Curves & Alphas: A Paranormal Box Set: (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance)

by Willow Brooks

  Sophia took her hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘I’m so grateful that you’re worried about me. Although I do find it quite ironic from the girl that goes missing for days on end with someone called DJ Beatz. Does he have a real name, by the way?’

  ‘Nathan.’

  ‘That’s much nicer!’

  ‘I suppose it is. The thing is, I’m tougher than you. I’m like the old boot of the dating scene.’

  ‘What does that make me? The glass slipper?’

  They both laughed.

  ‘Exactly!’ Jane cried. ‘Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay? Be careful with your body and be careful with your heart.’

  ‘I promise.’

  ‘Love you, sis.’

  ‘Love you more.’

  Chapter 9

  During her dinner party that evening, Sophia burnt the lasagna and found herself utterly unable to focus on the conversation with her parents. Eventually, she told them she wasn’t feeling well and then lay guiltily on the couch while they tidied up the kitchen and left early, calling to her to have an early night as they closed the door. She ordinarily treasured her weekly dinner with her parents and loved catching up on the week’s news. But the love sick feeling in her chest had not relented throughout the day, and by nine o’clock she felt physically unable to focus on anything else.

  As she lay there in the quiet apartment, she knew there was no way she could wait until the following afternoon to see Van again. Her body was telling her, in no uncertain terms, that she needed to go immediately. Right now. She felt quite sure that he’d be suffering in the same way and would welcome her visit. She swung her legs down from the couch and hurried into the shower to freshen up.

  The scenery on the drive to Fir Lodge was spectacular. A full moon hung low in the night sky, casting such a bright light that it seemed like a shadowy, eerie day had dawned across the land. As she got closer to the Lodge, Sophia’s skin began to prickle and crawl, as if the moonlight were infusing her with its power. She’d seen plenty of full moons before, but nothing like this had ever happened to her. It’s incredible what Van does to me, she thought. It’s like my body knows that I’m near him again. The pain in her chest was easing, too. She shook her head in wonder. The power of the body and mind never ceased to amaze her.

  When she arrived, she found the house deserted once again. She smiled to herself, knowing exactly where he would be. Who could resist a swim on a night like this? She made her way down the path, thoughts running through her head of what she’d do to him once she was naked in the water, pressed up against his rock-hard body. But when she reached the lakefront, she found it deserted. The surface of the water was perfectly still, with not a breath of wind to disturb it, and certainly no hunky men surfacing like water Gods.

  Where the hell is he, then?

  She sat down on the pebbles to decide what to do. He must be nearby; I can feel him. Perhaps he’s gone for a walk, she thought. A strange thing to do after dark, but then, he isn’t one to follow regular rules. She decided to wait, certain he’d return soon. She began throwing tiny pebbles into the water one at a time, watching the ripples expand on the water each time until the silvery surface turned smooth once more. It was so quiet and so peaceful that she felt she could’ve been the only person on the planet at that moment.

  Just at that moment, the hairs on the back of her neck stood right on end. She jerked her head around as something moved in the bushes several yards to her left.

  ‘Van?’ she called nervously, unsure why he’d skulk up quietly rather than just announce himself, if it was him. Which could only mean that it was someone else. ‘Is that you?’ Fear began to close in on her when there was no reply. ‘Who’s there?’ she called again. ‘Come out, please; you’re scaring me.’

  She slowly stood up, brushing off her trousers. She stumbled a little on a branch, and when she looked back up again, what she saw made all the muscles throughout her body seize with fear and her breath catch in her throat.

  It was a wolf. A giant black wolf. She’d only ever seen wolves from a distance or in a sanctuary before, but certainly none of those had ever been as large as this one. It climbed on top of a large, flat topped boulder five yards away and stared directly at her. His fur – she presumed it was a male, for surely no female could grow to such a size – was lustrous with a striking patch of silver on the left shoulder. His body was thickly muscled and powerful. This wolf clearly had no trouble hunting enough meat to sustain himself. Would she be his next meal? By the way he was staring at her, it sure seemed that way. Despite the danger, Sophia couldn’t help but be struck by the magnificence of the beast. He was truly breathtaking, especially under the stunning moonlight.

  But then her mind flashed to the wolf’s pack, which was probably spread out and stalking her at this exact moment. Wolves were such formidable hunters, how on earth could she escape them? She considered diving into the water. She figured she could tread water and float for an hour, even more. But she couldn’t remember if wolves feared the water. What if they came in after her? She could run back up the path towards the safety of the house, but the track was only yards from the big male’s rock, and his claws would surely be in her back within three bounds. She feared her chances wouldn’t be any better if she fled into the thick undergrowth around the lake shores.

  Then the black wolf raised his head to the moon and let out a truly haunting howl. Sophia listened, mesmerized, as the sound seemed to move straight through her and strike a chord at the center of her being. The sound filled her with pure joy, as if it were resonating at exactly the same frequency as her aura. For several seconds, she was transfixed, overcome by the power of what was happening. She was in ecstasy.

  Then the wolf stopped, and she ran.

  She headed the way she knew best. As she tore past the wolf, her eyes locked with his and she experienced another moment of total calm and clarity. Those eyes, they seemed so familiar. Then fear took over once more. Feet scrabbling on the stones, she raced up the path towards the house, vaguely aware that the screaming noise that echoed through the tall trees was coming from her. She tripped on a tree root and fell heavily, cutting her palm on a sharp rock. Paying no heed to the blood pouring from the wound, she scrambled back to her feet. She dared not look behind her, certain the black wolf would be upon her any second.

  She made it up the steps and through the front door, where she collapsed in a heap in the entranceway. How on earth had she made it? Why hadn’t the wolf chased her? Overwhelming relief mixed with the adrenalin that was still coursing through her, and she sobbed with the sheer intensity of it all. She clamped her hands over her ears when the wolf howled outside once more, near the house now, and it was only then that she noticed her injured hand and the dark blood that was dripping all over the tiles. She stood up shakily, pressing her jumper to the wound and looking around for a light switch.

  She’d just flicked the light on when the front door burst open.

  ‘Van!’ she cried. ‘Oh my God, Van. I’m so glad to see you. Did you see it? There’s a massive wolf just outside. Where have you been?’ The questions poured out of her mouth before she had a chance to properly look at him. Then he stepped out of the shadowy doorway and into the light, and she took a step backwards, gasping with surprise.

  Sweat poured from his skin, running down his forehead in rivulets and dripping from his exposed forearms and calves. His black t shirt was filthy and his hair disheveled, hanging in his eyes. His body twitched as if bitten by invisible teeth, and he faced her with his jaw clenched and an alarming look in his piercing blue eyes.

  He’s wild, she thought with the beginnings of a new round of panic rising in her chest. He’s gone wild.

  ‘What happened to you?’ she whispered.

  He ignored her question, instead demanding, ‘What are you doing here?’ through gritted teeth.

  ‘I came to see you,’ she replied in a quiet voice. ‘I needed to see you again…’

  ‘You�
��re not supposed to be here right now,’ he growled. Something flashed over his face and he made a sound almost like a dog snarling.

  A wave of indignation washed over Sophia. This was not how a man treated a lady, especially not one he’d wooed the night before with soft touches and gentle words. Who was this creature in front of her? Certainly not the Van she thought she knew.

  ‘How the hell am I supposed to know what you’re thinking?’ she exclaimed. ‘It’s not as if I can call you on the phone like a normal person! After everything you said last night, I thought you’d be happy to see me. I can see that I was wrong. Now if you’ll excuse me…’

  She stalked up to him, intending to brush past him and out the door, but he grabbed her by the shoulders and held her tightly. A little too tightly.

  ‘Don’t go. You’re hurt.’

  His hands were so hot she jerked her head from side to side to look at them in surprise.

  ‘I don’t know why you’d expect me to stay after that reception. You’ve made it perfectly clear how you feel.’ Fear made her voice quiver. She squared her shoulders, staring coldly back up at him.

  ‘You’ve got no idea how I feel,’ he said quietly.

  ‘Let me go. Now.’

  He released her instantly. She ran out the door, great sobs heaving up from inside. She lurched down the steps and over to her car. She knew that wolf must still be nearby so she slammed the door shut, quickly wrapped her hand in an old scarf from the back seat, then gunned the engine and jammed the car into reverse.

  Tears blinded her as she made her way too quickly up the driveway. She swiped them away with her good hand and forced herself to slow down for fear that the potholes would damage the car. She couldn’t stand a flat tire right now; she couldn’t bear to be here for a moment longer. Jane was right. She’d allowed things to move too quickly. She’d followed her heart, let go of her normal rules and expectations, and now everything had fallen apart. She’d thought she knew what type of man Van was, but in truth she knew nothing at all about him. He was a stranger, and not one she wished to have anything more to do with. It was all so disappointing she could hardly stand it.

  Out on the main road once more, she began to cry in earnest. Tears of pure disillusionment ran down her cheeks and dripped onto her blood-smeared blouse. Her nose began to run and she looked around for a tissue, but couldn’t find any. She’d truly believed that Van was the One. How could her heart have led her astray so badly? She felt she could never fully trust it again.

  She was so caught up in her own misery that she didn’t notice the motorcycle racing up behind her until its headlight shone brightly in her rear-view mirror. The motorcycle wove side to side on the windy road behind her, headlight flashing from high to low beam. Sophia knew at once that it was Van, and a small part of her felt pleased that he’d come after her. Every girl wants to be chased, after all. But that didn’t mean she was going to pull over to kiss and make up. No, he needed to work a bit harder than that. A lot harder. Probably harder than he was willing to work.

  She continued stubbornly on, each second growing increasingly concerned by Van’s erratic riding. She was just thinking that perhaps she should stop after all, if only to save an accident, when Van tore past her on a short straight section of road. The roar of the engine as it passed by her window made her jump. She shook her head at Van’s lack of protective clothing; he’d taken the time to put on his helmet, but wore no jacket or trousers. Once in front of her, he slowed suddenly, clearly trying to force her to stop. But as the brake light shone, his back wheel suddenly skidded, then seemed to slip away underneath him. The motorcycle slid into the ditch in a shower of sparks. Van flew through the air in slow motion, arms and legs pedaling, then hit the road and rolled over and over with sickening speed until he followed the motorcycle into the ditch and disappeared from view.

  Sophia screamed and swerved to avoid the scene, coming to a stop several yards ahead of the crash site. She left the car running and sprinted back up the road, heart thundering, certain she’d find him dead. There was no way he could have survived such a crash. No way.

  ‘Van!’ she screamed anyway. ‘Can you hear me? Van!’

  She spotted him lying face down and motionless in the drain, and leapt in after him. She grabbed his shoulder and tried to heave him over onto his back, but he was a dead weight. Heavy and floppy. Dead.

  ‘No!’ she howled, mimicking the black wolf she’d seen earlier without even realizing it. ‘Don’t do this, Van. Wake up,’ she begged. ‘Please, wake up.’ All of a sudden, Van’s behavior and the fight seemed totally unimportant. All that mattered was that Van survived. They could work it out. They were meant to be together. She knew it, she just knew it…

  But she also knew that there was no way. She’d seen how his body flew through the air, the impact, the rolling… no human could survive that. The images would be burned into her brain forever. She sat back on her haunches and sobbed. She considered calling the police, but at that moment, anything other than bawling seemed out of the question.

  And then the impossible happened.

  Van began to move. His feet twitched a little. His fingers flexed. He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, then onto his butt beside Sophia. He unfastened the clasp on his helmet and pulled it off. His face glistened with sweat, but was otherwise perfect, and very much alive.

  Sophia stared at him, eyes popping out and mouth hanging open, as if he were a ghost. It took her several seconds to find her voice.

  ‘What? How?’

  He didn’t reply, just continued staring at her with those blue, blue eyes. Soon, she started to recover her wits and demand a response.

  ‘I just saw you fly through the air and roll end over end on the tarmac. How are you sitting here without a scratch on you?’ She leapt up and investigated each of his limbs. ‘Where are your cuts? Your grazes? Your bike’s a wreck but you haven’t got a mark on you!’ She began to back away from him, unsettled by his disregard for the usual laws of cause and effect. ‘Who are you? What are you?’

  He still didn’t reply, still sat maddeningly silent.

  ‘Tell me!’ she demanded. ‘Are you dead already? Are you a ghost?’

  He shook his head. ‘I’m not a ghost. But I’m not alive as you know it, either.’

  ‘What on earth do you mean?’

  He slowly got to his feet. ‘Do you really want to know? Because I won’t blame you if you’d rather walk away from this whole mess.’

  ‘I want to know.’ There was no doubt in her mind.

  ‘Come back to Fir Lodge. I’ll tell you everything.’

  Chapter 10

  In the vast, pristine kitchen of Fir Lodge, Van insisted on cleaning and dressing Sophia’s wound before doing anything else. He flushed out the dirt, then dabbed on disinfectant cream and finally wound a bandage around her entire hand. He treated her so kindly and carefully throughout that he seemed a different person entirely from the wild creature who’d stood in the front doorway only an hour before. Sophia studied his face while he worked; from his thick eyebrows, knotted together in concentration, to the perfect bow shape of his full upper lip. It felt very intimate to have him bent so closely in the silent kitchen that she could feel every breath on her arm, and see the regular movement of his pulse in his neck.

  He looked rather pleased with himself once he’d secured the dressing with a neat little clasp. He stood up, nodded, and then he poured them both a whiskey on the rocks and sat down on a bar stool beside her.

  ‘What are you going to do about your motorcycle?’ Sophia asked. ‘Someone’s bound to report it if they see it abandoned in the drain.’

  He shrugged.

  ‘It’s not important. I’ll go back and winch it onto my pickup later.’ They were silent for several moments.

  ‘Got any coke?’ she asked as she swirled and sniffed the potent looking drink.

  ‘No, it’s poison,’ he replied. ‘Never touch the stuff.’ He drank a slug of whiskey
without flinching. Sophia sipped hers and couldn’t help but make a face.

  ‘Come on, then,’ she said after several further seconds of silence. ‘You said you were going to tell me everything. Get on with it.’ This came out a little more harshly than she’d intended. Sure, he’d acted like an idiot earlier, but she owed him the chance to explain himself. He clearly had a heavy weight to get off his chest and was struggling to know where to begin. ‘You can tell me anything,’ she said, more softly. ‘I was upset by your reaction earlier, and I still don’t understand why you behaved like you did. Maybe you’re about to explain. I just want you to know that I won’t judge you, whatever you tell me. I get the feeling you need a friendly ear. My friends tell me I’m a great listener, and I want to listen to what you’ve got to say.’

  He nodded and his shoulders relaxed a little. He studied her intently, seeming to be gauging whether she spoke the truth.

  ‘You can trust me,’ she urged him gently.