Resisting The Alpha (Werebear Shifter Romance) (The Crane Curse)

by Rhodes, Liliana

  “Why did you come to the Council? You asked me to rescue his prisoners and take his pack. I did that. You said you needed to get away from him, that you were frightened of him. So why are you still with him?”

  She opened her mouth but words didn’t come out. She couldn’t say what she was thinking. He has nothing without me. I ruined him. He’s like this because of me.

  “A beast like you could never understand love,” she said.

  Erich turned away and began walking through the trees again. Faith followed knowing she didn’t have a choice if she wanted to get back home. In the distance she heard a long high pitched howl and recognized it as Abel’s.

  The dim light of the house appeared ahead and Faith quickened her walk and slipped ahead of Erich, no longer needing him. Just before reaching the house, his large hand closed around her upper arm and he pulled her close to him.

  As she looked up into his warm brown eyes she felt helpless. She shoved her attraction to him away and pushed against his bare chest, but he didn’t budge. His other hand cupped her face as he met her gaze.

  “If he ever tries to hurt you, or if you ever need help I am always around. You say the word and I will have you out of there and somewhere safe before he even knows you’re gone.”

  His lips crushed hers and her mind spun. As he pulled away, she reached up and pulled his head back down to her. His mouth felt strong but vulnerable and she pushed her tongue past his lips to meet his, before stepping away from him.

  Damn those Alphas! Why were they always so irresistible to women? Walking away she felt his eyes on her and it made her feel sexy and wanted, something Abel hadn’t made her feel in a very long time. She missed that.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Rafael steered the long black sedan through the old residential streets. Annoyed he couldn’t do this alone, Erich figured he’d might as well take advantage of the perks of being on the Council despite what he kept from them. He couldn’t tell them what he knew about Faith or where to find her and Abel. Erich could care less about Abel, but as long as Faith did he would do everything in his power to protect him.

  “Watch your thoughts once we arrive at the Smythe’s,” Erich said. “Mr. Smythe is a renown mind reader and has no qualms using it to his advantage.”

  “He sounds devious,” Rafael replied.

  “No, just smart. One of the smartest men you’ll ever meet. Especially for a human.”

  Turning onto a winding street, Erich was surprised to see so much traffic. As they pulled up in front of the Smyth’s old colonial style house, Erich saw the source of all the traffic–parents coming to pick up their children playing on the front lawn.

  As they pulled in front of the house, a slender woman with faded blue hair in jeans and an old college sweatshirt stood up from the middle of a group of children, towering over them. Her brows knitted together and she scowled before storming over to the car like an angry giraffe. Rafael jumped out of the driver’s seat as if he was expecting trouble.

  “Seriously, Rafael? You really can’t take no for an answer can you? Can’t you act like a good stalker and hide? You have to show up in this ridiculous car?” she said.

  As Rafael quietly took her abuse, Erich exited the sedan. He stood beside Rafael listening to her tirade finding it interesting to see such fire from a simple human. It was obvious Rafael was infatuated with the girl Erich recognized as Pinky Smythe, the daughter to the man they were there to meet with. Erich did find her pretty, but he was willing to bet it was her quirky personality that drew Rafael in. Rafael was always a sucker for a free spirit.

  “Rafael, when you’re done here please join me inside,” Erich said before walking towards the front door.

  “Wait, you mean you’re not here to see me?” Pinky said sounding dejected.

  “No sweetheart, but if that’s the kind of greeting I’d get if I was I’d be sure to show up here more often,” Rafael said, his New Orleans accent coming through in full force.

  Rafael caught up with Erich as he climbed the few steps onto the porch and rang the doorbell. A lanky, bald man with warm brown eyes answered.

  “Erich! I’ve been expecting you,” he said as he pushed open the screen door and let the men into the house.

  “Thank you for taking the time to meet with us Mr. Smythe,” Erich said. “I’d like to introduce you to my associate Rafael.”

  “Yes of course, I know Rafael. You forget I know everyone, even if I haven’t met them. And please, call me Jerry.”

  Jerold “Jerry” Smythe led them through the house to a room in the furthest part of the home. Out of the windows the chains on an empty swing set rattled in the breeze. The office had wood paneling and large metal filing cabinets along one of the walls. Along a side wall was a gold polyester couch that sat perpendicular to a simple metal framed desk with a wood grained table top. As Erich and Rafael sat in black leather sling chairs, Erich thought they stepped back in time to the 70’s.

  “Jerry, I’m not sure how much information they gave you over the phone,” Erich said.

  “I don’t need information, I am information. One moment, let me get my daughter. I’m grooming her to take over.”

  Jerry left the room and soon Erich heard Pinky’s voice coming down the hall.

  “I don’t understand, Dad. We run a nursery school. What more is there?” she said.

  “You’re more stubborn than a mule, Pinky!” Jerry said, his voice echoing from the hall into the office. “Just try to stay quiet for a few moments and maybe you’ll learn a little more about what your family has been doing for centuries. If you weren’t so busy running after shifters all the time you’d realize we have important work going on here.”

  As they entered the room Jerry smiled warmly again before turning to Pinky and pointing to the couch. After she slumped down on the corner, Jerry began speaking again.

  “Pinky has a lot to learn, and some of that is patience. Please forgive her,” he said as Pinky folded her arms in front of her chest. “I don’t usually talk about the purpose of the school here, but since I have my daughter’s attention for once I’d like to give you some background. I trust that because both of you men are on the Council that you will be discrete.”

  “My family were one of the first settlers of Leeds Point back in the 1700’s. It became apparent very quickly that Leeds was a very special place as far as paranormal activity was concerned. As a matter of fact, there have been reports of a portal hidden in Leeds that connects us with the spirit world, but that’s a story for another time. One thing that is certain is that creatures of all types have always been attracted to Leeds Point. This is why so many shifters and other beings live in our small community.”

  “I knew it!” Pinky said then quickly covered her mouth. “Sorry, please go on Dad.”

  “My ancestors were openminded people, but they knew someone had to keep track of all these beings and police the happenings around here. That was when they created the Talisman. The Talisman originally were a small group of people who cataloged the supernatural goings on around the area. Eventually we realized it would be easier to keep tabs on everyone if they all needed to pass through a common place, kind of a paranormal Ellis Island. That’s when the nursery school was created.”

  “I’m sorry, sir,” Erich said, “I understand you’re teaching your daughter something but things are different now. The Kapok Council now manages everything. Yes the nursery school does serve its purpose, but you’re mostly a library now.”

  “That is what you’re expected to think, Erich.” Jerry leaned against the desk as his face became serious. “I feel comfortable telling you all of this because I know of your involvement with Abel. I’m the man behind it, behind all of it. Don’t even try to pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

  Jerry met his gaze evenly surprising Erich that a non-Alpha had the nerve to speak to and look at him that way. Normally Erich would have fought back and put the man in his place, but he was curious
to hear more and was surprised to find out Jerry and the Talisman were the source of his assignment.

  “Continue,” Erich said. “We’re among people we both trust.”

  Jerry nodded and his warm smile returned. “Most people believe the school works for the Council. And while we do provide them with information, it is the Talisman who secretly controls them. Its complicated, but needed for security.”

  “Who is in this Talisman and why have I never heard about it?” Pinky asked.

  “There is only one now,” Jerry said. “Its passed down from one generation to the next, but the others didn’t survive.” He waited for understanding to cross his daughter’s face, then nodded. “You have a lot to learn.”

  “So wait, I get to be the one person in this crazy town who doesn’t have any power or anything at all and the one cool thing I get, I have to be quiet about?”

  Jerry sighed, sounding annoyed. “Yes, Pinky. That’s right. And don’t ever discount being normal. I don’t have to use my ability to know I’m not the only person in this room who thinks you’re quite extraordinary.”

  Pinky looked down at her feet, obviously embarrassed. Erich sat back in his chair and stifled a chuckle, proud that his assessment of Rafael earlier had been correct.

  “So are you going to help us or not?” Erich asked. He was tired of all the games. It was time to finally bring them back to the point of his visit.

  “Of course I’ll help,” Jerry said. “I’m actually quite intrigued by all of this. You have a witch with no name…ah ha Faith. Thank you, that’ll make it a bit easier. And you want to find out who she is, where she came from. Very interesting indeed. Do you know anything else?”

  Erich grunted. He didn’t want to answer but knew Jerry would take the information from him anyway. “She met Abel in high school.”

  “Hmm even more interesting and definitely narrows it down. Abel moved here from out of state his senior year of high school. We should be able to find something out about her. I’ll put my protege on this assignment.” Jerry looked over at his daughter who was lost in thought.

  “Who? Me?” Pinky said as she realized he was talking about her. “An assignment? How much time do I have?”

  “I need everything you can find as soon as possible,” Erich said. “Abel might be without a pack, but he’s still dangerous. I’m sure he has something up his sleeve. If I can find out more about Faith, then maybe I can figure out his plans and how he intends to use her.”

  “And perhaps why she’s with him?” Jerry said with a smirk.

  Erich stared at Jerry, a fire burned in his belly as he fought to not hit that smirk off the other man’s face. Luckily he was smarter than his instincts, he needed their help. And if Jerry was telling the truth about the Talisman, then creating an enemy out of him was the last thing Erich needed.

  “Just get me everything you can find out,” Erich growled through clenched teeth.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Faith stood on the porch as Abel in full coyote form stalked into the forest. He would be gone for a while as he hunted for food, giving her the time she needed to get back to the clearing and hope Miranda appeared again.

  After slipping her arms into her sweater she reached around behind her for the belt and knotted it at her waist. Stepping back onto the porch she felt a little guilty for sneaking out on Abel. He had been very upset when he realized she wasn’t there last night. So upset, Faith was surprised he left her to hunt. The fresh bruise on her temple when she returned didn’t help matters.

  Fingering the silver crane at her neck, Faith stepped off the porch then stopped. Did she really want to find out about her family? What difference did it make after all this time? She couldn’t fool herself though, she needed answers and was willing to do whatever it took to get them.

  As she entered the clearing, she looked up at the moon as she did the night before. Everything looked the same, even felt the same. The only difference was that yesterday she followed Miranda there and had no idea how to find her again.

  Faith thought about Abel’s teachings on witchcraft. The one thing he repeated was that if she believed she could do it, she would. That faith in herself got her very far in his teachings and she pulled on it now as she imagined Miranda in her white nightgown, running through the woods.

  Slowly, as if appearing from an old movie projector, Miranda appeared in the clearing. She wore the white nightgown again and smiled warmly at Faith.

  “I knew you’d figure it out,” Miranda said. “You’re lucky I showed up, I’m sure you’ve heard stories about these woods being haunted. What’s funny is in all this time no one has bothered calling me. I have so much to say, yet no one seems truly interested.”

  “No, I don’t think its that at all. I think people like the tale, the idea of the woods being haunted. If they called you then they’d have to deal with reality.”

  “Well my reality is why I’m here and have been here for so long. At least it feels long. I’m sure its been at least thirty years.” Miranda looked up at the moon then around the clearing. “Feels much longer than that.”

  Miranda walked towards the tree line and kicked at some loose white stones but they didn’t move. After taking a few steps back she grinned at Faith. “Watch this,” she said.

  A flash of white light hit the ground and spread out until it reached all the stones. Throughout the clearing the stones glowed, the majority of them were collected into a large square resembling the foundation of a house.

  “Is that where your house was?” Faith asked.

  Miranda nodded as she looked wistfully at the glowing stones. “It hasn’t been long enough for there to be nothing left of the house. My great great great grandfather built this house centuries ago using a stone foundation. Almost my entire family had been born here, died here too. So did I, just not in the same way as the others.”

  Faith was afraid to ask but could see Miranda wanted to talk about it. “What happened?” she asked quietly.

  Miranda smiled, her eyes wet with tears. “Thank you for asking. It’s the only way I can talk about it,” she said then shrugged. “Strange dead rules, nothing you need to know about. You were probably too young to remember, but just thirty years ago things were much different here in Leeds Point. Nowadays shifters can be themselves and not have to live in fear. Back then, shifters were just beginning to make themselves known to society.”

  “So you’re a shape shifter?” Faith asked.

  “Yes, or I was. Being a spirit now I lack the body to hold onto my animal spirit. But when I was alive this clearing and the surrounding areas were my territory. I was an Alpha wolf. My entire family were Alphas. Its hereditary you know, not much different than those bright green eyes of yours.”

  “Who…” Faith couldn’t utter the words.

  “Killed me? Well some asshole, obviously,” Miranda said. “Trust me, I’ve been angry about it for thirty years. He took me from my life, my baby.”

  “You had a baby?”

  “Yes, a son. He was everything to me. I never had a reason to live before him. That night I had just put him to bed. He was only five years old then, so young…things like that simply shouldn’t happen,” she said then was silent. “A group of four men came with torches. I heard them coming and grabbed my boy. It was just me and him and I needed him to be safe. I carried my half asleep son into the woods, into an area I knew was thickly overgrown and begged him to stay there. Then I came back here.

  “They had set the house on fire,” she said as her face filled with horror. “They were looking for us, calling for my son. They called us devils and said the fire would purify us and rid us of our evil. I killed three of them, before I sensed my son coming closer…”

  As her words faded Miranda began running like when Faith first saw her the night before. She turned back and Faith finally saw the expression on her face was a mixture of love and worry. Then as she turned to continue forward something stopped her. Miranda turned towards Faith a
nd dark red blood spread across her white nightgown. As Miranda collapsed to the ground Faith ran to her and fell onto her knees beside her, sobbing.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Miranda said sitting up, suddenly healed.

  Faith wiped her tears with the tips of her fingers and shook her head. “I’m so sorry that happened to you. I just…I’m so sorry. You said I can help you. Just tell me what it is and I’ll do it.”

  “That man never got my son, but he did take from me the one thing I had from his father. My husband was in the military and had recently been deployed. I’m sure they knew that when they attacked. Before burying me the man removed my wedding ring and slipped it into his pocket, but he never made it home.”

  “What happened?”

  “When an Alpha dies and a child is left behind another Alpha must protect that child. My son’s godfather was Alpha of the next territory, Connor Overstreet. He felt my death and arrived as quickly as he could. My spirit watched as Connor destroyed that man, ripping him apart as if he was nothing. The ring fell to the ground but Connor didn’t know about it. He found my son and took him away before he could see what happened.”

  “Did your son stay with Connor? Wait, is he…?”

  She laughed. “No, he’s not Caleb. Caleb was born later. Unfortunately state law and shifter law don’t coincide and back then no one really cared about shifter law anyway. My son was taken from the Overstreet family and placed into an orphanage until his father returned from duty. I watched him grow. I saw the incredible man he became and then when he was ready he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and enlist. My son had fallen in love by then with a beautiful girl and I hoped to see them marry. I wanted to give him my ring to give to her. But then she stepped in,” Miranda said bitterly.

  “She? Who? What happened?”

  “The same woman who deserted you at birth,” Miranda sneered. “She was just like those men, she hated shifters and didn’t want her daughter to be with one. She broke them apart and did everything she could to keep it that way.”