Shifting Magic (Shifted) (10 page)

“She’s here,” Emory called to the others from her post by the window.

“
Good god people, don’t hover. You’ll scare the girl to death. Maverick why don’t you go greet our guest, so she’ll feel more comfortable.”

“She
has to sense that there are at least fifteen members of the Alpha family in the house. I would think she passed comfortable as soon as she pulled in the drive.” Rory waved her hand to tell the others to back off She handed Willow a squirming Maddox before following her mate out the door.

“
Hi!” Faith squeaked as soon as she saw the Alpha and the Chosen headed her way. Her

stomach had twisted so tight
ly on the drive over she feared she’d collapse.

“Faith
, so glad you could come.” Rory hugged the woman. That was good right? Alphas didn’t hug people they were mad at.

“
Relax Faith,” Maverick said watching the woman he had worked with for years stiffen.

“I
came as soon as the Alpha called.”

“
Yes, and thank you. We need your help Faith, but before we go any further, I want you to know this is up to you. You can say no and there will be no repercussions.”

“
Say no to what?” Faith was only slightly more comfortable and she still didn’t know why she was there.

“
To pretending to date my Husband,” Nina answered from the porch.

Faith recognized the petite woman with the raven hair that stood with Ranger on the Alpha house
’s porch.

“
Say again?”

“I’m
Nina. We met at the clinic.”

“Yes
, I remember.” Faith was nervous as the woman approached her. She had to have heard her wrong. It was clear that Ranger had taken the human as a mate the way he was shadowing her, but had she just asked her to date Ranger?

“
Faith, Nina can be very blunt. Why don’t you come inside so we can explain?”

“I
think that would be best,” Rory agreed. “Come on in Faith. This might take a while.”

Faith sat in the huge living area of the Alpha’s home and listened to the plan the Alpha family had come up with to ferret out the leak at the clinic and possibly trap the man that was killing all those girls.

“
You would be in no real danger. We assume that Howland will target Nina.”

“You’re
willing to be a decoy?” Faith asked Nina, who seemed smaller in the room filled with Alpha males. A few of which she had never met.

“Nina can more than take care of herself,” Ranger said with pride.

“No offense, but you’re human.”

“See
, I told you it would work,” Nina dropped her veil to let her true nature show through.

“Oh
shit,” Faith shouted as she felt the pulse of power the woman was now emitting. She was not only wolf but something else just as powerful.

Ranger laughed.
“Nina is Malcolm Blackwell’s Daughter.”

Faith had noticed the Mage was in the room but hadn’t said anything
. She was nervous enough. She didn’t think questioning the choice of guests in the room was appropriate. Her eyes kept wandering to the two men that stood in the doorway leading to what she assumed was the kitchen. They were Alpha, yet she had never seen either of them. Were other packs now getting involved?

“I wondered why he was here.
Pleased to meet you sir.” Faith was trying to hide her nervousness.

“Faith
dear, I am so sorry we have been rude.” Royal stepped forward. “I forget you’re not acquainted with all of us here. Malcolm, this is one of my pack and one of Maverick’s most trusted employees, Faith Weir.”

“
Thank you for coming Faith,” Malcolm nodded to her. Faith smiled back still trying to process what was going on. With Nina’s power added to the mass of Alphas in the room, she felt as if her skin would burst into flames any moment.

‘You’re welcome’ seemed to be a lame response
, so Faith chose to just nod back.

“Faith
, you of course know Maverick, Rory, Hank, Sam, Emory, Willow, Xavier, and Ryder as well as my wife Gemma. Next to her is Kendra, Malcolm’s wife and Nina’s mother. And lastly, my brothers Gage and Knight are there in the doorway.”

“Hi.
” Faith smiled a weak smile. She felt like a bug under a microscope. The Alpha’s brothers, of course. That would explain a lot.

“Faith
, I know we are asking a lot, but it might help countless others.”

“You
say you think someone at the clinic is relaying information to Howland?”

“We
aren’t positive, but it is the only way of him knowing about a meeting just hours after it was arranged. He had to have been tipped off right away for him to have one of his men in position.”

“
So how does my pretending to date a mated man help exactly?”

Nina answered quickly. “It’s no secret you are attracted to Ranger
, right?”

“Yes. I mean n
o, I was. I would never. I knew he wasn’t my mate or anything. He’s just…”

“
It’s fine. I get it. Relax. I was just pointing out how that could work for us. If you and Ranger appear to be a couple, then whoever it is that is in contact with Howland will more than likely cozy up to you for more info on the Alpha family. Meanwhile, I appear to be just some

human that moves in with Willow and
Ryder. Making it very clear that I know they are weres.”

“And Howland
’s whole beef is he wants to keep the race pure,” Sam added.

“Oh
, he’s gonna love Nina then,” Faith said rolling her eyes.

“
That’s what we are hoping. Look, Faith, I know it’s a lot to ask,” Rory apologized.

“I’m
honored that you trust me. Alpha, I am happy to serve the pack.”

“
It is settled then. Nina will move in with Willow and Ryder. Ranger, you are going to have to be careful to only see your mate in private.  In public, you will be with Faith. I know it will be hard.”

“
More like impossible,” he grunted.

“Hey
, it’s not like a mated wolf is my dream date either,” Faith snapped at him.

“
Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound that way.”

“I know.
Look, we can seem like we hang out at your place a lot. You can be with your mate, and Willow and I can bake cookies or something.”

“Thanks Faith.”

Knight and Gage stood
sentry at the doorway watching the small blonde stand up for herself in a room full of Alphas.

“She has guts,” Gage mumbled.

“That she does, Knight agreed. He didn’t bother to even look at his brother. Faith Weir was far more interesting.

“
Knight, I know that look. Now is not the time to flirt with the new girl.” Gemma knew her bothers-in-law. Each of them had a harem of women willing to fall at their feet with just one look. She knew they didn’t usually take advantage of their attraction to the opposite sex, but the look Knight had on his face said his next target was going to be Faith.

“I
was just looking. She’s beautiful.”

“
That she is. I don’t think anyone will question my son being with her,” Gemma hoped she was right. This was a risk for all involved.

Knight tried to suppress the growing unease he was feeling as a growl escaped.

“Knight?” Gemma looked questioningly at him.

“I
just don’t like the whole thing. Mates being kept apart. Nurses being asked to walk into the front lines.” Gemma didn’t miss the emphasis he put on Faith’s involvement.

“Faith
is no more at risk than she was before. Howland will more than likely target Nina. I can’t say as I like it either, but, as with all my daughters-in-law she is stubborn.”

“I
don’t like it.”

“Which
part, Knight? Is it Faith specifically or the whole situation?”

“Let
it go Gemma,” Knight growled. He might as well have said it was Faith. Gemma had no idea if Knight’s attraction to the girl was just because he tended to be attracted to most females or if it was something more. She looked to Gage for answers. His shrug told her he had none.

“I think we may have a problem,” Gemma whispered to Royal as the family started to head out.

“Problem
?”

“
Your brother.”

“
Which one?”

“Knight
, he seemed very interested in Faith.”

“He
is very interested in all women,” Royal pointed out.

“I
think this might be more, Royal.”

“
You have always been a romantic my dear. With all this mating going on I’m sure you misread his interest.”

“Maybe.
I don’t know. He just seemed off.”

“I’ll
keep an eye on the situation,” Royal promised. He really didn’t think it was necessary. He had spoken to Knight and Gage just before

they left and hadn’t noticed
anything ‘off’ as Gemma had put it. His brothers were well known for their interest in the opposite sex. Faith was a beautiful she-wolf. Of course he was interested. Royal guessed they both were.

13

“Did I just see Ranger Cheveyo drop
you off?” June asked on Wednesday. Faith had been hinting that she had a new man trying to gather the attention they were seeking. June was one of the biggest gossips at the clinic. Faith smiled. If June knew about her being dropped off by the Alpha’s son, the whole clinic would know in a matter of hours, maybe minutes.

“Yes,” she said not bothering to look up from her paper work.

“So?”

“So we had lunch
, and then I had to work.” Faith fought the smile trying to break through.

“Oh
my god. You’re seeing Ranger? When did this happen?”

“Sunday
.”

“And
you didn’t tell me?”

“I
didn’t know I was required to fill you in on my love life,” Faith joked. She was having too much fun with this.

“
He is so hot. Oh my god!”

“All the Cheveyo men are hot
, June,” Faith added. She was thinking not of Ranger but of his uncle. She couldn’t get the man out of her head, and they hadn’t spoken even one word to each other. To top it off, she didn’t even know his name. Royal had introduced them as they stood together in the doorway. Both men had stared at her. ‘This is Knight and Gage’ he had said. For the life of her, she didn’t know which man was which. All she knew was that one in particular stood out in her mind.

“
So, are you the next Alpha mate?”

“I
wish. No June. He is not my mate.”

“Not
yet he isn’t. I heard the mate fever can kick in even after years of dating.”

“
Let it go. We are just dating. And it’s been three days, so let’s not buy the dress just yet, okay?

“You know I thought he’d go for a human
, you know, like his brothers.” Bingo maybe June didn’t like humans. That might be a quality someone leaking info might have.

“
Human or wolf, I guess the fever doesn’t discriminate,” Faith jeered.

“I
don’t know,” June shook her head.

“
Would you ever date a human?”

“
Oh no. My father would have my head. I already have someone. He is wolf.”

“
Is he?  Is he your mate?”

“I
don’t know what the fever feels like but I will tell you, if he left, I’d follow. I can’t imagine being away from him.” June sounded like a love sick teen.

“So
, who is this guy?”

“You
don’t know him. Will is from back East.”

“And
he lives here now?” Faith had a feeling June might be telling her boyfriend a lot about what went on around here.

“
He’s thinking about joining the pack.”