Shifters Forsaken: Shifter Romance Collection Bks 1-5

by Mia Taylor

  “Kids, are you alright?”

  The woman who stopped had kind eyes, brown or green maybe. Her gazed raked over the children huddled together and she bit her lip with concern. The rain pelted against them indiscriminately and she narrowed her lids together, glancing at the building looming behind them. Understanding flooded her irises.

  “Oh.” She returned her look to the children, pity replacing the worry in her eyes. “You should be inside, guys, not out here in the rain. Come on. I’ll see you in.”

  She extended her arms to take the baby but Cypher snatched him back, glaring defiantly at her.

  “Don’t touch my brother!” he growled. “No one touches my brothers.”

  For the first time, the boy felt a spark of comfort, inspired by his oldest sibling’s words, and he stepped behind him in solidarity.

  We’re okay. Mama will be back and Cypher will protect us until she does. Cypher is wrong. Mama just went to find an umbrella.

  The woman looked around a final time and the boy fixed his gaze on her as the baby continued to wail.

  “Will you find our mama? She went that way.” His voice was barely a whisper. He must have known then, even at such a tender age, that his mother was gone for good but he didn’t give up hope, not in his own mind.

  She’ll find our mama. She’ll find our mama.

  But the woman didn’t find their mother. She only opened the wrought iron gate and led them toward the decrepit, crumbling building beyond.

  He was only three years old. He didn’t know that when the door clanged ominously shut behind them that their lives would never again be the same. The rain pooled down their expensive clothes and out the legs of their pants but the four shuffled up the lonely steps into the sanctuary of the forbidding structure beyond.

  “What have we here?”

  A woman appeared, dressed all in black, a white stripe encircling her face, her eyes shining with… he could not say but he didn’t like it.

  “Is she a skunk?” he whispered to Cypher but there was no response.

  “I found them outside, Sister. I-I don’t know who they belong to,” said the kind woman. “I thought I better bring them inside before they got sick.”

  The lady in black frowned and the boy was afraid again.

  “You didn’t see anyone about?” the skunk-lady demanded and the boy was angry she was being mean to the nice woman.

  “No, Sister. I didn’t see anyone. They are soaked. They must have been out there for a while.” Her voice sounded nervous as if she was the one who had left four children unattended in a storm.

  “How shameful,” the skunk muttered. “Without a bag or identification?”

  The woman shrugged, backing away as if she was in a great rush to leave suddenly.

  “If there’s nothing else…” she muttered, casting one last look at the upset lot. The boy could see the apology in her face but he didn’t know why she was sorry, at least not then.

  The skunk waved her away dismissively, her piercing eyes settling back on the brothers.

  “Who is your mother, children?” she demanded, and the three standing children recoiled in terror.

  He opened his mouth to respond. He knew his mother’s name and his father’s. He even knew where they lived! But before he could exhale a breath, he received a sharp prod to his ribs from Cypher, silencing him at once.

  You don’t say a word!

  It was as if Cypher had whispered directly into his ear and he nodded solemnly as he understood. No one could know about Mama. She might get in trouble.

  And we might, too!

  The woman’s mouth became a fine line of disapproval. Another skunk-lady appeared and the child stepped further back, basking in the imaginary protection of his oldest brother.

  “They are either insolent or slow. In either case, I suppose I will have to tend to them,” the first woman grumbled, staring at them like they were contagious.

  “What’s imblolent mean?” he muttered but he instantly shut his mouth, sensing his big brother’s nudge coming.

  “Give me the baby,” the woman demanded, reaching for the child. There was no softness, no finesse. The child howled as if the woman’s touch burned him.

  “Don’t touch my brothers!” Cypher raged, jumping back and out of reach. The “Sister” wore an expression of fury on her face and she snatched the little one from Cypher without warning.

  “It’s okay!” the woman from outside insisted but even the toddler could see that she didn’t believe her own words. “The Sister will help you. You’ll be safe here. Don’t be upset.”

  He wanted to believe her words more than anything in the world. Yet as the baby’s pitch hit a feral note, goosebumps erupted over his arms. He wanted to turn and flee, back into the rain and far away from whatever awaited them wherever the woman in black was taking them.

  There wasn’t a day thereafter that Briar did not regret not doing precisely that.

  Chapter One

  You Can Always Get What You Want

  “This has to be a joke!” Berlin shoved the timetable aside and sighed, rolling her shoulders as if she hoped to alleviate the pressure building in them. Of course it did nothing but remind her that she was still very tense.

  “What’s wrong?” Liam asked, peering at the page she had discarded. “Didn’t get your classes?”

  “Oh, I got them,” she sighed, blinking against the sunlight. “The times are all messed up, though. God, why do I keep going back to school when all it does is damage me?”

  Liam snickered and leered at her, winking a coffee bean eye at her.

  “Because you’re going to be a brilliant anthropologist one day and you need the education,” he reminded her. He leaned across the blanket and snatched one of her fries. With lightning-fast reflexes, she whacked his hand and the potato fell from his hand.

  “What was that?” he whimpered, looking at her with hurt eyes. “I share all my stuff with you!”

  “That’s because I’m faster than you are,” she replied wickedly. Magnanimously, she gestured for him to take another one. When he did, she smacked him again.

  “Too slow!” she chortled and Liam grunted, falling back onto the blanket and staring up into the clear, blue sky. It was late summer in Eugene and the oppressive heat was finally tapering off and Berlin was eternally grateful for that. She didn’t do well with heat. The fall semester would start soon and Berlin would be back to running full steam ahead.

  God, where has the time gone? What did I do but work all summer and…

  She didn’t finish her thought. She didn’t want to think about the other thing, not then. It was much too beautiful a day for her to consider the uglier side of life.

  She collected her long, silken hair and gathered it in a white-blonde knot atop her head, pulling a scrunchie from her arm to secure it.

  “Uh oh,” Liam muttered. “You’re getting into Violet Baudelaire mode.”

  She stared at him blankly.

  “Who? What?”

  “Violet Baudelaire? A Series of Unfortunate Events? Netflix?”

  She continued to stare at him, uncomprehendingly.

  “Good God, woman, what do you do for fun?” he sighed, waving a hand at her dismissively. “If I didn’t know any better, I would swear you’re in the running for being the most boring person alive.”

  Berlin snorted, narrowing her cyan-colored eyes at him.

  “You think watching children’s movies is fun?” she shot back. Liam gaped at her and pointed, causing Berlin to groan as she realized her mistake.

  “You do know who I’m talking about!” he laughed. “I knew it! No one can read all the time. I knew you watched Netflix!”

  “It’s Neil Patrick Harris,” she muttered, a slight embarrassment touching her fair cheeks. “How could I resist?”

  “Oh, honey, you don’t have to tell me,” Liam sighed, a dreamy expression crossing his face. Suddenly, he seemed to remember what he’d asked and sat up.

 
“Why are you getting all studious? What’s on your mind?”

  The same thing that’s always on my mind, she thought grimly but she didn’t speak her thoughts aloud. Despite being her closest friend, Liam didn’t understand certain aspects of her life and it was much better that way for everyone.

  “I’ve gotta find a new place. Tristan graduated and is moving back to Colorado. Honestly, I could use a change myself so I’m house hunting. I’m officially an adult,” she chuckled, reaching for her laptop. “Wanna help me find a place?”

  “We could be roommates,” Liam offered thoughtfully. “I am—”

  “No!” she interjected before he could finish. “I want to live alone.”

  Liam pouted, folding his arms over his chest, taking her firm answer much too personally.

  “Why not?” he demanded. “I’m the perfect person to live with. And I’ve got way more style than you’ll ever have!”

  “All valid points but it doesn’t change the fact that I want to live alone,” Berlin insisted. “Love you!”

  “You don’t deserve me,” he muttered. “You’re a slob anyway. I don’t want to be cleaning up your dirty panties all day.”

  Berlin admitted that it was true—her housekeeping skills left a lot to be desired. Yet it was more than that, the need to find her own place and experience life without a roommate. She’d never been alone in her entire life and considering what her youth had consisted of, Berlin felt she earned the change.

  After all, I’m making decent money working at the university and my side gig…

  Her back instantly tensed and she again fought to shove the notion out of her head.

  You’re back in Eugene now. You don’t have to deal with home until Christmas. If I decide to go back at all.

  She was slowly trying to make herself scarcer among her family. Her hope was that one day, she could just disappear without anyone actually noticing.

  Fat chance, she thought grimly but it was a hope she liked to cling to when things got overwhelming.

  “It seems a little late in the game to be looking for places, isn’t it? Shouldn’t you have done this at the end of the year?” Liam asked and she shot him a cutting look.

  “Forgive me,” she retorted sarcastically. “I was too busy graduating my master’s summa cum laude and working full-time, not to mention writing my dissertation. I didn’t really have a lot of extra time to peruse Craigslist.”

  Liam stared at her, horrified, bolting upward as if Berlin had electrocuted him.

  “Craigslist?” he choked. “Good lord, NO! You can’t use that deathtrap when looking for a place. Are you trying to get on the serial killer’s top ten? Here, give me that.”

  Before she could protest, he snatched the laptop from her and began typing.

  “Careful,” Berlin growled. “That thing costs more than that ugly sculpture you bought at Christie’s the last time you were in London.”

  Liam’s eyes widened and he gaped at her in faux horror.

  “You wouldn’t know art if it slapped you in the face,” he grumbled, shaking his head. “That’s why I never invite you to the art shows anymore.”

  “Thank God for that,” Berlin countered and Liam grunted. She smiled to herself. Their back and forth bickering made them sound like an old married couple.

  We would make a handsome pair, she’d often thought, examining his scowling face through her peripheral vision. With his dark good looks and all my fairness, our babies would be pretty. If we could have babies, of course.

  Of course, that would only have worked in a world where Liam wasn’t gay and she wasn’t…

  Again, she shoved that part of her life to the side and tried to focus on Liam. She adored him and his impish charm. He was the only man she knew whom she trusted implicitly.

  But that says more about me than it does him, Berlin thought, shaking her head. I’m the one with the issues. And what issues they are.

  “Okay, look at this one. Two bedroom, one and a half bathrooms, right by the river! It just listed. We should go see it.”

  He turned the screen for her to look and her eyes widened in surprise.

  “Wow!” she muttered, peering closer. “For that price, I wonder what’s wrong with it.”

  Liam cast her a disapproving look.

  “Berlin, why is everything so negative with you? Can’t you just accept that sometimes things work out well without strings attached?”

  She raised her blonde head, mouth parted slightly.

  “No, Liam, I can’t,” she replied in mild surprise. “It’s like you don’t know me at all.”

  Liam snorted and reached for his cell phone.

  “I’m calling for you right now,” he said. Berlin didn’t try to stop him. Why would she? He was right—the place was beautiful, at least according to the pictures. If it was as good as it looked, it wouldn’t last long. If it wasn’t, well then, they would move onto other things.

  “Good morning!” Liam chirped into his phone, giving Berlin a victory glance. “I am calling about the apartment on Garden Avenue. Is it still available?... It is? Wonderful. You can take the ad down now. I have the perfect tenant for you… no, no, it’s not for me, it’s for my client. You’ve probably heard of her, Berlin Matthews, renowned author and PhD candidate?... No? Oh well, you will.”

  Berlin snorted and Liam waved at her to be quiet but she couldn’t wipe the smirk off her face as she watched him animatedly book an appointment for noon.

  Maybe I should hire him as my agent, she thought wryly. Or someone should hire him as their agent.

  “Now don’t forget to take the ad down,” he concluded. “And we will see you soon!”

  He ended the call and Berlin shook her head in disbelief.

  “He probably would have booked the appointment without the theatrics,” she snickered. “It wasn’t an audition, you know?”

  Liam shrugged.

  “Yes, but where’s the fun in that?”

  She giggled and impulsively leaned forward to hug him. The action took Liam by surprise.

  “What was that for?” he demanded although his brown eyes reflected warmth.

  “For being such a dumbass,” she replied, pulling back. “I love you, stupid.”

  “I love you too, bitch. Now, come on. Let’s get you dressed in something that screams ‘hot author and intellectually superior.’”

  Liam rose, extending his hand to Berlin, and she accepted it.

  “Maybe we’ll just settle on something which screams ‘I can pay the rent on time.’”

  Liam’s smile froze on his face as if he was mentally cataloguing her wardrobe in his mind.

  “Oh, dear,” he muttered. “We might need to go shopping.”

  ~ ~ ~

  The apartment was the second and third floor of a triplex, close to the University of Oregon and accessible to Berlin’s job.

  The pictures hadn’t done it justice and Berlin found her unusually unflappable expression melting into one of awe. It was precisely what was advertised, two bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms with an ensuite and a jacuzzi tub. There were two gas fireplaces, one in the bedroom and one in the living room.

  Berlin was in love.

  “You’re responsible for electricity and gas,” the landlord explained as she and Liam wandered through the house. “But the previous tenants say the bills were very affordable. Even with the fireplace.”

  The older man winked conspiratorially at her and Berlin swallowed a smile. She could sense Liam screaming at her mentally to maintain her stoicism but Berlin ignored him.

  “I’ll take it,” she told the older man, whose name was John. “I mean, if you want me.”

  “Berlin!” Liam snapped. “We have other places to look at!”

  John chuckled and eyed Liam but Berlin waved him away.

  “Call and cancel my other appointments,” she replied, knowing that there weren’t any. “Isn’t that your job?”

  They leered at each other until John interceded.<
br />
  “Your agent did wonders selling me on your credentials and I confess, I Googled your name after the phone call. Very impressive resume you have, Miss Matthews.”

  Berlin was slightly embarrassed but she didn’t want to downplay her achievements.

  Why should I? I worked hard to get where I am, despite all the odds which were holding me back.

  Unbidden, an image of her father popped into her mind and Berlin frowned.

  “Is it something I said?” John asked and Berlin quickly shook her head, forcing her mind back into the present.

  “No, no,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I was just thinking about logistics and distance to the university but everything seems fine. Laundry on site?”

  “Laundry ensuite,” he replied, showing her to another closet where a full-sized washer and dryer combination in stainless steel sat.

  Berlin and Liam looked at one another again and nodded.

  “Well, what do you need from me?”

  “First month’s rent and security,” he explained. “The usual, of course. You could give me references but I probably won’t check them. I don’t know any jerk who can’t find three people to lie for her—not that I’m calling you a jerk!”

  Berlin laughed.

  “I’ve been called worse than that,” she joked. “All right. Let’s fill out the paperwork.”

  He nodded and they turned toward the stairs leading to the entranceway. As they descended the stairs, the front door opened and a man walked in, startling Berlin.

  “Oh, Briar,” John said, smiling. “This is Berlin Matthews and…”

  He turned and stared blankly at Liam.

  “Well, dang, I didn’t even think to catch your agent’s name, Miss Matthews. Sorry about that.”

  “Liam Bueller,” Liam offered quickly but his eyes were fixated on the newcomer. Liam stepped forward, a coy smile on his face as he extended his hand. Berlin stifled a groan. Nothing was off limits to Liam.

  “Pleasure to meet you, Briar,” Liam purred. “What an interesting name.”

  Briar reluctantly accepted his outstretched palm but he eyed the landlord warily.