Remote in the Shadows: A Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance

by Noelle Rahn-Johnson

  She realizes what she's done and jerks her hand back. She used to be a very touchy person. Touching people on the arm when talking, laughing. She misses the positive human contact.

  He grabs her wrist, softly, just enough that her gaze flashes to meet his. She knows he can see that the movement he made has startled her, alarmed her.

  He lets go immediately, seeing her afraid of him. "I'm sorry, Addison. I didn't mean to startle you. It was just nice that you reached out to me. I've been afraid to touch you."

  "I like to be touched." She whispers. "I crave it. But I've been in a…bad relationship for so long. I don't really remember anymore what any other touch feels like other than the negative kind. Hurtful and mean."

  Addison is ready to cry at the information she just told to Parker. She can feel her eyes pricking with unshed tears and turns away, ducking her head, allowing her long hair to hide her face from him. She's only known this man for less than twenty-four hours and already she's telling him her problems, her deepest secrets.

  She knows he could use the information she told him against her. She basically admitted to him that she's been in an abusive relationship. Now, she's afraid of what will happen. Will he call the cops? Turn her in? She's not ready to tell him more about her past, but she needs him to understand that she's fragile. She's going to need time to trust him.

  Addison can feel his hand move her hair away from her face and he's leaning forward. She can't stop the flinch when his hand comes into view under her hair. He's only trying to move it out of the way so he can see her face better.

  "Hey, it's okay. You can trust me. I won't hurt you. I've brought you here to my home to help you."

  She nods her head, "I know, and I thank you so much. I'm just not ready to tell you everything yet. Okay? Can you respect that, for now?" She wipes away the fallen tears with her other hand and sniffles.

  "Yeah, I can. I just hope you can tell me soon so I know how to expect what's coming." He smiles and swipes his thumb over her tear-streaked cheek.

  For once she doesn't flinch at the contact. She closes her eyes and just breathes deep, trying to relax in another man's presence, the soft touch so different.

  He's so tender and sweet when his hand touches her cheek, and slowly moves her hair up and over her ear. He's a beautiful man. He has black hair and the prettiest light blue eyes Addison has ever seen. Straight nose and strong jawline. A solid body and muscular chest and shoulders. She noticed that the first day at breakfast. He was wearing a tee shirt and jeans. She could see the bulging of muscles outlined under his shirt then.

  Addison couldn't look up at this well-defined man. If Derek ever found out she was here and found she looked at another man in any way, he would beat her senseless. He'd done it before.

  Addison had noticed small things already in the home. Like maybe he does live here alone. She'd observed a few minor traces of a woman's touch here and there, but nothing clearly saying a woman lives here currently.

  Addison still has her eyes closed when suddenly she feels the bed dip and little hands pull on the side of her shirt. London has woken up and she wipes her tears quickly away, not wanting her daughter to see her sadness. She beats back the negative emotions, pushing them down into her stomach, and focuses on her one true love, London Sophia. Her reason for existing.

  "Hey there, sleepy girl! Should we change you and get ready to go shopping?" Addison sniffs and shows her daughter a brave face, smiling wide.

  London giggles and the sound makes Addison's heart feel lighter. She loves her little girl with everything she is.

  Derek had learned to tolerate London, and she had learned to tolerate him. She'd figured out fast there was no needing to cry unless there was something wrong.

  Derek didn't like her crying, and went after Addison to shut her up, which only made London cry more. Addison figured London had perhaps learned by watching Derek, and that if she stopped crying, he would stop beating Addison.

  London never cried anymore, which is a good thing, but Addison wants her to never see that again. She wants for her to be happy and laugh. Every child should be able to laugh and cry when needed. Emotions are free. London and Addison; they weren't free. To do anything. Until now.

  Chapter Four

  Addison wants to check on the insurance for the car, hopefully to get it fixed, but she doesn't want them to alert the police. Or Derek. Just in case he reported the car stolen.

  Derek has two vehicles, a truck and his car. Addison wasn't allowed to drive either, even though she kept her license valid. She only took his car when she needed it. Milk, bread, whatever, and she always made sure she put gas back in.

  Derek would check the mileage occasionally to see what Addison had been doing. If he decided she'd been disobedient, and he randomly did so for any reason, he would beat her. In his mind taking his vehicle to the store to get necessities just wasn't an excuse and he figured she needed to be taught a lesson to make her more compliant.

  Addison almost gave in and let him break her, once, but that was before she knew she was for sure pregnant with London. Addison had gotten into the tub, filled it with hot water, and sliced each of her wrists. The sting of the blade biting into her skin had been a good thing at the time. She had wanted it, needed to feel it, to feel anything aside from the way Derek made her feel everyday, like a worthless sack of nothing.

  Derek found her soon after she did it and rushed her to the hospital. That's when she found out she was, in fact, pregnant.

  They'd gone home later in the week when she'd been released from the hospital under his care, and she told him she was pregnant. Derek had not been happy about her suicide attempt or the pregnancy, and that very night he beat her again, leaving her broken, bleeding, and crying on the floor. He'd told her she belonged to him and he would never let her leave him. If she was going to die, it would be him who would make it happen.

  He'd isolated her from everyone and everything, effectively cutting her off from any options, and chance whatsoever of leaving him. She wasn't allowed to have a cell phone or one even connected in the house. Derek didn't believe they needed one. Addison couldn't leave on her own or sneak away. She'd tried, often, but he would always find her. Those nights the beatings would be worse and she'd end up in bed healing for days. It'd truly been a wonder she'd never lost the baby.

  Mentally shaking away the dark thoughts, Addison glanced down at her wrists, seeing the scars there, a lingering reminder of that day. A reminder of when she'd discovered she wanted to live. She was pregnant. She knew she had love inside of her to give to the unborn baby and it'd had given her the will to go on.

  Addison grabs her wallet from her purse, shoving it into the backpack and zipping it closed. She flips the strap over her shoulder, picks up London and slips her over to sit on her hip as they walk out to the living room.

  Parker is waiting for her. He smiles and it warms Addison's hardened heart. She can feel the walls crack. Just a little bit. He truly seems like the perfect man.

  Addison nods her head but doesn't smile back. She carries London and the backpack, walking past him and out the front door. He has London's car seat sitting next to the front door already waiting for them. Addison hears him grab it on his way out the door behind her.

  She suddenly feels a slight pressure on her lower back, and knows it's his other hand lightly touching her, guiding her out the door. She can feel her body tense up and it's a strange feeling. To be touched and not have it hurt. To be guided through a door. Manners from a man. Maybe this could be a good thing, for a little while anyway.

  ***

  London has been busy playing with her toys in the back seat of the car, laughing and being a generally happy child despite the long drive into town. She has the cutest giggle. It makes Parker laugh.

  Addison even smiles and giggles at her daughter. She, too, has the most beautiful smile, and her laughter, God, it spears Parker straight through his heart. Light, happy and full of life. She's truly hap
py with her daughter. He can see the absolute love she feels for her child.

  Parker had noticed Addison's movements earlier in the bedroom. She'd been hiding her tears, flinching at his touch, then hiding all that emotion when London woke up. She clearly doesn't want her daughter to know when she's sad. He supposed it was Addision's way of protecting London.

  He'd noticed the scars on the insides of both of her wrists and they looked old, but still, something, or someone, drove her to do that, gave her a reason to not want to live anymore. He shakes his head at the thought. He couldn't imagine anyone making another person feel like they couldn't exist on this planet anymore.

  Parker parks the truck outside of the store, gets out and walks around the other side to open Addison's door.

  She looks up at him, startled. "What are you doing?"

  "I'm opening your door, helping you out. It's a big step and I don't want you to fall or get hurt," Parker answers her with a big smile on his face. He wonders if no man has ever done this for her before. If so, that's sad.

  She gets out of the truck as Parker helps her and she takes his offered hand. The zing is back. He didn't feel it when he guided her out of the house. Must be skin on skin contact.

  Addison opens the back door, climbs up and unlatches London from her car seat. Then she grabs the backpack from the floor of the truck and flips it over her shoulder.

  Parker notices that when Addison jumps up to get London, her ass is nice and bent over in front of him. He wants to put his hands on her backside and almost does for a hairsbreadth of a second, but pulls back just in time.

  Addison turns and looks at him, her gaze questioning.

  He knows he's been caught looking at her ass and feels a slight heat creep up his neck and over his cheeks. Shit. He backs up a bit and he can feel his face warm slightly more.

  She frowns and then smiles slightly, like she's realized what he was doing.

  "Can you take the back pack or can you lift her from the seat? I can't do both with your truck so high."

  "I can take London, no problem." He helps Addison down from the truck and then reaches for London. The little girl has her arms spread open for him to grab her.

  London giggles and snuggles his neck as Parker pulls her close to his chest. He shuts the door and locks up the truck.

  Addison walks next to him as they enter the grocery store and Parker grabs a cart with a child seat and sets London in, then takes the seat belt and straps her in. Addison puts the backpack in the main area of the cart.

  Addison pushes the cart and Parker grabs what they need for supplies from the list in his hand and adds them to the cart.

  Addison grabs a few other items for London as well. By the time they're finished getting food and extra items for the little drool bucket, Parker is in shock at how full the cart is. As they walk up to the cashier, Parker admits to Addison, "I never knew kids would need so much stuff."

  Addison nods her head. "She only needs a few things, food wise she's pretty easy now that she can start to eat real food. Diapers and wipes are a necessity, though." She smiles slightly.

  Setting the items on the conveyer Parker notices Addison unstrap London and she grabs the backpack. When Parker turns to speak to her, she looks terrified. Absolutely scared out of her mind. Her face has gone pale and she's looks like she's about to cry, or throw up.

  "Addison, what's wrong?" Parker whispers in her ear and he tries to wrap his arm around her waist. Parker's leopard is pacing, sensing Addison's discomfort and is on high alert.

  "I have to hide…I mean…use the restroom…check London's diaper." Her voice is trembling and her eyes lock on a man walking on the sidewalk out front of the store.

  She knows him. This is the man who she's running from. "Go Addison, go take London to the restroom. I'll take care of things here." Parker tips her chin so she gazes into his eyes and she nods her head, understanding what he's said and knowing he's got this. She walks swiftly to the back of the store with London.

  "Bingo asshole, I've got you now." Parker whispers under his breath. He sees the asshole that's been terrorizing her and commits his face to memory. Sight. Sound of his gait. The scent of him as he walks into the store and looks around casually. Parker's leopard is growling and hissing in his head,. I want to kill this man for everything he put our mate through.

  Parker keeps an eye on the asshole while the clerk rings their items and bags them up. This man is looking for Addison. Parker knows she won't leave her hiding place until he gets her. Parker calms down enough to pay for everything and loads up his truck.

  The man leaves the store after a few more minutes, as Parker is finishing putting the roll cover back on the bed of the truck; then locking it down. Parker returns to the store and finds his way back to the restrooms. His cat is worried for their two ladies.

  Parker knocks on the door quietly, opening it slightly and peeking inside, "Addison, are you in here, honey? He's gone. He left," he says quietly. He knows she's terrified. Her whole body was physically shaking when she saw the man.

  Parker sees the far bathroom stall open and Addison peeks out. She's been crying.

  Screw it. Parker walks into the bathroom and pulls her out of the stall and right into his arms, while she's holding London. He grabs London from her arms and Addison wraps both arms around Parker's waist.

  She bursts into tears, her head resting against Parker's chest and he pulls her closer, feeling her trembling against him. London pets her momma's hair. Watching daughter soothing her mother pulls at Parkers heart in a way he never imagined he could feel. This little girl, trying to comfort her mommy as only an eight-month-old can. Parker pulls her closer still as she lets out her tears onto his tee shirt.

  Fifteen minutes later, Parker's finally convinced Addison that Derek has left the store. She finally gives in so they can drive to the baby store to get London a crib. She had argued a bit at first because she doesn't have a way to travel with it when she leaves, but she eventually gives in.

  Parker tries to hide the hurt and sting from her words about leaving. But he's not sure if she saw it or not. He doesn't want Addison or London leaving, running away. He wants them to stay with him where he's keeping them safe.

  If she leaves, Derek could find her. There's nothing that Parker can do about holding her to him, unless he ties her to the bed, but that's a totally different dream. Unless he can prove to Addison that she's his true mate. He's content with her around and is unhappy about her saying she's going to leave. Even the leopard inside of Parker is nervous at her decision to leave.

  Parker parks the truck in front of the baby store a few minutes later, and he helps Addison with London once again.

  ***

  An hour later, Parker finds himself shoving a crib box and a new high chair in the bed of the truck then locking it up tight. He also bought London a few outfits he thought were cute.

  On their way home, Addison is quietly sitting next to Parker. He's paid for everything today. The food. The crib. Saved her from the bathroom and comforted her. He was happy that she was at least in his arms, even though she was upset. His inner cat was purring when she was there. He doesn't think it was loud enough for her to hear, and if she did, she didn't say anything about it.

  She came willingly and wrapped her arms around him without trouble or being afraid of him. He hopes maybe she's starting to trust him, finally.

  Parker wants to hold her in his arms again, and soon. He feels content. Happy. Whole with her in his arms. It's a strange feeling, because when he had Hailey in his arms, it wasn't like this. Close, but this is…more. This is so much more.

  Parker loved Hailey and they were married for a year before she became pregnant. He loved her with everything he had and they were happy living here in this big home. The night she died…he no longer slept in the master bedroom.

  He's been in the small room upstairs since then, not being able to sleep in the big bedroom without her there. Now that Addison is here, it isn't str
ange being in there. It feels…right. And he's confused by that thought.

  Parker can go in the master bedroom now and have it not be uncomfortable. It's like it's okay now. Someone else is in there; she belongs in there. It's a feeling like Parker can be in there with Addison and there's no conflict, no tension in the air surrounding him anymore.

  If a shifter is mated to another and that mate dies, is there another mate for the shifter left behind? Do I have another soul mate out there? Is there more than one shifter mate for everyone? Parker mulls over those questions with his leopard.

  The inner leopard tells Parker, I remember, a long time ago, hearing your parents talking about there can be three in a shifter circle, a triad. But don't remember anything about getting a second chance at love with another soulmate. But why wouldn't there be?

  Do you think Addison could be our second chance at love? Could Addison be our soul mate even if she's human? Parker asks his leopard.

  I'm not sure, but this feels right. The leopard purrs back, snuggling in to that thought.

  During this inner turmoil inside Parker's head, their own private conversation, he turns to glance over at Addison and London, seeing they have fallen asleep. Content and satiated, hopefully feeling safe for the first time in a long time. Both his ladies.

  Earlier, they had stopped for dinner before heading home, knowing it would be way after dark by the time they arrived. He's thankful for the self-sustaining coolers in the bed of his truck to keep the food cold.

  Parker drives down the long driveway to his home, over a mile of essentially a dirt road winding around the huge pines surrounding his land. Up and over Sandy creek, and the river isn't that far away either.

  Pulling up to the house, Parker puts his truck in park and turns off the ignition. It's after ten thirty and he's tired. He glances over at her and notices the soft glow from the dashboard lights gives Addison an angelic glow to her face. She's so stunningly beautiful.