Shadowed Instincts (18 page)

Tara’s lips lifted in a small smile that didn’t quite reach
her eyes. “I love you too, Mel.”

“Where’s mom?” Melanie asked when she walked back into
Darren’s office wiping her tears. Her conversation with Tara went well, all
things considered, but she still hated feeling distant from her best friend.

“She’s on her way to the airport to pick up Jeremy’s mom and
dad. It’s a couple of hours away, so she had to leave and didn’t want to wake
you up so early.”

Jeremy walked through the door and put his arms around
Melanie. “How did it go with Tara?” he asked.

“Good, I guess. She is going to need some time to accept all
of this, but she doesn’t hate me.”

“She could never hate you,” Jeremy said, squeezing her
tight.

He held out his hand, a shiny object hanging from his
fingers. Melanie sucked in a quick breath and reached for it.

“My bracelet,” she whispered, breathing a sigh of relief. “I
thought I’d lost it and I had no idea how I was going to tell you.”

“I found it in the woods. It must have slipped off when you
shifted.”

“Jeremy, maybe you should keep it. What if I lose-”

“No, Mel. It’s yours. Last night was an extreme situation
and you shifted without realizing what was happening. You’ll have control over
it soon. You’ll be able to take it off first.”

He took it from her and clasped it around her wrist. Pulling
her hand to his mouth, he kissed it and squeezed it tight before letting go.
Melanie wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him in for a hug. At the
sound of Darren clearing his throat, they pulled apart quickly.

They sat down wearily in the chairs across from Darren.
Melanie was exhausted, but too wound up to sleep.

“So…what’s next?” she asked.

“I’ve contacted the local authorities. Chris’s body was
found this morning in the woods. It appears he was attacked by a wild animal,
possibly a bear. Everyone on the compound will back that story up.”

“What about his parents?”

“The local police will notify them and they will be able to
pick up his body at the coroner’s office.”

Melanie choked on a sob. She had no idea how she was going
to cope with the fact that she had killed someone. Chris was one of her best
friends, or so she had thought, and Jeremy’s only cousin. She looked over at
Jeremy and saw his downcast eyes were starting to water as well.

“Well,” she began, clearing her throat, “if that’s
everything, we are going-”

“Not quite, darlin’,” Darren said, causing her to stop and
look at him.

Darren stared at her intently for several beats before he
spoke. “I want you to listen to me, Melanie. This was not your fault. That boy
was going to kill Jeremy, you, me and Declan. Probably Tara, too, since she
witnessed the whole thing. You protected yourself, your mate, and your whole
family. I am here to help you through the next few months as you transition.”

“Transition? What are you talking about?” Jeremy exclaimed,
looking wildly from Darren to Melanie and back at Darren again. “What kind of
transition?”

Darren looked at him, his eye widening slightly. “Haven’t
you figured it out, son? Chris was the alpha.”

“Yeah…I know that.”

Darren walked around his desk and came to stand in front of
Jeremy and Melanie. “Melanie, you killed Chris.” At her vague nod, he added,
“You killed the alpha of the Jeremy’s pack.”

“Mr. Wilkes,” Jeremy interjected, “I’ll testify, or whatever,
for her. She’s not going to suffer for protecting-”

Darren cut him off with a wave of his hand, then stared deep
into Melanie’s eyes, willing her to understand. Jeremy inhaled sharply and
shook his head vigorously. “No,” he whispered in disbelief. Melanie heard it as
if he had spoken directly into her ear.

“What the hell is going on?” Melanie shouted standing up
with agitation.

Jeremy stood and grabbed her hand. He started pulling her
toward the door in a panic. “No, no, no,” he said repeatedly as he dragged her
forward.

“Jeremy, stop!” Melanie shouted, trying to break through his
hysteria.

Jeremy froze and Melanie’s momentum took her forward,
causing her to bump into his back. When he didn’t turn around or move at all,
she walked in front of him and waved her hand in front of his face.

“Jeremy? What’s wrong?”

“Release me, Mel,” he whispered quietly.

“What do you mean? I’m not holding you.” It was evident in
her voice that panic was overtaking her.

“Tell me I can move.”

“What the-”

“Just say it!” he shouted.

“Move!” she shouted back.

Jeremy’s body relaxed and he turned and stumbled back to the
chair he had been sitting in. Melanie followed behind him, a look of confusion
on her face. She sat down next to him and looked at Darren when Jeremy refused
to meet her eyes.

“What is going on?” she asked. Her voice was shaking as she
teetered on the brink of hysteria.

“Melanie,” Darren said firmly, staring deep into her eyes. “You
killed Chris. According to cynanthrope law,
you
are the new alpha of the
Oklahoma pack.”

To be continued…

I would like to start by thanking my family. You have all
been so patient and supportive throughout this writing process.

I would also like to send a huge thank you to Samantha Britt
and Kat Stiles for all of your help and ingenious suggestions. This book
wouldn’t be what it is without you!

Thank you to FrinaArt over at selfpubbookcovers.com for
putting together the cover for me when I couldn’t find what I was looking for
in your gallery. It’s perfect.

And last, but definitely not least, I thank my readers.
Thank you for following Melanie and Jeremy’s story. It warms my heart to know
that others love them as much as I do.

If you
enjoyed Shadowed Instincts, please take a moment to leave a review on Amazon.
Those reviews really help us indie authors out and are very much appreciated.

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