“Oh, that is sweet. You’ve never wanted to talk to me before. Why start now? Because I killed some nobody?”
“How can you talk like that? That nobody had a name. She had a family. She had a life and you took it. Why? Because you were pissed that your boyfriend dumped you? That is insane.”
“I am not insane!” Beth yelled.
She was getting irate now. What the hell was Derek doing? He was supposed to keep her calm.
“Why did you take the baby? Why? What the hell were you thinking?” Derek asked.
Beth was getting thrown off balance by the change in direction in the conversation. Maybe that was Derek’s plan.
I had to be able to see so I would know when to make a move. I was going to grab the baby and Derek and Tony would fight off Beth when she went for me. That was the plan. It sounded like it just might work.
“I wanted someone in the world who might really love me. I wanted someone who would appreciate who I really am. And I wanted to punish that bitch, Jackie Banks. She doesn’t deserve to be a mother. She is nothing but a man stealing snake in the grass.”
Derek was shaking his head.
“Sis, this is the wrong way to go about things. You have to give this up. Let me have the baby. I will take it back. I won’t tell anyone where you are. I would never do that to my sister. You know that.”
Beth was silent for a few minutes. She was thinking things over. I could tell that she was emotionally done. She was totally spent and was at the end of her rope.
She started to walk away from where Devon was lying on the couch wrapped up in his blanket. I saw my chance. This was it!
I leaped forward bursting through the door and in a flash I had Devon wrapped in my arms.
Beth was only inches from me, snarling and trying to force the shift to happen, her eyes red as a demon’s and her teeth, long and sharp protruding down from her gums, ready to rip me to shreds.
But Derek and Tony were both pulling her back. She was strong, but no match for the two of them working together. They pulled her all the way to the other side of the room, pinning her against the wall as she writhed and tried to jerk free.
I wondered if there was any way in hell that she could get free, but as I walked into the kitchen to get farther away from her I could see the shame and the pain in her eyes. She would soon be admitting defeat.
“Do it!” I heard Derek shout.
Derek suddenly changed his position on Beth’s right arm to struggling with Beth one on one while Tony quickly pulled the serum out of his pocket and injected it into Beth’s neck. Within seconds the fight started to go out of her more and more.
The serum was the same thing that Tony injected into himself to keep the shift at bay and to put him into a sleep state on the nights of the full moon. He had given her almost twice the dose that he took. It would knock her out for hours.
That was the plan, though.
As I checked baby Devon to make sure he was ok I found myself overrun with emotions. He was fine and smiling at me, thankful to have his momma back. I knew that he realized I'd been gone and he had been in the arms of a stranger. My sweet baby missed me and needed me. And now he was bursting with joy to have me back. But even with all of this, I don't think he had cried much. He was so strong and serious. He reminded me too much of me sometimes.
I held him close to me softly, inhaling his sweetness and thanking my lucky stars that my baby was back in my arms safe and sound.
“Now that is a beautiful thing,” Tony said wrapping his arms around me.
He kissed me softly on the forehead before I laid my head on his shoulder.
That moment of total relief was perfect.
“Ok, I think I have everything I need,” the pretty, blonde deputy said. As she wrote on her pad I noticed her shirt said Deputy Lewis.
“Well, did you get my phone number, right?” Derek asked. “I had better double check just to make sure. I mean if you didn’t get it right then it would be a total travesty.”
I almost rolled my eyes at the absurdity, but the sexy, female cop that Derek was currently talking with, was definitely being drawn in by his charms. His flirting technique was working out for him for once.
And I couldn’t have been happier for him.
“Yes,” Deputy Lewis said throwing back her head and running a couple of fingers through her long, blonde hair. “I’m sure I got it right.”
“Great,” Derek said.
“But how about I give you my number also,” the deputy replied. “That way you can call me in a day or so and tell me where you are taking me to dinner Friday night.”
I thought Derek’s jaw was going to fall on the floor and stay there. It was great.
She typed her number into his phone quickly.
“Alright, that sounds fantastic,” Derek replied.
The officer walked away to hand the report to the sheriff who was conducting a quick story for the eleven o’clock news. It was amazing how the media had got there so fast.
Derek sauntered over to us and gave Tony a high five. I shook my head. I never thought in a million years I would see those two guys becoming friends, but it was happening. Baby Devon could cause miracles, it was true.
“So, what happens now?” Tony asked.
“Well, they are taking Beth back to the city. She will stand trial for murder and kidnapping. But pending a psyche evaluation I’m not sure she will be declared competent to stand trial.”
“I’m sure it will all work out ok,” I said. “You just got to have faith.”
Derek smiled and nodded. I knew that my words would not fix everything, but it was a start.
Epilogue
Six months later
I threw the bouquet behind me hoping to cover the entire span of the large room. I’d tried to keep my eyes closed, but part of being a shifter was that even with my eyes closed I can still see pretty well.
Nevertheless, I was even surprised to see that Sara Lewis, Deputy Sara Lewis, had caught it.
I could not stifle a "Yes! Yes!" as I jumped off my perch and delivered an impromptu cheer complete with a goofy dance that I have no idea that I knew. But there it was retrieved somewhere from my subconscious to make me look like an idiot.
But that was ok. It was my wedding and I could be as silly as I felt like. And besides, no one ever looked dorky in a wedding dress doing anything.
Sitting beside her was Derek. I watched his reaction carefully and I was happy as could be to see him hug Sara and give her a huge kiss. The two had started dating right after the night of the abduction and they had fallen head over heels in love.
When I looked at Derek and what a great friend he’d been and how much he deserved to be with someone special tears of joy came to my eyes. I was so happy for my good friend.
“Well, that is very fitting,” Tony said as I sat down beside him.
“Yea, it’s perfect,” I said.
I heard a soft coo and a little gurgle coming from my left. Little Devon was sitting on Tony’s mother’s lap. She had taken to him almost immediately and she was everything that grandmothers are supposed to be. She was sweet, kind, wise, and loved to spoil little ones. I was perfectly happy to let her spoil my kid rotten.
“So, did everything turn out the way you wanted it?” Tony asked me.
I looked around at how perfect everything was and smiled, before leaning over and giving him a sweet kiss.
“Yes, baby. It’s all perfect,” I said. “How about you?”
“Well, you are here. And you are happy. That is all I’ve ever cared about.”
“You’re right,” I replied. “I am probably the happiest woman in the world right now.”
I have never felt more alive.
*****
THE END
Paranormal Shifter Romance
Mated to the Wolf
Description
Beauty, brains, and a killer instinct; What more could I ask for in a woman?
Doris Davis w
as just supposed to interview me for a story. I was fairly used to it since I became a star baseball player. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but it sure is fun; especially when it’s totally true.
But from the moment I saw her I realized that there was something different about Doris. It was more than her killer wit, her beautiful face, or her amazing BBW curves. She was a wolf, just like me.
No wonder I’m drawn to her so deeply… I need her, I must be with her. I’ve never felt this way. I’m in love with her.
And she desperately needs my help, because there is an evil force after her who wants us both dead.
Time to howl…
Chapter One
Rob Thompson was ready.
He took a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline pouring through his body, as he got ready for whatever Greg Nelson had for him. Rob did his best to shut out the roar of the screaming fans in the packed stadium. They were all there to see the Diamondbacks win this game and move forward to the playoffs. They would not be let down if he had anything to say about it, that was for sure.
He felt like he’d been preparing for this moment all his life. Since he was a child playing little league he’d dreamt of the time when he would be on the major-league field with a crowd full of adoring fans behind him, waiting for him to make the clutch play that would send his team to the highest reaches of stardom, and he along with them.
Now he’d finally made it. He was a major league baseball player for the Arizona Diamondbacks; he was a star. He briefly replayed it all in his mind, the endless hours growing up practicing, leading his high school to their first state championship two years in a row, and then leading his college team to league champions. After his second year of playing college ball, he had been handpicked to walk on to a major league baseball field.
The fans were hesitant at first, but with his bat, his swift speed, and his uncanny athleticism he’d taken the team by storm and showed the world he was a force to be reckoned with. And it was even better than he thought it would be. He loved being a star. The fame, the adulation, the money, the perks, the parties, and the women. Oh, most of all, the women. Ever since he’d lost his virginity at a young age he had been all consumed by his desire for women. It was almost as strong as his love for baseball.
But he couldn’t say he had ever come close to being in love. Rob was not a one woman kind of man. He didn’t lie to women, but most of them automatically assumed that he cared more for them than he really did. Sex did not equate to commitment in his mind; it was just a physical good time. A lot of women did not understand that, and they were hurt by it. That was never his intention though. He was just a man who loved to experiment and chase new experiences.
And, of course, he had a secret. The secret was something he could never let anyone get close to; it would have put them in mortal danger if he did. And if it was ever exposed to the world who he really was—what he really was—then his entire life would be over. Everything he’d worked and strived so hard for would be gone.
No, he could not let anyone get that close to him.
But he couldn’t think about that now. He had to focus, had to concentrate. This was crunch time. It was like something out of a twelve year old boy’s fantasy, but it was real this time; it was here and it was happening now. It all seemed like slow motion as Rob watched it unfold.
The Diamondbacks had a one run lead. It was the top of the ninth, one out, runners at second and third bases. A base hit could score two runs and lose the lead. Or even a long fly ball would tie the game. Rob gritted his teeth. No matter what, he would not let that happen.
Andy Garvey released the pitch. It was a hard, fast ball but too much down the center; that was the wrong pitch to give Greg to hit. He swung the bat hard and connected, getting all of the ball. It was a hard line drive. It was fast, and deep. It was going over the fence. Rob’s mind made several decisions in a nanosecond. He knew that he was not going to be able to do this… as a human. Without any conscious thought, he felt the wolf emerging just slightly. He could not change, not here. It was always a slippery slope, a fine line when he tapped into the wolf’s essence to give himself the slight edge that he needed in crucial situations; and sometimes he was not able to hold it back. He had to maintain control this time.
He felt his body getting hotter, the anger and rage of the beast welling within him, a slight growl escaped his lips bellowing up from his throat and chest. His body felt lighter than air suddenly, the strength of a God surging through him as his legs moved at the speed of an Olympic sprinter moving at top speed.
He managed to cover the distance to the wall running as fast as he could. The ball was there, sailing over the top of the fence. Rob jumped as high as he could and stretched his long six foot three inch body out as far as it would stretch, his glove held out above him.
It was going to be close…
The ball landed in his glove about two feet above the top of the wall. It should have been a home run. The game should have been over. The Diamondbacks should have lost, but Rob had done it. He’d saved the score. But it wasn’t over yet.
The runner had tagged at third base just in case, but he was going for it now running as hard as he could, sprinting toward home plate. It was four hundred feet from the wall where Rob was now landing hard on his feet, to home plate. There was no way that any normal man could make that throw in time, but Rob was not going to back down now; he had to go for it.
Rob stepped, aimed, and threw as hard as he could, once again tapping into the essence of the wolf. A loud roar escaped his throat; no one could hear over the roar of the crowd though. The ball sailed through the air picking up speed traveling at well over a hundred miles per hour in a straight line flying over the heads of the cut off men who were waving their arms at him trying to assist in the Hail Mary futile long shot.
The ball hit the catcher’s glove; he spun and swept the ground with it right in front of the runner’s legs, tagging him out before he touched the plate.
“Out!” The umpire screamed. “That’s the ballgame!”
He’d done it. He had just won the game for his team. Everything was moving in a daze as if everyone was in stop motion animation. His fellow players were all jumping on each other, hugging and slapping high fives. Fans were starting to rush the field as security did their best to hold them back.
Rob was softly jogging back towards the infield. He did it mostly to avoid the rabid fans that were coming onto the field and to give himself a few seconds to get away from his fellow teammates who wanted to congratulate him. He wanted the praise; he lived for it sometimes, but he could feel the wolf roaring inside of him. It wanted to be let loose. For a few moments, he felt that he might have used too much power to now be able to shut it down and revert back to his normal self.
If he started to change he would have to duck into the dugout and run into the locker room to hop in the cool shower. That always helped cool him down and get him under control. He just had to maintain though; he didn’t want to waste this opportunity. He had worked for this very thing his whole life. His team was now going to the playoffs. If they won, they would be headed to the World Series.
“Man that was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!” Dan Richards, their center fielder said giving Rob a big slap on the back. “That arm of yours is a nuclear weapon! We did it baby!” He said jumping on to Rob’s shoulders for a short ride before hopping down and running toward the infield.
Rob had to smile; Dan was a hilarious guy. He was one of the veterans on the field and everyone admired him; he was a great ball player and a nice guy. Rob was happy to call him a friend.
The heat wave of excitement was beginning to simmer down inside of him as he joined his team on the infield and began to endure and give out high fives, hugs, stupid jokes, and sentiments. The beer was already flowing as the team began tossing back cans and pouring half of it on each other. It was as if winning a game suddenly turned them all into college frat guys at a toga party.
Someone handed him a beer and he quickly tossed it back, feeling the cold liquid slide down his throat. It was actually a great way to tame the beast and stuff it back into its cage; alcohol was a nice depressant that occasionally did wonders for him when he was out of control. And what he needed now was to relax.
The next twenty minutes was almost a blur. Rob was suddenly surrounded by a slew of reporters who were trying to get the scoop and ask him the same question twenty times. He thought about answering and giving them what they wanted, but he figured that there would be plenty of time for that. Besides, he didn’t like to lay it all out on the table; it was better to remain a bit mysterious.
Thus was the total conflict of the man. He loved the adulation, the glory, and the attention for his athletic prowess, even when he did get some extra help; but at the same time he did not like to expose himself to people. A lot of it had to do with being born a shifter; when you were born into that you had to be careful of everything that came out of your mouth, of what you presented to people. It was like being onstage all the time, even when you were in the background and no one was looking your way.
The shower felt heavenly. He stood under the hot water, letting the steam wash over him, erasing the dirt and the sweat from his skin. Rob held his head under the water, staring downward as the water just rushed by his face, his eyes. He felt his whole body starting to calm down. He was exhausted and just wanted to go home and sleep; but he figured that the guys would expect him to go out partying with them afterwards. They had to celebrate after all.
There would be booze, which was good. And there would be women, which was great. And just maybe he would find a few curvy, voluptuous women for that night.
Blizzard: A Paranormal Romance (Savage Brotherhood MC Book 2) Page 30
