Survivor: A Shifter of Consequence Tale (Shifters of Consequence Book 1) Page 3

  “Can I order for you?” he inquired. “Normally I wouldn’t, but this place has some specialties.”

  “Okay.” This was starting to feel like a date.

  “Any allergies?”

  “Not that I know of.” Not that I’d had a big culinary variety at home. My caregivers had stocked the house with rather ordinary fare. “What are you getting?”

  “Everything.”

  I laughed but the waitress took his order for a “number one special” and returned with a tray holding so many small pies and tarts I couldn’t count them. Each one was just big enough for one or two bites. And despite Brandon’s enormous shifter appetite, I still had a half dozen in a box tied up with string to take home for later. He picked up the check, of course. I was sure his mother had instructed him to always pay the bill for a female, but I still appreciated it. As I drove us home, I wanted to do something in return.

  “Thank you for such a nice meal. I can’t remember ever feeling so ordinary.”

  He turned from looking out the window to stare at me. “Ordinary? I certainly never intended to make you feel every day. I think you’re very special.”

  “No.” I flashed him a smile before turning toward my driveway. “You don’t understand. It was wonderful. Nobody knew I have trouble walking. You made it seem like we were strolling along together.” Tears gathered on my lashes, and I blinked them away. “In this case, ordinary was very special.”

  “I never thought…”

  “Even more special. You treat me like a person.” I drew a deep breath and forced back the threatening sniffles. “And on that note, I’d like to invite you to dinner one day soon, when I finally get unpacked and get groceries in.”

  His smile warmed the whole car. “It would be my pleasure.”

  We said goodbye at the door, and he zoomed off down the street in this little sports car. Maybe I could ride in it one day, although not having my chair would terrify me. What if there were an emergency? An accident? No. I wasn’t ready.

  Not even pushing myself.

  An hour later, the doorbell rang, and I opened it to an Instacart delivery of a dozen bags of groceries. I had no doubt who sent them.

  Chapter Five

  Who in their right, or in this case, wrong mind signed up for a math class at nine in the morning?

  Oh, me.

  I tended to do these kinds of things. I made lists and schedules and had grand ideas in my head about how things would go. Perfectly to plan, of course.

  Then reality would slap me across the face.

  Twenty minutes to get to class. Sure. If I didn’t have to find a handicap parking space and then get my chair out only to realize I had no idea where the buildings were in this place that could’ve been a maze from my vantage point.

  Good thing I knew reality would try to slap me and had left thirty minutes early.

  Gotta watch out for the bitch.

  “Let me get that for you,” a voice, deep and rich, blanketed me while I reached for the door to the classroom.

  “Thank you,” I said as the man with a killer smile winked at me and held the door wide enough I could roll right through with no problem. Inside, I groaned internally at the layout. It was one of the stadium-looking classrooms, which gave me only one choice given the endless stairs to the other seats. I had to sit in the front. Homeschooling and online education had saved me all these issues in the past. My enthusiasm for in-person classes was waning fast, and I hadn’t had one class yet.

  To my surprise, the man with the manners who had opened the door for me sat in the chair next to me. I got out my notebook and the syllabus I’d printed according to the instructions in the email from the professor.

  Half of it looked like another language.

  Clearly, my homeschooling had lacked something.

  But I was here to fill in the gaps in my life and, apparently, education.

  “I’m Moss,” my new friend said, waiting until I’d settled before he stuck his hand out. His smile could make puppies pass out.

  “I’m Wendi,” I answered, clasping his hand to find it warm and firm, the ridges of calluses rubbing against my more fragile skin. A tingling moved from my fingers into the veins in my wrist. The sensation wasn’t scary. In fact, I would’ve taken a double dose of it if he hadn’t pulled back.

  Moss crossed one leg over the other knee, facing me a little. “It’s nice to meet you, Wendi. So, what made you sign up for geometry this early in the morning? My brothers told me I’m the only person my age who willingly wakes up at the crack of dawn to do math.”

  I huffed out a soft laugh. “Yeah, well, I’m questioning myself on that one, especially since I looked over this syllabus and thought I might’ve signed up for Greek instead of math.”

  He chuckled low and slow like a cauldron of sexy laughter lay in his chest. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m excellent at this stuff. I could help you if you need it.”

  The professor walked in, briefcase in hand, pushing his glasses up with his free hand.

  I lowered my voice to say, “Let’s see how it goes. I might have some hidden affinity I don’t know about.”

  Moss mumbled something like, “You have no idea, female,” under his breath, but I shook my head. That would’ve been the weirdest thing for him to say.

  I needed more coffee.

  By the time the class was over, I felt like I was in an ocean and only my nose and mouth were above water level. First day in this class and I was on the verge of drowning.

  I put my things in my bag, chastising myself for not studying harder in school. The tingle went over my body again but this time started at the base of my neck and spindled down my spine. In my peripheral, I saw Moss run his fingers through his strawberry-blond hair, cut shorter on the sides, and falling longer on the top. His thick eyelashes batted a few times while he put his things away.

  “You have other classes today?” He probably knew I was looking at him but didn’t care to call me out.

  “No. I only signed up for part-time since I didn’t know how this whole college thing would work. I figured I’d give myself time to get used to it before diving in. I’ve only done online until now.”

  He nodded. “Well, I need coffee. Care to join me? My treat, and I can give you the lay of the land.”

  While I had no official link to Brandon, his face came to mind anyway. He and I could be friends, though the swirling in my chest every time he was near told me there was more to be had.

  Still, the pull toward Moss was equally undeniable.

  It was just coffee, right?

  “Sure. I’d like that.”

  He stood and slung his brown leather messenger bag over his shoulder then walked ahead to open the door again.

  The books were right. There were still gentlemen in the world.

  I kept pace with him through the commons area and toward a cart with a menu offering coffee and pastry. The alluring scent of warm blueberry muffins nearly made me dizzy with desire and hunger. Damn it, I shouldn’t have left home without some kind of breakfast.

  “What’s your pleasure?” He touched my arm. That sizzle softly pulsed through my skin.

  “Um, a flat white would be great.”

  “Flat white. Good choice. If you want to go sit over there under the tree, I’ll be right there.”

  I rolled over to the place he’d directed me to and waited. People passed me by. Most of them chose not to look up, like I wasn't even there. Others gave me that tight-lipped smile, no-teeth-showing thing people tended to reserve for strangers.

  I didn’t know which one was worse.

  “Here you go,” Moss’s voice sliced through my thoughts like a sharp pair of scissors. He handed me a cup then swung a white paper bag in the air. “These smelled beyond good, so I decided to get some since we are both hungry.” His brow dipped after he said that almost like he hadn’t meant to.

  I didn’t know how he knew I was hungry, but I wasn’t going to turn down a muffin.
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  What girl in her right mind did?

  Not this one.

  “Thank you. So, you’re a freshman, too?” I decided generic college talk was the way into knowing this guy better.

  “I am. I have no clue what I want to major in, so the counselor put me in the GE classes until I figure myself out.”

  I nodded while chewing. The muffin was insanely good. And huge. We could have easily shared one, except he had already devoured most of his.

  “Yeah, I have no idea either.”

  We sipped our coffee while people watching, a comfortable silence between us. “So, what did you think of class this morning?” he asked after a few minutes.

  “I think I’m already lost, and it’s day one. But I don’t want to inconvenience you. I’m sure you have other things to do, or maybe a girlfriend.”

  Never before had I wanted to smack myself in the forehead more than in this moment.

  Obvious must’ve been my middle name.

  Wendi Obvious Walker.

  He blushed, and I almost melted out of my chair right on the spot. Gods, the man was gorgeous. He stared at me for a moment, those mint-green eyes seeming to search for something in mine.

  “There’s no girlfriend for us, Wendi. I’m waiting for…” He cocked his head like he couldn’t find the right words. “I’m only interested in my true mate.”

  My body seized up at those words. “Did Brandon send you?”

  He shook his head with another one of those core-tightening chuckles. “No, Wendi. He didn’t. We are pack brothers. I had no idea we would be in the same class this morning until I saw you in the hallway.”

  Disappointment flooded my veins. Pack members stuck together. He talked to me and was nice to me because his alpha and those pack rules told him to be.

  “Well, I’d better get home.” I put my cup in the holder on my left and placed the white bag, half a muffin still in it, in my lap. I gave a little wave.

  “Already?” He looked semi-panicked. He’d probably been instructed to keep me entertained or something. A shame. I thought at first he liked me.

  “Goodbye, Moss.”

  He placed his hand on my arm, and all intent of moving away paused. So we are clear, my talking to you has nothing to do with the pack I am in, Wendi. You are… If I’d seen you anywhere, I wouldn’t have been able to deny the need to speak to such a beautiful woman.”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  I wheeled away, kind of wishing I’d never moved to Midnight Alder.

  Chapter Six

  I assumed the text I got later in the week inviting me to a pack bonfire on Friday night was from the alpha or, more likely, one of his betas. There was no signature beyond Admin, Midnight Alder Pack. The text, although phrased politely, was more a summons than a request.

  Aka, I was expected to attend.

  They made it sound so nice.

  So, on the appointed day, after I got home from school, I showered and dressed, already exhausted from the day. Just getting to and from classes, added to having to listen at the pace of the professors rather than my own, as online learning tended to be, was enough to have me dropping into bed wiped out as soon as I ate dinner and did homework each night. As I got dressed in clothes I hoped were casual enough for the occasion but enough to show I’d cared enough to look nice, I groaned at all the unpacked boxes—stacks upon stacks of them.

  Tonight was supposed to be an unpacking party for me, invitation for one. Despite being exhausted, it had to be done sometime. Instead, I was looking in the mirror, wondering if this off-the-shoulder maroon sweater with jeans was appropriate for a pack bonfire.

  Also, did I care?

  Fuck, I wish my parents had lived long enough to teach me something about this stuff. Oh well. I would have to wing it. It wasn’t as if I’d asked to be part of the pack. At all. I wanted to live in peace and go to school. While I thought of all the incredibly hot guys in this pack, my cheeks heated. Midnight Alder was heavy in the eye-candy department.

  I drove myself over to the lands, remembering how to get there even with Brandon’s wonky last-minute driving instructions.

  The man at the gate smiled at me as I passed through, but, after that, loneliness and not belonging settled in my chest when the truth blanketed my consciousness.

  I knew nothing about shifters, other than from reading paranormal romances.

  I’d rarely seen someone shift other than my parents and had faint memories of that. I didn’t remember what it was like to shift, although I knew I had.

  Something inside me wished I did. Ached at the loss.

  Then again, maybe it was better than knowing. Knowing and having stronger, more vivid memories of that time would probably make me miss it even more. No need in missing something I couldn't have.

  “Hey, good lookin’.” Brandon’s voice tore through my thoughts as I parked and killed the car engine.

  I demanded my blush take a back seat. I couldn’t remember blushing before coming here, and now it had become a nearly daily thing. He was one of those flirty guys. At least, that was what I tried to convince myself of.

  “Hey, Brandon.”

  Before I could say anything, he’d gotten my chair out and sat it next to my car door so I could transfer from the car seat to the chair.

  More than one person stopped to look.

  He’d said before he didn’t know any shifters who didn’t shift. I’d bet there were even fewer in wheelchairs. Maybe just one.

  “Don’t pay attention to them. They’re shaken by your beauty,” he said, bending down to whisper in my ear, making me shiver and not because of the cold.

  “Right. That must be it,” I quipped and rolled in the direction where the masses seemed to be headed. The scent of burning wood and smoke filled my nose, making me smile, reminding me of camping trips when I was very little. I had very few details, more like memory snapshots of happy times.

  I stopped a fair distance from the fire. No need to make more of a spectacle of myself. Stay in the shadows. Keep quiet. Roll away with my dignity. Those were my goals for the night.

  Doable? Hopefully.

  “We would like to introduce everyone to our newest pack member,” the alpha’s deep voice boomed out, stilling the restless movement and low chatter of the crowd.

  Nope, not doable.

  At all.

  “This is Wendi Walker. She’s recently moved into the old Thompson house and is attending the local community college. If you have time tonight, please make her feel welcome.”

  Brandon had cupped my bare shoulder with his warm hand sometime while the alpha spoke, but after the announcement was made, not another person looked in my direction.

  “Now, it’s time for us to run together if you are able. Midnight Alder wolves, let’s go.”

  At his command, the men and women stripped off all their clothing and, of one accord, fell to all fours. Instead of humans, wolves pranced in the clearing.

  I held my hand over my mouth to contain the gasp, but I was sure I’d been heard.

  Brandon was pure white with one silver sock, and he rubbed against my legs as I ran my hands through his thick, soft fur. He yipped at me and then took off with the others.

  If I could run like the wind, I wouldn’t stick around with me either.

  All of a sudden, that want for something I didn’t remember having was there, throbbing in my chest like a savage lust.

  To run. To change into a beautiful animal. To be free. To sprint like the wind.

  After they were all out of sight, I rolled into the shadows under a tree to stay until they were back. I wasn’t sure but thought it was the thing to do.

  “Being new kind of sucks, right?” I whipped my head in the direction of the soothing voice curled around me like a tendril of delicious campfire smoke.

  Sitting next to me, his back against the tree, was a man about my age, maybe a little older. His black hair almost matched his black T-shirt exactly, and there was a scar along his jawline.
How I didn’t see him before confused me.

  “That’s the slightest of my suck tonight,” I answered. Might as well be honest.

  “You wish you could run with them?” He turned to me, revealing golden-brown eyes gleaming in the residual flickers of light coming from the fire.

  “I do. Don’t you?” I looked at his legs, wondering why he wasn’t with them. With his pack.

  “Sometimes. But my wolf wouldn’t appreciate it. He’s still too…feral to run with them. He’d chew them up and spit them out one by one and enjoy the process.”

  I may have been mistaken, but he sounded proud of the fact.

  “At least you can…” I reached out to touch his hair, not thinking. “Shit. Sorry.”

  He leaned over and rested the side of his face against the wheel of my chair. “It’s okay. We wolves are touch-thirsty monsters.”

  I swallowed around the boulder in my throat and combed my fingertips through his thick hair, the blackness almost blue under the light of the moon filtering through the branches of the tree above us.

  I swore the man groaned as I did.

  “Do you run alone?” I asked, playing with the blunt ends of his hair between my fingers and thumb, not willing to let it go yet.

  “Yeah. When there’s no one else out.”

  “What’s it like?” I asked, cracking my chest open for the night and this virtual stranger to see.

  “Running?” He looked up at me, and I realized I didn’t know his name. Still, there was a tether between us I couldn't explain. Something instant and yet like it had been embedded in my skin always.

  “Yeah, running. As a wolf.”

  He chuckled and put his hand on my knee. Not in the sexy territory of the thigh, but so damned close I shuddered. But I got no creepy feeling from him. Only comfort and security.

  What was it about these wolf men?

  “It’s like…being your true self. It’s like this human body is a cage for something greater and yet something simpler at the same time. You’ve never shifted?”

  I shrugged one shoulder and forced myself to stop stroking his hair. “I used to when I was a kid, but I don’t remember anymore. And now…I can’t.”