Shifter Love [Werewolves of Forever, Texas 13] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  Werewolves of Forever, Texas 13

  Shifter Love

  After a close encounter of the furry kind, Shenna Cox wants photographic evidence to out the werewolves of Forever to the rest of the world. Surely a book deal, along with fame and fortune, will follow.

  Werewolves Doug, Marty, and Jordan Beckett recently moved to Forever. Now that they’ve found the ranch of their dreams, they’re hoping to find their mate. Once they meet Shenna, they know the connection, the invisible bond that brings mates together, hasn’t failed them. But will she choose them over her need to reveal their secret?

  Shenna fights an overwhelming urge to be with the men, but every day, more of her resolve breaks apart. Still, she’s determined to get the evidence she needs. What she doesn’t know is that the folks in Forever are on to her scheme to expose the werewolves.

  Should she run, leaving the men she craves behind? Or will the werewolves stop her in her tracks?

  Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves, Western/Cowboys

  Length: 35,342 words

  SHIFTER LOVE

  Werewolves of Forever, Texas 13

  Jane Jamison

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  SHIFTER LOVE

  Copyright © 2017 by Jane Jamison

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-418-1

  First Publication: June 2017

  Cover design by Les Byerley

  All art and logo copyright © 2017 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  From an early age, Jane Jamison was fascinated with stories about werewolves, vampires, aliens, and whatever else might be hiding in her bedroom closet. To this day, she still swears she can hear growls and moans whenever the lights are out.

  Born under the sign of Scorpio meant Jane was destined to be very sensual. Some would say she’s downright sexual. Then one day she put her two favorite things together and found her life’s true ambition: to be a romance author.

  Jane spends each day locked in her office surrounded by her two furry bundles of joy and the heroes and heroines she loves. Her plans include taking care of her loving husband, traveling, and writing until her fingers fall off.

  Jane also writes as Beverly Rae.

  For all titles by Jane Jamison, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/jane-jamison

  For titles by Jane Jamison writing as

  Beverly Rae, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/beverly-rae

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Epilogue

  Landmarks

  Cover

  SHIFTER LOVE

  Werewolves of Forever, Texas 13

  JANE JAMISON

  Copyright © 2017

  Prologue

  “Damn it to hell and back.”

  Shenna Cox jerked on the steering wheel of her 2007 Honda Civic and brought the car to the side of the road. With over 120,000 miles on the old clunker, she had expected it to die a loud and heart-wrenching death sooner than later. She hadn’t, however, given one thought to a tire blowing out. After all, she’d just paid to have new tires put on the damn thing.

  Figures.

  As soon as the car ground to a stop, half on the gravel road and half on the dirt at the side, she slammed her palm against the wheel and let out another string of “damn it to hell and back” curses. When the threats of hauling the rust-encrusted heap off to the junkyard failed to do nothing more than make her throat hurt, she slumped back in the seat.

  As soon as she did, the lights on her dashboard started flashing. The little pointer thingy-majiggy jumped to the high level, showing the car had not only blown a tire but was getting too hot to move another inch.

  Quickly, she turned the engine off and stared at it. You have got to be kidding me.

  Maybe she should’ve paid more attention to the damn idiot lights, but it was too late now. Tears burned her eyes, but she held them back, refusing to be one of those girls who cried when anything mechanical broke down. She’d take a minute and then pull herself together. Closing her eyes, she drew in a few deep breaths then opened her eyes, feeling only slightly better.

  Where the hell am I?

  She couldn’t tell by scanning the flat land on either side of the road. The only thing she knew was that she was out in the middle of Nowhere, Texas, that’s where. Unless she could find a sign pointing the way to one of the many small towns that dotted the Texas landscape, she could be just about anywhere. Or, at least, anywhere between Amarillo and Houston. But a lot of land lay between those two places.

  Hadn’t she realized she was making a mistake when she’d gotten off the main highway? And yet she’d done it anyway on the guise of having an “adventure.” Doing so was a rare thing, and now she wished she’d stuck to her usual cautious behavior.

  Stupid is as stupid does.

  “Adventure, my ass. Now what do I do?” Funny how everyone thought an “adventure” was an exciting, wonderful event until something went south. Then it was just plain trouble.

  She dug around in her purse and found her phone. Maybe if she’d been using her navigation app, she might have a clue where she was. Yet another mistake. It seemed today was her day for mistakes. But at least she was picking up a few bars. Cell phone reception could be a tricky thing, especially when surrounded by nothing but grassy pastures and tumbleweeds.

  Shoving her shoulder against the car door, she slid out of the car, slammed the door shut, then hurried around to the other side. Sure enough, the right front tire was as flat as a pancake.

  Can I drive on a flat? It’s not like I could do more harm to the tire. But would it damage the wheel? I should’ve listened to Dad and taken that automotive repair class.

  “Why me, Lord? What did I do wrong?” She looked skyward, seeking an answer, then gave her words more consideration. If pressed, she was sure she could come up with a lot of things she’d done wrong. Like lying to her parents about stealing the makeup from the department store when she was fifteen. Like sneaking out at night to make out with Billy Epstein. Like implementing a little “creative financing” on last year’s taxes.

  She glanced skyward again. “Sorry. Forget I asked. But can you give me a little help, anyway. Please?” As though in answer, a lone dark cloud drifted across the otherw
ise clear blue expanse above her. That was not a good sign.

  You could’ve just said no, you know. No need to get dramatic.

  A clap of thunder startled her.

  Okay, okay. I’m good. Thanks, anyway.

  Still, she had hope that the big man—or woman—in the sky would take pity on her. A quick check on Google gave her the number for a towing company. Were they located nearby? Still, at least she had a number. Things were looking up.

  How does the saying go? God helps those who help themselves. It couldn’t hurt to give a little credit where credit was due. “Thanks for the tow truck company’s number.”

  She called, squeezing her phone tightly. If this didn’t work, what could she try next?

  “Joe here,” answered the gravelly voice of the man on the other end of the call.

  What? Is that any way to answer a business? Not Joe’s Towing? Just his name? Yet she wasn’t about to criticize the man who might be her rescuer.

  “I need a tow.”

  “No shit. Figured that’s why you called.” He chuckled, yet the sound wasn’t all that cheerful.

  She closed her eyes, determined not to let his surliness goad her into losing his help. “It sure is,” she said as brightly as she could. As her grandmother used to say, she’d “kill him with kindness” if that’s what it took to get him in his damn tow truck and on the road.

  “Where you at?”

  Somehow, she managed to keep back a groan. “I don’t know.”

  A frustrated sigh came before he spoke again. “Well, lady, it’s kind of hard for me to come and get you when you can’t tell me where the hell you are.”

  “I understand, but there aren’t any road signs around here.” She looked again, just to be sure. Nope. Not one damn sign.

  “True enough.” He sure liked to sigh. “What’s the last thing you saw?”

  She tried to remember. Still, she’d been so caught up in her thoughts, calculating a bid to a prospective photography client, that she hadn’t paid much attention to her surroundings. Once she’d gotten off the highway, she’d gone even deeper into thought.

  A slogan popped into her head. Don’t think while driving!

  The slogan should be on every billboard on every highway. “Um, I think I passed a red barn at the last cross-street.”

  Again, a frustrated sigh. “Lady, do you know how many red barns there are in Texas?”

  Cringing, she tried not to get irritated. Never mind that he was right. “I can imagine.” She didn’t add that she’d been born and raised in Dallas. Then she remembered. “I think it had a big white moon painted over the two doors in the front.”

  “A white moon, huh? Yeah, I know where you are.”

  Relief flooded her. If he’d been standing next to her, she might’ve kissed him. An image of a fat, sweaty man wearing stained overalls, and not much else, struck her. No kiss happening there. “When can you come and get me?”

  “I ’spect I can be there in an hour or so. Gotta eat lunch first, though.”

  Seriously? He was going to leave her stranded on the side of the road so he could feed his face? The image of the large Joe hit her again. This time, however, grease dripped off his double chin as he crammed a juicy hamburger into his mouth.

  She held back her anger again. “Can’t you come get me and eat lunch afterward?”

  “Man’s gotta fill his belly, lady. Can’t work on an empty stomach, you know.”

  No, I don’t know. But I’m not going down that particular rabbit hole.

  “I’ll make it worth your while if you come right now.” Had that sounded like a come-on? She sure hoped not. “I’ll pay you time and a half.”

  His chuckle finally held a hint of brightness. “Money don’t mean much to me, lady. I just like helping folks.”

  Riiight. You’re a true Good Samaritan at heart.

  Or would he hit on her once he showed up? Maybe he’d take his usual credit card payment and then want a tip, too, in an entirely terrible way.

  “Then you won’t charge me at all?” As soon as she said the words, she knew she’d messed up. Why had she said that?

  “You can pay in cash or credit card. No checks. Not nothing else, neither.”

  “Okay. Credit card it is.” Who carried cash nowadays? “So you’re coming right now? I really need you to come right now. Seriously. After all, it’s your job.”

  Shit. Shut up before you blow it.

  “Lady, I’ll be there if and when I get there.”

  If? “What do you mean by if you get here? Look, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  Yet he’d ended the call before she’d finished speaking.

  She leaned against the car, her arm by her side, the phone call over. “When will I learn to keep my big mouth shut?” As she often did, she answered her own question. “Probably never.” Sometimes she wondered if she had any sense at all. Hopefully, she hadn’t talked her way out of getting help.

  A sound crackled in the air behind her. Whipping around, she stared at the open field across the road.

  This is where a zombie comes shuffling out of the pasture, ready to eat my pea-size brain.

  Yet what she saw had her heart skipping a beat. The man stood in tall grass with his back to her. His broad shoulders were brown with his deep tan and long blond hair, pulled back into a ponytail, trailed down his spine.

  Daaayuum.

  This was a whole different kind of damn.

  She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Not only had she not expected to see anyone, she hadn’t expected to see a man who was shirtless.

  And naked?

  She stared harder, wishing she could see through the tall grass that hid his lower half.

  She had to ask him for help. To not ask would be dumb. But what if he really was naked? Judging by the width of his back, he was bound to be ripped all over. And below his waist? Somehow it wouldn’t seem right if a guy with a solid back like his ended up with a tiny dick.

  But was he a predator? Or simply a naked nature-lover?

  Slowly, he turned around and faced her. A soft, yet oh-so-sexy smile curved his mouth. The grass barrier between them dissolved toward the ground, exposing a large and magnificently erect cock.

  Shenna shook the image away. Letting her imagination run away with her right now wasn’t a good idea. Not with a flat tire on a hot car and Joe chowing down his lunch instead of hightailing it to her aid.

  Get your mind out of the gutter and back on finding help.

  She lifted her hand and opened her mouth, ready to call out. But the words got stuck.

  What the hell? Is he…changing?

  His body blurred enough that she rubbed her eyes not once but twice. Was she really seeing what she thought she was seeing?

  Fur spread across hard muscles. His arms bent and reformed. Then suddenly he dropped out of sight as though he’d simply fallen to the ground.

  What the hell’s going on? Is he hurt? Has something attacked him?

  At first, she stayed where she was, too confused by what she’d seen to make sense of it. And yeah, she was more than a little afraid. Still, she couldn’t simply ignore him.

  What if Joe didn’t come? What if this was her only chance to get help? What if the guy was hurt? The last thought overrode her caution.

  “Are you all right? Hey, mister? Are you all right?”

  Maybe he was all right, but he sure as hell was different. But different how?

  She waited, breath burning the back of her throat with each pant. Her thumb poised over the keypad of her phone. She had to call someone. But what would she say? That she’d seen a naked man grow fur? That she would’ve sworn his hand had morphed, looking more like a paw with sharp claws?

  Slowly, she inched toward the other side of the road. She had to help him, but how? Would she be putting herself into danger if she did?

  I’ll only go a little farther. If anything weird happens—anything weirder, that is—I’ll run like the Devil himself is breathi
ng fire on my heels.

  She inched closer, going into the edge of the grass that lay between them.

  “Hey, mister, are you all right? Can you answer me?”

  A growl lifted on the air. She froze. Where had an animal come from? She listened, but her heartbeat was so loud she wasn’t sure she could hear anything else.

  Another growl came. And then the undeniable sounds of someone—or something—moving through the grass toward her.

  Oh, shit.

  Any thought of helping the man fled as terror rushed through her, stiffening her body. She lost her grip on her phone and dropped it, but was too afraid to think to pick it up. The man had been bigger and stronger than she was. If an animal had taken him down, what chance did she have of surviving an attack?

  “I’m sorry. I’ll get help. I swear I will,” she whispered. Then she turned and ran for her car.

  The sound of something large running behind her compelled her to run even faster. By the time she’d made it to her car, she was certain a large, vicious creature would jump on her from behind. A sob escaped her as she yanked on her car door, pulled it open, and then flung her body inside.

  A loud bang struck the vehicle, rattling the car as it rocked from side to side. She screamed as she crawled over the console and curled into a ball on the passenger seat. Panic trembled through her as she turned to look at what had struck the vehicle.

  Yet she saw nothing.

  What the hell?

  Shaking, she scanned the area around the car and again saw nothing.

  Something had hit her car. Something big enough to shake the car. But where had it gone?

  Slowly, fearful of feeling sharp, treacherous claws digging into her at any second, she slipped over the console and back onto the driver’s side. Another quick glance around found nothing again as she hurriedly locked all the doors.