Harlequin Nocturne March 2014 Bundle: ShadowmasterRunning with Wolves

by Susan Krinard

  “I would think he’d be desperate by now. They shot. They missed. And you certainly never thought he’d go that far.”

  “True.”

  “Is there another way in?”

  “Yes, there’s a town on the other side of the mountain where your dad met your mom, but it would take us too long to get there.”

  “All right, then what are we going to do?”

  “We’ll have to hike in through the woods.”

  She groaned. “Not again. How far?”

  “It’s seven miles from the front gate to The Colony. A nice buffer to keep out hikers.”

  “Is there a fence?”

  “Yes.”

  She sighed as he turned off onto another road, the one she’d missed last night. If only she hadn’t. Everything would have been so different. They wouldn’t have had to climb the mountain or sleep in a cave. They wouldn’t have been chased by monsters, hurt and almost killed. They wouldn’t have made love by firelight.

  She wouldn’t be a wolf.

  The thought made her smile. She hadn’t had time to think about what it all really meant. Time to doubt or be afraid. It had just happened; in an instant her whole life had changed and she was no longer human. She was a shape-shifter. She was in love. And from where she sat, next to this incredibly honorable and brave man, even with the threat of demons, her life had changed for the better.

  Chapter 12

  “You were right.” Jason hopped back into the truck and quietly shut the door. “Malcolm’s men are at the front gate. Johnny is nowhere in sight.”

  “I’m sorry,” Shay whispered, wishing for his sake she hadn’t been.

  “Don’t be. I shouldn’t be surprised.”

  “What are we going to do now?” She looked at the chain-link fence disappearing through the trees.

  “We’re going to have to climb the fence.”

  She looked down at her bare feet and cringed. “What about Buddy?”

  Ears pricked, Buddy looked up at them and whined.

  “We’ll manage. Somehow,” he muttered. “At least once we get beyond the perimeter the Abatu will no longer be able to track us.”

  “And that black shadow?”

  “That was the Gauliacho. Demons from the other side. It came through the crack in the wall of the cave and apparently wasn’t alone.”

  A shiver tore through her.

  “Don’t worry. Once we’re beyond the gates they won’t follow us.”

  He started the engine and drove for another five minutes before hiding the truck in the woods outside The Colony’s perimeter. They walked along the fence for a long time as they searched for a way in. Shay was growing more nervous by the second, peering through the trees, on constant alert for danger. Finally, they found a downed tree. “This could work.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yes, and once we’re on the other side, we’re safe.”

  She stared at the large tree lying on the ground, then saw what he meant. Together, they hefted the tree up against the fence, then transformed it into a bridge, climbing up it. Showing Buddy how it was done.

  At last, they were in The Colony and running free. It was hard to accept, but finally there was no more fear or worry that the Abatu or Gauliacho could find them. There was only her joy as she explored the sounds and smells of the forest. Everything was as it should be as they ran through the woods while the sky dimmed to dusk. They tracked for miles alongside a rushing river that flowed into a large and clear lake, the most beautiful lake she had ever seen. The reflection of the snow-peaked mountains shone in brush strokes of reds and purples across the glassy surface.

  They turned inward, running through the woods until finally they stopped in front of a small house nestled within the trees. Smoke billowed invitingly from a stone fireplace.

  Jason stilled amongst the large cedars and pines, lifting his nose into the air, catching the different scents. She and Buddy sat next to a tall tree and waited while Jason circled round the house. After a moment, he came back changed into his human form.

  He crouched down in front of them. “Stay as you are until I’m certain it’s safe and I can get you some clothes.”

  She nuzzled his hand, and together they walked up to the front door. She as a wolf. He without a stitch on. She supposed people here must be used to that. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to it. Jason knocked and after a long moment of anxious expectation, an older man with a face that looked a lot like her dad’s pulled open the door. Her heart swelled inside her with a strange mixture of expectation and apprehension. What if he didn’t like her?

  What if he didn’t want her there?

  He greeted Jason, looked down at her and Buddy then stepped back, inviting them in. He handed Jason a quilt off the sofa then disappeared into a back room. Anxiously, Shay looked around the small room, instantly aware of the pictures on the wall, pictures of her dad, of him and her mom, and even some of her as a very young girl. Shay whined. She no longer wanted to be in wolf form, she wanted to change back, to look at her grandfather with human eyes.

  Seeming to understand what she wanted, Jason said something to her grandfather when he came back into the room, carrying a pair of pants and a fresh shirt. He handed them to Jason then looked at her with widened eyes. He gestured toward the back of the house, and Jason led her into a back bedroom where she changed immediately. She didn’t need any coaxing or guidance. She wanted to change, wanted to be able to speak. To hug her grandfather. To meet her family.

  Jason opened the closet, then handed her a flannel shirt and a pair of sweat pants. Quickly, she slipped into them, running her fingers through her tangled hair. “I need a shower,” she muttered.

  “You and me both,” he said while stepping into the clothes her grandfather had given him. “You’re going to be fine.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  She melted into his warmth. “I’m so nervous. Do they know it’s me?”

  He nodded. “Robert does. Kate, your grandmother, is still in the kitchen. She is going to love you.” He kissed her again. “Everything is going to be okay. You’re home now.”

  “Home,” she whispered, and felt a flutter of expectation light her chest.

  “Yes. So come see your family. They’ve waited a long time to meet you.”

  * * *

  Shay took a deep breath, then walked back into the living room. Her grandfather, Robert, was standing next to an older woman who had tears running freely down her face. She hesitated for a brief second, but that was all it took, and her grandmother was rushing forward, pulling her into her arms and holding her tight.

  It was like a dam had burst inside her, and Shay was flooded with emotion. There was no holding back. No judgment, no tiptoeing around, trying to figure her out. They knew nothing about her and yet they instantly welcomed her into their family and home.

  Her grandmother, Kate, wouldn’t stop talking and smiling and touching her. As if Shay might disappear again at any moment. Shay knew how she was feeling because she was feeling it, too. For a long time she couldn’t speak for fear that if she did, she’d just start crying and never stop. And then she couldn’t stop speaking, blathering about nothing, about everything all at the same time as she walked around the room looking at the pictures.

  “Come,” her grandmother said, sitting on the couch and patting the cushion next to her. “Have your tea.”

  Shay took the cup and sat next to her. Her grandmother was nothing like her grams. For one thing, she was younger and beautiful with her long black hair so much like Shay’s. She’d always wondered about her hair since her mom’s had been fair and wavy. As had been Grams’s. Shay had always been dark.

  “So, you made the change, then? We weren’t expecting that,” her grandfather, Robert, said from h
is dark leather chair in the corner. His jaw was hard and concern filled every line in his face.

  Uneasily Shay looked to Jason, knowing this was what Jason had been fearing. “We had to, Robert,” Jason said. “There was no choice.”

  “We were being attacked, it was horrible,” Shay added. Suddenly nervous as tension bunched Jason’s shoulders. She felt an uncomfortable current coming off him and wanted to go grab his hand, to assure him that she was there for him. But as she looked at her grandfather’s disapproving face, she held back. Biting her lip.

  “Otherwise, I would have waited,” Jason said, sitting forward on the edge of the sofa.

  “We both would have waited,” Shay added, making it clear that it was their decision. Together. Jason almost sounded as if he was apologizing, then he started explaining about the cracks in her walls, about the Gauliacho and the Abatu.

  “Oh, my,” Kate said, her hand fluttering to her mouth. “My poor girl.”

  “She’d been hurt,” Jason said, looking down at his hands.

  Shay ran her fingers along the back of her head, expecting to feel a scab or a bump, anything. But nothing was there. “Yes, it was pretty bad. A lot of blood, but honestly, I think those men with the guns were worse.”

  Shay took a sip of her tea but the cup froze on her lips as she noticed the subtle change in the room, the air of shock and expectancy. They were all staring at her. Her grandfather shifted, his brows drawing down in a thick black line.

  “Guns?” Kate said, her dark eyes sharp.

  “It was Mitch and Louis,” Jason explained. “Outside the caves.”

  “No, it couldn’t have been.” Kate stood and started to pace. “They know better. They know the rules.”

  Robert shook his graying head. “I must admit I’m not surprised. The real question is whether or not Malcolm put them up to it.”

  “I did wonder the same thing,” Jason admitted. “I didn’t want to believe it but when we got to the gate, Johnny wasn’t there. Malcolm’s men were in his place. Three of them. I know Mitch couldn’t have arranged that without Malcolm’s help. I just have a hard time believing Malcolm could be involved.”

  Robert shook his head in silent disgust. “I’ll call Scott.”

  “Are you sure that’s a wise move?” Skepticism lowered Jason’s voice.

  “There have been other incidents while you’ve been gone, Jason,” her grandfather said. “Malcolm is out of control. The time is now for Scott to make his move. Especially if Malcolm has his hired guns shooting at the only people who have a chance to unseat him.”

  “I can’t believe it’s come to that.”

  “Trust me, it has.”

  “All right,” Jason relented, reluctance strong in his voice. “But make sure Malcolm’s men don’t see him coming.”

  Nervously, Shay stood. “If we’re having more company, would anyone mind if I took a shower and got cleaned up?”

  “Of course not,” Kate said.

  “I’ll show her.” With a soft touch to her back, Jason stood then led her to the bathroom. “Are you okay?” he asked softly.

  Before she could answer, Kate appeared in the doorway. “Here’s a fresh towel and toothbrush. Let me know if there is anything else you need.”

  “Thanks,” Shay said, and took them from her.

  She turned to Jason, slipped her hands around his waist and leaned her head onto his chest. “I’m exhausted.”

  “Just a little longer. I need to fill your cousin in on what happened and see what he wants to do about it.” He leaned down and kissed her deeply.

  Shay’s limbs melted, and she wished not for the first time that they could crawl into bed together and put this day to rest. Then, before she knew it, he was gone. Shay hurried as quickly as she could. She wasn’t sure she was ready to meet this cousin who wanted to take on the leadership of the pack. She couldn’t remember what Jason had said about him, but thought he wasn’t quite sure about him. She had just finished brushing her teeth and pulling her hair back into a ponytail when she heard a knock at the front door. She took a deep breath and walked into the living room as the man she assumed was her cousin entered through the front door.

  He was big with dark hair and copper skin. He had huge arms and a massive chest and looked quite frightening. But that wasn’t what concerned her about him; it was the way he kept staring at her, with wariness shifting in his black eyes. What was it Jason had said about the pack leadership being her birthright? Was she a threat to this man? As she took in his hulking form, she sure hoped not.

  “Shay, I’d like you to meet your cousin, Scott,” her grandfather was saying, but Shay barely heard him. As Scott walked into the room, his gaze intent on hers, she was too distracted by colors swirling around his head. She’d thought once she’d transformed she wouldn’t see the colors any longer. She hadn’t seen anything around Jason or her grandparents, but this man was surrounded by a dark red cloud.

  Her heartbeat burst into a racing canter and she had to force herself to stand still instead of taking a large step back. She reached for Jason, but he was too far. She glanced toward him, but he was oblivious to her distress and didn’t seem the least bit concerned himself. At least not that she could tell. But there was a weird energy coming off him. Trepidation hummed through her system, though she wasn’t sure if it was coming from him or if it was coming from herself. She dropped her hand to her side.

  “Welcome home,” Scott said, sounding courteous and perfectly normal.

  But he wasn’t. Shay didn’t know how she knew that, but she did. She forced a smile and nodded her head. “Nice to meet you.”

  He nodded back, but luckily didn’t move toward her. She didn’t think she could stand it if she had to shake his hand.

  “Scott, how is Natalie?” Kate asked, walking toward them.

  Scott’s face looked troubled for the briefest moment before it hardened once more. “Healing,” he said. “Thank you for the basket.”

  She patted his arm. “I’ll be going by to see her again tomorrow.”

  “She would like that.”

  “Come on, Shay,” Kate said, taking her arm. “Let’s go into the kitchen. You can help me finish dinner.”

  Relief mushroomed inside Shay as she left the room with her grandmother. She was happy to get away from the men, especially her cousin, and thrilled at the prospect of dinner. Buddy barked in agreement and they walked into the warm kitchen where Shay helped Kate cut up vegetables for the stew.

  “The meat has been cooking all day. I just need to add the vegetables and it will be done in no time,” Kate said, stirring the pot.

  “It smells wonderful,” Shay admitted. She felt as if one side of her stomach was eating the other.

  “It’s the fresh thyme, it’s my favorite.”

  “Mine, too.” Shay sat at the table watching her grandmother, feeling a strong kinship with her. She just wished her mom could be there and her dad, that they could have met long ago and have had a normal life free from running and hiding and living in fear. She’d never even known what they’d been running from. She sighed. That was probably a good thing.

  Once the vegetables were cooking in the pot, Kate refilled her cup from the kettle on the stove. “Now sit down and tell me everything. Leave nothing out.”

  Shay laughed, feeling lighthearted and happy for the first time in ages. She talked and talked, telling her grandmother everything about her life. Crying with her when she told her about her dad, and about how young she had been when he’d died. “At first I didn’t believe Jason when he told me that I had family I’d never heard of. In fact, I didn’t believe anything he said. I didn’t want to go with him, until he told me about you.” She reached across the table and took her grandmother’s hands within her own. “I thought I was alone in the world. If there was even the sli
ghtest chance that he was telling the truth... I’m so glad that I found you.”

  Her grandmother’s eyes misted. “Not nearly as glad as we are that Jason brought you home to us. We were so afraid we’d never get to meet you. It’s been so long.” She rose from the table, turning her back on Shay to stir the stew.

  Shay gave her a moment. “If you don’t mind my asking...”

  “You can ask me anything,” her grandmother said, turning back to her, her eyes damp. “I know this all must be very strange to you.”

  “Yes, well, how come you look—” Shay couldn’t finish the words.

  “Old?” Kate asked, a twinkle lighting her dark eyes.

  “Well, older,” Shay admitted. “Jason told me that once we make the change we age differently. Slower.”

  “Yes, that’s true. But Robert and I stopped making the transformation a while ago. We no longer felt the urge to run. We knew if we didn’t force ourselves to change, then the aging process would begin for us again. After losing your dad and then our daughter, Maggie, well, we no longer cared. We’d lost our joy. Our bliss. We didn’t see any reason to prolong our time here. Not without them.”

  Her words resonated within Shay, drawing deep into the empty well of sadness she had lived with for so long. She knew how it felt to be alone in the world. To lose everyone you loved. The loneliness. It could be debilitating. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I know after a loss like that, nothing seems to matter much anymore.”

  “Don’t be.” Kate patted her hand as she sat back down at the table across from her. “We’ve been given a second chance at a family. You can’t imagine how happy that makes me.”

  Shay’s heart ached and unbidden tears burned her eyes. “Me, too.” She fiddled with the napkins on the sideboard, pulling them down and placing them on the table.

  Without saying another word, Kate walked over to the cabinet above the kitchen counter, pulled down several large bowls and handed them to Shay. “I’m sorry if I got too mushy. We are both just so happy you’re here.”

  “Thanks,” Shay said over the lump in her throat. She placed the bowls on the table, noticing there was an extra one for Scott. “But I’m not sure my cousin shares your feelings on that one.”