Highland Shifters: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set

by Unknown

  The latch had barely clicked home when he caught movement from the corner of his eye. Out of instinct he ducked, throwing up his left arm.

  Something hard hit his forearm, pain shooting down to his hand. He turned and there was Aspyn, wielding a baseball bat. She swung again but this time he was ready for her. He caught the end of the bat in his right hand. In one motion he twisted it out of her grip, holding it out of her reach.

  She was breathing hard and she backed away from him, eyes locked on his face. He glanced behind her and saw the kitchen. Damn. She was going for a knife.

  “Don’t…” He reached out and grabbed her arm. She pulled hard, twisting in his grip, but he held on.

  “Let go or I’ll scream. I called 911.”

  “I don’t want to hurt ye, Aspyn. Really, I don’t. But I do need your help.”

  He reached behind her and flipped the switch on the wall. In the overhead light, it was easy to read the shock in her expression, eyes wide as she looked up at him. Her face went pale and she went slack in his grip.

  “Wait, it is you. You’re…you’re the guy from the hospital. You’re the dead guy.”

  “I’m the guy from the hospital, yeah, but I’m not dead. At least, not in the technical sense.” He tried one of his most charming smiles on her, but she didn’t seem to be very impressed. If anything she looked at him with deeper suspicion and terror.

  “Listen, I do need your help. And I don’t want to hurt ye.”

  She tugged against him. “You are hurting me now.” There was a tinge of pain in her voice and he realized he was holding her wrist much tighter than he’d wanted to. He loosened his grip, but didn’t release her.

  “If I let you go, will you promise not to scream? Or hit me with the bat again?”

  She frowned at him, but eventually she nodded. He pulled her over to the couch and gently pushed down onto the cushions before he let go of her. She rubbed her wrist and he winced again at the red marks on her skin. The last thing he’d wanted to do was hurt her. He set the bat down against the wall, away from Aspyn’s reach.

  “Did you really call emergency?”

  Her frowned deepened, but her eyes flickered away from his and she dropped her head.

  “Ye didn’t call them.”

  She finally shook her head. “No, I thought you were someone...that you were a Peeping Tom. But now you’re here.” She glared up at him.

  “And how the hell do you know my name?”

  “You took care of me tonight. In hospital, when I was hurt.”

  “But how do you know my name? You were unconscious when they brought you in.”

  “I heard them say your name. And I remember the touch of your hands, that ye took care of me. I wasn’t unconscious then. It was more like pretending to be dead.”

  “Well, you did a pretty damn good job then. You had all of us fooled. The EMTs said it was an animal attack.”

  “It was…a little more than just an animal attack.” He paced in front of her, frustration welling up inside him. How in the hell was he supposed to explain everything to her, to make her understand, without scaring her more. Or worse, having her think he was crazy.

  “Listen, Aspyn. I’m not here to hurt you.” He stopped in front of her, raking his hands through his hair. “And I’m rather desperate for your help.”

  Callum squatted in front of her. She pulled back and he could sense the fear rolling off of her in waves.

  “Someone tried to kill me tonight. Assassinate me.” He watched her eyes widen and she shrank back even further against the couch cushions. Maybe this wasn’t the right approach either. Damn it. He was never good with words. And he didn’t have time at the moment for subtlety or tact.

  “Aspyn, I need to be brutally honest with ye, about who and what I am.” He tried to keep his voice calm.

  “Who you are? You were the target of an assassination attempt.” Her voice was edged with fear but she kept her eyes on his face.

  “It’s more what I am.” He took a deep breath. “I’m a shifter, someone who can change their form.”

  Aspyn stared at him with a bewildered look on her face. Callum had no idea what she was thinking or if she even believed him. Normally he could read people like a book, but all he was getting from Aspyn was fear and suspicion. Understandable, but he’d be a lot more comfortable if he could get a read on the girl besides just her terror. He wanted her to at least understand what he’d told her. Finally she shook her head.

  “You mean you’re a werewolf? Like howl-at-the-moon werewolf?”

  “Yes, but I don’t howl at the moon.”

  “Then why aren’t you a wolf now? There’s a full moon outside.”

  “Because I’m not controlled by the moon, despite what you read about us. I can shift at will.”

  She looked at him for a long time and he was certain he’d lost her, lost any hope of her trusting him.

  “You’re delusional. Did you hit your head when you were attacked? Maybe you have a concussion.” Her voice had lost a little bit of the fear, but it wasn’t replaced by anything that sounded like she believed him. If anything, she sounded more distrustful.

  Callum closed his eyes briefly, summoning up what little patience he had left. There was no other choice in the matter. He held out his hand. “Give me your hand. If you won’t believe what I tell you, I’ll show you the truth.”

  Aspyn eyed him suspiciously and Callum’s heart sank. She wasn’t going to believe him and he’d have to think of another way to earn her trust. But then she cautiously extended her hand toward him.

  “Trust me, Aspyn. And believe what you see.”

  * * *

  His voice was calm, but she knew crazy people could sound completely rational when they wanted something. Just because he was drop-dead handsome and had a lovely Scottish accent didn’t mean he wasn’t a complete psychopath.

  And Callum definitely wanted something from her. She’d gotten past thinking he was there to rob her, or worse. Now she thought maybe he wasn’t really dangerous, that he might just want attention. So maybe if she gave him a little, he’d go away.

  The hand she held was surprisingly warm, considering the last time she’d seen him he’d been on a gurney headed to the morgue. It was ridiculous to think he’d be cold and clammy to the touch. Even though this whole night had taken a decidedly bizarre twist, she was pretty certain the guy in front of her was very much alive.

  He held her hand for a second and she wondered what he was trying to prove. Then all hell broke loose inside her head and she closed her eyes against the onslaught. Images flooded through her mind, images that frightened her. She saw blood and fur, claws and fangs. Callum, first as a man, then as a wolf, fighting for his life as two other wolves clawed and bit him. Then his human body, lying very still in the rain as blood ran onto the ground. It all ran through her mind in a heartbeat, but the images were terrifying.

  “What the fuck?” She jerked her hand away. “You’re not…that’s not possible. Those things aren’t real. It’s all myth and stories. And how did you do that?”

  “It’s all real, Aspyn. Verra real. It’s what—and who—I am.” He watched her, still kneeling in front of her, hands resting beside her on the couch. She was confused by the images and words, trapped by his body in front of her.

  But it was Callum lying on the ground in those images. She recognized the bloody slashes that had been on his body in the ER. Blood loss from those lacerations had killed him. She’d watched him bleed out in front of her, watched his heart stop.

  “Why aren’t you still bleeding? We didn’t suture any of your lacerations. You should be leaving a pool of blood on my carpet.”

  “It’s part of being a shifter. We heal quickly.”

  Despite her fear, she leaned forward, peering at his neck and chest, or at least what she could see of it exposed by the scrub top. The gashes and rents were almost gone, faded to thin red marks, barely visible among the curly black hair that covered his chest.
His arms were clean, too. She sat back, mystified.

  “They could have killed me in the alley, but they were interrupted, someone saw us. All I needed was that bit of a distraction and time to get away, so I risked playing dead in human form. I didn’t plan to end up in your hospital or your morgue. But someone called the police. And the police showed up a hell of a lot faster than I thought they would.”

  Aspyn had seen things that defied logical medical explanations. Maybe this was something else that defied logic, medical or otherwise. It made her head swim and she struggled to understand him. She had questions, and she wanted answers.

  “So you can shift into a wolf, whenever you want? If I asked you to now, you could?”

  She was surprised by his crooked smile. “I could, but I don’t think you want that. It’s…rather dramatic. And even if you’re prepared for it, the first time you see it, it can be a bit of a shock.”

  His smile widened and then he winked. “Besides, I’m short on clothes at the moment, so I’d have to undress first. Not sure you’re ready for that either.”

  Her eyes widened. God, he was a cocky bastard. Aspyn fidgeted on the couch. Suddenly he was close, much too close for comfort. “Okay, fine. No on-demand changing into a wolf. So let’s say I’ve suspended disbelief long enough to buy this whole werewolf story. Why were you attacked? Who tried to assassinate you?”

  Callum rose and walked to the window, finally putting some space between them. She drew a breath and let herself relax, just a little. Crowded against him had left her agitated in a way she didn’t understand, and didn’t really like.

  He stood looking out into the dark for a moment before answering. She had the sense he was either gathering his thoughts or coming up with some new far-fetched line to feed her. But the longer she was around him, the more sincere he sounded. Or the more he was sucking her into his fantasy world.

  “I learned today that my father was killed. He was in Scotland.” He turned back to her, his brows drawn down over his dark eyes, his voice troubled.

  “I’m sorry.” That wasn’t what she expected to hear at all. She had no idea what else to say so she sat back, waiting for him to continue.

  “He is—was—Alpha of the McCourt Clan. The leader.” He crossed the room and Aspyn tensed, thinking he was going to sit beside her, but he perched on the arm of the couch instead. His knee brushed against her leg and she was suddenly very aware of his body, the muscular shoulders and long legs, the dark hair that covered his forearms. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to push images into her mind again, or if she was reacting on some other level to the nearness of this man.

  Callum was talking again and she pushed back those thoughts, focusing on his words.

  “I’m the next in line to take over as Alpha, as my father’s only son. Except… someone doesn’t want me to.” He turned his eyes to her and for the first time that night Aspyn saw sadness—and maybe fear—in his eyes.

  “I think it was someone from my own Clan who attacked me tonight. And I’m pretty certain I know who killed my father, who is behind wanting us out of the picture as Alphas.”

  “Someone from inside your…is it Clan?” Aspyn glanced at Callum and he nodded. “Someone from your own Clan killed your father and wants you dead, too? What the hell kind of Clan is this?”

  Callum straightened, squaring his shoulders, but his face darkened dramatically. She’d hit a nerve there somewhere. “It’s an ancient Clan, and a proud one. And one of the largest. It’s been the McCourt family Clan for generations.”

  His shoulders suddenly slumped. “But it’s complicated…there’s someone who wants me dead, who killed my father. He wants the McCourts out of the picture.”

  “And he’s the one who sent the wolves after you tonight?”

  “Aye, I believe so.”

  “And this guy wants to be Alpha of the Clan?”

  “Aye, I believe he does. Probably already is.”

  Callum’s accent had deepened as he’d talked about his Clan and his father. Aspyn felt a wave of sympathy for him. Whether he was a werewolf or just plain crazy, something had happened to Callum tonight, something that had shaken him deeply.

  “I’m sorry…I said that already. But I am, Callum.” His name sounded strange on her tongue. He glanced down at her, catching her hesitation.

  “I still need your help, Aspyn. I need to get to Scotland. I need my passport, to book a flight.”

  Despite the seriousness of Callum’s request, Aspyn laughed. It bubbled up, uncontrolled, and Callum watched her, dark brows drawn together. He looks genuinely pissed.

  After a moment she waved her hand, her laughter subsiding into muffled giggles. “Sorry…really. But it’s just the absurdity of thinking of you on an airplane, like anyone else, after you’ve made such a point of getting me to believe you’re a werewolf.”

  He huffed out a breath, something very close to a growl crossing his lips. She was frightened again by the fierceness of his dark eyes. “How do you think we travel? By broomstick or magic spell? God, woman, I may be a werewolf, but I still live in this century. I drive a car, I travel on planes, just like anyone else. But I can’t travel on a plane without a passport or money.”

  “Okay, okay. I get it.” This was not a man with a sense of humor. “I took your wallet and passport, and put them in an envelope. It’s what we do with the effects of the deceased. It went with your body to the morgue.”

  She suddenly remembered the gold necklace. “You were wearing a gold necklace, too. It’s in the envelope.”

  Callum’s hand went to his throat. “Oh, Christ, I thought I’d lost it in the alley. Thank you. It’s a talisman, actually. Been in the McCourt family…”

  “For generations?” She offered a tentative smile.

  Callum looked at her for a moment and then returned her smile. “Aye. Everything in our family has been there for generations.” He rubbed a hand across his face, suddenly looking very tired.

  “You have to know how unbelievable this sounds to me, Callum. How it would sound to anyone.” She said his name again and this time it didn’t feel so strange on her lips.

  Callum’s soft laugh surprised her. It was tinged with sadness. “You’re not the first person to tell me that. It’s one of the reasons I don’t tell very many people what I really am.”

  “Then why tell me at all? Why work so hard to make me believe?”

  “Because you’re the first person I’ve ever needed to trust. I need you, Aspyn. I’m alone here. I’m pretty much just a lone wolf.”

  Aspyn glanced down at her hands, realized she was clutching them in her lap. She spread them across her knees. “So you want me to go back to the morgue and get your things?” She looked up, caught the hopeful look on his face.

  “Yes. It’s what I’m asking you to do.”

  Aspyn stood and paced across the living room, keenly aware of Callum’s eyes following her. Her mind had already started spinning out how she was going to do this, who she might see, what her excuse was going to be if she did meet someone. She realized somewhere she’d decided she was going to do this, even if she wasn’t quite sure she believed everything he’d told her. She swung back to Callum.

  “And after I get your stuff, then what?”

  Callum stood and took a step toward her. She took in his height, the width of his shoulders, the slant of his brows over his eyes, the straight line of his lips…physical features she hadn’t noticed—or paid attention to—earlier. He towered over her and for a second her heart took off on a mad rampage. She was a complete idiot and for all she knew, now he was going to pull out a knife and stab her.

  But he stopped a few feet away from her. “I leave. No obligations, no strings. You do me this favor and I’m out of your life forever.”

  Aspyn nodded. “Fine. That’s fine with me. I’ll get dressed and go back. It shouldn’t take too long.” Oh, hell, I have no idea how long this is going to take.

  On impulse she stuck out her hand. Callum
glanced down, hesitated, then took it.

  “Deal.” She shook his hand. He looked up in surprise.

  “You believe me?”

  She shrugged. “Not sure. But I think you believe you and maybe that’s enough for now.”

  She realized he was still holding her hand and she tugged gently. He released her and for the first time she saw a genuine smile cross his face. Not the cocky grin from before, but a smile of relief.

  * * *

  The rain had stopped, the full moon casting silver light over everything. Aspyn shivered as she drove to the hospital. It was almost 3:00 a.m. and the streets were deserted.

  Images of the savage attack that Callum had shown her rose up in her mind and she shook her head. I don’t want to see that again. Seeing the results in the ER was enough.

  There had been another discussion with Callum over him staying in her apartment alone while she went back to the hospital. She’d argued he could wait in the car, but he’d insisted he wasn’t safe outside. Finally she’d just given up that point. He hadn’t robbed her so far and if he decided to take off with her flat-screen, at least she had his passport to give to the police when she called them to report the theft.

  She pulled into the employee parking lot at the back of the hospital, the one closest to the morgue entrance, leaving her car in the far corner, out of the glare of the overhead parking lot lights. No telling if anyone would be coming out mid-shift, but it probably wasn’t the best idea to advertise she was here.

  On the drive she’d thought about what she’s say if anyone questioned her on Monday. She’d have to use her employee card to get in the building and that was probably logged somewhere, on some computer. Hopefully no one would notice that. If someone did and asked, it was easiest to just say she’d forgotten something in her locker.

  But that wouldn’t explain why she was in the morgue, if she met anyone inside the hospital. The only other excuse she could think of was she’d forgotten to do something while bagging Callum’s belongings, forgotten to sign the envelope, anything.