Deceived by the Shifter

by Juniper Hart

  “Go get breakfast,” she growled, and Amberlyn seemed to sense exactly how close she was to shifting in fury.

  The blonde disappeared into the hall, leaving Hollie alone with her thoughts.

  You have to think hard. You talked to him for hours. What did you talk about? What is his last name? What floor was he on in the Bellagio?

  The more Hollie pressed herself, the further she pushed the clues back into her subconscious. There truly was nothing left to do but wait for word on the man she had married.

  He’ll be here. He has to come find me. He has to be freaking out right now, too. Unless he can’t remember anything from last night either. Shit.

  ***

  “He still hasn’t shown, huh?” Amberlyn asked when she returned.

  “Gee, what was your first clue?” Hollie snarled, snatching a Styrofoam coffee container from her and allowing the liquid caffeine to warm her throat.

  “Why are you so angry with me?” Amberlyn whined.

  Hollie wasn’t angry with Amberlyn, but she was annoyed with her own irresponsible behavior. She felt her body begin to shift from the adrenaline pumping through her veins, but she couldn’t afford to lose her temper before Aaron reappeared.

  If he catches me in Lycan form, I think it would be safe to say I’ll never see him again.

  If she hadn’t been so upset, she would have been amused by the thought, but Hollie was beginning to feel like she would never laugh again. Yet as the hours ticked by and her new husband did not materialize, Hollie did recall one conversation they had before things grew fuzzy, and it inspired a great deal of distress.

  “They left today,” Hollie muttered as the sun began to set.

  The first two days had been fun. How could she have screwed up so royally on their third day there? After the drunken stupor, they had spent their entire last day in Las Vegas, trapped inside the hotel room.

  “What?”

  “They left today. He’s not coming here because he already went home.”

  Amberlyn stared at her open-mouthed. “Are you sure?”

  Hollie nodded. “Yes. He’s not coming.”

  Amberlyn cleared her throat and hurried toward her friend. “Okay, don’t worry about it. We’ll find him another way,” she said reassuringly. “We can find him online somehow. We’ll Google his hometown and go from there. It’s the age of technology. Don’t stress.”

  Amberlyn smiled coldly. “That sounds like a wonderful plan, Amber, except for one small problem,” she said.

  “What’s that?” Amberlyn replied, looking pained.

  “I have absolutely no idea where his hometown is. I have no idea if he is even American,” Hollie replied from through clenched teeth. “I don’t have a picture of him to share on social media. I have absolutely no way of tracking this guy. I have a one in seven billion chance of finding him. I think it’s safe to say that this guy is gone for good.”

  Chapter Four

  Ben strolled down the aisle, dropping something on his lap as Aaron lay with his head back against the seat, eyes closed.

  He opened his eyes painfully and glanced at the short man and then at the item on his legs.

  “I thought you could use mine,” he said cheerfully, and Aaron grimaced when he realized what it was.

  “How kind,” he muttered, closing his eyes again and swatting the air sickness bag off his lap.

  The men had been razzing him all morning.

  “What the hell happened to you last night?” Lance laughed. “When I said go do your own thing, I didn’t think you’d disappear.”

  “There was alcohol,” he recollected. “Lots of alcohol.”

  “I can see that!” the groom-to-be chortled. “You sent me the weirdest text and then went off the radar. I thought I would find you in a gutter somewhere this morning. I’m glad you were in the lobby of the hotel. I didn’t want to leave you here.”

  Aaron thought back to earlier that morning, when Lance and Jason had found him sound asleep in an armchair, apparently with a smile on his face.

  Jason shook him awake and made it obvious he was unimpressed with him. “For a guy who didn’t want to leave Lance, you certainly had no problem disappearing into thin air,” Lance’s brother, Jason, growled.

  “Leave him alone,” Lance laughed. “I had you guys to babysit me. Anyway, I think our Aaron met a lady.”

  The other men from the part walked up behind, all staring at Aaron wide-eyed.

  “You met someone?” Kevan demanded. “Was she hot?”

  Aaron stared at his face for a long moment, trying to piece together the details of the previous night.

  “I helped a woman bring her drunk friend back to their hotel room,” he replied slowly. “And then we went out.” He blinked, his eyes still fixated on Kevan’s interested expression.

  “That’s it?” Kevan asked, rolling his eyes. “You didn’t tap that ass?”

  Lance groaned aloud. “This is why Adriana hates you,” he muttered, rolling his eyes at his friend.

  Kevan looked confused. “What?” he asked, genuinely surprised. “What should I have said?”

  “Never mind,” Lance snapped, turning his attention back to Aaron. “You look pretty rough, man. We have to leave soon, you’d better get up,” he said as he extended his hand to aid Aaron in standing up from the chair.

  We went to the Roadhouse Bar and drank shots, he remembered as he quickly threw his belongings into his suitcase. And we talked for hours. She’s a hospice nurse. Where did she say she was from?

  He recalled being very excited when she told him, but his memory was spotty. Most importantly, he couldn’t recollect how the night had ended and how he had come to be in his hotel without Hollie. Did we part on bad terms? Did we just agree to go our own separate ways?

  Aaron had a hard time believing that, but he couldn’t reconcile why they had not spent the night together after having such an incredible connection.

  He gnawed on his lower lip, willing the memories to surface, but he was exhausted and unwell. I should go to her hotel room and say goodbye, he thought, his brow furrowing.

  “Aaron, you have to move faster than sloth pace,” Ben insisted, pushing his way into the hotel room through their adjoining door. “Our flight is in two hours.”

  I won’t have time to go, even if I manage to escape these guys. And even if I did, I have no idea how we left things last night. I don’t even know how I got back here. Why didn’t I go to my room?

  He sighed deeply, zipping up his suitcase and nodding. “I’m ready,” he told Ben.

  ***

  Sitting on the plane, ready for takeoff, he fought back the bouts of nausea, trying to tune out the incessant chatter of the others. His head buzzed enough already without the endless chatter.

  Aaron desperately wanted to tell them to shut up.

  “Excuse me,” he called to a nearby flight attendant.

  “Yes sir?” the man asked cordially. “How may I help you?”

  “Do you have earplugs?”

  The steward nodded. “Yes, sir,” he replied, and Aaron exhaled in relief.

  “That broad really did a number on you, huh?” Kevan chortled, leaning forward. “You’re practically cross-eyed.”

  Suddenly, a flash of something flew through his mind and he stared at Kevan. “Hollie. Hollie Oliver.”

  Kevan’s smile broadened. “That’s a hot name,” he laughed, patting his shoulder from his seat directly behind Aaron. “Blonde or brunette?”

  “Brunette…” Aaron answered slowly. He turned to face Kevan. “Ask me more,” he demanded. “Ask me more questions about her.”

  It seemed that Kevan’s inquiries were jogging parts of his missing memories.

  “Aaron, ignore his stupidity,” Lance ordered from beside him. “He’s just being an ass.”

  But Aaron shook his dark head. “No, he’s helping,” he murmured, and Kevan eyed him to ensure he was not being set up for failure.

  “Is she good in the sack?
”

  Lance groaned, and Aaron glared at him, whipping his head back to stare at the seat in front of him.

  “What?” Kevan cried. “What did I say?”

  “Nothing,” Aaron muttered.

  The flight attendant appeared, handing Aaron a plastic package, and he immediately popped the plugs into his ears, blocking out the activity around him.

  I’ll sleep all the way home, he vowed. My brain will be much clearer.

  As the pilot made an announcement for takeoff, Aaron began to kick himself. I should have gone to Circus Circus and told her the truth, that I couldn’t remember how the night ended and that I wanted to say goodbye.

  But it was too late. The plane was beginning to taxi down the runway, and Hollie Oliver was out of reach.

  When I get back to Hailey, I will find her on Facebook or Instagram, he vowed, allowing sleep to overcome him.

  What other choice did he have? A short pocket of turbulence woke Aaron early, and the “fasten seatbelt” sign dinged on.

  “What time is it?” he muttered to Lance who glanced at his Rolex.

  “Almost noon. We should be landing soon.”

  He nodded, swallowing the cotton in his mouth.

  “Feeling any better?” his best friend asked, and Aaron wasn’t sure how to answer.

  “I haven’t puked,” he volunteered.

  Lance laughed. “If you do, aim toward the aisle,” he instructed, turning to look out into the sky.

  The bumpiness had passed, but there was a slightly perplexed expression on Lance’s face.

  “What’s on your mind?” he asked Lance, glancing over his shoulder to see if the other three men were listening.

  Each one was lost in sleep or engrossed in whatever they saw on their tablets, headphones plugged into their ears.

  “I’m just thinking that this time next week, I’m going to be a married man,” Lance replied, chuckling, but Aaron detected a little mirth in his tone.

  “Are you having second thoughts?” he asked quietly, again looking furtively at the others.

  “No,” he replied. “I mean, I love Adriana, but marriage changes everything, doesn’t it?”

  “It doesn’t have to,” Aaron replied. “You two know each other better than most people. That’s why you’re marrying her, isn’t it? She’s your best friend.”

  Lance snorted. “You’re my best friend,” he replied. “But I still don’t want to see you every day.”

  Aaron punched him playfully in the arm. “Thanks a lot,” he laughed. “Anyway, I’m not as pretty as Adriana. That has to account for something.”

  Lance was silent for a long moment, and Aaron wondered what was troubling him. “Whatever it is, Lance, I’m sure it’s just cold feet and will pass,” Aaron said confidently, but Lance did not turn to meet his eyes.

  “I cheated on Adriana last night,” he murmured.

  Aaron felt his blood run cold. It was the last thing he expected to hear from Lance’s mouth.

  “With who? Where?”

  “We went to the Bunny Ranch,” he muttered. “Kevan wanted to see it while we were there and…” He trailed off.

  Of course it was Kevan’s idea, Aaron thought grimly. Who else would want to do something like that on a bachelor party weekend? Prostitution was legal in Nevada, many of the brothels run by the government itself. The Moonlite Bunny Ranch was one of the better-known places, frequented by celebrities and kings alike.

  “Oh Lance…” Guilt flooded through Aaron as he realized that if he had not left his friend, it likely wouldn’t have happened.

  “But it’s not really cheating, right?” Lance insisted. “I mean, it’s not an affair. She was a pro, and it’s my bachelor party.”

  Aaron didn’t answer, knowing that he would say something that his friend didn’t want to hear.

  “Aaron, say something, man,” Lance urged. “I feel shitty enough as it is.”

  He sighed and turned to Lance. “Yeah, it’s cheating. What would Adriana say if she knew?” he snapped. He had not meant to sound so harsh, but he couldn’t put his personal feelings aside.

  Adriana is a wonderful girl. She loves him so much, and he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants for one weekend? Jesus. I thought I knew Lance better than this. If a girl like Adriana was willing to marry me, I would never cheat on her. When I get married, it will be forever.

  His mouth dropped open then, and he stared at Lance dumbfounded.

  “Stop looking so shocked,” Lance growled with annoyance. “It wasn’t a big deal, and it won’t happen again. Just swear you won’t say anything to anyone, especially Adriana.”

  Aaron could not speak as a flood of memories washed through his mind.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re beginning our descent into Friedman Memorial Airport. The temperature is a comfortable sixty-two degrees, and the sun is shining. We ask you to place your trays and seats in their upright position at this time. Please fasten your seatbelts. Thank you for flying with us, and we wish you a wonderful day.”

  Scowling slightly, Lance fastened his seatbelt, averting his gaze from what he thought was an accusatory stare, but Aaron’s mind was not on Lance at all.

  He was back in Vegas, tripping down the street with Hollie on his arm.

  “You should have ridden the mechanical bull!” he told her laughing, and she giggled, stumbling slightly as they entered the Arts District.

  “No thanks,” she replied, looking up at him with shiny, adoring eyes. “If I’m going to ride something, I’d rather it not be mechanical.”

  Aaron blushed despite the drinks loosening his inhibitions. “That could be arranged,” he told her, leaning in to kiss her cheek sloppily. “But I think we’re going the wrong way. The Bellagio is that way.”

  He pointed in the direction they had come, but Hollie didn’t seem to be listening.

  “Look at those!” she cried, her eyes brightening, and he turned to stare where she gestured.

  “I know,” he laughed, sighing. “They’re everywhere.”

  “I always wanted to know what it was like inside one,” she told him, yanking his arm toward the building. “Let’s go check it out.”

  A warm flush filled his face, and he eyed her nervously. “All right,” he agreed, but his heart raced as they made their way inside the tiny white chapel.

  She feels it too, he thought, swallowing his desire to scream with joy.

  A woman greeted them, and Hollie said something to her, but Aaron was too busy staring at his new lover to mind the conversation.

  We’re going to be together forever.

  “Oh yes!” Hollie squealed, snatching a card from the counter. “What do you say, Aaron?”

  He tuned into her words. “Sure,” he replied, smiling although he had no idea what he was agreeing to.

  The older lady gave them a studious look. “Are you sure?” the chapel director asked, a small smile toying on her lips. “You seem like you may have regrets in the morning.”

  Amusement lingered in her words, and Hollie laughed merrily.

  “No regrets from me,” she replied, kissing Aaron on the cheek and draping her arm over his shoulders. “What about you, honey?”

  He shook his head. “No regrets,” he mumbled, his eyes bleary.

  “Is Elvis here?” Hollie asked, looking around in wonderment. “Can he marry us?”

  The woman laughed. “No Elvis here,” she replied.

  “That’s okay,” Hollie slurred. “We still want to get married, don’t we, honey?”

  Aaron stared at her. “Oh god, yes,” he replied, his heart swelling with happiness. Marriage seemed like the right thing to do in that moment.

  After that, he remembered nothing.

  “Close your mouth and stop acting like such a choir boy,” Lance snapped. “I didn’t expect such judgement from you, Aaron.”

  Aaron shook his head in protest. “I’m not judging you,” he whispered, his blue eyes wide.

  “It looks that way,” Lanc
e snapped. “You better not say anything to Adriana.”

  Aaron was hurt, and he stared at Lance in disbelief. “I wouldn’t do that,” he muttered. “I’ve held onto your other secrets, haven’t I? Anyway, I have no cause to say anything. I think I did something stupider than you.”

  The plane dropped lower, and beyond Lance’s shoulder, he could make out the lush greenery of the Idaho landscape.

  Lance gave him a curious look, his eyes narrowing. “What did you do?” he asked.

  Aaron swallowed and shook his head. “I’m not a hundred percent sure…” he mumbled. “But I think I got married.”

  “What?” Lance bellowed, his jaw dropping. “To who? Where?”

  Aaron gnawed on his lower lip and looked over his shoulder. To his chagrin, the others seemed to be honing on their words.

  “What happened?” Kevan demanded.

  “Nothing!” Lance and Aaron called back in unison, exchanging warning looks.

  “I met this woman at the blackjack table yesterday,” Aaron explained, his voice barely over a whisper as Jason, Kevan, and Ben tried to listen. “And I think we got married.”

  “You think?” Lance echoed loudly. “What do you mean you think?”

  “Shh! Keep your voice down,” Aaron snapped. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, again trying to conjure the memory of what had happened the previous night.

  “I remember going into the wedding chapel with her, and she was talking about getting married, but we were both hammered…I don’t know if we went through with it.”

  “Oh no,” Lance moaned. “Of all the people to do something like this…”

  “I’ve got to find her,” Aaron sighed. “As soon as we land.”

  “Obviously,” Lance grunted. “You’re lucky your best friend is a lawyer. I’ll get this annulled in three seconds flat. This probably happens all the time in Vegas.”

  “We can’t tell anyone else about this for now,” Aaron told him urgently. “Until we figure out what’s going on.”

  “Your secret is safe with me,” Lance assured him, and Aaron knew he was speaking the truth.

  He's got far too much to lose if he tells anyone. Aaron gulped back the resentment in his throat and bobbed his head in agreement.

  “You know I wouldn’t betray your trust, Lance.”