Carnal: A Dark Shifter Romance

by Piper Stone

  How could they have gotten away that fast? I rolled down the window, listening. Praying. This was my single chance of finding out the truth. There was nothing at first, merely the sound of the light breeze whipping through the trees. I craned my neck, smiling. The rumble I heard was the distinct sound of an older engine. I took a chance and headed in the direction of the noise, driving way too fast until I was able to see taillights in the distance. I slowed my speed and decided to see where this adventure would take me.

  Adventure.

  I felt like I was driving into a time bomb, a vault of ugly secrets that I likely didn’t want to learn. A terrible feeling remained in the pit of my stomach, a knowing that what I would learn could alter the course of my life.

  What I hadn’t expected was for them to leave the Roselake city limits. I didn’t know a single thing about the area surrounding the city, had never been to the remote location. I’d seen on a map that there was another village of some kind, but I’d never met anyone who’d ever been there.

  I kept an even pace behind them, only allowing for a brief line of sight. When the driver made a turnoff, I waited before easing the truck down the narrow road. After a few seconds, I was certain I’d lost them. Frustrated, I picked up speed, almost giving myself away. The remote area was heavily wooded, the pine trees overbearing, the barely two-lane road narrowing even more. Whoever the driver was had parked in front of a fairly large house and both he and Max exited the vehicle.

  Cutting the lights, I hung back, barely able to see anything. A diffused light was turned on, illuminating only a few feet of the front door and small porch. I was finally able to see someone standing on the front porch and talking to Max and his companion. Whatever they were saying wasn’t going over well, an argument ensuing.

  Five minutes passed then ten, the disagreement almost coming to blows. I could hear Max’s angry voice from inside the cab. What the hell was going on?

  When Max and his friend rushed back toward the truck, I nearly panicked. There was little room for me to maneuver the truck. I yanked the gear into reverse, unable to see a freaking thing behind me, merely praying I wouldn’t get the tires stuck in the mud. Everything remained wet, another light fog shifting over the rough terrain.

  “Shit. Shit.” I managed to shift the truck successfully, although a slight thud against the back bumper meant I could go no further. Thankfully, the trees were just enough of a cover, or so I hoped. I hunkered down, holding my breath as their headlights flashed inside the cab.

  Please. Please.

  The lights were far too bright. There was no way I hadn’t been seen. When the headlights dissipated, I breathed a sigh of relief, finally moving to a sitting position. As I rolled out of the hiding place, I had a clear shot of the house.

  And the man.

  And his expression.

  And I could swear the stranger was staring right at me.

  I kept the lights off for only a few seconds, narrowly avoiding hitting a large oak before deeming it necessary to have light. I was a fool for doing this. Damn it. By the time I reached the main road, I could swear another set of headlights was coming upon me fast. I’d come too far now to stop what I was doing.

  Within a couple of minutes, I noticed the truck once again making a turn. As I slowed down, I knew for certain that whoever Max had visited was following me. Great. I had to make a quick decision. Slowing down, I drove past what appeared to be little more than a gravel path, struggling to read the sign. A park. I decided to keep going, glancing into the rearview mirror every so often. I’d been right about the other vehicle. However, whoever was behind the wheel made the same left turn into the park after shining his brights in my direction.

  Luckily, I found a turnoff only a few hundred yards from the park entrance and pulled in, counting to five before cutting the engine and venturing out into the night. I’d been foolish enough not to grab a jacket and the chilly night air immediately caused goosebumps. I eased the Beretta into the waistband of my jeans against my back. The area was freaking dark. With a last thought, I checked the cab of his truck for a flashlight, finding one almost immediately. Maybe luck was turning in my direction.

  And maybe pigs flew in the winter.

  I’d set myself up with this case, eager to work on something grittier than the unusual fare the captain had given me and my partner for months. Granted, even though I’d had three solid years on the force prior to making detective, my partner almost five, we were still considered probies as far as the captain was concerned. Being forced to work our way up the food chain had been the fuel to leap into this case with a vengeance.

  Why did I have the feeling I’d been played from second one?

  I loathed the fact I was no longer certain of who in the system I could trust. Every aspect of what I’d searched for had come up to one huge dead end, although I was even more certain Roselake was the center of the mystery.

  I trekked through the woods, finding the gravel entrance without any issue. The beam of the light was strong, allowing me to see a solid thirty feet in front of me at a wide arc. While I could no longer hear the sound of anything but the wind and swishing trees, I could feel Max in close proximity.

  Within seconds, the fog had increased, still floating low to the ground but creating an eerie atmosphere that gave me the heebie-jeebies. Every little sound from night creatures to the slight snap of a twig caused me to react, swinging my light in the direction of the noise.

  What the hell are you doing out here by yourself?

  The question was one I should have answered before starting this. I grabbed my gun, feeling more secure as I continued walking, likely having traveled at least a solid mile. Maybe more. When my flashlight finally caught something metallic, I shrank against the tree line, taking cautious steps. The truck wasn’t one that I’d seen. Within a few steps, I realized there were several others, all lined up in a row, although there was no parking lot to be seen.

  I turned off the light, feeling my way forward, the hackles on the back of my neck raised. Using the vehicles as a cover, I moved forward, listening for any sounds. When I heard a deep male voice, I felt somewhat vindicated. There was a second voice, then I recognized Max’s. I crouched even lower, creeping toward the voices and when I was likely a hundred yards out, I eased behind a tree merely listening.

  “Jesus Christ,” Max muttered, obvious distress in his voice. “This was meant as a warning.”

  “Who is she?” a female voice asked.

  “Not from around here. It’s obvious she wasn’t killed in the woods, merely placed here for us to find,” a third said.

  “Then we need to hunt while the scent is fresh,” and a fourth, another female voice chimed in, the tone full of anger.

  I shrank back, closing my eyes. Another murder had already occurred. What in the hell was going on? And how could they see anything in the utter blackness?

  I heard the crunch of limbs before Max’s voice appeared closer. “I appreciate you changing your mind, Stone, and joining us. We need you and your pack.”

  Pack? What the hell was he referring to? I shifted further into the open, biting back a hiss as a group of headlights appeared on the horizon. I was forced to shrink back several feet, almost tripping over a fallen limb. The darkness was suffocating, another wave of anxiety pooling into my stomach. No, something was off. Way off.

  “Look, I thought about what you said, Max. If we’re being threatened in any way, then we need to find out who’s behind it,” Stone answered. “Doesn’t mean we’ll be the best of friends.”

  “Understood,” Max said with a hint of sadness.

  I heard the slam of several doors, the thudding sound of heavy bodies moving toward the group of people. I had no way of knowing how many there were, but I could assume by the number of vehicles there were at least twenty, maybe more.

  “What the hell is so important, Stone?” one of the newcomers demanded.

  “Take it easy, Carter. There is a legitimate reas
on we need to work together,” Stone answered.

  I realized that Stone was the name of person Max had told me about who he’d questioned. Now I was confused as hell.

  “What in the fuck is going on here, Gregor?” another voice asked, snarling in an animalistic manner.

  “Look, we have to work together, Josh,” Gregor answered.

  “Yeah, well, what about the fucking laws?” Josh hissed.

  “Fuck the laws,” Max stated in a dominating tone. “I’m now alpha. Our two packs are working together in order to catch the killer and figure out why our community has a target on its back. No one is going to destroy our way of life or challenge everything we’ve built. No one.”

  There was a moment of hushed silence before several of the men actually growled. I was beginning to think I’d dropped into some kind of a nightmare. My hands were sweaty, my pulse racing, and I knew I was way in over my head.

  “You speak of taking control, Maximillian, but you betrayed your own people,” another new voice piped in. I heard the murmurs of approval, the tension palpable. “And your father isn’t dead.”

  “My father had mandated that I take control and I never betrayed our people. You all know I would die to protect us,” Max answered. I heard such sincerity in his voice, yet his entire being was riddled with angst.

  “I believe him,” Gregor stated clearly. “He wants the best for the packs, both of them.”

  “I agree and stand with him,” Stone said, and I could swear he tipped his head back and howled.

  A chill swept through me, forcing bile into my throat.

  The same ugly snarls and grunts permeated the dense forest. Who were these people?

  “You’re certain, Gregor?” Josh finally asked.

  “Absolutely. We work together and we follow our alpha. The council has spoken, approving the hunt. We have a true traitor in our midst, a wolf attacking from all sides. We cannot allow that to happen.” Gregor’s tone was full of his own level of command. “I relinquish my control to Maximillian and ask that everyone here do the same. Nightwalkers, you are a part of us. You’ve always been.”

  “Gregor is correct. The feud between our packs ends tonight. We hunt together. Do I have your alliance?” Max asked. I could feel his presence, his aura as if he was suddenly larger than life.

  I shrank back even more, taking shallow breaths as the fear constricted around my throat like sharp claws.

  “You have the full allegiance of the Nightwalkers. Anyone who disregards my acknowledgement or the allegiance that has set forth will pay penance. Am I clear?” Stone’s deep voice carried into the night sky.

  “Yes.”

  “Fine.”

  The men mumbled, a few growls ensuing.

  “What is the plan?” Stone asked.

  “We search the woods and surrounding area for any sign. Josh, I need you to protect the body and the crime scene. Do not allow anyone to fuck with it.” Max shifted once again, obviously moving through the crowd of men.

  “I can do that,” Josh answered. “Although I doubt the fucker will have the nerve to show his face here again. If this was a warning, then he will wait to see what we are going to do.”

  Max exhaled. “Agreed.”

  “What if we find this traitor?”

  “Then we bring him to justice. Our way,” Max answered.

  The roar within the group was more positive.

  “And we are sanctioned to turn?” the first female asked with a lilt in her voice, almost joy.

  I blinked several times, trying to process what the hell I was hearing.

  The rumbling sound coming from Max wasn’t human. It couldn’t be. I was sickened, floored, and uncertain of what I was facing.

  “This is our right and a necessity,” Max growled.

  “Then it begins. We hunt.” Stone issued another howl and everyone who was in the group did the same.

  The sound was unnerving, sending a wave of nausea into my system. I crept closer, my entire body shaking. Even the gun felt slippery in my hands. There was no way I could see anything but in the next few seconds, I heard sounds.

  Rumbles.

  Growls.

  Cracking sounds that were unearthly, like twisting bone and... Horrified, I was paralyzed, unable to will myself to get the hell away. The terrifying noises continued, cries of anguish floating into the night. I bit back a scream, the beating of my own heart echoing in my ears. What was happening?

  One minute passed.

  Two.

  Three.

  Then silence.

  And howls. Dozens of savage howls surrounded me, no longer human but something else entirely.

  My actions were no longer my own, adrenaline taking over. I hadn’t realized I’d turned on the flashlight until I swung the beam in the direction of the group. What I saw couldn’t be explained.

  Or denied.

  Wolves.

  There were dozens of wolves, their luminescent eyes shimmering. I was mesmerized, if only for a few seconds, the sight of them a dream. It had to be. Only they weren’t simply wolves, their massive bodies far more dangerous in appearance than any wolf I’d ever seen.

  My presence was immediately detected, every single beast snarling as they snapped their heads in the direction of the light.

  The spell was broken and I took off running, racing through the woods with only the thought of survival in my mind. I could no longer feel my legs and the pulse rushing throughout my body keeping me racing forward. I ran faster than I ever had in my life, jumping over limbs and fighting my way through thick underbrush.

  I had to get to the truck.

  I had to get the fuck away from here.

  All I could think about was what my grandmother had told me. For a few seconds, I had to fight laughter from floating free from my lips. This was crazy.

  There was no way of knowing whether they were following me, no ominous sounds, nasty snarls, or creatures nipping at my heels. The moment I broke free from the trees, I could just see the truck up ahead.

  You can do it. You can do... it.

  As shock began to settle in, I finally made it to the driver’s door, fumbling for only a second before being able to jump inside. I immediately locked the door, trying desperately to start the engine. As I flipped on the headlights, I could see their eyes. They’d made it to the edge of the forest. They’d chased me. They were going to...

  I couldn’t finish the thought, finally slamming the gear into drive and taking off. I had to be imagining things. I had to be losing my mind. Bile remained in my throat as I hunkered over the steering wheel, pressing down on the accelerator until I was going in excess of sixty miles per hour.

  Seventy.

  Eighty.

  Please. Please let me get out of here!

  Everything was a blur as tears finally formed. I would not succumb to the madness or the fear.

  I had no realization of how far I’d gone but within seconds, there were headlights coming from behind, speeding toward me. I pushed the truck harder, darting glances into my rearview mirror every few seconds. When I noticed more headlights coming from the opposite direction, my gut told me they were trying to box me in.

  They.

  Humans?

  Monsters?

  I heard the strangled whimpers pushing up from my constricted throat, the adrenaline rush slowing. No. I had to get out of here. Suddenly, there were more vehicles, seemingly coming from every direction. When I noticed the roadblock, there was nothing I could do. Trees on both sides, vehicles almost on my tail.

  Oh, God!

  I slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop and throwing the gear into park. I placed the gun in my hand, ready to shoot the first fucker who dared to be caught in my headlights.

  Nothing happened for a few minutes. Nothing. What the hell were they waiting for? I cringed, blinking away tears, my hands shaking. “Come on, you fucker. Come on!”

  Finally, a door opened and I could see human legs climbing out. When t
he person walked toward me, I lifted my weapon, ready to fire.

  Max.

  His eyes burned into mine as he walked closer, his gait slow and deliberate. He was completely naked, his massive body shimmering in the light. Fuck. I couldn’t think, had no ability to focus. None of the others left their vehicles but they remained surrounding me.

  I closed my eyes briefly then gathered what courage I had left, managing to climb out of the cab without falling onto my face. “Don’t come any closer, Max. I will shoot you.”

  Max stopped, slowly lifting his arms. Then he began to take long strides toward me once again.

  “Don’t do it, Max. I don’t want to have to shoot you. Please don’t.” I heard the agony in my voice along with such sadness. I held the gun out in both hands, but he continued to walk closer, unafraid of my actions.

  I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do my job. I sagged against the truck as he closed the distance, every action slow and gentle as he removed the gun from my hand. He eased his other toward my face, but I jerked back, turning my head away from him.

  “Don’t. Don’t you fucking touch me,” I hissed, thrown into another moment of shock, taking gulping breaths. I was lightheaded, my stomach churning.

  “It’s going to be all right, Kathleen. You’re safe with me.”

  Safe. There was no way I would ever be safe again.

  The moment I snapped my head in his direction, studying his eyes, the ones full of love and understanding, fear and trepidation, my body faltered. As a shroud of darkness took over, all I could think about were wolves.

  * * *

  There was no swimming up from a glorious dream leaving me wet and hot. There was only panic when I finally opened my eyes, jerking to get out from under whatever covers had me locked down. “No!” I struggled, finally able to move to a sitting position, my heart racing just like it had been before. Wolves. I couldn’t get the vision of dozens of them out of my mind. They were everywhere.

  “You’re safe, Kathleen.”

  His voice. Max. A freaking... wolf. Werewolf. I’d witnessed werewolves. Everything finally came into focus. I was in the cabin on the couch in front of the fire. Max sat opposite, now fully clothed with a drink in his hand. “Who the fuck are you?”