Paranormal Magic (Shades of Prey Book 1)

by Margo Bond Collins

  Like finding out who was threatening all of the packs that aligned with the Austin pack. That was actually why they had brought Jon along on this trip – for protection. They all knew that throwing a wedding during this meeting was going to draw unwanted attention.

  So why were they still doing it?

  “Stop pacing, you’re making me nervous,” Mark muttered to Adam.

  “I just hope it’s going to be everything she deserves it to be,” Adam told him. “Because she deserves...everything...”

  Jon felt the sugary sweetness of the situation rotting his teeth. He was a man of action, a man who liked doing things that mattered. Not frivolous things like weddings. Quietly, he moved from his post on the wall, and, after nodding to Mark, he slipped out the door.

  About an hour earlier, Huck had left to set up his band on the stage in the Chapel. He had the right idea. Granted, Jon had to stay and watch the people most likely to be attacked, but he didn’t want to stand around and wait for someone to act. He wanted to be out there, finding the bastards. Instead, he was doing this.

  “Keepin’ watch, Jon Boy?”

  Jon didn’t even jump at the voice – in fact, he’d been listening to the intruder sneak up on him the entire time. Carmichael Hoffman, the leader of the Dallas pack stood next to him. Carmichael knew that Jon hated being called “Jon Boy”. But rather than show his irritation, he just nodded.

  “Good man,” Carmichael said in approval. “We kin ne’er be too careful.”

  Yeah, but we could be more careful, Jon thought.

  “An’ after this, we’ll go back t’ findin’ th’ bad guys. Promise ye Jon Boy,” Carmichael added. “Ye’ll get yer moment soon ‘nuff.”

  Jon nodded again.

  The door opened to reveal Adam standing there in his tux, his face bright red and sweaty. “It’s time,” he said, almost as if he was in shock. “I’m about to be a married man.”

  “Then let’s not keep ‘er waitin’,” Carmichael said with a hearty grin. “After all, she’ll go Alpha on yer ass if ye’re late.”

  ***

  Carmichael met Gemma in the hallway outside of the chapel. The scruffy pack leader gave her a warm smile.

  “Well ain’t ye the purdiest sight I’ve e’er did seen,” he said.

  She gave him a grateful smile as he hooked his arm through hers. “Dress is a bit tight,” she reluctantly admitted. It was hard to breathe in it actually. Or maybe that was just her nerves.

  “Motherhood looks good on ye,” Carmichael told her. “Ye’re beautiful.”

  Gemma blinked furiously to keep tears from falling once again. Damn hormones, she thought again. She’d been a wreck since she realized she was pregnant. Or maybe it was just because everything seemed like it was finally falling into place. She was finally getting her happy ending. As was everyone else.

  From the little chapel within the Paris hotel, the “Pachelbel Canon in D” movement began, the start to the ceremony.

  “Let’s get ye hitched, eh?” Carmichael murmured to her. She swallowed, then nodded, feeling the nerves twist about in her stomach. The Dallas pack leader gave her a warm smile and patted her arm.

  Two ushers opened the doors, revealing their small group of guests and the bridal party at the lavishly decorated altar, watching them expectantly. Adam looked so nervous standing by himself in his tux, shifting his weight between his two feet. He stopped and grinned sheepishly at Gemma as she stepped through the doors.

  Annie’s mate Huck was at the chapel’s organ playing the wedding march, and even though he was in a tux himself, he still managed to have the air of a rockstar. Huck insisted that he play the wedding march. Gemma was glad. She wouldn’t want anyone else playing at her wedding.

  Her brother stood up by Adam, and Gemma had the feeling that he was the only reason the groom wasn’t bolting off. Annie stood as a bridesmaid, and even though she was smiling down at Gemma, her eyes kept flashing back to Huck on the organ. Bradley, the eleven-year-old leader of the New Orleans pack, was up with her, looking uncomfortable in his own suit. Bernie stood next to her, holding Alba who cooed happily.

  Everyone in the chapel had a deep connection to Gemma. This was her wolf family, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. The only way it could be better was if her parents were there, but she knew they were there watching over her in spirit.

  She finally stepped up to the altar, and Carmichael grabbed her in a fierce hug. “I’m so proud o’ ye,” he whispered. He kissed her forehead. When he pulled back, his eyes were glistening with tears.

  “Thank you for everything,” she replied softly.

  Then she turned where Adam was waiting for her. You look beautiful, he mouthed to her as he took her hand.

  She found herself smiling broadly as the celebrant took them through their vows. No matter what happened from here, she was going to have a happy ending.

  The thought thrilled her.

  “Do you have the rings?” the celebrant asked, looking through his glasses. He was a werewolf himself, which made the ceremony and venue choice that much more intimate.

  As the ring bearer, Bradley jumped at the question and dug into his pockets, trying each one as his face turned redder and redder with embarrassment. To Gemma’s left, Annie frowned down at the boy. He gave a satisfied sigh as his breast pocket produced the two platinum bands.

  “Sorry ‘bout that,” Bradley mumbled as he handed them to the celebrant.

  “Right,” the celebrant said. “So, Adam Marshall Wells, do you take Gemma Christine Branford as your lawfully wedded wife?”

  “I do,” Adam said. His eyes met Gemma’s and held her there, burning with a fierce intensity that he only had for her. “I do for the rest of my life.”

  Gemma barked a laugh and covered her mouth with her hand. Tears started falling yet again.

  The celebrant chuckled lightly and turned to Gemma. “Do you, Gemma Christine Branford, take Adam Marshall Wells as your lawfully wedded husband?”

  Gemma grinned and gave Adam a sidelong glance. “I—” she started.

  The lights went out in an instant. There was an unfamiliar hissing noise that Gemma couldn’t place. Smoke started filling up the room, making it hard to see and breathe.

  Then the werewolves attacked.

  ***

  Jon was the first to react. He leaped from his spot on the sidelines, transforming as he did so. By the time he hit the ground, he had completely turned into his gray wolf form. With his keen eyesight, the entire room was illuminated in the darkness, but not for long. Tear gas was filling up the room. Unfamiliar bodies burst through the doors, rushing over the pews like some sort of furry tidal wave. It was an ambush.

  Why the hell had he not been able to smell it before?

  Febreze, he realized with a sinking feeling. Someone had covered up their scent with the odor-eliminating spray before they had even entered. And now they were here, attacking his pack, who were helpless from the tear gas. He’d known this was going to happen. He should have pressed for them to postpone the wedding further. So many regrets floated through his head as he fought.

  Get the humans out of here! he yelled to his friends. And protect the Austin pack leaders!

  A big furry body slammed into him from the side, sending him sprawling. He landed on his side, growling as he rolled back onto his feet. The yellow eyes of a wolf glared back at him. A bandana covered its mouth, and a pair of specially modified goggles covered its eyes. So that explained how they were able to attack without the tear gas affecting them. They were prepared.

  How many wolves were in the ambush? It seemed like everywhere he turned, there were more bloodthirsty claws waiting to tear him apart.

  He smacked another face with a paw, pushing it away. He couldn’t stop coughing. He had to get to his pack leaders before it was too late. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he failed them. Another wolf leapt onto his back, ripping into the tender part between his shoulder blades. He howled in pain and m
anaged to fling his attacker off him.

  Who are they?

  Above the pandemonium, he heard his friends in the midst of the battle. Mark had his signature howl as he tried gaining control of the situation from the altar, trying to spur his pack into some sort of order.

  Annie! Bradley was screaming in his wolf voice, although he was hacking from the smoke. Annie, help me!

  Bradley! Annie yelled, lending her voice to the panic. Bradley, where are you?!

  There was another distinctive howl, this one from Adam as he fought off attackers trying to get to his pregnant mate. Gemma had transformed herself, but with the extra bulk of her belly, she was slower and less able to protect herself and her unborn baby, so she stood behind Adam.

  Jon watched the mayhem through the swirl of smoke, feeling helpless. Everything was happening too fast. There were too many of his friends being hurt and there were too many attackers to fight through to get to them.

  He had failed everyone.

  No!

  He roared, feeling the familiar sense of rage take over. He welcomed it as it fueled the fight inside him. Even though he was just a Beta, he was a powerful one, and he was going to show these guys exactly what that meant.

  He sprung into the fray nearest him, snarling and ripping into the attackers.

  Jon! Huck yelled. He appeared by his side. Jon, what the fuck is happening?

  I don’t know, Jon said. His voice sounded strangely calm, even to himself.

  What are we going to do? Huck asked. What do we do? He glanced back at Jon looking for guidance. Jon found it ironic that an Alpha would turn to a Beta for guidance, but Huck was new to this whole thing.

  We get everyone to a safe place, he decided. This wedding is officially postponed.

  Even though he didn’t like weddings, he knew it was going to break Gemma’s heart. Ever since he’d first known them, Gemma and Mark had been like family. He didn’t want to see them in pain, physical or otherwise. He just wanted them to be happy.

  You find Annie and Bradley, he ordered. I’ll get to Gemma and Adam. He flung off another attack. Persistent fucks, aren’t they?

  Be careful, Huck warned.

  He turned from Jon and began making his way to Annie. Jon ran towards the altar, fighting off other wolves on the way. He snarled at the attackers, puffing up his body to make himself look bigger. Gemma and Adam were so close, yet so far.

  Suddenly, he felt himself step on wet, gauzy fabric. He looked down and saw a bloodied and beaten face. It was a young woman – gorgeous with caramel skin, her face surrounded by a mass of dark curls that splayed out on the floor. One of her eyes was swollen shut, the other immaculately made up. Her square, full lips had a bluish tinge to them. She was petite and fine boned, and she probably would have been very short if she were standing, although her proportions made her look taller. Her throat had been ruined, and blood was spilling out in a big puddle on the floor.

  She was wearing a wedding dress – one of the gaudy cheaply made ones with the out-of-style puffy sleeves. She looked too classy for it. Even badly beaten up, she was ethereal and beautiful.

  What the—? he wondered as he bent down to inspect her.

  Something about her drew him closer to her. Then he knew why. This wasn’t a wolf that had been caught in the crossfire between the two warring packs. She was human, and she was dying, if not already dead.

  A distinctly familiar scream tore through the chapel. It took Jon a moment to realize that it was Annie. The attacks ceased suddenly as their enemies began retreating through the exits. He roared and followed them. One of the wolves had transformed back into a human, and reached behind one of the pews and tossed something Jon’s way with a smirk. Too late, Jon realized that it was more tear gas. The canister landed at his feet and he coughed and spluttered, halting just short of the doors.

  And just like that, as soon as the assault had started, it stopped. Through the tear gas, he could see Gemma and Adam transform back into their human forms. Like Jon, they had all taken Carmichael’s advice to always wear spandex underneath their clothing in case they had to transform into wolves suddenly. The others also transformed, bewildered by the sudden attack.

  Jon transformed back into a human. “Is everyone all right?” he asked. “Gemma? Mark? Adam?”

  “We’re fine,” Gemma’s voice rang out. Her hair was all messed up, as was her make up, and she was no longer smiling. She had the haunted look of someone whose world was turned upside down.

  “Everyone okay?” Jon yelled, looking around.

  “I’ll take care of th’ security,” Carmichael muttered. “Woul’n’t want this getting’ out.” He ducked through the doors to talk to the authorities at the hotel. Thankfully, everything had happened so fast in the ambush, the police hadn’t come barging in just yet. There were a few werewolf allies who worked at the hotel who would be able to cover this up, including the video footage. Jon made a mental note to look at the security cameras later to see who came in.

  Jon was about to think everything was going to be all right when Huck stopped them.

  “Wait a second,” the rockstar said. He was searching through the broken furniture and wolves, gritting his teeth. “Where’s Annie? Annie? ANNIE?!”

  Jon scanned the room, and sure enough, he couldn’t find the redhead anywhere. Kidnapped? he wondered. He couldn’t believe that they would take Annie. To what end? Wasn’t this about Gemma and Adam?

  Immediately Bradley paled and panic broke on his face.

  “ANNIE!” Huck yelled. Before anyone could move, he took off at a sprint, crashing through the doors and out into the hotel like a madman.

  “I’ll get him!” Mark yelled, jogging after him. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t kill himself.”

  “Be careful!” Bernie shrieked after him. She was crying in terror at the entire ordeal. Alba the baby was coughing and crying. Jon was relieved when he saw that Bernie had the sense to wrap up her baby with the tablecloth from the altar. The girl was a strong werewolf baby, but Jon had been worried about the effect on her. She seemed fine, even if she was screaming unhappily.

  Jon combed a hand through his hair, trying to gather his thoughts. So, during Gemma and Adam’s wedding, they were attacked. Not to harm the newlyweds, but to kidnap Annie. Not only that, they left behind a beaten, dead human in a wedding dress. As what? A warning? A message?

  Just as he thought about it, in the middle of the bloody floor, the broken woman convulsed with a shuddering gasp. She screamed in a hoarse voice. Somehow, despite everything, she was alive. Jon ran over and bent down over the woman. Her one good eye was rolling underneath her fluttering eyelid as she struggled for breath.

  “Who are you?” Jon found himself asking. This felt oddly reminiscent of when he had been Turned, but he brushed the thought away. It was an entirely different experience watching someone else go through that kind of pain.

  He smoothed back some of her curly hair as he slid his arm under her neck and shoulders, gingerly lifting her head up to help her breathe. He couldn’t believe that she was still alive after all her battered body had been through. She should have been dead.

  The woman’s eye opened slightly to reveal dark brown irises. She regarded Jon for a moment while she tried to form words with her bruised lips. “E-eva...” she managed.

  “Eva?” Jon asked.

  And then she passed out in his arms.

  “I need a doctor!” Jon yelled.

  Gemma appeared next to Jon and she was busy fussing over the woman. “She’s weak from blood loss,” she was murmuring. “Who did this to her?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Adam said. His face was grim as he knelt to the mess. “It’s the same fucks that are raising hell over Bradley. They’re trying to send us a message.” He nodded and pointed to the unconscious woman in Jon’s arms. “She’s wearing a wedding dress, Gemma. It was a warning.”

  Jon watched as all of the color drained from Gemma’s face. Her hands started shaking as
she folded them across her belly. He’d never seen her so out of sorts, even when a lone wolf had tried becoming the pack leader of Austin by taking advantage of her.

  “They’d do this to a random human?” she asked, her voice soft. “Just to get to me?”

  “Probably worse,” Jon said without thinking. Gemma’s face fell at his comment, and he instantly regretted his comment. He was usually a blunt man, but he realized he had erred there.

  Adam was checking Eva’s pulse. “She’s still alive,” he murmured in surprise. “Attacked by werewolves, but still alive.”

  Jon nodded as he looked at the woman’s face. If she succumbed to her wounds, then it would be a horrible pity that she had died. She really was a beautiful, young woman, probably in her late twenties. Yet if she lived, she’d become a werewolf just like them. He’d heard of other werewolves that had been violently Turned like this on purpose. A lot of them were never able to reconcile the fact that they were now the very monsters that had made them what they were. A lot of them committed suicide. The more ravaged ones ended up going insane.

  He had been close to being one of them himself.

  “Fight it,” Jon whispered to Eva. “Don’t die.” He found that he was stroking her cheek, trying to comfort her in anyway possible. He stilled his hand. He wasn’t going to get close.

  The door to the Chapel opened, and Carmichael strode back in, looking weary. “The ambulance is here,” Carmichael announced. “Everyt’in’ else is getting’ taken care of.” Jon didn’t know how he did it, but the older man always seemed to take care of things.

  “Can we trust them?” Adam asked.

  Jon looked at the other wolf in bewilderment. On some level, it made sense that they needed to be cautious, to keep their world away from humans. He couldn’t believe that the enemy would have the balls to attack them in such a public place. And with a young woman dying in his arms did keeping it secret really matter? They’d save her first and then they’d worry about their reputations afterward.