Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3)

by Maddie Foxx

  “Don’t blame her. This should have been addressed after my brother died.”

  “Are you regretting your decision to raise your nephew?”

  “No. It’s just not fair to Maxwell to not know who his mother is. Are you telling me she just up and left one day, and that’s all there is to it?”

  “There might be a reason, but Nate never told me what it was. It would seem that he took it to his grave.”

  “How convenient for you, Grandmother.” Raphael didn’t stick around waiting for her to add anything. It was quite apparent that she’d never tell him the truth. Did he regret coming back to become alpha and raise Maxwell? Not a chance. He didn’t want to see the boy leave the pack. He just had a right to know who his mother was. Especially if she didn’t willingly leave Silver Creek.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Maxwell and Melody went into the schoolhouse after Seth dropped them off. Maxwell was in a bad mood. He couldn’t stop himself from thinking about where his mother might be and if he’d be able to see her one day. He was mad that Melody kept carrying on about her mother when she hadn’t even stopped by to see Melody since Seth brought her to Silver Creek.

  “Good morning, Maxwell,” Katlyn said.

  He glared at her.

  “I hope we’re not going to have a bad day today.”

  “I don’t even want to be here, period.”

  “I guessed as much, but since you’re already here, you might as well learn something.”

  Maxwell locked eyes with Melody and she gave him the dirtiest of looks ever. He was sick of Melody, sick of school, and just plain miserable thinking about his missing mother. While his teacher had her back turned to him, he jumped out of his chair and bolted from the schoolhouse, ignoring Ms. Katlyn shouting for him not to go out that door. He ignored her and made way for the forest not far off. He hid behind a tree when he got there as his teacher called out his name. He stumbled his way through the trees, his bum leg hurting after his jaunt into the woods.

  He walked through a stream, not even thinking about where he was going or that it was away from the direction that would lead him home where his uncle would most likely be very angry at him for running off like he had.

  * * *

  “Maxwell, where are you going? You’ve made our teacher very upset,” Melody said, catching up to him. “Get back to school before you get in real trouble.”

  Maxwell glared at Melody. “You’re not even my sister, so quit acting like it.”

  “Somebody has to tell you that you’re acting like a meathead.”

  “How dare you speak to me this way? I’ll be the alpha of my pack one day.”

  “Like anyone wants a sullen alpha. And newsflash, I’m a red-tailed hawk and couldn’t care less about your supposed future position as alpha of the wolf pack. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone is able to fight and win the right instead of you.”

  Maxwell’s face reddened as he spat, “Is that because I’m a cripple?”

  “Quit playing the victim. My mother always did that and it sickened me.”

  “I’m not!”

  “You’re acting like a jerk lately. You have a limp, deal with it.”

  “It’s not my limp that’s the problem. My dad died and my mother is out there somewhere and nobody will tell me where.”

  “I know and I’m sorry, but you have to deal with that. Your uncle came all the way here to raise you. I’m sure if your mother is out there somewhere, she must have heard that your dad had died by now.”

  “My uncle just came here to take his place as alpha. He doesn’t care about me,” Maxwell replied despondently.

  “That’s not true. He might get on you sometimes, but that’s a parent’s job. I’m sure when you’re grown, your uncle will stand down from being the alpha.”

  “It’s unheard of for an alpha to leave his pack.”

  “Why don’t you ask him then? That way, you can tell him how you feel.”

  “Talking about feelings is something girls do, not boys. I bet my mother doesn’t know my father died, and that’s why she hasn’t come yet.”

  “If she wanted to be here, she’d never have left,” Melody stated.

  “You don’t know that. There are plenty of reasons she might have stayed away.”

  Melody laughed when Maxwell raised his fist to her in a threatening way, but just then her bottom lip quivered. She glanced in the clearing as a woman stumbled, falling to the ground. She raced there and leaned over the woman who was badly beaten and bloody. “Mama!”

  She began to cry as she shook her mama until she stared at her and said, “Melody?” She then closed her eyes and if not for the rise and fall of her chest, she would have thought her dead. “Wake up, Mama.” She looked up at Maxwell. “Get help, quick. If Jason did this, he might come back to finish her off.”

  Maxwell limped off and met his teacher who was frowning. Brendan was also with her, and Maxwell blurted, “We found Melody’s mama, and she’s injured.”

  Brendan and Katlyn followed Maxwell to where Carrie was sprawled out on the ground. Brendan scooped her into his arms, carrying her to his truck. Katlyn quickly folded a horse blanket in the bed for Brendan to set Carrie on.

  “I want to go with Mama,” Melody begged.

  “Fine, hop in the cab,” Brendan agreed.

  “I’m coming, too,” Maxwell said.

  “I’ll stay here with the other children,” Katlyn announced, ushering Joel and Ivan back into the schoolhouse.

  Maxwell jumped into the cab of the truck with Melody. “I’m sorry, Melody,” he comforted.

  She nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder as she wept.

  Brendan slid into the driver’s seat and slowly drove back to the main house. “Where did you find her?” Brendan asked.

  “She came stumbling out of the woods,” Melody answered. “I just knew that Jason would hurt her after how he acted last night when he came to the ranch looking for her.”

  “Let’s not pass judgment just yet. We’ll get your mother the medical attention she needs.”

  “Will she be taken to the hospital, or—”

  “Paige is good about nursing shifters back to health, or vampires, but we’ll call Dr. Evan and ask him to come out to the ranch. He treats the shifters in this area.”

  * * *

  Angus and Seth were talking outside when Brendan drove past. He rolled the window down and said, “Fetch Dr. Evans. Carrie’s been badly beaten.”

  He continued to the main house and Melody and Maxwell got out of the truck, watching as Seth lifted Carrie, carrying her inside.

  Paige met them just inside the door. Flipping her dark sunglasses up, she asked, “What do we have here? Is that Carrie?”

  “Yes, and she’s been beaten badly. The children found her in the woods,” Seth said.

  “Bring her upstairs.”

  Paige led the way and Seth placed Carrie down on the bed she’d treated many a shifter on. Seth looked around and sighed. “Good. Brendan must have the children downstairs. This is the last thing Melody needs to see right now.”

  Paige and Seth removed Carrie’s clothing and he seethed at the bruises, which covered her body. Not only that, but she had many lacerations as well, most of them superficial. Her eyes were both black and swollen almost shut.

  “Are you thinking what I am?” Seth questioned. “It almost looks like claw marks on her arms.”

  “Yes, but hard to know for sure until she wakes up to tell us who did this to her.”

  Paige and Seth gently cleaned Carrie’s body. “I can’t imagine anyone doing this to Carrie. I mean, she might have made bad choices, but nobody deserves this.”

  She was covered with a light sheet that became quickly peppered with blood. It wasn’t long before Dr. Evans came through the door, medical bag in hand. “What happened?”

  “We don’t know,” Paige said. “Brendan said the children found her in the woods.”

  “Her daughter?”

  �
�Yes, and Maxwell.”

  “It’s too bad she had to see her mother like this.” He cleaned her wounds, bandaging the worst of them before placing a gown on her, which Paige always kept in supply.

  “Was she conscious when she was brought here?”

  “No,” Paige answered. “Should she go to the hospital?”

  “Let’s wait a little longer. Besides those black eyes, her head doesn’t look like it took a blow. I need to ask the children a few questions. It might help me to determine a course of action.”

  “Why not take her to the hospital?” Seth queried.

  “Because they ask too many questions. It makes retaliation that much harder. You do plan on going after whoever did this, right?”

  “Of course. Once we figure out who that might be,” Seth replied. “I’d think it might be Jason since he was looking for her last night, but I’d rather hear Carrie say that. We can’t afford to jump to conclusions.”

  Carrie was covered with a clean sheet and Paige inserted a needle into her arm, setting a bag of saline on a tall, silver pole.

  “This is like a regular hospital,” Seth stated.

  “It comes in handy,” Paige said with a grin. “I’ve nursed my fair share of shifters back to health.”

  Seth and Dr. Evans went downstairs where a teary-eyed Melody asked, “Is she going to be okay?”

  “It’s too early to say yet, but when you found her, was she unconscious?” Dr. Evans asked.

  “Was she awake, he means, Melody?” Seth explained.

  “Yes, she stumbled into the clearing and fell on the ground. She said my name, but then closed her eyes and didn’t wake back up.”

  “Thanks, that helps. We’ll be monitoring her for the next twenty-four hours. I’ll make a decision by then if she needs to be hospitalized or not. Since she was awake when you found her, that’s a good sign.”

  “Can I stay with her?” Melody asked.

  “That’s up to your father. Perhaps you should go home until she wakes up.”

  “No!” Melody shouted. “I want to be here when she does.”

  “I can take Maxwell home,” Brendan said. “I’m sure Raphael is worried by now.”

  “I didn’t even think about calling him,” Seth said. “I guess I should do that.”

  “Don’t. I’ll tell him when I take Maxwell home,” Brendan offered.

  Melody folded her arms across her chest. “And what about Jason? Are you planning to let him get away with nearly killing my mother?”

  “Honey, we don’t know for sure if he did this or not yet. We’ll have to ask your mother when she wakes up. And call in the sheriff if he’s really responsible.”

  “But he was looking for her last night and he was angry. You know that man has beaten my mama before.”

  “Call the sheriff?” Brendan asked. “If Jason is responsible, I’ll handle it. Carrie is my responsibility as a resident of Shadow Creek.”

  “Let’s talk about it later when the children aren’t present,” Seth suggested.

  “We’re not babies,” Melody replied defiantly. “I’ll hunt that man down by myself.”

  Seth smiled. “I bet you would, but how about we wait until we know for sure?”

  “I suppose, but I want to see Mama now.”

  Seth took Melody upstairs and Brendan ran Maxwell home. Raphael met them in the drive, a curious look on his tanned face. “Why is Maxwell here? Is he sick?”

  Maxwell ran inside while Brendan told Raphael how the children had found Carrie and that she was being treated at Shadow Creek.

  “Was it Jason?”

  “Don’t know yet. We’re waiting until she wakes up to ask her.”

  “Really? That doesn’t sound like the Brendan I’ve heard so much about.”

  “We need to be sure but believe me, if it’s him, there won’t be a rock he’ll be able to hide under.”

  Raphael thanked Brendan for bringing Maxwell home and said, “Keep me updated, would you?”

  “Will do. I think Seth and Melody will be at Shadow Creek, keeping a watch over Carrie today.”

  “I’m glad. Melody was quite upset and wanted us to find her mother last night.”

  “I did look, but she wasn’t home. I suppose I should have searched the ranch for her.”

  “How were you supposed to know what would happen, or that she might have been in serious danger? If it turns out to be Jason, you can count on us to help you any way we can.”

  “I’m not sure I’d feel good about that. The last time the werewolves helped me, your brother was killed.”

  “That wasn’t your fault, Brendan. Nate was like that, willing to put his life on the line to help another shifter. I’ll have the pack ready just in case it’s Jason. Preparations are essential.”

  Brendan left, and Raphael went inside and told Palina what happened. He then glanced around. “Where is Maxwell?”

  “In his room. He headed straight there when he came home.”

  “I should talk to him. Maxwell and Melody found Carrie badly beaten today.”

  “Jason Traxler?”

  “Not sure yet. Carrie is still unconscious.”

  “Where are Seth and Melody?”

  “For now, Melody won’t leave Carrie’s side and somehow, I don’t think Seth will until she comes around.”

  Palina just shook her head. “I just don’t understand him. Lately he’s been acting so strange, and now he’s worried about a woman who neglected his child?”

  “He might in some way feel responsible for not trying to help Carrie get away from Jason.”

  “That’s dumb. You can’t fix stupid especially since she doesn’t want the help.”

  “I’m not going to argue that point since I don’t personally know Carrie. And I certainly am not about to judge her decisions. They speak for themselves. I just hope she recovers and wakes up soon. Melody’s been through enough already. I’ve seen what happens firsthand when a child loses a parent.”

  Raphael excused himself and took a deep breath before going into Maxwell’s room, knocking and waiting for him to open the door. When he did, Raphael was taken aback when Maxwell threw his arms around him. When he pulled away, he blurted, “Oh, Uncle Raphael. I feel so horrible. I was angry and ran from school and when Melody found me, we had an argument. Th-Then her mother came stumbling into a clearing and collapsed. She looked horrible. She was b-bleeding, and both of her eyes were so swollen she could barely see Melody.”

  “Was she conscious?”

  “Only for a moment. She recognized Melody and then was out.”

  Raphael sat on Maxwell’s bed and he joined him. “It’s too bad you had to see that, but if you hadn’t been there, nobody might have ever found her until it was too late.”

  Maxwell nodded. “But what if she doesn’t wake up? I’d hate for Melody to lose her mother. I wouldn’t wish losing a parent on anyone. I’ve lost two. That’s why I can’t quit thinking about where my mother might be.”

  “If I knew, believe me, I’d tell you.”

  “I believe you since you never even met my mother.”

  “No, I was living in Montana for years. Now I wish I hadn’t been. Losing your dad was hard on me, too. It’s too late for regrets, but I still wish I had gotten to know him as a man and father.”

  “Were you close when you were younger?”

  “Yes. There’s an old tree out back we climbed all the time.”

  Maxwell’s eyes welled up with tears, but he wiped them back with the arm of his shirt. “I’d love to see that tree.”

  Raphael stood and Maxwell joined him outside. A breeze was blowing from the north and there would be a full moon tonight. It always stirred up the werewolves, even though they didn’t need the light of the bright orb in the sky to shift. There was nothing like a good hunt on a full moon.

  They made way for a tree, which towered above every other. It was old and mighty, withstanding the test of time. What Raphael had loved the best about it was how the branches
were low enough for a boy to reach and climb.

  Raphael pointed out a carving on the side of the tree. “Your father and I carved our names into the trunk of the tree. See?”

  Maxwell searched the trunk and his face lit up when he saw the words that read, Nate and Raphael, alpha twins carved into the tree. He fingered the words and asked, “What does ‘alpha twins’ mean?”

  “Didn’t you know I was your father’s twin?”

  Maxwell screwed up his face. “No. You don’t look like him at all, and you’re much taller.”

  “Fraternal twins, actually. They never look the same as identical. We were supposed to both take our place as alpha, but I knew Nate wanted it more than me. I wanted to explore the world.”

  “Is it true you actually lived with the full-blood werewolves?”

  “Yes, but that is part of my past now. Just know that I’ve served as a protector for many years, and I’ll protect this pack like I’ve never left.”

  “Can I climb the tree?”

  “Yes, but be careful. I’d hate for you to hurt yourself.”

  Maxwell’s eyes darkened and he said, “Because I’m a cripple?”

  “You’re hardly a cripple, and I don’t see that when I look at you. I see a determined young man who will be a great alpha one day. Everything you’ve been through in your young life has made you stronger when you don’t even think you are.”

  Maxwell nodded and made way for the lower branch, grabbed it before swinging his legs over the branch, pulling himself up. Raphael felt very proud of his nephew and watched as he made his way up the tree until he was ten feet off the ground.

  * * *

  Maxwell sat on a branch, looked out over the werewolf country, and saw something on the edge of the woods. It was only for a fraction of a second, but it was something he wanted to investigate.

  He swung his legs off the branch and his feet felt for the lower one. He panicked. “Uncle, I’m going to fall!”

  “You’re fine. Just feel for that branch with your toes. It’s right there.”

  His heart beat hard, but he was finally able to find that tree limb and made his way back down the tree until he was on solid ground. He sighed and struggled for his breathing to return to normal. “That was scary for a minute.”