Shadow Walker (15 page)

“But you do.” His hands floundered at where she’d been.

“Years of practice,” she said with a grin. “And the pain, sadly, doesn’t get any better. You just learn to channel it. Or take an herbal like I slipped in your coffee this morning.”

He scoffed. “I wondered why I felt better than I had in weeks.”

“I am an herbalist by trade.”

“So…what do I do now? Can I be around…normal people?”

“Absolutely! You just have to control your rage…and try not to shift in front of humans because they can sometimes go insane, or you know, form lynch mobs to burn the beast.” She snickered at his expression. “You’re lucky with Dori, you know that right?”

His expression turned haunted and he sat on a box nearby. “She blamed it on alcohol. Not knowing what to say, I feigned the same.” Running both hands into his hair, it stood in coppery, curly tufts. “I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Then you won’t. The jaguar is a part of you. He has your feelings and emotions, just not always a better grasp on them. When you get excited, he’ll get really excited. When you get angry, he gets angrier. I’m not going to lie to you, its life altering. But once you learn to control it, functioning in normal society is possible. You just have to be secretive. The world isn’t ready to know about us yet.”

“Dammit…she’s going to think I’m a total prick when I tell her I can’t see her anymore.”

Ugh, the playboy has a heart, yippee.
Amber cleared her throat and sighed. “Then spend time with her just prior to sundown, and then make an excuse. It’s only for two more nights, and then you’re off the hook for a month. Three nights each month until you can learn to control it.”

Shaking his head, he stood. “No, she’s expecting me to be this huge asshole anyway. I…actually like her.” His eyes filled with regret. “For the first time I find someone I could care about. Someone who can see
past
everything
. Who I am, where I came from.”

“
No
,” Amber grumbled when his eyes flashed golden. She slipped back a few steps. “Calm down big guy. We don’t need a scene. Rein it in.”

Groaning, he slid to his knees. His teeth grew, extending past his lips, and he growled deep in his chest.

“Ah fucking hell…I’m
so
not good at this shit.” She rushed over and made sure the door was locked and gave up a silent prayer to whatever God was listening to not let the bodyguards come barging in if any feral snarls or growls were heard. “Aaron, relax. Come on. Do you really want to scare everyone here? Do you want to chance hurting one of your bodyguards or even…Dori?”

Pulling his fists into his chest, he doubled over, and fought to control his breathing. After a few moments he pulled himself to his knees. Though still pale and shaky, his eyes were back to their normal greenish hazel.

Amber placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “It’s going to be all right, Aaron. You can manage to keep a normal life and be a Were, I promise you. Even be with Dori…it’s your choice whether to let her know or keep her in the dark, but it
can
be done. Casey and I will help you. Her husband has even offered for you to come and spend some time in Walker’s Run, where we live. It’s a Were Sanctuary. If for those three days a month you’re terrified…come on out to see us. We’ll keep you safe and grounded and help in any way we can.” She extended her hand to him.

He stared at her a moment and then took it.

She yanked him to his feet and giggled at his surprised choke. “The added bonus of extra strength is kind of awesome, too. You ready to go back in now?”

“I don’t know if I want to face anyone yet. I don’t know what to say to Dori.” Taking another exasperated breath, he hung his head. “The look in her eyes last night…I was a beast. That was all she saw. How can I tell her that I am
that
monster?”

Amber sighed. “You’re not a monster, Aaron. No more than Casey or I. If, as a person, you are not mean or nasty by nature, you’re Were won’t be either.” Biting her bottom lip for a moment, she furrowed her brows. “I can’t tell you what to do when it comes to Dori. I can tell you since Casey is her friend, if you decide you want to tell her, she will help you try and explain. It’s practically torn Casey up all day, knowing what’s going through her head, but knowing there is nothing she can do about it without your decision. If you say it’s over with her, there is no need for her to ever know. That’s up to you to decide, Aaron.”

The door handle jiggled. “Hey, is everything okay in there?” It was Dori.

Turning to Aaron, Amber raised her brows. “The way I see it, we can go two ways here Cubby. We can say we were talking or…say something went on between us. Casey knows better and would back me up. And I am not one who gives two shits about what anyone thinks of me.” Her dark eyes held his.

After another beat he nodded. “We’re coming out!” Aaron called out and made his way to the door and opened it.

Dori stood there looking kind of pissed and nervous at the same time. Her gaze drifted over his shoulder to Amber then narrowed.

Aaron cleared his throat. “We were talking about the mountains where she lives. I—I’m thinking about making a trip out there some time.”

Without a word Dori turned to walk away, and he grabbed her arm.

“I—I was hoping you’d come with me.”

Looking up into his eyes, she appeared to be on the edge of panic. “You’re going to get me fired,” she whispered.

Amber grinned and walked over. “Nah, I don’t see that happening. And if you do come, you can finally meet Casey’s family and her new husband. Be able to see for yourself why she was able to make the decision to leave this line of work behind.”

Dori gave a shy smile. “I don’t know.”

“Well rumor has it, you’ll be between jobs for a bit anyway. So I don’t see why not,” Casey said, walking up behind her.

Turning, Dori laughed. “We’ll see. How did…how did you guys know?”

Casey raised her brows and shook her head. “Woman, haven’t you realized in all the time you’ve worked with me…I know
everything
.”

Dean stood to the side while another meeting continued on where the men would search next. Laveaux had a tablet out and was showing the vectors that had been searched and those still to be searched. They were game planning.

“We ran reconnaissance through most of these areas with Dean and Peyton when we first got here.” He pulled up the areas that hadn’t been searched by the Guardians. “I know your men have checked these areas countless times. Have you gone over to Harlan’s former pack?”

Braedyn shook his head. “Elan has taken over those who were left. No one will talk. Right after Harlan died…many of his pack members came and asked to join with us. I allowed it. But no one seems to know anything. Trust me, I’ve already questioned every one of them over and over.”

A tall dark-haired guy in a plaid flannel crossed his arms. “Amber killed two of Harlan’s strongest men during the battle. The twins…and she did it alone.”

Braedyn turned to him. “No one is doubting Amber’s skills here Gavin, you know that.”

A muscle in the man’s jaw twitched. “Harlan’s most skilled warriors are now dead. What Elan has with him is a very small contingent. It would have to be for him to be able to control them. They couldn’t be very bright either.” He cleared his throat and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

Laveaux turned to Dean. “Are you prepared to leave soon?”

“I am.” He turned his attention to Braedyn. “Are you sure this is what we want to do?”

“Would you rather hurt her pride or chance losing not just your mate, Braedyn, but your right hand as well?” Laveaux’s eyes were full of concern. “I know how I would feel if my life mate were in this position. You have done what you feel is right, but so far…your brother has eluded you every step of the way. Far smarter than even you had considered, my friend.”

Braedyn nodded. “I want both the girls safe, Dean.”

He glanced around the group of men and realized he didn’t envy his brother-in-law one bit being the Alpha. The men of Walker’s Run had turned out, all vying for Amber and Elan’s positions. There were only a few Braedyn seemed to trust and one of them was the grizzly bear, Gavin, who kept giving him fierce looks.

It was almost sundown, and he had already researched the areas Amber had said she would be taking Casey and Aaron to. He would meet them in the gardens of the Sorenson estate at daybreak, but he would wander the edge of their grid to keep a look out tonight.

“Let me grab my pack and I’ll be ready.” Turning, he headed back inside to get his things from the guest room. When he came back out, Gavin was standing at the end of the hallway.

“I don’t normally do stuff like this,” he said, clearing his throat. “But other than Braedyn, I’m probably one of the few men around here Amber’s had anything to do with.”

Dean clenched his jaw and listened because he could tell the bear wasn’t here for a fight.

“I…I want what’s best for her. She’s a damn good woman if you can get through her walls, and apparently you have. Just take good care of her. But…if you hurt her…no Guardian army will be able to save you. Do you understand?”

Narrowing his eyes, he looked the bear over. “You don’t love her.”

Gavin’s lip rose into a sneer. “I don’t love anyone, which made things a good fit for when she needed me. We weren’t particularly close, but we were
friendly
. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about her and want her to settle and find a mate.”

“I’ve no intentions of harming her in any way, I assure you.”

With a grunt, Gavin nodded and walked away.

That was rather intense. The feeling of over-protectiveness. Even though Dean didn’t want to, he could understand the Grizzly’s reasoning. It was difficult to see someone with whom you’d been intimate, with someone else, whether or not love was involved.

Braedyn walked around the corner. “I wouldn’t let you go if I had definitive proof Elan wasn’t still here. I have to protect the community. As much as I would rather be there, I have to remain.”

“I understand. I don’t envy your responsibilities.”

The Alpha laughed and took a deep breath. “I don’t envy yours. I only have to keep mine safe, you save humanity every day.”

Dean felt his stomach sink when he saw the Haitian walk in. “Something tells me we’re not taking a chopper out of here.”

Laveaux grinned and held out his hand. “Now, now Dean. You know I can get you there
much
quicker.”

His stomach churned and he grimaced. “I know, I just hate that
thing
you do.”

Braedyn frowned. “Thing?”

“I can teleport certain places if I know exactly where I am to be.” He flashed a white toothy grin amidst his dark features. “It just makes some sick to travel this way.”

Dean swallowed and felt sweat trickle at his temples. “Anyone have any anti-nausea meds?”

* * * *

He braced himself for the moment of nothingness. The swirling sensation and not knowing which way was up or down, it always made him sick to his stomach. Dean hated porting with Laveaux. The plan was for the Haitian to take him straight into Casey and Amber’s hotel suite, that way no one would see them ‘land.’ He’d packed a backpack with some clothing and weapons, hoping he wouldn’t need the latter.

Staggering from the moment of impact, Dean pulled away from Laveaux and fell to his knees.

The panther laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Boy, you have a weak stomach.” His English was perfect, but he had a heavy accent.

“Weak stomach hell,” Dean groaned, holding his head. He let the bag slide off of his shoulder and staggered to his feet. “It messes with my head something fierce.”

Laveaux gave his wide, shiny grin and shrugged. “I just call it as I see it, my friend.”

Dean smiled and looked up at him, and then sighed looking around the suite.

“It’s just after sunset. They’ve already shifted. My best hope is to try and catch a cab out there and see if I can track them.”

“I can try to take you there—”

Dean shook his head. “No, you’ve done a lot getting me this far. You can’t chance being seen porting. We can only hope that this isn’t going to warrant that sort of drastic measure. You need to conserve your strength in case it’s needed elsewhere.”

“Smart man. I knew I kept you around for a reason.” Laveaux flashed his trademarked grin and winked. “I will go back now. Take care of yourself, Dean.”

“Always do, Laveaux. Always do.” He shook the other man’s hand and patted his shoulder. “Don’t let anything happen to my sister’s new husband. She’d be lost without him.”

“I will do my best.” Laveaux nodded, took two steps back, and then vanished.

Taking a deep breath, Dean looked for the phone and saw the name of a cab company on hotel paper next to the phone. He dialed the number.

Amber watched Casey and Aaron flex and rub their arms. “I really need to teach you guys how to channel the pain.”

Casey grunted. “Yes, it would be awful nice. You’ve no idea how frustrating it is to see you shift so easy.”

“It comes with practice and time,” Amber assured her. “Practice. Lots and lots of it.” She looked up in the sky but didn’t need to. The call of the moon vibrated in her bones. “You two may want to strip now.”

They looked at each other and blushed.

Amber scoffed at their response. “Come on now. There’s no time to be shy, just turn your backs. In a few moments you won’t care anyway. You’ll be in too much pain.”