District Shifters Collection

by Lola Gabriel

  “What does Raina think about all of this?” Chessa asked. “You have told her, right?”

  Noah smiled, and Chessa felt a stab of jealousy, which she quickly pushed down.

  “Raina’s a romantic. She believes 100 percent that you have Sanmere in your blood and that we’re destined to be together. I think we’re her version of Romeo and Juliet.”

  Chessa winced. “God, I hope not. They didn’t exactly have a happy ending, did they?”

  “No, but we will. Because we communicate. Don’t worry about Raina. She doesn’t want to be mated to me any more than I want to be mated to her. She’s doing it because she feels like it’s her duty to the pack. But if I call the whole thing off, she’s off the hook, and she’s done her duty to the pack as well.”

  “Okay,” Chessa said.

  “Chess?” Noah called. His tone was serious, and Chessa looked up at him sharply. Their eyes met, and her breath caught in her throat as she looked at him, her heart skipping a beat. Could it be true? Could it be possible for them to be together? “You still haven’t told me whether or not you’re willing to take the test.”

  “I’m just trying to wrap my head around it all, Noah. What happens if I take the test and I don’t have this Sanmere stuff?”

  “Then my parents will insist I mate with Raina. But I won’t. We’ll go somewhere far away and start over, just the two of us, and—”

  “I’ll take the test on one condition,” Chessa interrupted him.

  “Anything,” Noah said.

  “If I have the Sanmere, then great. I’ll turn, and we’ll be together for eternity. But if I don’t, then you have to promise me you’ll walk away from me and never look back. You’ll mate with Raina and be happy with her.”

  “I can’t do that,” Noah said.

  “Okay, fine. Maybe it would be unfair to push this on Raina. But you have to promise me you’ll find a mate of your own kind. Someone who won’t get old and die.”

  “You’re missing the point, Chess. I don’t want anyone but you.”

  “It’s not practical for us to be together if I’m mortal, Noah. You know that,” Chessa pointed out.

  “What about love is ever practical? It transcends practical shit, Chess.”

  She sighed. They were about to have the same argument they’d had nine years ago. She didn’t think she had it in her to repeat that. Noah stood up and crossed to where she sat. He knelt on the ground before her and took one of her hands in both of his.

  “How about we do the test and worry about the rest after we get the results?”

  “I won’t change my mind, Noah. If I don’t have the Sanmere, then we can’t be together. I need to hear you say it. I need to know that you understand this is an all or nothing thing.”

  He reached up and stroked Chessa’s cheek. She pressed her face against his hand, enjoying the feeling of his skin against hers.

  “Okay. If you don’t have the Sanmere, I’ll make it work with Raina,” Noah said. He looked into her eyes as he said it, and Chessa could see the pain in them. She felt the same pain deep down inside of herself. To have this chance and then have it ripped cruelly away would be too much for either of them to bear.

  “I’ll go call the lab and see when they can fit you in,” Noah told her, getting to his feet.

  “Not today,” Chessa said. “I’ll need to arrange for a nurse to come and sit with my mom, and it might be too short-notice to get someone over here today now.”

  Noah bent down and kissed her forehead. “Okay.”

  He left the room, leaving Chessa alone with her thoughts. Her mind raced, excitement running through her body. It might work out yet. She might actually be able to be with the love of her life. She told herself to stop thinking like that, to stop getting her hopes up. But the command was useless, unheeded, unheard. She was going to cling to this tiny thread of hope with both hands.

  Noah came back in. “How’s tomorrow afternoon?”

  “Yeah, that should work.”

  He stood uncertainly in the middle of the room, and Chessa realized he wasn’t quite sure what to do now. He obviously had things that he needed to do, but he didn’t just want to walk out on her. She smiled at him and got to her feet. She walked to him and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his neck, savoring the scent of him.

  “I really hope this works out, Noah,” she said. He squeezed her tightly against him.

  “Me too,” he agreed.

  She pulled her head back so she could look into his face. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I really should go and check on my mom.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, of course. I have things I need to do, too. So, should I pick you up around three tomorrow?”

  “That would be great,” Chessa smiled.

  Noah leaned down and kissed her on the lips. Her body responded to him instantly, molding itself against him, her pussy clenching as his tongue snaked into her mouth. She could feel his hard cock pressed against her stomach, and she wanted nothing more than to have him take her right there on the lounge floor, but she knew it couldn’t happen. She had responsibilities. And it was one thing having sex in her mom’s house in the middle of the night when her mom was sleeping, but this would just be weird. She pulled back gently and smiled at Noah.

  “To be continued,” she whispered.

  “When you book that nurse, ask her if she does overnight stays,” Noah winked.

  Chessa’s heart skipped a beat as her mind instantly began imagining what they could do with a full night spent together. She wasn’t entirely sure if Noah was being serious or not, but she was definitely going to book a nurse for an overnight stay. Just in case.

  With a final kiss, Noah left Chessa’s house. She went upstairs and found her mom asleep on the top of the covers, wrapped in a robe. Her shower must have tired her out. Chessa pulled a sheet over her, and she stirred.

  “How were things with Noah?” Ally asked sleepily.

  If Chessa could become immortal, she was going to have to discuss it with her mom at some point before she changed, but right now, it was only a theory. She didn’t want to put all of this on her until she was certain it could happen. She sat down on the edge of the bed as her mom sat up and rubbed her eyes.

  “Good. We have a lot to talk about, and to be honest, it could still go either way. But we’re going to spend some time together and talk everything through. How would you feel about me booking a nurse for tomorrow afternoon and night?”

  “You don’t have to do that, Chessa. I’ll be perfectly fine on my own for one night.”

  “Mom,” Chessa began.

  “Alright, if it’ll make you feel better, book the damned nurse. I’m not going to stand in the way of true love,” her mom laughed, holding her hands up in mock surrender. “But I really would be fine, you know.”

  Chessa kissed her cheek. “I know you would. But I wouldn’t be able to settle knowing you were alone. I’ll go and call the agency, and then I might pop into town and pick us up something nice for lunch. How does that sound?”

  “Good.” Ally smiled. “Get whatever you want for lunch, my purse is on the table downstairs. Take the money from there. And get us some nice fresh cream cakes for after.”

  Chessa went back downstairs and made the call to the agency. She was told an overnight stay would be fine, and that the nurse, Bridget, would be with her at two o’clock and would stay until ten am the next day. Chessa knew this was going to be one of the longest days of her life. Three o’clock the next day, when she would see Noah again, felt like a lifetime away.

  The doorbell rang at two o’clock sharp. Chessa rushed out to the hallway and pulled the door open. A pretty redhead in a light blue tunic and dark blue trousers smiled back at her.

  “Hi, I’m Freya Montgomery, your nurse,” she introduced herself as Chessa stood back and let her inside. Freya’s smile faded and turned questioning when Chessa frowned at her.

  “I’m sorry,” Chessa said, catching herself being rude. �
��Just… the agency said the nurse coming would be Bridget.”

  “Oh, my apologies. I thought they would have called in advance and let you know. Bridget’s sick, and I’m covering for her.”

  “Oh,” Chessa said. “Nothing serious, I hope.”

  “Stomach flu,” Freya said with a grimace. Chessa made a sympathetic noise. “It’s the worst, isn’t it?”

  “Sure is,” Chessa agreed. “Would you like a drink or anything before I give you the tour?”

  “No, thank you,” Freya replied.

  Chessa spent the next forty-five minutes showing Freya around the house, showing her where she kept her mom’s medication and where the lasagna was for dinner. Freya commented on the size of the lasagna, and Chessa said it was for both of them. She told Freya to help herself to anything she wanted to eat and drink, and she showed her where to find her extensive book collection in case the nurse wanted something to do to pass the time while her mom slept. She introduced Freya to Ally, and she felt some of the guilt at leaving fade away when she saw the way her mom and Freya clicked instantly. Within minutes, Freya was sitting in the chair beside the bed, and the two women were laughing and joking.

  At two forty-five, Chessa went into her mom’s room to check she really was okay with this. With a wide smile, her mom ushered her back out, telling her she would be fine and that Chessa should enjoy herself.

  Chessa laughed and backed out of the room. She went into her own room and looked at herself in the mirror. She wore a long white dress, tied in the middle with a brown belt, and flat brown sandals. She wondered if she should change, but what exactly do you wear to an appointment that can decide your entire future? She shrugged and decided to just go with what she was wearing.

  She headed downstairs and found Freya in the kitchen, making her mom a cup of tea. Freya smiled at her as she came in. “You have time for one?”

  “No, thank you,” Chessa declined. “My ride will be here any minute. You have my cellphone number, right?”

  “Yes. And Lexi’s, Noah’s, and Mrs. Fields’ along the street,” Freya smiled. “I guess this is the first time you’ve left your mom with a nurse?”

  Chessa nodded sheepishly.

  “Don’t worry. She’ll be fine,” Freya assured her.

  A beeping horn sounded outside, and Chessa looked up at the stairs uncertainly. Freya wiped her hands on a tea towel and gently turned Chessa around, pushing her towards the door.

  “Just go,” Freya insisted, laughing.

  “Thank you,” Chessa said. “See you in the morning.”

  “Sure thing.” Freya grinned. “Have fun.”

  Chessa called goodbye to her mom, grabbed her jacket and her purse, and hurried outside before she could change her mind. Noah got out of the car when he saw her approaching. He moved to the passenger door and held it open for her. She kissed him on the cheek as she got into the car. She watched him walk around the car and get back into the driver’s side.

  She glanced at the house. She was sure she saw the lounge curtain twitching. She tried to shrug off the ominous feeling that settled over her. So Freya was a little nosey. It didn’t mean she wasn’t a good nurse. And her mom was basically fine. She needed company and a firm hand to make sure she remained resting, but her faculties were all there. She knew when to take her medication and everything.

  “You look nervous,” Noah said to Chessa as he pulled away from the curb.

  “I’m on my way to find out the fate of the rest of my life. Whatever would I have to be nervous about?” Chessa smiled.

  Noah squeezed her knee. “It’s going to be positive, Chess. You have the Sanmere protein. Just you wait and see.”

  Chessa wished she could share Noah’s lighthearted optimism, but the truth was, she was afraid. If she didn’t have the protein, she would have to be the strong one. She would have to be the one to keep Noah at arm’s length, because as much as he had agreed to her terms of what would happen if she didn’t have Sanmere in her blood, she knew Noah, and he wouldn’t let her go without a fight. Not this time.

  “Okay, you’re making me nervous now,” Noah said with a shaky laugh.

  “I’m sorry. I’m just… Oh, forget it. Let’s just try and enjoy our time together.”

  “To the first day of our eternity together.” He grinned, hoisting an imaginary glass aloft.

  “To eternity,” Chessa said with a grin of her own.

  Please God, I’ve never asked you for a thing before. I don’t even know if I believe in you. But if you’re real, then please make this work out. Please let me be with my soul mate.

  They drove the rest of the way to the lab in silence. Chessa tried her best to swallow down the bad feeling she had inside of herself. Worrying wouldn’t change a thing. Either she had Sanmere in her blood, or she didn’t, and she just had to be patient. More than once, she found herself wishing she had never come back here, that she’d brought her mom to California instead. The sun would have been good for her, and Chessa could have lived in blissful ignorance, never knowing there might be a way for her and Noah to be together. She dismissed the idea as quickly as it had come. It was worth a day or two of agony to know for sure, and if she found out that she could spend all eternity with Noah, then it was worth the world.

  Noah pulled off the main road and headed down a quiet dirt road. Chessa looked at him questioningly.

  “You know what my dad’s like, Chess,” he said. “It’s not enough that the lab is an officially registered blood testing facility whose tests are ninety-nine percent legit tests for local hospitals. He still has to have it hidden away because of the off chance that a human stumbles across it and somehow concludes that the lab occasionally carries out tests on immortals.”

  “He does take paranoia to the next level,” Chessa laughed.

  Noah followed the dirt road until it widened out and became a normal road again. A huge brick wall surrounded the lab, too high to see over. Large metal gates stood at the end of the road. Noah pulled up at the gate and spoke into the intercom.

  “Noah Cressner for an appointment with Jason,” he said.

  The gate opened, and Noah drove in. Chessa was expecting a building that looked like a haunted house: dark and forbidding. She was shocked to be greeted by a modern building, all white and glass.

  “It’s the real deal,” Noah smiled, seeing her shocked expression. He parked the car, and they got out. Chessa headed for the building, but Noah stopped her with a hand on her arm. He stood before her and took both of her hands in his.

  “Chess, I want you to know that this test is just to determine whether or not you can become immortal. Whatever the result is, it won’t change the way I feel about you. You can argue all you want to, but I’m not letting you go again. I don’t care what I have to do, where I have to follow you to. You’re mine, and that’s not going to change. I’m not letting you walk out of my life again. We tried it your way, and all we’ve done is spend nine years apart wishing we were together.”

  Chessa smiled, tears shining in her eyes. How she wanted to nod and tell him she was okay with that. But she wasn’t, and she never would be. She couldn’t be selfish. She couldn’t hold him back that way.

  “Let’s just see what the test results say first,” she said.

  Noah held her gaze for a moment, fire in his darkened eyes. Slowly, they faded to his normal eyes, and he nodded his head and led her towards the building. They stepped through an automatic door and into a white foyer. Everywhere Chessa looked was white. The walls, the flooring, the ceiling, the lab coats the staff wore as they hurried back and forth across the lobby area, disappearing through various doors. Even the receptionist wore a white blouse.

  She looked up as they approached the desk, and Chessa saw her professional smile slip when she saw Noah. Her cheeks turned pink, and she became flustered.

  “Mr. Cressner. Good afternoon. What can I do for you?” she stammered.

  Noah grinned. “Relax, Heather. I’m not my father. I’m
just a pack member, the same as you. I’m here to see Jason.”

  “I’ll let him know you’re here. If you’d like to take a seat over there,” Heather said, pointing to a row of white leather-covered chairs that stood before a long glass coffee table covered with magazines.

  “What was that, Mr. Cressner?” Chessa laughed once they were seated.

  “That was what being royalty looks like,” Noah winked. “Seriously, Chess, I hate that people are nervous around me. When I take over as alpha, I’m going to be approachable. I don’t want people to be afraid of me. Is that weird?”

  Chessa shook her head. “No. People work better if they like their boss.”

  A man who looked to be around the same age as Noah and Chessa appeared before them. He had blond hair, which he wore in spikes, and his lab coat was open to reveal a red shirt. Chessa instantly liked the rebellion against the white. His face broke into a wide grin when he saw Noah. Noah got to his feet, and the two men hugged, slapping each other’s backs.

  “Long time no see, man,” the man said to Noah. “You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you? Ever since I kicked your ass at tennis that day.”

  “Yeah, that’s it,” Noah grinned. “I’m too ashamed to show my face around these parts.”

  “And so you damned well should be. Did you even score a point that day?”

  “Two,” Noah said with a laugh. He turned to Chessa and motioned for her to join them. “Jason, this is Chessa. Chessa, this is Jason. He’ll be doing your tests.”

  Jason extended his hand, and Chessa shook it.

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Jason said. He led the two of them through one of the doors and into a sterile white corridor. “So, tell me, Chessa. What’s a pretty girl like you doing hanging around this loser?”

  “My serve is a little off. I need someone to make me look good out there,” Chessa joked. Jason laughed.

  “Oh, she’s a keeper,” he told Noah.

  “No shit,” Noah shot back. “Keep your eyes off her.”

  Jason held his hands up in mock surrender. Then he turned to Chessa and gave her a wink. “I will, but if you ever want a real game…”