ROMANCE: SHIFTER: Shifter to the Max Collection (Dragon, Bear, Wolf and Panther Shifter Romances) (Paranormal Fantasy Romance Collection) (100 page)

Karyn had been waiting. She had known the exact moment that it would happen and she was ready. She held up her palm and released the light. The light that had been in her since she was an infant, since the day her mother had given it to her. The light that had given her strength when all seemed lost. The light that had helped her to save Samantha once before, and now the light that was going to be used to save the world.

The light hit Samantha at the exact instant that Jack released his power. Jack’s eyes went wide. He looked from Samantha to Karyn. “How?”

Karyn smiled with the last of her strength. “Retribution, Jack.”

The light Karyn shot was deflecting Jack’s power and sending it right back at him. He screamed once as the first bit of chaos hit him. As he screamed, his body crumbled into black dust that became an inky black cloud which swirled into nothingness and vanished.

Destroyed by his own weapon.

Sam rushed over to Karyn and laid her head in Karyn’s lap. “What… what happened to him?” She choked out.

Karyn was barely strong enough to speak. “The fabric was being torn by his ability to use his immortality as a gateway. He was using it as a lifeline.” She took a couple of shaky breaths, “It fed him, and he fed it. Now that power is being focused entirely on him. It will erase his memories, he will live his immortal life in perpetual pain and torment, and will never even be able to remember who he is.”

“It’s over.”

The three survivors left the prison. Leaning on each other for support, they headed back towards the department hospital. They were all in need of a weeklong vacation. No shape shifters, no evil gods, and no work. Just rest and relaxation. As they neared the tunnels leading up to the hospital, Killian paused. His breathing was still unsteady and he could barely walk on his own.

“There’s one thing I don’t understand.” Karyn and Sam stopped and leaned against the far wall.

“What’s that?” Sam asked.

“Sam, when we were back in the tunnels, back when we found you, you were a ghost. You said you were being mind-controlled by someone.”

“Yeah, I guess it was Jack.” Killian frowned as he held out his hand to Karyn who came willingly into his arms. He squeezed her tight and whispered in her ear. Karyn’s eyes widened. Sam stared at them for several seconds.

“What is it?”

“I was just wondering,” Killian said. “If Jack was controlling your mind while you were a ghost, how where you able to communicate with Karyn? Karyn looked long and hard at her sister, her only family in the whole world.

And then Sam lunged.

In one swift move, Killian leapt forward, caught Samantha by the waist, and pulled a small device out of his pocket zapping her in the back of the head with it, immediately rendering her unconscious.

When they got Sam back to Department 99, the department psychologists were certain they would be able to successfully piece her back together. They gave a favorable prognosis that they could reverse damage caused by Jack’s mind control. Killian did his best to assure Karyn there was nothing to worry about.

Later that evening, Karyn sat on Killian’s small metal bed slowly unbuttoning her blouse. Her eyes were glued to his, and she refused to look away. He had saved her life more times than she could count and she was finally ready—ready to let him in completely.

Killian came closer and kissed her gently on the lips. As always, he was ice cold, but the coldness of his flesh only added a new dimension to their familiarity. She now associated cold with safety—with Killian.

“Are you sure?” Killian asked, as he stared back at her wide-eyed. Karyn nodded with a slight smile. The lights in the room were down low.

Karen backed away and with a sexy half-grin, removed her clothing slowly until she stood completely bare. Killian stared in awe at her standing beautiful and vulnerable before him. He had envisioned this moment so many times, but never had it been quite this amazing.

He reached for her. She stepped closer and began to slowly remove his clothing. Killian allowed her to take the lead. He wanted her to feel empowered and in charge. He knew he had frightened her with his attack. He wanted her to understand that if it hadn’t been for the incredibly evil doings of Jack, it never would have happened.

Karyn marveled at his unbelievably beautiful physique. His muscles were chiseled and defined, and he seemed to burn with desire for her. His eyes looked at her with a strange kind of longing, as though he was starving, aching with hunger for her.

She understood his silent message. Tears of joy pooled in her eyes. Remembering how she felt when he had left her hospital room, when she thought that he was walking out of her life, she sobbed, “I never want you to leave me.”

Killian leaned forward wrapping his arms tightly around her pulling into his embrace. He whispered a promise in her ear. “I will protect you, Karyn, and love you with my entire being until the day you die,”

When the sun rose on Department 99, they were both deep underground in a lower level designated as agent’s quarters, fast asleep in one another’s arms.

THE END

SNOWBOUND WITH THE ALPHA

STORY DESCRIPTION

MIRA 
Curvy Mira Jenkins has sworn off men. After suffering a traumatic experience at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, she just can’t get to that trusting place- not with any man. On the outside, she is a confident, all-together business woman. Inside, she carries a residual fear and anxiety from her trauma that threatens to envelop her if she doesn’t manage to get the upper hand with it. 
Following her therapist’s advice, Mira plans a much needed escape from Denver’s city life in the form of a hiking excursion through the mountain trails. So what if her friend backed out at the last minute? Mira needs her getaway to keep her sanity in check and that means she’s going with or without a hiking buddy. 
*********************************** 
CADE 
Cade Donovan has seen war first hand. Different battle, different country, same senseless slaughter. Suffering from PTSD, he spends his days holed up in his secluded $4 Million estate deep in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. He no longer has any use for the human race and leaves his home only on rare occasions like when the wolf inside of him needs to run wild. 
When Cade finds an endangered hiker on an isolated trail, he is enraged at having his paradise invaded. His anger is short lived, however, once he realizes that the hiker is a sexy, curvy woman. 
He really has no choice. His sense of honor demands he help her, and soon she is lying in his bed while he offers his home as a sanctuary to recover from her injuries. 
How did that happen? 
No worries, it’s temporary. A day or two, max and then she’s gone. 
There’s only one problem. This woman stirs feelings in Cade that he hasn’t felt for a very long time. The way she tames his hot temper and soothes his beast is making it very difficult for Cade to say goodbye. Not to mention the fact that his wolf wants to keep her and claim her as his mate! 

“Honestly Amanda, there's nothing wrong with going out every now and then, letting yourself enjoy the wonders of nature!”

Mira Jenkins pouted into her iPhone. Her brow was furrowed in annoyance as she paced the room. Even so, she knew her pleading was in vain, she was pretty sure she was going to lose the argument but she had to at least give it a fair shot.

“Besides, you've been cooped up indoors so long, at work and at home, you'll go crazy without some fresh air!”

She placed a hand on her thick waist, drumming her index finger and waiting for a comment back from her best friend.

“I'm sorry, Mira, I just... Look, me and Randy haven't had much time together. Dealing with work and other obligations, we haven't had any couple time! C'mon, you've got to understand, next time? I
promise
I'll go with you the next time you are ready to go hiking, okay?” Her friend's voice begged on the line.

Mira, paced a bit more along the floor and let out an overly dramatic sigh. She tugged at the neck of her warm, black turtleneck that pressed a little too snugly against her throat.

“Alright, Amanda, I'll stop bugging you. But, when we get ready to go next time, you bring the hot chocolate, 'kay? I'll be taking the Pear Lake Trail.”

Mira smiled as she heard her girlfriend’s squeal of delight at being let off the hook, her eyes lingering briefly on the second pack on her floor.

“Okay, I promise, Mira. Thanks for understanding, hon, it's reeeeeeally important for us tonight!” Mira laughed at her friend’s voice. She sounded like a joyous puppy able to jump in the snow for the first time.

“Promise to use protection,” Mira said in a light, singsong tone, then, she heard the line go dead silent, a grin spreading along her lips.

She knew Amanda was as red as an apple at her comment. A short laugh slipped out before she disconnected the call, shaking her head with a big grin. She did love to torture her friend. Shy as heck, adorably so, and so naively innocent. So different from herself.

Mira stretched her arms above her head and wandered over to the window, letting out a calm slow breath as she eyed the view of the Rocky Mountains looming ahead in the distance. She had been hiking many times before, and loved the quiet, the invigorating exercise and the refreshing bite of chilled mountain air. The best thing about it though, was how well it served to clear her head of traumatic memories. She had tried so many different things, and actually not too long ago, she was afraid she was going to permanently lose her mind. It was her therapist who suggested finding solace in nature. Once she began taking regular hikes, she found them to be like a magic elixir. When she felt anxiety building, her hiking was like hitting a reset button.

It had been a little over a year since the constant emotional and physical abuse from her ex-boyfriend Jeremy had escalated to a peak resulting in him holding a gun to her temple, and an hours-long police stand-off. She still struggled with the memories, and there were occasional panic attacks and night terrors. But her twice monthly excursions into the mountains were her best defense against her anxiety.

She didn’t exactly have a hiker’s bod. Her thick, hourglass shape stood at 5'4”, but she still made commitments to herself. Each and every time she hiked those trails, she would find the marker she had set the time before, taking it further up the mountainside. It had become her chosen way of redirecting her anger and fear and, so far, it worked.

She tugged on her jacket and gloves, shouldered her pack, and straightened to look in the mirror. Bright blue eyes stared back, like pools of water, checking absently to see how she looked. Tired as normal, though she looked prepared. She
was
prepared to face the day ahead of her, climb that trail, and cast her worries aside.

Mira checked her pack once more, mentally ticking off each item on the checklist she kept in her head. Flares, ice picks, a small shovel, some supplies of food and water, and a medical kit. Her fingers ran along the rope she brought, checking to be sure there were no frays in the material. The rope was perfect- like new. Of course, she always packed extra clothes too, just in case. She was always cautious, and that included taking a buddy with her. Unfortunately, Amanda had been her last resort, and now that she had bailed, it was either cancel the trip altogether or risk it alone. The week at work had been rough, and she’d had more than a few nightmares. She totally needed to find her Zen. Cancelling, Mira felt, would be detrimental to her mental health right now. This time, just this time, she’d have to take the risk of a solo hike for the sake of putting her head back in order. It was worth it.

“That's everything, I think. Oof, this thing doesn't get any lighter.”

She let out a slight wince before straightening, and adjusting the pack onto her shoulders. With a partner, she could distribute some of the gear between the two of them. Alone, her pack was bordering on too heavy. She absentmindedly grabbed her phone before realizing what she was doing. The phone was of no use out there. The towers didn't extend that far. That was another relief. Setting her voicemail message to explain she was out hiking and wouldn't be back for a day or two, she turned her phone off and dropped it on her bed.

Mira paused before the door, smiling as she looked at a picture frame hanging on the adjacent wall. A lovely woman, looking like a far more mature version of herself was sitting in a rocking chair, holding a child in her arms.

“Take care of the place, Mom. I'll be back soon, okay?” she whispered.

It was a half-hour drive to the foot of the mountains and the sun was rising. She would have to hurry to get to the checkpoint by nightfall.

As she slid into her car, starting it and giving the engine a rev, she gripped the wheel tightly. Her jaw set, and she glared out of the windshield, her heart racing. There was a man walking on the side of the road. Was it…? He looked like….
It can’t be Jeremy.
She held her breath and grasped the steering wheel until her knuckles were white just to keep her hands from trembling. She was almost on top of the guy before she realized that while there was a slight resemblance, the man was definitely not Jeremy.
He’s in prison, you idiot,
she chastised herself. She really needed to stop seeing apparitions of him all over the city. Just one more confirmation of how badly she needed to get out of here today and spend some time in the mountains.

The six months she suffered gradually escalating mental and physical torment at the hands of Jeremy Mathers was bad enough to leave deep emotional scars, but that horrible afternoon that stretched into evening left her with bouts of fear and anxiety that slammed her at completely unexpected moments. PTSD was the diagnosis, but the label didn’t explain the bone deep horror that Mira could experience at times. She didn’t like to remember that particular event, but her therapist had insisted that she go over what she could remember again and again. She remembered his face contorted with rage. She remembered being bound to a chair, a rag stuffed in her mouth. She remembered being struck repeatedly in the head with the butt of his gun. She remembered going in and out of consciousness, and her own warm, sticky blood pouring down her face and dripping onto her lap. But she also remembered the trial and the day that Jeremy was led away in handcuffs after the final verdict of guilty.

She swore that day that never again would she allow herself to be used like that. No way in hell.