The Hot Alpha Switch: A Paranormal Shifter Romance

by Dawn Steele

  She almost pressed the doorbell button but stopped herself in time. She stayed here! She swiped the key card and let herself in, feeling like an intruder.

  There was a light in the hallway, which opened out onto the most luxurious sitting room Kendra had ever seen. So this was how the rich lived! Well, she could get used to it.

  The bedroom door was ajar. A light emanated from it. Kendra tried to tiptoe in, blushing suddenly when she realized she would be sleeping in the same bed as Taran, Violet’s boyfriend. A total stranger to her.

  Remember, tell him you need some space for a month. You’ll only have to sleep in the same bed for two nights, Violet’s words echoed.

  “Vi?” The same male voice Kendra had heard over the phone called out to her.

  “I’m back.” Kendra’s heart was in her throat. “I thought I told you not to stay up.”

  She was glad Violet didn’t have an English accent, or this would be impossible to pull off!

  “I couldn’t sleep,” Taran said.

  Kendra entered the bedroom, wrenching her heels off. She stopped as soon as she saw Taran sitting up in the king-sized canopied bed. Violet never mentioned that he was so handsome! And young!

  Taran’s hair was tousled. In the lamplight, his naked chest gleamed a magnificent bronze color. Kendra could appreciate the clean lines of his well-structured jawbone. What color were his eyes? She couldn’t tell in this light.

  Concern was etched on his face.

  “Where were you?” he said. “I was worried sick.”

  “I told you. I met this girl and we stayed up chatting.”

  “Couldn’t you have at least called or texted me to let me know where you were?” His tone was injured.

  “Sorry. But you’re not my keeper.”

  The only reason Kendra said that was because she thought it was something Violet would have said. But why was Violet breaking up with this young, handsome, self-made billionaire who seemed caring and concerned about her wellbeing? Violet didn’t go into details, except to say that “he’s irritating me, and I need some space”.

  Well, if Taran was anything like Ronnie, then Kendra could understand it.

  Taran didn’t say anything. He just looked uneasy and sad.

  “I’m going to take a shower. Then I’m going to go to bed,” Kendra said, hoping that would buy her time to compose herself. “If that’s all right with you.”

  “Sure.”

  He watched her go into the bathroom. She closed it firmly behind her. She leaned against the door, her heart thudding in her chest.

  She took a shower and wrapped herself in one of the hotel dressing gowns. When she peeked out, the lights were off on Taran’s side. But he had left a night light on for her. How considerate. Dawn peered through the slits in the heavy blackout curtains. Taran was lying in bed, covers up to his chest and his back to her.

  She heaved a sigh of relief. Now where did Violet put her nightgown?

  Violet’s Louis Vuitton suitcase was open on a stand. Kendra rifled through the clothes in there, but she could not find anything resembling a nightgown or pajamas. Yet another detail Violet didn’t go through with her. (How could she? It was impossible to cram a lifetime into half a night.)

  “What are you looking for?” Taran’s blurred voice floated towards her.

  Kendra froze.

  “My nightgown.”

  “But you don’t wear anything to bed.” There was hurt, not suspicion, in his tone.

  I don’t? Kendra’s cheeks colored.

  “I feel a bit cold, that’s all,” she muttered.

  “Come to bed.”

  She turned. Taran was holding up the covers for her to slip in beside him. Was he naked under the sheets, too?

  Kendra was no prude. She had seen plenty of naked men, thanks to her heritage. Werewolf males thought nothing of stripping in the open. But Taran was a total stranger! She had never gone to bed with a total stranger!

  You signed up for this, she admonished herself.

  She bravely undid the sash of her robe and let it fall. Not seductively, but in a ‘I’m going to bed in my usual manner’ way. Taran’s eyes never left her body. She walked to her side of the bed and got in. She could smell Taran’s skin – sweetly scented with the expensive hotel soap – and the mint on his breath.

  He gently placed the covers around her. But he kept his marginal distance and did not attempt to cuddle up to her.

  “Good night,” he said in a low voice. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

  “Good night.”

  She turned her back to him and tried to fall asleep.

  She succeeded because she was flat out tired. Her dreams that morning were filled with images of handsome naked billionaires offering her olive branches. But when she reached out for them, something pulled her away.

  THE OTHER SIDE

  Violet woke up to loud knocking on her door. She opened her eyes to stare at a strange ceiling. Where the hell was she?

  “Kendra?” said a deep male voice. The insistent knocking came again. “Kendra?”

  Right! Everything came rushing back to Violet. She sat up in the bed.

  “I’m coming!” she yelled.

  She was dressed in a long T-shirt – Kendra’s, naturally. Two strides, and she was at the door. She had never been in such a confined space before.

  The door opened to reveal a tall, very handsome young man with dark hair and flashing blue eyes. Violet was taken aback by how startlingly blue his eyes were.

  “Sleeping late?” He looked Violet up and down.

  Ah, the infamous Ronnie.

  What’s it to you?

  “Resting. I couldn’t sleep last night.”

  “You with someone?” he immediately said, his eyes darting into the trailer.

  Violet was amused. She remembered what Kendra said about Ronnie:

  He’s the new alpha of the clan. She-wolves are literally throwing themselves at him, but he doesn’t want them. He’s fixated on me. Can you think of anything more irritating than an alpha who won’t take no for an answer?

  Maybe that was it, Violet thought. He wants what he can’t have.

  She rolled her eyes. “Ronnie, if there’s someone in here, I’ll make sure you’re the first to know.”

  “I’ll kill him, you know,” Ronnie said dangerously. “Everyone here knows I’ve marked you as mine.”

  Uh oh. Douchebag alert. But damn, he was attractive. Kendra had sort of prepared her for it, but Violet hadn’t reckoned on how attractive Ronnie was in a way that was completely different from Taran’s cultured demeanor.

  “I’m not someone’s property, and you’d better start getting that in your head.”

  “You know, living alone too long does that to a woman.”

  “So sue me. I’m destined to be an old maid all my life. What are you doing chasing up my skirt, then?” Violet countered.

  Ronnie seemed amused.

  Oh, he was that type, Violet decided. He liked the challenge of an unattainable woman. Well, she could play unattainable all right.

  “Well, hurry up,” he said. “We’ve got a hunt coming up.”

  Kendra had taught Violet exactly what to expect.

  “I can’t,” Violet demurred. “I’ve taken a vow of Deferment this morning.”

  Ronnie’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”

  “It’s my right. I had the dream, so I took the vow this morning.”

  Deferment meant absolutely NO shifting. Hahahahaha.

  There was a glint in Ronnie’s eye.

  “Well,” he declared. “If you can’t hunt, then I’ve got another job for you.”

  “Only if you’re paying.”

  Kendra had taught Violet that unmated she-wolves did odd jobs around the clan – such as cooking and cleaning for the elders. Everyone is part of the community, so they contribute in one way or another.

  Fitting, thought Violet. Except that the females couldn’t choose how they contributed. They were paid, o
f course, but only with a paltry sum.

  “I always pay,” Ronnie assured her.

  “So what do you want me to do? Iron your shirts? Fold your laundry?” Violet rolled her eyes. Oh yeah, she’d teach him all right.

  “No,” he replied. “I want you to be my handmaiden.”

  THE MORNING AFTER

  When Kendra finally woke up, it was well past noon. The other side of the bed was empty, but there was a note:

  ‘GONE TO THE WOLF COMMUNITY. YOU WERE SLEEPING SO PEACEFULLY I DIDN’T HAVE THE HEART TO WAKE YOU. DINNER TONIGHT? WE’LL TALK.

  WITH ALL MY LOVE,

  TARAN.’

  Something stirred within Kendra’s chest. No matter what Violet said, Taran seemed like a genuinely nice, conscientious guy. Perhaps he was too conscientious for someone like Violet?

  But wait. What was that about going to the wolf community again?

  Kendra sat up in bed.

  Uh oh. Violet said he was here to do charity. Apparently, charity extended to visiting the community in question and getting his hands dirty.

  She had to warn Violet!

  Violet’s MacBook Air was in her computer case. Kendra took it out and hastily powered it on. She typed Violet’s password in:

  0123.

  Then she logged on to Violet’s email and hastily typed the message:

  ‘Taran is coming to the wolf community. Stay out of sight!

  Best of luck,

  Kendra.’

  She pressed ‘SEND’ and prayed that Violet would log onto the iPad and see the message.

  What a pity Violet didn’t have a cellphone anymore.

  THE TOUR

  Violet’s jaw dropped. Her eyes popped out of her head.

  “Your handmaiden?”

  Are you fucking kidding me? The only time I’m going to lay my hand on you is to smack your smug, silly face!

  “That’s right,” Ronnie said. “You’ve never been a handmaiden before. So I’ll show you the ropes. It pays better than the usual cooking and cleaning stuff.”

  Violet’s mouth was still agape.

  “And what does a handmaiden do?” she spluttered.

  “Don’t you know?” He furrowed his brow.

  Careful.

  “Remind me,” she said acidly.

  “Well, you’ll have to assist me when I go on my fighting tours. Which begins tomorrow.”

  Fighting tours? Kendra never mentioned those. But of course, Kendra didn’t mention a lot of things concerning Ronnie because her advice was to ‘avoid him as much as you can’.

  “Don’t you have someone for that?” she said.

  “Marissa dropped out.”

  “And why is that? Because you pawed her to distraction?” Violet could tell that Ronnie was that type.

  He shot her a glare. “No. Because she kept pawing me. You should know that, Kendra. I only have eyes for one woman in this clan, and that’s you.”

  Violet was rather taken aback. Passion and purpose emanated from every pore of this young man. He meant every word he said.

  “Then perhaps I shouldn’t be your handmaiden,” she said.

  “If you become my handmaiden, I promise on my honor that I won’t lay a hand on you,” he remarked. “Unless you want me to.”

  Violet’s head churned. If she wanted to change things around here, she had to start with the boss – which meant the young alpha of the clan. Then she had to get him to work on the elders.

  “You promise?”

  “On my father’s grave,” he replied solemnly.

  “All right then.”

  “Great.” His smile was genuine. “One day, Kendra, I’ll show you that I’m worthy of you. Now we have to go. There’s some guy who wants to visit the clan. I have to make nice with him to secure more funding. Your first task as a handmaiden is to come with me.”

  “Fine,” Violet said. “I’ll get dressed.”

  “I’ll wait outside.”

  Violet closed the door on Ronnie. He wasn’t that bad, really. He was certainly nice to look at. One couldn’t deny that. And that possessive ‘I must have you even if I have to drag you by the hair’ Neanderthal thinking was kind of flattering.

  Taran was too gentlemanly. Too cultured. Too British.

  But oh, what was she thinking? She wasn’t going to be here for keeps. Her job was to keep Ronnie at bay but make him malleable enough to change his caveman-style thinking.

  Kendra’s clothes were mostly a mishmash of sweaters, T-shirts, and jeans. There wasn’t a single girly item in her meager wardrobe. She might be taking the tomboy thing too far. She wasn’t a lesbian, was she? Violet frowned. Nope, she didn’t get that vibe from Kendra, and she had a pretty good gaydar.

  Once she got dressed, she opened the door again. Ronnie was waiting patiently for her, as promised.

  “Ready to go?” he said.

  “Lead the way.”

  He had to. She didn’t know where the hell the rest of the trailers were, if there were any at all.

  *

  “Why the vow of Deferment now?” Ronnie asked. “I’ve known you for a pretty long time –”

  “Since we were kids,” Violet put in. Kendra had filled her in on that little detail.

  “— and you’ve always been against Deferment.”

  Kendra believed in preserving the purity of what she essentially was – a werewolf who could shift at will. She merely resented the archaic establishment of her patriarchs.

  “Well, people grow up and change their minds. It’s time I purified and detoxified myself.”

  They were walking towards the encampment. Violet had to pretend that she absolutely knew where she was going. When they drew near, she was surprised to see a large cluster of trailers and RVs in a clearing.

  Several women were washing clothes in tubs. Clotheslines were strung everywhere. Other women were roasting a large pig on a spit over a fire. They looked up as Violet and Ronnie came up.

  “We always need the woods nearby,” Kendra had mentioned. “And yet, we have to be mobile so that we don’t stay too long in one area, deplete the reserves, and outstay our welcome with the local authorities.”

  One woman who was poking at the fire with a stick threw the stick aside. Then she sauntered up to them.

  “Admit it, you made a mistake,” she said to Ronnie, her eyes flashing.

  “No, I didn’t.”

  Violet looked from one to the other. Aaaaand this was . . . ?

  The woman glared at Violet. She was a pretty blonde with deep blue eyes and a slim, toned body.

  “You said ‘yes’, didn’t you?”

  I’m supposed to know this person, Violet thought. But then, I’m supposed to know everyone.

  “Excuse me?” she shot back.

  “He asked you to be his handmaiden and you said ‘yes’!”

  Ah, this must be Marissa.

  “Only because it pays the bills,” Violet said.

  Marissa’s mouth twisted into a sneer. “You play so hard to get, Kendra. But you really are a slut. Don’t think I buy your wilting maiden act for one second.”

  “Hey,” Ronnie said.

  “It’s OK,” Violet interrupted. “I can take care of myself.” To Marissa, she retorted, “You don’t get to say that to me. Not the ‘S’ word.”

  Especially when Kendra was a paragon of virtue, from what little Violet knew about her. If anything, her new friend deserved to be applauded.

  “Oh, yeah?” Marissa said.

  Violet drew herself to her full height. She was taller than Marissa by several inches. “Yeah.”

  “You want me to challenge you?” Marissa rose a couple of inches herself.

  Um, a werewolf challenge? Not a good idea.

  “Grow up,” Violet said disgustedly.

  “You can’t challenge her,” Ronnie said. “She’s taken a vow of Deferment.”

  “Oh, that’s convenient. But I guess she’ll need it to clean out all the skankiness in her bloodlines. Her mother was
a slut, too. Everyone knew that.”

  That was it. No one deserved to insult her doppelganger like that.

  In finishing school, Violet had been taught self-defense classes. Muay Thai, karate, jujitsu – she knew a smattering of it all. Right then, she gathered all her strength, bunched her right fist, and laid a hook against Marissa’s jaw.

  POW!

  There were gasps all around. Everyone looked up.

  Violet was a big woman, and she packed a lot of force in her punch. As a result, Marissa went down.

  Marissa cried out, nursing her jaw. Several people rushed to her.

  “What the hell did you do that for?” someone yelled at Violet.

  “She called my mother a slut,” Violet replied. “It was well deserved.”

  Marissa pointed a finger at her. “I’m going to challenge you. You may have taken your Deferment, but I’ll challenge you all the same. I’m going to name the time and place, and you’re going to be there.”

  Uh oh. One day here, and she had already made an enemy.

  “Looking forward to it.” Violet’s eyes blazed just as brightly as Marissa’s.

  Marissa was led away.

  Ronnie turned an amused face to Violet. “That was gutsy.”

  “Thank you. But no one calls my mother a slut.”

  Ronnie’s eyes shone with admiration.

  Uh oh. That wasn’t the effect Violet had intended either. Never mind. She’d rectify that soon enough.

  A commotion was happening somewhere in the periphery of the trailer park. Several people were gathered. There were news people filming with their cameras.

  “The visitor,” Ronnie announced. “Looks like he’s right on time. I like that trait in humans. Let’s go.”

  They headed in the direction of the visitor.

  As they approached, Violet started to get a funny feeling. Wait. Taran was supposed to be on a ‘save the werewolves’ mission. She didn’t know his agenda and hadn’t even pretended to care about it. She had thought that it was mostly fundraisers, charity fetes, and press conferences.