Tainted Souls: A Shadow Creek Novel Read online

  Madeleine held her breath as each member gave their vote.

  “On this count, the Society is unanimous. Not guilty.”

  His solid gaze darted between her and Ryker. “The second crime is the attack on Shadow Pack member Madeleine Shaw, who at the time of the attack was an innocent human.”

  Her hands fisted under the table, her patience waning and her nerves beginning to fray.

  Ask me.

  Ask me. Please...

  “Madeleine,” he finally addressed her. “Do you have anything to put before the Society regarding the attack?”

  Standing up, she suddenly felt light-headed. Lack of oxygen. She looked to her comrades, hoping to find mercy for the one who owned her heart. To find acceptance for the man she so desperately longed to be with.

  Her gaze fell upon Ryker. His eyes were apparitional beneath the bill of his cap, but his nod gave her the courage to find the words.

  “I often wondered about that day when I was attacked. So many pieces were missing, still are. It made me mad. My life altered without a choice. Stolen. With the help of Ryker and my pack, I learned to live again as something else, something… better. If you ask me, would I go back? Would I swap what I have now for everything taken from me? A short while ago, I would have said yes. But now? Since meeting Jared, and in the short space of time I've come to know him, I know he never set out to harm anyone. He was in his transition and had no one to turn to, no one looking out for him.” She sucked in a breath, feeling the heavy weight of her colleague's stares upon her. “I forgive Jared for what he unintentionally did to me, and I thank him for saving my life. And if I mean anything, to any of you, I hope you will find it in your hearts to do the same.” Her gaze fell once again to the shifter with the shadowed eyes. His head dipped lower and she had no idea what he was thinking. Retaking her seat, Madeleine's heart was suddenly a jackhammer in her chest when she said, “My vote is not guilty.”

  There was a long silence.

  She waited with bated breath when it came to Ryker's vote. Raising his head, he removed his cap and inhaled sharply when his tiger-gem eyes settled on her.

  “Not guilty,” he said, before getting to his feet. “If you don't mind, Sir, I'd like to save everyone here the trouble of voting on behalf of Jared's crime against me.”

  Madeleine could feel herself rising out of her seat. Her brows crashed together in confusion and her pulse raced with utter panic.

  The Overseer's eyes narrowed as he pursed his lips. “Very well.”

  Ryker ran a hand through his hair before he glanced around the table and looked directly at Madeleine when he spoke. “I can't say I'll ever like or get along with the son-of-a-bitch. But he saved Madeleine, and in a real twisted way his unintentional attack brought her here, to us. And for that I'm grateful. I love her dearly and can't imagine my life without her in it. He could've taken the other leg, and well, if it had still brought Madeleine to us, then I would reach the same conclusion. Not guilty.”

  Madeleine couldn't see through her tears as she raced around the table to throw her arms around him.

  “Thank you, Ryker. Oh, God, thank you so much.”

  “Are we agreed?” The Overseer addressed them all.

  The group replied in unison, “Not guilty.”

  Fleet approached the Overseer when the meeting ended hours later. They'd discussed many things. The Society's mating law had been a heated debate which ended with a split verdict. Nevada's imminent undercover mission in France with Jack. The Feds were crawling all over the Frenchman. But they needed someone to get close enough to uncover his illegal businesses. It had also been decided that the initiation and Cade and Kit's mating ceremony would take place at the end of the week on the next full moon.

  There was one thing still playing on his mind.

  He watched the last of the group leave the room before he spoke. “It seems there are some inevitable changes on the horizon.”

  The Overseer leaned back into his seat with a heavy sigh and glanced up at him. “They are unavoidable if the Society is to continue in a modern and ever-changing world.”

  “I guess so.” He smoothed a hand over his chin. “Kit and Lakota will be leaving for Silver Skies soon. They'll bring back the blood samples for Madeleine to give to the Others.”

  His brows furrowed as he stared up at Fleet. “And you're having second thoughts?”

  Fleet shook his head. “No. But I am concerned about the connection that may form with whichever female or females the samples are taken from.”

  “From what I understand, the samples will be limited to one or two maternal's. I feel the chances of one of the Others feeling a bond with them is possibly one in a million.” He leaned forward and gathered his paperwork together. “Besides, Silver Skies is so remote in the Alaskan Territory I doubt any of them would travel that far. That's if the experiment even works.”

  “I trust Madeleine's judgment. She's certain this is the key to changing them back to Walkers. Although, they may have more shifter tendencies after.”

  The Overseer stood up and turned to him. “We'll cross those bridges if they arise. I trust Cade will go with Kit on the journey?”

  “Ah, yeah.”

  “Then, I will be joining them. I have an important matter to attend to.”

  Fleet threw a questioning look but didn't ask.

  “I'll need you to free up Murphy tomorrow, I intend to question Alex. We still need to find out who his accomplice was in all this, besides Maria. The young rogues were his puppets. We need to find the key player, the ringleader of the splinter cell before he gets too far out of our reach.”

  “Agreed,” Fleet replied following him out of the room.

  Eve jumped out of the SUV back at the compound. She was on patrol in a couple of minutes so didn't bother following the others back into the lair.

  Delta joined her and they both crossed the training court when they heard Murphy call out for them to stop. They turned simultaneously to face him. Eve's stomach went all… Dive! Dive! Dive! on her as he came closer.

  “We're switching,” he said addressing Delta. “You're patrolling tomorrow instead. I'm needed by the Overseer.”

  Delta's eyes did a quick flit between Eve and Murphy. “Right. I'll head in then.”

  Oh, God. Alone. All night. With him.

  Eve squashed her thoughts before they filtered through her firewall and could be heard by not only him but the whole pack too.

  “I'll wait for you fifty yards in,” he said, turning his attention to her.

  Eve stared up at him, his eyes hidden by his wraparounds. “Ah, oh, okay.” She watched him prowl forward to the edge of the forest. His big body moved with such surprising grace and fluidity, she thought in silent adoration. As if he'd heard her, he stopped and turned his head slightly, before removing his wraparounds and tugging off his T-shirt. Her mouth fell open as the fabric inched up exposing his skin, all healthy and healed. His angel tattoo stared back at her. The damaged wing was almost complete again and looked just as deadly beautiful and it always been. Throwing his T-shirt to the ground, he kicked off his boots and with a brief pause he slipped out of his fatigues and with a flash of light he was gone.

  She swallowed her lust at the wonderful sight of him. Although she'd seen him naked already, his body still took her breath away and made her heart skip a beat. Her wolf rammed against her mind wanting to be set free, wanting to get up close to his.

  Closing her mouth and shaking herself to her senses, she jogged forward. Standing in the exact same spot he had, she stripped off her clothes. The late air caressed her breasts, stroked her thighs, and kissed her face before she lunged into the air and shifted.

  Picking up his scent immediately she followed and soon caught up with him. He was sitting by a fallen tree, waiting. His sharp wolf's eyes zeroed in on her and he got up and padded over. Her wolf wanted to rub up against him. Wanted to nuzzle into his pelt.

  You take the left side of the perimeter.
I'll take the right and meet you at the river.

  Okay, she replied telepathically.

  Eve ran hard, her nose to the air and to the ground. There were fresh animal scents everywhere. The musty smell of the woodland. The breeze carrying the salt from the sea, the rain, leaves, earth, and moss. It was twenty minutes later when she scented his fragrance in the air. Slowing her pace, she could see he'd shifted and was kneeling over the quiet pool of water washing his face.

  Padding up beside him, she dipped her head and drank, lapping up the cool liquid. Her mind flicked back to a few days ago when she'd tasted his blood in this water. Dragged him out of this very pool, wondering if he was alive or dead.

  The sensation was subtle, and she lifted her head in surprise. His hand had slipped into her pelt just above her shoulder, fingers splaying as he rubbed gently.

  “I never thanked you, for saving me,” he whispered, and Eve caught the soft, vulnerable edge to his voice.

  She didn't look at him, even when he turned to face her wolf, she took control and forbid her wolf to look at him. She wanted to though. Oh, God, she wanted to turn around and shift, have that hand touching her body, human to human.

  But she knew she'd lose all control. Instead, she leaned into the touch giving him permission to continue the caress. His hand smoothed down the length of her back, over her flank and back to the thick fur of her neck.

  “Thank you, Eve.” His hand slipped free, and he got to his feet and shifted.

  Come on, we'll do another run, together.

  Eve knew Murphy was shortening his stride so she could keep up. The darkness of the evening had fallen with a quick descent, bringing a thick, cool mist ghosting their path. After another check of the perimeter, they jogged back toward the lair.

  Reaching the spot where they'd left their things, Eve didn't bother to wait for him to shift and leave her, give her the privacy as he had done before. No, this time, she was going to give him something to look at. Something that would show him she was all woman, in every way.

  Her shift illuminated the night and as the flare of brilliant light dispersed, Eve stood in all her feminine grace before him. She heard the low growl leave his throat as his wolf backed away from her and shifted.

  The space between them felt as wide as an ocean as he stood a few feet away, staring at her with eyes so dark they were haunting. The fog curled in ribbons around them both. The air crackled with desire and she felt the need in her erupt between her thighs. Sucking in a breath, she took a tentative step toward him. He didn't move. She took another, and another, her eyes studying his body for signs that he wanted her too. The veins in his neck were strained and bulging against his skin. His hands fisted at his sides, and as she grew closer, she couldn't ignore the sight of his arousal.

  Eve swallowed. He was breathing hard, his chest rising and falling quickly as she glanced up at his face. Those obsidian eyes were streaked with red lightning forks. She stopped in front of him, could feel the heat of her own eyes, her skin was on fire. He was beautiful and frightening. Deadly and powerful as he towered over her, his long black hair falling around his face as his head tipped to look at her.

  His expression changed to one of complete concentration as he raised a hand, his fingers brushing aside her long hair to expose her shoulders as it fell away down her back. His touch followed the lines of her cheek to her jaw, down the column of her throat with slow deliberation. She gasped, the caress sending tiny jolts of bliss to every nerve ending.

  His finger paused at the dip of her collarbone while his eyes lingered hungrily on her breasts. “You know this can't happen, Eve.” His voice was all grit and mostly wolf.

  She dared bring a hand up in-between them and place it onto the slab of his muscled chest, felt elation at the thrumming of his heart beneath it. “Why not?”

  His eyes closed as he covered her hand with his own. “I'm not what you need.”

  “I disagree.”

  He shook his head, opening his eyes he held her captive. “You're not ready, butterfly.”

  Narrowing her gaze, she suddenly felt a kick of anger ignite in her gut. “What are you afraid of?”

  A roar of laughter escaped him, he threw back his head, his shoulders bobbing with the sound. When he looked at her again, his face held the edge of cruelty. Of lust. Of something that stirred the animal inside of her into a frenzy.

  He lowered his head until their lips were a fraction apart and she could feel his hot breath on her face when he spoke. “You have no idea how afraid I am. I want to do such things to you… pretty, little, butterfly, that your body will take days to recover from.” His voice was so low and so evocative she could feel every word, making her tremble as the heat of his body brushed against hers. “You make me think such, dirty thoughts. Such dirty, fucking things I can't sleep at night.”

  “Kiss me, please...” her demand was soft, she felt the rumble of a growl hum in his chest beneath her palm.

  “Did you hear what I just said?”

  “Every word. I'm not afraid of you, Murphy.”

  “You should be.”

  “What harm can come from a kiss?” she whispered rising up onto her toes to bring her closer. To close the infinitesimal space left between them.

  His hands settled on her hips and she felt his dominant power ripple over her skin. “What good will come from it?”

  “I want you.”

  “No, you don't.”

  “Yes, I do.” She pressed her lips against his, traced the seam of his mouth with her tongue, demanding him to open up to her. With a lustful groan he caved in, his hands gliding to the small of her back, he crushed her against him. His erection pressed tight up against her abdomen, kicking at each sway of their tongues. She melted into him, her body a burning flame against him. He deepened the kiss and she felt his hunger. The primal, visceral desire he had for her and all she wanted to do was unravel, abandon herself for him.

  You're… mine. The words were a drum beat in her mind and as though he heard them too, he pulled away. The cool air settled between them and she silently chastised herself.

  “You will be my undoing...” he said, brushing his knuckles with tender affection against her cheek. “This can't happen again, Eve.”

  Gathering up his things, she watched him leave. Her body vibrating with the after-shocks of his kiss, of his touch, of his scent. Eve fell to her knees and curled up into the T-shirt he'd left on the ground. She replayed those few blissful moments over and over again in her mind until sleep robbed her consciousness and all she could do was dream of him.

  Twenty-Seven

  Madeleine stared at Jared through the glass. Sitting on the edge of the bed in his cell, his head jacked up as if he'd sensed her standing there.

  “Madeleine?” Concern laced his voice as he rushed over to her.

  She was crying as she pressed her hands against the cool surface to touch him. “It's okay, Jared, you're free.”

  He fell into a crouch and stared up at her. The worry on his face fading away as he leaned his forehead against the glass, his russet skin turning pale with the pressure. “Thank you.”

  She smiled, turning toward Fleet who came up beside her.

  “Let's get you out of here,” he said using the biometric scanner to open the door.

  Madeleine ran to Jared who scooped her off her feet with his strong arms wrapped tight around her. “You have no idea just how good it is to hold you, she-wolf.”

  “Come on,” she said as he dropped her gently to the ground, “let's go.”

  She led him by the hand through the corridor, both woman and wolf needed him. Needed to feel his hands on her body, his lips on her skin and him buried deep inside of her.

  Opening the door to her room, she tugged him in and he kicked it shut behind him. Madeleine pulled at his T-shirt with hurried impatience, her breath coming fast and shallow as he ripped it off and tossed it aside. He took her mouth in a hungry, urgent kiss, his hands fumbling with the button on
her jeans while kicking off his boots. Madeleine flicked off her ballet pumps and broke the kiss to remove her top and slip out of her jeans, watching as Jared did the same.

  Time seemed to stand still as they stood facing one another. His eyes vibrant and heated as he drank in the sight of her. It made her body melt inside and her inner thighs moist. The cool air sent a ripple over her skin with the apprehension and every nerve became pin-prick sharp. She let her gaze roam the cuts of his honed body. His muscular strength, the length of his arousal jutting out between his thighs and throbbing upward against his naval.

  She suddenly found it impossible to swallow.

  Jared closed the small gap between them, taking her mouth again, this time with a deliberate tenderness as his hands roamed down her back to cup her ass. His grip tightened as he pulled her up and she hooked her legs around his waist, his cock pressed firmly against her sex. The hardness of him rubbed against her panties as he moved through the kitchen and to her bedroom making her core bloom for him.

  Laying her beneath him on the bed, Jared kissed her until she was writhing and moaning and twisting on the covers. His lips caressed her jaw, the curve of her neck, his fingers coaxing her bra strap down, his other slipping under her to unhook it. Freeing her breasts, he dropped the flimsy garment to the floor and leaned back onto his haunches, his eyes alive with wildfire.

  She reached up to him, her hands slipping through his long, silky hair. “Let's finish what we started.”

  “Are you sure you want me? A rogue, with nothing to offer but his heart?” His voice was full of gravel and his eyes held a sudden softness that allowed her a glimpse into his soul. She barely even knew him, yet she felt as though she'd known him forever, like they belonged, and looked forward to learning everything about him.

  Smiling, Madeleine tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear. “I couldn't ask for more.”

  “You deserve so much more, my she-wolf,” his hands took a hold of her arms and laid her down once more. His heated gaze lowered to her scar, with gentle fingertips he traced down her arm and over the jagged edges. “I'm sorry I did this to you,” he whispered before lowering his head to kiss the mark.