Bear Next Door (Shifter Protection Agency Book 1) Page 13

  “You ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be.” The sound of the approaching shifters got closer and closer and Sam shifted, waiting.

  Time to end this.

  The first thing through the doorway was three of the biggest, ugliest looking mutants Sam had ever seen. Great strings of blood-flecked saliva dribbled down on either side of their mouths and their eyes seemed to glow in the fluorescent lights. Sam only realized that these disgusting creatures were leashed when a tall woman walked in behind them, holding onto two lengths of cloth attached to the mutants’ necks. She was smiling viciously – pretty face contorted in anger. Sam and Axel shared a look. This wasn’t what they were expecting. They recognized her. Granted, Carmen Young wasn’t anyone of importance. they’d seen her at a few of the meetings David held with all the local sleuths. Hers was usually responsible for whatever territory war was going on at the time.

  “Well, if it isn’t David’s boys,” she cooed, looking back and forth between the two of them. The mutants snapped and snarled at one another between them. “Come on, now, aren’t you going to talk to me? It’s only polite, you know.”

  Sam knew he shouldn’t. He was more powerful in this form, his senses more alert. But he was curious. He shared another look with Axel who tilted his head.

  “You cannot be serious right now.”

  Sam shifted back, taking a cautious step forward. He could feel Axel’s eyes drilling holes in his back as he stopped a few feet away from Carmen, carefully out of reach of her pet monsters. She looked him up and down and he was overcome with the urge to cover himself. Her gaze felt nothing but predatory.

  “Hello, darling,” she said sweetly.

  “Quite the pets you've got there,” Sam remarked, gesturing to the hybrids who were sniffing around each other like dogs meeting out on a walk. “Why in the fuck do they exist.”

  “Do you like them? From the sounds of things, they’re really giving your agency a run for your money,” she laughed, eyes glinting. “As soon as we’re done here, they’ll start on the humans. I’m going to have so much fun watching them get torn apart like foxes on a hunt. Maybe I’ll mount a couple on my wall…”

  “This woman is insane.” Axel’s voice echoed through his head and Sam had to agree. To create a race of monstrous hybrids just to take revenge on a handful of humans? Ripping through the agency, knowing they were the only ones that could stop her. Sam felt his hackles rise and he shifted back into his bear form. Carmen laughed and he leaped at her without warning. She dropped the reins and the monsters ran free, heading straight for Axel on the other side of the room. Sam managed to strike out at one of them as it passed, opening up its side and sending it sliding across the floor and into a heavy oak bookcase that pinned it to the floor.

  Carmen shifted underneath him and before Sam could react, her claws found his face, narrowly missing his right eye. He reared back in pain but dove at her again, determined to move through it. They traded blows, never giving the other a second to breathe. Carmen was a brilliant fighter. She was smaller than him and slighter but she knew how to use her size to her advantage, slipping under more than half of his attacks and sinking her claws into him as she skated past.

  He was losing; body exhausted and aching, making him sloppy as he tried desperately to counter Carmen’s attacks.

  Please, Laura, hurry. He didn’t think he could last much longer. Across the room, Axel wasn’t faring much better. He was the largest of their group, had thrown every single one of them to the training mat countless times. He’d even pinned David once – a feat none of the rest of them had managed. Now though, he looked so small facing off against two monstrous wolves.

  Carmen was laughing, claws dripping with Sam’s blood as she continued circling him. His legs felt like they were about to give out, his vision going blurry. He couldn’t let her win. If she won then Laura and every other human in Mystic would be hunted for sport – made to suffer like his parents had. He couldn’t let that happen.

  There was a faint siren far off in the distance, getting louder and louder until it deafened them all. The mutants recoiled, squealing hellishly as suddenly the sprinkler system kicked into life. The water was slightly green and as soon as it hit the mutated shifters, they dropped like flies, writhing on the ground for a few long moments before going still. Carmen screamed, throwing herself forward at him but Axel was there, meeting her swipe with one of his own and there was a sickening crack as both of their arms snapped in the collision. Sam struggled to his feet, determined to help his brother and they shared a look, moving as one. Sam dove for Carmen’s throat and Axel her sternum. The sow shrieked as their claws ripped into her and then she was gone, her body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

  Sam and Axel stared at each other, breathing heavily. Sam’s vision swam and he could feel himself swaying, unable to hold up his own weight. The sprinklers continued to rain down on top of them, cool and fine.

  That’s my girl, he thought with a smile and then his vision went black.

  Epilogue: Sam

  Epilogue

  Sam

  “Now crack the eggs into a bowl.” Stella’s voice was distorted through the phone on Facetime and Sam eyed the frying pan with suspicion as it sizzled on the hob. “For fuckssake Sam, it's not gonna burn you.” There was laughter in her voice now and Sam scowled at her.

  “Keep your voice down, you’re going to wake her,” he hissed, casting a furtive glance at the ceiling.

  He and Laura had been living together for six months and he knew it wouldn’t take much to wake her up. He cracked the eggs into a bowl and then, still following Stella’s impatient instructions, covered two slices of bread and set them crackling in the pan. Despite six months of lessons on how to make the perfect french toast, Sam always managed to get it wrong. He was thinking of taking cooking classes to surprise Laura, much to the endless amusement of David and the others. The smell of eggs filled the fancy kitchen and Sam allowed himself a small smile of triumph, so far so good.

  “So, how’s the vacation?” Stella asked as she moved out of shot. She was in her lab, Sam could tell by the terrible image quality and the fact that her long hair was pulled back from her face. After the attack on the agency, David had Stella and the other witches and warlocks working overtime, investigating the magic Carmen had been using, since the warlock responsible had disappeared off the face of the planet by the time the dust had settled. The little sprinkler stunt had worked - the mutated humans had woken up unharmed in their homes with a splitting headache on par with the world's worst hangover but otherwise completely fine - but they were still no closer to figuring out how they’d made the mutation potion in the first place.

  Sam had healed up well, though the gaping wound in his side had sent Laura into hysterics when she’d seen him, refusing to let him leave his bed for a full month. He’d only convinced her he was fine by walking down the stairs on his hands whilst she was on the phone to one of her old college friends and scaring the shit out of her.

  “Well, we haven’t left the cabin all that much yet-”

  “I did not need to know that.”

  “You asked.”

  The lodge was gorgeous, tucked away in the mountains of Colorado. It was run by a group of stupidly wealthy shifters who apparently had nothing better to do with their time than open a five-star luxury resort with ski slopes and its own private shopping promenade. Neither of them were in any sort of hurry to get out and do things though, amazing as the facilities were, Sam was just happy to get to spend time with Laura without the threat of monsters and spells hanging over them like a thunder cloud. It was honestly the happiest he could remember being, waking up with Laura warm by his side, lazing around their gigantic cabin and watching shitty movies. They were already halfway through the Fast and Furious franchise. It was fucking terrible but the voices Laura did made them worth suffering through.

  “A luxury vacation is wasted on you two, I swear to god,” Stella groaned. “I�
�d kill to be out there snowboarding, eating my weight in fancy foods and you two are eating French toast in your pajamas at three in the afternoon!” Sam glanced at the ornate clock on the wall and laughed at her.

  “French toast is a meal no matter the time of day,” he said matter-of-factly. “And if you don’t like the way we’re doing it, why don’t you take some time off?” he teased, lifting the pan to flip the toast. “It’s not like the agency is particularly busy now, they let me take a break, didn’t they?”

  “Because unlike you, I have no one to whisk me away to these places- dear god, do not flip that, you can’t afford to pay the Strauss brothers for repairs.” Sam glared at her but lowered the pan, retrieving a spatula and using that to turn the bread over instead. She was probably right. After a few more minutes, he decided to take them off. They were a little underdone but Sam didn’t want to risk it; knowing him, they’d spontaneously combust if he put them back on.

  “What do you think?” he asked the camera, tilting it so Stella could see the plates. He’d covered Laura’s in salt and pepper and his own with sugar and cinnamon; he’d always had the sweeter tooth.

  “Looking good,” she praised. Sam studied them, not as sure.

  “Good enough to propose with?” he asked anxiously.

  “Excuse me, what?” Fuck. He hadn’t meant to say that – he didn’t want to jinx it in case… Well, in case Laura said no.

  Footsteps on the staircase told him Laura was finally awake and he bid a hasty goodbye to Stella who was still gaping down the phone as he ended the call and set the two plates down on the kitchen table just as Laura entered the room looking adorably sleep-rumpled.

  “It’s never three pm,” she said with a giggle and Sam fell in love with her all over again. He couldn't help it – she was perfect. He came forward to pull her into a kiss, savoring the contented hum she made against his mouth when he did and gently led her over to the table.

  “I’m afraid so,” he said with a grin. “I made breakfast-lunch,” he bowed low with a flourish and Laura’s face brightened. She followed his lead, allowing him to pull out her chair and sitting down gracefully, chin tilted.

  Sam hurriedly took his seat beside her and watched as she took the first bite with anticipation. It was the best he’d ever made it, he was sure. Laura closed her eyes, moaning as she chewed and he rolled his eyes good-naturedly. God, I can’t wait to marry this woman.

  “You’re an angel. This is so fucking good, I might cry.”

  “Learned from the best,” he quipped, finally taking his own bite and was pleasantly surprised when it actually tasted like sugar and toast. Not bad, he thought.

  They ate in companionable silence, watching the snow as it fell outside their windows in thick white flakes. It was times like this that Sam knew he’d found his soulmate. There had been no one in his life that he felt this comfortable around, this free. It didn’t matter if they weren’t filling all their time with conversation. Sam didn’t care at all, could spend endless days like this, had spent endless days like this – sat in Batman pajamas eating breakfast in the late afternoon with the love of his life.

  He couldn't think of a better way to spend the rest of his life.

  When they were done eating, Sam carried their plates to the sink and grabbed Laura lightly by the wrist when she got up from the table.

  “You know how I love you?” he whispered, running his thumb over her cheekbone. She smiled, sweet and warm and nodded.

  “I’m aware of that, yes,” she said equally as soft. Sam licked his lips nervously. He knew she loved him; after regaining her memories she made sure to tell him often and he loved to hear it. But he’d never been good with words, not the way she was. I don’t want to mess this up.

  “Wanna stand up in front of all our friends and family and tell each other out loud?” Like that, exactly like that. “I don’t want to spend another day without you in my life,” he added quickly, then cringed, dropping his head onto her shoulder. Laura’s shoulder shook with laughter and she raked delicate hands through his hair.

  “Only if I get to tell everyone that’s how you proposed when I do my speech.”

  He groaned again.

  “You menace.”

  Wait. His head snapped up. Laura was watching him with one eyebrow raised, hands still moving through his hair.

  “You will?” he murmured. Her expression softened and she gently guided his head up so she could look into his eyes.

  “Of course I will. Sam, you’ve made me happier than I could ever imagine being. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she squealed, arms circling his shoulders as he scooped her up and swung her around in a circle. He peppered her face with kisses, feeling like he was about to burst.

  “I can’t fucking wait to marry you,” he said fiercely, refusing to put her down. Laura relaxed into his arms and kissed him back, laughing brightly.

  He thought about what Stella had said as he carried Laura up the stairs to their room, about how she had no one to whisk her away and smiled. He hoped she got to experience this feeling because everyone deserved to be as happy as he felt right now.

  And besides, he mused, dropping a delighted Laura down onto the bed and dropping down beside her, maybe Even will finally stop messing around and ask her out already.

  Thank you for reading BEAR NEXT DOOR. I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, may I ask you to please write a review HERE!

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  Billionaire Dragon’s Nanny (EXCERPT)

  Irish Dragon Shifter Brothers

  1

  Kellan

  “Tell me again why humans like doing this so much,” Kellan Cormac said. He was sitting in his favorite spot, at his favorite restaurant, but neither had improved his mood.

  “Doing what?” his friend Liam asked. “Sitting outside with friends, watching the sunset, drinking a beer?” Liam smiled as he settled into the chair across from Kellan and ordered a Shiner beer from the waitress.

  “Sunset’s the only time we can sit outside,” Kellan said. It had been one hundred degrees that day. But by seven p.m., the July heat had faded enough to make sitting outside manageable, if not pleasant. “You’ve always been the optimist.”

  Liam was the main lawyer in their small town, and despite dealing with divorces and lawsuits all day long, he was the most upbeat person Kellan knew. And Liam was more than a friend. He was Kellan’s brother in every way that counted. Ever since Kellan fled his home country at seventeen years old, Liam had never left his side.

  Kellan turned his chair to look at the lake. It was flat. There was no breeze. It was a far cry from the choppy sea where he’d grown up.

  Usually, when he found himself in a funk, he concentrated on how lucky he was to even be alive. Thirteen years ago, he’d almost been killed.

  Back in Ireland, centuries ago, his ancestors made a pact with the witches that lived outside the nearby town of Lahinch. The pact said the dragons and the witches would always protect each other from threats, no matter what, even if the threats came from the humans who lived nearby, even though the humans were seen as weak, and not worthy of the dragons’ time.

  But when Kellan was seventeen years old, the witches became enraged. They felt the humans were encroaching on their fields, and they began to murder the humans, one by one.

  Kellan’s parents, the leaders in his clan, were against killing any humans, and they rallied the dragons to try and stop the witches. A battle began, but the witches prevailed. They murdered Kellan’s parents when he was only seventeen.

  The vampires had stood by and watched, impervious to the suffering of the humans or the dragons.

  With the witches vowing to kill him too, Kellan fled. Quinn, Liam and Brennan went along with him to the St
ates, and they’d been in Texas ever since.

  But now was no time for a dark trip down memory lane.

  Liam kicked Kellan’s chair. “Someone’s got to be the optimist,” Liam said. “What’s got you so pissed off today?”

  Kellan rubbed his face. “I’m not pissed.” He pointed to his five-year-old son who was standing on the low wall that separated the restaurant patio from the lake. “His daycare called. He picked up another child and tossed him off the slide.” Kellan had been in the middle of a meeting with his company’s shareholders when the daycare called. Running out on the shareholders was not a great look on the founder and CEO.

  Liam chuckled. “That’s how we played all the time.”

  “Yeah, we did, but we aren’t human. And getting thrown around is not great for human kids.”

  “You’re not wrong,” Liam said. “Was the kid okay? Am I going to be defending you in a lawsuit soon?”

  “God, I hope not,” Kellan replied. “He was fine. This time. But I can’t take any more chances until Declan learns to control himself. I don’t want a kid getting hurt.”

  Beside them, their friend Quinn pulled up a chair and sat down. “You’re right,” Quinn said. “Those human bones are fragile.”

  Quinn would know about human bones. He was the town’s doctor, and he was just as much of a brother to Kellan as Liam was.

  The three shifters looked over at Kellan's son, who was now jumping off the wall. Several other diners were giving them dirty looks. But Kellan didn’t give a shit. They’d deliberately sat outside, and they were far away from anyone else.

  “He doesn’t know what he’s missing,” Kellan said, staring into his beer. The salty scent of fried catfish rose from the basket the waitress placed in front of them. Kellan would have preferred it to be raw, but he’d take what he could get. “But he is missing it.” A young dragon should be able to play rough. But that wasn’t an option for him.