A Taste of Shifter Geekdom: Shifter Romance (Vanguard Elite Book 2) Read online

  “We could leave here and find a fresh start.” Even as she spoke, he could tell she didn’t sound convinced. “No, you wouldn’t leave your pack.” She rested her hand over his heart. “I wouldn’t want you to abandon them.”

  “I understand the meaning of loyalty.” He couldn’t believe she would have even suggested leaving his pack.

  She jerked away as if he’d slapped her. “Of course you do. Your pack loves you for who you are, not what deals your vagina can get.” She pushed pass him and ran into the forest toward the manor. The scent of her tears traveled on the wind.

  Darrell followed three steps then stopped. He could follow her and apologize. He could get her to turn her back on her pack and join his. He could win her and love her, but was it the best thing for Julia? What had she meant by deals with her vagina? He didn’t understand, but he did know if she stayed with him, her life would be hard. With Allistair, she’d have an easy life. She thought she didn’t have a choice, she did and it was easy to make so he’d do it for her.

  Pallas had replaced the scarecrows with target boards for tonight’s test.

  Darrell glanced at the board Julia used. He blinked and rubbed his eyes. Rushing to it, he stuck his fingertip in the holes she’d left.

  Well, shit. She hit the bullseye. She’d been focused on their argument, taking her anger out on the target, which meant she’d been over-compensating her aim. They’d been so busy neither of them had noticed how much her aim had improved. He rolled it up, about to run after her. What was he doing? He’d promised to help her pass the marksman test. The target proved he’d done the job. He needed to leave her alone.

  They had a few hours left before the test and Darrell should get some sleep, but as soon as he entered the manor Allistair’s scent struck his senses like a shovel to the head. He couldn’t rest while this male was in his territory. He shook his head clear of his wolf’s thoughts. He followed the scent to the basement entrance. The door was open. Peering below, a light from the classroom cut across the darkness. Low voices traveled to his ears.

  No one should be awake in the basement during daylight hours. What if Allistair was sent to kill the vampire? Darrell descended on tiptoe, holding his breath each time the old stairs creaked.

  Heart pounding, he held the rifle ready. The voices went silent. Darrell froze. No movement. It seemed like the world held its breath while waiting for someone to make the next move. Darrell pressed against the wall outside the classroom.

  A chair scrapped across the floor.

  Resting his finger on the trigger, Darrell prayed Allistair was up to no good. He couldn’t think of a better solution than to kill the fucker in defense of his teacher. It still wouldn’t solve his and Julia’s monetary differences though.

  Pallas stepped out of the door and shoved the rifle barrel so it aimed at the ground. “Darrell?” Dark circles surrounded his eyes and he moved with less grace.

  “Pallas, what are you doing awake?” He’d been under the impression vampires had to sleep during the day.

  “I’m wondering the same of you?” His gaze strayed to the rifle. “Why are you armed?”

  “I took Julia out to the practice range.” Darrell peered around the door frame.

  Allistair sat at one of the desks.

  Darrell’s gaze narrowed. “You.”

  Clare stood at the back of the room. She frowned. “Shouldn’t you be doing something else? Like anything else but this?”

  Darrell glanced at his rifle then the vampire. “I smelled a stranger in the manor. I wanted to make sure you were safe.”

  “I’m touched.” Pallas’ frown deepened. “You might not need to sleep but I do. The trespasser will not be executed, but will be detained as a guest until I speak more with him. Clare take care of this mess before I change my mind and dine on them both.” The vampire faded into the darkness at the far end of the basement.

  Clare looked less than pleased. “I’d love some sleep as well. Allistair, you’re lucky some shifters left earlier today, otherwise you would be bunking with Darrell.” She led the male out the classroom.

  “I’m sure Julia has some space for me in her bed.” Allistair shouldered Darrell. “Nice gun. Didn’t know they still made that model.”

  Darrell released the safety.

  “Stand down, Darrell.” Clare glared at him from the stairs. “You only shoot when I tell you to.”

  It took all of Darrell’s will power to pop the safety on. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Julia has a roommate. You’ll be staying on the boy’s floor. Don’t let me catch you on mine.” She flicked a switch blade from her pocket. “I have less restraint then Darrell. Do you get me, Allistair?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Julia watched the last of the sunshine. Soon the manor would begin to stir. Tonight was the marksman test and she didn’t have any chance to pass it. She didn’t want to fail in front of the whole pack and Darrell. Pallas would send her on the bus to New York City with the other losers, but from there, where would she go?

  She had two hundred and sixty dollars in cash leftover from when she ran from home. That wouldn’t last long. Maybe she could find a job as a waitress in the city. Moving from one place to another wasn’t easy for a shifter. It wasn’t the same as for humans. She’d be on some other pack’s territory. Female lone wolves were rare, and to be honest, she wanted a pack. She didn’t want to be by herself.

  Maybe Ian could connect her to his old pack in New York City? He never spoke of them so that could mean his relationship with them wasn’t very good. She really didn’t want to live in the city either. She could afford bus fare, but the question was where to? And she was back to her original problem.

  Packs would take in a single female. No problem. It was what the pack did with those single females that worried Julia. Her parents had filled her head with terrible stories of slavery and rape. From what she’d heard from Clare, Penny, and Belinda most of those stories were true.

  She rolled on her side. Belinda, her roommate, was asleep. The she-wolf wore a happy-go-lucky exterior but Julia had heard her cry out in her sleep many times. There were bad wolves out in the world. The Vanguards were doing their best to fix this but they were one pack against many. She heard things about ancient accords and laws being renewed, but those things wouldn’t help her over the next few days.

  Unless she ran to Chicago and asked to join the Vanguards.

  She sat on the edge of the bed. That’s what she’d do. She’d head west. Her heart felt hollow. Why bother taking the test? She had wanted to pass so she could stay, but not if Darrell didn’t want her. That changed everything. She couldn’t spend another day here knowing she’d hurt him enough that he hated her. A tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped her it dry. All she’d ever wanted was the freedom to make her own decisions. She finally had power over her own life and what did she do? Cry. She didn’t belong in the boot camp. Not because she was too good, but because she was too weak. She grabbed her towel. The shower should be free. If she hurried, she could walk to Alberg for a bus schedule. Maybe her parents were right. Maybe she was too stupid to take care of herself.

  A quiet knock on her door startled her. She hurried to answer as not to wake Belinda. On the other side stood Allistair. Her heart dropped. Silly of her to think it would be Darrell.

  “What are you still doing here?” She pushed him out into the hall and closed the door behind her.

  “I spoke with Pallas. He’s allowed me to stay since you might be needing a ride home tonight.” Allistair looked a little rough around the edges.

  “He said that?” She spoke in hushed tones as not to wake everyone. The vampire was so sure she’d fail. Not minutes ago, she’d thought the same thing, but it still hurt. “I won’t go with you.”

  Allistair planted his hand on the walls each side of her head, cornering her. “Where would you go, Julia?”

  “I’ll go to Chicago.”

  “The Vanguards would probably take you i
n.” He paused, staring down at her with alpha dominance. “How will you support yourself?”

  She raised her chin, proud that it didn’t tremble. “I’ll find a job.” She wasn’t sure how but she’d ask Clare for advice before leaving.

  “You’ve never worked a day in your life.”

  “You think this camp is easy?” She dropped her gaze, falling into old habits. This might not be considered a job, but she worked hard here and she had the callouses to prove it. She helped cook and clean. She even tried chopping wood and almost lost her foot.

  “No, but you don’t belong here. Come home with me.” He ran the back of his hand over her cheek.

  She flinched. “No.” But what place would hire her? She had no work history. She was a fool to think she could just leave her home unprepared and survive.

  “If you didn’t have to mate with me, would you return?”

  She peered at him. “What do you mean?”

  “I need you.”

  The hollowness in her chest grew worse. She wanted to hear those words so bad but not from Allistair. “You don’t know me.” Their pack was huge in comparison to most and they didn’t play nice together. She didn’t know a lot of the pack members and included Allistair. They’d danced at a couple of balls and been invited to the same formal dinners. He’d been polite. That was it. Their conversations had been filled with emptiness.

  “No, I don’t, but unless I’m mated in three months I will lose my position in the pack and my inheritance.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “You say this as if you don’t know how our pack works. I’m in my prime and my parents want grandchildren.”

  “You said I wouldn’t have to mate with you.”

  “Not physically.”

  “Didn’t your parents explain the birds and the bees? Grand babies require physical contact.”

  “It’s not a requirement in the will though. I just need to be mated.” He gave her a fake smile. “We complete the binding and live separate lives. You’ll be taken care of and not have to live on the streets.”

  She sagged against the wall. She’d have her old life back but no monetary worries. A few weeks ago this deal would have sounded perfect, but now, the appeal was lame. She’d had a taste of true happiness and it left her wanting more. None of that was possible when the male who made her feel this way thought of her as disloyal.

  She shrugged. “I was leaving this morning anyway. I can use a ride to town and we can talk over dinner.”

  A broken spring poked Darrel in the spine. He had tried returning to his room but it smelled like Julia so he had moved to a couch in the pack room. Didn’t make much of a difference. He still hadn’t slept. His mind was stuck on loop, repeating the last conversation he’d had with Julia. In directly, he had accused her of not being loyal. That hadn’t been his intention. Not really. Well, maybe. He’d been so angry, who could tell what he intended.

  Darkness filled the room as the last of the sunlight faded. The manor would be stirring soon. He sat on the edge of the couch and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He’d already showered before moving to the couch to avoid the evening rush.

  The marksman test was tonight. He pulled out Julia’s target paper from his back pocket. A couple of bullseyes. He should have it framed.

  Pallas stomped across the room, his gaze darted to Darrell but he ignored him. He pulled the curtain aside and stared across the front lawn to the road where a police cruiser pulled into the long driveway. “What now?” the vampire grumbled in a low voice.

  Darrell stretched. “Only one way to find out.”

  Pallas scowled. “It’s against house rules to sleep in the pack room.”

  “Who said I was sleeping?” It was the truth. The way he was feeling now it would take a miracle for him to pass the marksman test. He had to make things right with Julia.

  The vampire returned to watching the cruiser park and the sheriff emerge from the driver’s side. He smirked before moving to the front door.

  Darrell followed, lacking anything else to do, and to back up his task master. No knowing what a human officer would do. She might try to stake him.

  Pallas strolled across the front porch and descended the stairs, meeting Sheriff Lee on the lawn. “What a pleasant surprise. If we keep meeting this way, sheriff, people will start talking.”

  Sheriff Lee wore her crisp uniform and hat. Darrell hadn’t met many law enforcement officers that he liked, but she handled the crowd well the night of the festival. He respected her position, trapped between pack and town. From what little he’d seen, she hadn’t sided with either. She held a slip of paper. “I’m here to investigate a noise complaint.”

  Darrell joined them.

  She shot him a questioning look before turning her attention back to Pallas. “Gunshots.”

  “Who could we possibly be disturbing? My closest neighbor is five miles away.” Pallas arched his arm out to encompass his large property.

  “You’re not denying shooting guns.” She crossed her arms and met the taller vampire’s stare.

  Darrell had to suppress a smile. She seemed so tiny next to him, but from her stance, she wasn’t aware of the size difference.

  The vampire scratched his chin. “No, but I was told that it’s legal.”

  She pinched her fingers together. “It is, but has it ever occurred to any of you that an armed pack of werewolves just might make the locals a tad nervous?”

  “Well, no. It hadn’t occurred to me since they live so far away. If they minded their own business they wouldn’t have anything to worry about and bother you.” Pallas gave a sharp nod.

  “Why do have guns?”

  Pallas jerked his thumb, pointing at the burnt front porch where some humans had tried to burn them alive. “Self-defense. I’m teaching them not to shoot their feet off or hit innocent by-standers.”

  Her lips thinned.

  “Don’t give me the speech about calling for help and taking things in my own hands.” Pallas shouted. “Because that didn’t work out so well the last time.”

  Darrell jumped. The vampire was right. No one responded to their nine-one-one calls.

  The sheriff didn’t flinch. “I know. What are you shooting at?” Her tone was cool as ice.

  Pallas blew out a pent up breath. “We have a target range in the back. Miles from any habitation.” He eyed her. “Do you take me for an idiot?”

  Her eyebrows shot up her forehead and her eyes went wide. “That’s the last word I’d use to describe you.”

  The vampire’s expression morphed into something pleasant.

  Darrell had to blink to clear his vision.

  “So,” Pallas took a closer step toward Sheriff Lee. “How would you describe me?”

  The front door slammed open. Allistair strode out carrying a leather suitcase followed by Julia. She stopped dead when she spotted Darrell. “Oh.”

  He tilted his head, eyebrows furrowed. “What’s going on?” Why was she with Allistair? She’d said there was nothing between them, that their engagement was arranged.

  Allistair blocked his path to Julia. “She’s coming home where she belongs.”

  Belongs? Hadn’t he thought the same thing yesterday? That she’d be better off with Allistair who had the finances to support her. Yeah, he had, and he’d been a jackass to her. He rubbed his face, stubble scraped the palms of his hand. His chest wanted to cave-in.

  She passed him on the way to Allistair’s sports car.

  Pallas peered over Darrell’s head. “Are you leaving us?”

  “Yes, loyalty to pack should come first.” She held her chin high but refused to look at either of them.

  Pallas slapped the back of Darrell’s head. “You slept with her. This is why we have rules. That’s two you’ve broken in less than twenty-four hours. I’ve obviously grown lax.”

  Sheriff Lee kicked at a stone in the dirt driveway that lead from the road and curved around the manor to the detached garage where Pallas kept
his car.

  Allistair took Julia by the elbow, guiding her away. “Let’s leave this place. We have a long journey ahead of us.” He rested his arm around her shoulders as they distanced themselves from Darrell.

  A growl rolled within his chest. His wolf tore at his control. Bite. Tear. Eat. He took a step toward Allistair. He had no right to her. She belonged to him.

  Pallas sighed and shook his head. He gestured to the sheriff to join him on the porch. “Best we get out of the way. Mating drama can get messy.”

  Sheriff Lee sat next to him on the porch stairs. She took off her hat. “My money is on the scruffy one.”

  “That’s a sure bet.” Pallas leaned forward, elbows on knees. “Get this over with Darrell. We have a lot to do tonight.”

  Allistair held the passenger side door open for Julia to climb inside. She tossed Darrell a longing look over her shoulder. A tear rolled down her cheek.

  No, no, no. She wasn’t going anywhere except straight back to his bed. Darrell stormed over and grasped her arm before she could slip inside the vehicle. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  Allistair dropped the suitcase and shoved Darrell away. “You’ve some nerve coming between us.” He swung his arm and landed a sharp upper cut across Darrell’s jaw.

  “Whoa!” shouted Pallas from the porch. His cheer was joined by others.

  Darrell stumbled and blinked the stars from his vision. The porch was crowded with pack calling out encouragements. Mr. Fancy Pants apparently knew how to punch.

  Allistair stood with legs apart and fists ready. “Come on.” He gestured for Darrell to come get him.

  Rubbing his sore jaw, he circled around Allistair.

  Julia’s gaze traveled from one to other. “Stop this. Allistair, I’ve changed my mind. I can’t go with you. My heart already decided for me days ago. Darrell is my fated mate.”

  Darrell spun to face her. “You mean that?” His wolf calmed. He had almost lost her to stupidity. He wouldn’t let that ever happen again.