Shade: A Wolf's Hunger Alpha Shifter Romance Read online

  to the bottom of what was going on with him and this damn hunger. But that was for later. Now all he could focus on was prey, prey, prey. His beast slowed, slinking down to the ground to scent where the deer was located. It was nearby, his senses seeking the beast, nose and ears working overtime to find its exact position. A rustle of leaves underfoot was all that was required, his beast moving with stealth to find the small deer grazing lazily mere feet away through some bushes. His powerful hind legs propelled his Wolf forward . . . and the deer didn’t stand a chance as powerful jaws locked around its throat, crushing it quickly. As blood erupted inside his mouth, covering his face and chest he released the animal and roared with triumph before commencing to feast on his prize. In a haze of blood and gore, the animal didn’t last long, barely anything left when he was finished. Huffing a growl, he padded away, leaving the rest for the critters of the forest to clean up. In

  a matter of hours, there would be nothing left of the once beautiful creature that wandered too close to his beast.

  Retracing his path, he stopped at the water to clean himself, before returning to find his clothes littered on the ground. “Damn,” he looked around but came up short for his socks, having to pull on his boots without them.

  His belly seemed...empty. What the fucking hell?

  “Are you all right?”

  Shade jerked around, stunned he’d been taken by surprise and finding Ash, his Beta that took care of all things to do with their camp. His blond hair shifting in the wind as his dark green eyes stared at Shade. Ash was a good Beta, no, he was a great Beta with an uncanny ability to read people but Shade didn’t appreciate that particular skill right now as Ash continued to watch him.

  “I’m fine,” Shade said smiling. “Just went for a bit of a run, that’s all.”

  “Yeah, I saw.”

  Shade only now noticed Ash’s shirt unbuttoned, as was his jeans, his boots in his hands. Shit. “What? You tailing your Alpha now? Don’t you have enough to do already?” Ash didn’t respond immediately, bending down to tug on his boots, although his eyes stayed locked on Shade’s. He fastened his jeans, then as he buttoned up his shirt he raised an eyebrow. “You’re not fine, Shade. I know it, Royce knows it, and very soon the entire Pack will know it. So what are we going to do to help you? And by ‘we’ I mean Royce and me, ‘cause something sure as hell needs to be done. You know I love this Pack, and you, so before you go all Alpha on me, just take a breath and think. We need to find a solution to whatever’s ailing you for the good of the Pack as well as you. It pains me to see you suffering like this. I can feel it, in here.” Ash’s fist pumped his chest to emphasize his words, Shade’s head rolling back as he sighed. He and his betas had a special bond, more so than the one he held with the rest of the Pack, so he wasn’t surprised that they’d felt some of what he was going through. Hell, that hurt almost as much as the fucking hunger that plagued him. “Royce mentioned something about you going to check out the discs with our archives on them.” Ash reached over, clasping Shade’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go home, and I’ll go fetch them from Lana and we can start on them together? Royce will be over later, once he’s had some sleep. It was a late night at The Den and he didn’t get in until about an hour ago, but he’ll be by soon as he can. That’s three sets of eyes searching for something that can help.” Shade gave himself a mental shake, his hand covering Ash’s. “Thanks, I’d appreciate all the help I can get right now.” “That’s settled then,” Ash replied, his face still looking worried as he stepped away. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can.” “Hey, Ash.” Shade stopped him. “Can you get someone to restock my kitchen? I kinda emptied it earlier.”

  “Everything?” Ash queried, hands in pockets, his body a picture of relaxed and casual, but the inflection in that one word spoke volumes. “Yeah,” Shade admitted. “Everything, and I need some more of my favorite single malt ordered too.” Ash barely nodded. “Sure, I’ll get supplies to get right on that for you.” “Thanks.” Shade turned away to make his way back to his cabin, vowing not to leave again until they had some clue as to what the hell was going on. Ash was right. It wouldn’t belong until the Pack knew there was something wrong with their Alpha and the moment that happened there’d be trouble. Trouble that Shade didn’t want and that the Pack didn’t need. Not when he’d worked so hard to make it such a success after challenging the previous asshole of an Alpha. One who hadn’t cared about the Pack, only himself, and one that Shade knew he had to take down. The challenge fight had been brutal and bloody but Shade never

  doubted for a single moment he wouldn’t leave it as the victor. He’d trained with Royce and Ash for months beforehand and knew it was his time to be Alpha. He’d never looked back and neither had the Pack. Not once he’d put his own people in place, ones who had good heads on their shoulders, and brains in said heads instead of just brawn. Now here he was on the brink of losing what he’d built up all because of some goddamn hunger that had infected him and taken over his sanity. He would not allow that to happen. His mind clearer than it had been for days, Shade stormed back to his cabin for a quick shower

  before Ash appeared.

  opening the door and striding in with a grin. “Hey, I’ve got the discs. Lana says almost everything is on these, only the newer stuff hasn’t been added.” Shade sat in his favorite leather recliner, feet up, laptop on his knees. “Great. I’ve a feeling that what we’ll need will be buried in the old legends. If it were something newer, then we’d surely have heard of it. No?” Ash agreed, settling himself on the sofa, placing his own top-of-the-range notebook on his knees before looking through the discs. “Yes, I agree. I’ve not heard of anything like what’s going on with you. Obviously, I’ve not asked anyone, although I think only the older Wolves would be able to help.

  Other than Lana herself, of course.”

  “No!” Shade snapped curtly. “I don’t want anyone else knowing. It’s bad enough you and Royce do.” “Don’t.” Ash shook his head. “That’s just naïve to think that we wouldn’t have an idea of what’s going on with you, Shade. So don’t start with Mr. Rip-your-head-off, ‘cause I’m not in the mood for your temper today. We need to work together to figure this out and you acting like . . .” Ash stopped, his face showing every inch of worry inside him. “Look, sorry, but you know what I mean. Come on, let’s just get started.” Shade would never have allowed him to speak to him in such a manner if there were anyone else around. Luckily there wasn’t so he held out a hand. “Throw me one of those discs. Let’s start by date, oldest first and we’ll work our way forward.” “Certainly, master.” Ash bowed his head in mock subservience before flicking through the multiple discs. “Hell, there’s a lot here, Shade.” “The Pack is old with centuries worth of history

  so it’s gonna take us a while to go through things.” Shade hoped he could sit still long enough to do what needed to be done. “Right, here you go. You take this one and I’ll take the next.” Ash tossed Shade a disc. “So, what are we looking for exactly?” Shade slid his disc in, waiting for it to load as he pondered his Beta’s question. “Hmm, I guess we can start by looking for anything that mentions a Wolf with an insatiable lust for food? A hunger that just won’t be satisfied, because that sure as hell is what’s going on with me.” “Okay, fine, let’s start with that and see what we can find.” Discs loaded, they settled down to start the search that might just be Shade’s last hope of fixing whatever the heck was wrong with him and his beast.

  again, leaving the roadside café she’d stopped at for some much needed caffeine. Her resolve not weakened at her choice to run from her father and her Pack. No. Not when the sick so-and-so was trying to get her to “mate” with their ageing Alpha just to produce the son he so desperately wanted. Wanted. Not needed. The old leech had a mate, and children, three girls and that just didn’t suit the misogynistic fuck who ruled the Pack like males were the be all and end all of all things great and powerful. Not one She-Wolf held a position of power
/>   within the Pack, and it had been like that from the beginning. Trust her to be born into the one Pack that was stuck in the “Caveman Era”. Marissa knew she was her own worst enemy where the Pack was concerned. She wasn’t quiet at voicing her outrage at the way women were treated. Hell, she’d ended up with a broken jaw when she dared to tell her father to go wash his own damn dishes one day. Another time she’d ended up in “The Cell” where the Alpha put anyone who broke his rules, or, just plain annoyed him. The filthy hut, with no windows, heating, and no freaking toilet, was a hellhole straight out of . . . she wasn’t quite sure, but it was definitely hell and not fit for anything but pulling it down or setting fire to it. That thought had crossed her mind several times, yeah, she’d loved to have done that, and almost had ... just before she ran. Then she thought better of her wild idea, after all, it would alert them to her being gone from the camp and she would’ve missed those precious few hours start she managed to wangle. As it was, she was three weeks out, and still running. When money ran out she’d stop and take a job for a day or two, earn just enough for essentials that any girl needs: shampoo, toothpaste, damn deodorant. Food she could do without. Human food anyway. If there were forests nearby she could hunt and save the little she had to spend on other things, even spending some nights in a motel when she could. Admittedly prey had been rare lately, or the area had the scent of other Shifters, so it wasn’t worth the risk of trespassing. So she’d gone hungry more often of late. No matter, she was used to that feeling, and she was sure when she escaped this time she’d manage to find food. Another few days would make no difference to her wellbeing. The only thing that mattered was leaving, now. But here she was, moving on again, with her father and goodness knew who else, right on her tail. Marissa shivered, her body reacting to the mere thought of what would happen if they got their claws into her again. This time it would be do or die, literally. She gave the trucker who’d offered her a lift a strained smile. “Thanks for the lift.” He was medium sized, with a bit of paunch, and a ruddy complexion. His eyes roamed over her, from her long dark hair, over her curves, and down to her toes. Shoot, the perv even licked his lips on the way back up. The stench of his lust surrounded him, cloying her sensitive nose, and she barely repressed the growl that she desperately wanted to snarl in warning to stop his eye invasion. She hoped she didn’t have to put him in his place. He would be a walkover to a strong Wolf like her, but he didn’t know that . . . yet. “It’s all right, darling. I’m always willing to help a gal in distress.” He waved toward a large rig sitting to the side of the café. “I’m over there. We better get on our way, I’ve a schedule to keep.” Marissa nodded, forcing herself to ignore the way he’d undressed her with his eyes. She was tired and cranky, but she needed to get more distance between those hunting her. They were close. Too damn close. She’d felt the tickle in her mind earlier, which alerted her to just how nearby her father was. If she waited any longer he’d be able to establish a link with her and then it was “Game Over”. “Sure, let’s go.” She followed him, his eyes sneaking hungry glances at her as they went. Oh boy, he doesn’t know the trouble he’ll be in if he acts on those thoughts, she smirked to herself while wondering if she could handle a truck as large as the one they were walking to. Could she knock this guy on his ass and just take it? Probably not a good idea with a load of eye witnesses so close by, and she wasn’t even sure she could drive the monstrosity. “Plan number two it is,” she mumbled as the trucker, jeez she’d forgotten his name already, opened the door and helped her up, having a quick feel of her ass as he did. “What was that?” he asked as she settled in her seat and put her pack next to her, at least there was something between the two of them. “Oh, nothing, just thinking aloud.” He gave her a weird look then closed the door, rushing around the front to climb up into the driver seat. His smile was so wide she could take a guess what he’d had for lunch. Heck, she couldn’t miss it because he still had bits of it stuck in his teeth. Did he know that? Marissa turned away, looking out the front windshield, because truth was, if she didn’t she’d either tell him to go brush his dang teeth. Or, she’d puke. Neither of those would get her the ride she needed, so she clamped her lips tightly shut and prayed he’d just get them on their way. It seemed to take forever but finally the disrespectful dude or, in her mind DD, pulled away, his hand reaching over toward her. She jerked but he laughed, pointing to the dash. “Hey, I’m just puttin’ on some music. You like music, dontcha?” Marissa barely nodded, striving to stop herself from allowing her fangs to descend and snarl at the smutty toad. Now they were trapped in the cab his lustful scent was so thick around her that she wasn’t sure she could bear a long journey like this. She cracked open her window and his reaction was immediate. “You don’t get sick do ya? I don’t have time to clean up puke.” “No, I don’t get carsick. I just need some fresh air.” She leaned her head against the cool glass and closed her eyes, hoping he’d get the message and leave her the hell alone. She needed a lift, he offered, but damn she wasn’t going to allow his filthy hands to touch her. No, definitely not happening. If he tried he’d find out just how much of a mess he’d have to clear up. Most of it would be his own blood. DD fell silent, Marissa relaxed as her thoughts wandered to the mess she was in and how the heck she was going to get out of it. Her father was a stubborn son-of-a-bitch and it looked like he wasn’t giving up anytime soon. At this rate, she’d be on the run for the rest of her life, or until her father dropped dead, or worse, caught her. She’d had no choice! She couldn’t allow him to basically sell her for sex just to get a leg up in the Pack, for him of course, not her. No. All she’d be was a plaything for the Alpha who’d hopefully impregnate her and she’d produce a son. Yeah, great life. Not.

  The mere thought of her old, stinking, and sexist Alpha touching her had her skin crawling. She couldn’t do it under any circumstances so she guessed she’d just have to up her game and keep on running. Either that or join a Shifter Biker Gang and get them to take out her father and whoever else was with him. Now where would she find one of those and what would she have to do to get them to do what she wanted?

  No idea and far too much she concluded just before slipping into an uneasy sleep.

  Marissa wasn’t even aware of having fallen asleep until a hand on her thigh tore her from her slumber, springing upright she glared at the hand, swiping it away. “What the fuck?”

  She saw they were parked up and it was dark outside, luckily with her enhanced Shifter abilities she could see where they were, and that wasn’t comforting. Nope. They weren’t in a carpark beside a roadside motel, café, or anywhere else she supposed these rigs stopped at. What she saw was trees, trees, and more trees, with no lights visible which meant no humans. Marissa’s lip tugged up at the side. DD probably thought this would scare her, terrify her even, but to her this was good news. It meant she could be herself and it would be the sleazy slime-bag in the cab that would be terrified. That DD had brought her here told her all she needed to know, mainly that he’d done this before. With a truck this size no driver would just go off-grid without knowing exactly where they were going, so this sleazy little shit knew where he was. Fucker. Marissa inhaled a deep breath to try and calm the anger that simmered just under her skin, ready to unleash in a frenzy of fangs and fur. “What’s going on? Why have we stopped and just where the fuck are we?” DD gave her the sleaziest look she’d ever seen,

  and living in the Pack she had, that said something. His hand reached over again, trying to touch her but she waggled a finger at him, frowning. “Answer my fucking questions before I lose my temper. Trust me, you don’t want me to do that.” “What? You Dr. Banner or somat?” he laughed, spittle flying from his mouth. “Are you crazy or just nuts? Maybe both? Who the hell is Dr. Banner?” Marissa’s anger rose further at his apparent loss of sanity. “Come on, darlin’, you must know Dr. Banner. Ya know, he says stuff like you just said then turns into that big green monster.” Marissa shook her head to clear it, certain sh
e must still be sleeping and having a weird dream. “Just tell me where we are so I can get on my way.” “No, you don’t want to do that.” He waved his arm around. “We’re surrounded by forest for miles and there’s wild animals out there that’ll hunt you down and rip you apart so quick you won’t know what’s happenin’ ‘til it’s too late. Better to stay here and we can get to know one another and then we’ll carry on.” Marissa couldn’t help but laugh. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. There’s nothing out

  there,” she thumped her fist on the window next to her, “that I’m scared of. I just need a heads up of the approximate area of where we are.” What she really needed to know was if she stepped outside if she were encroaching on another Pack’s land. She’d researched for weeks before leaving to locate known Packs and she didn’t want any trouble, or get into the wrong Alpha’s hands, aka one who was friendly with hers. “I told ya, it’s not safe,” he sidled over, his hands reaching for her again. “Now’s the time to say thank you for your ride.” “Hell no,” she growled, no longer able to hold her beast at bay. The sound reverberated around the enclosed cab, loud enough to send him scuttling back to his side with eyes wide as saucers. “What the hell was that?” His head spun to the window, looking outside for the threat he thought was there. “How many girls have you brought here to say thank you? One, five, ten, more? I bet they’re terrified with your stories of wild animals ready to attack.” “Hey, I’m just getting my due. It’s well known you girls have to pay, one way or the other.”