Resisting The Alpha (Werebear Shifter Romance) (The Crane Curse) Read online

  As the coyote sprung forward, Faith screamed as she turned away huddling to protect herself. Thick fur brushed past her and she braced herself for the sharp pain of teeth sinking into her flesh. Yelping and howling surrounded her. She was afraid to look as she kneeled on the forest floor, but curiosity got the best of her.

  Faith opened her eyes and found a large bear in front of her fighting off the surrounding coyotes. One of the coyotes leapt at the bear and he swatted it easily out of the air. The coyote was thrown against a tree, grunting and barking as it landed on the ground before running away. With a mighty roar the bear stood to its full height, dwarfing the coyotes. As he bared his teeth with a growl, the remaining coyotes ran with their tails tucked down.

  Without thinking, Faith jumped up and hugged the bear. Gently pushing her away, the bear dropped down to all fours and nudged her like he had weeks ago. She climbed on top of him, happy to be safe and wrapped her arms around his thick neck as she buried her face against his warm fur.

  When the glow of the porch light appeared, Faith felt her stomach drop as dread filled her. She squeezed the bear’s neck tight and he stopped.

  “I can’t go there. I can’t see him,” she said. “I can’t stay in the house with a coyote tonight. Take me anywhere else, I don’t care where. Just not here.”

  The bear turned and picked up speed to a trot. He weaved through the trees until he reached Erich’s shiny black pickup truck. Faith slid off the bear and he walked to the other side of the vehicle where she couldn’t see him.

  Unable to move, Faith leaned against the truck. She took a deep breath and looked up at the star filled sky. Her body trembled as she began feeling safe again and her head cleared. As she turned to open the door, Erich’s large hand eclipsed hers on the handle.

  He was human again but it didn’t matter, she still felt protected by him. Dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a navy t-shirt, he left no trace of the bear he just was.

  “No, I got it,” he said as he opened the passenger side door before helping her get in. “Where do you want to go?”

  Her mind was blank. All she wanted was to be in the safety of her home, but she didn’t have one. Abel was at the small house in the woods and she wanted to be as far from him and any coyote as possible that night. She couldn’t think of anywhere she could feel safe at, except for with Erich.

  “Anywhere. Just don’t leave me tonight.”

  He nodded before closing her door and walking to the driver’s side of his truck. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. His broad shoulders, dark swept back hair, the way his muscles flexed against his clothing as he moved.

  Without a word Erich started the truck and then put his arm out towards Faith. She slid closer to him and wrapped her arms around his chest as she nestled against him.

  As they drove in silence Faith smelled the salty ocean air filling the vehicle as they approached the shore. Lowering the window a little to let more of it in, she admired the sleeping marina with its docked boats gently bobbing. As they went over the bridge and entered the shore town, tiny lights from the buoys lit the way up the inlet towards the ocean.

  Driving down a wooded street towards the pier, Faith saw a white figure running through the trees. She blinked thinking she must be seeing things, but deep down she knew the truth. As Erich turned onto a busy street with small shops lining either side of the road, Faith knew she had to go back.

  “Turn back,” she said. “Just to that last street. The one with the trees.”

  “What’s going on? Is it more coyotes?”

  “No, I’m not sure. Maybe its nothing, but I have to make sure.”

  Erich turned the pickup truck around and drove back up the wooded street. As they approached a quiet area with tall pine trees and the sandy soil spilling onto the street, Faith saw the woman in white stop, turn around to look, and then run in the opposite direction.

  “Miranda,” she whispered. “I have to get back, Erich. Now. I have to get to the clearing.”

  “Are you crazy? After what just happened with the coyotes?”

  “None of that matters. I have to get there now.”

  “Then I’m coming with you.”

  “No,” Faith said as she shook her head, “you can’t. I can’t explain it but I don’t think she’ll come if you’re there. I have to do this alone.”

  “But what about–”

  “I’ll be fine. Trust me. You know those coyotes won’t be back tonight anyway.”

  Erich nodded, looking defeated. Faith wished she could bring him with her, but Miranda wouldn’t appear with him there. The last thing she wanted was to be alone after what she just went through, but Miranda needed her help.

  “I don’t like this, Faith. I don’t think its a good idea.”

  “Please, its something I have to do. I wish I knew what was going on, but I don’t. I just know she wouldn’t appear for no reason. Nothing will happen to me.”

  Turning onto the main road, Erich headed back towards the Pine Barrens and the clearing. He drove up the street Eliza and Knox lived and stopped at the end just near the path. As Faith reached for the door handle, Erich leaned over and pulled her close again, claiming her lips with his.

  She wanted to stay and wondered what that kiss would lead to, but Miranda’s pull was strong and Faith had to find her. Pulling away from Erich, she touched his cheek and kissed him softly before getting out of the car.

  “Don’t worry about me,” she said. “I’ll be fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He nodded and as she entered the forest she noticed his truck didn’t leave until she was around the bend and out of his sight. As she approached the clearing she saw Miranda race across the path.

  “Miranda!”

  She ran after her and Miranda stopped at the edge of the clearing near the ruins of her home.

  “He’s got her. He’s got Hannah,” Miranda said as she turned to look at her.

  “What are you talking about? Who has her?”

  “Your coyote.”

  Faith felt ice rush through her body. She couldn’t believe she had been so stupid, so trusting. All this time he was planning and she believed he needed a pack to get things done. She was too busy thinking about herself, about having a family, and about Erich to notice Abel was up to his old tricks.

  As she thought about the metal structure he was building, she realized it was gone earlier, but it couldn’t have gotten far. Abel was doing this alone, without a pack or anyone helping him. He had to be close to the house in the woods.

  “I’ll find her, Miranda. I promise.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Faith raced to the small house she and Abel shared. She was right, the metal structure he had been working on was gone. She could see the depressions on the ground where it laid but nothing else.

  Rushing into the house she looked for a sign. He had to leave something behind, some clue to his whereabouts. Quickly looking through his stuff, she found the schematics of the metal structure and realized it was a trap. This is all my fault, she thought. Had she only paid more attention to Abel, had realized he was smart enough to do things on his own without the aid of a pack, she might have been able to stop him.

  Grabbing her phone she dialed Erich. The phone rang and rang but he didn’t answer. After what felt like forever, his voicemail picked up and she hung up without leaving a message. She didn’t have time for that.

  As she ran outside she stood on the area Abel had constructed his trap. Guilt overwhelmed her. While she was enjoying herself, Hannah was being captured. She had to do something, but what? The forest was too large to just run around and hope she found him. He could be anywhere.

  “I knew you’d be back,” Abel said as he stepped out from the tree line, startling her. “You’re very predictable, you know. Maybe its just that my human knows you so well, but I don’t like giving him much credit anymore.”

  As he left the protection of the trees, Faith saw Abel had morphed into an even more gro
tesque creature. His head was almost fully changed into that of a coyote except for his face which was caught somewhere between animal and the human the coyote destroyed. While he still walked on his back legs, Abel hunched forward to the point where his long arms nearly touched the ground.

  “Where is she? What did you do with her?”

  “How sweet! You’ve only had a niece for a day and you’re suddenly protective of her. Why just over a month ago you were at odds.”

  “No,” Faith said. “I was never with you on that. I was only doing what I had to to survive. I had no choice, you didn’t give me a choice.”

  “That’s bullshit, human! You enjoyed it. You loved the power charming gave you. And guess what? The girl, the new wolf, my special charmer is an Alpha herself. Now why don’t you come with me so you can put her under my control and I can use her to take over all the wolves, both living and dead.”

  “No, Abel! I’m not going to help you anymore.”

  He shrugged, his fur covered shoulders rising and dropping in a manner that disgusted Faith. “That’s fine, don’t help me. Look at how far I got on my own. You helped me enough as it is, I suppose. After all, you helped me find her and she’s the one I always wanted. I don’t need you anymore.”

  He was playing with her emotions and she refused to give into him. Folding her arms in front of her she tuned him out and didn’t let his words hurt her as they had in the past. She knew this was all about the Crane curse and she resented him for not telling her the truth about it. Slowly it dawned on her that he knew the truth all along.

  “How long did you know I was a Crane? For how many years did you keep me from discovering my family?”

  “Family is overrated, my dear. I was all the family you needed, you didn’t need them.”

  “So you knew? And you kept it from me?” she shoved him back and felt the energy from the white light begin to swell in her body. She had no idea what it would do a shifter but she was ready to find out.

  “Go ahead, try some of your new powers out on me. Maybe you’ll get lucky and kill me,” he said laughing. “Just remember, you don’t know where I’m keeping her. Also, remember those collars? She’s wearing one now.”

  “No! You can’t do that to her!”

  “She’s being kept as a wolf for now, but she’s fighting it. I had to make some adjustments so it would work on an Alpha, but its working well. I just hope she doesn’t go mad before I’m through with her.”

  Abel outwitted her. She had no choice but to give in and help him again. Looking down at the ground she noticed his hunched shadow and kicked some dirt onto it in protest. That was the most she could do without harming Hannah.

  “Ok, I’ll help you,” she said.

  He howled his approval and turned back to the forest. “Follow me. But be careful, I’m not like your bear friend who will help you. Where is that grunt anyway? I would’ve thought he’d show up by now. No matter, I’m ready for him or anyone else.”

  He muttered as he changed into full coyote and walked through the trees on all fours as Faith tried to keep up. The ground became softer and more sandy, slowing her walk even more. In the distance she heard the bell from the drawbridge and shook her head. She didn’t realize how close they were to the catacombs. Of course Abel would return there and he’d be safe because no one would think he’d be brazen enough to do that. It was another smart move on his part.

  As they exited the woods, Faith watched him trot through the tall grass. It hurt to see him like this. She wanted to only remember him as he was, the man she loved for so long, but he was making that harder.

  Entering the catacombs, Faith noticed more water along the cement floor than before. The high tide must have flooded it recently and Faith wondered if the coyote was astute enough to realize the danger they could be in. She wanted to warn him, to protect Abel, but she had to remind herself that he wasn’t himself anymore.

  After a series of turns they entered the main room, where not long ago Hannah attacked her in defense. In the center of the room was a tall cage made of thick metal bars and inside was Hannah as a wolf fighting the collar and crashing into the bars as she tried to escape. Faith’s heart sank and pain filled her chest as she realized what a horrible man Abel had become.

  “How could you do this?” she said. “I trusted you for so many years. I loved you for all this time and it was never enough. You always wanted more. How could you treat anyone like this?”

  “Shut up, Faith,” he said as he changed himself back to the half coyote, half human creature he had become. “Abel kept you in the dark before but this is what I’ve been doing for years now. Its time you came to accept it.”

  She shook her head and looked in at Hannah who didn’t seem to know she was there.

  “I thought you were done. They took your pack, you have nothing.”

  “That just meant I had to start over,” he growled.

  “I trusted you!”

  “And it was a good thing I didn’t trust you, right?” he said.

  “Trust is a dangerous thing, coyote,” Caleb said as he entered the large room. “I didn’t trust your woman, but I see I was wrong. Luckily it did lead me to you. Let Hannah go and I’ll spare your life.”

  Abel scoffed before a maniacal grin spread over his face. “You of all people should know of the power of love, Caleb. And you’ll see its power first hand today.” Abel pulled a small remote control from his pocket and pressed a button. Hannah bucked and howled in pain. “It’s one of the collar’s improvements.”

  Caleb jumped into the air, changing mid-air into a wolf, his fangs bared and ready to attack.

  “No!” Faith screamed as she leapt towards Abel and pushed him out of the way. Quickly spinning around on the slick cement floor, she faced Caleb and focused her charming on him. She had one chance, if it didn’t work he would kill her and anything in his path.

  With her green eyes glowing she met the wolf’s gaze. She couldn’t bear to see anyone get hurt, and she didn’t agree with what Abel was doing, but she had to protect him.

  Caleb stopped and laid down obediently at her feet waiting for another command. Abel grinned cruelly as he walked over and kicked the wolf in the ribs.

  Hiding her face in her hands, Faith cried. “What did I do?”

  “Bravo, Faith!” Abel said. “Maybe there’s hope for you left. I knew your love wouldn’t let that animal harm me.”

  Looking at Abel with his long pointed ears and random tufts of fur, Faith wondered what happened to the boy she loved. She stayed for so many years wishing and hoping he’d come back, but she realized now it was futile. The Abel she loved was gone forever.

  “I’m leaving, Abel. And I’m taking the wolves with me.”

  “You’re a funny little human. You really think you can overpower me?”

  Faith removed the long cardigan sweater she had put on earlier and tossed it into the cage with Hannah. Then she positioned herself so she was between the cage and Caleb.

  “You’re nothing but a pathetic weak human,” Abel said as he watched her.

  “And you’re nothing but a stupid coyote.”

  Faith reached out towards Hannah and focused on the collar. It popped open and fell to the ground of the cage. As Hannah changed back to human she found the sweater and slipped her arms into it.

  Faith’s eyes glowed again as her anger towards Abel grew and fill her with power. As realization crossed Abel’s face he changed into a full coyote and ran out of the main room and down a corridor.

  “Caleb, attack!” she said.

  Under her control Caleb chased after the fleeing Abel and Faith realized what she had done. Running down the corridor she screamed, but she knew it was already too late.

  The wolf came to her with his head down and she released her charm on him as she watched the coyote on the floor at the end of the hall change back into human. Abel lay on his side, his pale blond hair covered his head. Faith ran over to finally see the man she had loved and
waited for for so many years had returned.

  Kneeling beside him she touched his shoulder and he rolled onto his back as he clutched at the bloody bite at the side of his neck. With tears streaming down her face she tore the end of her skirt, pushed his hands aside, and put pressure on his wound but the blood wouldn’t stop.

  He covered her hands with his before reaching up to touch her cheek. “Please don’t cry, my love. You did what you had to do,” Abel said.

  “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she cried.

  He smiled at her as his hand dropped. “I don’t have much time left. But you should know that no matter how much that coyote was in control, I never stopped loving you.”

  He coughed up blood and Faith wiped at it quickly before returning to his wound. She focused her energy on it and imagined it closing.

  “It can’t end like this,” she whispered. “It’s just not fair.”

  “Faith, stop. Let me go. I’m finally free of that coyote. It’s still here and if you’re able to do what I think you can, he’ll only take over again. I can’t live like that anymore. I can’t live knowing how much I hurt you.”

  “But, Abel–”

  “No,” he said as he looked deep into her eyes. “I love you so much, but I’m weak to the coyote. I’ve spent too many years unable to touch you, hold you, or simply talk to you like we used to. I can’t continue like that and if you heal me it will continue. I can’t resist him.”

  “I’ve missed you. You can’t leave me again.”

  “I have to, my love. I’m sorry. Now just hold me, let me feel your warmth one last time and promise you’ll let me go and love again.”

  Faith gently wrapped her arms around Abel and thought about the good times they had together. She stopped focussing on his wound and whispered, “I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

  Warm, thick liquid covered her hands. Before his body went limp Faith thought she heard him say her name one last time. Her tears choked her as she clung to him, gasping for air as her ragged cries echoed down the cement corridor.

  A hand touched her back and she knew it was Hannah. Slowly Faith lifted her head from Abel’s dead body. She wasn’t ready to let go so she reached for his hand and stroked the slender fingers she hadn’t seen in years as she turned to Hannah.