My Plan B (Middlemarch Shifters Book 11)

by Shelley Munro

  Fact: She was a werewolf or at least a strange version of one because her lower body had remained human.

  Fact: Jacey and Henry had changed into wolves and seemed to enjoy running with her.

  Fact: She’d glimpsed her reflection. Jacey’s wolf, Henry’s wolf—both gorgeous. She’d turned into something hideous. An abomination.

  She traveled a circuit of the cabin, her mind struggling to keep up with her quick-fire thoughts. She had to get her crap together before Dillion Grieves arrived. When he’d called to let her know he had a window of three days, she’d jumped at the chance. Determined to do a good job, she ceased her pacing and stomped to a wooden coffee table where she’d dumped her notes.

  What she had was a large number of facts with no background information.

  A tap sounded on her cabin door. That had been quick…unless Jacey had tracked her down. No, London had promised. She jumped when a second, more impatient tap sounded. Only one way to find out. She strode to the door and yanked it open before she could second-guess herself.

  Dillion Grieves—bad-boy country star—stood in front of her. “Good choice of hideaway,” he said in his gritty voice. “Let’s get to work. I need to be back in Wellington in three days. You have coffee? I’ve organized them to bring us lunch. You said you had questions for me? Let’s do this.”

  Megan appreciated his no-nonsense attitude and the way he didn’t flirt with her. “I hope lunch isn’t salad. I like meat.”

  He stared at her and grinned without warning, taking his moody face to arresting and sexy. “I remember that from our dinner.”

  Megan made a pot of coffee, a cup of tea for herself, and they started work. Her agent had warned her of his reputation as a perfectionist, his moods and his womanizing ways, yet he displayed none of that as he answered her questions and showed her photos of his childhood and days on the road and at gigs.

  They continued after their break for lunch until Megan yawned.

  “I’m sorry,” she said finally and set down her pen. “This pregnancy makes me tired, and I seem to need an afternoon nap.” She didn’t mention she’d been awake half the night, howling at the moon.

  “You should have said.”

  “Pregnancy isn’t a disease. I can still write this book and do a good job.”

  “I didn’t mean that.” He stretched his arms above his head. “We can take breaks. There is no need to work nonstop.”

  “We’re almost finished nutting out the chapter headings. Let’s finish that before taking a break.”

  The tentative chapter headings took another half-hour.

  Dillion stood and stretched again. “We’ve got through more than I thought we would. My agent wanted me to go with someone else who has a proven record, but I told him I thought you would be better. I was right.”

  Pleasure suffused her at the compliment. “Thanks.”

  “I’m going to drive to this town you told me about. Is it far?”

  “Maybe ten minutes. Make sure you wear a disguise,” Megan said. “There have been a few reporters hanging around, or at least there were. I think they’ve given up on me. If you want something to eat, the café does great food. I haven’t visited the pub, but I hear it can be entertaining, and they sometimes do music on the weekends.” She checked her watch. “School is out soon, so there will be lots of people around, collecting their kids.”

  Dillion nodded. “I know how to keep a low profile.”

  “They’re used to tourists. If anyone asks, say you’re doing the rail trail.”

  Once Dillion left, her mind returned to wolves. If she was going to turn into that hideous beast all the time, it was clear she couldn’t return to the city. If what Jacey and the others said was true, Middlemarch was home to many supernatural beings. She pushed out a hard breath. If only she didn’t feel so blindsided. If only she didn’t look so ugly, so different. In this modern world, different got you attention, and she didn’t want to stand out in the crowd.

  Been there. Done that.

  A process of elimination led Jacey to the cottages at Gilcrest Station. His wolf settled as soon as he spotted London’s car parked at the side of the same cottage where Megan had stayed before.

  She hadn’t left Middlemarch.

  Maybe he could fix this and persuade Megan to stay.

  He took one step toward the cottage and stopped as he heard London’s voice in his head. Give her time to think.

  The thought gave him pause.

  Megan hadn’t left.

  He backed away and returned to where he’d left Gerard’s vehicle, tucked away in a concealed driveway.

  “Where have you been?” Henry asked when he arrived back at the house. “Gerard wanted his vehicle to do a job. He had to take mine.” Geoffrey sat at Henry’s side and cocked his head, as if he were listening to the conversation.

  “Sorry.” Jacey left it at that. “What do you need me to do next?”

  “I’ve got two quotes for burglar alarms. People have been jumpy since that gang of thieves hit Middlemarch. Good for business. I’m fitting an alarm at a house as well. You can come with me. We can discuss what to do about Megan.”

  “What do you mean?” Jacey stiffened.

  “I thought it wouldn’t hurt to research her family tree as far as we can. It might help us work where her wolf blood came from. We should also try to learn as much as we can about half-shifting. You realize that if there are other humans out there who can shift in the same way as Megan, it will widen the gene pool. You and I have gone where our hearts led us, but some shifters will only mate with other shifters. This new knowledge will help all werewolves.”

  “Thanks. I meant to do some research earlier when I smelled wolf on Megan but got sidetracked with other stuff.”

  Jacey followed Henry to Gerard’s vehicle. “You want to drive?”

  Henry opened the driver’s door and Geoffrey leapt inside the vehicle. “You can share your seat with Geoffrey. He likes to stick his head out the window.”

  Jacey rolled his eyes. “Don’t we all.”

  By that evening, he and Henry had researched Megan’s family tree back to her great-grandparents, thanks to London’s help and her discovery of a story written about Megan’s background.

  “Her mother’s family come from Scandinavia,” Jacey said. “I’d bet that is the link because her father’s Scottish links don’t go far back in the generations. I wonder if her younger sister has the same ability.”

  Henry tapped his chin. “It could be that the contact with other wolves and her becoming pregnant is the trigger. We need Megan’s help to do more research on her family. We have to check that what we’ve discovered so far is correct because we’ve made a few assumptions. They could be wrong.”

  “What about the half-form?” Gerard asked. “I’ve never heard of felines doing a half-shift. How many wolves can do it?”

  “Not many,” Jacey said. “I’ve consulted all my research books. Only a few documented cases. Megan is a rarity.”

  “Did she see herself?” London asked and wrinkled her freckled nose. “She wasn’t…um…there’s no easy way to say this. She looked…uh…weird.”

  “Ugly,” Henry supplied.

  “To me she was just Megan,” Jacey said.

  London beamed at him. “You might tell her that, when you get the opportunity. A woman likes to hear her man thinks she is beautiful and gorgeous.”

  “Not only that,” Jacey murmured, picturing Megan in his mind’s eye. “She is my miracle.”

  * * * * *

  By the end of her third day at the cottage, Megan felt as if she were climbing out of her skin. She said goodbye to Dillion, entered her cottage and drew the curtains even though it was still light. The moon pulled at her and the monstrous beast she’d caged at the back of her mind yammered and howled for release. Hot. Fire burned across her skin, and she yanked off her denim jacket.

  Jacey. She wanted Jacey.

  No! She’d been so ugly, and she’d slobb
ered when her stupid tongue kept flopping out of her mouth. How could Jacey want her knowing of the ugly beast that lived inside her?

  Her vision shimmered, and she felt weird.

  Without giving it a second thought, she picked up her phone and hit speed dial.

  “Jacey.” Her voice emerged in a guttural garble.

  “Megan?”

  “Help me.” She fumbled the phone as pain shot down her arm. In front of her horrified gaze, blonde fur rippled down her forearm. Fingertips morphed into claws and the phone dropped to the floor.

  Her T-shirt and bra strained against the changes of her upper body. She felt her face creak and crack and change shape. Her eyesight sharpened, and she moaned, dropping to the floor. She curled into a ball and shut her eyes, willing the being in her brain—the howling, slobbering being—to go away.

  “What is it?” Henry demanded.

  “Megan.” Jacey snatched Gerard’s keys off the counter in the kitchen and took off at a run.

  “Wait for me,” Henry snapped.

  London slid off her barstool. “Gerard. We’re going too.”

  They piled into the vehicle, Geoffrey squeezing in beside Henry in the passenger seat. Gerard hadn’t even shut the rear door before Jacey took off.

  “How do you know where she is?” London demanded as they screeched down country roads. “You’d better pray that Laura or Charlie aren’t patrolling the roads. They’re having a drunk driver campaign at present.”

  “I used the process of deduction,” Jacey snapped.

  The drive to Gilcrest Station took less time than normal, and they entered the code to the main security gates a short time later. The SUV screeched to a halt in front of the cottage, and Jacey jumped out. He sprinted to the cottage door and flung it open, thankful to find it unlocked.

  He sniffed and followed his nose into the bedroom. Megan huddled in the far corner of the bedroom, away from the windows. He skidded to a halt by her side, his heart breaking when he saw her shuddering body.

  “Megan, sweet pea. I’m so glad to see you.”

  She turned her head toward him and whimpered.

  He wrapped his arms around her, the physical contact relaxing his own wolf. He pressed her large wolf head to his chest and kissed the side of her furry face. His miracle.

  Gradually, her trembling faded. He continued to murmur comforting words and press kisses to her face, her ears, her snout.

  “Pop, maybe Megan might like to try shifting back to human,” London suggested.

  Jacey nodded but noted the way Megan stiffened. He smoothed his hand over the soft blonde fur of her head and pulled away. “Imagine your human face in your mind. Close your eyes. Concentrate on your human self and the shift will start.”

  Another hard shudder went through her, and Jacey worried. But, at long last, a shimmer sprang to life around her pointed ears, and the transformation began.

  “We’ll wait in the lounge,” London said and hustled everyone out.

  “Megan?”

  She opened her blue eyes, and they shimmered with tears. “Thank you for helping me. I…I’m such a freak.”

  “You are a treasure.” Jacey helped her to her feet.

  “You touched me. Kissed my face. How c-could you w-when I’m so ugly?” Her wail brought Henry back to the bedroom, but Jacey waved him off.

  “To me you’re Megan, the woman I love.”

  “You love me? You never said.”

  Jacey brushed her hair away from her face. “I love you. I thought you knew.”

  “But I’m a freak.”

  “You’re a miracle,” he corrected. “Did you know that werewolves are becoming extinct?” He laughed. “You probably didn’t, but it’s the truth. If there are other women like you who have wolf blood, it might mean hope for our kind.”

  “I slobber.”

  Jacey laughed again. “I love you, Megan. In your human form. In your wolf form. I’ll love you when you’re round with our child, and I’ll love you when you grow older. We can run together under the moon. I love that I can share the wolf part of me so freely.”

  Her brow wrinkled. “But I slobber, and I’m ugly.”

  “Not to me,” Jacey said. “To me you’re my beautiful Megan, the woman I want to marry and the wolf I want to mate for life.”

  Her expression changed, softened. “Really?”

  “Really.” He kissed her lips and gloried in the softness and the wolf scent that surrounded them. His miracle. “Now wash your face, find some clothes, and we’ll talk to the others. You will marry me?”

  She stared at him, measuring his intent, his sincerity. Jacey’s hands clenched.

  “Please marry me, Megan. Make me a happy man. Live with me and be my love. That’s verbal slobbering. Sweet pea, we’ll both slobber at times. It’s the wolfish excitement.”

  “Yes,” she said. “Jacey, I can’t believe you love me despite my ugliness.”

  “You’re a miracle,” he repeated. “My miracle.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Later that night

  “So you’re saying I have werewolf ancestors?” Megan asked.

  She lay in Jacey’s king-size bed, with Jacey’s naked body pressed to hers.

  “Yes. I smelled the wolf in you when we met. It confused me, but it has become stronger since you became pregnant.”

  Megan thought about her family. Her mother. Her grandfather. “My mother eats a lot of meat, and from memory my grandfather did too. My sister, Tessa, wears glasses for reading while my vision has always been excellent.”

  “What about your mother’s brothers and sisters?”

  “She was an only child.”

  “We think your wolf blood comes from your mother’s side. Your mother married a human, which should dilute the bloodline further, but somehow, you have received the gene while it appears your sister hasn’t. Most people wouldn’t meet a wolf or make love to one. Ah, there is something I didn’t tell you. You know when the condom broke?”

  “Yes.”

  “Somehow, my cock extended a type of barb. It held us together, but you didn’t seem to notice.”

  “I noticed the incredible sex. I don’t think I’ve ever come so hard. I think I left my body.”

  “Anyhow, that is how you became pregnant.”

  Megan considered this. “Our wolf sides taking control.”

  “Yes.”

  “Any other secrets I should know?”

  “You know everything I do now,” Jacey said. “You know what I’d like to do now?”

  “What?”

  “Make love to you and make you my mate.”

  “How do you do that?”

  He patted the fleshy part of her shoulder where it met her neck. “I bite you here, and you do the same to me. It mingles our blood and we become mates. You’ll feel an invisible tie between us, have a better instinct for what I’m feeling.”

  “But I’m an ugly freak.”

  “Not to me. You’ll understand how much I love you once the mating ties snap into place. And I love you. Your half-form is rare and was much revered during early centuries.”

  “Why?” She couldn’t for the life of her think why.

  “The shift is quicker and the half-form—the ability to stand—strengthens you and is less vulnerable. From what I’ve read, you should be able to finesse your shifts and shift just one arm if you want. A quick weapon during times of war.”

  “If you say so,” she said, pulling a face.

  “You enjoy running under a full moon. It’s something we can share. We can shift most days, so the moon won’t hold as much power over you. Regular shifts mean you can still travel and do everything you used to do. You’ll gain control.”

  “I guess.” He sounded so confident, his voice earnest as he told her he loved her. He’d kissed her ugly face, held and comforted her.

  “I crave your body, your touch,” he whispered in her ear. “Please be mine.”

  “Yes.” She wriggled closer, both pa
rts of her psyche telling her Jacey spoke the truth. He loved and wanted her.

  Their lips met and her nostrils flared at the deeper scent of wolf. His hand lowered to cup her breast and heat flowed from her nipple, settled between her thighs. He kissed her again, this kiss designed to inflame and consume as he plundered her mouth. His erection pushed against her hip and she pushed into it, suddenly desperate for the intimacy—the joining of two wolves. His hands roved her body, and she explored in return, her control dissipating from his first kiss.

  He knew all her sensitive spots, and he used this knowledge to ramp up her desire until she trembled in his arms. Megan twisted against his body, urgency thrumming through her.

  “Jacey,” she wailed when he continued to kiss and stroke instead of fulfilling the erotic promise he’d stoked inside her.

  “This isn’t a race.”

  “I’m burning for you.” She jumped as his tongue licked over the spot he’d told her he intended to mark. Maybe, just maybe…

  She slanted her head and nipped the fleshy spot on him. His guttural groan raised a grin. Satisfaction. Raw, male desire pressed into her. She realigned their bodies, and they both moaned in pleasure as his thick cock pushed into her, filling the emptiness. Lust lanced through her body, and she kissed the mating spot on his upper shoulder. Instinct told her to bite, so she did. A primal sense of satisfaction swamped her as she felt his need.

  Jacey surged into her, pulled free and thrust home again, his big body shuddering as she licked across the bite.

  “God, Megan.” Such feeling in his voice. It made her lightheaded with happiness.

  Right now, she had no idea why she’d hesitated to get to this point. He accepted her. He saw her. Jacey loved her, and she returned the sentiment.

  He pulled back again and plunged deep, the stimulation against her clit thrusting her into a maelstrom of pleasure that curled her toes. Jacey nuzzled her neck and entered her again. He bit down as he stroked into her. A flash of pain tore through her, but Jacey somehow knew and he slid a hand between them and rubbed her clit in the perfect way. The pleasure swelled again, the discomfort dispersing as he rocked into her, then stilled, his cock jerking as she luxuriated in the aftershocks.