Shapes of Autumn (Boxed set, books 1 - 5)

by Veronica Blade

  Shape-shifters couldn’t socialize with werewolves at all, except as slaves. Violating that particular law brought the death penalty. I didn’t care though. Without Zack, I would probably waste away.

  A horn honked outside, interrupting my thoughts, and an instant later, my cell chimed in my pocket. Maya and Trevor were waiting outside. Let’s just hope the gray-eyed wolf wasn’t.

  † † †

  My best friend Maya swiveled in the front passenger seat to face me in the back of Zack’s Jeep. She flipped her long, blond tresses over her shoulder and grinned. “I’m reading this awesome new vampire book. I’ll give it to you when I’m done.”

  “Sure.” I flashed her a smile, though it was halfhearted. Now that I knew otherworldly creatures really existed, reading supposedly fictitious — and grossly inaccurate — stories about them had lost its appeal. Besides, I’d rather spend any extra time with Zack’s lips on me. I snuggled closer against him and felt his arm tighten around my waist.

  Trevor’s gaze left the road for a moment to grimace at Maya. “Vampires?”

  Her lip twitched. “Don’t make me choose between you and them. I’m not sure you’d win.”

  “I could take a blood-sucker. Bring it on.” His right hand left the steering wheel and laced through hers. “Read about vamps all you want, babe. I’ll stick to aliens.”

  “Deal.” Maya leaned over and her lips bussed his cheek, then she refocused on me. “You’ll love this book, Autumn. My eyes were drooping last night at three in the morning and I still couldn’t put it down. It’s that good.”

  “I’m in the middle of a book right now about werewolves and shape-shifters.” True statement. It was one of the books Zack’s father had left for him before he died — the real deal, not fiction.

  “Werewolves are hairy.” Maya wrinkled her nose.

  “Not when they’re in human form.” Thinking of Zack’s thick, dark coat made me warm all over, but I knew Maya wouldn’t appreciate that.

  “Yeah, but they morph during the full moon or whatever and then it’s hair-city. I’ll bet they have fleas.” Maya faced forward again. “I’ll stick to vamps.”

  Barely suppressing a laugh, I glanced up at Zack.

  Zack turned toward the window, rolling his eyes. I don’t get the attraction to vampires, he said telepathically. I can do everything they can do and more.

  But they’re such forbidden and tortured souls. I suppressed a giggle. Very hot.

  Because being miserable is so sexy. He snorted. Besides, their diet is so… limited.

  I held back a chuckle as Trevor rolled the Jeep to a stop in the parking lot of Bill’s Bean and Brew. I cast a glance over my shoulder to the small, covered cement patio. It was nearly empty, like any normal Monday night. Good. The less people around, the less chance Zack and I had of being discovered.

  Trevor vacated the driver’s side and flipped his seat forward. Zack lithely climbed out, before turning and motioning for me to follow. As I ducked to clear the doorway, his hands circled my waist. I grabbed onto his shoulders for support and, an instant later, touched ground. His gaze met mine, as his mouth curved up at the corners.

  I looked into his green eyes and the cars and everything else around me disappeared. As if they had a mind of their own, my arms slid up and wrapped around his neck, my fingers winding through his dark, silky hair.

  He pressed against me and my back collided with the cold metal of the Jeep. When his mouth found mine, fire exploded in my veins.

  “Hey, you guys can do that later,” Trevor called out, pulling me out of my trance. “C’mon!”

  Zack released me and glared at his cousin as if he’d disturbed us. Which he had.

  The back of my neck tingled and my eyes darted around the parking lot. Empty. Had to be paranoia — not like that werewolf would spot me as a shape-shifter. Even when Zack had been within sniffing distance of me weeks ago, it had taken him a while to be certain. If his theory was right, when I reached my full shape-shifter potential, my scent would become heavier and my supernatural energy denser. And when that time came, I’d have to run from the werewolves or become their slave.

  Zack would be running soon, too. Normally, the werewolf scouts claimed their recruits right after graduation and took them to the werewolf king, but his supervisor, Charles, had promised to let Zack stay a little longer to spend time with his mom since she was so ill. I had no idea how long Charles considered “a little while.” For all I knew, he’d meant a few days and we had only the six weeks until graduation.

  For now, I hoped to enjoy time with Zack and my friends — while I still could.

  “We should go in.” Zack sighed as he skimmed a thumb along my cheek, jerking his head toward Trevor and Maya who’d already disappeared inside.

  I let Zack lead me through the parking lot. We passed through the patio of Bill’s Bean and Brew’s and the sprinkling of wrought iron tables and matching chairs. The scent of coffee hit me.

  He opened the door for me and, as we crossed the threshold, I glanced over my shoulder. My gaze locked onto a man sitting alone in the far corner, sipping from a steaming mug and looking down as he scribbled on a napkin. My supernatural radar blipped and a tingle shimmied up my spine. Damn werewolves. At least this one wasn’t snarling at me like the one earlier this evening.

  To avoid drawing his attention, I hurried inside after Zack. He took a place at the end of the line and spun to face me. His eyes darted toward the werewolf then back to me, lips pressed together as if to hint for me to keep my own zipped.

  When we made it to the counter, Zack let go of my hand to dig out his wallet. “What would you like?” he asked.

  I studied the menu behind the counter. “Um, hot mocha, I guess.” Unease swirled in my stomach at the thought of sticking around and exposing myself to the strange new werewolf. I didn’t think I’d be discovered, but why press my luck?

  Thankfully, a wall separated us from the werewolf and he wouldn’t be able to pick up on the energy created by silent communication. At least I could still talk to Zack that way. I hope we’re getting our coffee to go.

  Zack squeezed my hand and offered Trevor a bill. “Would you order that for Autumn and an Americana for me?”

  My shoulders bunched up as Zack steered me to one of the inside tables and he sat on a stool. I stood beside him, unable to relax with a potentially dangerous werewolf just a few feet away outside.

  Why are we still here?

  Zack nodded toward a stool. We’re gonna run into others now and then. We either deal with it or stay home. You decide.

  Double dating with friends was a luxury for us. One that would make a nice memory once Zack left in six weeks. Did I want to give that up for paranoia? I sighed. You’re right. Not like he’s going to attack us in public.

  I scooted onto the stool next to Zack. Through my curtain of dark brown hair, I snuck a peek past the wide window at the pale werewolf. He was tall for a guy, and looked like he could be in his early thirties. He wore faded jeans and a dock-striped blue and gray short-sleeved shirt. His clothes may have been considered casual-wear, but they screamed money. And his hair was just a bit shaggy, yet he looked like he’d just stepped out of a magazine.

  He seemed familiar, yet I’d never seen him before.

  I couldn’t totally tell in the dim patio lighting, but something was up with his skin. The texture seemed off, like tiny little bumps puckering the surface. Scars maybe?

  As he took a sip from his cup, he glanced my way and I recognized those gray eyes.

  We should’ve left like I’d wanted to. On the upside, at least he was the same werewolf I’d just seen in the woods and not yet another new one. But that gave me little comfort since his mere presence made my muscles go rigid.

  You need to chill, Zack told me silently. Or you’ll give yourself away.

  I tried to ease the tension in my shoulders to no avail. Instead, I eyed the man again on the sly without turning my head. He was the one in the woo
ds tonight.

  Are you sure? Zack frowned as Trevor and Maya approached.

  Same eyes. Positive.

  Zack shoved a stool toward Trevor.

  “No way, dude. Maya wants to sit outside.” Trevor headed toward the door right behind Maya.

  Having no choice, we pushed off the stools and followed them out to the patio. Trevor landed at the farthest vacant table from the lone man. It was a small patio, though, which still put him only several yards away. Too close.

  Dry leaves skittered across the cement past a couple huddled together near the door.

  “Your mom seemed like she was feeling pretty good tonight, Zack,” Maya said as she took the chair next to Trevor, oblivious to the tension filling the air.

  Zack claimed a chair on Trevor’s other side and motioned for me to sit. But I had no intention of getting comfortable near any werewolf except Zack — whose firm grasp on my hand prevented me from bolting. He tugged, forcing me to sit.

  “Not so sure about that. She’s probably just being extra perky so no one will fuss over her.” Zack seemed thoughtful for a moment. “She’s really pale and she’s wheezing. Even the slightest movement winds her.”

  “You think maybe she overdid it earlier when she got up to referee our argument?” I hoped not. Without her help, I probably wouldn’t have gotten Zack to finally admit he wanted me.

  “No, she’s been a little off for a few days now.” Zack shook his head, his face strained with emotion. “I’m afraid it’ll turn into pneumonia like it did last year. Her immune system can’t handle that right now. I should take her to the doctor, but she keeps fighting me on it. Maybe I’ll insist tomorrow.”

  “Don’t you have to work after school?” Trevor asked. “You can’t be two places at once.”

  “I’ll take her,” I offered. “Otherwise, I’ll just stay home and worry.” Maybe she’d let me pick her brain for childhood stories about Zack, especially embarrassing ones.

  “Thanks.” He frowned, staring into his paper coffee cup. “But I’d rather do it. If she needs to go and Timothy needs me at the shop, I’ll take her after my shift.”

  Trevor nodded, and Maya gave Zack a sympathetic smile.

  The energy around us changed, like the air was denser, even slightly prickly. Zack met the man’s gaze and I wondered if they were having a silent conversation. If so, I wanted in on it. Resting my hand on Zack’s thigh to make a physical connection, I listened in.

  Charles is your supervisor? the man asked. I don’t know him. And what’s your name?

  Zack De Luca.

  Whatever emotion flickered in the man’s eyes came and went so fast, I figured it had to be my imagination. I really hoped he wouldn’t do what William had done and try to claim Zack as his own recruit.

  Werewolf scouts only seemed to care about bringing new werewolves to the king and collecting their reward. Charles may be scum, but at least he’d said Zack could finish school, maybe even stay for his mom’s last days or weeks.

  And you? Zack asked.

  Renzo. See you around. He stood and turned his back to us, tossed his cup in the trash, and strolled in the opposite direction toward a midnight-blue Jaguar.

  I released my breath in a whoosh, wishing I could feel more relieved that he’d left. But I couldn’t. I suspected I’d be seeing him again soon.

  Zack turned his attention to Maya. “Are you coming back to our house later?”

  She smiled at Trevor. “Maybe.”

  We chatted about graduation as we finished our drinks and, after a while, Maya pushed her cup away. “I still need to study for that English test tomorrow.”

  On the way home, Zack and I sat in the back seat peering out the rear window religiously to make sure we weren’t being followed. But I didn’t see any midnight-blue Jaguars — or any other car — tailing us.

  Several minutes later, Zack and I stood on the sidewalk in front of my house, waving good-bye to Maya and Trevor. Before going inside, we glanced around for any signs of werewolves.

  Nothing, I said.

  We wouldn’t sense him if he was a block away, though. Zack shook his head. He could be watching us from right around the corner, just waiting for you to open the door. He’d be here before we got inside.

  If he’s stalking us and he’s a block away right now, he already knows where I live. My stomach pinched as I fished inside my purse for my house key. I just wanted to get inside where we weren’t so exposed and vulnerable.

  Yeah. Zack ran a hand through his dark, thick hair. If not, he’d find out soon enough anyway.

  Just great.“You’re coming in, right?” I asked. Maybe, finally, I’d get some time alone with him. Yes, my life could be in danger, but that didn’t mean I no longer wanted Zack. Danger gave me all the more reason to take advantage of every moment with him.

  “Sure.” He looked preoccupied, his forehead creased.

  I unlocked the door, entered and closed it behind us. Instead of following me to the kitchen table where I dumped my purse and sweater, Zack hung near the front door. His face still held a pensive expression.

  My heart sank as I instantly gave up on any chance of us continuing where we’d left off on the couch earlier. “What’s up?”

  “I can’t spend the night here anymore,” he said, taking a step back. “It was safe before because we weren’t together. Less chance of anything happening. But now…”

  Before he could get away, I snaked my arms up around his neck. “Stay,” I whispered.

  “I want to.” With the softest touch, he disentangled himself from me and stepped out of my embrace. “But how much willpower do you think I have?”

  I dropped my arms in impatience. He’d asked me to be his girlfriend only a few hours ago and he was already pulling away. Memories of every time he’d turned me down these past few weeks clouded my vision, and rejection weighed heavy in my gut. “We can’t even kiss anymore?”

  “Not here. All alone, it’s too easy to push boundaries and we can’t risk it.” Zack stepped closer and rested his hands on my hips, but held me at arm’s length. “I’ll be here in the morning and we can drive to school together.”

  I’d gotten used to him being with me every night and I hated the idea of being without him through the long stretch until morning. But was that really Zack’s problem? Or was he having second thoughts about me? My stomach knotted.

  He brushed his lips against mine. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Okay.” I followed him out the front door and gave him a half wave from the top of the steps. What choice did I have, but to let him go? I certainly wasn’t going to beg. Yet.

  Watching Zack get smaller as he got farther away triggered a dull ache in my chest. I held my breath until I couldn’t see him anymore, then went inside and hit the stairs to my room. The sooner I got ready for bed and fell asleep, the sooner I could wake up and see him again.

  Once showered, I threw on some flannel shorts and a tank and crawled under my covers, but was still too wired to relax. Stupid mocha. Should’ve asked for decaf. Sleeping without Zack nearby wasn’t helping either.

  I fantasized about ripping his clothes off and getting myself some werewolf love. But what if it wasn’t a myth and we became so weak that we couldn’t defend ourselves when Renzo or Charles came for Zack? As if our youth didn’t already put us at a physical disadvantage against the older and stronger werewolves.

  After tossing and turning for what seemed an eternity, I flung my covers off and switched on the bedside lamp.

  Okay, so Zack and I couldn’t spend the night alone. I couldn’t sleep without him either. What were my options? Staring at the ceiling, I recalled our last conversation when he’d said it might be easier with people around. Zack lived with his mom and Trevor’s family, so we wouldn’t be alone. That was his objection, right?

  I jumped out of bed, dashed down the stairs and snatched my keys on my way out of the back door. I leaped high over our fence, landing in the neighbor’s backyard.
It only took seconds before I’d traveled the few houses and arrived at Zack’s bedroom window. It was open, of course. He tended to be warm at night.

  After poking my head through the curtains, I saw him lying in bed. He faced away so I couldn’t tell if he was sleeping. If he made any startled noises and woke everyone up, I’d have to bail.

  What if his mom or aunt spotted me before I had a chance to get away? I flushed at the idea of getting busted creeping into his room. Especially by his uncle Mac. No freakin’ way.

  As quietly as I could, I squeezed past the window sill.

  Zack was out of bed by the time I stepped onto the floor, his eyes darkening. Oops. Maybe this had been a bad idea.

  Chapter Two

  Zack moved in a blur and the next instant, his arms closed around me and his face was buried in my hair. “I couldn’t sleep without you.”

  The tension eased out of me. “Same here.”

  Zack kissed my forehead, then hugged me tighter. “What are we gonna do now?”

  “Nothing except go to sleep.” I gently pushed him away, tiptoed to his bed and slid under the covers.

  “Uh… we’ve never actually slept next to each other before.” He hesitated at the foot of the bed.

  I noticed then that he wore only boxers — at least I had on a tank, even if it was a little skimpy. The pale moonlight filtered through the curtain and shone on his smooth chest and rippled abs.

  I gulped and resolved again not to let things get out of hand, especially not with his mom sleeping on the other side of the thin wall. But, oh, how good he looked. I wanted to run my fingers up his spine and watch him shiver. I wanted to feel his weight on me and—

  No, nothing would happen tonight. Well, maybe some cuddling.

  Slowly, he shuffled to the other side of the bed where he’d been lying before. But he didn’t make a move to climb in beside me.

  “It’s either this or I have to go home and we both sleep crappy. How well will we be able to defend ourselves if we’re exhausted?” At that, I turned away and waited for him to join me. “Come on. Spoon me.”