Damaged Pack Shifters: The Complete Paranormal Collection

by Leela Ash

  Unless it was too late and she had already moved on to Robin, he thought, his heart feeling as though it was breaking.

  He would speak to her first thing in the morning, he decided and fell into a fitful sleep.

  The next morning, he jerked out of bed already running as soon as his feet hit the floor. Kathy’s door stood ajar as he passed and one glance inside showed him ,she wasn’t in it.

  He raced downstairs, expecting to find her in the living room or kitchen. He found no one in either of the rooms.

  Hurriedly, he ran to the back of the house through the kitchen doors to pick some flowers. He still recalled Klyana telling him that white orchids were Kathy’s favorite flowers. He would have to see about planting some here, he thought. But for now, he would have to make do with white roses, he decided as he picked a giant bouquet.

  Jack and Bo strode through the garden then, carrying a bowl of blueberries. They spied the roses before he could hide them and they chortled, calling out teasing insults.

  “Oh, get off,” he yelled back.

  They disappeared around to the front of the house, still chuckling and backslapping each other.

  Drake grinned as his brothers vanished from sight. He hadn’t had to say a word, they had known at once how he felt about Kathy. But he had been such a fool, trying to deny his feelings for her to himself just because of what Desiree had said.

  Thankfully, last night had helped him see how stupid he was being. He loved Kathy and that was all there was to it. He didn’t want to lose her, which was why he had tried to send her away, but wasn’t he already losing her by sending her away? It was madness.

  So what if they couldn’t have children, he could … maybe get a vasectomy or ask Klyana to use her powers to stop them from having kids or something else. But they would resolve it one way or the other.

  The house was still empty when he re-entered from the kitchen. He went through the living room, looking around and wondering why no one had made an appearance.

  Where was Kathy? He was about to scream for her when he spied Kelly coming in from outside, dabbing at a tear beneath her eye.

  “Where’s Kathy?” he burst out.

  Kelly gave him a look of disgust, then she gave him a wide berth as she entered the living room. The other members of his family also soon entered in after Kelly, all looking angry at him but otherwise ignoring him.

  Jack and Bo took mercy on him and thrust a crumpled note at him. One glance through the hastily, but beautifully scrawled note and Drake wanted to slide to the floor as misery overwhelmed him. The roses fell from his hands and scattered across the room. Kathy and Klyana had departed last night, leaving behind no more than a goodbye note and all the clothes and jewelries Drake’s family had bought for them.

  She hadn’t even been able to wait until first light. She had wanted to be away from him so badly that they had taken off into the night immediatelywhen she’d gotten home.

  He had lost Kathy, he thought, staring off into nothingness. It was only fitting that his life felt blank because now all he saw was a yawning emptiness waiting for him.

  “I have to go find her,” he announced. Every head in the room jerked in his direction.

  “I think you should,” Derek agreed, his jaw tight. “If you feel for her as I think you do, then you should definitely go after her.”

  He turned towards the door when Jeanine gasped.

  Everyone turned to face her.

  Her hands were cupped over her stomach, her face wreathed in pain.

  Joshua threw a quick glance at Drake, “Hold on a second, son. We need to know what exactly is wrong with Jeanine before you run off. We might need you, son.”

  Drake nodded as he hastily ran to bring the car around whilst ignoring the empty hammering in his heart.

  17.

  Kathy sat by the seashore, feeling the wind riffle through her hair as she watched the ocean waves crash against the shore. She smiled, letting the sensation of peace wash over her.

  It had been months since she’d felt any peace, but now thanks to constant support from Klyana and her witch sisters, she was finally coming to grip with her heartbreak. Now she could think about Drake without falling to pieces.

  Her hand went to her stomach and she looked down at the bulging midsection, feeling her child kick inside of her. She would bring her child into a world where it would only know peace and not angst. The poor baby shouldn’t have to suffer just because its father was some nitwit playboy without enough sense to keep it in his pants.

  Klyana strode up then, her own hair and dress whipping in the wind and Kathy reflected that both of them had changed forever since their visit to Weirna. Klyana now took better care of her hair and clothes, as did she. But none of them spoke of Weirna at all, or its people. And even when she had started to show signs of pregnancy, Klyana had staunchly refrained from bringing up the topic of the father of the child. She’d simply been accepting of it.

  Kathy sighed now, remembering all too well that night six months ago when Drake had informed her, in no uncertain terms, that he couldn’t be with her. Her hands tightened at her sides now and then, slowly, she released her fist and splayed her palms, taking deep breaths of the ocean air to calm herself again.

  “Noelle insists that we are to stay here even when the child is born,” Klyana grumbled as she sank onto the sandy beach beside Kathy. “I think that’s good too. The jungle is no place for a child this small.”

  Kathy nodded. “It was very kind of Noelle to offer us her home all these months.”

  Klyana nodded, “She did good. She loves you; they all do.”

  Kathy nodded, thinking of the women she had lived with for over 7 years in the Forest of Astare. A handful of them had relocated to Salem, while some had stayed back in the Forest. But they had been unanimous in demanding that she relocate to Missouri, to the estate of Noelle, one of the witches. Now that Nabradia was truly dead, some witches had moved back to their old homes and reclaimed their possessions. Noelle was one of them.

  Klyana flicked her a glance, “Besides, I’m afraid we may have some complications given the heritage of your child. So, it’s best to have a good hospital nearby.”

  Kathy frowned. That was an allusion to Drake; probably the very first Klyana had made since she’d learned of her ward’s pregnancy. Yet, Kathy didn’t want the allusion in whatsoever form. She wanted to forget her own foolishness in falling for a man who had never had any plans beyond his next fuck.

  “My child’s heritage is entirely my own,” Kathy said coldly.

  “You persist in being stubborn,” Klyana sighed softly. “But before this child is born, we must conclude some rituals with the child’s father. It’s the only way to save your life.”

  Kathy rolled her eyes, “Rituals involving the child’s father? No thanks.”

  Klyana sighed and took Kathy’s hand, “You are all the family I have left. Have you stopped to think what would happen to you if I died? I am the only witch alive who knows the exact rituals to help a witch birth a dragon child instead of a shape-shifter. I know how to save you. I don’t want to live in a world without you, Kathy. Please do this for me, if not yourself.”

  Kathy looked off into the distance, “Any number of men could be responsible for my condition.”

  “True. But we both know that only one man has ever touched you. Drake.”

  His name sliced through Kathy like a sharp sword and she shut her eyes, swallowing the impact.

  “Kathy, all we need is a lock of his hair to conduct this ritual.”

  Kathy scoffed, “Well, good luck getting that. I won’t be returning to Weirna in this lifetime.”

  Klyana sighed and started to rise to her feet to return to the house. She froze in place when she saw the tall, darkly handsome man striding across the sands towards them.

  “Kathy? Look,” she said gesturing.

  Kathy turned to look and for a split second her heart stopped in her chest. Had Drake come to see he
r? She rose to her feet, her heart thudding in her chest as she stared at the man. He was dressed in a suit, his tie flapping in the wind and he was tall and slim like Drake and so obviously out of place on the sandy beach.

  Could it be Drake, she thought, in helpless elation, as she started towards him. Then her hopes crashed, when she realized it wasn’t Drake. Drake was taller, and he moved with more fluidity around the hips.

  The man drew closer still and Kathy’s heart damn near stopped in her chest when she saw who it was: Derek Cavanaugh, Drake’s older brother.

  Before she could guess her own intent, she was running across the sands; more like waddling at a fast clip, really.

  “Kathy, be careful,” Klyana called.

  Derek saw her running and suddenly he was at her side, using his supernatural speed.

  He grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a hug, “Kathy.”

  As soon as they disengaged, his eyes dropped to her rounded stomach. Then he raised his carefully blank eyes to hers.

  “Uh, hi Derek,” she said in a very small voice.

  Derek bit the inside of his cheek to hide his grin. She didn’t seem happy to see him now, almost as though she expected… what? Was she afraid that Drake would show up behind him? Or hopeful? His instincts had been right then.

  “Kathy, why did you try to run in your condition?” he whispered as he gently guided her back towards the small chair she had been seating on at the beach.

  She shook her head, “I don’t know why I did that. What brings you here?”

  “Hello Klyana,” he said and the old witch offered him an uncertain smile.

  “Derek, my son. How are you? And— And your father?”

  Something about the way Klyana asked about Joshua warned Kathy and she froze as realization skittered through her. Klyana had stopped using her walking stick since going to Weirna and she seemed to have magically faded her wrinkles as well because she looked younger. Was that about Joshua? Did those two have a crush on each other?

  Before she could think anything else, Derek was murmuring a response in his deep voice and lowering himself onto the sand beside her.

  Klyana wrung her hands, too excited to seat. “I’ll go fetch you some lemonade,” she offered.

  He smiled and shook his head, “No, that’s alright. I’m afraid I’m not here for refreshments.”

  “How did you find us?” Klyana asked, voicing the thoughts on Kathy’s mind.

  “Our sisters would never give anyone our new address.”

  Derek shrugged, “We need your help.”

  Kathy sighed and looked away. Of course, they needed something from her. “Another tear in the veil?”

  “No, that’s all done with. It’s Drake.”

  Her heart leapt in her chest and her hands began to shake as she faced him, “Drake? Is he alright?”

  Derek shook his head, “I wish I could say he is.”

  Kathy’s heart thudded in her chest. Was it happening all over again? He had seemed fine both times after they made love but what if somehow she had unleashed her powers in ways she hadn’t meant to and left him a vegetable? Just like she’d left her first boyfriend a vegetable after he kissed her?

  Oh God, if she had destroyed Drake then she didn’t deserve to live. Thinking of him with all his strength and vitality and masculine charm reduced to a drooling sap who had to be spoon-fed made her heart twist in her chest.

  Derek said, “Ever since you left, he’s been a different man.”

  Kathy whitened, rising to her feet. It was true then, she had destroyed him.

  A memory intruded of the very first time she had kissed him and he had calmly assured her after the kiss with a cocky, “I’m still me, Kathy. You couldn’t hurt me even if you tried.”

  She choked on a sob now as her vision blurred and tears started to stream down her eyes. She had hurt him after all. She had taken his essence and made him into a shadow of himself.

  Klyana came around and pulled her into a hug. As she sobbed heart-wrenchingly, Kathy said, “I destroyed him, Klyana. I took his essence. I thought he could withstand my powers but the last time we were together, I lost all control. I didn’t mean for this to happen, Klyana, I swear it. I’m so sorry.”

  Derek stood in helpless confusion, looking from one woman to the other. Kathy ended the embrace and turned to face him, her eyes blazing.

  “Please take me to him now. If I am responsible for what has happened then it’s only right that I find a way to help him.”

  Derek brightened. “I was hoping you could help because ever since you left Drake’s changed. And now he doesn’t eat, he doesn’t sleep—”

  Classic symptoms. He would be dead in less than a year if she didn’t do something. Surely there had to be something in Joshua’s many books about her abilities? She would just have to go back to Weirna right now.

  She glared at Derek, “Why didn’t you come find me sooner if Drake wasn’t doing so well?”

  He looked perplexed, “You didn’t want to be found. You left the Forest of Astare and your sister witches wouldn’t tell me where you had gone. It took some serious powers of persuasion and Bo’s mind reading abilities to ferret the truth out of one of them.”

  Her eyes wet in her face, she looked at Klyana, “We need to pack.”

  Klyana nodded, “I’ll help you pack your things and get them out here right now.”

  Kathy frowned. “But you’re coming too.”

  “Oh. Uh, I’m not needed. What could an old woman possibly do…”

  Kathy’s voice hardened, “Klyana, you’re coming and that’s final. I still have tons to learn from you after all. Besides the situation with Drake may be beyond me with the baby coming,” she persisted.

  “She’s right. You need to come along,” Derek said.

  Klyana nodded. She was at the house and magically packed in five minutes. Both bags were levitating and sailing through the air just behind her ears as she walked back to the beach. Derek grinned, enjoying the sight. She had spelled their bags and saved anyone the stress of carrying them.

  “Let’s go,” Kathy said urgently.

  “How are we going?” Klyana wanted to know. “Kathy cannot handle flying on dragon back all the way to Weirna like last time.”

  Derek’s lips twitched. “Yes ma’am. We’ll use my private jet.”

  The ride was smooth and comfy and Kathy leaned back in the plush leather, shutting her eyes but unable to sleep. How could she, when she was about to see Drake again. Would he recognize her? Was his vegetative state absolute? Couldn’t his dragon powers heal him?

  Guilt twisted in her once more. Her baby kicked just then and she laid a hand on her stomach as she whispered to it so low that no one else could hear it, “Please settle down. We’re going to see your papa so you want to be on your best behavior and make a good impression.”

  She caught Derek watching her and hastily dropped her hand.

  “How far along are you?” he asked, watching her steadily.

  She knew what he was asking and she desperately wanted to tell him. But just then the image that had stayed with her for the past six months flashed in her mind’s eyes and she heard Drake’s voice again as though it were yesterday.

  “With you my child would be a shapeshifter and a danger to the world. The dragon world would demand that I kill it before it has a chance to harm anyone.”

  She could never forget those words. They were branded into her brain, which meant she had to protect her child at all costs. Drake could never know that she carried his own child.

  That was a moot point now, she thought with an inward sigh. He had been reduced to a vegetable which meant he wouldn’t even understand a thing. Her best bet was to find a way to make him better. But no matter wha,t his family could never know it was his child either. They were probably sticklers for tradition just like him and they might try to harm her before she and Klyana had a chance to make and test the poultice Klyana had mentioned that was supposed to help
with her pregnancy.

  She looked over at Derek and gave him a weak smile as she lied, “I am not sure.”

  In fact, she knew to the exact day she’d gotten pregnant. She had conceived the very first day he made love to her. She’d been in her ovulation then, plus, he had poured his sperm inside of her without any protection. But she wasn’t about to tell Derek that.

  His gaze veiled and he looked away. Then he looked back at her, “Your husband won’t mind that you’re helping us, will he?”

  She shrugged, letting the silence give him all the wrong answers.

  18.

  Being in Weirna felt so surreal and yet painfully right, Kathy decided, as she looked around. The plane had landed and a plush car had come to whisk them away. She had always known they were a wealthy family but somehow she hadn’t realized the extent of their wealth.

  She sighed. Wealthy or not, they must be feeling torn and unhappy because of Drake’s state. If there was a way she could make him better; in a heartbeat, she would do it. She still recalled how traumatized her first boyfriend’s mother had been after her son had become something else right after kissing Kathy.

  The woman had wanted to sic the police, homeland security, FBI and just about every other government agency on Kathy. Kathy had had to run away from home and even her family had been glad to see her go; not because they were worried about her, but because they felt safer when she wasn’t around.

  The town had changed a lot, she thought looking around. The streets had been beautified, rows of new estates had been set up and the town seemed to have a higher population.

  She looked at Derek, “The town looks different.”

  He grinned for the first time looking so pleased, “You noticed, huh? I’ve been cracking the whip over my brothers and getting everyone to work on beautifying the town. Besides our family has been in a festive mood for the past few months, so it’s only right that we get things in order.”

  She thought about it and grinned back, “Let me guess: Jeanine and Megan have had their babies?”

  He laughed, “They have. And now Marissa and Kelly are expecting too. Joshua is beside himself.”