found her little slice of heaven. Dipping her hands into the water, Regine splashed it onto her face, loving the cold sensation. With summer days already upon her hot days turned into humid days. Today the weather had been tolerable so she decided to run for a little while.
She stretched her arms straight up, twisting her upper body from left to right. I’m definitely coming back here, Regine thought, smiling to herself. Now if I turn into a peregrine falcon, I should make it home in no time at all. But if I shift into a snow leopard, I could go through the trees like I did before but that would be boring. Being able to shift into multiple animals had its advantages. Most shifters she came across could only turn into one animal.
Heavy footsteps drawing closer put her on alert. Had she not gotten so comfortable, she wouldn’t have been caught unawares. While there were several shifters in the area, only five males were approaching. Four of them were wolves, though she couldn’t place the other shifter.
Allowing her hands to fall to her sides, Regine turned around slowly. She could feel her heart pounding. Not in fear but interest. She couldn’t recall ever being this close to a wolf shifter. Let alone four of them. The lion shifter standing to the side was also a treat for her since Regine had never seen one. Regine looked at each of them but the wolf in the center stood out the most.
The wolf’s golden orbs stared back at her with something she couldn’t describe. His black-and-brown fur stood up when he took his first step. Then another and another until he took his human form. Regine had to force the rising heat in her body back down. The man who stood before her overshadowed the others by far.
The sun shined on his olive skin and wavy, black hair. His muscular shoulders tensed as if the heat were a burden. Regine felt herself getting lost in this man’s very presence. Until he spoke.
“This is private property. Anyone caught trespassing can be subject to whatever punishment I see fit,” he said in a tone so dangerously low it made Regine step back.
She looked over at the other wolves, only to get distracted by the man’s deep voice. “One word from me and they’ll tear you to pieces.”
The man stepped forward until he towered over her. If he wanted to make sure Regine got the hint, she got it loud and clear. “Because you’re a shifter I won’t kill you. But if I ever see you on this property again, you won’t live to regret it. Now leave before I change my mind,” he growled, keeping his angry eyes on her. She wanted to say go to hell but being out numbered by a bunch of carnivorous animals kept her quiet.
Falcon it is, her mind screamed as she cracked a little smile toward the man, who clearly needed to get laid. Slowly, Regine shifted into the bird and flew off.
Chapter Two
Almost a year later…
Regine walked to the hospital parking lot and located her car. The power of the full moon was taking effect, and it brought out her desire to run. The moon always caused her body to go into overdrive. It had been a while since Regine had done so.
Labor and delivery had their hands full tonight. The full moon always sent her patients into overdrive. It didn’t matter if they were human or shifter. Regine laughed. Having been a labor-and-delivery nurse for two years, and a waitress before that, she should be used to it . She had thick skin and had learned to live by one rule: Never take it personally. Over the years, she hadn’t, which was the main reason she was able to continue working in labor and delivery. Plus, she loved babies. All the yelling and screaming was quickly forgotten once a child was born. Babies always bring out the best in people, Regine thought, as she jumped into her car.
She dialed her sister, Naya. “Hey, brat.”
“Hey, yourself. Are you on the way to the compound?” Naya asked a little too excited for Regine’s comfort. After Nathan’s threating demeanor, Regine had
She stretched her arms straight up, twisting her upper body from left to right. I’m definitely coming back here, Regine thought, smiling to herself. Now if I turn into a peregrine falcon, I should make it home in no time at all. But if I shift into a snow leopard, I could go through the trees like I did before but that would be boring. Being able to shift into multiple animals had its advantages. Most shifters she came across could only turn into one animal.
Heavy footsteps drawing closer put her on alert. Had she not gotten so comfortable, she wouldn’t have been caught unawares. While there were several shifters in the area, only five males were approaching. Four of them were wolves, though she couldn’t place the other shifter.
Allowing her hands to fall to her sides, Regine turned around slowly. She could feel her heart pounding. Not in fear but interest. She couldn’t recall ever being this close to a wolf shifter. Let alone four of them. The lion shifter standing to the side was also a treat for her since Regine had never seen one. Regine looked at each of them but the wolf in the center stood out the most.
The wolf’s golden orbs stared back at her with something she couldn’t describe. His black-and-brown fur stood up when he took his first step. Then another and another until he took his human form. Regine had to force the rising heat in her body back down. The man who stood before her overshadowed the others by far.
The sun shined on his olive skin and wavy, black hair. His muscular shoulders tensed as if the heat were a burden. Regine felt herself getting lost in this man’s very presence. Until he spoke.
“This is private property. Anyone caught trespassing can be subject to whatever punishment I see fit,” he said in a tone so dangerously low it made Regine step back.
She looked over at the other wolves, only to get distracted by the man’s deep voice. “One word from me and they’ll tear you to pieces.”
The man stepped forward until he towered over her. If he wanted to make sure Regine got the hint, she got it loud and clear. “Because you’re a shifter I won’t kill you. But if I ever see you on this property again, you won’t live to regret it. Now leave before I change my mind,” he growled, keeping his angry eyes on her. She wanted to say go to hell but being out numbered by a bunch of carnivorous animals kept her quiet.
Falcon it is, her mind screamed as she cracked a little smile toward the man, who clearly needed to get laid. Slowly, Regine shifted into the bird and flew off.
Chapter Two
Almost a year later…
Regine walked to the hospital parking lot and located her car. The power of the full moon was taking effect, and it brought out her desire to run. The moon always caused her body to go into overdrive. It had been a while since Regine had done so.
Labor and delivery had their hands full tonight. The full moon always sent her patients into overdrive. It didn’t matter if they were human or shifter. Regine laughed. Having been a labor-and-delivery nurse for two years, and a waitress before that, she should be used to it . She had thick skin and had learned to live by one rule: Never take it personally. Over the years, she hadn’t, which was the main reason she was able to continue working in labor and delivery. Plus, she loved babies. All the yelling and screaming was quickly forgotten once a child was born. Babies always bring out the best in people, Regine thought, as she jumped into her car.
She dialed her sister, Naya. “Hey, brat.”
“Hey, yourself. Are you on the way to the compound?” Naya asked a little too excited for Regine’s comfort. After Nathan’s threating demeanor, Regine had
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