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

by Rhodes, Liliana

  “What happened though? We found so many that had gone insane.”

  She looked down at the ground and shook her head. “I tried to stop him, I really did,” she said her voice tight. “He wouldn’t listen. Abel created those collars but if a wolf wore it for too long they lost their mind. There had even been several deaths. I was able to protect some people, but not all of them. I didn’t even know how many he and his pack had captured. It was when I realized how completely out of control he was, that I reached out to the Council. It was the only thing I thought would stop him.

  “He’s not the man I knew anymore,” she said as she turned around and buried her head in Erich’s chest. “I don’t know who he is now.”

  “Then why do you stay?”

  “Its not that easy you know. I’ve spent so long with him and I…” still love him. She was going to say but realized she wasn’t sure it was true anymore. How could she love someone she didn’t even recognize anymore. The man she loved as Abel was gone and had been gone for years.

  She pushed Erich away and climbed back down to the main floor, picked up her shoebox and jumped out of the doorway onto the broken sidewalk. As they sat in the car, Erich turned the key.

  “Did Abel tell you the truth about the Crane curse?” he asked.

  “The truth?”

  “Crane is a last name, not just a bird. Remember the girl that night when the Council captured Abel’s pack? The one with the red hair?”

  “And my eyes,” she whispered as she realized what Erich was going to say.

  “Her name is Hannah Crane.”

  Faith felt a chill pass through her and even though she knew the answer, she still had to ask. “What’s her mother’s name?”

  “Eliza, why?”

  “Can you take me somewhere? I think its time I met them.”

  ***

  Weeks had past since Erich first drove Faith past the small cottage at the end of the road where the Crane family lived. She just couldn’t bring herself to knock on the door. What was she supposed to say? And why would they believe her anyway?

  Erich drove past the small cottage as he had been doing regularly since that day and turned around near the path that entered the forest. Faith rung her shaking hands together, her palms moist from nervousness. She had been carrying Miranda’s ring with her for when she got the courage up to visit them, but each time she got close she backed away.

  With the his black Ford F-250 pickup truck idling, Erich turned off the headlights and sat in silence. Erich never made her feel bad for chickening out or for wanting to drive past the home another time. She didn’t think Abel would’ve ever shown her that kind of support and patience and it made her look at Erich differently. No longer was he just a gorgeous man, but he was kind and sensitive too. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she felt herself falling for Erich and wanted to believe he was too.

  But he couldn’t. She couldn’t. She was still with Abel, no matter who or what Abel was anymore. Not only that but Erich was an Alpha. How did she know he wasn’t simply under her charm? She already knew it had less to do with witchcraft than anything, maybe she charmed him and didn’t know it.

  Faith didn’t know what to think anymore, but she knew it was time to stop being so chicken. With her hand on the handle, she pulled it and stepped out of the pickup truck. Just then a motorcycle pulled up in front of the cottage with the werewolf Alpha she injured with her arrow and Hannah.

  She couldn’t go there now. They had every reason to hate her and she didn’t blame them. Hopping back into the truck, she looked at Erich who simply nodded and drove away as Hannah and Caleb entered the house.

  They didn’t talk the entire ride back to the shack she was hiding out with Abel in. Before turning onto the small dirt driveway, Erich pulled the truck over to the side of the road.

  With his hand at the back of her neck, he looked into Faith’s eyes. “Whatever happens I’ll be here for you. If you want to meet them, I’ll go with you. Whatever you want or need, I’m here.”

  His lips closed upon hers and she slipped her arms around him wishing he didn’t have to leave her at the house she dreaded returning to more each day.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  As he paced his office, Erich went over everything again in his head. Abel was definitely up to something but was keeping a tight lip about it. Even the structure on the front lawn wasn’t obvious enough for Erich to do anything.

  He had to tell the Council something though. They gave him more than enough time. He just didn’t want anything to happen to Faith. It wasn’t anyone’s fault but Erich’s that he promised her nothing bad would happen to Abel. It was a promise he couldn’t keep.

  A soft knock at his door made Erich’s bear spirit react. No one ever surprised Erich. Whoever managed to enter Night Shift and made their way back to his office without sounding an alarm, was definitely skilled.

  Fighting down his bear, Erich sprouted fur along his chest and his body grew enough to make his clothes uncomfortably tight. There was no scent in the air yet he knew someone, some thing stood on the other side of the door.

  He threw the door open ready for a fight. Pinky pulled a messenger bag off her shoulder and pushed passed him. She looked different today, confident and prepared. Her hair was dyed a dark red color and she wore a pair of low rise black pants with a long sleeve cotton t-shirt.

  “I was beginning to think you weren’t here,” she said as she dropped her bag on a chair and pulled out a folder with a notepad.

  “How did you get back here?” Erich demanded.

  “How I always do, I walked. You know, for a big mean bear you’re really not that bright.”

  Erich bared his teeth at her, still half shifted. How dare she talk to him that way! And she showed no fear of him at all. He wasn’t used to that.

  “Why are you here?”

  “We had an appointment, remember? When you didn’t show up I figured I’d bring your information to you. I needed to come here anyway.”

  “What for?”

  She sighed and gave him an annoyed look. “Really Erich, you need to chill. You’re getting all slobbery like a rabid animal. What’s your problem?” She pulled out a folder from her bag and handed it to him. “Here’s everything I could find on Faith Galloway. Sad story really, but I’m sure it’ll have a better ending. You know I’m friends with the Cranes. Hannah just met her dad and now she’s getting an aunt too. She’s going to be thrilled!”

  “You can’t tell her,” he growled as he forced himself to calm down and become fully human again. “Give Faith the choice. She’s had a lot to deal with.”

  “I’m sure! Trust me, my lips are sealed,” Pinky said then made a motion to zip her lips and throw away the key. “One odd thing though, I couldn’t access Faith’s social services records without accessing the Council’s records.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It was a shot in the dark, but whenever I’m researching something and hit a wall I can always find out a little more by coming here. I didn’t think they’d have anything about an individual person, but what do you know, I entered her name into the database and pow! Penelope Crane, better known as Pea was her mom.”

  Erich shook his head. Why would the Council have these records? It didn’t make any sense. “Show me these archives.”

  Pinky’s face turned serious as she looked at Erich. “You don’t know anything about them, do you? Come, I’ll show you.”

  Pinky led Erich into the basement of Night Shift. With only a few lights dangling from the ceiling of the musty basement, they needed to stop and let their eyes adjust a bit before continuing. As they walked, their footsteps echoed on the concrete floor.

  He had been down there before but didn’t think there was more than just supplies for the bar stored down there. Pinky walked to a dark corner and opened a door that even Erich couldn’t make out clearly with his bear vision.

  The warm room hummed with the electrical sound of s
ervers and hard drives. The lights from the equipment gave the room a soft glow. Pinky walked directly to a keyboard and monitor at the far corner of the room.

  “I usually just hack into the mainframe to access whatever data I’m looking for. Pretty much every supernatural event or being I’ve thought to look up is in here.”

  Erich walked around the room and noticed a symbol repeating. A dragon surrounded by a ring of fire was on the cabinets, the servers, everything.

  “This doesn’t belong to the Council, Pinky. I don’t know whose stuff this is. Does anyone else know you come down here?”

  She shook her head as her eyes widened with understanding. “I thought they were the Council’s because you, Caleb, and Joaquin have your offices here. Who else would put something so important here?”

  “Look at this symbol. Have you ever seen anything like it before?”

  Pinky looked at it and shook her head. “No, I’m usually in and out of here pretty fast so no one catches me. I never stop to look around.”

  Erich thought he saw the glimmer of recognition on her face, but didn’t want to push. “Have you ever looked up anyone else’s name?”

  “No, only events and folklore. Faith’s was the first.” She typed on the keyboard and orange words filled the screen:

  Faith Galloway. Female. Witch. Father: Unknown. Mother: Penelope Crane, abandoned. Sister: Eliza Crane. Devoted, Intelligent. Witchcraft ability untested yet powerful.

  “Search for mine,” he said as she turned towards the keyboard and began typing again. The screen went blank for a moment before words spread across it:

  Erich Anthony Krause. Male. Grizzly Alpha. Kapok Council Member. Father: Anthony Krause. Mother: Cynthia Krause. No Siblings. Stubborn, Short Tempered. No obvious gift other than shape shifter ability. Possibly compromised.

  “Possibly compromised?” Pinky said. “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing,” he grunted as he thought about his feelings for Faith. “What does yours say?”

  She typed in her name and it quickly displayed on the screen but nothing else followed it other than the blinking cursor.

  Pinky Smythe.

  “Pinky? That’s really your name?”

  “Don’t get me started,” she mumbled as she typed in her name again and hit enter. Her name popped up once again on the screen and after a brief moment the rest filled in:

  Pinky Smythe. Female. Talisman. Father: Jerold Smythe. Mother: Jennifer Smythe. Brother: John. Sister: Jane. Resourceful, Persuasive, Impulsive. Gift has yet to present itself, but expected to be powerful.

  “Powerful gift? Obviously whoever filled mine out was smoking something strong,” she said.

  Erich put his hand up to quiet her. He moved closer to the door and sniffed before relaxing. “Its just one of the waitresses. We should go. The bar is opening soon for the night.”

  Pinky grabbed some sheets of paper off the printer and followed him back to his office. “Is there anything else you need? I’m going out of town soon.”

  “No, I think everything I was looking for is in this file,” he said as he held up the folder Pinky handed him on Faith. “Where are you going?”

  “My dad said they found the body of another wolf during another sweep of the catacombs where Abel was hiding out. Seems he’s an old family friend and my dad thinks I should go pay respects.”

  “Bring Rafael with you. You should have protection.”

  Pinky huffed and was ready to argue but Erich shot her a look that finally quieted her. “Fine, I’ll bring him along. You sure you can’t send someone else?”

  “No, you’ll take Rafael. I’ll let your father know so he won’t worry, but you really shouldn’t travel until we have everything with Abel squared away.”

  “Ok, ok. Geesh, you’re worse than my dad. And all this time I thought you didn’t even like me,” she said and batted her eyes jokingly.

  “Get out of here,” he said laughing before growing serious. “And don’t tell anyone else about the archives. I’m not sure who to trust anymore.”

  ***

  Erich arrived at the house he had Abel and Faith hiding in and found Abel outside furiously working on a large metal structure. The bars were laid out on the ground, but made Erich think of a cage. Abel looked close to implementing the next phase of his plan, but Erich didn’t consider him enough of a threat without a pack to do his work.

  Erich left the folder from Pinky in his truck while taking a closer look at what Abel was doing. He didn’t want Abel to suspect anything, but more than that he wanted Faith to have time alone with what little information they could find. Erich imagined just seeing her mother’s name would be difficult enough.

  Abel was heads down with his work on the metal structure as Erich walked past the house and to the area Abel had taken over.

  “You here to see the woman?” Abel said, his voice sounding odd in his state of half shifted coyote.

  Erich cringed at the sight of him. Abel’s hands teetered between human and coyote paws. His head was bald except for several tufts of reddish brown fur and his pointy ears were far back on his head. Abel was more monster than human or coyote.

  “Faith,” Erich said. “She has a name.”

  “Of course she does, but only you have the audacity to correct me. Call that being Alpha yourself, but I know its more. She’s charmed you, hasn’t she?”

  Erich felt the ferocity of the bear awaken within him. The bear loved Faith as much as he did, perhaps more but he refused to believe it had anything to do with witchcraft. Even the thought of it was ridiculous.

  He pushed back on his bear spirit, taking control over it before the bear forced the change and attacked Abel. Even as human, there was nothing in Erich’s mind that could make him happier than shutting up that smug face for once and for all. If only he hadn’t promised Faith he wouldn’t hurt him. If only.

  “I’ll take your silence as affirmation,” Abel said not looking up from his work. “Its quite alright you know. Her gift, while powerful has its limits and she is no longer useful to me. I’d let her go if this stupid human wasn’t so attached. Its neither here nor there though, it’ll all be done soon enough.”

  “What are you planning?” Erich asked.

  Abel scoffed. “Do I look stupid to you, bear? You think just because you’ve befriended me that I’m going to tell you everything? Don’t think for a second that I didn’t know what was going on and still is. I used you. I knew the Council was getting close. You were my escape. I knew back then you were charmed by my witch.”

  “I’m not charmed by her,” Erich said feeling the raging bear raise its head and bellow from within.

  “No? You love her? You’re really that foolish, aren’t you? I suppose we all were at one time though,” Abel said thoughtfully. “If you really want to prove your love for her then step down from the Council. That’ll be the proof. She only has such a strong hold on you because of your station. You’ll always be Alpha, there’s no denying that, but you don’t have to take all the responsibilities. Leave the Council and see if you still love her. Its really simple, Erich. Where are your priorities?”

  “I know my priorities, Abel. And its clear you chose yours years ago. I won’t make the same mistakes you did.”

  Angry, Erich turned from Abel and went up to the house thinking he would just take Faith away with him for once and for all, then stopped. Faith wasn’t ready to leave Abel and if he pushed her, he was afraid he’d lose her forever. She was his true mate, he was sure of it and if he had to wait longer to be with her forever, he would.

  His bear roared wildly within him, fighting his decision. While he came to see Faith, Abel got under his skin too much and incited the bear. He needed to let the bear have some time out in order for him to stay in control. A run would do them both good anyway.

  Getting back to his truck he sped off, kicking dust, dirt, and sand up from the driveway. The fresh air would give him time to think, not just about what Abel said, but the
things Erich himself had been struggling with as his feelings for Faith grew. The coyote was cunning, but struck a nerve too close to Erich’s heart. Abel was right, it was time Erich made his priorities clear.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Faith paced the floor of the kitchen. Every night for weeks now she had been thinking about introducing herself to Eliza and Knox, but she kept chickening out. Just thinking about it was enough to turn her stomach and make her palms sweat like faucets.

  Realizing how quiet it was, Faith looked outside. She thought she heard a truck pull up earlier and expected to see Erich, but was disappointed when he didn’t come in. Abel had been more ruthless lately than usual and she hoped he didn’t say anything that would’ve upset him, but she didn’t think he would fall for any of Abel’s mind games. Still, when Abel wanted to, he knew how to play with someone’s doubt and insecurities.

  The full moon lit the yard and Faith’s heart sank into her stomach. She couldn’t believe it had been a month since she met Miranda and promised her she would get the ring to Knox. What was wrong with her? She waited her entire life for some kind of family, any kind of link to people who were like herself, and now that she had that link she was too afraid to meet them.

  What if they don’t want you? What if they see what your mother saw, what kept her away. The nagging self doubt echoed in her head. Faith knew the only way to find out was by meeting them and in the least she needed to give Knox the ring, but that voice in her head that kept her down most of her life, the one Abel knew how to control for good and bad, kept reminding her that she wasn’t worth knowing.

  “Well to hell with that,” she said to herself. “This woman made me feel awful my entire life while she had a family and love. I had nothing! She deserves to hear what she did to me.”

  Angry tears welled in her eyes and she wiped them away with the back of her hand as she opened the kitchen door and stepped outside. Looking around she noticed Abel was gone. Probably went hunting, she thought. He didn’t tell her anything anymore, but she didn’t mind. Without his pack he was harmless and that was all she wanted.