Shadows and Stars

by Becca Fanning

  They battled long and hard when the wolf finally took off through the woods. After a split second of surprise, he was hot on his heels. It looked like he would get his chase after all. It wasn't near as rewarding chasing the wolf through the woods. Once he went in for the kill and finished the fight, his prey shifted back to human. It was a female wolf.

  He shook his head for a minute, trying to decide what that meant to him. He had already killed Tess, but that was different; that was all a part of the process. This Shifter female may have a family, a mate he had also just killed. He too then shifted. He drug his fingers through his hair as he looked at the naked female, now dead on the ground.

  Females were precious to Shifters. They brought the males from their darkness and birthed their children. To harm one was an absolute abolishment. For some reason, this crossed a line for him. It seemed to bring him from his dazed mind just briefly. He didn't want to tear her apart and spread her body throughout the woods. He didn't know what he was going to do. His racing thoughts were becoming painful for him. He should have known immediately she was female. His need to kill was taking over his mind.

  His jaguar fought for control and it had no shame in their kill. If anything, it wanted more. This had not been enough. There was no revenge or retribution with the jaguar; it was just the thrill of the hunt, victory found in bringing a life to its end. The jaguar had never found its mate to control the darkness. Now the darkness controlled the jaguar, but the man still had glimpses of the light. He knew there was no chance of changing things now. This brief glimpse into reality would be short lived. A migraine came on then, sending him to the ground.

  He took a deep breath and finished the job. One day, hopefully soon, he would be freed from this world. Or maybe it was this world that would be freed from him.

  TWENTY-NINE

  HEATHER HAD KEPT her distance from Trent as much as she could since he had been back. Distancing her heart wasn't easy, but she still felt unsure. Her previous relationships had taught her to be scared, and expect the worse. Trent had been nothing but amazing since he came back. He was a bit over protective so she wasn't allowed to go anywhere by herself, but she understood that.

  Tonight his family was going to have a big bonfire and tell Heather a bit about their history as a family. They were also going to discuss the mate bond, and what it means to the Shifters. Trent had explained that there was a ceremony that, once Heather was ready, they would go through. They had already bonded physically, but the ceremony would bind their souls for eternity. Shifters die if their mates die, yet Trent wasn't sure if that would be the case for them though since Heather was human.

  She didn't want to think about either of them dying, but she also couldn't imagine living without Trent. Heather poured her second cup of coffee and cuddled up on the couch in front of the giant window in the living room. Trent hadn't come in from his turn checking the perimeter. Even though she was trying to stay distant, she missed him when it was his turn. Just then, he came through the clearing in his bear form. His father met him in the driveway with a pair of sweats. Trent shifted, and for a minute stood tall and naked. Heather blushed but refused to look away. He was so beautiful. Heather yearned to touch him, to take him upstairs and rekindle their physical relationship. Her heart ached then because of the pain that had soon followed. In a blink, he was dressed in sweats. They hugged his lean waist and somehow made him even sexier. The hairline that followed his trimmed abs disappeared down into the sweats, but Heather knew where it led. She knew exactly what he had to offer; exactly how it would feel to have him touch her and claim her as his.

  As if he could read her thoughts, his eyes met hers. His dad was still talking, but Trent never took his eyes off of her. They were dark with passion. When his dad finally walked towards the woods to take his turn on guard, Trent continued to stand there holding her eyes. Heather felt her body cover in goosebumps under his gaze. He made everything about her weak with desire.

  Michelle pulled him out of their sexual stare down. Heather took a deep breath and filled her lungs with much-needed air. She set her coffee down in the kitchen and ventured outside. She told herself it was more to see Michelle than it was to be close to Trent.

  He didn't play by any rules though and as soon as she was within touching distance, he pulled her against him. Even without a shirt on in the crisp autumn air, he was the embodiment of warmth. She snuggled in and listened to their conversation.

  "I'm positive she's a Shifter."

  "Did you figure out if she has a mate or not?"

  "No, nothing yet, but you know how hard it is to track down Shifters. She could be from anywhere. Especially being a lone wolf."

  "I just don't understand. He hasn't killed for so long and now to kill a female Shifter? He must be really losing it. The scent alone should have told him she was a Shifter. His animal side is taking over."

  "I know. That's what's so scary. He's more volatile now than he was before. I think it's more than just revenge at this point."

  "I'm sorry. What's going on? Did he kill again?" Heather asked, trying to keep up with their conversation.

  "Yeah, but this time he killed a female Shifter. Females are revered to Shifters because they continue on our legacy by bearing our children. Also without a female, a male Shifter will dissolve into his animal and usually have to be killed. Which is what we can assume is happening here," Trent explained.

  "Poor woman. Surely she isn't from around here or she would have known about the murders, and not be out in the woods by herself. We female Shifters think differently than human females. We have our animal side and it makes us stronger. I go out in the woods for perimeter checks and I don't think anything of it."

  Heather realized she was right. If she could shift into a bear, she would be less concerned about having her keys handy when she walked into a dark parking lot. How is it that she's not a Shifter, but able to mate to a Shifter?

  "That's true. Poor thing," Heather said.

  "Let me know when you hear anything," Trent said to Michelle.

  Trent led Heather back into the house as Michelle nodded and jogged back to her house. Everybody had taken to keeping home as much as possible. It helped keep them out of the public's face and gave them less opportunity to come in contact with somebody the killer may use against them. The only person going stir crazy was Heather. They were barely letting her out of the house.

  Trent continued to lead Heather straight upstairs once they were in the house. She should have protested, but she followed along silently. He pulled her into his room and released her hand so he could get some clothes. She lounged on his bed watching him closely. Before she realized what he was going to do, he shucked his pants and started to put on a pair of boxer briefs.

  Her gasp filled the air. He turned and shot her a sly grin which had her stomach turning somersaults. He was entirely too sexy for his own good. There was no way she could continue to stay away from him.

  "Like what you see?"

  She nodded in response, not sure she could speak.

  "I'm all yours, baby. All you have to do is say the word." He stalked closer to the bed and she tried to remember how to breathe.

  She could see him starting to come to life in his briefs. It made her mouth water. She got up on her knees and made her way to him. When she finally reached him, she ran her hands down his chest stopping right at his elastic waistband. Then she traveled back up, repeating the process over and over. She loved the way his muscles felt under her hands. So much strength and beauty held captive by her touch alone.

  Finally, she grazed her hand over him and his groan filled the room. Her mind was dizzy with power as she continued to stroke him through the cloth. She situated herself so she was sitting in front of him, and then freed his erection from the briefs. He sprang to life in her hand. He was all silk and pulsating with need. Just as he was about to protest, she closed her mouth around him.

  His hands dug into her hair, and his moans fuel
ed her passion. Never before had she wanted to pleasure a man the way and oh did she ache to pleasure him. Everything about it was intoxicating. Her hand found his balls as she continued to work him over.

  "Damn, baby. Just like that."

  His words were like gasoline over a fire. She continued to stroke, suck and lick with fever. Then she felt every muscle in his body tense and his breathing hitch. She knew he was close. His hand gripped her hair tighter, but it didn't hurt. Finally, with a loud growl, he pounded his release into her mouth. She had never felt so amazing without even being touched.

  His head hung down on his chest while he tried to catch his breath. His eyes were dark and hazy like they had been after they made love. She wiped her mouth and stared up at him. He was the most beautiful person she had ever encountered, and she would always be amazed by him.

  "That was unfair."

  "Huh?" She was caught off guard by his comment. His eyes were more devil than desire now.

  "I said that was unfair. Now, it's my turn."

  "Oh boy," was all she could manage to say before she was trapped on the bed underneath him.

  THIRTY

  TRENT LAY in bed with Heather asleep on his chest. He didn't dare stir as his bear soaked in the comfort of their mate. She was soft and loving after they had spent the past hour pleasuring each other. Try as she might, she couldn't keep her body from responding to him. That wasn't what he craved most, though. He craved her heart more than anything. He knew she loved him, but she was holding herself back emotionally.

  They hadn't connected emotionally since he had returned. She didn't laugh as easy with him or share her hopes and dreams at all. As much as he hated listening to the journal entries and all of their horrors, she hadn't even shared that with him. He missed their ease with each other in that matter.

  Physically, he had known it wouldn't take long for them to reconnect. Their bodies were magnets for each other from the beginning. Just thinking about her mouth on him had him stirring again. He didn't want to get up but he had to. If he didn't drag himself from her side now, he'd spend the rest of the day and night getting to know every single inch of her body.

  She stirred as he eased himself out from under her. He quickly put his body pillow next to her, and she immediately wrapped it up. As he stood, staring at the pillow jealously, he realized he should probably walk away now. With a gentle kiss on her forehead, he snuck out to find his family. They had to prepare for the night's festivities. Hopefully, after Heather heard more about their traditions and customs, she would realize he was there to stay.

  His father was still out on his round of guarding, but his brothers were busy stacking firewood for the bonfire.

  "Sorry, I'm a bit late." He couldn't hide the sheepish grin that crept on his face. His brothers knew what it was like when they first found their mates so they just laughed.

  "We're surprised you even surfaced at all!"

  "It wasn't by choice believe me, but I'm hoping tonight will help bring Heather closer to performing the ceremony."

  "She still hasn't forgiven you?"

  "No, her body is mine, but she has a wall up between us in every other way. If she didn't let me touch her, I'm positive my bear would have lost it by now."

  "She's new to our world, but she's adjusting better than most I imagine. Melanie has a friend who mated to a human male, and he took a while to come around. He didn't even have a serial killer causing chaos."

  "Yeah, speaking of which, did Michelle ever hear any more about the female Shifter?"

  "Nothing yet. We're getting in touch with all the Shifter communities within a hundred miles and having them check on their female wolves and mates. It could take some time."

  "Things are going to escalate, I'm afraid. If he's killed a female Shifter, his animal is beyond repair. He needs put down fast or it won't be about revenge anymore… it'll just be a killing spree."

  "Let's hope that we get to him before that happens. Have you found anything else in that journal that might point to that jaguar Shifter, Ray?"

  "Nothing so far, but I haven't read it much. If Heather’s still reading it, she hasn't mentioned it. Another part of her barrier. She used to tell me every last detail of that horrid thing. I'll see if she's mentioned anything to Michelle."

  The brothers continued building the bonfire in silence. Soon Trent's father returned with nothing new to report. They decided that tonight since they would all be together outside they wouldn't need a person patrolling the woods. If the killer was crazed enough to attack an entire clan of bears, he deserved the death he would receive. Trent actually hoped he was that far gone so this whole thing could be over.

  Heather surfaced from the house then looking sleepy and well loved. She was perfection in her tight running pants and an oversized sweater. Her curly hair was wild from their romp in the bedroom, and everything in him screamed at him to take her back upstairs. He loved the way his hands felt wrapped up in her hair.

  Before she could protest, he marched over to her and hauled her up against him. His mouth immediately took possession of hers. She resisted a bit at first but was soon to recover. She molded against him perfectly as she softened to his assault. When he pulled back, she was even more the vixen, with her red swollen lips and hazy eyes.

  "Good morning," he taunted her with a sly grin.

  "Good morning," she whispered in return.

  She peered around him where the bonfire stood at least ten foot high. He and his brothers may have gotten a bit out of control. It would be a massive fire. They were starting to light it already so it had time to get good and hot before it got too cold outside.

  "I've never been to one of these before, but that looks like an awful lot of wood for just us Ciphers?"

  He tried not to beam with pleasure at how she had just referred to herself, but it was hard not to. To have her use his last night for herself made his heart swell with pride. He couldn't wait until they could put this all behind them and make it official. She hadn't told him much about her family, but he wished she would. Wouldn't they want to know if their daughter was getting married?

  "Hello! Earth to Trent?" Heather called.

  "Oh, sorry. Yeah, it's a bit big, but we're Shifter men. We have to go big."

  "Ah, I see."

  Her laughter was music to his ears.

  "Has Michelle found anything out about the latest victim?"

  "I was actually on my way over there to see. I don't think so otherwise she would have found us, but we can always check."

  "Okay."

  Michelle opened the door before they had chance to knock. She looked like she had aged ten years since Heather first met her. The killing had taken a toll on everybody. Michelle motioned them in the house.

  “So we found our dead girl’s mate. She had a family, Trent. I’m just sick about this. That, and I’m beyond pissed.”

  “Damn, which community was she from?”

  “The one up by Charleston. Her mom said she had driven down to Virginia for a meeting for work. She said it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for her to pull over and go for a run. Especially in this area she was fairly familiar with it.”

  “She wouldn’t have known about the killer?” Heather asked tentatively.

  “They’ve been keeping this under tight wraps so up there I’d say not. Mostly just locals know, and maybe a few surrounding towns.” Michelle blew out a frustrated breath.

  “Maybe we need to talk to Buzz about changing that. I mean if this poor woman would have known, it could have saved a life.” Heather couldn’t believe the local police were keeping the information to themselves.

  “Letting it out that there’s a Shifter on the lose killing people isn’t good for anybody. Trust me, Heather. There will be mass chaos. People will be wanting Shifters to be collared and segregated into communities. I see what you’re saying, and I hate it that this woman died but we just can’t.”

  “What do you mean collared?”

  “A w
hile ago there was talk that the government was producing collars for Shifters. Apparently the collars keep us from being able to become violent. They shock us once, our heart rates get to a certain point. I’m not exactly sure how it works, but shifting alone would be painful.”

  “That’s awful. They can’t get away with doing that. It’s ridiculous.”

  “Heather, we are considered second class citizens to a lot of people. We’re definitely not widely accepted. That’s why so many of us live in communities together. It helps preserve our way of life, and keep humans from interfering with us too much.” Trent could tell Michelle was getting riled up. She was a serious activists when it came to shifter rights. He respected her for it, but it wasn’t his scene. The way he saw it the less humans that were involved with Shifter lives the better. There needed to be a certain level of segregation.

  “Surely there’s something we can do?” Heather looked agitated, and Trent hated disappointing her.

  “I’ll talk to Buzz tomorrow. If there is anything we can do to get the word out without becoming national news, we’ll do it.” He rubbed her shoulder, and felt her relax.

  “Thank you.”

  “Now, back to our victim. How many kids did they have?”

  “They had three boys. The grandparents have them now. The boys came home from a sleepover and found their dad dead. They reported it to the authorities so when we contacted them about a dead female, they were able to put the two together pretty quick.”

  “Those poor boys.” Tears were streaming down Heather’s face. She could see now why Michelle had looked so glum when they first walked in.

  Michelle’s husband walked in the to let them know the bonfire was starting. He walked over and hugged Michelle tight. It was such an intimate moment Trent felt bad for watching. Jealously ripped through him as well. He desperately wanted what his sister and Dave had. That steady and easy relationship. He looked at Heather who was also watching them.