by Leela Ash
“What the hell is he doing here?” the hybrid shifter demanded. Milo was too startled to respond and struggled to fight Max off. But he was still in his human form, and Max wasted no time in sinking his teeth into Milo’s throat, but not deeply enough to do any damage.
Milo shouted in anger and shifted into his wolf form, knocking Max away. Max snarled, standing protectively in front of Sadie. Milo lunged at him once his transformation was complete and Max ran forward, knocking Milo out of the air. He slid away, glowering at Max, and retaliated with a tackle. They rolled in the dirt together, fighting for dominance until finally, Max pinned Milo and bared his teeth.
He heard Sadie yelp as he finished what he started, tearing into Milo’s throat and tasting the flood of blood as Milo struggled to escape. He fought his hardest, but it only made matters worse and Milo soon grew limp beneath Max, the life drained out of him.
Sadie looked away, both horrified and a little relieved by the display. Max had come for her after all. Somehow, he had known she was in danger, and he was there to make sure she got out of it alive. At least, if he could survive himself. The hybrid shifters were terrifying, and it took quite a bit of strength to take them out.
Max settled his brown eyes on Sadie, and suddenly, she felt a wave of comfort wash over her. The terror and panic that had been nearly driving her insane diminished and she stepped backwards, allowing Max to jump in front of her. He sank low to the ground, ready to pounce, a deep growl emanating from deep within his throat. This time, it was personal.
“Look at this little joker, thinking he’s going to take us on,” the hybrid shifter exclaimed, laughing heartily. “Let’s show him what we’re made of.”
Sadie’s heart sank, and she couldn’t help but look away. The two men were shapeshifting now, their huge, ugly bodies contorting menacingly until they were towering high above Max and Sadie both, their thick, muscular bodies covered with fur. One of them let out an ear-splitting roar, and soon, Sadie found herself locking eyes with it as it charged toward them, ready to fight to the death.
24.
As soon as the roar sounded throughout the forest, Max was ready. He knew he had to direct their attention away from Sadie. If they were able to follow through on their sacrifice, it was likely to be an energy strong enough to rival that of his blood magic.
Milo must have known that Max still loved Sadie with his entire being. As far as the wolf was concerned, she was his blood now. They had been together through the good times and the cruel, and as far as magic was concerned, they were tied intimately in that way.
“Max, look out!”
He whipped around just in time to catch sight of one of the hybrid shifter’s giant bear claws lifting into the air. He went hurtling toward the ground and hit painfully. It knocked the wind out of him for a moment, but he struggled to his feet, determined to protect Sadie at all costs.
Another attack was coming, he could feel it, and he moved out of the way just in time to abate it. He was going to have to think on his feet this time. The hybrid shifters were huge, and very powerful. If he wasn’t careful, they were going to destroy him. He couldn’t let that happen. If he was destroyed, then Sadie would be destroyed as well. That was unacceptable.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. There was fire here. And a lot of it. He ran around the woods, having one of the hybrid shifters chase after him. Just as the other began to run at him, Max launched himself forward, climbing onto the back of the bear shifter that was heading toward the woods in search of Max and its companion, and sank his teeth into the bear’s throat.
It let out a loud yell, and started falling forward, falling directly into the fire. Max could hear Sadie gasp in fear and surprise, and the hybrid shifter struggled only for a few moments until the life was drained out of it.
That was one down, and only one left to go. Max searched the area, spotting the other hybrid shifter a few yards away, heading toward him. He would have to be fast, because the hybrid shifter was strong. However, they were also clumsy. He could use this to his advantage.
He ran forward, the rage in his chest mounting. Who were these hybrids to think they could get away with trying to hurt Sadie and destroy the magic that made shapeshifting possible for the wolf shifters of Stonybrooke? They had a lot of nerve showing their faces here and thinking there would be no repercussions for their actions. Max was going to show them just how naïve it was for them to presume they would get away with something like this here. This was his town, and Sadie was his woman. They would never get away with this. Not if it took the rest of his life to get his revenge.
But he wouldn’t have to wait that long. Because the hybrid shifter was in front of him now. It contorted around, attempting to swipe a large, clumsy paw at him. But Max was too fast. By the time the bear shifter had righted itself in an effort to relocate its target, Max was already making his move, launching himself with his powerful back legs until he was properly secured to the bear’s throat. It let out a strangled cried as Max’s teeth found the jugular vein, and soon, they were both falling to the ground as the bear was drained of all life.
“Max, are you okay?”
Max was snapped out of the violence of the attack, distracted by the voice of the woma[TM3][A4]n he loved. He shapeshifted quickly back into his human form and ran to her, untying the tight knots in the ropes that were binding her body. When she was free, she embraced him passionately, and they kissed, deeply, both of them grateful for the chance to see each other again.
“I’m so sorry,” Sadie said, her voice dissolving into sobs. “I shouldn’t have said the things I said. I never should have. Not even once. Not from the beginning. Not fifteen years ago and not now. I’m so sorry.”
She was bordering on hysteria, and Max touched her cheek gently, comforting her with just a look.
“I’ll always forgive you. Now, come on, let’s get the hell out of here.”
Sadie nodded, and Max took her by the waist and led her out of the forest.
25.
Sadie looked at Max, the words in her heart almost too heavy to speak out loud. She had made quite the fool of herself out in the forest, but instead of feeling embarrassed about it, she was relieved. She might never have been able to say these words to him otherwise. But now that she had, it seemed like everything was going to be better between them.
“You got quite a burn there,” Max said, shaking his head angrily.
“It’s going to be fine,” Sadie said quickly, trying to move her foot away so Max’s attention would be diverted.
But it wasn’t that easy, and she knew it. He was in full protective mode, and she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of warmth surge through her body. He cared for her. He loved her. And he would always protect her. That was the one thing she could always count on.
“I’m going to bandage it up, okay? Make sure you take good care of this. Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”
“No, I just want to stick around in my own house for a few days. Every time I leave, it seems to lead to nothing but trouble.
Max chuckled. “I kind of get what you mean.”
Sadie smiled despite herself and shook her head.
“Thank you. For saving my life like that. I don’t know how to thank you enough.”
“Maybe start by trying to stay out of trouble,” Max said. But there was a lightness to his voice. He was joking with her.
“I will definitely put that on my bucket list,” Sadie said, sighing.
Max finished bandaging her wound, and then held his broad hand out to her. She took it, and he helped her to her feet.
“It’s going to get better fast. Try not to worry too much about it. I know how you can get. But your leg isn’t going to fall off or anything.”
Sadie’s eyes sparkled. “I know that,” she said quietly.
They stood in the hallway, between the doorway to the bathroom and her bedroom, their eyes locked intently.
“I love you,” she
said suddenly, taking Max’s hand in hers. “My mother… she hid the letters. I had no idea…”
She was on the verge of tears again, but Max’s hand was on her cheek now, ready to catch them before they fell.
“I love you, too,” he said.
Their bodies were pressed suddenly together, and Sadie gasped as Max’s tongue found itself inside her mouth. She had been waiting for this for so long. There were no secrets between them. All the garbage had been cleaned out and all that was left were two people who were madly in love with each other. She had never felt luckier.
Max lifted her gingerly from the floor, pressing her body against his strong, broad chest and kissing her gently on the nape of the neck. She gasped at the unexpected pleasure that coursed its way through her and found that he was carrying her into her bedroom.
He laid her down, carefully removing every article of clothing on her body, eyeing it and touching each exposed part of her gently, as if it were the first time he had ever seen her. When she saw his face, she found that it was showing the most emotion she had ever seen on it. He was happy. Truly happy.
Suddenly, he was on top of her, his lips seizing hers and filling her with an electric pleasure that nearly made her cry out in ecstasy. He wasted no time in prying her legs apart, dipping his hand between them to sample the sweet nectar of her longing.
The feeling of his fingers against her middle made her shudder in pleasure, and then her entire body was electrified by the abrupt, sensual charge of his member as he pushed himself inside her.
Sadie covered her mouth as she cried out loudly, and Max held her gaze, the electricity between them palpable. Suddenly, his mouth was against her neck, his hands traveling every inch of her body, sending slight thrills and pools of heat all over her. She squirmed under his touch, overwhelmed but desperate for more, until he thrust himself inside fully, enveloping himself within her.
She moaned deeply, arching her back as the feeling of his thickness consumed her with pleasure. Sadie bit her bottom lip as she felt herself contract around him, filling them both with a deep, carnal gratification.
Max’s eyes flashed at her, and for a brief moment, Sadie could swear she saw the wolf staring out at her. She gazed at it in disbelief, and then finally tore her gaze away as Max began to pleasure her in earnest.
His body moved across hers, expertly teasing out every bit of gratification he could. He knew her body better than she knew it herself, and soon, they were joined as one on her bed, inseparable and united, together in a way she had never been with anybody else.
But, with Max, she knew this bond between them was unbreakable. They were together. Forever. And there was nothing that would ever tear them apart.
She held onto him, breathing softly against his shoulder as she felt the incredible wave of ecstasy begin washing over her. They were building toward their climax together, and she tensed up, catching Max’s eye. He answered her without words, and suddenly, his powerful body was plunging deep inside her, sending a surge of heat throughout her entire body.
She quaked beneath him as she climaxed, and Max growled in pleasure, his hard member erupting in a powerful orgasm. She felt him empty himself in her, thrusting again and again until every last drop of himself had been spent.
They collapsed onto the bed together, tangled up in each other, kissing frantically and passionately, afraid to let each other go after so long.
“I love you,” Sadie whispered, touching Max’s face tenderly. “Stay with me forever.”
“I always have, and I always will,” Max said, gathering her into his strong arms.
They stayed like that until Sadie’s eyes grew heavy, and she nuzzled against the man she loved, perfectly content for the first time in years.
She sat up suddenly.
“We should have dinner with my mom.”
“What?” Max asked incredulously.
Sadie sighed. “I want her to know what you did for us all. What you’ve done for me. She was trying to protect me, you know. We both took it personally, but she loves me. And I think, once she sees the real you, she will love you too.”
Max leaned back and considered this. Finally, he sighed.
“All right,” he said, sighing. “I guess I should get to know my future mother-in-law a little better…”
“Mother-in-law?” Sadie whispered.
Max looked at her and grinned.
“And you, my future wife?” he asked softly.
“Yes!” Sadie exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. “Oh, yes.”
Max chuckled, and they held each other, glad that, after so long, they were finally where they belonged. Together.
THE END
Shifter Redeemed
Stonybrooke Shifters
Leela Ash
Copyright ©2018 by Leela Ash. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic of mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
1.
“Looks like everything is accounted for,” Mr. Grier stated, handing a manila folder, thick with paperwork, over to the young woman across from him.
Ella Smith smiled in relief, her gentle blue eyes bright as they skimmed the paperwork she’d just received. She was so fortunate to be able to take on ownership of a sprawling five-acre parcel of land in Stonybrooke. It was exactly what she had been hoping for; a fresh start for herself and her son. They both desperately needed it.
“Thank you, Mr. Grier. You won’t regret this!”
She beamed at him and he offered her his best attempt at a reserved smile. It wasn’t quite what she had been hoping for, but that was fine. She had other things to worry about now. Things like what she was going to do with the large, rundown farmhouse that was standing on her property.
Ella’s heart thudded with excitement as she headed out to her car with a spring in her step. It had almost seemed too good to be true; an affordable mortgage that allowed her complete freedom in the town of Stonybrooke. But somehow, fortune had managed to favor her for once.
Property in this town was affordable and beautiful. She assumed it was because of the shifters that were rumored to be around the place, but then, that didn’t make sense. The reporters had been very firm in announcing that whatever supposed “proof” that the rest of the country had that shifters walked among them was absolutely ridiculous. It had been a cult conspiracy all along, something to lure in vulnerable people who wanted to be part of something odd and exciting.
There had even been a supposed shifter university set up in Stonybrooke that apparently capitalized off of the whole ordeal. It was probably just a ruse to float the little town’s economy, and it had seemed to work well for a while. Even popular businesses like Howler Inc. played off the image to get their athletic equipment to sell to kids who wanted animal-like prowess on the field. Maybe feeling closer to “wolf shifters” gave them a boost of confidence. It was clever marketing, but there was something a little bit unethical about it. At least Ella thought so. And apparently, the rest of the country did too, as it was all being very openly discredited and now, land in this place was apparently a steal.
So much the better though, Ella decided. She didn’t want to be stuck another second longer back in the rut she had found herself in out on the coast. California had its merits, sure, but she would never be able to justify to herself staying with a man who was a cheating, alcoholic scoundrel.
No, it was better that she found this place. It was a steal, really, and she would never have to go back to Jason. Mikey would miss his father, sure, but really, the asshole wasn’t much to miss. He would rather spend his money on booze than on his family. Worse, he had a tendency to spend his money on women who weren’t his wife. Thank God he had agreed to the divorce with no contest. Of course he had, though. He’d been an adulterer. She had every right to go after him for all he w
as worth.
It wasn’t much. And it was better to just get it over with as quickly as possible and start fresh. Avoid as much pain as she possibly could. There was no other option.
She got into the car and smiled to herself. It was time to go pick up Mikey from the daycare and head out to the house now that it was officially theirs. It was going to be a whole new journey now, but that was okay. Everything was going to work out. She had a good feeling about this place, even if it was the center of weird shifter controversy. At least the history was rich, right? And the property was beautiful and natural and exactly the kind of area she had always imagined raising children in. She’d always wanted two or three, but it hadn’t been meant to be.
At least she would have a new start in a beautiful town with her little boy. That was all that mattered. She could worry about the rest when they got to it.
2.
“You and your father always thought you were so tough. But what now, hotshot? Where are you without one of the most notably crazy elders to back you up in your little conspiracies?”
Luke James scowled at Pierson, biting back a growl as the man’s taunt lingered in the air. The wolf was angry.
“You have no right to talk about my father like that!” Luke snarled.
“Whatever you say, Luke-de-Luke.”
Pierson’s eyes glimmered. “Maybe, if you were part of the pack, I would give a shit, but as it stands, you stopped being my problem a long time ago.”
“I don’t want anything to do with a pack that would turn their backs on their own. On my father. He was an elder, you know,” Luke spat. “And honestly, because he was such a good man, I once believed that all elders deserve respect. I don’t need to hear it. I don’t want anything to do with you or the council or the elders. You have nothing I want.”
