Shifting Magic (Shifted)

by Lynn Leite

  “No,” Faith laughed. “No guy. It really is no problem. Actually, your mate has been the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. That’s sad, isn’t it?”

  “He is pretty great,” Nina laughed.

  “So boyfriend, the answer to Sunday is yes. It will be nice to see Rory and the baby.” ‘Not to mention your uncles might be there,’ she said to herself silently.

  “That’s settled then. Ryder and I will bring Nina. That should stir up whoever is tailing us.”

  “Are you still being followed?” Faith asked with concern.

  “Only when Nina is in the car. It’s like they are watching the house.”

  “So why not confront whoever this is,” Faith asked the men. It wasn’t like an Alpha to tolerate being followed.

  Ryder growled in agreement. “My wife insists we have bigger fish to fry. Whoever sent this guy is the one we want. If we take him down, we can’t trace it back to Howland.”

  “And you think it’s Howland?” Faith was curious. That was after all why she was pretending to ‘date’ the Alpha.

  “Nina has been watching. It’s always the same car. The man in the driver’s seat isn’t Howland and he never makes a move,” Ranger told the group.

  “He isn’t too bright if you ask me,” Nina smiled. “He’s way too easy to spot.”

  “You’re a trained officer. I don’t know that I’d notice if someone was following me.” Faith shuttered at the thought of being stalked. Nina was putting herself at great risk.

  “Oh, you’d notice this asshole,” Nina smiled.

  Faith enjoyed dinner with the two couples. She didn’t feel so much like a fifth wheel. The whole family was so welcoming.

  On Sunday, when she and Ranger arrived at the Alpha compound it was almost as if she was family. She was greeted by the Alpha himself and his lovely mate. She pushed back thoughts of what life would be like when they caught this guy. She would go back to being just plain old Faith instead of Ranger’s girl. She would miss the family gatherings, even if she was only there to catch a killer.

  Ranger rushed into the house and grabbed Nina as the two wolves wrapped themselves together in a searing kiss.

  “Come on Faith. Us unmated wolves have to stick together,” Xavier said steering her out of the room. “It has to be hard to watch that all the time.”

  “I don’t mind. It’s not like they can help it. The mate fever is kind of all consuming. It’s hard on them having me tag along all the time. I’m sure they would rather be alone.”

  “Better them than me,” Xavier grumbled.

  “You don’t want a mate?”

  “Sure, someday, but I’m in no hurry.”

  “Not every wolf gets what they have. I think they are lucky to have found each other. It’s kind of romantic,” Faith smiled

  “So what about you? You want a mate?”

  “Sure, if it’s meant to be. I would like kids, a home, you know.” Faith noticed the others had stopped to stare at Xavier, whose arm was tossed across her shoulders in a friendly gesture. Xavier laughed at the questioning faces.

  “No, she’s not my mate. So you can all go back to whatever you were doing,” he smiled knowing that’s what they were looking for. Faith was beautiful and smart, and her agreeing to be involved in this made her courageous, but touching her didn’t send a fire running through his veins. No, Faith was definitely not his.

  Faith and Xavier were on the couch when Knight and Gage arrived for the gathering. The energy emitted by the two Alpha males was evident even before they entered the room. Faith’s breath caught in her throat as she tried to calm her racing heart. One male in particular stood out as they entered the great room. The two males were similar. Both were dark with the signature blue eyes of the Cheveyo clan. They might have been mistaken for twins by anyone just meeting them, but Faith knew which one had her heart pumping.

  “Finally, we are all here. Let’s eat,” Royal commanded. “What took you two so long?” he said glancing at his brothers as they followed the group to the dining room.

  “We were following the lead Faith had on the nurse’s boyfriend.”

  “And?”

  “William Grand. He’s originally from the Raven pack, but he was shunned about two years ago. Seems he doesn’t like to follow the rules,” Knight added, trying to focus on the question.

  “Sounds like a good candidate for Howland’s pack. He likes to keep his nose clean and have someone else do his dirty work,” Royal stressed

  “If this woman is seeing him, chances are he’s using her to gain information, and she might not even realize it.” Gage added

  “I say we test the theory,” Nina suggested as the family started taking a seat. Nina was careful to place herself in between Ranger and Faith. She knew the woman was helping but there was a limit to what she could take. “Faith could plant false information and we could see where that goes.”

  “Do you have any specific ideas Nina?” Maverick asked while turning his attention to his new sister-in-law.

  “I don’t know. Something simple like where we will be and when. Then we sit back and see if we are followed.”

  “I like it,” Sam smiled.

  “You would,” Ranger growled.

  Faith tried to force food into her turning stomach. She was trying to avoid eye contact with the uncle that sat right across from her while listening for his name. The two brothers were seated separately. All she had to do was wait and see who answered.

  “Faith, Faith.” Shit, caught day dreaming again.

  “Hum, what? I’m sorry I wasn’t listening.”

  “Knight asked if you were okay with the plan?” Willow asked. Knight which one was knight?

  “Sure, June grilled me all week about Ranger. I’m sure she’ll tell anyone willing to hear. If her boyfriend is involved, I’m sure he’ll get the message.”

  “Okay then. Now we just need to come up with what we want Howland to hear,” Royal said before every male in the room started throwing out ideas.

  Faith went back to not listening. She was enjoying the family atmosphere and thinking how nice it would be to be part of a big family like the Cheveyo’s. They had included her as if she were really Ranger’s girlfriend. When this was all over, she would have to go back to microwave dinners alone. Letting out a sigh, she picked at her food. The hum of one particular Alpha male’s energy resonated with her. She was really going to have to get a grip. This was unhealthy. She had just taken her attraction to Ranger and transferred it to his uncle. Both of the men were way out of her league.

  “Come outside by the fire,” Xavier called to Faith, who was surrounded by mated wolves.

  “You saved me again. I mean, I love your family, but the whole mated were thing times ten is a bit much,” Faith laughed.

  “I can relate. I just told Ranger and Nina to get a room.”

  “They don’t get a lot of private time, what with me being his girlfriend and all.”

  “That has to be weird.”

  “For them more than me I think. I’m just glad Nina is so calm about it.”

  “It was her idea, remember?”

  Faith and Xavier were just about to exit the French doors when all hell broke loose. The sound of shots being fired pierced the evening. Xavier pushed Faith down and covered her. She could see Ranger running after Nina and Sam out the front door while changing into wolves as they went. Willow and Ryder took up a position covering Rory and Maddox as Maverick shouted orders.

  Gemma shoved the sofa aside, threw a rug off the smooth wooden floors of the living

  Space, and yanked a hidden hatch open. The Alpha family was apparently ready for this kind of thing.

  “Faith, you alrig…..” Xavier’s words were cut off as his body seemingly flew away from her. In the next moment, she was hauled up against a hard chest and was moving in a blur through the room and down the stairway that the hatch had revealed.

  Rory held Maddox in her arms. Gemma was beside her as Hank argued with Emo
ry to stay put. The commotion stopped short and they were suddenly staring.

  “Knight, put her down. You’re scaring her,” Gemma sounded as if she was speaking to a child.

  Knight whirled her around to see her face. “Stay here,” he commanded pinning her with his icy gaze. Okay, so now she knew which uncle was which. Knight Cheveyo didn’t release her. His hands sent a fire burning up her arms and to various other parts of her body.

  “Oh shit,” she muttered.

  “Knight, what the hell?” Xavier said, grabbing the man by the shoulders. Knight turned with blinding speed and growled. Faith swore he was half turned before gaining his senses.

  “Whoa, okay slow down.” Xavier backed up, watching his uncle push faith behind him. It looked suspiciously like protective mate mode.

  “Knight,” Faith called trying to defuse the situation. She still wasn’t clear on what was happening, but she got the feeling she had just been claimed by the Alpha’s brother.

  “What?” he snapped. That didn’t sit well.

  “Don’t what me! Xavier was protecting me and now what? You’re going to rip his throat out?”

  “I, I wasn’t thinking,” he said as if coming out of a daze.

  “That is clear. We have enough problems right now.”

  “Problems?” Knight asked this woman who had him turned upside down.

  “Yeah, like gunfire,” she said putting her hands on her hips.

  “I just needed…”

  “Enough. I don’t want to have this conversation in some bomb shelter. I’m fine I’m not going anywhere. Xavier, take Knight and go help. I’ll stay put.”

  Rory laughed at the interchange. “Willow said you were meant to be with the family. We all just assumed it was Xavier,” Knight growled.

  “Hey Rory, not helping here.” Faith shot her friend a glaring warning.

  “Right, I’m sorry. Knight, she’s fine. Go and take Xavier and Ryder with you.”

  Rory waited until the men left. “So?”

  “So what, Rory?”

  “So, is he your mate?”

  “If the mate fever feels like the sun has exploded in your whole body, then yeah, I guess so.” Gemma laughed. “This is a mess.”

  “Why would you say that?” Gemma asked with genuine concern.

  “It’s bad enough trying to pretend to be dating a mated wolf. If Knight’s reaction to Xavier is any indication, I think he might be a problem.”

  “You’re not rejecting the mating are you?” Gemma asked with renewed concern. A rejection could mean her brother-in-law would go feral.

  “I haven’t had much time to process this, but no, I’m not going to reject him. That doesn’t give him license to dictate how I live my life. Up until he grabbed me, I hadn’t even said one word to the man.”

  “You two will be fine. Trust me. The universe knows what it’s doing” Emory said as the other women nodded in agreement.

  “Let’s hope so,” Faith turned her mind back to the bigger problem. Gun fire on Alpha land meant this was getting serious.

  15

  The trap door opening startled the girls. Faith, Emory and Gemma instinctively shielded Rory and the baby.

  “All clear.” Maverick’s voice preceded his huge body as he entered the room smiling at his mate.

  “ Maverick?” Gemma questioned.

  “False alarm. It was a group of kids with a shitload of fire crackers. Let’s just say they will think twice before doing that again.

  “Don’t think this is over Brother dear. You might want to stand by because I am going to kill my mates for leaving me behind,” Emory roared pushing past him.

  “Hey, you okay Faith?” Maverick knew that his coworker was not used to the chaos of the Alpha house let alone the panic of possible gunfire.

  “She’s great. Just ask her,” Rory flashed a knowing grin while handing the baby to Maverick and hugging Faith.

  “Did I miss something?”

  “That is an understatement. I don’t know what’s gotten into the water, but five matings in one year.” Gemma shook her head.

  “Wait … hold up, you and Xavier?” he asked Faith.

  “Not even close,” Rory giggled.

  “Alright enough. For all we know, it was just some stupid adrenaline rush.”

  “What was?”

  “Knight almost tore Xavier apart when he covered Faith thinking they were shots.”

  “Knight?”

  “Look, I already feel like a bug under a microscope. Can we just get out of this hole?” Faith knew there was no way to avoid the conversation, but she would like to speak to the man in question first.

  “Sure honey, come-on.” Gemma gestured to the stairs. Faith hesitated for a moment and thought maybe underground was safer.

  Knight paced the yard as he tried to process what was happening.” Shit, a couple of M80s go off, and I’m ready to rip your head off.”

  “It had nothing to do with the fireworks,” Xavier smirked. “You and Faith, huh?”

  “It would seem so.” Knight knew the moment his mate exited the shelter. The feeling of knowing she was near was strange. He had felt it that first day, but now that he had touched her, it was stronger.

  Knight marched back into the house. seeing Ranger and Nina huddled around Faith. He didn’t say a word as he took her arm and pulled her from the group toward the door to the yard.

  “Knight what are you doing?” Ranger’s tone was aggressive.

  “I’m having a word with your girlfriend,” he rumbled. “Got a problem with that?”

  “Faith?”

  “It’s fine Ranger. Lighten up Knight,” Faith’s comment lit the room with laughter.

  “Oh, she’ll fit right in,” Gemma said with glee.

  Faith willingly followed a brooding Knight out into the near darkness. It was late, and she had to work in the morning, and they still hadn’t settled on what she was supposed to leak to June. All that faded to the deep recesses of her mind when Knight turned to face her.

  He was tall, like mountain tall. His broad shoulders rose and fell as he tried to calm himself enough to speak.

  “Knight, I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on here. You need to calm down, okay.”

  “I’m sorry if I scared you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and tried to resist grabbing for her again.

  “You didn’t scare me. Okay, well maybe at first.”

  “Faith, I’ve never felt anything like this.”

  “Can’t say as I have either, but you can’t go around growling at people. We have to look at the big picture. Howland has to think I’m dating Ranger.”

  Knight emitted a menacing rumble.

  “See, that’s what I mean. He’s mated. He’s your nephew, and I have no interest in him, alright?”

  “You’re mine.”

  “There you go again. Aren’t you listening?”

  “I am listening and I do see the big picture. I was just making a statement. Do you disagree? Do you not feel it too?”

  “I feel it. I don’t know how comfortable I am at the moment. We just met. I’m supposedly dating your nephew…”

  “Come here,” his voice had lost some of its harshness. Like gravity, Faith couldn’t fight the desire his words had. They were pulling her to him by instinct.

  She felt his arms wrap around her and never looked away from his face. “You. Are. Mine,” he said calmly.

  “I know.” The words had barely left her lips and his mouth was on hers.

  He licked and nipped playfully. The harsh man he had been just a few moments ago faded as he gently pulled her by the waist until she was flush against him.

  “Ahem,” Faith heard. She was groggy from his touch. She looked as Nina came out of the doorway. “You two might want to bring that inside. I wouldn’t want anyone to think you were cheating on my husband.”

  All the tension Faith had built up in the last few days fled as she hid her laughter by pressing her face to Knight’s chest.
The rumble she heard from him was now one of laughter as well.

  “I’m riding home with Ranger. I came here with him and I’m leaving with him.” Faith stood firm. She truthfully wanted nothing more than to leave with Knight, who had turned her already complicated life upside down and inside out. Her dedication to the pack was the only thing keeping her from falling into his arms. She had heard all her life about the pull of a true mate. The stories didn’t compare to the reality.

  “Knight, a word in my office. Ranger, I would like to see you as well,” Royal boomed. His power left no choice but to follow.

  Closing the door behind him, he faced his brother and son. “Knight, I know this is difficult but Faith is right. She does need to keep up appearances at least for the time being,”

  Knight growled in response.

  “Knight, I will take care of her, but Dad is right.”

  “I don’t want her involved.” Knight tried to hide his anger.

  “She is already involved. If this June is the leak, even if it is unintentional, we have to keep up appearances,” Royal explained. Knight knew his brother was right. Still, his every instinct was to protect his mate, a mate his brother was telling him he couldn’t claim.

  Faith found herself staring down the hallway where Knight, Ranger, and the Alpha were. She didn’t like the idea that her fate was being decided for her. She knew they only had her best interest at heart, but she was an adult who had a say.

  “Faith, I have an idea,” Nina said coming up beside her.

  “Does it involve moving Knight in? Because I think it’s getting a little crowded at Willow and Ryder’s place.”

  “No, was thinking we could speed this up,”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning we force Howland’s hand. He hates humans right?”

  “Right.”

  “And supposedly, he is gathering information about the Alpha through what we assume is June’s boyfriend.”

  “And?”

  “And, I say you and I go on a little shopping spree.”

  “You want to go shopping?”

  “I want to look like an easy target. If you and I go to the mall, have lunch, wander around unescorted, he might make a move.”