by Lauren Wood
Her jaw dropped as he entered the store. It should have been creepy, but to know that he’d checked up on her was hot. She felt safe around him.
Chapter Five
“What’s it like being a shifter?”
Micah sat back in his chair and looked thoughtfully at Stacey. They were nearing the end of their meal, and he could tell she’d been dying to ask all night. “I’ve always been a shifter, so I can’t really explain what it’s like to not be a shifter. I do straddle two different societies. My pack has its own set of rules to govern themselves, and the city recognizes that, but at the same time, we have to adhere to the rules set aside by the government. We shift during the full moon, but my humanity still remains. I’m human the rest of the month, but my bear still remains. We’re always one.”
He watched as she hid behind her wine while she contemplated his words. The date was going well. They were both obviously restrained and polite. He knew that he was doing something wrong, but he couldn’t help himself. There was an energy around that woman that he simply couldn’t deny.
Micah also knew that Stacey had never met a shifter. She regarded him carefully. It was clear that she was attracted to him, but she’d already put up a wall. He wasn’t sure which part of him she was keeping out.
He’d told both Jackson and Brent about the date. They’d both told him to put his feelings aside to focus on Bridgette instead. He’d picked up the phone several times to cancel the date, but he simply couldn’t do it. There was something about Stacey, and he needed to discover more.
“I’m not dangerous,” he said softly as he placed his card in the check presenter. The waiter was silent as he came around to pick it up.
She scoffed. “Not dangerous? Clearly you haven’t seen you from an outsider’s perspective. First of all, you just look dangerous. You’ve got that dark brooding look about you. Second of all, you’re beyond wealthy. That much money is already dangerous. And finally, everyone knows that the alliance between shifters and vampires are uneasy at best. You being the leader of one of those clans is downright dangerous.”
He considered her words. She wasn’t wrong of course, but once again, she had misjudged what he meant. “My bear isn’t dangerous. If I shifted in front of your, I wouldn’t hurt you,” he explained.
She reddened. “Sorry,” she muttered.
The waiter brought the check presenter back with a smile, and Micah signed the slip and returned the credit card to his wallet. He didn’t want the evening to end, but they had already been at the restaurant for two hours. And as much as he wanted to continue their date elsewhere, he knew it wasn’t fair for her.
It’s not like this can turn into anything. You can’t keep her.
“Are you ready?” he asked softly.
She nodded and stood. He waited for her to pass before putting his hand lightly around her waist to guide her out the restaurant. He felt the spark fly when he touched her, and she shuddered. But she wasn’t the only one who reacted. His own desire was curling in his belly.
All night, she had looked out of place. She wore a gorgeous black dress that clung in all the right places and set his imagination on fire. He’d picked an impressive restaurant, and it was clear that she felt like she didn’t belong there. Even though she kept a straight face, he could see her discomfort. He wanted nothing more than to lean over and kiss her. She belonged there because she belonged with him.
But of course, she didn’t belong with him. And so he didn’t kiss her, and the ride back to her place was silent. He waged a war with himself. Maybe, if he just had one night with her, he could purge his system. He’d put her out of his mind and that would be that.
Of course, that was no way to treat a lady. He was raised better than that, and he could never treat Stacey that way. She deserved so much more.
So much more than he was allowed to offer her.
* * *
“You don’t have to walk me to the door,” she said quietly. The closer he got to the house, the more of a chance there was that she’d invite him in. And she didn’t know him. This was there first date. She didn’t invite strange men into her house on the first date.
“I do,” he said as he held the car door open for her.
Of course he did. Everything he did made it that much harder for her to resist him. Her legs were shaky as she stood. He put a hand on the small of her back as he guided her up the path, but it did nothing to support her. She wanted to melt into him.
When they reached the faded brown door, she took a deep breath and faced him. Here is where she told him that no matter what her body was telling her, he was not invited inside. She wasn’t that kind of girl.
“I shouldn’t see you anymore,” he said thickly.
Her eyes flew up to meet his. One date and she was already rejected? Here she was concerned about what looking like a slut, and he’d already written her off.
“I see,” she said coldly. “Well, thank you for dinner.” She turned to slip the key in the slot, and his hand immediately circled her wrist.
“You don’t see,” he said softly. “I want very much to see you again. But I have to adhere to a different set of rules. You’re not an alpha. You’re not even a shifter. This can’t go anywhere.”
Her whole body reacted at his touch, and she struggled to comprehend what he was saying. “If you can’t be with me, then why did you ask me out?”
Micah bent his head down to hers. “I can’t seem to resist you,” he muttered before capture her mouth. At the first touch of his lips, her knees buckled. She dropped her keys and circled her arms around his neck for support. His kiss was hard, dizzying, and intense. As she eagerly opened her mouth to invite more, someone groaned. Was that her? Him? She couldn’t even tell. As she pressed her body against him, she realized that she’d never felt more at home than she did in his arms. This was right. This was where she was supposed to be.
His hands traveled down to cup her bottom, and he lifted her up to press her against the door. Her legs circled him, and the heat flared between them. Liquid heat pooled between her legs, and she immediately pressed herself against him. Even through their clothes, she could feel his erection. He was ready. She was ready. All they had to do was rid themselves of their clothes.
“Stacey,” he moaned as he slipped a hand under her shirt. She gasped as he touched bare skin. His lips trailed down her throat, and she rolled her head to the side. Every touch was electrified.
As she reached down to undo his belt, her hands pressed against something in his pocket. The horn sounded on the car, and it startled both of them out of their daze. He leaned back and stared at her.
“Good grief,” she said, laughing awkwardly. “We’re about to give my neighbors a show.” He eased her down, and she struggled to find her footing. If she slid boneless to the ground right now, it would be more than embarrassing. “If this can’t happen, then you should probably go.”
She watched the struggle in his eyes before he finally stepped away. “Stacey,” he said softly.
But she couldn’t stand here and listen to him apologize or make excuses. It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t her fault. It just wasn’t meant to be, but that didn’t mean she had to stand here and endure the torturous goodbye.
“See you around, Micah,” she said lightly. Her hands shook as she bent down and picked up the keys. He stood on her porch and watched her fumble with them. When she finally unlocked the door, she practically flew into the safety of her house. Leaning against the door, she felt grateful for the barrier.
It was a long time before she moved again. She didn’t understand the anguish that twisted inside of her. She didn’t even know him, and yet, she felt like she’d lost something incredibly important.
Chapter Six
Two weeks had passed. He didn’t call her. Of course he didn’t call her. Hadn’t he already told her that he couldn’t see her? But that didn’t keep Stacey from checking her phone at least twenty times a day to make sure she hadn’t miss
ed a call. Or a text. Or even a newsletter from his company.
When none of those things happened, she threw herself into work. It wasn’t hard to do. The third night of the visible moon had just passed, and things were also crazier in the hospital then. Kitchen accidents. Work accidents. Car crashes. Weird sex accidents. At this point, she figured she’d seen it all.
So when she pulled up to her house that night, she was exhausted. There were only two shining moments from her fourteen-hour shift. The first was that Dr. Littleston hadn’t worked. The second was that she hadn’t had time to think of Micah.
Later, when she looked back on it, she would claim exhaustion as the reason she didn’t see the shadows moving up her walk. They blended in with the night, and when they were upon her, she barely had time to scream.
Strong hands grasped her and threw her to the sidewalk. She heard the crack of her ankle as she fell, and as her head connected with the concrete, pain seared through her body.
Her attackers never said a word. As she opened her eyes to make sense of what was happening, she saw the flash of the blade. Her vision flashed white as it sunk into her stomach. Searing hot. That was all that she could think. The blade that looked wickedly cold was actually hot.
She clutched her wound and rolled over. Already, the shadows were melting into the dark. She was alone. Logic set it.
Move. If you don’t move, you’ll die. Ignore the pain. Ignore the shock. Get help.
She needed to get to her phone.
Grasping in the dark for her purse, she finally snagged the strap and pulled it towards her, but the contents had been dumped out in the ground. As she searched for it, she wondered if her neighbors had heard her scream. Had she screamed? She couldn’t remember.
There was no phone. All she pulled out were grass clippings and make-up. The darkness was closing, and finally, she let it take her.
* * *
Micah sat at the end of the endless conference table. The heads of each family surrounded him, and although the room was meant for calm and peaceful discussions, recent events had sent the pack in turmoil. He watched the arguments dispassionately as he calculated his next move.
Next to him, his mother sat stiffly next to him. He could see that she was watching him carefully. He hadn’t had a chance to talk with her yet, but he knew that no matter what the outcome of this meeting, his mother had his back.
On the other side of him, Jackson and Brent also surveyed the pack in stonily silence. Like his mother, he knew that they would support him as well. And that was a good sign. An alpha’s most loyal members should also be the ones closest to him.
Next to his mother, Bridgette stared at him. Tall, cold, and beautiful, Bridgette commanded attention. She had long dark hair and beautiful creamy skin, but here eyes were dark and calculating. For a second, he thought briefly back to Stacey’s own warm brown eyes. Even as they light faded from them, there was no malice in them. Bridgette was a different creature entirely.
Next to Bridgette sat Travis. As usual, hatred was radiating from the young man. It was a shame that he was such a loner because Travis was actually a powerful shifter. Their descendants were alpha’s in another community, and it was clear that the bloodline was strong.
Tension grew as the pack divided. Finally, Micah knew that he would have to step in. He raised his hands for silence, and the effects were immediate. Like a wave, the men and women sat in their chairs and quieted. Micah cleared his throat.
“I can see that my recent actions have caused turmoil within the pack. I deeply regret that. With any big decision that I make, I do, of course, always wish to include the opinions of the clan. In this situation, if there were time, I would have done the same. Unfortunately, the time was simply not there. I acted on instinct and impulse to save the life of a young lady, and I will stand by those decisions. As pack alpha, I am entitled to turn humans. Obviously, it’s a power that we don’t often extend, but might I remind you that I have broken no rules. And if you believe that I made the wrong decisions, then you have two choices. You may either challenge me, or you may leave.”
No one, of course, would challenge Micah. Despite what they may think about his actions to save Stacey’s life, no one thought Micah was a bad leader. It was in his blood.
Still, the pack had questions. Halfway down the table, a hand tentatively went in the air. Micah nodded. “Fontana?”
The man cleared his throat. “No one is questioning your leadership, Micah. But you have to admit that the action is unusual. No one in this pack has turned a human in fifty years. Most of us are wondering why you chose to turn her. If she’s important to you, then she’ll be important to us.”
The other leaders nodded their head in agreement. Micah carefully avoided the questioning look from his mother and Bridgette. “I will admit that my acquaintance with the young woman is new, however, I do believe that her attack has more to me with than with herself. These were not humans that targeted her, and I will not have a human die because of me.”
“Not human?” Bridgette sputtered. “How on earth do you know that?”
Micah steeled himself as he turned to her. “I can feel the vibrations of the area. Cold. Calculating. And distinctly soulless. I have reason to believe that the vampires carried out this attack.”
Immediately, the pack began to talk at once. Micah held up his hand. “Silence. I have no reason to believe that this is the work of de’Massier. We have a meeting set up at the end of the week, and I’ll know more then. As of right now, nobody is to assume that this was a personal attack on the clan. And no one is to retaliate. Do you understand?”
Everyone nodded. “Sir?”
Micah turned his head to the woman a few seats down on his right. She regarded him curiously. “If you were not with the woman when she was attacked, how did you know about it?”
He felt the intense stared of Bridgette and his mother. He swallowed hard before he lied. “She called me.”
Everyone nodded, satisfied with the answer. He dismissed the group and stayed his hand to keep Jackson and Brent from leaving. His mother and Bridgette didn’t move. Micah didn’t mind his mother staying, but he wasn’t quite ready to share his secrets with Bridgette. “Bridgette? I’d like to speak to my men in private.”
She slid a cold glance at his mother before nodding and leaving. Satisfied that he was alone, he shut the door. Brent and Jackson immediately stood. “What are your orders?”
“Brent, I want some men stationed outside the doctor’s office. It will take some time for Stacey to wake up, and I want to make sure she’s safe. I doubt a vampire would attack on our territory, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Brent nodded. “I’m on it. Want me to send some men out to check out the vampire territory?”
Micah shook his head. “I don’t want this to turn into a war. I’ll know more after the meeting. Jackson, I need you to investigate Stacey’s house further. I didn’t get a chance to look around. See what you can find. Talk to her co-workers, but be discreet. If I can keep the police from getting involved, I’d prefer that.”
Jackson nodded, and he dismissed them. Finally, he turned to face his mother.
She studied him carefully. No doubt she was seeing the exhaustion on his face. She patted the seat of the chair next to her, and he sank into it gratefully.
“I know when you’re lying,” she said softly.
He closed his eyes. “I felt her dying,” he whispered. “One minute I was getting ready to close up the office, and the next, I felt like someone was stabbing me. My bear kicked in. I don’t think I’ve ever moved in human form so quickly in my entire life. I was almost too late. I had just seconds to make the decision.”
Lynette Gordon reached over and grabbed his hands. “It’s not for the pack to say whether you made the right decision or not. You do realize that not everyone wants the kind of life that we live.”
He nodded. When Stacey woke up and realized what Micah had done, she might pray for
death.
“It’s one thing to turn a human,” she said softly. “But it’s something else entirely to mate with someone other than the alpha. That’s a move that I doubt the pack would forgive. Tread carefully.”
Micah stared at her. “You know?”
“You felt her die, Micah. Of course she’s yours. There is no other explanation.” She reached up and stroked his cheek. “You’ve been so unhappy these past few months. I just wish you would smile.”
He grabbed her hand and held it. “This is what I was meant to do. I just have to figure out how to do it my way.”
Lynette leaned over and kissed him. “I’ll support you no matter what you decide. Your happiness means the world to me.”
“I barely even know her,” Micah admitted. “But there is something very strong connecting us, and I can’t shake it. I certainly can’t ignore it.”
She smiled. “The men in this family have always fallen quickly and hard. I have no doubt that what’s meant to be will be.”
Getting up to leave, she ran a hand through his hair. He heard the door close softly, and he was alone with his thoughts.
The consequences of his actions weighed heavily on him, but he couldn’t focus on that. Somehow, the vampires knew of his relationship with Stacey. And come hell or high water, he would find out who was responsible.
Chapter Seven
Nothing hurt. That was the first thing Stacey noticed as she swam closer to consciousness. Pain coursed through her memories, but now it was gone. She felt better. Stronger. That couldn’t be right.
Slowly, she opened her eyes. Any pain medication should have made her groggy and hazy, but her vision was sharp. She immediately focused on her surroundings. The room was not one from the hospital. While she recognized the machines in the room, she realized she was only hooked up to the monitor. The familiar beeps on the machine comforted her.
Micah sat in the chair by her bed. She stared at him. What in the world was he doing here? He met her gaze, and she saw the flash of fear in his eyes. Frowning, she opened her mouth to say something, but he beat her to it.