“One day, I’m going to be badass,” I said, squaring off my shoulders, mostly joking.
Escher pulled me against him and kissed my temple, right there, in front of everyone, and no one blinked or flinched. “We think you already are, female. And to answer your question from before. Seven o’clock and wear jeans and sneakers. None of those flip-flops.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
I was nearly ready for my date with Eschel, although jeans and my favorite Converse low-tops were not what I’d imagine wearing for such an occasion. I’d stayed overnight at the alpha’s house then gone out to breakfast with all the guys, so I would have expected to be exhausted. After all, how could I sleep with these four all around me, especially when being alone with any one of them sent my libido sky high? But somehow, while I wouldn’t say I hadn’t been turned-on, it didn’t keep me awake.
I’d never felt so safe and warm and… I didn’t want to say loved and jinx it, but I didn’t have another word to use.
Made zero sense, and once again my romance reading had led me astray. Or at least not prepared me for the depth and complexity, the reality of a relationship where more than two people were involved. Heck, I’d never had a one-on-one relationship in my isolated life before arriving here. Could I handle a thing with four men at once?
Shrugging off the panic threatening to bubble up, I put on a little light makeup and a pair of little sparkly heart earrings to feel girly and datish. As I took a turn in front of the bathroom mirror—a standing-up turn—the doorbell rang. I gave my chair a look as I passed it in the living room. I’d still take it with me because I tired more easily than most, but as days passed, my steps grew more, and I was fairly sure the pills had kept me from moving much. Why, I had no idea, but I was determined to find out. My aunt loved me, even if she was a step relative, or else she was the biggest and best fake in the world. She’d died in the house fire, hollering for me to get out.
But she’d also handed me those pills every day.
It made no sense.
Again, I pushed the thoughts down. I was going on a date with a cute boy. No drama, not even more than one guy. This was an experience I’d thought I’d never get to have, before moving here, and I was damned well going to enjoy it. Slinging my purse over my shoulder, I opened the door and flashed the cute boy a smile.
Eschel was far more man than boy, but that made him no less cute. Or handsome. He was always clean shaven without a trace of scruff, which showed off his strong jaw. His hair was so dark, it almost had a blue cast in certain lighting, like those old Superman comics I’d loved for a while when I was about twelve. And his eyes, light-brown but holding a depth I’d never seen with anyone else. Losing my parents young left a mark and I could feel it had left a mark on him as well. It made me want to hold him and tell him we’d be all right together.
In honor of my new level of independence, I reached up, locked my arms around his neck, and rose on tiptoe. I’d never initiated a kiss before, but it felt amazing. And he didn’t object, just grasped my waist and lifted me off my feet and against his body. He was hard and warm and his lips were firm and welcoming. Two seconds in, I realized I was not in charge of this kiss at all. He’d subtly moved me into a position where he controlled not just my mouth but all of me. My lips parted under his, allowing his dominance, as he taught me things about kissing I’d never imagined.
We stayed connected for what felt like a long time but was probably only a few minutes, but when he let me slide to my feet, I leaned against him, regaining my balance and reorienting my fuzzy brain.
Finally, I stepped back and gave him a wobbly smile. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself. I never expected such a warm greeting. Now I’m not in any shape to go out for a few minutes.”
Without intending to, I snuck a peek below his waist and understood what he meant. My cheeks burned, but I couldn’t hate the feeling. I did that to this man. Little Wendi who never went to regular school.
How life had changed.
I grabbed a light hoodie from its hook by the door and moved toward the chair, but he said, “Wendi?” and I stopped.
“Something wrong?”
“I’m going to suggest something, and you can say no if you like.”
I’d never heard him hesitate before. He was a deep thinker and usually knew what he wanted to say before he said it.
“O-okay.” My mind raced in a thousand directions about what he might mean to say. “Go ahead.”
A smile lifted the corners of the lips I’d been kissed by, and I eased a little. “It’s not earth-shaking. But how about if you leave the chair at home tonight?”
“I don’t know.” I hadn’t gone anywhere without that chair or its predecessors since I was five. I wasn’t nervous, just terrified. “Can’t we take it and leave it in the truck? In case?”
He gave a nod, followed by a shrug. “We can, but I am asking you not to. You’ve made great strides, and I think it’s time.”
Oh man. Maybe this whole dating thing was too much for me. He was “asking,” but was that truly telling? I had to know. My life had been controlled for too long, and if I truly was going to move forward, to step out of the box I’d lived in, I had to make my own decisions. “No. Let’s take it.” I watched his face carefully, looking for an argument, a dispute…for him to try to take control as he had of the kiss.
This man had an air of authority I’d only seen in the alpha. I waited for him to insist, but he simply shrugged and moved inside. “Okay. I’ll get this outside, then. You don’t want to ride out in it, do you?”
“No!” I blurted out, stung. “I can walk to the car just fine!” What the hell? Hadn’t he seen all the progress I’d made? “I’ll show you.” As I marched past him, I glanced up at his face.
He covered his mouth, but his eyes danced. The bastard! I had a foot lifted to stomp on his big old feet when the humor of the whole thing, and the method he’d used to help me, hit me like a ton of bricks. But how did I react without letting him know I felt like a fool?”
He folded the chair and lifted it. “I’ll get this loaded.” He hesitated. “Or…what do you think, Wendi?” His voice held no smugness, only kindness. “Want to take a chance? If you get tired, I’ll carry you. Trust me to help you on your journey?”
A single tear tracked down my cheek, the only outer indication of the ache deep within me easing another notch. Each of these men contributed to my so-much-better life. I didn’t know why. “Thank you, Eschel. I trust you. Let’s go.”
He left the chair behind and came to my side. “I’m honored, Wendi. I hope you’re hungry.”
He took my arm, and, unlike in the early days when one of them had to support my weight, we just walked side by side out to the truck and he helped me in. When he’d taken his place and put the old beast in gear, he reached for my hand, and we drove to a stand I’d never noticed a mile or two outside of town. There, we ate gyros and drank a cooling yogurt drink, talking about people we knew in common and my upcoming initiation into the pack.
We sat side by side on the bench, shoulders touching, and every so often we’d share a kiss. I’d so many times tried to imagine what dates would be like, but the nerves and awkward conversation I’d pictured never happened with any of these guys. Finally, the round, kind-faced older lady behind the counter came out with a basket and set it in front of us.
“For the lovers.” She disappeared back inside to take an order from a bearded guy and a few of his friends who’d all ridden in on motorcycles before we could do more than thank her, but her words hung in the air between us.
“Are we lovers, Eschel?” I picked up the triangle of golden, flaky baklava, but he took it from my hand and held it to my lips.
“We will be, Wendi. Soon.”
Chills traveled all over my skin, raising goose bumps in their wake, and I didn’t have a single reply to give. But it was okay. Everything tonight was far better than okay.
When the pastry was gone, Eschel stoo
d and held out a hand to me. “There’s a really nice patch of woods behind the stand. It’s one of the reason the shifters all like this place.”.”
“Not the food?” I brushed a crumb from his lip, and he kissed my fingertip.
“Oh, the food, as you know, is great, but the run afterwards is special. You up for a walk?”
“Ask me again,” I told him. “Please.”
He shrugged. “Would you like to go for a walk?”
Happiness filled me to the brim. “Why, yes, Eschel. An after-dinner walk would be lovely. I’ve always wanted to try one.”
Chagrin darkened his eyes. “I’m sorry. I wanted this evening to be all fun for you, not a challenge as I seem to have made it.”
“No.” I laid my head over his heart. “You’ve made it truly special. Now, you promised me a walk.”
We moved behind the stand where a path led into a small forest of ancient trees. And I did walk, but after a while, true to form, I tired, and the arm around my waist offered more support with each passing moment.
I tipped my head back and looked up at him. “Can we take a rest?”
“Of course.” Eschel guided me to a fallen log, and we sat down. “I’m sorry. I want to help you push yourself, but I don’t want to push you.”
“You’re good, but while I rest, do you know I’ve never seen you shift?”
He nodded, almost a bow. “My wolf would like that very much.” Standing, he stripped off his clothes, revealing a whole lot of could-be-on-a-muscle-mag body, and this time, I kept my eyes above the waist. Shy much? “Ready?”
While I sat with my fingers locked together over my knees, he shifted. The others took at least ten or fifteen seconds, but Eschel became a black, long-haired wolf with piercing golden eyes in less than half the time. And he was magnificent.
He moved close to me, allowing me to bury my hands in his fur and rub my face against his snout. A low rumble in his throat could have been a growl, but I knew it was pleasure at my touch. He leaned against my legs while I explored his form, my heart aching at his beauty.
I don’t know how long we would have remained had there not been a crashing in the underbrush ahead of us followed by the appearance of a trio of rangy, gray and dirty-white wolves. Escher leapt to block their path, and they charged him, snarling and biting. Saliva and blood flew out of the pile of wolves, and I couldn’t tell who was winning, but it was three to one.
I couldn’t do a thing to save him, but to at least make myself less of something he had to worry about, I moved behind a huge tree trunk and peeked around. Why couldn’t I shift?
Where are you? I demanded of the wolf who was somewhere deep inside me. They are going to kill him, and I have to stand here and watch.
I’d left my purse in the truck, so I didn’t have a phone to call anyone in the pack. Not that anyone could get here soon enough anyway. Then, as fast as it started, it was over. The three limped away, leaving a trail of blood and ragged pieces of fur behind, and Eschel, lying limp on the ground.
With my heart in my throat, I clung to the tree trunk, knees wobbling too hard to hold me up. I cursed, having overexerted myself. I couldn’t even run back the way we’d come. Run? I couldn’t walk.
Dropping to hands and knees, I crawled to Escher’s side, terrified by all the blood streaking his fur. An ear looked nearly severed. I didn’t know what to do. I was sobbing so hard I could hardly breathe, whimpering, and muttering his name. “Eschel, you can’t die. We haven’t even made love yet, and you promised!”
Panicked, I reached for the ear and moved it into place, praying it would be able to heal. That he would be able to heal. The blood was dark-on-dark against his fur, only the moon reflecting its wetness, and then there was a flare of brilliant light. I fell back, landing on my bottom. I was still touching that ear…and the light was coming from me. My hands were bright with it, flowing from me to Eschel’s body and coursing over it, like a river until his whole form gleamed and then…nothing.
“Wendi!” His voice cut through the darkness in my mind. “Your hands are glowing.”
I wanted to tell him I already knew that, but I was having enough trouble staying conscious.
“Wendi,” he begged, “don’t die. You have so much to give.”
Thank you for reading Survivor, A Shifter of Consequence Tale. Next up is:
Legacy
They claim there’s magic in my hands.
Too bad I can’t figure out which guy is my mate. In moving close to the Midnight Alder pack, something happened. I’m about to become an official member of the pack now, and they say I have a gift. A gift that’s been prophesied for centuries.
They need to get a grip.
I’m nothing special. I’m just a girl, trying to get stronger and figure out which one of these men I want. Because if you asked me to choose, I’d probably pass out trying. I just hope the other pack with their stalker ways doesn’t get to me first.
Legacy is the second book in a paranormal reverse harem shifter series featuring a badly injured female wolf shifter, her healing, and the four male wolf shifters who all want to be her fated mate. It is a why choose werewolf romance with a slow burn buildup sure to make your toes curl. Relationships develop over the course of this supernatural series and, of course, Mazzy guarantees an HEA
Table of Contents
Academy Books from Decadent Publishing You Might Enjoy
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Legacy
Survivor: A Shifter of Consequence Tale (Shifters of Consequence Book 1) Page 12