Curves & Alphas: A Paranormal Box Set: (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (15 page)

Chapter Ten

Chloe sat with me as the band cleaned up their gear. As they smoozed a bit with the crowd, we’d come up with a plan for us to leave separately, giving me time to talk again to Lex, but without her having to walk to her car alone. She’d struck up a conversation during the break with a nice young man, a friend of the band, and he’d asked her to go out after the show for something to eat anyway.

I watched Lex slip behind the curtain about fifteen minutes later, and said a quick goodbye to Chloe. With a brief hug, she whispered good luck into my ear, and the fact that her phone rang at any time of night.

With a smile, I hurried off after him. Only, when I got backstage, to the scene of our earlier encounter, the small space stood empty. I heard a door click in the far corner and rushed to follow him outside. Once I stepped into the night, into the nearly empty parking lot, I didn’t see him. I moved my back against the brick wall, praying the door hadn’t locked automatically, but knowing that was an impossibility that it hadn’t.

Scanning to find the nearest way to walk to my car with people seeing me, I caught my wolf’s eyes in the shadows of the next parking lot. This club was surrounded by a strip of stores all closed for the evening. The parking lot my wolf stood in, in the shadow of the brick wall of the building, appeared vacant of cars and people. Without concern, suddenly, I followed him when he turned to walk into the darkness.

Once I got to the next building, a small coffee shop, I could see him still walking. He moved into the night without care, and I followed. He didn’t seem to be running from me, and in fact, he seemed to be begging me to follow him. His emotions called to me, as mixed up and upset as if he’d just listened to Lex play. Several stores in now, he moved to a dark corner, a small alleyway between two buildings.

Stopping and turning to me, he looked on as I kept a steady pace until I was face to face with my wolf. Never this close before, I held my breath with the urge to touch him. I wanted the connection as much as I wanted to comfort him. He seemed weary, broken of spirit, and in desperate need of
me
this time.

With a trembling hand, I reached for him. Before I could actually lay my fingers on his face, he moved his snout to nuzzle my hand. The predatory sound that emanated from the animal didn’t scare me. I gently rubbed my hand down over his face to his neck. On all fours, he looked me right in the eyes as I stood there at my full height. The sheer size of the animal filled me with wonder. How soft his fur was I couldn’t have imagined. It felt like silk running between my fingers. Something electric passed between us. He sniffed at my neck as I stepped to his side. I didn’t cringe, though. I let him. I felt the tears of happiness in my eyes at getting to be this close. I wanted to hug him, but couldn’t imagine how.

“I wish I could take you home with me, have you always, but I’m sure that sounds like a selfish thing to say when you’ve been with me for years, there for me when I most needed someone,” I spoke, my voice but a whisper. “Thank you for letting me get this close. And, thank you for saving me several weeks ago.”

The wolf’s chest rumbled. With an audible sigh, I felt him shift his weight away from me. Expecting him to walk away then, instead, he made a noise, one of anguish, not quite that of a howl, but lower, more powerful. The ground seemed to vibrate under my feet.

In a moment of suspended belief, I watched the fur literally disappear, giving away to smooth skin. At the same time, claws retracted into fingers. Unaware that I was stepping backwards, my back hit a wall. Blinking from the slight bump and to make some sense of the image before me, I braced myself with my hands against the brick.

The diminishing face looked into mine. The eyes, they changed from gold with amber flecks to amber with gold flecks. I tilted my head, squinted my eyes as if they were playing tricks on me. The face that formed began to relax as the body took to an upright, two-legged stance and stepped back away from me. Suddenly, what stood before me was no longer my wolf, but Lex, completely naked and fully man!

Find out what happens next in The Alpha’s Desire part 2 here:
http://amzn.to/1AM9jVX

Pure Soul Series

Book 1

Willow Brooks

Prologue

I walked slowly into the clearing and towards the werewolves, breath misting in the cold, damp air. They were assembled in a half circle around their leader; a huge pack of majestic beasts, all waiting for me. Standing in the center were two werewolves. One was brilliantly white, with a sparkling vitality that made every werewolf want to follow him. Next to him was a huge black werewolf, with a sleek, shiny coat and startling, light blue eyes. The black wolf was Van Longshadow, the one I loved and the one I’d chosen to risk my life for. He was a gorgeous creature, both as a man and a werewolf, and his heart was as beautiful as his exterior. It was my deepest desire to spend the rest of my life with him. But there were some enormous obstacles to overcome first.

As I took my place in front of the pack, I felt dozens of pairs of eyes burn into me. I spread my golden hair over my shoulders and turned my face up to the sky so they could see the pure whiteness of my skin. At the same time as the strength of their desire invigorated me, I felt the weight of their hopes and dreams settle on my shoulders.

You see, I wasn’t just another mortal woman to them. They believed I was something much more, someone who could save them all.

As I spread my arms wide, as if to embrace each one, they began to howl. The symphony spread and grew until my whole body was filled by the haunting sound, resonating on a level that was close to ecstasy. As they howled, I kept my arms wide, as if to embrace them. My hands were steady, but inside I was trembling, overawed by the enormity of my task. Could I really save them all? And would my love and commitment to Van be swallowed up in the process?

Van was the one I loved, the one I’d sacrifice anything to save. Why did I get the feeling that this forest, this world, wasn’t going to let me accomplish that without a fight?

Chapter 1

There was nothing like a touch of pink to bring out the best in an outfit. Cinderella taught us that, although modern interpretations have had her dressed entirely in blue, something Sophia didn’t particularly approve of.

She clutched her dusky pink evening bag and twisted from side to side in her bedroom mirror to appraise her appearance. Long blonde hair twisted up in a classic chignon, sophisticated LBD that skimmed one’s ample curves in all the right places, striking green eyes lined with subtle earthy tones, a dash of rose pink on full lips. Classy, glamorous; everything as it should be. She slipped out of her apartment into the warm summer evening with a smile on her face.

It was a short cab ride to her sister, Jane’s apartment. Tiny bubbles of excitement fizzled in Sophia’s stomach while she waited for Jane to emerge. They were heading to The Duxton, the city’s finest hotel, where Trinity Rock Publishing was holding the ‘party of the year’ to celebrate 100 years at the top of the publishing game. It promised to be an illustrious affair; not only had Cain Furrows, New York’s hottest chef-of-the-moment, flown in specifically to arrange the menu, but rumors had been flying around that Katy Perry herself would be performing live. Sophia’s friend, Willow, who worked as PA to CEO, Wilbur Longshadow, had told her that half of the city’s elite had rung in over the past two weeks, trying to get a ticket. Sophia was on the guest list, as she was one of Trinity Rock’s up-and-coming children’s book authors, and Jane was her eager plus one.

Jane threw her firm body into the back seat. A personal trainer, at twenty-four she was at the peak of sculptured perfection. Her butt was as tight and smooth as carved stone and her chiseled arms would give any man a run for his money in an arm wrestle. Sophia often wondered how they could possibly be from the same parents, and it wasn’t just that Jane was sporty and she, well, wasn’t. Sophia was fair, from her pasty white skin (she preferred to call it milky) to the blonde eyebrows and lashes that she had to tint at least fortnightly. Jane, however, spent a fortune on hair removal to try and control the dark hairs that plagued her deep olive skin. Combined with her brown eyes, she could easily have passed as a fresh import from the Mediterranean.

But, if you squinted a little and imagined Jane twenty pounds heavier and Sophia twenty pounds lighter, then you could see the resemblance. Kind of. 

Jane’s gold sequined dress sent tiny beams of light all around the cab.

‘You look gorgeous,’ Sophia said as they hugged. ‘I hope you’re wearing underwear because that dress is crazy short.’

‘Not usually, but thought I’d better start the night decent,’ she laughed. ‘I’ve got high hopes that they’ll hit the floor at some point during the evening.’

The driver glanced hopefully in the rear-view mirror. Jane caught his eye and shook her head.

‘Forget it, buddy. I don’t do cab drivers. It’s just a rule I’ve got. Don’t do parking attendants either. Cops, on the other hand…’

Sophia giggled, hand over her mouth. Despite growing up as close as sisters could be, she was still slightly horrified by Jane’s overtly sexual ways. She, on the other hand, must have been one of America’s last remaining twenty-two year old virgins. It felt that way, anyway, when she watched the latest videos on MTV, or went to a club on a Friday night. One night, just a few weeks ago, she’d seen a girl and a guy actually fucking on the dance floor. Apparently, a tryst in the bathrooms was no longer risqué enough to satisfy some people.

For Sophia, romance was king. She’d rather be alone than with a man who just wanted her for a quick thrill or on a trial basis, to see if his feelings grew over time. She was waiting for her heart-in-the-mouth, eyes-locking-across-a-crowded-room moment. Like a princess in the Disney fairytales she loved so much, she knew in her bones that the magic of true love would strike her sooner or later. So far it hadn’t happened, but she was a patient young woman. Jane, of course, thought the whole thing was ridiculous.  

‘So, tell me about the Trinity Rock men,’ said Jane. ‘Any hot ones I should be aware of?’

‘Some of the guys in publicity are pretty cute, but I think most of them are married. To be honest, the vast majority of staff are women. But, I’m just a lowly children’s author. I only ever go to meetings on the first and second floors. The CEO has four sons and I’ve heard they’re all of the tall, dark, and handsome variety. Maybe the top floor’s the place to be.’

‘Oo, sounds promising. I’m surprised you haven’t found a reason to go upstairs yet. You’re the one who believes in a knight in shining armor; a sexy publishing heir would fit the bill nicely, I would’ve thought.’

Sophia pursed her lips piously. ‘You know me better than that; I don’t chase after men like some dog in heat.’

‘Are you calling me a bitch?’ Jane asked with mock horror before breaking out into a grin.

‘No! I’m just not as… forward as you are. I want old fashioned romance; dates, flowers, stolen moments. Not wham-bam, thank you, ma’am.’

Jane shrugged. ‘Good luck with that. You’ll be fifty with a house full of cats and still holding onto these absurd, old-fashioned notions. I, however, might also end up fifty and alone, but at least I’ll have a memory bank full of great fucks to get myself off with.’ She winked mischievously.

‘Jane! I hope you’re going to behave tonight.’

‘Certainly not.’

The celebration was held in the grand reception area of the famous Duxton. It didn’t disappoint. From its magnificent white marble bar stretching nearly the entire length of one wall to elegant decorative touches in all the right places, it was the city’s premiere function venue for a reason.  Sophia glided into the party, which was already in full swing. She took in the pristine waiters clearing empty glasses the moment they touched a table, the perfectly colorful cocktails in graceful, thin glasses, and tables spread with decadent treats. She breathed a happy sigh.

‘Now this is a party.’ 

They accepted glasses of champagne from a handsome waiter with slicked back hair. He glanced back at Jane over his shoulder and she gave him a little wave.

‘Nice,’ she mused. ‘But I’m aiming higher tonight. Where’s this CEO and his tribe of hot offspring?’

‘No idea; perhaps they’re with their wives?’ Sophia joked.

‘Shh, don’t say such things! We need bachelors, not married men.’

They sipped their drinks and soaked up the ambiance for a while. A band began to play; the rumors of Katy Perry appeared to be just rumors after all, but the music was fun and upbeat, and soon the dance floor was heaving.

Jane drained her second glass of champagne and slammed the vessel down.

‘Let’s dance,’ she demanded.

‘Soon, but right now supper’s calling my name. I skipped dinner because I knew the food was going to be amazing.’

‘Okay, but only if you promise to dance afterwards.’

‘You know I’m not much of a dancer.’

Jane sighed. They crossed to the food tables, where she selected a few items from countless delicious, beautifully presented options. Sophia filled her plate.

Sophia loved to eat and she did it with gusto. Belief in romance and magic in life were the things that kept her vibrant, but food was her passion. She loved to shop for food at outdoor markets; to run her hands over the fresh produce, selecting the firmest, the ripest, the juiciest. She adored baking; the wonder of taking ingredients that were individually unremarkable, and combining them in a specific way to produce something delectable. She loved everything about cooking; to chop, stir-fry, flambé, roast, and grill… Even better than all of this was when someone else did it for her. But most of all, she loved to eat. She knew that if she cut back her portion sizes, gave up desserts, or gave up carbs, she'd lose weight. But who wanted to do that, really? She figured that life was too short for deprivation. Besides, she thought she looked pretty darn cute, just as she was.

Willow joined them while they ate, ethereal in a flowing white gown. She was considered the one to ask for any gossip regarding the family, even though she was tight-lipped with everyone aside from her close friends. Sophia had met her when she’d first started work for Trinity Rock Publishing and they’d clicked immediately. Jane busily quizzed her about the Longshadow sons.

‘The youngest and the oldest are both married,’ she replied. Jane groaned. ‘The second oldest, Mark, is quite heavily involved in the business. The general consensus is that Mr. Longshadow senior is grooming him to take over the reins when he retires. He works hard, but he plays hard, too.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I heard that last summer he chartered a yacht in the Caribbean and flew two dozen models over to join him. He was the only man on board and apparently he slept his way around the boat during a three day, nonstop party. It’s legendary.’

Sophia made a disappointed face at this news while Jane perked up.

‘He’s certainly easy on the eye,’ Willow continued, ‘but he’ll never settle down with one woman. She’d have to be resigned to the fact that his wandering eye will never be still.’

‘What about the third son?’ Sophia asked.

‘He’s a whole other story,’ Willow replied. ‘He never comes into the office, but that doesn’t stop people gossiping about him. He lives alone in a beautiful log home out in Black Forest, on the shores of Crystal Lake. He spends months out there without coming into the city at all, apparently. Quite the recluse. Rumor has it that he’s only a half-brother to the other boys, and that his mother was some Romanian gypsy.’

‘Juicy! What does he do out there in the forest all day?’ Jane did a mock shiver. ‘Seems a bit creepy.’

‘Maybe he just likes to be alone,’ Sophia said. ‘Perhaps he does all his business remotely. Would be peaceful, I’m sure.’

‘But all the time?’ Jane replied. ‘Sure it’d be peaceful, but must be lonely too.’

Willow nodded in agreement. ‘Whatever the case, tonight’s the first time he’s ever been to a Trinity Rock party. Everyone’s gagging to catch a glimpse of him. Apparently, he’s the best looking of all the brothers, and that’s really saying something.’

Just then Jane gripped Sophia’s arm, eyes locked over her left shoulder.

‘It’s them.’