Haley could see the hair rise on the animal, indicating that he was about to attack.
“Frank, step away from me,” Haley demanded just as the wolf once again snipped at him.
This time, catching a piece of his flesh.
Frank looked down in shock as his arm began to bleed.
Haley motioned to Bridget, who was standing there with shock blanketing her expression. “Get Frank’s arm taken care of.”
Her hands were shaking so badly that she could barely help Frank, but Bridget for once did as she was told. Walking to the door, she turned to Haley. “What are you going to do?”
Haley looked back at the wolf, her gaze never leaving his. “Ian is still in there. I can’t give up on him.”
The wolf snarled once again toward the hallway where Bridget and Frank had stopped. It was a clear indicator that he wanted them gone. Haley had never been so frightened in her life. One thing was certain though. She had watched Ian turn into this creature. She knew that her Ian was still in there, she just didn’t know how to reach him.
“Ian,” she said softly.
The wolf simply stared back with black, soulless eyes. Haley had no idea if he could hear her. It was crazy to think that an animal might be able to understand a human’s words. But nothing about that night had been remotely normal. There had to be something she could do.
Frustration and fear mounting, Haley couldn’t help the tears that began to gather in her eyes. She felt hopeless. Ian had finally admitted his feelings for her and then this happened. She had secretly loved the idiot her entire life.
Closing her eyes, Haley allowed the tears to fall. It wasn’t until she felt the massive body of the wolf by her side that her eyes snapped open. He was staring up at her with a confused expression. Almost as if he knew of her pain. She should have been terrified to have him so close. After all, he had just tried to hurt Frank.
But even as she thought it, she knew that the only reason the wolf attacked was because Frank had been too close to her. Absentmindedly, she began to run her fingers through the wolf’s fur. It wasn’t until the wolf whimpered and nuzzled closer that Haley spoke.
“Ian, are you still in there?”
The wolf cocked his head to the side. Haley had no idea if this was Ian telling her that he could still understand her or if the wolf was merely responding to the sound of her voice.
Either way she sank down and began to talk to him. The wolf laid its massive head in her lap and listened. It wasn’t until Haley heard someone in the doorway that she stopped speaking.
Bridget stood there with trembling hands. Frank wasn’t far behind her.
“I don’t understand,” Bridget whispered, her hands going to rest upon the doorway.
Frank shook his head. “It was supposed to be a rumor, a legend. I never thought it would actually happen.”
“Are you alright, Mr. Johnson?” Haley asked tentatively.
“Frank’s fine,” Bridget answered. “It was just a scratch. Listen, Haley. There are some things we need to talk to you about. Things that might come as a surprise to you.”
She turned to Frank and said something under her breath about how much of a surprise it had been for her.
“What Bridget was trying to say was that our family, well, we aren’t like most families.”
Haley looked at Frank with some degree of amusement despite the strain of a difficult situation. “Frank, I am sitting on the floor next to a massive wolf that used to be your youngest son. I think we have clearly established that your family isn’t like other families. What legend were you talking about? Is Ian okay?”
Frank nodded jerkily. “He’s got to learn about this new form. I am sure there is someone that can help us. I just don’t know who that could be. It’s going to take me a little bit of time to research this. Listen, I have a feeling that if I try and separate the two of you, I will have more than just a scratch to show for it.”
Haley blew out a breath. “Okay, but Frank, we need to figure out how to get Ian back to himself.”
It seemed that Bridget lost her fight with the emotions that she had been trying to keep back. Suddenly, she burst into tears.
The wolf began to howl in protest and Haley started to move away. That only caused the animal to snarl and attempt to keep her closer.
“Frank, why don’t you take Bridget to help you figure things out. I will stay with Ian.”
As Frank guided Bridget away from Ian’s bedroom, Haley sank against the bed.
Chapter Six
As the sunlight began to creep inside Ian’s bedroom, Haley began to register that she was no longer lying next to the massive wolf. Instead she was snuggled up inside Ian’s arms—his human arms.
“Are you awake?” Ian’s gruff voice caused her to turn in his arms.
“Hey, you’re back,” she whispered. “Are you okay?”
Ian leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I am now. What happened yesterday?”
Haley basked in the affection Ian was showing her. “I am sure that your dad could explain it better, but he said something about a family curse. I guess that it’s passed along the father’s side. The seventh son of a seventh son can activate it in a family.”
“Activate it in the family?” Ian repeated. “Do you mean that what happened to me is going to happen to my dad and brothers?”
Haley shook her head. “Not your dad, but your brothers, yes.”
Ian ran a hand over his face. “Shit, do they know?”
Haley cupped his handsome face, feeling the stubble against her palms. “I think your dad was going to talk to them last night. We didn’t know how long you were going to be, um…”
“An animal?” Ian provided.
Haley nodded. “Yeah, well, no. I mean, like a wolf. Your dad said that he was able to locate a pack and the alpha wants to meet with us.”
“I don’t want to meet some alpha. Haley, I don’t want this. How can we stop it?”
Haley placed a comforting hand on his chest. “It’s going to be okay. We will figure this out. I won’t let you move away without me.”
“Move?” Ian’s eyes grew wider with concern. “I don’t want to move. I like being a fireman, and I want to be with you.”
Haley flushed. “Well, that’s another thing. Your curse was activated because of me.”
Ian frowned. “You have some sort of magical vagina that turns guys into wolves?”
Haley pinched his nipple and Ian laughed. It was nice to hear his laughter despite the worry that shone in his eyes.
“It’s because of me.” Haley added, biting her lip, “The seventh son of a seventh son's curse manifests when he meets and claims his mate. The stories say that when this happens, the soul is split—half serving the moon goddess and half walking in the daylight. According to the alpha that your dad talked to, you’re going to have to learn to control the wolf.”
“And when this happened it activated something for my brothers as well?”
Haley nodded. “Now your brothers are sitting time bombs.”
“You mean to tell me that they only get their wolfie powers if they fall in love?”
“That’s what your dad said,” Haley replied.
“Well, I guess there’s one positive thing in all of this.”
“That your brothers will be with you?” Haley guessed.
Ian stared into her eyes, shaking his head before kissing her hard on the mouth. “No, Haley. The one good thing is that you will be there with me. You are my mate. I know that with everything that is inside of me, I love you. I want to be with you always.”
Haley’s eyes began to fill with tears. “I want to be wherever you are. I want everything you said and more. I love you, Ian.”
A wide smile broke across his handsome face before he tackled her on the bed, smothering her in kisses.
They didn’t know what the future held or how long it would be before Ian would have control of his wolf. But what they did know was that they had each
other. And they had love, and that was enough for them.
* * *
This has been a Curvy Girl’s Guide to Shifters Novella by S. Cinders. If you enjoyed the story, please leave a review.
About the Author
S. CINDERS is a multi-genre award-winning author of romance. She loves writing everything from contemporary billionaire romances to swashbuckling pirate tales or writing of alpha shifters to deadly vampires to fractured fairy tales to alien abductions.
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S. CINDERS lives in the Midwest with her husband and two teenage sons who keep her on her toes. Known as the naughty romance author, you will remember her for her banter and engaging characters. Once you start, you won’t want to stop!
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Adult Fairy Tale Retellings
The Dark Fairy Tales Series (An Adult Fairy Tale Retellings Box Set)
Witch Queens: Tales from Oz
Chasing Pan: Tales from Neverland
Wicked Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole
Claiming Goldilocks: Tales from the Three Bears
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Regency Romance
The Dirty Bird Chronicles (A Regency Romance Box Set)
Maddie & Cece Audio Book
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Paranormal/Shifter Romance
Finn: Lycan Mating Games Book 1
James: Lycan Mating Games Book 2
Ella: Lycan Mating Games Book 3
Pavo: Dragon King’s Series Book 1
Jord: Dragon King’s Series Book 2
Promised: Wolves of Kencull (A Reverse Harem Shifter Romance)
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Paranormal/Vampire Romance
Missing: A Virgin Vampire Ménage/Reverse Harem Series Book 1
Secrets: A Virgin Vampire Ménage/Reverse Harem Series Book 2
Hidden: A Virgin Vampire Ménage/Reverse Harem Series Book 3
Applebottom Magic (A Paranormal Romance)
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Sci-Fi Romance
Becoming Super (An Urban Fantasy Sci-fi Romance)
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Contemporary Romance
Special Delivery (The Billionaire’s Secret Baby) Book 1
Special Recovery (The Billionaire’s Secret Baby) Book 2
Royal Academy
Fatal Fall
Ashley Amy
About Fatal Fall
As a young girl, I learned rather quickly to keep my secrets close. Power would always be what men hungered for the most. And when they learned I would provide the most power, they wanted me in shackles. Running became my nature, so I didn’t understand why my wolf picked a mate that would derail our safety completely.
Vella
My paws trudged the frozen tundra like it was any other day in our pack, but today had been different. With my quickened pace backing my fright, I was going faster… harder… for my own survival.
Someone close to me, ratted out my secret. Now my Alpha wanted me for himself, as his second mate. I’ll never forget what I just witnessed because it will haunt my conscience even with my eyes open.
Doing a night run, I came back to my mom’s winter cabin to see it filled with the elite group of our pack. Our Alpha stood among his finest men. Two men held my mother as her golden hair was gripped firmly by Alpha. He sneered in her face, but she didn’t waver as he did.
Leslie, my best friend, was still with me in our wolf forms as we watched my world come crashing down through the window.
“Tell me where to find your daughter, Ingrid,” he hissed in her face. His pale hair and icy eyes were highlighted under the light in our living room. The arctic color came from our wolves in this region of Canada.
“Stay away from her, Maliki!” My mother—the strong and beautiful woman—spit in his domineering face.
“My son has been courting her for nearly six months, Ingrid. Guess what secret she slipped to him earlier today?”
No… Mekhi.
The man I loved, betrayed me. My heart was struck with an arrow of grief, shattering from the first love of my life—my destined mate—serving me on a silver platter.
My mom stayed silent while I reigned in my wolf. She wanted to echo our heartbreak through a broken howl. Nothing compared to knowing my childhood friend and first love, deceived me.
“Is the mouthy Ingrid Thomas finally mute?” he chuckled out, petting her face like a lover. “Don’t worry. When I find her, she’ll be just for me. Though, she won’t need you anymore with me as her mate.”
Before my mom could argue, his mid-shifted hand of long claws slammed into the skin over her heart. I watched as he ripped the pulsing organ from her chest.
From his swift yank, the red liquid splattered everywhere. Mostly over her favorite painting she had made of our family in our wolf forms. It was messy, it was gory, but most of all, it was my mother’s blood I watched him shed.
Overwhelmed at this point, my wolf howled to my Luna in the night sky. She sang a rippling prayer to take care of my mom in the afterlife.
Maliki heard and spotted me through the window. My mom’s body slumped to the floor when they dropped her like nothing but a sack of potatoes.
The men began shifting when they spotted my location outside. Leslie nipped at my heels to get moving, and so I did, with her right beside me.
Now, we were sprinting over the vast icecap, being hunted by our own pack. All because of a secret I so foolishly let slip from my lips.
I thought Mekhi loved me in return, and I wanted him to know my darkest secret before our mating ceremony. Never again would I trust a man, and never again would I hand over my heart…
Vella
Keep moving, Vella! My mom is waiting for us by the train depot. Les communicated telepathically from us being linked. She had a gift to talk to anyone in their minds. Not just pack, like me.
We kept going over the empty terrain while we heard the howls of wolves and saw the lights of trucks behind us. My paws pounded harder over the frozen pavement that was tearing up my padded flesh, but no pain registered from my adrenaline being in high gear.
Gunshots fired as we neared the deserted town that held the functioning train station. The buildings around us splintered where the metal rounds struck the wood from the guns. We ran figure-eights to make us harder to target.
A moving train sounded, and we spotted Lena by the open door of one of the carts. It was still moving slow from just taking off but was gaining speed quickly. “Come on girls! Run and jump, now!”
Just as Lena spoke, a shot was fired. It hit it’s mark in my left hip from going in through my backside. The hit caused my sprint to weaken from the limp that came with the pain.
A sharp yelp left my lips when I felt a massive weight throw me to the ground. Teeth sank into my neck and shoulder area. I couldn’t turn my head to nip back from his hold, and I felt the warm liquid flow out of me.
I could only suffer, growing weaker as Les tackled Samson off me. She tore out his jugular. Her head lifted mine from the ground with a whimper, pleading for me to be okay. I got to my feet with a bad leg and gory neck, showing her why I was an Alpha.
I knew I was going to pass out soon, so I did what needed to be done with my consciousness still working. I bolted for the train with my Beta. I was an Alpha by birthright, but I was a female. I couldn’t hold the actual position in our world of shifters.
Secretly, Les and I became our own pack while attached to the larger pack. We we
re only sixteen then, but our biology knew where we stood in the chain of dominance.
It wouldn’t be official until we shared blood, or while we stayed a part of Maliki’s pack. In our hearts, we know what we were.
Les let me leap first just in case I failed. Then she followed suit as we slammed into the metal wall on the other side of the cart. Lena smiled down at us, and we saw the backpacks in the corner.
“I’m so prou…”
Bang! We watched her smile fall into a look of disbelief, while the spot in the center of her chest began to grow with a cloud of crimson soaking it. Leslie shifted into her human form and screamed when her mother fell to her knees. She ran to hold her in her last moments and rocked her mother to find some peace in her last breath.
I was still against the wall, fighting the darkness creeping along my vision. I watched their most intimate moment without being able to help.
“Leslie, my dear, you are her last protector. Never let them find her and stay strong, my beautiful daughter,” Lena sighed out with pride. She then gave instruction on the journey we were about to take. “Head to Kalispell, Montana. Find Margo Fisher, Vella’s aunt. She’s expecting you.”
“Mom…”
“Shh… baby, don’t cry. There is peace in death. Every time you see our Luna, you’ll know I am finally free to be with your father. It’s been hard on me since we lost him, and I am excited to be with him again. I only regret leaving you, Leslie. I love you, baby.”
Her body went limp, and her lips parted, releasing her final breath. Leslie howled her cries to Luna, and I tried to muster one from my own dying body.
Falling for Shifters: A Limited Edition Autumn Shifters Collection Page 49