Her Guardian Shifter

by Karen Whiddon

  Struggling to absorb this information, JJ shook her head. “That sounds like the plot from an action-adventure movie. What happened to the Pack Protector?”

  “Unfortunately, he died, too. He was one of my friends.”

  “I’m sorry.” Staring, JJ didn’t know what else to say. The craziness Eric had been living with since his son was born seemed unimaginable.

  “Who’s DeLeon?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

  “One of the Pack Protectors assigned to the case.”

  Immediately, relief filled her. Shawn was human. He might share the same last name, but no way could he be the same DeLeon Eric knew.

  “Why?” Eric queried.

  “I used to know someone with that last name,” she said. “My ex, actually. But he’s human, so they’re not related. Which is what I expected, but still...”

  “With all the crazy things happening to me, you never know. Anyway,” Eric continued, “before I left California, Yolanda’s mother and sister were making noises about wanting to see the baby. It’s entirely possible one of them might have been behind this.”

  “But they live here in New York?”

  “Her mom does,” he admitted. “But they’ve been estranged since before we married. I have no idea where the sister lives.”

  “Yet you still moved here?”

  He sighed. “To be honest, I didn’t even consider her mother when I chose Forestwood. I’d almost completely forgotten about her. It wasn’t until Garth was kidnapped and I started racking my brain that I remembered.”

  The thought that his ex’s estranged mother might have taken his son seemed staggering, but JJ guessed the reality of Eric’s life made it a very real possibility. “Do you really think...” She couldn’t finish.

  “I do.” His grim tone matched the tenseness in his jawline. “Especially if they’re even half as crazy as Yolanda was. At the very least, it’s a possibility I don’t want to discount. So we’re going to Poughkeepsie to pay them a visit.”

  Chapter 18

  They were a few miles south of Kingston when JJ’s cell phone rang. “It’s Rhonda,” she said, frowning. “I feel terrible sneaking out of her house like that. I should tell her something.”

  “Don’t answer,” he urged. “We’ll fill her in later.”

  Though her stomach churned, she let the call go to voice mail. “She’s going to worry, you know. And she’s been a good friend.”

  “How long have you known her?”

  “Not long. I met her when I moved to Forestwood a little over a month ago.” She glanced sideways at him, just as her phone beeped to tell her Rhonda had left a message. “Why?”

  He shrugged. “Just making conversation. Rhonda’s been great. She seems like a nice woman. A bit flirty, but nice. But I promise you, the less she knows, the better. In about an hour, Linda Felts and the others are going to descend on her, wanting to know where we are and if she’s heard from us.”

  “Which is going to confuse her.”

  “True. But how much better if she doesn’t feel compelled to lie?”

  He had a point.

  “I left a message for my new boss, explaining I was going to have to pass up on the job. I told her I was sorry and that I’d try to come by and explain later. At least that way she won’t be expecting me.”

  “Good idea.”

  They stopped for gas in New Paltz. After filling up, Eric typed an address into his GPS. Once he’d finished, his cell rang. “It’s Linda Felts. I’m going to have to ditch my phone. As a matter of fact, you should, too.”

  Wondering if he might have gone a little crazy, she eyed him. “What? Why?”

  “Because they can track our phones. They don’t even need a warrant.” He cruised to a stop on the shoulder and got out. When he climbed back in, he smiled. “I put my phone under the front tire. When I go forward, the car will crush it. Let me have yours.” He held out his hand.

  “No. I’m kind of attached to this one.” She cradled it protectively. “It’s new. I just got it when I moved to Forestwood.”

  “I’ll buy you a new one.”

  She didn’t like the idea of being without a phone. “But all my numbers are in here.”

  “I’ll take out your SIM card. When you get a new one, we’ll use that card to retrieve all your info.”

  Reluctantly, she handed over her cell. Again, he stepped outside, and walked around to the other front tire. When he returned, he squeezed her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay.”

  Though she nodded, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d made a huge mistake.

  When he put the vehicle in Drive and pulled forward, she covered her ears with her hands. Childish, maybe, but she didn’t want to hear the awful crunching sound when her iPhone was destroyed.

  As they continued on, following the directions given by the dashboard GPS, JJ tried to relax.

  “You’re really attached to your phone, aren’t you?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I am. I like knowing if I get in trouble, I have a way to reach help.”

  “Look inside the glove box,” he said. “There are two budget cell phones in there. Pick one. And yes, it’s only temporary. For now, it will have to do.”

  After doing as he asked, she removed the plastic case from one of the phones. “When did you get these?”

  “Before I left Cali. You never know when something like that might come in handy.”

  Finally, they pulled up in front of a modest raised ranch. The robotic voice of the GPS announced they had arrived at their destination.

  Suddenly nervous, JJ eyed the house. “Now what?”

  “This is where Yolanda’s mom lives. I’m going to ring the bell and, once she answers, introduce myself.”

  “Do you think she has Garth?”

  Grim-faced, he shrugged. “I don’t know. But I figure I’ll be able to tell from her reaction.”

  “Just in case, do you want me to go around to the back and scope things out?” Her stomach might have twisted at the idea, but if Eric thought she should, she’d do it.

  “Not yet. I don’t know who all lives here. Just wait here and keep an eye out.”

  “Okay.” She watched as he made his way to the front door. More than anything, she hoped little Garth would be found safe. Here in the arms of his misguided but loving grandmother rather than with some demented cult intent on doing him harm.

  The front door opened, though Eric didn’t go inside. As he stood conversing with whoever had answered his knock, JJ guessed from the tense set of his shoulders that it wasn’t going well. A moment later, the door closed and Eric made his way back to the SUV.

  “Yolanda’s mother, Sophia, answered, but she didn’t even recognize me,” he said as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “Of course, we’ve only met once. Another woman who claimed to be her caregiver told me Sophia has dementia. If that’s true—and I believe it is—there’s zero chance she was the one who came after Garth.”

  “I’m sorry.” JJ squeezed his shoulder. “I know this is disheartening. What do you want to do next?”

  He blinked. “I’m not sure. I was so convinced she had Garth, and now...” Her heart squeezed as he hung his head and took a deep breath.

  “You’re tired and not thinking straight,” she said. “Maybe you should get some rest. Things might appear clearer in the morning.”

  “I’d like to find a place to change,” he said, surprising her. “This area has lots of woods and thickets. Sometimes being my other self brings clarity to my mind. Let’s find a motel to stay for the night. Maybe one near a restaurant, so we can grab supper before dark. I don’t want to hunt on an empty stomach. I’m apt to kill too many small animals, and that would be noticed.”

  Heart pounding, she took a deep b
reath. “Would you mind if I changed and hunted with you?”

  Among her kind, this was a completely ordinary request. Wolves were by nature pack animals, and the more the merrier. She wasn’t sure how that was among bears. It seemed to her that, in nature, they were much more solitary.

  Eric appeared to be thinking while he drove. Though he didn’t answer her right away, she had a feeling she’d crossed some forbidden boundary she’d known nothing about. Hurt stabbed her, swift and sharp, but she squashed it quickly. She had no right to expect him to do things just because her species considered it normal.

  “Or do the Vedjorn not do that sort of thing?” she asked, more to give him an easy way out.

  “Not usually,” he admitted. “Though it’s been a long time since I left Norway. In California, I mostly hunted alone. My ex came with me a time or two, but since our kind are few and far between, we’d both grown used to shifting by ourselves.”

  Hiding her disappointment, JJ managed a friendly smile. “It’s okay. I understand. I guess you can go change, and then when you come back, I’ll go out and do my thing.”

  Jaw tight, he shot a quick glance at her. “I actually wouldn’t mind your company.”

  Her breath caught. “Okay. Sounds good then. Let’s change before we find a motel and get dinner. After we hunt, we might not need to eat again.”

  Though he jerked his head in a nod, he didn’t look at her. “Are you certain you...”

  Since he let his words trail off, she tried to guess what he was asking. “Won’t be intimidated because a bear and a wolf aren’t normally running buddies? Of course not.”

  Now he glanced at her quickly, before returning his gaze to the road. “I was thinking more along the lines of won’t find me repulsive. Believe me, I’m well aware of how the Pack regards my people.”

  “The Pack is a group of individuals,” she pointed out. “Not every single one thinks the same way as all the others. You know that.”

  At first he didn’t respond. Finally, he gave a small nod. “Perhaps you’re right.” But his tone indicated he didn’t believe her.

  “Look,” she said. “I’ve never met a bear shifter. But I’ve never been one of those who feel wolves are the best. Yes, there are more of us, but I recognize the others. Lion, tiger, panther, all the big cats—I’d love to meet one. And even though our town is well-known for harboring a Drakkor, I never witnessed her changing into a dragon.”

  His half smile made her heart do a quick flip-flop. Though still a long way from appearing happy, this was the best she’d seen him since Garth had been taken. “What are you trying to say?” he asked wryly.

  “That my experience is limited, that’s all. Heck, I’ve never even changed with other wolves before. Well, except for my mother. I have to admit that I’m very interested to see what it’s like when you shift into bear.”

  “Probably much the same as when you become wolf.” His expression grew serious. “You do know what happens after we change back to human, right?”

  A tiny thrill went through her, settling into her core. “Yes,” she answered, her face heating. “I’m aware.” More than aware, actually. She actively hoped they could act on the fierce stab of desire they were sure to feel. As if she hadn’t been fantasizing about doing just that.

  “Don’t worry, I can control myself,” he said, dashing her hopes. “I won’t touch you.”

  She wished she had the nerve to speak, to let him know she wanted him to touch her, aching for him with every fiber of her being. It had become a constant companion, this need for him.

  They both were quiet as they drove to a large, wooded park they’d passed earlier. Inside, JJ’s heart pounded and she felt jittery, though she tried to seem calm and composed. She had no idea what Eric was thinking, whether he regretted whatever impulse had led him to agree to hunt with her.

  They pulled into the deserted parking lot. At this time of the year, the woods were empty.

  “Good,” he said, sounding satisfied as he parked and killed the engine. “We have the place to ourselves.”

  Struck by a sudden attack of nerves, she opened her door and got out. “Let’s do this,” she said, sounding much more confident than she felt as she strode off into the woods. In the cold night air, her breath made little puffs ahead of her. Luckily, the waning moon provided enough light that they were able to make their way as humans. Once they became their beasts, their animal eyes would adjust much more quickly to the darkness.

  He hurried to catch up to her. “You don’t have to, you know. I won’t think less of you if you want to back out.”

  “I get it.” Slowing her pace, she exhaled. “If I seem a bit nervous, it’s because of me, not you. I’ve never let anyone besides my mother see me shape-shift.”

  “Again, you don’t have to. We can go our separate ways and meet up at a designated place when we’re done, if you want.”

  “No.” She stopped and turned to face him. “Let me have this experience, please. I consider you a friend and I’m looking forward to this.” As she spoke, she felt a rush of expectation. Her words were true. Even if she wished Eric was more than a friend, at least she had that.

  “Okay.” He pointed to a narrow, apparently less used trail that veered off from the main one. “Let’s try that way.”

  Suppressing a shiver, she did as he suggested. The cold had begun to seep through the soles of her shoes, chilling her bones. But that wouldn’t last for long. Once she became wolf, her heavy winter fur would protect her.

  Inside, her wolf paced. Already awake, her beast knew she would soon be let out to run. Anticipation overrode the last of JJ’s human nerves.

  Next to her, she sensed Eric’s beast doing the same.

  He caught her looking and nodded. “Raring to go. How about you?”

  “The same.” If only she could slow her racing heart.

  Finally, they came to a small clearing and stopped. A large fallen tree off to one side would be the perfect place to stash their clothing. All around them were the faint sounds of nocturnal nature.

  “Do you want to go first or shall I?” he asked.

  The idea of stripping off her clothes in front of him and changing to wolf while he watched made her feel dizzy. “You, please. I want to see what happens when you become bear.”

  He stared at her hard, his face expressionless. “Okay. Whatever you do, don’t let fear get the best of you. As bear, I’m pretty large and threatening, but I won’t hurt you.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  At her response, he shrugged. “All right then. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Without waiting for her to respond, he peeled off his coat and placed it on the fallen tree. When he next proceeded to undo his belt, her mouth went dry. While a more polite person would have looked away, she kept her gaze trained on him, unwilling to miss a single second of this. For once, she wished for more light and less darkness, though she counted herself lucky that she was able to see him at all.

  Next he removed his shirt, his skin gleaming in the moonlight. His muscles rippled with each movement, making her long to touch him. Luckily, her feet felt rooted in place as she waited for him to take off the rest of his clothes.

  He stepped out of his shoes and socks without looking up. Now his jeans and underwear were all that remained. She held her breath, the anticipation building in her, even as her wolf snarled with impatience.

  The jeans went and then, while she shamelessly ogled him, he dropped the boxers. She gulped and blinked. She had a few seconds’ impression of him, impossibly large and already incredibly aroused, before he dropped to all fours on the forest floor and initiated his change.

  Instead of the sparkling lights that surrounded a wolf shifting, she saw ripples of energy. Which made sense, because the change from human to bear had to be more p
owerful than human to wolf. While she watched, his perfect masculine body contorted. His bones stretched and elongated, and fur began to appear on his previously smooth skin.

  And then, so suddenly she jumped back in surprise, a large brown bear reared up in front of her. Powerful, strong and breathtaking. It—he—eyed her for a moment before lumbering off into the underbrush.

  Damn. Heart racing, JJ felt her fingers tremble as she fumbled to rid herself of her clothes. Finally, they were off, the frigid air bringing goose bumps to her naked skin. Like Eric had done, she also got down on her hands and knees, loving the feel of the damp earth and rustling leaves under her.

  Once more she inhaled deeply, and she, too, began to change. Around her, the usual sparkling lights reassured her, even as she grimaced at the mild discomfort while bones lengthened and changed shape. For her, becoming wolf always felt like this, slightly painful and also invigorating. Though much smaller in body, she wasn’t as fast as Eric, though once she gave herself over to her wolf she lost all sense of chronological time. As wolf, she lived in the moment.

  Finally, her change complete, she lifted her muzzle to the wind to locate Eric’s scent. Tangy and sharp as it was, she quickly located it, and loped off after him. When she caught him, he playfully rolled, inviting her to tag him with her nose. Once she had, she did the same, leaping and spinning in a manner more like a pup than a full grown she-wolf. It had been years since she’d felt this carefree and playful. Overjoyed, she grinned.

  They played tag for a good while. Though he outweighed her by twice as much, Eric was gentle with her, careful of his massive claws and sharp teeth. For her part, she tried to do the same, though a couple times she nipped him in her excitement. He never protested or retaliated, making her wonder if he even felt anything through his thick fur coat.

  If anyone had been watching, the sight of a massive bear and a good-sized wolf running together might have seemed like something miraculous. Or at least unusual. But as they chased each other and played, a deep happiness filled JJ’s wolf self, a joyful contentment that even overrode her need to hunt. Once or twice, as a very young wolf pup, she’d played with similar abandon, until her mother had ended the hunt. She’d never thought she would feel this way again.