A Halloween to Remember

by Trinity Blacio

  A Halloween to Remember: Book Nine of The Running in Fear Series Copyright © 2017 by Trinity Blacio

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  For more information contact:

  Riverdale Avenue Books

  5676 Riverdale Avenue

  Riverdale, NY 10471

  www.riverdaleavebooks.com

  Design by www.formatting4U.com

  Cover by Scott Carpenter

  Digital ISBN:978-1-62601-408-4

  Print ISBN: 978-1-62601-409-1

  A portion of the first edition published as A Christmas to Remember by Ravenous Romance, 2013

  Second Edition, October 2017

  Praise for the Bestselling Running in Fear Series by Trinity Blacio

  “Plot marathon. If you are ready to have no breath no break and turn the page finding a new plot almost at every corner, you will be in paradise! …each book put me in a different mood from angry to hungry, from screaming to crying, from WTF to WOW. Honest! This series is a roller coaster of emotions.”

  —Mary’s Ménage Reviews

  “I really like shapeshifter stories and I like the fact that as individuals who possess both human and wolf qualities, they are able to perceive life in greater depth. It seems that wolf society also overcomes some of the loopholes in human relationships that seem to plague society in ever-increasing amounts. …There are some important issues that drive this story and it seems that all Jaycee’s mates must learn some important lessons before the ‘course of love runs smooth.’ I am looking for the next part in this novel.”

  —Book Binge

  “I was taken on an emotional roller coaster ride in this book. Not only do we get romance but action as well. The author does a wonderful job of combining the two and keeping the story fast paced and interesting. With the many twists and turns in this book I was glued to my seat and turning those pages to see what would happen next.”

  —Long and Short Reviews

  Dedication

  To Sherrilyn Kenyon,

  Who told me to never give up on my series

  And

  To all the authors who have a vision and a dream—

  Keep writing

  Chapter One

  Shelly sat at a table in the back of the large hall-like room, and she swore he ignored her as if she were invisible. She glared at her mate, Bo Mandeville, as he worked on a lighting fixture. She did have to admit that he had a nice ass up there on the ladder. But this was the stupidest thing his pack had done to date. Bo reached up and helped his brother Drew and others from his pack work on the last lighting problems for their new club, Second Chances.

  Oh, she wouldn’t mind going to a club, but to having it so far away from everyone, and restricted to his kind only, was a slap in the face to her. It was bad enough Shelly was still having trouble with his pack, but Bo was bound and determined to separate him and Shelly more from her family.

  She took a deep breath and looked around, watching everyone having fun getting things ready. Shelly knew the pack needed something to keep them busy, but feeling like a third wheel wasn’t helping her mood. She also longed to belong to her pack, but so far only a few of them had accepted her.

  The club was deep in one of the mountains, set about 40 miles away from their large underground city. It had three entrances. Of course, one tunnel went all the way to their city, and one went to the top of the mountain. Another went to the center of the leopards’ home base. That was another thing that had disappointed her.

  With each move, Bo was separating the den from the others. She got up and moved around people, working her way out of the main room toward the exit. She couldn’t sit there anymore. At all times, she was aware she was different from the others.

  Not only was she a different species, but her body wasn’t the pin-up type like the rest of the women who moved around Bo’s pack. She had curves, her breasts were larger than normal, and her hair was stripped like that of lion, but she was a wolf. Shelly hated that so many members of Bo’s pack were skinny and looked like models.

  She had plenty to do at her new home. With everything going on, she had started decorating for Halloween, one of her favorite holidays. She was even planning a Halloween gathering for her and her family. Shelly had already made up a web with spiders in it, a skeleton going across her one wall, and a scarecrow for outside, and Cecilia had found some gourds for her to put out too.

  She’d even had some of the children in the pack helping her make decorations, but that had stopped when one of the moms found out.

  She still couldn’t believe they’d been on their new world for more than two years, though Aurora had mentioned that they didn’t have much time, something had kept the monsters at bay. So while they’d all had time to settle into their new world and form bonds with each other, they were always preparing for the fight that was to come. Even thinking about it had her stomach knotting.

  Her sister-in-law, Jaycee, and the other women were still looking for the last member of the circle, but so far, they hadn’t found her. Gourd and his close-knit family unit made sure to come often, fixing up their assigned space for their woman, making a home for them, in they’re part of the tunnels. Building what they hoped she would like, hoping she’d join them soon.

  They’d all been lucky things had been quiet for the past six months, with no sightings of any monsters.

  She threw open the exit door and stepped into the tunnel, but got no farther. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Shelly should have known Bo had been watching her; he never let his guard down and apparently, he kept tabs on her as well.

  “Where are you going, my little wolf? I thought we would try out the new toys in one of the private rooms,” Bo almost purred.

  “I don’t think so. You dragged me here, but I have no intention of visiting this place. If you want to go for it, I’ll just hit the club in town where I belong.” She yanked out of his arms and shifted as she ran away from him.

  The roar behind her gave Shelly the first clue that she was in trouble, but the sound of his massive paws hitting the cement floor behind her had her whimpering as she ran around the corner, heading toward their underground city, or commons, as everyone called it.

  When her husband shifted, his leopard form was much larger than her wolf, and his claws could easily cut her open. Bo nipped at her butt and she yelped as her paws went out from under her and she slid into the wall.

  Her head hit with thud and Shelly shifted back to her human body, moaning as she grabbed her head. “Damn it, Bo!” She glared at him as he shifted, then sat next to her and pulled her into his lap.

  “You know better than to run from me. Let me see,” he ordered and gently removed her hand. “Ouch, that looks like a nice knot.” He leaned in and kissed the bump on it “You going to tell me what’s bothering you?” he asked, keeping his arms around her and rubbing his chin on the top of her head, trying to calm her.

  “I’m tired of repeating myself. You and your clan can just go ahead and cut yourselves off from everyone, but I’m not having any of it. I’m going back to our home in the city. If you want to stay out here, go for it. It’s not like I’ll be missed here anyway.” She tried to pull out of his arms, but he held on to her.

  “Little Wolf, I’ve explained this. My cats are used to the mountains, the fresh air. We haven’t cut ourselves
off, we’re just making adjustments, is all. Don’t you think the others are doing the same? I know for a fact the demons have their own club already up and running. They even invited us to it.” He ran his hands up and down her arms, his voice even and strong.

  “I’m a wolf, Bo, or have you forgotten? You, your brothers and the pack built this place with one purpose: to keep others out. Well, guess what? I’m the one of the others.” She glared back at him with tears in her eyes, wishing for the first time she was a cat so she could please him. “For the last month that’s all I’ve heard from everyone. How you couldn’t wait to have a place to yourselves. Where your cats could relax and not have to socialize with others.” She turned away from him as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Do you know how much that hurt each time one of you said it? Even the women now treat me as if I’m dirt.” She shook her head. “I want no part of this place and I will never step foot in it again.”

  Of course, just as she said that, two women came walking down the path and stopped, seeing them sitting there.

  “Bo, do you need help?” one asked and Shelly growled.

  “Yes, he does. He needs a kitty cat instead of a wolf.” She bit his arm, surprising all of them and giving her the escape she needed. “He’s all yours.” Shelly took one more look at Bo, tears rolling down her cheeks and her heart breaking into a thousand pieces. She then turned and ran like the devil was after her and didn’t stop till she broke through the door to the underground city. Bending down, she rested her hands on her legs as she tried to catch her breath

  “It’s better this way,” she whispered, wiping the tears from her face and running her hand over the bump on her head. She squeaked when she touched the tender spot.

  “Shelly, you okay?” Jaycee asked and leaned down to look up into her face. “What happened and why is there a big black-and-blue bump on your forehead?” Jaycee wrapped her arm around Shelly’s waist and walked her toward a table in the courtyard.

  “Mark, come help me!” she shouted, making Shelly cringe. Her brother would overreact like always.

  “No, please. You guys have enough to worry about. I’ll be fine.” She tried to pull away before Mark saw her, but it was too late. He was there, lifting her face up to stare into his gaze.

  “What happened? Did he hit you?” He snarled, causing others to stop and stare at them.

  “I’m fine, okay? It’s between Bo and me. I just want to go home, so excuse me, and no, he didn’t hit me.” She turned and almost ran smack into Marsha, her mother-in-law, who was holding one of her twins.

  “Come with me,” Marsha said, taking her hand as her father-in-law, Ben, followed, carrying their other son. “Ben, find your son and drag his ass home.”

  “Please, I’d rather just be by myself right now.” Shelly tried to move away from Marsha, but the woman had a grip that rivaled any man’s.

  “You are going home with me so I can put something on that goose egg. Then we’re going to talk about why you’ve been so down in the dumps for the last few weeks.” Marsha gave her one of those Mother looks that said you are not going to argue, and Shelly sighed.

  “I swear between you and my mom, I can never get past that look,” she grumbled, then moaned as she noticed her mother, Camille headed her way. “Just great, like I don’t have enough to worry about.”

  * * *

  Bo sat there against the wall, totally stunned at the words that had come out of his woman’s mouth. He glanced down to see two sets of hands rubbing up and down on his arms, irritating the hell out of his cat, who knew they didn’t belong to his mate.

  “I can’t believe she said that to you, but she is a wolf. Maybe she’s right and you should find one of your own kind,” the blonde said, and he snarled just as his father came walking down the corridor.

  Ben stopped in his tracks, looking at him, then at the women. The disgust on Ben’s face was the last straw.

  “Your wife is sitting in our home crying her eyes out and you’re sitting here with two women on your arms? I never thought—”

  Mark came around the corner with Dane.

  “Why, you two-timing piece of shit. Tell me, did you enjoy hitting my sister?” Dane snarled, moving to run at him, but Remi came out of nowhere and pushed the brothers back.

  “Enough, you two! This is for Bo and your sister to work out.” He turned his eyes on Bo. “But if you don’t want your mate, I suggest you tell her before you go screwing around, because I won’t step in next time.”

  Tired of their accusations, Bo jumped up, pushing the women away from him. “I have no intention of leaving my mate or taking any other woman.” He looked at the two women, snarling “Where are you from? You’re not from my pack.”

  The blonde lifted her head, scooting back from him. “We were from the Southern pack. Six of us decided to join your pack, but there about 200 in all from the other packs that came to the new world. We were sent to speak to you about joining your den.”

  “Go. I’ll speak with you later, but let it be known that anyone who thinks about disrespecting my woman will answer to me personally. Do I make myself clear?” He stepped forward, growling. Both women bowed and backed away slowly.

  When they left, he turned to Dane. “Your sister ran into the wall, even though I shouldn’t have to tell you this. You should know I would never hit her. I promised to take care of her and protect her, not harm her.” He ran his hand through his hair.

  “Over the last three weeks, everything has set her off. She’s either crying or angry. I thought she’d like to spend time with me here at the club because I’ve been so busy getting everyone settled.” He looked up at Dane, frowning.

  “Let’s go see what your momma and hers have found out,” his father said and turned to leave.

  “I’m sorry about earlier, but Shelly has always been there for everyone. To see her tears…” Dane said as he walked next to him.

  “I love your sister and I’ll do anything for her, that I promise,” Bo reassured them. “And believe me, her tears tear me apart.”

  Chapter Two

  Old jazz songs played on the radio as Marsha pointed to the kitchen. “Go on while I put this little one to bed, and Shelly, we will fix this. He loves you.”

  She mumbled, “Love isn’t the problem.”

  Her mother and Jaycee followed her into the kitchen, and they all sat at the table.

  Not needing their stares, Shelly got up and started to make coffee, knowing where everything was. “I know you’re busy, Jaycee, but you don’t have to stay.”

  “Excuse me? I don’t think I heard you right, because what kind of sister would I be if I left before I knew how you got hurt?” Warm arms hugged her from behind. “You’re my best friend, Shelly. You’ve saved my life I don’t know how many times. No matter what, I’ll always have time for you.”

  Shelly knew Jaycee spoke about Jaycee’s ex who had almost killed her a number of times.

  More tears fell down her cheeks. “Sometimes I wish we could go back to those days. At least then I knew who my real friends were.” Shelly went to the sink and splashed some cold water on her face.

  “What do you mean? Your friends are here. We haven’t gone anywhere,” Jaycee said, turning her around.

  Before she could say anything, Marsha came into the room. “Sit and tell us.”

  After grabbing the dishcloth, Shelly went back to the chair she’d left, wiping her face. She looked up to see her mother giving her the look that said, You’d better start talking or you’re going to get it “We’re waiting, young lady.”

  “I told Bo to find someone like him. He needs a cat, not a wolf, as his wife.” Her lip trembled. “Every time I try to do something for the pack, it’s either, ‘Oh, we don’t do it that way,’ or ‘What does a wolf know about how to run a den?’” She shook her head. “I don’t know what I’m doing, and every time I try something, it’s wrong. I can’t do it anymore. The disappointment I see in his face…” She crossed her arms on the table and re
sted her head on them.

  “Sweetie, we all went through that. Hell, you know how long it took me with your brother’s pack and the trouble I had with the females alone.” Jaycee rubbed Shelly’s shoulders.

  She shook her head, looking back at Jaycee. “No, this is different. Every time I turn around, someone is saying something against me. At first, I just ignored it. I figured they’d get used to me, but it’s not happening.” She sat up and looked at her mother-in-law. “When they started to build this new club, do you know how many times I was told that it was for cats only?” She sighed as Marsha gasped.

  “In one day, 22 times. In all my life, I’ve never had a group of people disrespect me so terribly, and Bo can only do so much.” She looked down at her hands, tears filling her eyes. “I love him so much,” she murmured. “I even heard a couple of women asking why I hadn’t gotten pregnant. They believe I won’t be able to give him children since we’re two different species. Then if I do get pregnant, what if I lose them like I did before? You’d think with Mother Nature helping, my babies would have been fine.”

  Her mother snarled next to her. “Ignore them. When you and Bo are ready to have children, I’m sure there will be no problem. It’s a rare to have a tubal pregnancy, but if you would have carried them, you would have died, sweetie.”

  She shook her head. “Mom, I know this, but we’ve been trying for the last six months. I was going to talk to Bo about adopting a little girl who had lost her family back on Earth. She’s staying at the orphan house we set up, but once it was known I was interested in adopting her, the door was shut in my face. She was so beautiful and reminded me of Bo’s baby pictures, except she has these amazing green eyes.”

  “I’ve heard enough! What the hell has happened with these people? Never were they this cruel! Hell, I’m different! I don’t shift and I’m a witch and they never treated me like that!” Marsha jumped up from her seat and spun around to face her husband who had walked into the kitchen.