A Shifter's Claim (Pale Moonlight Book 4)

by Marie Johnston

  “That’s ageist. He could’ve been in the army, gone to Afghanistan, now he’s finishing school and working here part-time.”

  “Or maybe he did hard time, is trying to turn away from a life of selling drugs and works three jobs to pay the rent.”

  Waylon nodded and twisted to clean up the back. He bunched wrappers into a pile for easy cleanup. It was looking like another boring day. He might have to recline the seat back and get some more shuteye since he’d worked last night. “The rent part might be true. If Christian didn’t pay so well, I would’ve been hitting the streets, putting applications in all over town for a second job.”

  Shilo leaned forward, an odd tone in her voice. “Or he’s the real reason Oscar won’t tell Langdon about his mate.”

  Waylon turned around. What was she talking about?

  His eyes widened. A familiar black sedan had pulled up to the backdoor and the bartender slid into the passenger seat. Waylon looked up in time to see him meet Oscar over the console for a kiss.

  Not just any kiss. An I-missed-you-down-to-my-soul kiss. Like the one Waylon had finally been able to give Shilo at Uncle Wolf’s cabin.

  “That’s his human mate,” Shilo breathed. “And he hasn’t told Langdon.”

  “I bet his sister covers for him when they come to Freemont and West Creek to do Langdon’s bidding.”

  “But why the secrecy? The human part, or the man part?”

  Waylon pondered the couple. They were embracing and kissing and murmuring to each other. Langdon had his priorities and the main one was to limit competition. Human mates posed little competition, other than a cheering squad for the mate who might oppose Langdon, but Langdon was the type to think they made a colony weak.

  Was that why Oscar was hiding this guy?

  Waylon opened his door. “I say we go ask him.”

  The mystery of Oscar’s relationship propelled Shilo forward. The whys weren’t as important as much as how they could use the information to make Oscar help them.

  Making a wide circle, she approached the car from behind while Waylon took the front. She’d asked why she couldn’t approach and relish the shock on Oscar’s face, but Waylon didn’t want him to gun the vehicle and mow her down.

  Fair enough. But now she had to worry about Waylon becoming a hood ornament.

  She’d just cleared the parking lot behind Oscar and his boyfriend when Waylon jogged up to them, waving.

  His mouth was stretched in a shit-eating grin. “Oscar, buddy. I thought that was you. Who’s your friend?”

  From this angle, she could see Oscar’s head snap up as the taillights flared. The bartender flattened himself against the passenger seat. Oscar jerked his gaze to the rearview mirror, his reverse lights dim in the bright sun. He saw her and slammed the car into park.

  His curse was audible through the closed windows as he slumped into his seat.

  Waylon made the motion to roll down his window. Same as the other night, she went to the passenger seat.

  The bartender didn’t meet her eyes and his window stayed up. She inhaled, trying to scent him, but he was strangely blank. She hadn’t paid him much attention the night she’d been drinking in the bar.

  Waylon’s voice floated through her head. Did you feel like something was off when we confronted Oscar and Brynley?

  Yes. She’d chalked it up to the situation at the time. She’d been too consumed with roiling emotions toward Waylon, thanks to the twins’ mental push.

  But she understood what he’d meant. Something was off.

  Waylon leaned down, the same overly friendly grin on his face. “I’m Waylon Wolf. You are?”

  “None of your business,” Oscar growled.

  The man’s head stayed bent as he stared at the floor. His anxiety wafted over her. Funny how that was the first scent she’d really associated with him—

  “That’s it,” she said, hitting the top of the car one time. Three heads spun her away. “No scent. Brynley’s the empath. You’re a scent scrubber.”

  Oscar went rigid. No wonder they were indispensable to Langdon. He could use Brynley to influence others’ thinking, and with Oscar along, no one would know another shifter had been in the area.

  Waylon gave her a look over the hood that said wouldn’t I know? He should sense Oscar using his ability. She lifted a shoulder. The effect might have a long half-life. She’d spent the day emotionally exhausted, with lingering jealousy, long after the twins had probably gone home.

  Waylon bent to look Oscar in the eye. “Let me smell your boy there.”

  “Fuck off, pervert.”

  Shilo would feel guilty if it weren’t for all the shit Oscar had put her through. “I guess we’ll have to ask Langdon why you’d hide your boyfriend from him.”

  Oscar’s terrified gaze met hers. “You’d get Jason killed,” he hissed.

  “Oscar.” Jason gave up his restraint and reached for Oscar. They clung hands.

  Okay, guilt seeped into Shilo. She had a grudge against Oscar, not his innocent mate, but they had to get to the bottom of this.

  “Jason obviously knows about our kind. So why are you hiding him from Langdon?” Shilo asked.

  Oscar briefly squeezed his eyes closed, like what he had to say was going to make him sick. “You already guessed why. Diluting the family’s powers isn’t in Langdon’s grand plan, but creating pairings to optimize abilities is. He’d dismiss Jason and find a female for me to mate and reproduce with.” Oscar’s flinty eyes sparked. “And expect me to be okay watching Jason die a normal human death. Langdon takes after his old man. That bastard didn’t respect his mate or anyone else’s.” Oscar glanced at Waylon. “They’re pawns in his game.”

  Anger burned through her. From what she’d learned about Langdon, this sounded exactly like him. “Being my mate isn’t his only issue with Waylon. Why?”

  Oscar glanced at Waylon and dropped his gaze to the steering wheel. “He’s our long lost cousin, I guess. Langdon said Waylon’s father was a traitor and that Waylon would be, too.”

  “And you bought that?” Shilo put all of her scorn into her question. Something smelled off, but if Oscar was lying, he could hide it.

  “I went along with it,” Oscar said. “There’s a difference.”

  “Why?” Waylon asked. His humor had faded and his tone had softened. She couldn’t imagine the betrayal he must be experiencing. This male was his kin.

  “Bad shit happens around Langdon’s relatives and it only improves his place in the colony. I could argue, I could leave, but then I’d end up dead. Loose ends get clipped. I’ve heard him say it.”

  “Okay, cousin,” Waylon bit out. “Why did Langdon’s dad kill mine? Why am I still alive?”

  “I was just a kid. Pack politics? Spite? The guy got a kick out of screwing people. As for why you’re still alive, I dunno. Your parents were able to get you out.”

  Shilo shook her head. Wrong answer. “You’re going to have to find us someone who knows. Bring them here tomorrow night.”

  Oscar barked a laugh. “Yeah, right.”

  “Not kidding.”

  Oscar paled. Yep, she was serious.

  “Langdon has gone to a lot of trouble to fuck up Waylon’s life. We need to know why, or we’ll make sure he fucks up your life, too.” A sour taint lingered in her mouth. She ran her tongue across her teeth and forced a steely glint into her eyes.

  Could she follow through if he didn’t work with them? Oscar had been a giant pain and had aided Langdon in hurting her and Waylon, but Jason was an innocent and it was his life she was bartering with.

  A muscle jumped in Oscar’s jaw and his knuckles whitened around Jason’s hand. “Two nights.”

  “No deal,” Waylon said. Good. He was with her. She couldn’t do this alone, and she would need his support if Jason was caught in the crossfire. “Tomorrow night. Get someone here to talk that you trust won’t babble to Langdon after we meet.”

  “Fine,” Oscar said through gritted teeth. “B
ut not here.”

  Waylon knocked on the top of the car. “My loft. You obviously know where that is. Leave your sister at home. Better yet, don’t fucking tell her.”

  Oscar glared out the windshield. Jason’s fear was ripe in her nose. He was a human. No matter how much stolen time he’d spent with Oscar, he couldn’t fully comprehend the ways of their people.

  Shilo envied him. Somehow, she didn’t feel much more superior than Langdon right now.

  The couple drove off. Jason must be too rattled to work. When they disappeared from sight, she threw her arms around Waylon.

  “Good idea to use them to find out your heritage.” She couldn’t help the niggling voice in her head that said it couldn’t be that easy. But what if it was? “As soon as we have answers, I can finally go home.” She released him and put her hand to her forehead, her smile huge. “Sweet Mother, I was starting to think that I might go crazy living in West Creek even without Brynley’s help.”

  Chapter 18

  Her hair brushed down her back as she leaned back, her breasts jutting forward. The exhilaration of making progress toward unearthing Waylon’s past, and maybe, just maybe, finding a way to get home for her, had her jumping Waylon as soon as they’d reached the loft.

  He was stretched out beneath her. They’d made it to his bed—their bed—before stripping down. She’d shoved him down on it and taken over.

  While he’d seemed happy to oblige, the crease between his brows wasn’t from effort. She was doing all the work riding him and he was…lost in his mind.

  She paused and tipped her head forward to look at him. “What’s going on?”

  He twitched inside of her. She stayed on him. Connected like this, it was harder to hide from their emotions.

  “On the way back, I was pondering my new family and you…”

  She sighed and crawled off him. Forget the connection. This might be a while. “And I mentioned that I might be able to go home again after we talk to the person Oscar brings us.”

  Sitting with her legs folded next to him, he had enough room to roll to his side and prop his hand on his head.

  “You miss it,” he said quietly.

  “Yes. It’s my home. Was my home. But my family is still there and I worry about them.” She missed them.

  “We’ve as good as proved I’m a Covet. Do you think your parents will stand by your side as you officially mate me? They made it clear that was a deal breaker.”

  “Don’t you think we should give them a chance to react without Brynley impressing false emotions on them?”

  Waylon sat up. His erection had died, the same with her libido. “I never sensed her casting her ability while I was there. Before we left, that was their real reaction.”

  Hope and optimism faded. “I can’t quit trying to reach them. What if they haven’t called because the cell towers aren’t working?”

  “Reception is spotty at best, I’m sure. Langdon is going to up his game. We’re going to have to show our claws before this is over. But when we’re done I need to know that you’ll still be with me, no matter where we end up.”

  This again? “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  “You’re here, but you don’t want to be.”

  “Do I want to sit around a bare apartment all day and night with nothing to do but eat and have sex? As amazing as that sounds, no, I don’t. I wasn’t raised to sit around.”

  He rolled out of bed and found his pants. How’d they gone from passion to argument so quickly?

  He pulled up his jeans. “It’s only temporary.”

  “Is it? If I’m done with Ironhorse Falls, and Covet’s secrets are uncovered, then what? You continue at Pale Moonlight and I start applying Mother knows where with my minimal education? The human world isn’t partial to ‘everything I know I learned from my parents.’”

  “Then why’d you leave with me?” He flapped his T-shirt right side out and yanked it over his head. “You thought they’d come after you.”

  “I came because I love you.” Had she expected Mother and Father to jump into their car and speed after her? Maybe, yes.

  “Love was never our problem. Trust was.” He stomped into his boots. He didn’t work for an hour. Where was he going?

  “Trust on whose end?” She shoved her hair back and rose to her knees. As gracefully as she could, she crawled to the end of the bed and put her feet on the floor. Fully naked, she slammed her hands on her hips. “I respected your feelings, and I’m here because I stand by you. But what about me? When it comes to my position and my destiny, I’m left standing alone.”

  His handsome face screwed up. “What are you talking about? I’m right here with you, I take care of you.”

  “On your terms. When everything’s the way you think it should be. But like right now, you’re leaving again.” A sharp point of fear stabbed her. They were arguing and he was walking out the door.

  “I have to work, Shilo. For us.”

  “Your shift doesn’t start until five.”

  “I have to pick up some groceries and fill the Jeep with gas.” A look of disgust crossed his face. “Are you afraid I’m abandoning you, in my own home?”

  She went with honesty. “Yeah. I am.” Maybe she should’ve been less bitchy.

  “For fuck’s sake. I guess we need more than trust. A little respect once in a while would be nice.”

  Her mouth dropped. Was he referring to the days she’d spent being manipulated into thinking he was a cheating bastard? Because she’d weathered that like a boss when another shifter would’ve crumbled.

  He shook his head. “When I come home after work, you can decide whether I’m worth trusting or not.”

  “And you can decide the same,” she shot at his back as he walked out.

  She puffed out a hard breath. Dammit. They’d had a eureka moment this afternoon and all it had done was dredge up unresolved issues between them.

  At least they both agreed on one thing: they’d have to talk when he got home.

  Waylon trotted into the grocery store. His emotions tumbled through his mind.

  What had that argument been all about? There were no tingles in his body. Their emotions had been legit theirs.

  On his terms? What had she meant? Being her mate, her companion was nearly impossible when no one else wanted him around and actively tried to prevent his presence.

  His mind tripped over one word. Nearly. Weathering the drama in Ironhorse Falls was nearly impossible. No, they didn’t know what Shilene and Weatherly would do, but if there was a chance that they’d listen to facts and trust that he wouldn’t allow Covet to use his birthright to gain control of Ironhorse Falls, then he owed it to Shilo to find out. For no other reason than he was her mate.

  He’d never had a family. Uncle Wolf had hid their connection from him and had been nothing but a guardian.

  Waylon pondered the thought as he scooted through the produce aisle, grabbing the staples: bananas, apples, carrots, spinach. He couldn’t buy meat until he was done with work. Shifters had excellent metabolism and it took a lot to kill them, but a bout of food poisoning made any species wish they were dead.

  Next, he located the peanut butter and bread. None of this was necessary. He usually waited to grab supplies when Shilo could go with him. She was stuck in his apartment all day and going to the store was like a date.

  He frowned at the bag of bread he held. He’d used this as an excuse to leave. She’d been right to be worried. They’d argued and before the argument had been done, he’d been dressed and out of the house.

  She was right about shit needing to be on his terms. He wanted her to do all the changing and he’d stay the same old Waylon Wolf he was raised to be. When was he going to adapt and change the expectations of his role in life as her mate?

  Well, his cupboards were still empty. He ran through self-checkout. The Jeep really did need gas, but it was enough to get home. He’d skip that errand and save it for another day.

  Leaving the cart in
the corral, he charged out of the store, all the bags in one hand. On his way across the parking lot, he called Christian.

  “Can I have tonight off?” Christian didn’t like to waste time on pleasantries, especially not during the bar’s open hours.

  “Cutting it a little close, aren’t you?” Waylon could picture Christian arching a dark brow at his Piaget watch.

  “There’s something I’ve gotta take care of with Shilo.” Waylon didn’t want to go into specifics and show off what a thick-skulled dunce he could be. Not that Christian didn’t already know. But Waylon had to tell Shilo he was wrong first.

  “Take care of it, Waylon. Be back tomorrow.”

  What a relief. He stuffed his phone in his back pocket and slipped the keys out of the front of his pants with the other. Opening the Jeep hatch with one hand, he was putting them in when he sensed a presence behind him.

  Tensing, he looked over his shoulder.

  Oscar’s dark gaze glinted. He had a sweater balled over his arm. Someone else approached on his other side. He twisted. Jason, looking much angrier than his typical bartender self.

  “What the—” Waylon’s words were cut off as two hot pokers speared his torso. Lines of fire cut through his back and abdomen.

  Muffled thuds reached his ears. To a human, they probably sounded like a door closing in the distance, but Waylon recognized the noise. Nothing like TV.

  Gunshots. But shouldn’t it have been louder?

  A silencer. Shit. He hadn’t been expecting retaliation like this. He should’ve.

  He knees gave away, but strong hands shoved him into the back of his Jeep. Dazed, he didn’t fight. The rush of agony through his entire body staggered him. He only wanted to crunch in on himself to see if it’d make the hurt diminish slightly.

  He’d never been shot before, but fuck it hurt.

  Shot. Oscar. One of the males lifted his legs and folded them into the cargo space of his ride. He punched out with an arm that moved as if it weighed a few hundred pounds.

  “Not so fast,” Oscar snarled, slapping his hand back. The jostling sent more lightning bolts of agony through his body. “Instead of meeting you tomorrow, I figured I’d just use your bleeding, broken body as bait.”