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Mardi Gras Publishing, LLC
www.mardigraspublishing.com
Copyright ©2006 by Jaden Sinclair
First published in 2007-01-06, 2007
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NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.
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Shifter II
By
Jaden Sinclair
Mardi Gras Publishing, LLC
133 Lake Front Dr. #204
Daphne, AL 36526
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN—13 978-1-934329-13-9 ISBN-10 1-934329-13-4
Shifter II © 2006 by Jaden Sinclair
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Cover art © 2006 by Teresa Jacobs
For more variety in your reading selection, please visit www.mardigraspublishing.com
Dedication
This whole Shifter series is dedicated to the memory of my father, Danny.
The day he learned I wanted to write, he pushed and challenged
me to do so. Without him, none of this would have happened.
So these books are for you dad! This dream I followed thru.
Chapter 1
Dedrick Draeger stood in his backyard looking up at the approaching full moon feeling his heat running through his veins and wishing like hell he had a mate to take it all away. Every muscle in his body was taut; ripples of muscles moved at each breath and hands clenched into fists. His hair, which reached past his shoulders, was loose to the wind. His dark eyes shifted back and forth in color and the only thing covering his body was a tight pair of black biker shorts that outlined his hard cock. Not even the cool night air could tame the beast lingering within him, fighting to become free. Fighting to claim someone.
Dedrick's hard black eyes looked around as he kept taking deep breaths to calm all of his nerves. It had been days since he shaved and Dedrick was starting to find he liked the rough look to his face. It matched his mood. Also, it had been days since he'd had a woman, but this time he didn't want just any woman. Dedrick wanted the woman. He wanted the one that he knew was out there made to take away this pain and need.
He recalled the last woman he'd had. Remembered how rough he was and how at first she seemed to enjoy it. The ripping of clothes, the deep, hard kissing, even the way he tossed her around in the bed seemed to be enjoyable to her. However, when he started to nip at her neck and force his way into her body with little to no foreplay, things started to change. If Dedrick had not managed to get control over the lingering beast within, he would have wound up doing some major damage. In fact, he recalled that the night had almost turned into a borderline rape. One thing he didn't want on his shoulders. After he walked away from her, without having sex, he had not taken another woman to his bed since. He was too far-gone and too close to being out of control that he wouldn't chance hurting another woman again.
"It's time you went looking for your mate, bro,” Stefan Draeger said in a calm voice as he walked cautiously up to his brother.
"If I didn't have to hear you two fucking all the time, things wouldn't be this bad,” Dedrick responded in a tight, angry voice.
Stefan laughed nervously. “So, I am the problem?"
"You two don't make things easy,” he growled.
Dedrick looked at Stefan and Stefan had to flinch. He had never seen his brother in this state before. His face showed nothing but strain, and as Dedrick tried to fight the heat, his eyes glowed red.
"How long has it been since you've had a woman, Dedrick?” concern was in Stefan's voice as he looked hard at his brother.
"None of your fucking business!” Dedrick bellowed out.
"Dedrick,” Stefan began but was stopped short by a warning growl. “I'm not telling you what to do,” he put his hands up in a pacifying manner.
"Good, then get the fuck back in the house."
"But you really need to get laid,” Stefan finished in a rush.
Hair started to show on Dedrick's back. “It doesn't help."
"Then you need to go on a hunt."
"Stefan..."
"No!” he yelled. “Damn it, Dedrick, if you keep this up then none of us is safe around you. I watch you go through the heat cycle every full moon and every time your mood gets worse and worse,” he rubbed his face in a defeated manner. “After the party I order you to go hunting."
"You're demanding that I go hunting?” Dedrick turned around and faced Stefan with a deep growl. His eyes were the deepest red they could get but instead of backing down, Stefan held his ground.
"Full moon is in two days. Party next week. After that, I will take Sidney on a honeymoon and you will go hunting,” Stefan pointed to Dedrick with a stern look. Dedrick growled again and bared his lengthening teeth. “And when I get back,” he went on, “I expect you to have your mate, or I will beat the fuck out of you until you are no longer in heat!"
Stefan watched as Dedrick took a few steps back and changed into the largest and blackest wolf he had ever seen. Dedrick gave him a snarl along with a growl and took off at a run towards the woods.
"Is he going to be alright?” Sidney asked, walking outside looking worried.
"He will as soon as he gets laid."
"I swear,” she raised her hands in the air then dropped them back down to her sides, “everything in this house has to do with sex."
"Yep.” Stefan walked up to her and picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder with a slap to her ass. “So let's go have some."
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Jaclyn Davis, a long time friend of Sidney's, drove her beat up truck to the largest piece of property she had ever seen. She stopped short at the gate and had to get out of her truck to take a better look.
Shielding her eyes, she whistled as she looked around, seeing a man leaning against the fence smiling at her. She knew who he was from the descriptions in Sidney's letters.
"Let me guess, you must be Jaclyn?” he smiled.
"Call me Jacy,” she extended her hand out to him with a smile. “And you must be Stefan? The big bad wolf that took my girl from the club."
"That I am,” he smiled. “And how do you know about the..."
Jaclyn walked over to him and shook his hand. “Sidney told me a long time ago. In fact, that night before we left the room. I hope you are taking good care of her?"
"I'm doing my best,” he chuckled.
"Good. Now where is she?"
Stefan laughed. “Up at the house arguing with my sister, I believe, about the party."
"Well, hop in."
"Oh, no! I'm staying out here away from all the fire and my brother."
"Your brother?” Jaclyn asked with a frown as she got back into the truck and started it up.
Stefan closed the door for her. “Yeah, he is in one hell of a mood again."
"Really?"
"So be prepared,” he went on with a smile on his face. “Go ahead and park your truck in front. Don'
t worry about ringing the bell. They won't hear you."
Jaclyn drove up to the house and stepped out of her truck staring at the largest mansion in the town. Her long, dark brown hair, which hung to the middle of her back, swayed in her face as the wind started to pick up. She reached in her pocket for a rubber band and tied her hair back as she went to the back of her truck for her duffle bag. It was hard for most people to believe that this five foot seven girl could handle such a heavy bag, but Jaclyn could handle anything that came her way plus any man that might land in her bed.
With her heavy bag over her shoulder, Jaclyn walked into the mansion where people were moving back and forth, some yelling at each other.
Dropping her bag on the polished floor, Jaclyn mumbled, “Isn't this peachy!” to herself.
"This was supposed to be a small get together, Skyler. You've made it into a damn party from hell!” Sidney yelled walking out of a dining room.
"All I did was in invite a few friends."
"No, what you did was invite your whole clan!” Sidney groaned.
"Well, what did you expect? You think they are just going to wait until the big Gathering before they can see who Stefan has chosen?"
"That would have been the respectful thing to do. I don't want a bunch of people staring at me all night."
"Why not? It might be fun,” Jaclyn said, leaning against a wall smiling.
Both girls stopped their arguing. Sidney covered her mouth with her hands and just looked in shock at Jaclyn.
"What? Do I look that bad?” Jaclyn asked with a look of fake concern on her face.
"I can't believe you made it,” Sidney said in a soft voice with a smile.
"Well, believe it, girl,” Jaclyn smile, raising her hands up in the hair. “I'm here."
"No shit!"
Skyler watched the two girls hug each other and then walked up with her hand stretched out.
"Hi. I'm Skyler."
"Jaclyn,” she smiled, shaking the girl's hand. “But everyone calls me Jacy."
"I am fucking tired of all these people in my house!"
Skyler and Sidney both jumped when Dedrick yelled from the back of the house.
"And that would be my older brother Dedrick, the beast."
"Oh, he's not that bad,” Sidney said.
"The hell he isn't. I'm with Stefan. If he doesn't get laid soon, I'm going to beat him with Cook's frying pan."
"Is there something I should know?” Jaclyn asked picking up her heavy bag.
Sidney was about to answer when Skyler beat her to it. “Only that the beast is out of the cage."
"Come on. I'll show you to your room,” Sidney said taking Jaclyn's arm.
"And what is this about someone needing to get laid?"
"He is almost in heat again,” Skyler said, following the two. “And we are finding out the hard way, the longer they go without their mate, the harder it is on us,"
"Heat?” Jaclyn asked with a curious expression.
"I'll tell you later,” Sidney said under her breath.
CHAPTER 2
Jaclyn stood leaning against a wall at the top of the stairs watching people walk into the mansion, feeling out of place. Sidney had taken her that morning to buy some new clothes for tonight, and she did look very nicely put together in the white silk pant suit, but she still felt like she didn't belong with these people.
Even though she knew what they were, the fact that they had money and a house like this, as well as her background prevented her from enjoying it. Jaclyn was close to being a project child. Poor, struggling for everything she ever had growing up, and working damn hard to get things that she needed now. Right now she was living out of her truck and didn't dare tell Sidney about it. She had college bills stacked in the truck, waiting to be paid since her grant ran out. Thank God, she thought, those were the only bills she had over her head at this time. If she had others, she didn't know how she would make it after her time with Sidney ran out.
Jaclyn brushed her hands up and down the pants, hoping to smooth out any wrinkles that might be there, and several times looked down to make sure her pink sequined blouse with pearls and rhinestones was straight with nothing on it. The one thing that really made her feel out of place was her hair. Jaclyn always wore it down or in a tail down her back, mostly because of something from her past.
When she was younger, her stepfather always demanded that she keep it pulled up since that was how proper girls wore their hair. When he caught her going out to a party with it down, he wound up beating the hell out of her while her mother did nothing to help or stop it. Ever since then she kept it down and loved it, but tonight Sid had insisted she put it in a loose bun at the top of her head. She told Jaclyn that she wanted to see it up just once.
"Are you planning to stand here all night or what?” Sidney asked as she came out of her room.
"How in the hell did I ever let you talk me into this?” Jaclyn groaned. “I feel like the farmer in the limo. Something that does not go together."
"You look great.” Sidney laughed.
"I look like a fucking Barbie doll,” she snapped back.
"Well, the girl does have everything."
Jaclyn gave her a glare, which made Sidney laugh again.
"Look at it like this, Jacy; I could have made you wear a dress like I have to."
"And I could have shoved it down your throat."
"Now, ladies,” Stefan walked out of the room. “Please, no fighting. I have my hands full with my brother."
"Hah! All you've done is hide while the rest of us have had to deal with it,” Sidney said, crossing her arms across her chest. “He is your brother. You should try to help him out more."
"I bet he's scared of him,” Jaclyn put in. “A kitten running from the wolf."
"Hey, I will admit it,” he shrugged with a grin on his face. “He can kick my ass!"
"Shit, Stefan, I've known you for only two days and I bet I can kick your ass,” Jaclyn laughed.
"Yes, but I'm not in heat."
"So get him laid or for that matter get someone to give him head,” Jaclyn said in a calm voice.
Stefan offered his arms to both girls and started to walk down the steps with them. “Not an easy thing to do."
"Don't see what the problem is. He's pretty hot and all, so it should be no trouble finding him a girl,” Jaclyn remarked in an all too calm voice.
Sidney stopped walking pulling both of them to a stop with her. “Don't even think about it!"
"Did I miss something?” Stefan asked, looking at both of them.
Jaclyn rolled her eyes: “Sid..."
"Don't Sid me. He has enough problems as it is without you helping."
"Now I know I have missed something."
"I haven't done anything,” Jaclyn said as she started to walk again, but was once again stopped by Sidney's hand on her arm.
"What are you planning?"
"Hold up!” Stefan put in. “Will someone please fill me in?” he said as he looked from Sid back to Jaclyn.
"Fine!” Jaclyn placed both hands on her hips and half glared at Stefan. “I was thinking of helping your brother out a bit with his problem. After all, he isn't that bad looking and it has been a while and all for me."
"Oh, no.” Sidney moaned covering her eyes with her hands.
"And, um, how were you going to do that?” Stefan asked in a shocked voice.
"You shouldn't have asked,” Sidney moaned and shook her head.
Jaclyn looked Stefan in the eye. “I was thinking of ... you know."
Sidney let out an even louder moan and sat down on the steps.
"Shit!” Stefan remarked in wonder. “You have got to be kidding me!"
"What?” Jaclyn asked. “I don't see what the big deal is."
Sidney stood up. “You tell her, Stefan."
Stefan waited until Sidney was gone. He was still trying to get over the shock at hearing someone tell him that they actually wanted to help Dedrick with his problem.
"Tell me what?” she sighed.
Stefan had to clear his throat a few times, and then when he looked at her, he had to clear it again. He was having a hard time thinking of the words he needed in order to explain to her that what she wanted to do to help Dedrick was going to cost her more than she really wanted to give.
"Um, follow me."
Jaclyn followed him into the study where Dedrick had been hiding for the last couple of days since she'd arrived. She wanted to get a good look at things since this was her first time in the room, but Stefan took her arm and led her to a small leather sofa.
"What has Sid told you about the heat in our men?"
"I just thought your sexuality was heightened. Kind of like an extra horny man,” she smiled.
"Heightened is a mild word,” he responded under his breath.
"Just cut through the chase and tell me what's wrong."
"Ok. When we go into heat, we can become violent."
"I heard,” she said in a somewhat bored voice.
Stefan stood up and walked to a window. He looked out at a few of the guests, and then went onto the balcony for some air.
"Not just violent, but damn mean."
"So the saying, a bitch in heat fits you guys to a ‘T'?"
"Something like that. We are stronger, meaner and quite determined to get what we want."
"Why not just find someone and take the edge off then?"
Stefan looked at her. “It doesn't work that way after a while."
"And why is that?” her curiosity was peaked, something Stefan noticed.
"Dedrick has been in his heat since age sixteen. Don't get me wrong, he has had a few girls that have seemed to help, but for some reason, he gets damn mean. The last time he had a girl, which was months ago, he really hurt her bad. He didn't mean to. It's just that without our true mate, it's so hard to control the burning lust that comes out. What I mean is only a true mate is able to handle the harsh demands without getting hurt."
"So he likes to dominate then?” she asked softly, working at hiding the interest from her eyes.
"That would be putting it a bit mildly,” Stefan answered, watching her closely.
Dedrick's Taming [Shifter II] Page 1