Birthright (Pale Moonlight Book 1)

by Marie Johnston

  “Sure is.” Porter handed a few twenties to the kid. They stood back to wait for their food. “I think you impressed him.”

  Maggie smirked. “I don’t know if impressed is the right word.” She glanced around them. Booths were half-filled with people minding their own business. Her gaze lingered on the gigantic windows lining the walls. “Is it safe to eat here?”

  “As safe as any. The three shifters who came after you likely drove around all night. If they found us, we’d have been attacked by now. I’ll use my credit card to buy the car. Seamus’ moles in the bank will notify him, but we’ll be across the river in West Creek, on our way to your brother.”

  A tray with a heap of food waited for them. Porter grabbed it and followed Maggie to a booth. They ate in silence. Maggie’s mind wandered to her mother.

  “We’ll find her,” Porter said around a mouthful of fries.

  She would’ve scowled, but she was filling her face with greasy meat. She had practiced hiding her emotions around her mom, but Porter picked up on them instantly. Either her mom’s senses had dulled, or she’d been humoring Maggie and shifter’s senses were more superb than Maggie realized.

  Of course she knew hers were far superior to a human’s, she just hadn’t understood how she couldn’t be sensed by other shifters. Her lack of knowledge of his world put her at a serious disadvantage.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He did it again! She could brush it off, or she could just ask. He had enough proof of how sheltered she’d been. “How do you do that? Sense me so easily? Is it just me or is this normal?”

  He stopped chewing and sat back, wiping his fingers off on a napkin. “You are easier to read, but it could be because of our connection.”

  “We’ve know each other less than twenty-fours.” Sure, they’d connected well enough during the night, but for her to be special?

  “We’re mates.”

  He said it so simply. They were hot for each other—boom. Eternity together.

  She could really use a long talk with her mother.

  “We’d better get going.” He cleaned up the mess and dumped the tray while she wrapped up the remains of her last burger to eat on the way. “Time to buy a car.”

  ***

  Porter considered his options. A single cab pick-up with pockets of rust all over the body for a grand. Or for five hundred more, a late model sedan that’d seen better days sat tucked into the corner of the lot.

  Porter faced the salesman. “How’s the truck run?” Porter inhaled slow and purposeful. The sickly aroma of a lie forming teased his nostrils. He waited for the salesman lay it on heavy.

  Maggie coughed into her hand. “I’d say it runs as badly as it looks.”

  The salesman visibly switched tactics. “It’s all superficial. There’s nothing wrong with how it runs.”

  Maggie made a sound of derision. “So the previous owners paid meticulous attention to the engine, but let the body rot? How about the other relic you pointed out?”

  The odor emanating from the man changed. He wouldn’t have to lie so heartily. “The car’s really a bargain. No one’s wants a vehicle that’s more boxy than sleek, so we’re just interested in getting it off the lot.”

  Maggie crossed her arms and eyed it dubiously. “How’s it run?”

  Porter repressed a smile. Maggie’s voice held an edge; she meant business. He shut his mouth, clasped his hands behind him, and let Maggie do the talking.

  “It purrs like a kitten.” The salesman answered with confidence. His smell said otherwise.

  She chuckled. “A thirty-year-old car doesn’t purr, it roars. I can see the holes in the muffler from here. All I’m asking is will it break down after a few miles, or will it run for a few hundred before it needs money poured into it?”

  The man’s eyebrows shot up. “It…It’ll run for miles. Might blow smoke, but she runs good enough.”

  “We’ll take it for eight.”

  It was the salesman’s turn to cough. “We’re already selling it at a bargain.”

  “Nope. Bet you couldn’t give it away.” Maggie tapped her foot in a show of impatience. Porter sensed no urgency from her. She’d barter all day. “Eight-fifty.”

  “Perhaps if you were willing to consider thirteen-hundred, we could talk.”

  “Nine and we’re running out of time. There’s plenty of used lots in Freemont.”

  “Twelve hundred,” the salesman shot back.

  Maggie adopted a regretful look. “I’m not going higher than a grand because that’s all we have. Gas for that thing will cost how much?”

  The human glanced between Maggie and the old car, blew out a breath, his eyes skipping back and forth. “Deal.”

  Porter drew out his card. The paperwork was minimal and he lied on most of it.

  The keys were handed over and he and Maggie were on their way.

  “How’d you learn to do that?”

  Maggie paused in her search of all the compartments in the mothball-smelling ride. “What, barter?”

  “Yeah, you were ruthless.”

  “Not really. If I were, I’d have taken it for five, but we were in a hurry.” She settled back into the sofa-like seat. “Ma was the ruthless one. If she could sniff out a deal, she went for it.” Maggie lifted a shoulder. “We didn’t have much money. I remember her driving us around in a car a lot like this one.”

  Explains how she knew its gas consumption was absurd.

  “Next time I need to make a big purchase,” Porter leaned toward her to whisper, “I’m bringing your mother.”

  Just when he’d been thinking he could function decently around her intoxicating beauty without his body going haywire, she laughed. It wasn’t her beauty or strength affecting him this time, but her personality. And he liked it.

  Her whole life had been turned upside down. She survived a kidnapping attempt and feared for her mother, yet she was ready to tackle the world next.

  She was exactly what he needed to overthrow Seamus.

  They crossed into West Creek. Buildings got older, the area poorer. Nearly all the way through, on the outskirts of town, he pointed out Pale Moonlight, a proud building standing among rundown industrial businesses.

  “Jace used to work there?” Her nose pressed to the window, he didn’t miss the longing in her voice.

  Through an ugly situation, at least he could reunite her with her brother.

  Porter continued out of town. He’d never made it to the Guardian’s headquarters when he’d been looking for Jace, but he knew the general area. If the Guardians sensed a couple of shifters in trouble near their property, they’d find them. If Armana had made it already, then they’d be expecting them and lift their wards.

  Maggie scanned around them, intent on their surroundings. “I’ve never been outside of city limits.”

  “Seriously?” Porter couldn’t imagine living within city limits. Shifters craved fresh air, needed to run regularly—on four legs.

  He flicked his gaze to the review mirror—and left it there. The morning had been going so smoothly; he’d actually enjoyed himself, but the good spirit drained out of him.

  Maggie sensed the change in him and turned around. “Oh shit. The van.”

  “They knew we’d try to find the Guardians and camped by the road out of town.” Porter pressed down on the gas pedal.

  The speedometer climbed higher. Every bump a smooth up and down motion as the old car glided over the road.

  “They’re getting closer.” Maggie’s hands clutched the head rest, her body twisted in the seat.

  “We’ll never out run them, and I don’t know the exact directions. Hold on.” He hit the brakes, yanked the wheel to the right, and slammed on the gas again. The big boat of a car fishtailed onto a gravel road.

  Maggie bounced across the seat into him. She scrambled back to her post, watching out the rear window.

  Porter quickly gained control, the car maneuvering over gravel with ease. He spotted another turn;
took the left as fast as he dared. Maggie thumped against the passenger door, quickly righting herself.

  The road was poorly maintained, shrubbery intruding from each side.

  Perfect. He slowed and eased off the road, parking as deep into the trees as the car could fit.

  Maggie glanced around her in alarm. “What are you doing?”

  “Stopping before they can follow our dust cloud. We run from here, get a head start.” He jumped out, motioning for Maggie to do the same.

  Maggie wrestled out against all the limbs pressing in on the door. “Run through the woods? What if they catch us?”

  “I’ve seen them run their wolves. They’re big, but slow as hell.” Porter stripped off his shirt and made quick work of his shoes and pants.

  Maggie watched him with eyes as big as saucers. “You mean…you want to shift and run?”

  “What else would I mean? Have them chase us through the trees as humans?” He laughed at the absurd thought.

  Maggie gulped, her gaze dropping away.

  I was raised as a human.

  Oh. Shit. “Please tell me you’ve shifted before.”

  She didn’t reply. Her stance answered for her.

  A shifter who’d never shifted. How the hell was he supposed to train her, an adult? He didn’t know a shifter who’d gone through puberty without experiencing the transition.

  They stood no chance on foot against the three pursuing them.

  “Strip down,” he ordered.

  Her hands fisted the bottom of her shirt; she hesitated.

  “Maggie,” he barked, startling her. “If you want to make it to safety, you need to move.”

  She ripped off her sweatshirt and climbed out of her pants. Standing naked and gorgeous, he wished he had time to leisurely marvel over her curves. He heard a motor in the distance.

  “Close your eyes, take a few calming breaths.” Her lids drifted closed and he described what he normally felt when he transitioned. “Listen to that voice. You’ve heard it your whole life. It’s our intuition, our instinct, the force behind our senses. Tune into that voice, that feeling.”

  Fear and unease faded; a sense of wonder emanated from her. He remembered feeling the same during his first shift all those years ago.

  “Let it take over. Your body knows what to do, even if your conscious mind doesn’t.”

  Hurry up, hurry up. The distant engine was getting closer. Their pursuers hadn’t found the road they’d hidden on yet.

  Maggie’s eyes flew open. “I can’t.” She clenched her hands at her sides. “I don’t know how.”

  “Breathe, Maggie. Relax. You’re scared and it’s smothering your wolf. Let her take care of you.”

  “There is no wolf inside of me.” Anguish overtook her expression, and if she let it rule her, she’d never shift.

  “It’s not like a separate being within us.” He scanned around them, at their clothes strewn around. “Think of it as clothing. We’re born naked, but we can get dressed. The clothes are like a part of us when we’re wearing them. But they don’t take over our body.”

  It was a shit analogy, but he had no other way to explain it.

  Maggie nervously licked her lips and nodded. “Okay. I’m going to put on my wolf costume.”

  Wheels crunching to a stop drifted through the trees. They found the road.

  Porter controlled his breathing, kept lying to himself, saying they had plenty of time so Maggie’s concentration wouldn’t be affected by his apprehension.

  Her form began to change. She gasped and lost the shift. Her eyes squeezed shut. A large, black wolf with light blue eyes stood in her place. She whimpered and barked, looking perplexed.

  “Telepathy,” he said before he shifted.

  Maggie pranced back from his wolf, surprised to suddenly have a large muddy brown wolf towering over her.

  Porter switched to mind-speak. Communicate like this.

  Sharp blue eyes narrowed on him. Okay? Then her wolf appeared extremely happy.

  He couldn’t help his tongue lolling out at her delight. Follow me. We need to move quickly and quietly. Mind-speak if you have trouble keeping up.

  Her shaggy black head dropped in a nod.

  Porter took off.

  They swiftly ran through trees, ducking under low hanging branches. Porter pushed the pace, waiting for the signal from Maggie to slow down.

  She remained on his tail. Literally.

  Howls behind him spurred even faster.

  Only two wolves chased them. Did one of them stay behind with the vehicles?

  He had no idea where they were going. Guardians were known for the wards surrounding their land, keeping them camouflaged, disorienting unwanted visitors.

  Since Seamus’ thugs knew where they were and would try to herd them away, Porter changed tactics.

  He slowed long enough to howl. Maggie rang out behind him, her voice clear and beguiling, like the creature herself.

  They raced through the woods. There was no indication before he slammed into an invisible ward. With a sharp yelp, he was flung backward, tumbling through the brush, crashing to a stop against a tree trunk.

  Porter! Maggie skidded to a stop in time to only bump against the force.

  He tried to rise, shaking his head. His eyes blinked against the pain. It took two attempts before he was back on all fours.

  Their pursuers closed in.

  Open up! Maggie yelled mentally.

  Porter fervently hoped others could hear her. They had to be sitting outside of Guardian property to have encountered their protections.

  Maggie simultaneously howled and yelled mental commands to let them the fuck in. Porter swayed on his feet, pain in his ribs making breathing excruciating. His head pounded and he was lucky he didn’t break his neck. It would’ve taken hours to heal from such an injury.

  Porter sensed Brutus and his injuries became inconsequential as a shadow launched through the air toward Maggie. He leapt, knocking Brutus off course. They rolled, tangled together, snapping and biting. Teeth ripped into Porter’s hide, fire raced up his side as claws tore at his flank. His brain barely registered the pain. Protecting his mate overrode any other sensation besides the rage he used to keep Brutus down. Jaws clamped down on a wedge of muscle, Porter raised his eyes, his adrenaline heightened senses picking up another shifter.

  The second attacker, Cletus, stalked Maggie who was snarling, her fangs bared. Porter fought Brutus with everything he had, determined to get to Maggie. She was strong, but fighting the other wolf during her first shift wouldn’t end well.

  Porter was covered in burning claw marks and bites. Brutus wore just as many. His muzzle bloodied and raw, he snapped at any part of Brutus he could sink his fangs into. He managed to wrestle the other wolf under him with his jaws at the male’s neck, breaking through skin, filling his taste buds with the male’s sickening flavor. Whines escaped Brutus; Porter was relentless. He increased the pressure, shaking his head to do as much damage as possible.

  The second male growled, his patience with Maggie’s standoff growing thin. His haunches tensed, ready to spring. Porter dropped Brutus, using his hide for traction as he pivoted to attack the male before he got to Maggie.

  A large form flew through the air from behind Maggie. The giant black wolf dived onto the wolf about to attack Maggie. Maggie danced back, her eyes reflecting the shock Porter felt.

  Leaves crunched behind him, Porter spun, prepared for attack. Brutus bunched to lunge up, teeth bared, neck dripping blood. A shot rang out. The ground sprayed out next to Brutus.

  “I wouldn’t move,” a female voice called out.

  Both he and Porter froze.

  Porter couldn’t scent her, concealed behind the wards, but he had determined the identity of the wolf engaged with Maggie’s attacker.

  Movement behind the wall of protection dragged his attention off the big wolf who fought Maggie’s attacker, Cletus.

  Two imposing males held their guns aimed at him and
Brutus.

  A blond with dark blue eyes waved his gun. “Shift.”

  Porter flowed onto two legs. “Maggie!” She hovered too close to the grappling males, enthralled. “Maggie, back away.”

  Her eyes flicked to him, then back to the fighters. She whined and moved her feet, like she wanted to jump in and help the giant black wolf. But there was no need. He pinned Maggie’s attacker.

  Next to him, Brutus flowed into his human form. “Guardians, our leader has commanded this male be brought in.”

  “For what?” Porter snapped.

  “Shut it.” The demand came from the male with silver gleaming through his dark hair and eyes.

  Porter followed commands, hoping his acquiescence supported his innocence of whatever crazy tale Brutus came prepared with.

  Brutus’ companion pawed the ground in submission, the wolf backed off him. Both males shifted. Cletus lay bleeding in the leaves, and a tall male with a shaved head and ice blue eyes stood over him.

  Porter switched his attention to Maggie, who was spellbound. It was the first time she’d seen Jace in well over ten years. She must’ve recognized his scent, knew the wolf was her estranged brother. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his.

  “Maggie,” Jace said softly. “It’s okay. You can shift back.”

  The wolf’s eyes swept across the four nude males surrounding her.

  “Can I talk to her?” Porter asked the males with their guns trained on the group. He looked toward Jace. “This is all new to her.”

  Jace’s brows drew down and it dawned on him that Maggie had remained sheltered all this time. He glanced at Maggie then back at Porter who nodded and mouthed first time shifting. Jace’s eyes widened, incredulous.

  Everyone’s naked! Maggie’s scream tore through Porter’s mind. He recoiled, the other males shook their heads, still ringing from her mental shout. Her words had reached the entire group.

  “Can she borrow one of your shirts?” Porter requested, grateful the two males with guns were still clothed.

  They shot him a say whaaat? look.

  “What the fuck for?” The blond’s tone said Porter’s request was ridiculous.