Dawn to Dark

by Halston James

  Lily looked at the two wolves. "Caine can you understand me?" she asked. The wolf dipped his head in acknowledgement. "I want you to talk to Rose. I'm hoping you can still do that if no one is watching. Bring her to the cabin when you can. I need to take care of my mother and Beau." Trying not to think of what happened and needing to stay strong, Lily coaxed her mother and Beau back to the cabin. She felt a sense of calm and knew she must sort things before falling apart.

  Once inside, she kicked into automatic mode. Put the pizzas in the oven and set the table, tidy the kitchen area, and keep busy. Her mother sat at the table, staring into space and not focusing on anything. Beau had his head in his hands, occasionally muttering under his breath as if trying to convince himself it would be all right. Lily stopped next to him. "It's going to work out somehow, Beau. Somehow, we will fix it. We have to."

  Beau looked at her incredulously. "How can you be so calm? How?"

  "Because someone has to. I can fall apart later." Beau nodded and stood up, then sat again, shaking his head, unsure of what he could do to help. Lily put the food on the table, but it may as well have been ashes for all the interest anyone showed. It was more for something for her to do. Clicking of nails on the floorboards behind her made her turn; Rose and Caine had entered behind them.

  Lily looked into Rose’s expressive eyes, and her shoulders slumped. "You're leaving," she said flatly. Rose dipped her head and brushed past her, walking to their mom. She put her head on her mother's lap.

  Their mother raised her hand slowly and clutched at Rose’s fur. She started crying hard, stroking Rose and clenching her fur, not wanting to let go. Finally, she settled. "I love you" was all she could say. Rose licked her face and turned to Caine who was by Beau's side. Beau spoke past the lump in his throat, "We will see you soon, brother." Caine nodded and glanced at Rose. The wolves turned and left the cabin.

  Beau finally tried the pizza, his eyebrows raising as he obviously enjoyed it, but fought wanting to enjoy anything in his present mood. He managed to eat a whole pizza by himself and looked around for more. Lily had barely managed two slices, so she pushed the rest of hers toward him, a small smile on her face. He grinned at her briefly before inhaling the rest. Lily stood and hugged her mom, who was still crying and unable to speak or eat. Heading for the door, she wanted to enjoy the twilight and fresh air. She wanted quiet, so she could cry on her own. Beau had other ideas, however, and followed her to the porch.

  He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in a huge comforting hug, sharing his warmth and compassion, whispering in her ear, letting her know how strong she was and how he admired her so much for everything she had done. He would be there for her for as long as she needed, forever if he had any say in it. She turned to him, returning his hug, placing her head on his broad chest she cried. Letting go finally, she sobbed, heartbroken. He released one of his arms from behind her, placed a finger under her chin, and raised her face to him. Lowering his head, he kissed her. At first, it was comforting, a sharing of grief. Slowly. it became more intense, passionate. She wanted all of him. She wanted to hide in the strength of him to draw all the comfort she could. The intensity of her need for him overwhelmed all her senses, it was why she missed it.

  The first thing she knew was the sound of her mom wailing inside. Letting go of Beau, she could sense the evil in her cabin. She raced inside and stopped dead in the doorway. The black smoke was back, and her mother was wailing, high-pitched, eerie, and never-ending. The black smoke was being absorbed by her mother's form; it was possessing her through every pore in her body. "Mom!" Lily screamed, wanting to go to her but knowing it was too late.

  The smoke absorbed into her mother, and her mother's mouth snapped shut. As her mother jerked her head upright, Lily could see the same ice-blue almost colorless glow in her eyes that was in the man's eyes and knew her mother was gone. Her mother grinned at them with that terrifying rictus they were all too familiar with. The creature seemed to settle inside Lily's mom, causing her features to temporarily distort horribly. Lily fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. She was broken, torn apart inside and resigned to her fate.

  The creature knew this and didn't bother taunting her. Instead, it turned to Beau, "Well, bear boy, any words?" Beau shook his head and sat next to Lily on the floor, giving her what comfort he could, such as it was. "You guys are no fun." The creature pouted and waved her arm, walking past them. "Enjoy eternity, I know I will."

  Beau grunted, he could feel the change happening. It was not gentle, and he could do nothing to protect Lily from what was about to happen to her. Lily sobbed and pulled back from him, watching him transform in front of her. His chest swelled, and his arms thickened, he threw back his head and roared. It seemed his change was faster than that of his brother and Rose, but maybe it's because she knew what was about to happen to her and wanted to avoid it at all costs, so it seemed to come on her all the quicker.

  The pain was excruciating, bones broke, limbs lengthened and swelled, and her spine distorted. Her facial structure rearranged itself, she could even feel the fur growing. Looking at it, she saw it was pure white. Who has ever seen a white bear? She didn't know where she found the strength to even have that thought. When it was over, she felt drained; no strength to stand or even lift her now huge head to look around. Lily. She heard Beau's voice and turned just enough to see him and found herself feel a twang of disappointment; he was still a bear. He chuckled, chuckled! "We never actually changed back, you know, not really. Just we’re able to talk to each other. When you heard us speak that night you were half asleep, and the curse didn’t recognize that you could hear us at that time. This one day as a man has been amazing and heartbreaking all at once." She felt herself wanting to cry. "Lily, we need to find your sister and Caine. Please, honey? I know it's hard, please try to get up." She knew he was right, struggling at first, she finally managed to stand on all fours. The bear was actually strong, and movement was easy, it just looked cumbersome.

  She nodded, and they both headed for the door.

  8

  The woman moved about the cabin, smiling in satisfaction. Eyes glowing a bright blue, a small frown creased her brow as she thought about how she had almost lost the wolf and bear boys to those girls. Now she had four pets! The essence of them which she had absorbed during their changes had been exquisite, and this new form she was inhabiting seemed just perfect. Who wouldn’t want to help out a lonely woman in the woods? More lives for the taking, more pets to add to her collection. She would just have to round up the ones she had. After all, she couldn’t have them threatening her or changing back to human sometime down the road. The white one, the snow-white bear was the key. The memories of the woman she inhabited said that the blonde was more vulnerable and soft of heart; she would be the key to getting them all back and under control. Again, she smiled as she formulated a plan and prepared for the future which, for her, looked very bright indeed.

  Every place has legends, myths, and history. Every forest has rumors which no one knows how they started. No one knows if they are real or fake. People choose not to believe because not believing something makes us feel safe and secure. Sometimes, something is so outrageous that it defies any kind of belief.

  Like, when rumors started about a particular forest in a particular place, about two sisters on holiday before starting college. Two sisters who went into their lonely cabin deep in the wood and were seen one day but not ever again. Stories that say the police came, and a search was made. The girls' mother was present, crying and wailing about her daughters, wanting them home. The cabin was a mess, as though animals had torn through it. Blood was present, but the girls were never found.

  Stories say the mother moved into the cabin, only appearing briefly to scream at people. Some say her eyes glowed blue at strange times. Those who enter the forest near the cabin in the woods never seem to come out again.

  Time passes and truth fades but the legends still remain...<
br />
  If the woman in the cabin is the same one, she’d be over one hundred years old—well over—despite not looking a day over forty-eight.

  They call her a witch, but people can be so cruel. Some have tried to communicate with her, but she only screams madly, telling them to leave or she'll feed them to her wolves and bears—her children. Curious truth-seekers don’t stay long, always leaving the woods shaken, refusing to talk about what they see. Some, however, don’t ever return.

  Forests don't last forever, and this one is about to be destroyed. It’s sad to see such things, but the world turns, progress happens.

  Witches don't exist and legends are just that: legends.

  Acknowledgments

  I'd like to acknowledge my family, my husband and kids for their never ending support and encouragement.

  Thank you to my friends for kicking me when I doubted.

  I want to thank my beta readers for picking up everything possible. And to my editor Michelle, thank you for being amazing, as well as the ladies and men of PII.

  Last, but not least, I’d like to thank Lauren at Vixen for making this story possible.

  About the Author

  Mother to two girls, two boys, two dogs, two cats, two birds, multiple tropical fish and a husband. Secret identity as a Child and Youth Support Worker. Suzan Lee writes in those strange hours of the day when no one else is about. Living on caffeine and sarcasm. Her family says she has twisted imaginings, her friends say "Write that s#%& down"

  Has been known to go to karaoke, sing badly and promote. "Thanks for coming, buy my book"

  Also by Suzan Lee

  Earth Bound

  Out of the Woods

  Halston James

  ABOUT OUT OF THE WOODS

  A large and secluded castle where hikers were going missing under mysterious circumstances…

  Those were basically the only details that my Chief gave me when he assigned me to watch the grounds at Randolph Manor.

  But nothing he could have said could have prepared me for Caleb Randolph.

  Nothing could have prepared me for the way he looked at me as if he'd known me forever, or the way an innocent touch could set my skin on fire.

  Lines start to blur and I don't know whether I'm dealing with a killer or my soulmate...

  Part of me wonders if I even want to know....

  Published by Vixen Publishing

  First Edition, 2019

  Copyright © 2019 by Halston James

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the work of Halston James.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  To Ryan, for always believing in me when even when you haven't read a word.

  1

  “FRANKIE! In my office NOW!” the chief hollers.

  There’s a chorus of hoots and hollers all over the precinct, like I just got called to the principal’s office for bad behavior, when it’s really just business as usual.

  I pop my head inside before I come in, and that’s when I see Eddie sitting in one of the seats. “What’s up, Chief?”

  “Sit down, Frankie. Close the door.”

  I do as he says and take a seat. Even though I’m in physical therapy and my recovery has exceeded all expectations, I can still see the both of them visually inspecting me for any signs of weakness.

  “I’m going to cut right to the chase. Do you feel ready to go back out there?”

  My heart starts to race, and I have flashbacks of gun blasts. I instantly recall the smell of gunpowder like it’s on standby. It lingers in my nostrils, dominating every other scent, embedding itself deep into the recesses of my brain, staining all my memories with it.

  “I’m ready. Psych said they’d clear me.” And that’s a travesty. If the psych doc had any sense, he’d label me unfit for duty and send me packing.

  He bites the inside of his cheek like he knew I’d say that and he’s disappointed I actually did. “I have a special assignment for you.”

  Eddie scoffs, but I keep my attention focused on the chief. I sit at the edge of my seat, anxious for what he’s about to say next. I’ve been behind a desk since I’ve been back and it’s making me stir crazy. I’d rather fight off bad guys and PTSD than be cooped-up in here another day.

  “I’ll take it,” I say before he can even begin to change his mind.

  “I’m sure you’ve heard of the Woodlands?”

  “Yeah, just outside the city…”

  “Also where all the werewolves stay…” Eddie sneers, and you can hear the disgust in his voice as he says it. Thankfully, the chief doesn’t feel the same way, and he ignores him. “Well, a bunch of hikers have gone missing there. In a particular area we’ve been able to pinpoint.”

  “Gee, right near the werewolves.”

  At this point, I wonder what Eddie is doing in this room at all, and the chief knows it. I know he’s about to become sergeant, but right now he’s just a pain in my ass.

  “Okaayyy,” I drag out.

  “That would be your assignment. There’s a castle right on the edge of the forest, a guy named Randolph owns it -”

  “Also a werewolf,” Eddie cuts in.

  We both ignore him. “They say he’s never there, just his housekeeper. They’ve offered it up for us, and we’re going to use it as a base.”

  “A base for what?”

  “They don’t really have a big police force, so they asked neighboring departments if they had anyone to spare who could keep an eye on things. You start tomorrow.” I hear everything he said and try really hard not to focus on the fact that he just referred to me as a spare.

  “Can I just state for the record what a bad idea I think this is?” Eddie offers. I shoot him my best side eye, but he just continues. “They’re werewolves, for fuck’s sake, and she’s injured. She’s not even at 100% yet. She’d be easy prey.”

  The chief looks at me as if the ball is in my court.

  Werewolves.

  My heart starts to race, but not because I’m scared. I’ve never been scared. It’s because I’m excited. Ever since I was a kid, I’d dreamt about wolves, never really knowing what it meant; just knowing it wasn’t anything I should fear. It was in our lifetime the race of werewolves had been introduced. A myth no more, now they were living, breathing, working beside us, in harmony…for the most part. There were still some people like Eddie who thought they were dangerous, that they didn’t belong living among us, that they were inferior and if he was given the chance, he’d only gladly send them all to extinction. That way of thinking was one of the many reasons our relationship had ended. That and the way he kept wanting more from me physically, mentally, more than I could ever give him. The more he became possessive and controlling over me, the easier it was to completely sever the lingering feelings I had for him.

  “I’m not scared.”

  “Of course you’re not scared. You’ve had this weird obsession with them since you were a kid. Chief, I’m telling you, this isn’t a good idea. She’s blinded by this weird fascination with them, just like I told you she would be.” Even though he’s right, I see red when he says he’s been talking about me to the chief.


  “For how long?” I say.

  “We’ll revisit in a month. If you don’t see any suspicious activity, then we’ll go from there…”

  “Activity?”

  “Activity, as in you’re there to observe, and observe only. If you see anything suspicious, you are to alert the local police immediately. You are not to get involved. Do you understand me?”

  He didn’t realize it, but this would be just as bad as a desk. I’d still be utterly useless.

  “You are to be my eyes and ears only, and this is only contingent upon you continuing your physical therapy. Understood?” Like I was a petulant child and would stop my rehab merely out of spite. He nodded at me as if that was precisely what he thought I’d do.

  “Understood.”

  He dismisses me, and I close the door gently and take a deep breath to stop myself from crying. I’m not an overly emotional person, but lately I think my psyche has taken just about all it can and something deep in me had cracked, forever shattered, never to be whole again.

  “Hey, wait up.” I hear Eddie behind me, but I just keep walking. I grab my bag from my desk and start throwing my shit inside it.