Penny of the Paranormal: Shifter Romance (Vanguard Elite Book 4)

by Annie Nicholas

  The ringing in his ears wouldn’t go away and was giving him the worst headache. Blood coated his hands. A snack? He sniffed and grimaced. Maybe not. This was his nasty blood. He was bleeding.

  Fuck that ringing.

  The driver side door of his car squealed open. How had he gotten into the passenger seat?

  Wait a minute.

  How had he gotten into his car?

  “Pallas!” Sheriff Lee crawled into his car. Normally in his dreams her uniform was much tighter with the buttons of her shirt straining to pop.

  He fingered the one between her breasts but it remained fastened.

  She swatted his hand away. “What the fuck?” Then her eyes went wide. “Your jaw looks broken. Don’t move. I’ll call nine-one-one.” She pulled out her cell phone.

  He blinked again as his brain damage healed. His car… His baby… He yanked the phone from her hand and hung up. Moaning, he waved her out of the vehicle—his poor sweet little car— but there could be fuel leaking. He could fix his car, make her new. Sheriff Lee was much more vulnerable.

  She slipped under his arm, supporting his weight, all the while muttering things under her breath like stubborn, dumbass, and idiot.

  That last name stung. She had been the one chasing him, after all.

  She set him on a snow bank next to her police car and went inside to turn off the siren. The ringing in his ears finally stopped. She returned, kneeling next to him.

  “About time.” He clutched his aching head, but his words came out muffled and the pain in his face grew sharper. He ran his fingertips over his disfigured jaw. Had to set it before the bones healed this way. With a jerk, he reset his mouth back in place.

  The sheriff gasped, a look of horror on her face. “You shouldn’t do that.”

  He held up his hand and closed his eyes as the pain faded to a dull roar and his bones knitted back together.

  Once again she had her phone in her hand. “Send an ambul—”

  He pulled the phone from her ear. “I’m fine,” he reported to the operator. “She’s just being dramatic.” He ended the call and handed her back the cell phone. “Exactly what do you expect a doctor can do for me? Open a vein and let me feed?”

  She tried to stand but slipped in the snow and ended up sitting face-to-face with him. “Your jaw is healed.”

  He pumped his arms and legs, checking for other injuries. All seemed intact. Good. Growing limbs took time.

  Sheriff Lee looked pale.

  Tilting his head, he met her wide-eyed stare. “You do realize I’m a real vampire? Not some bloke pretending to be one.”

  Her face morphed from shock to something akin to fury. She smacked him upside the head. “Of course.”

  “Ouch. I just smashed that against the windshield. Try to be a little gentler.” He rubbed the spot where she had just assaulted him.

  “That could have been avoided if you were following the speed limit.” She gestured to his crashed car.

  Now that his vision was clear, he could see the front end had accordioned against a tree. How was he going to keep his brother, Daedalus, from finding out? One more condescending conversation from him and Pallas would reconsider his decision to stay in this age of technology. He rested his arms on his knees. Cars were the main temptation to remain awake. Speed and oil and leather.

  “You could have killed someone.”

  “How?” He tongued his teeth. They didn’t feel aligned right.

  She made a noise that sounded like multiple sentences starting at the same time.

  “Sheriff, I drive this late at night because no one is on the roads in the small town.” The area was populated by farmers and he was a vampire. They didn’t keep the same schedule. “What are you doing up so late? Shouldn’t sheriffs have better work hours?”

  She crossed her arms. “There were complaints of you speeding along here late at night.” She grimaced. “The other officers didn’t feel comfortable stopping you alone.”

  “Wise of them.” He gave her a meaningful look and glanced at his wrecked vehicle. “How will my insurance company contact yours?”

  “You can’t believe this is my fault.”

  “Your sirens distracted my concentration. I’ve driven this road many times without a problem.”

  “It hasn’t stormed this hard since you moved to the area.” Her gaze returned to his jaw and she ran her hand along his chin. “Do you always heal this fast?”

  “Faster if I’m well fed.” Her touch stirred something dead inside of him. It burned.

  She jerked her hand away and rose to her feet. “I’ll call for a tow truck.” From her pocket, she pulled out a pad of paper, tore a sheet loose and handed it over.

  “What is this?” He read over it. “Speeding ticket?” When he looked up she was already in her vehicle backing away from his accident.

  Well, fuck. Guess wolves weren’t the only ones hiking in the storm tonight.

  Chapter Nine

  The sunlight didn’t break through the thick curtains but Alistair sensed the morning and groaned against awakening. Penny’s warm form lay cuddled against his chest and he didn’t want to venture out into the cold yet.

  Their fire was only embers and they’d used the last of the firewood. Penny shouldn’t roll out from under their blanket to an ice cold cabin, but what could he do? He eyed the sparse furniture. With his strength, he could snap those chairs into kindling.

  Penny stretched beside him. “Good morning, lover.”

  The pet name warmed him like no fire could. He rolled, pulling her into a kiss. Her lips swollen and sweet from last night’s lovemaking. Things were different with her. His past partners had always wanted something from him. It was how things worked in his pack. All Penny wanted was him. Selfish, stubborn, prideful him. He didn’t want to be those things anymore though. He would strive to be the wolf she deserved.

  She ran her fingers through his hair and melted into his arms. “Now that’s how I want to wake up every morning.” She pulled him in for a quick chaste kiss. “But we need to find the others and make sure they’re okay.”

  He tilted his head. “And if they aren’t?”

  “We bring them back here, silly.” Without hesitation, she rolled out from under the warm covers and dressed. “We could break the chairs for wood if we have to.”

  He grinned as her words echoed his earlier thoughts, but his concern was for her and hers was for everyone else. A true omega. “The owners will be pissed.” He rose and dressed, hopping from one cold foot to the other.

  “We’ll figure out a way to pay them back. They have to understand if it’s life or death.” She pulled her hood over her head. “Ready?”

  His sweet omega thought humans would have her values. Life taught him otherwise. Hopefully their team was safe where they’d left them. “Maybe we should shift to beast form. We would travel faster.”

  She shook her head. “We should save our strength.” Her gaze avoided his. “My wolf isn’t that strong. She’s very flighty.”

  “She was strong enough to pass all those tests the vampire loves.” Alistair had heard the stories from others in the pack as he had recuperated from his wound. Deathly obstacle courses and scavenger hunts. Somehow Penny had passed where others had failed.

  “Only because Clare and Ian had my back. This is the first time I’m on my own.”

  He cupped her face with his hands. “You’re not alone. I have your back too, and you’re amazing.”

  Her shy smile melted the ice in the air. “I’m glad you think so. Still not shifting.”

  “Why not?” It occurred to him that he’d never seen her in wolf form.

  “Because I can only shift once a day. I’m not a hunter, Alistair. I want to keep the shift for an emergency.”

  “Oh.” He never gave the process any thought. Shifting was fast for him and he could change as often as he wanted. “Makes sense.” Maybe he should start paying better attention to others around him and less on himself.
>
  “Ready?”

  He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “Ready.”

  Penny opened the door and an icy blast of wind blew her hood off. “Whoa, this is going to suck.”

  Alistair took the lead, blocking the wind and breaking the trail in the newly fallen snow. Some places it was above his knees and to her hips. The cold crisp air was good, though. It carried scents better than during the storm and he found their team easily. The climb to the outcrop of stone was a bitch and he half-carried, half-dragged Penny through the worst of it.

  She leaned against his arm and caught her breath. “Thanks, that was pretty steep. How the heck did I get down that last night?”

  “You didn’t.” He pointed to where she had gone down an easier slope. “It was faster the way we just climbed though.”

  “Hey!” Parker’s head popped around the side of the cliff. “They’re alive!” Their little team hovered by their campfire under the overhang. Snow had piled around them, forming a natural barrier against the wind and the overhang kept in the heat. It was quite cozy.

  Penny rushed to their open arms. “You’re alive.”

  Alistair hung on the edge of the group. “I guess we won’t be breaking any furniture.”

  Vicki hurried over and included him in the hugs. “Those rabbits saved us last night. We were so starved.” But he could still hear her stomach rumble with hunger.

  “If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll find more today.” He hugged her back until he met Penny’s possessive glare.

  She marched over and stepped between him and Vicki. “That’s enough hugging. Let’s make plans. Who wants to hit the summit and capture that damn flag?” She rubbed her hands together. Alistair wasn’t sure if she was eager or just trying to keep them warm.

  The team agreed with her enthusiasm and gathered what little they had for the climb. “Like yesterday, collect any wood you can carry in case another storm hits us,” Penny ordered. There had been no way for them to know the forecast. The manor had no electricity so that meant no television, computers or radio.

  Alistair glanced at the clear skies, doubting any snow in the near future. “We’ve proven ourselves strong by surviving last night. We can face another storm.”

  “What we should worry about are avalanches,” Bobby Jo added.

  “Well shit, one problem at a time.” Alistair clapped him on the shoulder.

  “Which way should we go?” Vicki huddled close to Penny.

  “Up.” Alistair pointed to the summit, which was still out of sight.

  “There are no trails.” Nick looked less than convinced.

  Alistair shrugged. “We make our own just like our ancestors.” They worried too much. Just like humans. Maybe that was the point of this boot camp. To remind those shifters who’d grown too accustomed to human lifestyle what they were. His pack hadn’t sent anyone here. They were still close to their wolf nature. Some might say they were too close.

  Balance. That was difficult to obtain. Maybe they should have sent some shifters here after all.

  The climb was as grueling as he could have imagined. They walked single file with him breaking the trail. Penny followed, her gloved hand clutching the hem of his jacket.

  They climbed.

  And climbed.

  Until they reached a sloping rock cliff. Jagged hand and foot holds were available. Hands on hips, Alistair surveyed the obstacle. “Who is our best climber?”

  “Probably you,” whispered Penny.

  “I should be the last to climb in case anyone falls I could catch them.” Ice had formed on some of the holds. “I don’t like this. We should see if there is another way around.”

  “No.” Penny faced the team. “Anyone have climbing experience?”

  Nick held up his hand. “I took it in college but it was in Arizona. Not the Arctic Circle.” He approached the cliff face. “It’s not a bad angle. It should be easy if it’s not too icy.” He started to climb. “Try to follow my steps,” he called back.

  Penny followed but Alistair grasped her wrist, stopping her. “Maybe you go just before me,” he whispered. He couldn’t protect her if they were not together.

  She patted his hand. “What kind of leader would that make me?”

  “A safe one.” He did not release his hold.

  She rose on tiptoe and kissed the tip of his nose. “You’ll catch me if I fall.”

  Her faith in him was humbling. She was right though. He’d die trying to save her.

  He let her go, his heart in his throat the whole time she climbed. Finally, he followed. The ice was so cold and hard that it was easy to climb. His worries were for nothing.

  At the top, he leaped over the edge, a huge grin on his face. The summit was in view.

  Everyone stood ahead, their backs to him. Silence filled the air.

  “What’s wrong?” He pushed past them and stumbled to a halt. “Oh shit.”

  Alistair summed it up with those words and it broke through Penny’s shock. They’d found one of the teams.

  Frozen in the snow.

  “Oh my God.” Amy cried out and covered her face.

  Penny rushed past Alistair. The frozen wolves were all huddled together against the mountainside but there had been no shelter from the storm. Snow covered most of their bodies.

  She knelt next to the closest wolf and ran her hands through his snow tangled fur. “Darrell.” Her voice cracked. He had once saved her from a human attack and had his arm broken. He was also one of her closest friends. She raised her gaze to Alistair. “Julia must be here too.”

  Panic widened his eyes.

  “Dig them out.” She shouted to the others. Like a whip cracking at their asses, they jumped to help.

  Darrell licked her gloved hand. “He’s alive!” she cried out, digging harder. “Vicki, start a fire from the wood we’re carrying.” She shook her friend as his eyes opened but they seemed unfocused and sluggish. “Darrell.”

  Alistair appeared carrying Julia’s wolf form and set her next to her mate, Darrell. “They were both protecting their team from the outside edge so they got the brunt of the storm.”

  Penny stared at the small fire Vicki was making. It wouldn’t be enough. These wolves needed more heat and shelter or they would die. On the side of this mountain, they would find neither. “We need to go back.”

  “But we’re so close to the summit.” Bobby Jo pointed to the mountaintop.

  She shook her head. “We can’t leave them here. There’s a cabin at the bottom of the mountain where Alistair and I spent the night. There’s shelter and wood for fire.”

  “We’ll all be sent home,” murmured Parker.

  “I don’t give a flying squirrel about winning games. These are our pack mates.” She gestured to the wolves. “Everyone gets to carry one wolf down the mountains however you can.”

  Chapter Ten

  Darrell’s body weighed heavy on Alistair’s shoulders. The big wolf bared his teeth once when Alistair lifted him from the ground, a flash of sharp canines, then he went limp with unconsciousness. Thankfully. There was no love lost between them but Alistair didn’t want to fight him again, especially with Darrell in this semi-feral state.

  Starved and frozen, with his team hurt, including his mate, Darrell’s wolf was very close to the surface, if not in complete control.

  Alistair grimaced as Penny struggled under Julia’s dead weight. His old flame being cared for by his new one. Every man’s nightmare. His and Julia’s relationship didn’t compare to how he felt about Penny. He’d been promised Julia at a young age—neither of them had a choice. There had been no love between them. Possession was how he’d describe how he’d felt about her. It was how his pack treated women.

  Penny made him feel different. He couldn’t place a word on the emotion except he wanted to be worthy of her. He didn’t want to own her but wanted her to desire his company and his affection. That she would want him of her own accord.

  The sweet omega’s worried gaze met
his. She cared so much for her pack mates that it broke his heart to see her so anxious.

  Their team appeared just as apprehensive and no one questioned Penny’s orders anymore. These were friends and they would save them. As it should be.

  His father and alpha would have left Julia’s team to die on the mountain if faced with the same challenge. Win at all costs was his alpha’s motto.

  He was wrong.

  With a hand to Penny’s elbow, he studied her stance. “Are you strong enough?”

  Most wolves would have snapped at the suggestion of weakness but she just gave him a shy nod. “I’ll have to be.” Omegas had no reason for bravado. Their instincts ran differently than hunters. It was what made them so special.

  Once again, they traveled single file with Alistair in the lead. They followed a different path down—a longer one, since descending the icy cliff face with a wolf on their backs was suicide.

  Alistair glanced over his shoulder.

  Penny remained right on his heels, a thin sheet of sweat on her forehead, even in the cold. A determined look in her eye. The cabin was still miles away but it was all downhill. Penny wouldn’t give up when it concerned her pack and he feared she’d push herself too hard.

  At a familiar turn in the trail, Alistair paused. “We need a break to catch our breath.” What he’d do for a drink of water. He licked his chapped lips for the hundredth time.

  Penny sank to her knees and settled Julia next to Darrell. She stroked their fur, murmuring words of comfort.

  He squatted next to her, eyeing the others who huddled on the other side of the trail. “We have a problem.”

  She nodded. “They’ll most likely be feral when they wake up.” It was good that she had noted this possibility. He wondered if the others had come to the same conclusion.

  From the time they became shifters, they were taught about the dangers of hunger and stress. These were natural triggers in all creatures, including man. In shifters that meant the wolf took control. No sentience. No friendships. No pack bond. Just hunger and the pure animal instinct to survive.