Shifters, Secrets & Surprises

by Lowe, Anna

  Nala nearly smacked the wall. It was like playing charades over the phone. “No. The other problem, Mom.”

  The line went silent, until her mother replied in a whisper. “Vampires?”

  Hallelujah. “Yes. Four of them.”

  “Four vampires? Nate!” her mother called to her father. “Sweetheart, stay right where you are.”

  “I can’t.” Nala turned to scan the road outside for the black SUV. “We have to keep moving. They’re following us.”

  “Us?” Now her mother sounded really alarmed.

  Nala rolled her eyes. “Harrison is with me.” Thank God, she nearly added. What would she have done without him?

  “Harrison?” The line went very quiet, and she wondered what her mother was thinking. “Well, well.”

  Two words had never been packed with quite as much subtext as those, but Nala ignored them.

  “Listen, can someone pick us up? I’ll call from along the way. And if you’re close enough — well, then we won’t need a phone.” Once her family was close enough, she’d be able to reach them with her thoughts.

  “Honey, be careful.”

  Nala sighed. She sure as hell would try her best.

  She hung up the phone and turned back to Harrison, who was getting change for the muffins and coffee. The waitress pressed every coin into his hand in an excruciatingly slow process.

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake,” Nala muttered, grabbing Harrison’s arm. “Keep the change.”

  They hurried outside.

  Harrison exhaled in relief the second they were outside and out of the waitress’ range. “Thanks,” he mumbled, handing her a muffin. A muffin she inhaled in three bites before washing it down with gulps of hot coffee.

  She led him down the street. “We have to get moving.”

  He squinted at her. “Can you feel them closing in?”

  She took a deep breath then shook her head. It was impossible to separate her overall dread from the sensation of having vampires nearby.

  “No, I can’t tell.”

  They hurried around a corner and down another street to a gas station, where Harrison nudged her forward. “Go. See if we can hitch a ride.”

  She stared at him for a moment. “But hitchhiking is dangerous.”

  As dangerous as vampires? his arched eyebrow asked.

  He had a point there, she supposed.

  He shook his head a second later, reassuring her. “Not dangerous if you’re with me.” He said it quietly, but raw power underpinned the words. “I promise.”

  She took a deep breath, trying to find another way to express what she felt, but failed to find words yet again. So she just nodded and trotted over to a truck driver who was fueling up. Two minutes later, she grinned and waved Harrison over.

  “Harrison, this is Linus,” she said.

  The truck driver had broken into a huge grin when she’d asked for a ride, but it faded the second he spotted Harrison. Obviously, the man was less than thrilled at his passenger’s menacing, seven-foot friend.

  “Thanks, Linus,” Harrison said, polite as can be.

  Five minutes later, they were driving south toward Massachusetts. Linus hummed along to the bluegrass music on the radio.

  Nala kept glancing in the rearview mirror, but as time stretched and miles passed, she relaxed a little. Maybe they had a big enough lead on the vampires to get away. Maybe everything would be all right. Maybe—

  She froze, catching sight of a vehicle changing lanes not far behind. A black SUV.

  Chapter Five

  Harrison fought to keep his eyes open. But he hadn’t slept a wink the previous night and the gentle rocking motion of the truck kept trying to lull him to sleep. He’d been all riled up in the diner — all those people staring at him, and worse, that waitress fondling his hands and making eyes at him. As if he was interested in any woman but Nala. He never had been, and he never would be. Even if he couldn’t have her, he’d love her to the end of his days.

  But slowly, the annoyance wore away. Nala was sitting close, and just having her there soothed his soul. So much that his eyelids drooped and his mind drifted off on happy thoughts like Nala holding his hand. Nala, smiling at him. Nala—

  Harrison.

  She nudged him, and he snapped his head up. Shit. Had he nodded off?

  She was sitting by the door, while he had insisted on taking the middle, creating a barrier between Nala and Linus just in case the guy tried to pull a move. So far, the truck driver had seemed amiable enough, but Harrison sure as hell wasn’t going to risk anything happening to Nala. Not now, not ever.

  She motioned toward the sideview mirror, and he ducked his head to look.

  What? he asked, shooting the question into her mind.

  She held her hand up, waiting, then pointed.

  Crap. Was that the same black Mercedes? Is that them?

  Not sure, she replied. But her whole body went stiff beside his, and he could smell the fear she tried to hide.

  They were on the highway now, and the truck rattled past a sign. Brattleboro was coming up soon, which meant Massachusetts wasn’t far away. With Nala’s relatives driving north from the Berkshires to intercept them, all he needed was to buy time. About an hour, maybe. Then he and Nala would have all the backup they needed to fight off the vampires.

  But, shit. He didn’t have an hour.

  Nala made a little gasping sound. There was a second vehicle back there, moving in tandem with the first. Apparently, Hlavek had rounded up some friends.

  Linus turned down the radio and hit the blinker for a right turn, completely oblivious to the danger behind them. “Just gotta make a quick stop.”

  Harrison nearly reached across and yanked the steering wheel to the left. Why the hell did the guy need another stop?

  “Um…” Nala stammered.

  “Something wrong?” Linus asked.

  Harrison put his hand on Nala’s thigh — exactly the kind of move he would have flipped out over if Linus had made it — trying to communicate a calm he didn’t feel.

  Just get ready to run, he told her. The second the truck stops, we’ll head for the woods.

  She looked at him and gulped. You’re right. We don’t need to drag Linus into this.

  They both sat perfectly still, every muscle tense. Nala pursed her lips and quietly slipped her hand through the door handle. Harrison calculated a dozen different factors, like how many steps he’d need to get out of the truck and how many more to catch up with Nala. How long he might be able to hold off the vampires to give Nala a chance to get away.

  The truck driver decelerated and swung into the turnout lane, and the speedometer showed fifty miles an hour.

  Fifty. Christ, how hard did you hit the ground if you jumped from a truck going fifty? He eyed the rest area ahead. There was a grassy picnic area on the right backing up to the woods then about an acre of parking with a squat building full of fast-food chains. Beyond that was more parking. Not much choice there, and certainly no place to hide.

  He squeezed Nala’s hand, wishing they had more time. Time to talk. Time to look into her eyes. Time to try to explain. I love you, Nala. I’ve always loved you. I always will. He closed his eyes, wishing he could tell her then and there. Wishing he could ask her, Do you love me, too?

  But they had to focus, and he knew it. His time had run out. There’d be no lifetime to share with his mate, as he’d so often dreamed. No time to do anything but die for her.

  Cars buzzed past them as Linus slowed to forty.

  “My favorite place to get coffee,” he said, chipper as could be. “Much better than the gas station back there.”

  Harrison rubbed Nala’s thumb with his. There. The picnic area. We’ll jump out there.

  Her eyes went wide, because it was clear that Linus wasn’t aiming to stop that soon. Harrison waited for Nala to shake her head and yell, While the truck is still moving? Are you nuts? But she didn’t. She just shot him a curt nod and edged toward the door. />
  “Thanks again for taking us, Linus,” she said.

  “My pleasure. And don’t worry. I’m happy to take you all the way to Springfield.”

  Harrison shook his head. If only Linus knew how quick their exit would be. And damn, was Nala amazing, thinking of saying thank you at a time like this.

  Say something, the inner voice urged him. Tell her while you can. Say, I love you, Nala.

  But the two SUVs were pulling over, too, and there was no time for confessions. He’d have to die the way he’d lived: keeping his love for her secret.

  Doesn’t matter, he told himself. As long as she lives.

  Still, his beast side mourned. Mate…

  Harrison forced himself to focus on the speedometer — now dropping toward the thirty-mile-an-hour mark.

  Tell her, an inner voice said. Tell her.

  He shook his head. Not now. Not here.

  “Now!” he shouted, pushing Nala toward the door.

  “What the—?” Linus cried.

  Nala shoved the door open and leaped.

  Beeeeep! The car behind them slammed on the brakes as she hit the pavement and rolled.

  Keep going, he grunted as he leaped. And, shit, thirty miles an hour was a lot faster than it sounded when the pavement was blurring right under his feet. The vertical distance wasn’t any more than a body length, but still, it felt like a chasm.

  He didn’t land so much as slam into the ground, and more horns blared. A car swerved not more than a yard away, and a second one skidded past in a wide loop. He scrambled to his feet and raced after Nala. Horns sounded louder when you were at eye level with a bumper, too. Pain exploded in his leg from the force of the fall, but he sprinted on.

  Doesn’t matter. Nothing matters but her.

  Brakes screeched. Doors opened and slammed as the vampires piled out of the SUV. Then a second set of doors echoed the first, and his spirits sank. Yeah, Hlavek had called in backup, all right.

  “How many—” Nala started, but he waved her on.

  “Don’t look back. Don’t slow down. Just run.”

  He grabbed her hand and raced across the picnic area where an older lady walking a cocker spaniel gaped.

  “Watch out!”

  He wished he had time to explain, but it was hardly the moment for that. The hair on the back of his neck rose — a sure sign the vampires were closing in.

  “Hurry. To the woods,” he urged Nala on.

  She hurried through the bushes and into the thick woods, where the zip of passing cars quickly faded to a distant hum.

  “Keep going. Go!” he yelled.

  Branches snapped at him as Nala sprinted onward, crashing through the brush. More branches cracked behind him as the vampires followed close behind.

  “How far is your family?” he called as he ran at full tilt. “Can you tell?”

  “Getting closer,” she panted back. Her hair streamed out behind her in loose, silky strands. But not close enough, she added a second later in a private aside the vampires couldn’t hear.

  Shit. It really was all up to him.

  “Shift,” he told her. “Shift.”

  She gave him a wild look as she ran. Shifting in midstep at full speed? One tiny miscalculation and you end up on your ass.

  He knew that as well as she did. They’d messed around trying it as kids, and most of the time, they went tumbling head over heels. They usually ended up laughing hysterically at each other’s failures.

  Well, he sure as hell wouldn’t laugh this time.

  “You first,” she panted while pounding up a wooded hillside.

  No, you, he shot back. If she shifted first, he could protect her if she fell.

  Damn it. Trust me! she grunted into his mind.

  He opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. What could he say to that? I love you, but I don’t trust you?

  Actions speak louder than words, the voice in his head said.

  Well, shit. He took a deep breath and prepared to shift into beast form. Whatever Nala’s plan was, he had to have faith. And whatever it was, he hoped to hell it would work.

  He squared his shoulders and lowered his chin. Then he imagined a log cabin in winter from the outside looking in and launched himself off a boulder to gain an extra split second of time to complete his shift. His vision blurred. His bones groaned. His lengthening feet screamed at the pressure of his boots. The shirt split right down his back, and the rest of his clothes shredded as he released his inner beast.

  Thump! His right foot hit the ground, shedding scraps of leather — the remains of his boots. He lurched but found his balance just in time to plant his left foot and hurry on.

  Whoa.

  He ducked a branch at the last possible moment. Sasquatch form added a foot to his height, which gave him an entirely different set of branches to avoid.

  “Awesome!” Nala cheered as they raced over the ridge. She bounded down the other side, extending her stride, pumping her arms. She hopped up on a tree stump and leaped a second later, shifting in midair.

  It ought to have been horrifying, seeing a gorgeous young woman transform into canine form. But Nala managed it with a dancer’s timing and grace. She stretched and reached with a foot that turned smoothly into a paw. Her grimace drew out into a wolf smile, and the perfect curve of her hips reshaped into sleek, muscled haunches followed up by a tail.

  A tail she flicked the moment she landed and ran on without missing a beat. Catch me, the movement dared him. Catch me if you can.

  And once again, he caught a glimpse of the past — of all the times they’d played tag in the woods. But instead of catching her and yelling, Gotcha, he pictured catching her and growling, Mine. My mate. And rather than collapsing into laughs afterward, they’d collapse into each other’s arms and drown each other in kisses and heated touches until—

  He yanked his mind back to the present.

  Beautiful, he murmured, watching her race along.

  “Get them!” a voice rang out from behind.

  Harrison growled under his breath. And when Nala yelped and skidded to a stop a minute later, he bellowed with rage. They’d come to a clearing where two vampires stood waiting in ambush.

  Shit, she cursed, spinning around.

  Harrison nearly ran into her from behind, then turned and growled, halting the oncoming vampires in their tracks.

  Back-to-back. Get back-to-back, Nala cried.

  He stepped backward until he felt her wolf body bump his legs. They both pivoted in tandem, glaring at the vampires who fanned out all around. Harrison turned slowly, counting in his head. Eight. Eight vampires this time.

  You, Nala’s growl said when she faced the leader, Hlavek.

  “You,” the vampire echoed in a voice dripping with scorn. “You could have made it much easier on yourself. Much more pleasurable.”

  The words came with a dozen mental images that disgusted Harrison. He snarled so deeply the sound echoed through the woods.

  The vampire scowled. “Now you’ve earned a different death, but your blood shall nourish me all the same.”

  Your blood will stain the earth, Nala shot back. Not mine.

  Her voice was fierce and steady, but Harrison could read the subtler clues. The stiff angle of her tail, the hard line of her jaw. She knew the odds were slim. Impossibly slim.

  “I didn’t want to share you,” the vampire said, motioning to his accomplices. “But you leave me no choice.”

  I choose who I share my body with, Nala shot back.

  Hlavek laughed. “Oh, yes? Who, then? This beast? This… this…monster?”

  Harrison flicked his fingers, letting his claws out.

  Sasquatch, Nala grunted at the vampire. He’s a sasquatch, and he’s my mate. So, yes. I’ll share with him and him alone.

  Harrison’s mouth hung open as he looked down at her. Mate?

  She glanced up at exactly the same time, and her eyes glowed. I didn’t realize it until you left. But yes — I love you, and no
t just as a friend. I’d gladly share with you. My body. My heart. My soul.

  His heart skipped and danced, and for a second, he nearly forgot about the vampires clustered all around.

  Nala’s warm smile turned grim. Just as soon as we kill these assholes, that is. She turned back to the enemy and bared her teeth. Last chance, Hlavek. Leave or die.

  The vampire to Hlavek’s right took a step back. Nala was that ferocious, that resolute. But Hlavek was a man obsessed. He opened his mouth and extended his fangs to gruesome lengths.

  “Get them,” he ordered, making a chopping gesture with his hands.

  And just like that, the vampires were on them.

  Harrison swung his left hand wide, slashing at an oncoming vampire with his claws. With his right hand, he punched, repelling another. Nala grunted and bumped into him, then darted forward and snapped her powerful jaws. A vampire screamed and fell back, clutching his arm.

  “Get them, damn it!” Hlavek yelled.

  Yeah, Nala grunted. Let’s get them.

  Anger and determination pulsed from her body just like it pulsed off her father the few times Harrison had seen the alpha wolf riled up. Everyone knew the Dixons had a powerful bloodline, but he’d never had occasion to see Nala call on the power herself. Then again, he’d never seen her fight for her life.

  Still, even a courageous she-wolf had her limits, he knew.

  So show her what we can do, his beast urged him inside. Make her proud.

  He prayed he could do that and not just horrify her. Sasquatch didn’t fight often, but when they did, it wasn’t pretty and it sure as hell wasn’t clean. He himself had been shocked at the aftermath of his first fight for his life, so many hardscrabble years ago. Did he dare show Nala that side of himself?

  Do you dare not show her? his beast grunted in response.

  The vampires closed in for a more coordinated second attack, and Harrison bared his teeth. Yeah, he’d show Nala, all right.

  A deafening boom filled the air, and a younger version of himself might have cowered the way two of the vampires did. But he didn’t, not this time. Especially since the booming sound came from him — a sasquatch battle cry.

  He pressed forward on counterattack and raked a set of claws down one vampire’s chest. He slammed his shoulder into a second vampire, throwing him against a tree, then grabbed another by the neck and shook him like a puppet before heaving the body against a boulder. There was an audible snap, and the vampire went limp.