Limitless: A Reverse Harem Shifter Romance (Crystal Lake Pack Book 1)

by Candace Wondrak

  She’d take a mattress over the field and the stranger any day.

  As she sat up, she looked around the room. It was her temporary room, the one she was supposed to stay in while she was in Crystal Lake. She’d missed the entire trip back, lost to the nightmare. Only…it wasn’t a nightmare, was it? It was more, real.

  And her wolf…Addie’s heart hurt just thinking about her wolf. Her wolf had suffered too. And she was already weak. How much more could her wolf take? How much time did Addie have to let her out?

  Maze had pulled up one of the kitchen chairs, asleep on it in the most uncomfortable looking position, his head tilted back, his mouth hanging open. A light snoring sound came from his throat, and she did her best not to laugh. This wasn’t a laughing business; this was as serious as anything could be.

  She swung her legs off the bed, tiptoeing around Maze’s sleeping figure, heading into the nearest bathroom. The house had two of them, one on the first floor and one on the second. She passed what must’ve been Dylan’s room, spotting he was asleep on his side, his arm bandaged up. She felt bad for him, but she had to see her damage first.

  Judging from the darkness penetrating the windows, it was well into the night. After Addie cleaned up…well, she supposed she should tell the others what she’d dreamt. Somehow she was connected to whatever was going on. The voice had mentioned a barrier—did he mean no one was allowed to go past a certain point in the woods? Was it why Dylan’s arm had caught fire and she felt like she was going to die?

  She contemplated this as she shuffled into the bathroom, quietly closing the door before flicking on the lights. It would make sense—if magic was real, that was. Dylan had been the farthest one out, the one not to stop and look at her when she’d called out to them and collapsed. But, still. Why would it affect her and Dylan differently? Why did she cry tears of blood while he caught on fire?

  Her eyes flicked to the mirror, and she winced as she looked at herself. Her hair was greasy and unkempt. Big bags hung under her eyes, so dark no makeup could possibly conceal them. She didn’t even think she brought makeup anyway. And it wasn’t even going into detail about how her cheeks were covered in dried blood, and the small crusty bits at the corners of her eyes. Honestly, she looked like crap even without the blood.

  She thought about just scrubbing her face in the sink, but her whole body felt gross, used almost, dirty.

  No. Definitely shower time.

  Addie dropped her clothes and hopped in, pulling the curtain and setting the water to practically its hottest setting. If her skin wasn’t red by the end of this, it wasn’t nearly a hot enough shower.

  She scrubbed her face first, mostly to rid herself of the dried blood. The water circling the drain grew pink and nasty, and Addie did her best not to focus on it. One day here, and she’d already had a near-death encounter, from a magical source to boot. Did the pack know about the barrier? Did they know about magic? Maybe she was the only oblivious, ignorant one because her mother had kept everything from her.

  Addie had to use soap and shampoo that wasn’t hers, but she figured the guys wouldn’t care. If anything, they’d probably get a thrill out of it. The weirdos.

  When she stepped out of the shower, she also had to use a towel that wasn’t hers. She wasn’t about to go searching for a stack of them, so she just took the one hanging closest to the shower surround, rubbing it on her head and drying herself before returning it to its rightful place. Maybe its owner wouldn’t even know.

  Then again, these were wolves. They had super smell. They’d definitely notice.

  She dressed herself in the same clothes, not wanting to go back into the bedroom to find fresh ones. Maze, although he didn’t look comfortable, was sleeping. And her stomach was suddenly so very hungry. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate. Yesterday?

  Jesus.

  It was a record, and not a good one.

  Addie left the bathroom, heading down the stairs to the kitchen. She flicked on the light and started glancing inside the cabinets. She didn’t want to cook, but she needed something. Cereal or a breakfast bar or even cookies. Her stomach needed something now.

  Like a miracle unfolding before her eyes, she spotted a box of miniature cookies, and she grabbed it from the cupboard and went to the table, which was minus a chair. Addie sat down, sighing as she opened the container. A whirlwind wouldn’t describe her life.

  First, she was expelled from college for attacking her professor. And she still didn’t think her research paper deserved a C-minus. Then she found out she wasn’t human, she was a shifter, a fact her mother had kept from her for nearly twenty years. She found out she was supposed to be with not one, not two, but three different guys, their chosen mate. One of the said guys disappeared, and suddenly running home to her mother wasn’t the first thing on Addie’s mind anymore.

  She still didn’t want three mates. Right now, she wasn’t sure she even wanted one, regardless of the way her body reacted to Dylan and Maze. All Addie wanted was to find Landon and see the relief on their faces when they were reunited.

  And, of course, she couldn’t forget about her wolf. Her sad, depressed inner wolf who’d been neglected and forgotten for all these years. Addie had to let her out. Knowing she was there inside of her, knowing the wolf was a part of her—how could she possibly say forget it and move on? She didn’t think herself so awful and cruel.

  A figure appeared by the entryway of the kitchen, and Addie felt herself jump. She dropped the small cookie she was about to shove into her mouth, and the piece of junk food rolled on the floor. At first glance, she thought it was Maze, having woken up and wondered where she was.

  But it wasn’t Maze. It was his alpha. Forest, the wolf who’d been particularly rough with her back there. Just because Addie understood his reasoning did not mean she was happy about it; she was rather upset, actually. Miffed. Why would she come to see the pack just to cause trouble? These disappearances had been going on for a while, based on what Dylan said. That alone should separate her from the list of suspects, if there even was a list.

  Forest was slow in moving to sit at the table with her, folding his hands atop it, his blue eyes watching her all the while. At least this time he was clothed. No more nakedness for a while would be great.

  “Why are you here?” Addie asked. “Don’t you have a house of your own to get back to? A pack to watch over? A woman to…” Okay, she wasn’t going to finish that sentence, because ew.

  “I don’t have a mate,” he said. “Not anymore.”

  Oh. Right. Awkward. “I’m sorry my—”

  “I’m not talking about your mother.”

  Addie shut her mouth, realizing how stupid it was for her to think he never had another woman. He was a man. One of the manliest men she’d ever met. No way in heck would a man like him stay celibate just because his intended mate ran away. So stupid. Completely dumb.

  “And I’m here because I need to know what happened,” Forest continued. “What you felt. If it was anything like what Dylan felt.”

  Of course. He wanted to get to the bottom of it, that was all. He didn’t stay to make sure she was all right. Addie needed to remember not everything was about her. One of their pack was missing; that was worlds more important than her and her decision about leaving.

  “How is Dylan?” she asked, mostly quiet.

  “He’ll be fine in a few days. Now tell me what you felt.”

  “I felt,” Addie started, “like my skin was on fire. Like a thousand knives were stabbing me in my gut. Everything on me hurt like you would not believe. It was the worst pain I’ve been in, I think, in my whole life. Even my brain hurt.”

  “You told us to stop before Dylan caught fire,” Forest asked, “why?”

  Oh, God. How was Addie going to explain this part? Even she wasn’t sure how she knew. “I don’t know. I just…did.”

  “How did you know?” he asked again, sterner this time. Harsher.

  “I said I don’t kno
w,” Addie replied quickly. Forest wasn’t the only one who could get an attitude. She could, too. “Why did you turn on me so fast? Why did you suspect me of doing something?” She turned around the interrogation, flipping it to him. “What did I ever do besides come here? I didn’t even know shifters existed until my ass of a grandfather showed up with a wolf in tow. How would I have anything to do with the disappearances from your pack?” She was, for all intents and purposes, yelling at him now.

  Probably not the best way to talk to an alpha, but Forest was not her alpha.

  Instead of getting angry, Forest broke eye contact and stared at his hands. Those hands had been rough with her. She wasn’t counting him carrying her back as being nice. If he wouldn’t have done it, Maze would’ve. Even Dylan, all burnt up, would’ve helped her back. No, Forest wasn’t out of the doghouse so easily, even if she did understand where he was coming from.

  “I should not have acted like that. I’m sorry. Don’t let my actions interfere with your choice. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and you are the only unknown.” Forest heaved a sigh, his wide, strong shoulders rising and falling once.

  “I’m not unknown—I’m a shifter, like you.” Addie wasn’t sure why she said it. Making him feel better was not high on her priority list.

  “Only part shifter, and you’ve made your choice,” Forest spoke, his striking gaze returning to her. The intensity in his expression made her stomach harden. He was a handsome man, strong and tough, chiseled and stubbled. He was, in all likelihood, the most attractive man she’d ever seen. If only he was a few years younger, then…

  Uh, hold it. No, Addie told her wandering mind, heck no. That was inappropriate in more ways than one.

  “I’m staying until we find Landon,” Addie said, doing her best not to let her mind ruminate over his appearance. If she lost herself to any good-looking man that crossed her path, she’d lose it a dozen times before getting into the car and driving out of Crystal Lake. Just because shifters looked like gods didn’t mean she should get all weak in the knees. She wasn’t that kind of girl. Never was.

  Although, maybe she was just never that kind of girl because humans didn’t do it for her. It was more than possible a shifter would be all she’d be attracted to, hardwired into her head.

  Best not think of it.

  Forest tilted his head, as if hearing something. He looked back at her as he said, “I am sorry about what I did. I do regret it.” He got up, walking away, though she did not hear the sounds of the front door opening and closing, so she knew he remained in the house.

  Addie stuffed a few more mini-cookies into her mouth as Maze walked in, rubbing his neck with a pained expression. He must’ve gotten a kink in it, sleeping like he was. His blonde hair stuck every which way, his dark eyes droopy. He was still half asleep as he took up the chair Forest recently vacated.

  “How are you feeling?” Maze asked, the concern for her evident in his voice.

  She liked hearing it, his voice. And the concern in it. It meant he cared about her in some way. Something which she should not give a crap about, since she was going to leave.

  Why did her willpower waver so much around these guys?

  “Better,” she said. She was even better when he was around, but there was no way Addie was going to say that.

  Maze gave her a dimpled grin, a sloppy smile that made her heart skip a beat. Or two. Or maybe it sped up. She wasn’t sure. All Addie knew was her heart acted up anytime he was around. “You look better, though I wish you would’ve woken me up before you showered.”

  “Why? It wasn’t like I invited you to my next one.”

  He chuckled. “No, but I’d still like to be awake for it. Just the thought of you using the shower and—” Maze made a big show about sniffing the air. “—my shampoo makes me feel all giddy inside.”

  It was her turn to laugh. “Giddy? Why would it make you giddy?” Addie couldn’t believe how strange he was. What man used the word giddy in everyday, normal conversation?

  Apparently him.

  “Because,” he answered, the stupid grin still on his face, still making her heart act up and her stomach warm, “it makes me feel like you’re mine, and that makes me giddy, happy, excited. Whatever adjective you want to use.”

  Addie dropped her gaze to her lap. His words were so sweet, they were practically dripping with sugar. They would’ve sounded weird and fake coming from anyone else, but she knew he meant it all, and knowing it made her feel terrible. How the heck was she going to leave him? How was she—

  “Hey,” Maze said, breaking through her thoughts as he reached across the table for her. It was a very similar gesture to the one Dylan had made in the morning, and feeling his fingers curl around hers was a comfort. “I didn’t say it to put pressure on you. If you want to stay, we will have you a thousand times over, but if you want to go…I won’t stop you.” There was a pause before he added, “I will be absolutely devastated and depressed, but I’ll let you go.”

  God. How could anyone think of leaving after being given that declaration? Addie would be just like her mother if she left. Like mother, like daughter. Each and every one of them knew she wanted to leave, but they all hoped she’d stay. How was she supposed to just go and never look back, like her mother? How could she be away from these guys after forming a connection to them?

  A connection.

  Addie was mad at herself for letting it happen, but it was true. She felt something for Maze, for Dylan. And despite recent events, she kind of admired Forest. She hated Henry, and Landon—well, the jury was out on him. But the twins? They were her kryptonite, and just like Superman, she was bending to their power over her.

  “A devastated and depressed Maze,” Addie spoke, trying to make light of the situation, doing her best not to think of the reality of it all, what it would mean if she stayed, “I don’t think I can picture it.”

  “He doesn’t come out often,” he said, referring to himself in the third person, making her smile. “But he’s there, hidden deep down, past all the wit and sarcasm and handsomeness.”

  Addie munched on another small cookie, letting the silence take over the room. She had to change the subject, otherwise she wouldn’t stop thinking about staying. Staying was out of the question. To stay would mean she was okay with everything, and she most certainly wasn’t. Having three mates was…weird. Wasn’t it? “Have you checked on Dylan?”

  Maze snatched a cookie from the box, tossing it in his mouth. He must be the type who liked to play with his food, for anyone who could catch something in their mouth like that had to practice. Addie was not nearly as coordinated as he was. Maybe it was a wolf thing. “He’ll be fine. Needs some rest. It’ll heal in a few days.”

  Oh, right. She’d heard Dylan say something similar back in the forest, but she’d been too out of it.

  “A few days?” Addie echoed. “That fast?”

  “Shifters are better at a lot of things, you know. I can teach you all about it, if you stay.” He gave her a wink. A real, freaking wink. Guys didn’t wink anymore, did they? Did they ever? She was pretty sure it was just a thing guys did in movies, or books.

  Still, that freaking wink made her lower stomach tighten.

  Maybe it wasn’t the wink that got her, but his implications. Yeah, had to be it.

  Focusing on her cookie snack, Addie said, “Sounds like you’re trying to bribe me into staying.” She should not egg him on, but she strangely didn’t want this moment to end. Who knew how much time she had left with him.

  “Maybe I am,” Maze offered. “Would you like me to get on my knees and beg? Because I totally will. Hands and knees. You can do whatever you want with me while I’m down there.”

  Addie’s mouth fell open. Wasn’t Forest in the other room? The man could probably hear every single word being exchanged in the kitchen. Embarrassment filled her, and she could think of no response to his comment.

  His very inappropriate comment.

  “Maze,�
�� she hissed.

  “What? Oh, right. Forgot—your human upbringing. Addie, if you haven’t already guessed by now, we shifters are very cavalier when it comes to certain things.” Maze grinned. “Come to the dark side. It’s fun over here.”

  Addie felt herself laughing. The more Maze talked, the more she couldn’t believe him. How in the world was she going to get away from him? If she left, she knew she’d long for him, for Dylan. Could she really leave them? Was longing for her old life, for a normal life with her mother, just a pipe dream?

  And with her recent nightmare…

  Addie knew she had to stay. She was connected to this thing, to that stranger. She’d tell them about it in the morning. For now, she was content with just being there and getting Maze’s mind off of his missing brother and his injured twin.

  It had to be enough for now.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Addie was in bed, all comfy and cozy beneath the sheets, the comforter heavy atop her just the way she liked. There was nothing better than basking in her own body heat, nothing like snuggling against an even warmer solid body.

  Wait. There was something better.

  Snuggling between two strong, muscles bodies.

  Though her eyes were closed, Addie knew who they were. She wasn’t a fan of their protectiveness, but it was something she would grow accustomed to sooner or later. She was seconds from moving, wanting to touch them, both of them, but their shared bed suddenly grew very cold. All the warmth their bodies created vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a chilliness that seeped into her bones and slowed her heart.

  Addie didn’t want to get up, but she knew she had to. She sat, wearing nothing but shorts and a tank top, her pink and brown hair tumbling over her shoulders in messy waves. She looked around.

  Well, it wasn’t a wonder why it had gotten so cold all of a sudden, because their bed wasn’t in a house. It was in the middle of a field. A field whose grass was covered in a deep red mist, a mist she found vaguely familiar yet foreign all the same.