Shapes of Autumn (Boxed set, books 1 - 5)

by Veronica Blade

  Dathan pivoted, then brushed her shoulder as he softened his voice. “If I thought you were weak, I wouldn’t be here. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known. But I think you’ve got enough to worry about without the visuals of what happened to someone you probably cared deeply for, as you do all your people.”

  Quentin slung an arm around her shoulders. “Besides, you have other things to attend to. For instance, while we’re excavating, the rest of you can search the inside.”

  ***

  With over twenty people including my mom and Yvonne, we began the search on the third floor and worked down. As soon as we inspected a floor and made sure it was intruder free, we sealed all but one of the stairways, then left several guards there to watch the remaining stairwell. And then we hit the first floor. We cleared the entire parking structure, including the storage facilities and under the cars, then moved onto the park.

  After the entire compound had been searched, the guards on the other floors were released and the stairwells opened. I waited with Natasha, my mom, Yvonne and a handful of others for Dathan and the rest to finish in the tunnel.

  “They’re coming back now.” Natasha turned and palmed the panel. The metal door rolled up and my dad, Renzo, Zack and Dathan shuffled through the doorway bare-chested. I glanced at Natasha whose gaze was fixed on Dathan’s chest. She blinked, shook her head and eyed the burden over Egon’s shoulder which was wrapped in shirts.

  “Please take the body directly to the research department. Any idea who it is, Sean?” Natasha asked.

  “Facial features are no longer intact, but she’s human, which means likely someone from town.” Sean grimaced.

  Natasha released a quiet groan. “We’ll have to figure out a way to handle it with the locals. But we have more pressing issues at the moment.”

  Sean closed the door to the tunnel and then made sure it was locked. “I’ll meet you shortly in the training room, Your Majesty.”

  Upstairs, my parents immediately hit the mat and began sparring. With the search over, my mind wandered with renewed curiosity over my parents. I’d have to wait a little longer for answers—hopefully I’d get them before the big war.

  Hours later, Ivan rang the dinner bell and our trainers released us. Zack glanced over his shoulder as Dathan led him out. You should talk to your mom, get more info. I think something is up with your parents and Natasha.

  Not Zack too. As if Dathan’s nagging wasn’t enough. Will do.

  My mom passed me and I looped an arm through hers, slowing my pace. As though understanding that we wanted some mother-daughter time, my dad smiled and went ahead.

  “It occurred to me I don’t even know how old you are.” I took a deep, calming breath to cover my jumping pulse.

  “I’m not that old.” She patted my arm.

  As usual, my mom was stingy with details. I’d have to try another way. “Is Dad much older than you?”

  “A few years.” She tugged on my arm as we walked, like she wanted to get to the food faster to shut me up.

  “A few as in… three to five years?” I asked.

  “Yes. He’s three years older,” she answered.

  I pulled her to a stop and turned to face her, my eyes narrowed. “Natasha is almost seven hundred and Dad is older than her, which makes you really really old, Mom. And the fact that I have to work so hard to get it out of you makes me wonder what else you’re not telling me.”

  Her tiny intake of air gave her away. “Wow, where are you getting this information?”

  “Not from you, that’s for sure.” I huffed. “I’ve been listening carefully while you all assumed I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “So we’ve been around a while.” She shrugged. “Big deal.”

  Hoping to keep her attention, I entwined my fingers with hers and caught her scent again. You’re not a shape-shifter.

  “What?”

  She stepped away from me which told me I was right. But what the hell was she? Your scent is different than Dad’s and Natasha’s. But it’s not quite like Zack or Renzo’s either. Too light. I winced as the truth hit me. My scent was lighter than it should’ve been, as I’d been told repeatedly, because eating meat brought it out more. So I’d stayed a vegetarian as my parents had raised me. If she ate meat, her scent would be stronger and she’d smell similar to Zack and Renzo. Oh, my God, Mom, you’re a werewolf.

  A seven hundred year old werewolf… But my dad was a shape-shifter, of that I was sure. An old story tickled the edges of my brain, the legend of Hannah and Eli. Hannah was a raven-haired werewolf betrothed to the king but she’d fallen in love with a handsome blond shape-shifter and they’d escaped together. Everyone believed they were long since dead. But my parents fit their description perfectly and they were the right age. Why else would King Mortimer put Ulric, his most feared henchman, on my parents?

  I lifted my chin, willing her to answer my next question. What was your name seven hundred years ago, Mom? When she hesitated and averted her gaze, I locked my fingers with hers before she could bolt. Tell me.

  We’d drifted to the edge of the dining room area and I wondered if the others were staring. I didn’t care. I wouldn’t take my eyes off my mom. No more lies, Mom. I need the truth. Please.

  Her breath hitched. My name was… Hannah.

  Chills raced up my spine and goose bumps covered my arms. I took a long, slow breath and prepared myself for the answer to my next question. Let me guess. Dad’s birth name is Eli?

  She sandwiched my hand with hers, her eyes pooling with unshed tears. You can’t speak a word of this to Zack or Renzo. Or anyone else. If word somehow got out that we’re still alive… Don’t you see how much more danger you’d be in?

  I nodded numbly as the full scope of it hit me. Hell, Dathan could give us over to King Mortimer for brownie points to protect his own people and it would soothe tension between the species. Wait, no. He’d already known and had refused to tell me on the grounds that it wasn’t his place to tell. But any of the werewolves here could sell us out.

  Even if no one meant us harm, they only had to tell one person and the news could travel quickly. Or Ulric could glamour the information out. You need me to keep this a secret because King Mortimer would do everything in his power to kill you. And me, of course, because I’m the product of mixing species, which is supposedly impossible.

  Exactly. Swear to me you won’t discuss this with another soul, not even your father. If he learns our secret is out, he’ll want the three of us to leave immediately. She swallowed, casting a glance at my dad who was already sitting at the dinner table and regarding us curiously. We’ve been running from Mortimer so long, seems like forever. And I know this is the end; we can’t run anymore. Not with Ulric crazier and more powerful than ever. But it could get worse if your father went after King Mortimer to protect us.

  I could see my dad sacrificing himself to save us. I’d do the same for them or Zack. In fact, I could totally envision Zack freaking out and doing anything to keep me safe. He might want to leave, but we were safer with Dathan, Renzo and Natasha to help us.

  Everyone I knew and loved would be better off by my mother and me keeping this knowledge to ourselves. I swear, Mom. I won’t say anything to anyone, not even Zack.

  Her lids fluttered an instant before the worry lines around her eyes faded. “Let’s get some dinner.” And never speak of this again.

  We sat at the two empty spaces at the table and I gave Dathan a dirty look. I got it all. My parents are the infamous Hannah and Eli who have been running from King Mortimer for centuries. Are you happy now? I dug into the pasta, shoveling an unattractive portion into my mouth.

  Extremely. One side of his mouth arched up.

  I promised her I wouldn’t tell Zack. Please don’t say anything to him, okay?

  Not my place to divulge other people’s secrets. I didn’t tell you, did I?

  No. So far, he’d kept his promises. But as I’d found out too many times, Dathan enjoyed
ambushing people. You stir up trouble though.

  Zack won’t get so much as a hint from me.

  Thank you.

  As dinner progressed, I caught Natasha’s gaze occasionally flash to my dad. She glanced at my mom less often but that was still more attention than she gave anyone else at the table. What the hell was up with Natasha and my parents? My gut told me that was the last piece of the puzzle.

  Since my mom had sworn me to secrecy, she wouldn’t mention our conversation to my dad. Which meant he wouldn’t expect the questions I was about to throw at him. I could catch him off guard.

  I aimed my silent words at Dathan. As soon as dinner is over, maybe you can distract my mom while I corner my dad.

  He gave me a mischievous grin. It would be my pleasure.

  Moments later, the last plate was taken away and my mom pushed from the table. Dathan closed the distance and stood between her and me. “I understand you’re quite proficient at knife throwing. Perhaps you could give me some tips.”

  How Dathan knew anything about my mom, I had no clue. Not my concern at the moment. I tuned out her reply, jumped to the chair my mom had vacated and focused on my dad. How long ago did you meet Natasha?

  Years ago, I lived in a village with other shifters. He scooted his chair back, probably an attempt to avoid more questions.

  I clamped a hand onto his wrist before he could escape. Did you used to date her?

  “What?” He grimaced. “God, no.”

  I stiffened. Natasha was beautiful and smart, so why would my dad be so horrified at the idea of dating a gorgeous blonde? Are you two related or something?

  His mouth fell open while he stared at me. Probably trying to come up with a way out of answering the question.

  The truth, Dad. Seriously, you know I’m going to find out eventually anyway.

  He leaned forward, slammed his elbows on the table and dropped his forehead into his palms. She’s my sister.

  The wheels in my head turned, gradually picking up speed as I remembered the details of the story I’d read of Hannah and Eli. Eli had been free to roam the castle but he’d refused to leave, even though he could have flown away anytime he chose. But he didn’t want to leave his sister Isabella who was being held prisoner by King Mortimer.

  In the end, they’d both escaped with Hannah’s help. All three of them had been on the run from the king for centuries. If anyone found out Isabella was still alive, they could follow the trail to my parents.

  But to me, she was Aunt Isabella. No wonder she always seemed so curious about me, and why she’d taken me on her rounds—I was her niece.

  I have an aunt! I threw my arms around my dad and squeezed. I promise I won’t tell a soul. Which was the truth since Dathan obviously already knew.

  He hugged me tight and kissed the top of my head. Love you, sweetheart.

  “Love you too.” I rested my head on his shoulder for another moment as I truly absorbed the enormity of what I now knew of my family. I had an aunt. She and my parents were ancients… and infamous. They were also the most hunted shape-shifters and werewolf in the world. And I was a freakin’ hybrid. That certainly explained why I didn’t fit the normal shape-shifter profile. And why I was so strong—I had werewolf strength on my side.

  And now I could do more than kiss and make out with Zack. A hell of a lot more. But not yet. If I made a move on him, he’d object because he wouldn’t want us to get weaker. I wouldn’t be able to explain to him the mixing species thing was all a lie. A lie created by King Mortimer after my mom and dad escaped, probably so that his kind would never again stoop to mixing species with a “lower life-form.”

  My poor parents, on the run all these centuries. Wait… I thought female werewolves couldn’t give birth. Their urge to morph was too strong and, supposedly, each time they morphed the baby was killed. If that was the case, my mom couldn’t have birthed me.

  Before I’d graduated high school, I’d wondered if my parents were human and had adopted me. But I’d found out otherwise, that they were my real parents. And here I was again wondering if I’d been wrong and maybe one or both of my parents weren’t biologically related to me.

  I reached an arm around my dad’s waist and hugged him hard. He released me and I rose from the table to scan for my mom. I located her chatting with Natasha. Mom, I thought female werewolves couldn’t reproduce? Was I adopted or something?

  “Oh, hey, sweetheart.” She slung an arm around my shoulder then faced Natasha again. “I’ll be right back.” She steered me to the far end of the training area.

  Was I adopted? I asked as soon as she came to a stop.

  No, honey. She hesitated a moment as though searching for the words. You obviously already know that female werewolves are unable to carry to term.

  You didn’t carry me to term yet I wasn’t adopted? I’m confused.

  She brushed a lock of hair off my forehead and a faint smile touched her lips. These past centuries, I conceived over and over. It just about wrecked me each time I discovered I was pregnant while being fully aware that the child would die as soon as I morphed. Again and again.

  “That must have been horrible.”

  She laughed once. “You have no idea.”

  So… how did you get me?

  We’d figured out a couple centuries ago that the urge to morph decreased as I ate less meat. After a couple decades as a vegetarian, I found I could go days without morphing. That turned into weeks. Eventually I was able to do it for months at a time.

  And how many babies did she miscarry in those two centuries? I couldn’t think about the grief she’d endured each time she’d morphed because she hadn’t been able to hold her human shape one second longer. Or the guilt she’d suffered knowing she’d killed her own child. I couldn’t think about how many siblings I’d lost.

  My heart ached for all of them and a surge of sadness hit me with so much force, I swayed into her. I clutched the sleeve of her shirt and I buried my nose in her hair. I’m so sorry you had to go through that over and over.

  Her chin trembled against my ear. But all that pain and grief got me you. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

  “Love you, Mom.” I held her another moment before shifting my attention to Yvonne as she arrived in the training area, her mouth set firm. Whatever she had to say, it couldn’t be good news.

  “What is it, Yvonne?” Natasha asked, abandoning her conversation with Renzo.

  “I’ve just received pictures of a group of werewolves who were spotted in Carson City moments ago.” Yvonne zeroed in on her cell screen. “The images are still loading but since I’ve never seen Ulric, I wouldn’t know whether one of them was him or not.”

  “If that’s Ulric we’re about to see, the person who sent the picture is probably already captured. More likely dead.” Dathan rocked back on his heels.

  “Where is Carson from here?” I asked.

  Natasha stroked my hair, then seemed to realize what she was doing and inched away. “About fifteen miles.”

  If the image we were about to see was Ulric, then that really had been him in the tunnel and not some random intruder. My stomach pinched.

  “It’s finished loading.” Yvonne thrust out her phone and the six of us crowded around her to get a look at the guy who could possibly be the most infamous werewolf in history.

  “That’s not Ulric,” Dathan said in an irritated tone. “Do you have more pictures?”

  Yvonne stayed on the first image a moment before swiping to the next. A couple seconds later, she swiped the screen again so we could view the next image.

  “Wait.” Dathan bent over my shoulder to examine the picture more closely.

  The image was grainy which made sense since no shifter would want to get close enough to a werewolf to be detected. He was standing in front of a coffee shop, wearing a brown hat over his ash blond hair that partially obscured his forehead and shadowed his eyes. Judging by his long full beard he hadn’t shaved in years. He was also dirty�
�like he’d been living in a tunnel for a few days.

  “That’s Ulric, AKA Urian.” Dathan’s jaw clenched. “No doubt.”

  Chapter NINE

  Zack

  “Thank you, Yvonne.” Natasha hesitated a second or two. “Please have Kieran and Havers ensure all security cameras are working and we have no blind spots around the perimeters.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” Yvonne retreated and exited the training room.

  “If he’s in Carson City, isn’t he only about fifteen minutes away?” I automatically glanced at Autumn. “Which probably doesn’t matter since that was probably him in the tunnel and he’s been coming and going all this time.”

  “Exactly.” Natasha flicked a wrist in dismissal. “He still has to breach the compound though. Which isn’t going to happen.”

  “Ulric is Urian, the same werewolf I hunted centuries ago,” Dathan hissed, getting up in Natasha’s face until they were almost nose to nose. “And if he has developed vampire’s ability to control minds, he doesn’t have to get inside to inflict damage. Lulu’s death is proof of that.”

  “Okay. Let’s bring this down a notch.” Quentin slid an arm between Natasha and Dathan, then squeezed in. Dathan backed up. “No new reports of casualties?”

  Natasha shook her head. “No.”

  Dathan eyes shrunk to slits. “Ulric may have already been inside. Your missing crew members, Claire and Ryan, probably didn’t escape. My guess is they were taken. Ulric could’ve easily tortured information out of them and has already figured out how to destroy us all.”

  My heart tripped then gained speed.

  “Enough standing around,” Dathan bellowed. “If Ulric is that close, we don’t have time to talk. Let’s get to work.”

  We trained later than usual, breathing occasional sighs of relief that none of us had come across Ulric. Close to midnight, we all staggered up to our room. By the time we got into bed, my limbs may as well have been boneless and I should’ve been asleep within minutes. I snuggled up to Autumn but instead of fading out, I lay there wide awake and staring at the wall. Ulric could come for us at any time. For all we knew, it could be another week before he attacked, but every minute until then would be torture.