly crashed into a dark figure, and the scent of rage filled my nose.
CHAPTER 2
Emmaline
Dario. I couldn’t believe the asshole had the nerve to be anywhere near Rose.
He’d always been obsessed with the idea of being mated to Rose. Ever since we were all pups, he’d followed her around anytime he laid his creeper eyes on her. She gave him a chance once we reached our late teens, trying to see the good in him that no one else wanted to. It was a mistake. She quickly learned how possessive and manipulative he was, and thankfully broke it off. He hadn’t taken it too well, considering that whoever mated Rose would rule alongside her once she reached the right age. No matter how much I tried explaining to his father, the Nyx pack beta, or even to the Alpha, no one ever believed me.
Bound to Change: A Limited Edition Spring Shifter Romance Collection Page 39
