Kadenburg Revealed (The Kadenburg Shifters Series, Book 4)

Copyright ©T.E. Ridener, 2014

Author’s Note

These stories are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedications

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-one

Twenty-two

Twenty-three

Twenty-four

Twenty-five

Twenty-six

Twenty-seven

Reclaiming Kadenburg | Book 5 of the Kadenburg Shifters Series | *SNEAK PEEK* | Prologue

Characters

T
here are so many people I wish to thank for inspiring me, supporting me, and keeping me going through what has undoubtedly been one of the most difficult times of my life.  I’m going to attempt to list them all now, but please forgive me if I miss someone.  Please know that you’re in my heart always and I will never be able to repay you for the joy you’ve given me.

My Double Js
-Oh, how I love thee more than you’ll ever know.  You are my brightest stars and the reason for my smile.  You make my heart happy.  Thank you for always believing in me, my darlings.

Jasmine Cardi, Lauren Gray, Nikki Cullan, Danielle Vanzandt, Pamijo Perkins, Amy Jibben Freese, Carmen Pescod, Louisa Fae Dent, Yliana Vera, Ashley Blankenship, Kia B-Stone, Rochelle Thorne, Kandi Potter, Lindsay Thibodaux, Seregon O’Dassey, Samantha Rose, Debbie Attenborough, Jennifer Fontana and my amazing Rampaging Street Team-
I can never thank you enough for your support and kind words.  You’ve always kept me going.  For all the times you’ve ‘pimped’ me and spread my name to others, and for standing in my corner, I thank you.  I love you, girls.

To my fans-
You are simply the best. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for you.  Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and reading my books.

For Deborah Davidson

D
ecember 18th

Christmas is only a week away and while other people are celebrating the joyous holiday and looking forward to seeing family and friends, I am doing the absolute opposite.  I am avoiding everyone like the plague and I’m fairly sure they think I’m dead by now.  I haven’t left my apartment in nearly three weeks and if I don’t change my mind, I never will.

Every time I look into the mirror, I am absolutely disgusted.  I can’t stand looking at the face in my mirror, because she’s not me.  I mean, obviously she is, but I don’t like her.  So much has changed over the last year and a half.  Everything is different and I have become the one thing I never, ever,
ever
wanted to be; my father.

He promised everything was going to get better.  He said that I would never have to worry again and that if I did this one thing for him-just this one thing-I would never have to hide in fear.  Sometimes I think he lied.

I have seen the ursithropes that live in this town.  It’s hard to believe the stories I’ve heard when I recall my first introduction to Mrs. Bamey at the grocery store.  I was two dollars short and I was trying to figure out what item to put back when she approached me.  She was so kind, you see.  She simply smiled and placed a five dollar bill in the cashier’s hand.  If she is so evil and wicked, how would she be capable of such kindness?

And furthermore, when I think about it, the rest of her family is really nice, too.  They’re all nice.  I wasn’t sure what to expect when I moved into a town filled with bear-shifters, but they’ve never bothered me.  I think their tolerance comes from Dimitri.  I never knew Dimitri personally until last month.  He and Rutley are really nice guys, too.  It was so much easier to dive into this thinking they were bad...but they’re not.  They’re nothing like the description I was given.  Did my dad lie to me?

I just hate what I’ve become.  I hate what I’m capable of doing and what I’ve done to those boys.  They didn’t deserve it.  None of them deserve this.  I am an awful person and I hate myself.

Everyone will be preparing for the New Year soon, but they’re not going to like what it entails. Hell, I don’t like it either.  I couldn’t possibly feel any guiltier than I do right now.  The remorse I feel may very well kill me. 

I truly hope the ursithropes have a wonderful, happy Christmas this year.  By this time next year, everything will be different; for them, for me, and for my family.  Everything is going to change and I am terrified.  I’m so scared and I don’t have anyone to make me feel better about it.  There is no one who can tell me it will be okay in the end.

It won’t be okay.  It will never be okay.

I am so sorry.

-Kia

A
s the familiar tune of ‘Deck the Halls’ filled the spacious perimeter of the comfy café, Louisa couldn’t help but to smile.  It was her favorite time of the year and she couldn’t wait to experience her first Christmas in Kadenburg.  She inhaled the scent of a brown sugar candle burning on the countertop and exhaled in a content sigh.  Oh, t’was the season!

She was excited about the gifts, the laughter, the music, and the caroling.  She wanted to experience it all.  She was well aware that Chinese customs were different from American ones, but it didn’t stifle the anxiousness she felt about spending Christmas with her newfound friends, and
him
.

For the first time since her arrival, Kadenburg was at peace.  They’d gone a solid month without picking up on the faintest scent of those nasty mutts.  Well, aside from Dimitri, Rutley, that thorn in their side Tim, and
him
.  Otherwise, Kadenburg was a stinky smell free zone and everyone was happy about that.

“Hi, Louisa!” Gabby chimed excitedly as she hurried into the café with an armful of books in tow.  “Guess what?”

Louisa stared at the younger female in surprise, tilting her head to the side as she temporarily abandoned her task of refilling the salt shakers.  Mrs. Kress had been kind enough to give her a job.  It wasn’t much; only a few hours during the week, but it was still a job.  She wiped her hands against the front of her jeans as she moved around the corner, giving Gabby a bright smile.

“You won the lottery and you’re taking me on a cruise.” Louisa teased.

“Oh, I wish,” Gabby rolled her bright blue eyes, placing the books onto a table top before releasing a low breath.  “My gosh, those are heavier than you’d think.”

“What are these for?” Louisa asked curiously, opening the first book and peering at the title page.  “How to become a successful playwright over Christmas vacation,” She read aloud.  “This is seriously a book?”

“Yep!” Gabby beamed as she plopped down in a chair, tugging her hot pink beanie off her head and setting it aside.  “I finally found out what I want to do with my life.”

“I see,” Louisa chewed her lower lip as she closed the cover and then crossed her arms over her chest.  “You want to write plays for a living?”

“Yes!” Gabby squealed as she clapped her hands together quickly.  “I love to write, Lou.  I’ve always loved writing.  I think I have a real shot at this, so...” She picked up the book Louisa had been looking at and placed it before her on the table.  “I’ve decided to spend my Christmas vacation brushing up on any and all skills I feel will be valuable to my new career.”

“Oooh, a career,” Louisa smiled.  “Sounds pretty serious, Gabby.  And you want to know something?”

“What?” Gabby asked with wide eyes, as if she depended on whatever Louisa had to say.

“You can do whatever you want,” Louisa’s smile grew bigger.  “And don’t you dare let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“Thanks.” Gabby pulled a pen and notebook from her backpack, ready to get to work.  It was just then that the bell chimed over the door and Louisa lifted her head in anticipation of seeing a customer.  Nope.  It was
him
.

“Hey, Gabs,” Greg greeted his little sister with a kiss on the top of her dirty blond curls as his eyes met Louisa’s.  A knowing smile lingered on his lips as he bypassed them and headed for the counter.  “What are you two getting into?”

“Oh, just the usual,” Louisa jibed playfully as her head turned, watching as he sauntered about.  Great Urseth, he was gorgeous.  “We’re planning to take over the world.”

“Without me?” Greg whirled about, feigning offense.  “How dare you.”

“Maybe next time.” Louisa giggled as heat rushed into her cheeks.  Why did he always have to have this effect on her?  Ever since that steamy kiss in her kitchen, she hadn’t been able to shake him.  Had she ever kissed her mate-to-be in such a way?  No.  The kisses she shared with him were chaste.  Greg kissed her with such a passion that she didn’t know what to do with herself.  It was a wonderful feeling, actually.....

“Lou?”

She blinked, lifting her eyes to meet Greg’s gaze.  When had he gotten so close?  His perfect eyebrows were drawn together as stormy blue hues bore into her very soul.  She couldn’t help it when her gaze lowered to his lips, feeling her own tingle in remembrance of their undeniable connection.  Oh, heavens.

“Are you all right?” Greg asked as his large hands fell against her shoulders.  “You zoned out there for a minute.  Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine,” she insisted as the sun itself rose on her cheeks.  She gave him a shy smile before biting at her lower lip.  “I guess my mind decided to wander elsewhere.  Did you say something?”

“That’s okay,” he grinned.  He absolutely fascinated her.  How could a man give such a boy-ish grin and still be so incredibly sexy?  Her desire for him grew stronger by the second.  “I was asking if you wanted to go to the movies with me Friday night.  There’s this new flick about superhero firefighters and it looks really good.”

She loved how excited he got over things like that.  Greg had been a firefighter when he lived in Virginia, but for some reason the city of Kadenburg just wouldn’t let him join their department.  Maybe he was too young in their eyes, though he hardly looked it.

“Are co-workers allowed to go on dates here?” She asked curiously, feeling a flutter of wings in her stomach at the thought of being alone with Greg.  On a
date
.  It was a date, wasn’t it?

How can it not be a date?
She wondered briefly as she blinked. 
It’s not every day a guy kills a werewolf for a girl.
  Then again, Greg was very much a werewolf himself-well, partially.  It was complicated.

“I’m pretty sure the boss-man won’t care,” he laughed.  “But I can talk to him just to be sure, if you want.”

“Yes, please.” Louisa replied as she shoved her hands into her back pockets.  She rocked back and forth on her heels, fighting the urge to bat her eyelashes at him.  Urseth, he made her feel like such a girl!

“Great,” Greg smiled broadly as he brushed his fingertips against her arm.  “I’ll be sure to talk to him tonight then.  Ya know, I think I’m pretty tight with the guy.  He might bend with a little persuasion.”

When he winked, Gabby snorted.  This resulted in a death glare from her older brother as Louisa bit back a giggle. 

“Well, I guess I better clock in.  Today is truck day.  Joy.”

“Have fun back there.” Louisa nodded, feeling her heart swell with happiness as she watched his retreating back disappear into the kitchen.  A dreamy sigh escaped her lips before she could stop it, and then she heard Gabby giggle.  Whirling around, she eyed the younger ursithrope biting at the top of her pen.  Her eyes were sparkling as she lifted an eyebrow.

“What’s so funny?” Louisa asked, sinking down into the booth across from her.  “You’ve got that look on your face.....”

“Oh, nothing,” Gabby shrugged.  “I just think you two make a really cute couple is all.”

“Oh....” Louisa replied simply as she rested a palm against her hotter-than-hell cheek.  The smile practically gushed off her lips as she laughed again.