Nightshifters (3 page)

It was her.

Kate.

Colten’s pulse quickened. He had waited twenty long, lonely
years for this day.

Her body was different and her name now Jessie, but he
wasn’t fooled for a minute. Her soul was the same. The same sweet soul he had
spent nearly fifty glorious years with. After Kate had died, he had suffered a
painful emotional death. The only thing that kept him going was knowing that he
would somehow find her again. And now he had.

Colten’s heart picked up speed.

“Can I get you anything else?” The waitress set a fresh
basket of warm chips on his table. When her light green eyes met his, something
akin to recognition flickered within them. But then was gone in an instant.

Colten smiled. “No, thank you.”

Jessie moved away from the table. Colten reached out and
touched her arm. “On second thought, I’d like another glass of tea.”
Electricity charged the air around them.

Her eyes widened. “Have we met before? You seem so – so
familiar.” She twisted a strand of auburn hair.

Colten smiled to himself. There was that nervous habit of
hers that he had grown to love. And had missed for so long.

“Perhaps in another lifetime.” He grinned with amusement.
“But if you’re free this weekend, I’d like to get to know you better. How about
having dinner with me?”

Surprise flashed across her face. “I – I don’t know. I don’t
even know you.”

“All the more reason to have dinner with me.” He laughed.
Getting to know her again was going to be a delight. Even if he had to take it
slow. “I’m thinking Chinese. What do you think?”

“I love Chinese,” Jessie murmured thoughtfully.

I know.
“And maybe some strawberry ice cream for
dessert?” He arched a brow hopefully.

A mixture of worry, doubt, and temptation passed across her
features until she seemed to make up her mind about a nagging doubt. With a
laugh that lightened his heart she finally said, “Well, since you just offered
my two favorite things in the world, how can I say no? Besides, Friday is my
off day.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll pick you up Friday night at seven.”
Colten’s heart skipped a beat. His life with Kate would begin again.

The jaguar jerked at the intensity of the explosions that
rumbled through the ravine. Each burst ricocheted through the canyon like
detonated ammunition. The cat arched, scented the acrid air while the hair
along its back stood on end.

Smoke
.

Stiffening, the jaguar crept to the edge of the cliff, dug
its claws into the dirt, and looked over the edge. Billows of thick, black
fumes wafted up as red-orange flames licked at the foot of the mountain. The
feline snarled and flexed its muscles, twitching with fear. Smoke, thick as
tar, cloaked the animal. The jaguar sniffed again.

Jet fuel.

Strong pungent vapors burned the cat’s eyes, causing it to
blink. Leaping onto a nearby boulder, it watched the flames dance near the base
of the mountain still several thousand feet below. As the flames licked higher,
the smoke continued to swell. The feline’s heart slammed against its ribcage
and adrenaline surged through its veins.

Someone’s in danger.

With speed unknown to any man, the animal raced down the
mountain toward the wreckage.

Dr. Jared Fields squeezed the white cloth over the silver
bowl upon the oak nightstand. Cold water dripped between his fingers. The soft
splashes echoed in the silent room. He glanced at the woman lying in his bed
and gently blotted her perspiring forehead with the edge of the rag.

She stirred and exhaled a soft moan. Her lids fluttered open
revealing blank, light-green orbs that seemed to stare right through him.
Jared’s pulse quickened.

She’s awake
.

Finally.

“Where am I?” Her words came coarse and dry as fear
tightened her delicate features. She struggled to sit up.

“It’s all right. You’re safe now.” Jared pushed an
ash-blonde tendril from her bruised cheek. The purple-blue mark emphasized her
pale features. Angry abrasions covered her arms and forehead. She flinched and
fell back against the pillows. “You’re in my home. I’m Dr. Jared Fields. Can
you tell me your name?”

She cocked her head toward his voice then waved her hand
frantically across her face. “Anna Stodger.” Panic laced her voice, as she
fought the empty air in front of her. “I can’t see. Everything is dark. Why
can’t I see anything?”

Jared’s stomach clenched.
It’s worse than I thought
.

He forced his voice to remain calm even though his suspicion
that she might be blind seemed to be right on target. She had wavered in and
out of consciousness for the past few days never seeming to see him. He had
hoped it was due to her semi-comatose state. Now he knew better.

“I’m sure it’s just a temporary condition. The plane crash
caused trauma to your head.”

“Plane crash?” He watched as understanding dawned, and Anna
paled. “Where’s my father?”

Jared sucked in a deep breath and plunged a hand through his
hair. This was the part he’d been dreading. “I’m so sorry. He didn’t make it.
Neither did the pilot.”

Her strangled cry slid over him like sandpaper, and his chest
tightened. It was never easy to lose someone you loved. And he should know. Ten
years ago, Jared had lost everything that had meant anything to him. Now he
lived a life of solitude cradled deep within the Smokey Mountains. And he
preferred to keep it that way.

“How long have I been here?” Her words came out weary and
spirit-broken.

“Four days. The small plane crashed at the foot of the
mountain. You were the only survivor. I’m very sorry,” Jared repeated at a loss
for anything more comforting to say.

“You rescued me?”

Jared nodded, then realized she couldn’t see him. He cleared
his throat and continued, “I heard the crash and made it down the mountain just
as the plane burst into flames. I found you a lying a few feet from the
wreckage. You’re lucky to be alive.” He didn’t tell her that he had made it
down the mountain in record time due to his ability to shape shift.

“Yeah. Lucky…” She turned her head away from his voice.

Dusk had settled over the mountain. He knew she couldn’t see
it, but he could. And he knew what that meant.

A small reprieve from the misery he lived each day.

Jared shot a glance at his reflection in the silver bowl.
Dark hair and blue eyes stared back at him. Along with his grotesque and
contorted face. The distortion resembled one in a carnival mirror. The kind
children poke fun at in the House of Mirrors. It would be laughable if it were
not his real image. He should be used to the deformity by now.

He wasn’t.

Anger exploded through his veins, burning with such
intensity, he nearly ignited. Ten long years he had lived with the
disfigurement. Scars as deep as the Great Smokey Mountain canyons and lumps on
his right jaw and left cheek as bulky as the natural terrain he now called his
home. Remnants of an evil spell cast by a treacherous, love-struck witch — a
patient who had turned him into a disfigured beast of a man by day and shape
shifter by night. All because he hadn’t returned her sentiment. His only
reprieve from the torturous life was the few hours between dusk and dawn when
he shifted into another creature. And he forgot who he was if for a little
while.

Jared jerked his gaze from the bowl. His reflection always
caught him off guard. Several years ago, he had rid his home of all mirrors.
However, every so often, he would catch his image in an unsuspecting place. An
ugly reminder he would never find true love. No woman could ever love such a
monster.

Torn between his urgent need to put some distance between
them before Anna discovered his secret and the desire to make sure she was all
right, Jared hesitated beside her.

“Is there someone I should call? I’m sure your family is
worried about you.”

“There isn’t anyone. My father was all I had.” He heard the
raw emotion in her voice. “We were flying to New York. Dad had a job interview.
A formality more than anything. He was a shoe-in for the position.” Tears
choked her voice. “It was supposed to be a fresh start for both of us. We lost
Mom this past summer.” Her shoulders slumped. “I was going to apply for a
teaching position as soon as we settled.” Another wave of fear crossed her
face. “I-I don’t even have anywhere to go. We sold our house in Georgia.”

Jared shifted uncomfortably beside the bed. “I’m sorry for
your loss. I know this is hard for you, but you are welcome to stay here as
long as you need.”

A tear escaped the corner of her eye. “Thank you.”

Jared’s heart constricted at her pain. He wanted to comfort
her and help her through the tragedy. But what could
he
do? “I’m sure
you’re hungry. Would you like something to eat? A sandwich perhaps?”

Anna shook her head. “No, thank you.”

Jared swallowed hard. “I’ll let you rest then. If you need
anything just call me. I’ll be downstairs.”

In two long strides, he crossed the wooden floor and left
the room, relieved to put some distance between them. Anna’s presence in his
home triggered emotions that he had thought long since buried. And he didn’t
like it. Not one bit.

He reached the front door just as darkness swallowed the
mountain. Jared jerked open the screen and stepped onto the porch. He sucked in
the crisp mountain air, cleansing his lungs. Moonlight pooled into a spotlight
of white against the lush mountainside. Somewhere nearby crickets chirped their
own serenade. He spread his arms wide and embraced the chilly night.

Sovereignty.

His only reason to live.

Inhaling the precious scent of freedom, he released the
binding chains of his curse and allowed his body to morph into the jaguar. For
the next few hours he could forget that the man within was cursed to a life of
solitude. Only this time he would stay close to the house in case Anna needed
him. His gentle nature would give up those few hours of reprieve and morph back
into his disfigured body if she needed him. Even for a moment.