Lisa: Coming Of Age (The Guardian Shifters Book 1)

by KM Lowe

  "Wait!" I shout to our spectators. "We can't stay out here. We're in the middle of nowhere. Anything could happen."

  My heart is beating so fast that my head is going to spin at any moment. "Lisa." Jasper places his hands on either side of my face. "Calm down. Nothing and no one is going to get you here without a fight. Joel and I will be protecting the perimeter."

  I can only nod. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths in and out. I need to calm down... now. "Okay."

  "You good?"

  "Yes." I shake my head instead of nodding it. It earns me an eye roll from Jasper.

  "Go. Have a good night."

  Markus takes my hand and I follow behind him closely.

  "Lisa." I look over my shoulder at Jasper. "Welcome to the family. Officially."

  I smile from my soul. "Thank you."

  Once we step over the threshold, Markus locks the door. I walk into the heart of the cabin. It’s filled with candles and fresh flowers; it’s like a scene from a movie. This must have taken ages.

  "Do you like it?"

  "It's beautiful," I mumble. "How did you do this?"

  "A lot of help. We have a lot of people who care about us, babe. This is only the beginning." His mouth moves down on top of mine. Our tongues collide softly, delicately, beautifully. It feels like we're connected already when we share intimate moments like these. "I love you so much, baby. I'm so lucky to have you in my life. We get to have a long, happy life together. You and me against the world, toots."

  My heart is so full just hearing Markus call me toots. Stupid, I know, but that's a nickname he's called me since as far back as I can remember, but he hasn't said it in a while.

  "I love you too. I know we're going to be challenged along the way, but I do believe that together we'll get through anything. This Goddess really is good at matchmaking, isn't she?"

  We both laugh. It’s good to hear laughter instead of shouting, crying, or animosity between us all.

  "Remind me to personally thank our Goddess."

  "I will, but can we stop talking now? I feel like I'm about to burst, Marky."

  His eyes cloud over with desire, his grip on my hips tightens, and he hoists me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. My core rubs against his jeans-clad dick, making me gasp. I need him inside me... now. "Oh, God! I need..."

  I have never felt like this in my life, but I can’t get close enough to him. Our bodies are so close, but they feel so very far apart. "I thought we could take this slow," Markus whispers in my ear, nibbling as he passes over my lobe.

  "No! We can go slow later. Now, just do it. I can't... I need..."

  I yank his jumper over his head and relish the feel of his skin under my hands. I lean forward, kissing his chest, then take his nipple in my mouth and bite it softly.

  "Fuck!"

  He backs us away from the wall. Every part of us is tangled, but I feel my weight being lowered until I sink into a mattress. Markus pulls my leggings and pants down my legs in one swift motion. He stands and removes the rest of his clothes, while I strip my shirt and bra away from me. His large body hovers over me, sending me crazy from the lack of skin contact. Shit. I’m losing it.

  Markus' mouth trails down my breasts, nipping my sensitive buds as he goes further south. I cry out as every kiss tingles and sends sparks to my clit. I feel like I'm on fire. His finger circles my clit then falls lower to plunge into me. Every stroke of that magic spot sends me spiralling higher and higher until my world spins and I fall over the cliff. "Fuck!"

  "I need you now, baby. Are you ready?"

  "Yes! I was born ready."

  He plunges inside me with one swift move, hitting my sensitive spot that’s still tingling from my first orgasm. Our bodies work in sync together until I’m close to another earth-shattering orgasm.

  "Hold on, babe. Don't come yet." Markus’ mouth falls to my neck as his finger circles my clit and his dick penetrates me deeper with every thrust. My body shudders and he bites down on my neck. The sting is short-lived when my climax rocks through me. My body shakes, my legs clamp around Markus and, out of nowhere, my mouth finds his neck and I bite down without a second thought. Our bodies pulse together. The shift is instant. I thought we were one before, but this is different. I can't explain it.

  "I promise to love you, care for you, and be the rock you need to lean on. I'll be your soulmate from this day forward. Our souls are entwined for life. Our hearts will beat for each other. Together we'll share this gift that we've been given, and we'll thank the Goddess for this special bond."

  My breathing is still erratic and my head feels like it’s floating, but I've never felt as good. "I... I promise to love you, care for you, and be the rock you need to lean on. I'll be your soulmate from this day forward. Our souls are entwined for life. Our hearts will beat for each other. Together we'll share this gift that we've been given, and we'll thank the Goddess for this special bond."

  I sigh with relief for remembering the chant. I'm not good with words at the best of times, but when I'm not thinking straight, I can be all tongue tied.

  "I love you, Lisa." Markus rocks softly while still cocooned inside of me.

  "I love you."

  "This time we take it slowly, because I want to worship every inch of your body."

  "Sounds... perfect."

  Our mouths meet and the love and passion radiates through us together, as one. I've never felt love and passion like this, and I don't think I'll ever get enough of this man.

  Chapter 26

  Jasper

  I've walked around the perimeter of the camp for the last two hours. Joel hasn't left my side, and while we're here to do a job, we're both relaxed since we've eliminated the threat to Lisa. This security detail is to make her feel safe and secure while she and Markus are in the middle of the forest. It’s only understandable that she doesn’t feel secure out here.

  "So, Jasper... how are you holding up?" asks Joel.

  "Huh?"

  "How does it feel to have raised a kid, watched them grow into the perfect wolf shifter, and is now heading down the path of adulthood with a mate, and probably pups of their own in the future?" Joel kicks stones as we walk.

  "Honestly, I feel old, Joel. But it's a great feeling. When Carmen died—Lisa's mum—I felt like my heart was being torn from my chest. I couldn't breathe. I was in physical pain. I wanted to end it all, but I promised Carmen I'd look out for Lisa. It sent me down a path I never expected. I live in Anderson; I have a family that will expand one day. I have it all, apart from Carmen." I hold my emotion but I can feel the tears and heartache threatening to break through my tough exterior.

  "She'll be proud of you, Jasper. You've made sure her daughter will have a good life. I hope you find another love one day, buddy. If anyone deserves a soulmate, it's you."

  I nod and look up to the darkening sky. "It's better to have loved than to never have loved. I'm happy."

  I knew I was kidding myself. Of course I want a soulmate. I want it all, but I've got the love of my family. I'll watch them grow old together. I'll share their life. That's all I care about now.

  Joel's ringing phone breaks my thoughts. "Yes, boss," says Joel. "What do you mean? We're trailing now and we’ve not seen or heard anyone. Okay. We'll meet you there."

  "What is it?" I ask frantically.

  "Let's go. That was Carlos. Stracey has been calling you because someone has crossed her wards."

  "And it isn't someone from our pack?"

  "No. They wouldn't break a ward set by Stracey. We've to meet Carlos outside the cabin."

  I don’t shift because we’re only ten minutes away from the cabin, and I can run fast enough in my human form. I don’t pray often, but right now, I hope and pray nothing happens to Lisa or Markus. It would kill me.

  They’re my life.

  They’re my everything.

  Chapter 27

  Lisa

  Lying in Markus' arms, I've never felt as safe and secure. I've never fe
lt as loved as I do right now, and it's true that the bond between two mates is indescribable. It's something I've never felt before, but I like it. No, I love it.

  "You're quiet, toots."

  "Hmm. I'm just content for the first time in a very long time."

  "Good to know." He kisses the top of my head.

  "What was...?" I lift my head off Markus’ chest and try to listen to where the noise is coming from. I can’t quite make it out though.

  "What's wrong?" Markus holds me tighter.

  "Can't you hear that?"

  I get out of bed and put on my clothes.

  "Lisa, what are you doing?"

  "Something isn't right. Call it a gut feeling. I'm..." I make my way through the old cabin and leave Markus pulling on his clothes. Just as I enter the main room, the front door is blown up with a bang. I scream in shock.

  "Lisa!" yells Markus from the doorway.

  "What's going on?" I walk out of the door into the clearing but there isn't anyone there. "That wasn't normal."

  Markus' hands rub my shoulders soothingly until we hear a commotion from the side of us. Carlos is about twenty feet away from us, but he can’t get any closer. It’s like he’s stuck behind a forcefield.

  "What the hell?” Markus walks over and touches the invisible wall from this side and is flung back about ten feet, landing on the ground. I run to his side and notice burns on his hands first. "Don't touch it, Lisa. It's electric from this side."

  I feel like I’m stuck in a spinning ball. The sky, the trees, my surroundings feel like I’m spinning in circles. "Lisa! Markus!"

  I look up in time to see Jasper banging and shouting at the wall. He can’t get past either. We’re so close, but so far apart. "Jasper, what's happening?"

  "Markus, you need to shift. Shift now to heal. You're the only one in there that can protect you both," shouts Jasper.

  I help Markus stand without putting his burnt hands down on the ground. "Tell me what's going on," says Markus calmly.

  "We don't know. Someone broke Stracey's wards. You need to shift. I've sent Joel to get Stracey, but in the meantime, you need to be prepared. Please, just shift!"

  Our eyes meet through the wall and he looks like he's aged thirty years since I saw him a few hours ago. "Everything will be okay, Lisa. I promise."

  Markus turns my head away from Jasper. "Everything is going to be okay. Just stay behind me. Stracey will be here soon."

  "We don't even know what we're facing! Stop being so calm!" I walk a few steps before I stop dead in my tracks when I see...

  No. He's dead.

  "How?"

  "Surprise, daughter!" my father seethes.

  Markus jumps in front of me, but another man turns the corner and throws Markus across the ground. He lands a foot or so away from being electrocuted again.

  "No!" I scream and walk closer to my worst nightmare. "Don't hurt him. It's me you want. Let Markus go and I'll do whatever you want."

  Laughter echoes around us. He’s like something out of a movie. My attention is taken by Jasper shouting for Markus to shift. It’s his only way of survival.

  "Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. I don't want you. I want your power."

  "Are you crazy? I can't even shift."

  I hear bones breaking behind me and I know Markus is shifting. This could either calm things down or make things worse. I know I can’t take my eyes off the ball because this man with my father is clearly very magical.

  "You don't know anything. You've mated with that... mongrel. He's from the bloodline of the original wolf shifters. He has more power than everyone. Well, he would have if he learned how to use it. Now you, you were already a powerful being. Your mother's father, your grandfather, was an Alpha in his own right, but your bloodline comes from the original shifters. Combine the two and you have amazing things. All I need now is to kill you, and my friend DeAngelo here will transfer the power with his hocus pocus shit."

  "You were killed. How did you come back?"

  "Again, magic. The wolf your guardian killed wasn't me. It was a reflection spell. I wasn't there. Now I’m here to show you who you belong to."

  I feel like I’m going to burst with rage. If I were in a cartoon, steam would be coming out of my ears.

  One moment stuck in my own head and I’m captured in the grubby hands of my father. I lift my foot to his groin and kick out, sending him down onto one knee. I punch him with all I have. It does very little to him, but it hurts me more.

  Markus leaps into the air, but his wolf yelps and crumbles to the ground in pain.

  "Leave him alone!" I scream.

  "Lisa!" I turn to see a woman standing a few feet away from me. She’s pale. Beautiful, but pale. Her long dark hair is swept over her shoulder. "You need to harvest all of your anger. They're killing him. Look at Markus. Look at him!" she shouts when I don’t take my eyes off her. "Do it. Harvest the energy. Feel it in your heart and throw it back. It will shield you from their magic."

  "No!" I’m knocked flying to the ground by my father. He clearly saw the exchange I had with that woman, whoever she was.

  "You don't get to come back here and do this. She's mine, you bitch! Mine!"

  "Lisa, do it!" she yells.

  I push up onto my knees and look at Markus. I concentrate on his powerless wolf, his body lying still. He needs me. I need him.

  "You can feel that energy, Lisa. Now, pretend to throw it out of you with your hands as hard as you can."

  I do exactly as she said, and my father’s body is thrown back beside his witch. The witch went to throw his hands up to do something, but the woman said to block it. I do exactly as I did before and his hands freeze.

  "You bastards! I want to rip your head off your shoulders, and I will if it's the last thing I do."

  "Imagine your wolf, Lisa. She's beautiful, running through these forests."

  I quickly look at this woman and I walk over to her, taking in her features. Her hair, her eyes.

  No.

  "Mum?"

  "It's me, sweetie. I don't have long. You need to listen to me. Kill that animal once and for all. The Goddess believes in you. I believe in you. We all believe in you." The tears roll down my cheeks and I wipe them away with my sleeve. "Don't cry. Go for it. Show him that you’re every bit as powerful as he thinks."

  I turn away from my mother and imagine my grey wolf running. Exactly as my dreams showed me. The feels, the scents... everything. When I have her, I say, "Come on, wolf," and try to expel her from my body. I feel my body transforming. The power. The confidence. The strength.

  "That's it, baby. Do it for your family," says my mum.

  I shake myself and my head bows to the ground to see paws instead of feet. I've done it. I’m excited, but it’s short-lived when I hear Jasper shout, "Watch out!"

  I’m thrown back by the witch, but not before I push my power out to them both. Whatever I did rendered them without magic for a few minutes, but why didn't it break the forcefield?

  I crawl forward, one step at a time, stalking my prey. Adrenaline courses through my veins. Anger floods from my pores. I have to do this. Now! The witch is first because he is protecting my father. No witch, no protection. One on one, he is going down. I spring into the air and land on top of DeAngelo. His hands try to do something, but my power is still working. My jaws wrap around his neck until I hear the crunch, and his wriggling body stills. I jump back to look at the man that gave life to me. He’s weak without help. He’s nothing. A nobody. Sad really, that power could go to someone's head and change them into a demon.

  "You don't want to kill me," he says sarcastically.

  I growl and snap my jaws. I probably don’t want to kill anyone, but I have no choice. There’s no contest. Markus needs help. He needs a healer.

  "See, you're weak..." I don’t let him finish. I pounce.

  He gets the same treatment as his witch, but I enjoy killing him. I enjoy watching the life drain from his body. All the pain and suffering he's caused
to me, my mum, my friends and extended family. He's got his comeuppance.

  I stand back and admire my handy work. I’m not proud of it, but I feel accomplished, finally.

  "Lisa."

  I turn quickly, tail swishing, when I realise Markus needs me. I make my way to his side and nuzzle my nose into his neck. He’s still breathing. His pulse is weak, but he’s alive.

  "Shift, honey."

  I listen to my mum, close my eyes, and pretend to lock my wolf away. It works, but I sit beside Markus with no clothes on. Thankfully, my back is to Jasper and Carlos, and I place my hands over Markus' face.

  "Push your power into him. You'll feel your energy transform into him. It should be enough to heal his internal injuries. Enough to let his wolf take care of the rest."

  I concentrate. The power is like soft electrical currents running through my fingers to Markus.

  "Stop, Lisa. You can't drain yourself. You'll learn to control it. Jasper and Stracey will show you how."

  I look up into the eyes of my mother. The tears are rolling down her cheeks now. "Our time is up. My job is done."

  "No!" I yell and stand quickly. "You can't go."

  "I'm dead, sweetheart. The Goddess knew I'd be able to help you. Just remember that I'm so proud of the woman you've become. I love you very much. Take care of everyone and let Jasper help you."

  I nod and fall into her arms.

  "Carmen." I know Jasper is behind me and this ordeal is finally over. "I..."

  "Sshh! My time is up, Jasper. Take care of my girl. Nurture her power. Move on, Jasper. It's okay to move on."

  I take a step back and Jasper wraps me in a blanket. Everyone is in tears, including Jasper.

  "I can't, Carmen. I feel like I'm losing you all over again."

  "You've got a part of me in here." She pats his chest and he covers her hand with his. "I'll always love you, Jasper, but you have a perfectly good woman who wants you, who'll love you, and care for the kids. Please. Don't do this to yourself."

  My mother wraps Jasper into her arms and I sob uncontrollably.

  "I love you, Carmen. I'll never stop."

  "I know. It doesn't mean you can't love another." Their mouths connect and, a few moments later, Jasper and I are side by side, looking into thin air where my mother stood. She was gone. Just like that.