JUDE (Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (A Wood Haven Novella Book 1) Read online

  Pain pierced my heart. Liz had never been so candid with me before, not in regards to my parents. It had me wondering how long she’d felt that way about my situation, and how long she’d waited to say those words to me.

  Liz patted me on the knee and then stood. “It’s getting late. I should probably head home.”

  I licked my lips. My mouth had gone dry. “Yeah, okay. Call me tomorrow sometime.”

  Liz headed to my kitchen and grabbed her purse and keys off the counter before backtracking through my house to the front door. I remained where I was, struggling to get a grip on the emotions rushing through me from her words.

  What she’d said was both harsh and true. The war had happened in the eighties. I was a kid. My parents had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. They also hadn’t placed much weight on the fact that the shifters were feuding. My parents chose not to focus on the shifter world at all. It wasn’t that they were against them, it was that shifters didn’t seem to matter to them. Everyone was equal.

  They’d been naive. Maybe if they’d paid more attention to shifters and their society they’d still be here. Stephen wouldn’t be so screwed up. And I wouldn’t feel so much guilt and pain daily.

  I reached for the glass of wine Liz left behind and downed it. Sweet fruitiness coated my tongue. It still wasn’t enough to wash away the memories surfacing though. Clips of that day flashed through my mind in rapid succession.

  Stephen and I laughing as we raced one another to the house. Our mother yelling at us to be careful going up the porch steps. Our father teasing her for being so overprotective.

  Me making it through the front door first, Stephen right on my heels. My shoes slapping against the hardwood floors as I dashed to the kitchen. Stephen so close the tip of his sneaker brushed against the back of mine.

  And then an angry growl followed by our mother’s bloodcurdling scream. Chaos erupting outside our front door. Our father’s pleas to leave them alone. Stephen telling me to stay where I was. His footsteps pounding against the hardwood floor in sync with my heartbeat as he made his way to the front door.

  Sirens wailing in the distance. Stephen’s pale, horrified face as he stepped back inside. His hands covered in blood. Our parents’ blood. Me wailing as I ran to the front door, wanting to see them for myself. Stephen’s arms around me as he whispered it’s better if I don’t look.

  Him breaking and me knowing there was no way to save him, because I wasn’t sure if I could even save myself.

  My cell rang, jerking me from my old memories. I released the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding and loosened my grip on the wineglass in my hand.

  You’re safe, Sophia. I reminded myself the way my childhood psychiatrist had taught me to. You’re okay. Everything is okay. That was the past.

  I inhaled a deep breath as I sat my wineglass on the coffee table and stood to retrieve my cell from where it was charging in the kitchen. An unknown number lit the screen. Generally, I’d let it go to voicemail, but I needed a distraction before I was sucked back into my old memories again.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, sugar.” Chills slipped along my spine at the familiar voice. Mitch wasn’t someone I wanted to talk to. Ever. “Just checking in to see how things are going. I noticed you met with Wilder earlier today.”

  Coldness shifted through my core. Was he keeping tabs on me? Of course he was, how else would he know whether I went through with what he was asking? I should have expected him to be watching me.

  “I did.”

  “And, is everything going as planned?” Music filtered through the phone, growing louder.

  “Yeah, I guess so.” Sickness sloshed through my stomach. I hated talking to this man. I hated what he wanted me to do. And I hated that he was holding my brother’s life over my head.

  “Good.” The music faded away as a door slammed shut. “You need to meet with me tomorrow. I’ll text you the address.”

  “Why? For what?”

  “Because, cupcake, I have to give you what you’re going to poison Wilder with at some point, don’t I?”

  My throat tightened. His words were so calm they flamed the fear I had of him to an all-new level.

  “You’re not having doubts, are you, doll face?”

  What would he do if I admitted that I was? I pushed the thought from my mind. It wasn’t something I needed to think about.

  Rustling filtered through the phone, followed by a few grunts.

  “Let me remind you what’s at stake if you don’t follow through,”

  “No!” Stephen yelled from somewhere in the background. “Please, don’t…”

  Panic pulsed through my brother’s words, making my heart hammer violently against my rib cage. Mitch laughed at Stephen’s plea and a sour taste built in the back of my throat. This coyote was evil.

  “No!” I shouted.” I’m not, I’m not having doubts.”

  “You sure about that, doll face?”

  “Yes. I’m sure. I don’t need a reminder. I know what’s at stake. I remember.”

  My brother’s scream rattled my eardrums.

  “Leave him alone! I’ll be there. Tell me where to meet you and I’ll be there.”

  Stephen’s cries died down to a mere whimpering. The vice on my chest loosened and tension began to leak from my muscles. Whatever Mitch had been doing to him, he’d stopped.

  “That’s a good girl. I’ll send you the location.”

  “Okay,” I breathed.

  A click sounded in my ear. Mitch had hung up.

  Hot tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as Stephen’s bloodcurdling screams replayed through my mind. My teeth ground together and I wiped my eyes. Tears wouldn’t help me. Nothing would. All I could do was follow through with what Mitch wanted and pray that would be the end of this nightmare Stephen had created.

  I headed back to my living room for the bottle of wine I’d left on the coffee table. Only a small amount remained, barely enough for a taste. I poured it into my glass and backtracked to the fridge for the unopened bottle I’d bought days ago. A text came through on my cell, forcing me to a standstill.

  It was from Mitch, as expected.

  I read the address he wanted me to meet him at. It was on the other side of town. The side I avoided at all costs. The side only shady shifters hung around. What else had I expected, considering who I was dealing with?

  The coyotes were the shadiest of the shifters residing in Wood Haven.

  I twisted the top off my bottle of wine and poured myself another glass, making sure this one reached the rim. While alcohol might not help my situation any, I sure as hell didn’t mind giving it a try. At the very least, maybe it would help me brainstorm some kick-ass dishes for Jude’s party. Everyone deserved a tasty last meal before they died.

  My throat closed up and fresh tears tracked down my cheeks.

  Jude Wilder, I’m about to plan the best meal you’ve ever eaten, because I know it will be your last.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  JUDE

  Sweat beaded across my brow. I wiped it away with the back of my hand and pushed myself to keep going. I wasn’t sure which form I enjoyed running in most. There was so much power packed into each body of mine it was hard to choose.

  Twigs and leaves faded away to gravel as I exited the woods and headed back toward my house. A blue minivan was parked behind my white truck.

  My older sister, Amy.

  I knew it was her. She was the only person I knew who drove a mom vehicle. Her twins weren’t even born yet, but she and her husband had already taken the plunge into purchasing a practical vehicle. Her husband’s pride and joy, a cherry-red Mustang, had disappeared the second he’d found out my sister was expecting. Personally, I thought he’d went overboard. My sister’s SUV would have been capable of carting around the two little tykes. There was no need to trade in the beautiful car he’d drove for a mom mobile.

  I jogged up the steps to my front porch. Once I reached th
e front door, I kicked off my shoes before heading inside. It was an old habit from childhood I found hard to break.

  “Amy?” I called out as I closed the door behind me.

  “In the kitchen,”

  The scent of freshly brewed coffee hit my nose. “Why are you making coffee? You know you’re not supposed to drink caffeine while pregnant.”

  “Shut up.”

  I laughed. She hated it when I gave her pregnancy advice, especially considering I didn’t have any place to pull it from. I was single and kid-less. Which meant I had no room to talk.

  A smirk overtook my face as I entered the kitchen. Amy was standing at the coffee pot, leaning against the counter.

  “I’m only looking out for my little nieces or nephews,” I insisted.

  She rolled her eyes and lifted a Styrofoam cup in the air. “I brought my own. It’s decaf.”

  “Who’s that for, then?” I pointed to the pot nearly finished brewing behind her.

  “You, of course.” She pulled a coffee mug down from the cabinet behind her and set it on the counter. “I figured we could have a cup together while we discuss how things are coming along with the gathering plans.”

  An image of Sophia popped into my head at the mention of the party, causing a buzz of electricity to hum beneath my skin. I couldn’t wait to see her again. I ran five miles this morning trying to tame my excitement and all my sister had to do was mention plans for the damn party and everything came rushing back.

  “It’s going.” I moved to where she was standing, ready to add cream and sugar to the black sludge she was pouring me. Amy sucked at making coffee. It was always too strong—to the point of being corrosive to your tongue.

  “It’s going? You have to give me more than that.” She shoved the mug of coffee over to me. “This is like my baby shower, after all.”

  I stirred in a couple of heaping spoonfuls. “What’s the matter, you don’t trust me to plan something worthy?”

  “No, it’s not that. I know you’re a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to things like this. It’s not knowing what you’re planning that’s killing me.” She rubbed her baby bump. “It’s bad enough having to wait until these little bundles of joy are born to find out what sex they are. Don’t make me wait for details of the gathering as well. Throw me a fricking bone here, Jude.”

  I laughed, still enjoying the fact that I could get under her skin.

  “Don’t laugh,” she snapped.

  I laughed harder.

  Amy smacked me on the shoulder and then waddled over to one of the bar stools. “Ass,”

  “I’m only teasing. Calm down, prego.” I headed to the fridge for the creamer.

  “Details,” she demanded.

  “I can’t give you many.”

  “Why not?”

  I poured about half a cup of creamer in my coffee and stirred. “Because it’s against tradition,”

  “Says the guy who decided to break tradition and cancel the potluck portion of the gathering.”

  “I could call everything I’ve planned off,” I threatened as I took a sip of my piping-hot coffee, tasting to make sure it wasn’t like black death sliding over my tongue. “If you prefer eating mincemeat pie.”

  Her nose wrinkled. “Just because I’m a wolf, and a pregnant one at that, doesn’t mean I don’t have taste buds. I can’t eat that crap. Just the thought of it makes me want to gag.”

  “Which is why I’m breaking pack tradition and changing a few things up.”

  “Like?”

  “Like hiring someone to cater the food instead.”

  Amy’s eyes brightened. “Real food! What’s the menu?”

  “Not pastries, I can tell you that much.”

  “Pastries?”

  “Yeah. The chef I hired happens to specialize in pastries apparently.” My lips quirked into a small smile.

  “Does this chef happen to be human?”

  I cleared my throat, nervous as to how she would react. “Yeah,”

  “So that’s what has Troy’s panties twisted in a wad,” she said. “Me and Ellie have been wondering what was going on with him.”

  Ellie was Amy’s best friend. She’d been bitten two summers ago by a wolf here in Wood Haven when she came back for her ten-year high school reunion. None of our wolves owned up to having done it, but we knew she belonged with us. We could all feel it in our blood.

  “You know how he feels about humans. He’s totally against the idea of one catering the gathering.” I took a seat at the bar stool beside her.

  Amy’s eyes darkened as she nodded.

  Troy’s family had been killed by humans a few years back. Troy’s dad had also been our father’s best friend. His death was where our father’s deeply rooted hate for humans began. His death had tipped a few other pack members over the fence when it came to humans as well.

  This was something I was trying to change.

  “It was a long time ago. Isn’t it time we put all that behind us? This town is starting to put their shifter war behind them. We should fall in step with the movement,” I said.

  “I understand what you’re aiming for, Jude. I’m just not sure it’s going to be as easy as you think.”

  “I never said it would be easy.”

  “No, but you’re thinking it.”

  I sighed and dropped my gaze to the countertop, focusing on the dark specks instead of the light, while I refused to answer her. Amy sipped her coffee.

  “So back to the details of the gathering.” She shifted the topic, thankfully. “You haven’t told me one item on the menu.”

  “Pulled pork.” I winked. “Your favorite.”

  “That’s all I needed to hear. Let’s just hope your pastry chef can handle a more meat-friendly menu.”

  An image of Sophia’s full lips popped into my head and all I could think about was how I wanted her to manage a certain type of meat—mine. “Oh, I’m sure she can.”

  “Oh, crap! It’s almost ten o’clock. I’ve got an appointment with Doc Henson to get to.” Amy eased herself off the stool and grabbed her coffee and keys from the counter before reaching out to give me a hug. Her large baby bump made it awkward, but we managed. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  “All right, be careful.” I walked her to the door.

  “Oh, and Jude?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m all for creating better relations between us and the humans of Wood Haven, for what it’s worth. I think the others will be on board at some point, they’ll just need to ease into it. Hiring a human to cater the gathering is a perfect start. I’m excited to see where you go with all of this, alpha.” She winked.

  “Thanks.”

  I helped her down the porch steps and watched as she slipped behind the wheel of her minivan. The engine purred to life and she backed up to turn around, missing the ass end of my truck by inches. I shook my head. My sister couldn’t drive for shit.

  Once I was back inside, I finished my coffee and opted for a shower before Sophia came for our second taste testing. Warmth radiated throughout my body at the thought of her. My heartbeat drummed wildly as the wolf inside me stirred with excitement as well.

  In just a few hours I would be in the presence of Sophia Davis. Again. A large grin sprang onto my face I couldn’t dim.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  SOPHIA

  My palms grew sweaty as I pulled up in front of a gray building. The peeling stickers above the dingy white door matched the ones on my text from Mitch. This was the place, even if I wished it wasn’t. I parked beside a shiny black car with silver rims that probably cost more than I made in the last three years. While it wasn’t the car Mitch had given me a ride in the day I found out how deep of shit my brother had gotten himself into, I didn’t rule it out as being his. Mitch was loaded.

  Not that you could tell by the looks of this building he apparently owned.

  The place was falling apart. Then again, so were the buildings surrounding it. This was the cru
mbling side of the town. There wasn’t a single building in good shape. It was the part many forgot existed.

  The musky scent of cigarette smoke and alcohol hung in the air, mixed with cheap perfume from the women standing outside the gray building. They were shifter groupies—women who tended to all the shifters’ needs while they waited around to be bitten. Some days I could sympathize with their desire to be something besides human. It had to be easier to feel strong and in control of your life when you were a powerful shifter instead of a helpless human.

  That sympathy never lasted long though.

  I slipped out of my car and started toward the front of the building, refusing to make eye contact with any of the women lingering around the door chain-smoking cigarettes and reapplying their lipstick.

  “What do we have here, ladies?” a woman dressed in a sleek black dress with lace tights and stilettos asked as I neared the door. “Fresh meat?”

  I ignored her and continued making my way to the door.

  “Who you here to see?” She crowded me, suffocating me with the overpowering scent of her cheap perfume. Her green eyes narrowed. It was clear she didn’t enjoy being ignored.

  “I’m here to see Mitch.” I straightened my back and squared my shoulders, but it didn’t change the fact that my words had come out in a quivering whisperer.

  “Did he call for you?” Her lips pressed into a thin line as she eyed me up and down.

  “Yeah.”

  Her jaw tightened. “What business does he have with you?”

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business.” I said.

  The door to the building flung open and a bald, fat guy was flung through it. He landed at my feet with a loud thump. A groan pushed its way past his lips as he struggled to right himself. A chorus of cackles broke out from the women surrounding me. I didn’t share their humor.

  “And don’t come back,” a beefy-looking guy in a black T-shirt yelled. His golden eyes shifted to mine and his lips twisted into a wicked smirk. “You must be who the boss is waitin’ on. Come right on in and follow me, sugar.”