Untamed Shifter Love

by C. L. Scholey

  He grabbed the blanket off the bed and wrapped it around her. She thanked him, though sweat left her clammy. He sat on the cot and she joined him, leaning against his solid strength.

  “How did you start hunting werewolves?” she asked.

  “My dad did it his whole life, and I followed in his footsteps.”

  She grinned and closed her eyes, resting them for a minute. She was so tired. “That’s a strange thing to grow up to be. I feel like I’m in an old black-and-white horror movie right now.”

  He wrapped an arm around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ll take watch if you want to sleep. Morning will come soon.”

  * * * *

  Exhaustion dulled his senses. Mike watched Trinity sleep as the first rays of dawn seeped into the cabin. He sat on the floor, leaning against the wall as she tossed and turned. His .454 sat nearby within fast reach. If she shifted and attacked him, he knew he deserved it. After all, this had been his fault. If it wasn’t for the people he’d sworn to protect, an oath given to his father on his deathbed, he’d let her take him.

  He marveled at her control over the beast. He’d never heard of that happening before. Nothing like it existed in the lore. He glanced down to the ancient journal kept by his great-great aunt, another world-renowned hunter. Her book reflected his beliefs—that no one could resist the disease.

  But now hope swelled within him. Perhaps Trinity’s DNA held the key to a cure. Or at least a way for the infected to control the shift. He knew a scientist inside the hunter community that could research what magic Trinity’s blood held.

  His gritty eyes burned, and it became harder and harder to keep them open. He thought of how Trinity had felt in his arms. How incredible their lovemaking had been. The impact it’d had on his life. He drifted into a fantasy over the way her silky skin felt beneath his fingers, how delicious she had tasted, and the beauty of her passionate cries. The images took him deeper and deeper, winding around his heart and mind, making him crave her again. Not just the sexual release, but the intimacy of sharing pleasure, of being close to another human.

  His head snapped up, his vision taking a moment to focus as he struggled from the snatches of sleep.

  “God damn it!” He jumped to his feet, grabbing his .454.

  The cot was empty.

  * * * *

  Trinity raced through the trees, scenting the air. Searching. Dirt. Rotted leaves. Animal burrows. She sorted through the odors until she at last had the one she needed. He was near, the trail still hot. She ran faster, her reshaped legs carrying her faster than she imagined possible.

  The shift had come on fast. The human part of her had forced her from the cabin before it happened, and the human part of her had driven her away from the man. The man. Hatred seared through her. Kill. Death. Blood. All things she thought of when she thought of the man. The beast wanted the man, but the human wouldn’t allow it. Once she found her other half, the one who’d attacked and changed her, she’d come back for him.

  She at last found her other half waiting near a cave opening. He’d known she was coming; their connection was growing stronger and stronger. She felt his anticipation, his excitement. She snarled a greeting, and he huffed a reply. They approached one another, taking in each other’s scent. He smelled of earth and blood, a feral mix that made her heart race. She snapped her teeth when he tried to get closer, the weakening human part reacting in fear of the thing standing at her side.

  His head lifted just as her skin prickled, a sixth sense issuing a warning. The man approaches. Her other half growled, and she bared her teeth, searching through the trees. The man would find them.

  Flee. Attack. Flee. Attack. The two of them couldn’t settle on whether to fight or run. Then her other half lowered and darted forward. Attack. She gave in to the beast and the thrill of the hunt, dashing after him.

  They came to a sliding stop. The man was close. They searched. Her other half let out a soft huff. They’d destroy the one who’d killed so many of their kind. The cunning hunter in her realized she’d make the perfect bait. They could set a trap for the man, because he wouldn’t want to kill her. She grinned, a hideous and brutal smile.

  Chapter 4

  Mike paused behind a tree, his hunter’s instinct telling him Trinity was close by. He’d fallen asleep on the job and she had escaped. Another failure on his part.

  He listened to the sounds of the forest. The birds had quieted and the crows were restless. The hair on his arms rose as he felt eyes upon him.

  “Trinity?” he called out. He knew she wasn’t human anymore, but maybe she still had control. Maybe he could still draw out the woman he had such a mix of emotions for.

  He grasped his .454, but his usually steady hand shook. A bullet between the eyes would destroy her brain and put her down fast, but bile rose into his throat with the idea.

  “Please, Trinity, I know you’re nearby. I know you can hear me. Fight the werewolf. Don’t let it have you.”

  He held his breath. Leaves rustled and he whirled toward the sound. A dark mass hid within the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.

  “Please, baby, you can do it. Fight it off,” he pleaded with the mass. He didn’t want to kill her, despite the deathbed oath he’d given his father.

  It moved toward him. He gripped his .454 tighter, waiting. The mass came from the trees and he stared at what his beautiful Trinity had become. Dark grayish brown hair hung from its body. Small, red-tinted eyes stared at him with lips pulled back from long, sharp teeth. The stocky, muscular body moved with power and surprising grace as it stopped a few yards in front of him. It looked little like a wolf and nothing like the passionate woman he’d grown to care so much for in such a short amount of time.

  His throat tightened with emotion, and he swallowed. “Trinity, I’m so sorry. Come back. Please, come back to me.”

  The beast lowered onto all fours and cocked its head this way and that.

  “You mean so much to me, Trinity. I know it sounds nuts because we barely know each other, but I’ve never felt this way about another woman. I’m a selfish man. I always have been, it’s helped me survive. You make me want to be better. I want to think about more than just myself. I want to think about you, and what it’ll be like to share my life with you.”

  The werewolf stared at him with its glowing red eyes. A gruff sound came from its mouth that almost sounded like speech.

  “I believe you can be human again. I know you can.”

  The beast’s eyes settled on his .454 and it stepped back. Mike lifted his hands.

  “Okay, I’m setting it down. I’m not going to hurt you.” He lowered down and placed his sidearm at his feet. “See. We’re good now.”

  He stared at the thing that had once been his Trinity—the cute, shy girl at the gym he’d wanted to ask out, the passionate woman he’d shared his body and soul with—and it drew its lips back in a twisted grin.

  Instinct shot adrenaline through him as he heard the snap of a twig. He didn’t have time to react before a huge weight slammed into him, sending him flying through the air. Stars flashed before his eyes as he crashed to the ground.

  Snarls and growls filled his ears as he rolled to his back. He saw Trinity, and next to her a bigger, uglier werewolf. He stared in disbelief at the pair. He’d been so caught up in finding Trinity he hadn’t even noticed a trail for another werewolf.

  The larger beast bared its teeth, triumph flashing in its eyes. They’d set a trap for him.

  * * * *

  The man was on his feet and braced against a tree, facing-off with them. Her other half was savoring this moment, and the beast within her did as well. But the human part of her screamed in the back of her mind. Stop! I won’t hurt him! She tried to ignore that part of her, focusing instead on the coming kill. Blood. Death. She craved it. I won’t hurt him! She snapped her teeth in frustration.

  “Trinity, if you can hear me, I want you to know I don’t blame you for this,” the ma
n said. “It’s my fault the werewolf got to you. This is the life of a hunter, and we usually don’t live long lives, so if there is any part of you left, don’t hang onto my death.”

  Her other half advanced on their quarry, but she gave a low growl and he halted.

  “I could see myself falling for you, Trinity,” the man went on. “Hell, I’m halfway there already. I’ve spent most of my life hunting werewolves. I’m barely human myself now. I know I never deserved you, but when we made love you made me human again.”

  The beast licked its lips, already tasting the man’s flesh, but Trinity stilled its lunge. The beast grappled with her, and while its other half watched over its shoulder, Trinity grasped onto emotion. What it felt like to share her body with Mike. How she felt whenever he smiled her way. Those wonderful, muddled, fluttering mix of emotion that made her human.

  The beast let out a tortured, frustrated howl and lunged.

  * * * *

  “No!”

  Mike jumped sideways as Trinity attacked the much larger werewolf. The startled beast howled in response, and the ferocity of the fight filled the forest, making the ground shudder beneath his feet.

  Mike ran for his .454 but he couldn’t get a clean shot off as they tumbled and tore at one another. Blood mixed with dirt, muddying their shaggy coats and staining their snapping teeth. He stood back helplessly, terror filling his heart. Then the larger werewolf pinned Trinity to the ground, its teeth sinking into the back of her neck. Mike lifted his .454 and the shot boomed through the trees.

  The werewolf yelped as the bullet tore through its shoulder, knocking it off Trinity. In a flash, Trinity was up and had her teeth over its throat. She sunk her teeth deep then ripped back, and blood sprayed the forest floor. The defeated beast thrashed then went still.

  Trinity turned toward Mike, panting. Blood dripped from her mouth and from huge wounds torn into her flesh, exposing the muscle beneath. He dropped his sidearm.

  “Trinity.”

  Her red eyes blinked slowly and she let out an almost semantic huff before she collapsed.

  * * * *

  Blood. Kill. Death. Those were the things the beast wanted, but what Trinity wanted had more power, and that’s how she controlled it. She slowly came to, fighting off the cobwebs of a nightmare. Pain hit her and she groaned.

  “Thank God, Trinity.”

  Hands grabbed hers, squeezing tight. She opened her eyes and blinked against the glare. Finally, a pair of bright blue eyes came into focus and met hers.

  “Mr. Hotstuff?” she whispered.

  Mike’s smile reached his eyes. “I was afraid…”

  She watched him swallow.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he finished.

  She tried to recall what had happened as she squinted and looked around the cabin. She lay naked on the cot, the blanket tucked around her. Butterfly bandages dotted cuts on her arms, and every muscle in her body ached. The nightmare teased her mind; the monster in the woods, her joining it, Mike standing by a tree…

  “Oh God, what did I do?” she asked.

  Mike’s smile widened. “You beat it, Trinity, that’s what you did. You beat the werewolf. You have it under control. I don’t know how, but you have it under control.”

  She remembered his words as he’d stood by the tree. The sweet, wonderful things he’d said to her in that strange and violent dream she’d had. Or was it a dream? Horrible realization struck.

  “I wanted to kill you,” she said.

  He stroked her hair back from her forehead. “But you didn’t. You killed the other werewolf to protect me. Do you remember?”

  She did, and it sent a cold chill through her.

  “How did you do it, baby?” he asked.

  She recalled the emotions she’d felt while trapped in the monster—that maddening mix of feelings Mike stirred up within her. She’d never felt them before, and she couldn’t imagine life without them now.

  She licked her lips, afraid to voice the truth. “I-I think I’m falling in love with you.”

  Mike searched her eyes, and he lowered down, dropping a gentle kiss on her lips. “You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met,” he said. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”

  Her body warmed with his words. Happiness swelled in her heart, but her joy quickly dimmed. “But I’m a werewolf now. I’ve seen what I’m capable of, and you know I’m dangerous.”

  The light in his blues eyes dulled, his smile slipping. He squeezed her hands. “I saw you control it, Trinity. I believe you can keep it in check. We’ll work together, and together we’ll overcome it.”

  Together. It was a comforting idea, and she hugged it close to her heart.

  “I’ll never leave your side,” he continued.

  She grinned. “Together forever, the werewolf and the hunter. It sounds like a weird fairytale.”

  He chuckled as she pulled him down for a kiss. “And they lived happily ever after,” he said against her lips.

  Their kiss lingered, sealing their bond. “In a very twisted relationship,” she said when they parted. “The end.”

  About Olivia Starke

  Olivia is a professional storyteller, cat wrangler, and book hoarder. When she isn’t glued to her laptop writing, lost in a good book, or at the library, she can be found outside, walking and enjoying nature.

  Olivia’s Website:

  www.authoroliviastarke.com

  Reader eMail:

  authoroliviastarke@gmail.com

  More Beachwalk Press Titles by Olivia Starke

  Project Terminal: Legacy

  Project Terminal: Devil’s Virus

  Project Terminal: End Game

  Project Terminal Box Set

  Vampire Masquerade

  Too Hard to Resist

  The Baby Contract

  Heart’s Paradise

  In It to Win It

  William’s Warrior

  by T. Cobbin

  Porsha was born prematurely—a rare thing for a dragon shifter—and at twenty-one years old, she’s still small. Because of her size her parents were very protective, and she had a sheltered life. Now, her mother and father have decided it’s time for her to mate, and they’re determined to find the perfect person to keep her protected. They plan a party to introduce her to those males they deem worthy. The night of the party, Porsha runs away, and shortly afterward she joins the staff at Dragon’s Heart as a waitress.

  William returns to work at Dragon’s Heart after taking some time off to deal with the loss of his mother. He’s trying his best to move past his grief and get on with his life. When he meets Porsha, a new employee at the club, both of them immediately know that they’re destined to be mates. But they may never get the chance, because Porsha’s parents show up, determined to take her back home. Can William and Porsha put an end to their plan to control her life?

  Dedication

  For you, my readers—may you find the love that is out there for everyone.

  Acknowledgements

  Many thanks to Pamela Tyner and Beachwalk Press. You have given me a chance to do something I have always dreamed of. And a special thanks to my supportive family; I know I’m not the easiest to love, but you never gave up.

  Chapter 1

  Excitement rippled through Porsha Sallow as she stepped into the huge nightclub, Dragon’s Heart. She’d been dreaming about a job here ever since she met her roommate Tina, a fellow dragon shifter. Never once in her sheltered life had she thought she’d be going for a job interview at a place like this.

  “Wait here. I’ll go tell Troy you’re here.” Tina walked up the marble staircase, her heels clacking on each step.

  Looking around, Porsha gazed at every single detail. Light streamed in through the glass domed ceiling, bouncing off the sparkling gems in the huge chandelier that hung from it. The small rainbows it created danced off every surface; it was a wonderful effect. She couldn’t wait to see this place at night.

  The large,
circular dance floor was surrounded by marble walkways with small tables and chairs. Huge, tree trunk sized, floor-to-ceiling marble pillars dotted around the room. Red velvet curtains hung in between them. The massive stage that Tina had told her about was big enough to hold live bands that frequented the place.

  The white marble staircases either side of the curved room led up to the second and third floors. On the floor above her head, she could see the VIP bubble rooms and above that, hidden in the shadows, were Troy’s—the owner—office, as well as Todd’s—the manager—and several other rooms not many people knew about. Rooms that had king-sized beds in them, all hidden behind fake walls. Tina told Porsha that the rooms had been installed because Troy’s security teams were getting frequent complaints stating that patrons were having sex in the back alleys.

  The club catered to both humans and shifters, although humans had no idea shifters even existed. Several times shifters found their mates at the club. When shifters met humans, they understood things would have to be taken carefully, whereas when shifters met their shifter mates, their need to be together was pretty intense.

  Troy had put a stop to the shifters using the alleys for sex by turning several rooms on the third floor into bedrooms. Troy ran a good, clean club. Even drugs weren’t a problem. Shifters had enhanced senses, which meant things like illegal substances were easily located, and whoever had them was kicked out of the club with such a severe warning, they rarely returned.

  “Porsha,” Tina called out above her.

  Porsha twisted around to face the staircase Tina stood on.

  “Come on.” Her friend beckoned excitedly with her hands.

  Porsha’s heart kicked up a bit, her nerves and excitement filling every single bone, muscle, and blood vessel in her body. Oh my goddess, I’m actually going for a job interview.

  “Are you ready for this?” Tina asked when they reached the third floor.