Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

leaving. Angus was really like a big brother to her since she had arrived. At first, she felt that he liked her more than that, but with how things had gone since she was turned, she couldn’t make promises. The truth was she just didn’t feel that way about him, which she knew he was aware of at that point. He was one of the nicest shifters she’d ever met. Brendan and Chase treated Katlyn like she was made of glass. For her, though, she wasn’t all that sure what would happen if and when she left, but she was excited about the possibilities.
    Angus stopped the truck, dropping her off. She didn’t feel like heading inside so she walked over to the swing, which was attached to a tree. Tessa sat down and began to swing just as Chase drew closer.
    “Hello, Tessa. Anything exciting happening in town tonight?”
    “Oh, you know, the usual. Jason Traxler and one of his idiot friends showed up. I guess where he went wrong was calling me a Shadow Creek bitch.”
    Chase sighed. “What did Angus do to him?”
    “Nothing, I wouldn’t let him. I, on the other hand, knocked the fool to the door. I didn’t think he’d slide all the way there. I don’t know my own strength.”
    “Th-That’s funny, if I didn’t worry that people might figure out who you really are. Brendan would throw a fit if he knew.”
    A voice came from behind them. “Throw a fit if I knew what , exactly?”
    Tessa put her feet down, stopping the swing. “You really shouldn’t sneak up on anyone like that. It might one day cause a person to have a heart attack, if I wasn’t already dead.”
    “You’re not dead, Tessa. You’re very much alive, if only you’d allow yourself to live that way,” Brendan said with a smile visible beneath the outside light. “And sneaking up on someone helps me find out what’s going on around this ranch, but I suspect that’s not what you two are talking about here.”
    “She had an altercation with Jason Traxler and shoved him across the saloon.”
    “This story is getting bigger all the time,” Tessa said, frowning. “I gave him a shove, but he slid on his back all the way to the door. He suspects I might be a shifter now, I think.”
    “That would be better than for him to think you’re a vampire. Nobody outside the shifter population in the area even knows Paige is a vampire besides Clayton. It would be much better if it remains our little secret. The truth would have ramifications that I don’t want to even think about,” Brendan said.
    “I didn’t mean to do that. I guess I lost my temper after he called me a bitch. That always makes me see red.”
    “He’s a menace, that I’ll admit, and in time he’ll have to be dealt with, but I don’t want for you to be the one to handle him. I’ve been waiting until he gets out of line with Carrie again. She might have abandoned her daughter Melody to be with him, but so far, I have no evidence to suggest he’s been abusing Carrie.”
    “Oh, and when was the last time you have seen Carrie?”
    “Actually, just yesterday. She was flying in the back field.”
    “So you only saw her in shifted form, then?”
    “Yes, but I saw that as a promising sign since she hasn’t shifted to the red-tailed hawk form in quite a while.”
    “And you’re sure it was really her?”
    “Why all these questions, Tessa?”
    How could she tell Brendan that she suspected Jason was still abusing Carrie? She couldn’t just yet until she had proof, but if she did find out he continued to beat Carrie, she’d take care of Jason for good.
    “I’m just concerned, is all.” Tessa gazed at the moon, listening to the howls of wolves in the distance. She wondered if one of them was Raphael. She then changed subjects. “I’m sure Katlyn must have told you that I plan to leave Shadow Creek.”
    “What?” Chase asked. “You can’t be seriously planning to leave?”
    “That’s out of the question. You’ve barely been turned and you think you can leave our fold this soon? I