ROMANCE: Paranormal Romance: The Valley (Book One) (Fun, Sexy, Mature Young Adult Vampire Shape Shifter Romance) (19 page)

Chapter 5

Hanna waited for Tom outside of the conference room. Maddie had left him alone in there and Hanna was observing him through one of the glass walls and saw that he looked sad and she felt bad for him. She’d nearly scared the wits out of him in the hallway. She knew at the time, she’d been justified in her feelings, but knowing he’d been in her shoes, she pitied him now. When he didn’t get up and come out, she decided to go in.

Opening the door, she walked in, shut the door and crossed her arms. She stared at him for a moment and then walked over to the table and stood there debating on if she should sit down or not.

“So,” Hanna started to say and then noticed that Tom was crying. Feeling sorry for him she walked around the table stood next to him, then leaned over and gave him a hug. When he jerked away from her and fell out of his chair to the ground, she just stared at him. The man in front of her didn’t seem like he had his crap together, and she apparently intimidated him. He looked up at her with fear in his eyes and didn’t say a word.

“I’m not going to eat you,” Hanna told him and offered him a hand to help him up. “I’m sorry about the hallway earlier. I didn’t know the whole story. It sounds like you got put in a tough spot too. Do you want to talk about it?”

Tom shook his head no and then got to his feet, accepting her offer to help her up. “I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone.”

“Yeah, Avery told me how you got turned, I can see losing control on your first turn like that. I got lucky. No one was in my way when it happened to me.” She told him and shrugged.

“I bit you on purpose,” He whispered and looked guilty, staring at the ground for a moment before he looked back up at her. “You were beautiful and I was scared and I didn’t think any of this was real. I thought if I bit you, like she bit me, you’d be able to go through this with me and we’d be able to figure it out, together. But you ran away and I got scared and it just became a mess.”

“You bit me on purpose?” Hanna stared at him and for a moment had the urge to hit him again, but resisted.

“I’m sorry, I know, it wasn’t the right thing to do, but in the heat of the moment I didn’t think I was in reality anymore, I thought I was dreaming, or insane, or both. I didn’t know that this was going to be the outcome.” He looked at her and shook his head. “I get why you are mad, this ruined my life, and by doing what happened to me, I probably ruined yours as well.”

“Yes, you took away my family, because I didn’t know how to control my shift and I was scared I’d hurt them, I had to drop out of school because I was scared I was going to hurt someone, I had to get a job that I hate by the way, to survive and pay bills and isolate myself while I tried to learn how to deal with this.” Hanna sighed. “But, I’m here now, and Avery’s helping me, and he gave me a better job and soon I’ll be able to see my family again. I don’t know how I’m going to explain why I ran away from school or avoided them for so long though.”

“I killed someone.” Tom said. “I am here not because I bit you, but because after I bit you, I killed someone. I didn’t mean too, and now I have to deal with Avery’s pack to figure out what they are going to do with me. I don’t even think I get a second chance.”

“Who did you kill?” Hanna asked him, shocked. His fear, and sadness suddenly made a lot more sense to her. No wonder he’d thought she was going to kill him out in the hallway.

“It was the next full moon, I was fighting against the shift and my roommate came in. He thought I was drunk and started messing with me. He was high on coke, and the next thing I know, I was a wolf and I’d ripped his throat out to make him stop screaming.” Tom started to cry. “I’ve known that boy since middle school and I killed one of my oldest friends. I hope they kill me. I don’t want to live with this guilt. I’m a horrible person, I’m evil, and I turned you into a monster too.”

Hanna stood there staring at him. She realized that looking back, she’d had opportunities to hurt people, and she had always been able to control herself enough to get out of the situation and control her instincts and urges; even when she was scared.

“You didn’t turn me into a monster Tom.” Hanna told him. She believed what she was saying, and while she couldn’t fix his life, she could at least give him a little peace about hers. “I’m not happy you bit me, but I haven’t hurt anyone, I’m not a monster, my life will get better, and to be honest, there are some pretty cool perks with being a werewolf that I don’t mind when I think about the pros and cons.”

“So you don’t want to kill me too?” He sniffled and wiped his face with the back of his hand.

“No, I don’t want to kill you.” She told him, and then patted his shoulder gently. “Tom, you may have done a bad thing, but something bad happened to you and you didn’t know what was going on. It doesn’t bring back the person you killed, but there’s a chance you can learn to control this, and move forward. You may get a second chance, and if you do, don’t waste it.”

Tom nodded at her and sat back down at the table, waiting. “You should probably leave. The council is coming to talk to me and decide my fate.”

Hanna nodded at him, but she couldn’t just leave the man here like this. She had to talk to Avery. She couldn’t let him weigh in on this without giving him her side of things and her opinion. Tom might have done stupid things, made mistakes, but he was a victim in all of this too.

Chapter 6

Hanna went to Avery’s office and found him on the phone. He held up one hand to silence her until he finished his call. There were no signs of their earlier lovemaking and she tried hard not to think about it.

It didn’t take him long before he hung up; he slipped his cellphone into his pocket and looked at her, waiting for her to start talking.

“Avery, I went and talked to Tom.” Hanna said, and hesitated, not quite knowing what to say.

“Alright.” Avery shrugged and looked at her, he blinked a couple of times and then walked around the desk to stand closer to her. “And?”

“I think he’s made some mistakes. I think he needs to be watched carefully, and someone to help him. He clearly isn’t in control enough to be on his own out there, but I don’t think killing him or locking him up is the answer either.” She spewed out, talking fast and blinked at him.

“So you don’t want to beat him to a bloody pulp anymore?” Avery let out a chuckle. “We aren’t going to kill him.”

“Okay, good, I think he deserves some consequences for making such poor decisions, but a lot of it was made under duress and I feel bad for him. He’s clearly a… sensitive man.” Hanna looked up at Avery and blinked twice then started to laugh. “Okay, he’s more than sensitive… he’s a weepy, whiney person who can’t figure out how to take care of himself. He’s like… I don’t even know what to call him. But I definitely don’t think he is entirely responsible for all that happened following his getting bit.”

“I mostly agree with you. So don’t worry Hanna, I won’t let anything bad happen to Tom, but I also won’t let him be put in situations where he can hurt anyone else either. He needs to learn self-control before he can be around anyone, and what natural talent and control you had, he didn’t have. Someone got hurt, we have to ensure that doesn’t happen again.” Avery said and patted her on the arm.

“He feels guilty. He killed his own friend. Admittedly, a friend on drugs, but still, the man was his friend.” Hanna said and grabbed Avery’s hand, covering it with her own; she liked his touch, it soothed her. Whatever was between them was just growing stronger. Every time she got near him, she could almost feel his heart beating across the room.

“He will need time to process what he did, to work through it, to forgive himself. He has to forgive himself for what he did to you too before he can move on in his life. We will have him work on this before he can be around others, we won’t put him in a dungeon, we aren’t evil princes out to torture innocent victims, I promise.” Avery said and then his eyes twinkled as he looked at Hanna. “Unless of course, you want to be locked in my dungeon.”

“Do you have a dungeon?” Hanna asked before she could stop herself.

“Maybe, would you like to come to my house tonight to find out?” Avery asked her, his expression grew serious for a moment and before she could answer, he started talking again. “Hanna, I… this is probably bad timing, and you may not be ready to hear this.”

“What?”

“Wolves mate for life. We aren’t like humans. We start the mating bond and it grows until we either accept it, or it consumes us and we go insane. I can’t wait much longer to tell you because you need to understand what it would mean for both of us if we tried to deny it.” Avery whispered to her now, cupping her face. “You and I, we are mates. We can try to take things slow, but we can’t fight it. I didn’t want to scare you off, but seeing as how we ended up naked in here today, I don’t think it’s going to be the first time that ends up happening. The passion and lust is the start. It will keep growing, hotter until we feel like we are going to explode. It’s chemical, its mental, it’s emotional, it’s all tied together, and it can be very overwhelming. You’ve been through so much, to have to deal with a mate bond on top of it…”

Hanna didn’t know if she wanted to kiss him or run away. She stared at him for a moment and breathed. Slow, even, deep breaths. Promising herself she wouldn’t panic. She forgot about Tom, she forgot about everything but Avery. Focusing on him, she searched his face, his eyes, and committed everything about him to memory.

“I was not expecting you to say that to me,” she said, finally. Placing her hand over his ear she looked up into his face. “I may not have wanted to be a wolf at first, but the more I learn about it, the more I embrace it, the happier I am. The scientist in me is fascinated by everything; how it’s even possible that this is genetically possible. It goes against everything logical… so what’s one more illogical thing. A mate bond?”

“Are you laughing at me?” Avery said, his eyes widening.

“No, no I’m not laughing at you, I’m just… laughing.” Hanna started to laugh harder, until her stomach hurt and she had tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, just give me a minute.”

Avery stood there, watching her, unsure if he just broke her brain, or if she just completely lost it. He didn’t move, he was watching her, waiting for her next reaction as the news of everything sunk in. Everything had moved so fast for her, and this was no exception. The poor girl needed a break and he felt guilty he had to tell her about the mate bond so soon. He’d hoped they would have more time, but the sex had sealed their fate.

“Okay, okay, I’m better now. I can breathe, really.” Hanna put her hand on his shoulder and leaned up and kissed him, surprising him. “From the moment I saw you, I desired you. I trusted you. It made no logical sense. I should have run from you, avoided you, but I was drawn to you. I came to the building with your card because deep inside me, something was pulling me to you and I couldn’t tell myself no. If this mate bond is responsible for it, it makes as much sense as me losing my mind and acting completely out of character. I can’t say I love you yet, I don’t know if those words will ever come easily to me, but I know I want you. I know I lust after you, I know you fill my every waking thought and most of my dreams, not to mention fantasies.”

“Thanks, I think,” Avery muttered; he wanted her to love him. He was already halfway in love with her, but he knew he had a lifetime to understand their ways, and she was just learning. It was hard to be patient.

“What, you think you could tell me you love me already?” Hanna said and then blinked at him when he didn’t say anything. “No, that’s not possible, you barely know me.”

“I know you better than you think Hanna, I know that when you’re nervous you chew on your nails, I know you like your burgers medium rare, I know that you miss your mom and sister and you like to watch girly movies and eat popcorn with extra salt. I know you forget to do laundry and don’t wear underwear, and I know that you forgive people who’ve harmed you and have the biggest heart under that armor exterior you try to wear on the outside.” Avery told her and put his arms around her waist so she couldn’t get away. “I know that you are the type of woman I’d like to love. You are quirky and beautiful and funny. You are scared and shy and brave all at the same time. You aren’t afraid to stand up for what you believe in, and you aren’t scared of me.”

“Maybe I should be,” Hanna joked and then shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m not super good at this emotional stuff. I think that I’m open to figuring out what’s going on between us. I won’t run from you.”

“Good, or I’d have to chase you down, and maybe tie you up to my bed.” Avery grinned at her and then whispered in her ear. “I really do have a dungeon at my house. And handcuffs.”

“Kinky,” Hanna said and then let her head fall against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. For the first time since this ordeal had started, she felt safe, content. She didn’t know where she’d be tomorrow, or next week, but for today she knew she was okay.

THE END

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The Alpha

Scarlett Leblanc

The Alpha

Chapter 1

Christie felt like she was juggling everything in the kitchen, and there were still more things to be picked up. She had been working since lunchtime, and she was exhausted. But she prayed that her shift leader did not send her home, because she desperately needed the money.

Christie had been working as a waitress in Torrid, a fine dining establishment, for about 6 months. She was writing her PHD in social work, and while there was a small stipend for living as a PHD student, it wasn't enough to make ends meet. She already faced adversity left right and center, and not having enough money to pay her rent certainly didn't make things any easier.

Tall, at 5'8”, with dark ebony skin and curves that made a Romanesque statue look flat, Christie felt like people gave her sideways glances every where she went. She had a beautiful face, with high cheekbones, and large eyes that pooled brown, a face of a model, had she been thinner. But Christie didn't care about looks, or looking anything but acceptable. She wanted to help people; help the world. She was doing a PHD in social work in the hopes of helping those who were made outliers by societies around the world. The main focus on her PHD was Shifters, who were just emerging as a new sect of the human race. Shifters were seen as mutants, and often marginalized. They could shift into all sorts of animals: werewolves, tigers, lions, and bears. They had been around for hundreds of years, but now they were finally starting to come to light. However, because of people's reactions to them, of fear, and racism, they often kept their identities a secret. They looked normal when in their human form, and were often known to be handsome and strong, attracting people who couldn't understand that it was their very primal senses responding. Christie thought it was sad, the way they were treated. The world always felt the need to be prejudice against someone; discriminate against something. Hundreds of years ago, her people were slaves, but they had since gotten equal rights. She hoped that Shifters would one day be able to do the same, and she hoped to help them the way someone with privilege had once helped the slaves.

But today, the only thing that she could manage was the orders from the restaurant. It seemed everyone and their dog had come out to the poker tournament tonight, and they all wanted food at the same time, never mind the endless orders from the bar.  She couldn't keep up with it all, and there were two more hours until closing.

She balanced carefully, taking the orders to a table that had been shifting around for quite awhile. It was the high rollers table, and they were expressing frustration and anger to be limited by the house on how many chips they could have. Christie noticed about an hour ago, not being able to buy any more chips, they had started trading items they owned: jewelry, cars, even vacation homes. The money that was at the table must make up half of the world's wealth, and she couldn't even imagine living like that in her wildest dreams.

“We'll have another round of drinks, beautiful,” one of them looked up at her as she put the plates down, and nearly knocked them over in the process. Luckily, her fast reflexes caught on and she grabbed them before they fell.

Getting a better look at him, she knew right away that another drink was not a good idea. Pale with dark circles around his eyes, he did not look like a man who needed another drink. But despite all that, she couldn't help but notice how incredibly handsome he was. He had long hair that was slicked back, cutting off at the nape of his neck, and eyes that were a shade of brown and yellow that seemed like she could get lost in them. He had strong features, muscles on a lean frame. He was classically beautiful; the kind one would put on TV or in the movies. Out of instinct, she glanced at his finger, and was surprised to not see a wedding band. How did a man who looked like that not get swept up already?

Gathering her thoughts, she shook her head.

“Sorry buddy, you're cut off.” It had taken her a few months to tell people that, but after watching another waitress get fired for not drawing the line, she wasn't going to risk it.

“What?” he raised an eyebrow and his friends laughed.

She gathered all her courage, standing up straight as she took her tray.

              “I think you've been over served and I reserve the right to cut you off.”

“But beautiful...” he tried to convince her but she shook her head, backing away before she lost her nerve.

“Sorry,” she said, turning and heading back to the kitchen. She could lose her job if she over served and she really couldn't afford that right now. Tuition was due soon, and she would have to scrimp and save.  It must be nice to live the way they did, trading money as if it were nothing.

Christie went back to the kitchen to tidy up, and was startled by a voice behind her.

“Can I talk to you a moment, please?” he asked. Standing up, he was far taller than her, nearly 6'3”. A little older than her, she was again taken by how stunning he was. But his voice also startled her, and she felt her body tense.

“Look, I told you I can't serve you,” she said. “I could lose my job if I over serve people, and I really can't afford that right now.”

His eyes softened.

“I'm not inebriated, except by fever,” he said softly. “Although I realize that I look it. I've been sick is all. “

“Right...” she started to say. As if illustrating his point, a cough came out of him that was so loud, it sounded like cracked ribs.

“Are you alright?” Christie asked, putting down the dish she was carrying and stepping forward in concern. “I’m sorry, I can’t serve you…I can’t take the chance…”

“It’s fine,” he waived his hand. “Really, the last thing I need is a drink. But I need to keep them good and drunk if I’m going to win off them in my sorry state.”

She raised her eyebrow.

“Aren’t you at the high rollers table? Why do you need to win so bad?”

“It isn’t about the money,” he said, swallowing hard. She was worried he was going to throw up on her table any moment. “You may have noticed that we have begun trading objects. I gambled something I shouldn’t have, a greedy decision, and I do need it back. So please…I can pay well in advance, and you don’t have to bring me anything but water.”

She considered this for a long moment. On second glance, it did seem as if he was ill. But if she was wrong, and they switched drinks, she could still get in trouble.

Something about him, though, spoke volumes. He seemed so honest, so innocent, and just in a bad place. Whether money or not, if he had lost something of value, then she wanted to help him. There were many people who had helped her in various stages in her life, and Christie believed in Karma.

Although, she did have to admit, there was one more thing attracting her. There was something about this man that made her suspect, after years of studying them, that he was more than he appeared. The way his hair swept over his head, the way his eyes were shaped, the way he kept his collar buttoned up to his neck- something wasn’t right.  Christie had the sneaking suspicion he was a shifter.

She had never actually met one out in the open although she had met ones that came to her for her field of study, comfortable in their in deity and in well protected spaces. This man was clearly trying to pass as full human, and live a normal life.

Shifters sometimes got horribly ill like this; if their body chemistry was off, if they weren’t eating properly, if their magic was not working. She wondered if he had recently changed for the first time, or he didn’t have time to take care of himself. Either way, it was clear, high roller of not, that he needed her help.

She weighed it in her head. Her boss was gone, and the men weren't rowdy. There was no reason one more round of drinks would make them so. Besides, different judgment calls by different waitresses meant that, if they weren’t falling down or puking in an alleyway, someone else would likely serve them.

She glanced into his beautiful eyes once more, and then nodded.

“Fine….Have you eaten anything today?”

“No,” he admitted, wincing a bit. “It hasn’t been particularly…easy to keep anything down.”

“I can get you some toast,” she said. “Or some fries. Solid carbs help to settle the stomach.”

“That would be nice,” he said, reaching into his wallet and leaving a pile of folded bills on the counter. “Please, keep the change.”

Not wanting to bother her anymore, he walked out of the room. Despite his state, she thought he looked majestic, regal as he walked.

She wondered what kind of shifter he was as she went to count the pills. Bear or dragon were possible, they were both strong. But somehow, he didn’t fit the profile of either of those.

She nearly had a heart attack when she counted the money. It was hundreds of dollars over, leaving her with a tip that was more than she had made all month. She had heard of the high rollers being generous, but this was ridiculous.

She was sure that he had made a mistake, and she debated whether to tell him or not. If she kept it, she could be off work for the next two weeks and still have enough left over to pay next month’s rent.

But she couldn’t do that, she decided. If he had made a mistake, it would be super awkward in a few moments. And so, she readied the order, going over the wording in her head.

Finally, when all the drinks were on a tray and a plate of extra salty fries were steaming, she picked it up, approaching the high rollers table from the back.

She could see that he was winning, and she scanned the table of objects and chips, trying to figure out what exactly it was that he had gambled away. There were car keys and house keys, as well as folded pieces of paper and various bits of jewelry.

Just as she was putting down the new drink, she spotted it. It was a blue signet ring, with the shape of a werewolf over it. It glowed slightly from the inside, and she realized at once what it was. He was a werewolf shifter, and the key to his magic was in there. If somebody walked away with that tonight, he would likely die. Hell, the fact that it was even off his finger for more than five minutes was probably what was causing him to degenerate that fast.

Her eyes widened and she glanced at the gentleman who had it. Looking over his shoulder, she could see that he had a full house.

The werewolf shifter was growing paler by the minute, and she knew they were running out of time. She had to do something and fast, especially if he didn’t want his indecent exposed.

“Sir,” she said, as she handed him the fries. “You left me a rather large tip. Did you mean to over pay by…” she dropped to his ear, whispering what was supposed to be the total. “A full house.”

He didn’t react, although it was clear he heard. Nodding only slightly, as if she were an annoying waitress, he let her leave, and re-arranged his cards, giving him the winning hand.