Hidden shifter, p.1
Hidden Shifter, page 1
Hidden Shifter
A PARANORMAL ROMANCE REVEALED!
N GRAY
Contents
1. Ava
2. Ava
3. Tyler
4. Ava
5. Tyler
6. Tyler
7. Tyler
8. Ava
9. Tyler
10. Tyler
11. Ava
12. Ava
13. Tyler
14. Ava
15. Tyler
16. Ava
17. Ava
18. Tyler
19. Tyler
20. Tyler
21. Ava
22. Tyler
23. Ava
24. Ava
25. Tyler
26. Ava
27. Ava
28. Tyler
29. Ava
30. Tyler
31. Tyler
FREE short story
What’s next?
Special Mentions
From Me
Thanks for Reading
Also by
Wolf Teaser
Claire
Claire
Copyright © 2021 by N Gray
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All rights reserved
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No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without express written permission from the publisher. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
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Hidden Shifter is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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First Edition 2021
First Published in the Hearts Unleashed Anthology
Second Edition June 2022
Published in South Africa by Cutman Press
Ava
This story contains content that might trouble some readers, including, but not limited to, depiction of and references to death, mental and physical abuse, sexual assault, violence, and murder.
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Please be mindful of these and other triggers; practice self-care before, during, and after reading.
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I couldn’t explain it. This place was where I preferred to come and expel all the bad I’d gone through. I’d hike a trail at least once a week and hoped to catch an animal in its natural habitat. And, if the conditions were right, snap a picture of the beautiful creature. Then I’d watch the sunset; the sky painted in bright colors as the air cooled my warm skin, and the tension I’d clung to all week would dissolve.
Coming here was better than therapy, for me of course. I’d sit on the ground, surrounded by nature and absorbed the sounds, smells and everything my eyes saw.
Some thought I was antisocial, but I was selective of those I brought into my life.
I had to be.
I sucked in a deep breath of air, closed my eyes and allowed the cool breeze to caress my cheeks. My cellphone vibrated, snapping me out of my calm thoughts.
I hated cellphones, but it was a necessity in today’s world; and only for emergencies. I had no social media and used my phone only to make work calls.
I glanced at the name displayed on the screen and unfortunately; I had to answer the call. “Hi,” I said, trying not to sound irritated.
“Ava, where are you?” Derek asked. He was one of the nicest bosses I’d ever had, but painfully forgetful. I’d tell him I was grabbing lunch, and he’d phone asking for the writeup for the picture I’d sent through. Sometimes I had to leave sticky notes over his desk to remind him which story went with which picture.
“I’m hiking this weekend, remember. I want to take photos for next week’s wildlife piece.”
“Oh, yeah,” Derek said, sounding lost in thought.
I heard him scratch his head. He had a nervous tick where he scratched the back of his head, leaving red welts on his skin, and sometimes his hair fell out. When he did this, he knew he’d forgotten something.
“It’s an important piece. You know it’s my dream to work for National Geographic. If I get the shots I need, I’m sending them my portfolio.” I already had my degree in photography and journalism, and my portfolio was almost complete. I needed this weekend to get some of my best shots to package the portfolio for them. Ever since I was a little girl, I’d wanted to work for National Geographic. All it took was their show on the ocean to get me hooked for life. I wanted to do everything possible to help my chances. They received many applications on a monthly basis, which meant they only selected the best. And I had to be the best.
“Yes, yes, of course. It slipped my mind. I take it you’re staying there the weekend?”
“Yes!” I said frustratingly; Derek paid my salary, and I needed to play nice if I wanted to stay in his employ. “You know I can’t get the best shot in only a day. I need to stay here, blend in with nature and wait for the animal to come to me.”
Silence filled the air, and I rolled my eyes. I shouldn’t lose my temper with him. He was actually an amiable person; it was just… sometimes… I needed a break.
“What’s wrong?” I asked delicately. It sounded like he was having another bad day and I shouldn’t take my frustration out on him—he had enough of his own issues.
“Nothing, there’s a dinner with my folks this evening and I was wondering if you wanted to join me. But if you’re there, then that’s your answer, I guess.”
I knew he shrugged to accompany that loud sigh.
“Perhaps next time.” I lied. I always said, ‘next time’. Besides, he wasn’t my type, he led an unhealthy lifestyle, and he was my boss.
“Okay.” Silence filled the space again. “I’ll see you Monday then.”
“Yes, I’ll see you first thing on Monday. Enjoy the dinner and your weekend.” I hung up before he said anything else.
I switched off my cellphone and pocketed it. I pressed the fob, my car’s alarm sounded and locked.
During the time I was speaking with Derek, three more cars had parked with the occupants going to the various trails they’d be hiking. Two people headed toward the one I was taking.
Once my backpack was on, I headed toward the start of the tough trail; I hadn’t hiked it yet, and the ranger assured me the views were breathtaking and the best this time of year. It was also their busiest weekend and she was expecting at least two hundred hikers to come and go. The ranger had pointed out I’d be able to see most of the animals, which were scarce on the other trails.
I’d been coming to Sterling Meadow Forest for a few months and hadn’t hiked the harder path because it took much longer and I’d have to spend the entire weekend completing it. The other paths were quick trails and completed in a day.
But I needed the trail where the animals were to get spectacular shots for my portfolio. I kept changing the photos in the portfolio because I didn’t think they were good enough and I needed to finish it. My clock wasn’t ticking, but I had to stop over analyzing my work, get it done, and send it off. And this weekend I had to get it sorted.
An animal cried, stopping me. I glanced over my shoulder and still saw my vehicle in the parking lot. The cries sounded again, reminding me of a wounded animal. I couldn’t continue on my hike until I knew the animal was safe. If it was a predator, I hoped I could run faster.
Pushing through bushes, I came to a clearing where a deer fawn was sitting beside its mother’s carcass. My heart broke staring at the poor baby, taking me to the first time I watched Bambi. There was no way I’d allow the fawn to remain on its own and dialed Ruth’s number. She was a wildlife veterinarian I’d befriended when I needed to understand animal anatomy.
I didn’t approach the fawn for fear of it running off, instead I waited in silence nearby for nearly forty minutes. When a loud noise sent birds flying, I stood slowly from my spot, keeping an eye on the fawn and sauntered to the path. The fawn didn’t budge, but she watched me.
Ruth approached with her equipment and two assistants.
“Thanks for coming. I didn’t want to leave her on her own,” I said, closing the gap. “She looks to be a few days old and I suspect the mom died soon after giving birth.” I didn’t say I suspected something with large teeth had attacked the mother. When I’d first seen the fawn, I noted the mother had a bite on her neck but couldn’t get closer for fear of scaring the baby away. Whichever predator did that had bitten the mother and left, which was incredibly cruel.
“Hi, Ava.” Ruth handed her equipment to the girl on her left and hugged me. “You did the right thing calling me. I’ll check her out to see if she’s healthy, then hand her over to the sanctuary for rehabilitation.”
“Thanks.”
Ruth had shocking red hair and blue eye shadow. She wore a pink blouse, dark green pants, and green Crocs. Each wrist bound with leather bracelets and a crystal pendant hung around her neck. She was eccentric, easygoing and a loving veterinarian.
“Do you mind if I continue?” I pointed toward the path.
“Oh heavens, yes, of course. When you’re done with your hike, you must come visit. I’d love to see your portfolio.” She winked.
“Will do.” We hugged, and I left them to do what they did best.
< br /> The winding path took me around one of the largest mountains in the area and the sights were breathtaking. I stopped near a spring and sat on a fallen log. The spring water was cool and drinkable. I splashed water on the back of my neck and wiped the sweat away with my bandana.
I glanced at my watch and I’d only been walking for two hours. The sun would set soon and I needed to find a place to set up camp before dark. I picked up my backpack and continued on my way.
It didn’t take long for the sky to be painted in bright colors. Within twenty minutes the blues and blacks had taken over, bathing the path in dark shadows.
I stopped at an area not used in a while, but it would have to do. The ground was level enough for my tent, with sand and an old log for a fire. Since some animals came out at night, I decided against hiking in the dark, and I didn’t want to spook them.
The ranger had mentioned the first main campsite, but it was much farther up the trail. By waiting for Ruth to arrive and tend to the fawn, I started on the path late. But I’d do it again. I couldn’t leave the fawn on her own. Anyway, I hardly mingled with other hikers anyway, so the thought of camping out here alone was fine with me.
I removed my backpack and set up camp. The tent was up with a flick of my wrist; I unrolled the sleeping bag and placed it inside. I gathered enough firewood to make a decent fire for warmth and made some tea. For dinner I’d already prepared a chicken wrap at home, followed by a packet of chips.
I connected my cellphone to the portable charger and switched it on. Derek had left messages. He was sweet, but no. I vowed never to date my boss… again.
My previous boss/lover owned one of the larger wildlife magazines, and I was his star photographer—or he had made me believe that I was. I travelled the world getting the best pictures, but when his possessive streak worsened, I saw less of him. The result was fewer travels, but frequent visits to the ER. I knew I’d made a mistake getting involved with him; he was not a nice man. Instead of trying to go through the legal battles with the proof I had, it was easier for me to pack my bag. Naturally, he didn’t approve and tried to win me back by stalking me. I’d gotten away one late evening, and he didn’t have a clue where I was.
I found a small town, Krystal Creek, near Sterling Meadow, which I now called home. After a while he’d stopped calling me, and I didn’t need to look over my shoulder everywhere I went. But I needed to know where he was and learned he started dating another girl, who was just as crazy as he was if the newspaper articles were to be believed. And exactly a year later I hadn’t heard from him.
Once I’d arrived in Krystal Creek, I took a six-month sabbatical, then when I was ready to work again I found a job at the local newspaper/magazine in Krystal Creek. There were two reporters, myself, and Derek, who was the owner and Editor-in-Chief. Derek came from a long line of heirs to the oil industry, but he preferred to spend his inheritance on the Krystal Creek newspaper and seemed to manage the advertising just fine. I got paid per animal photograph, special features, or anything worthy of the space.
I read the text messages Derek had sent, and they were the usual ones; ‘Let me know if you change your mind’, ‘I’ll send my driver to fetch you’ and ‘Wish you were here’. He really wanted me with him, but I couldn’t. I didn’t have the heart to say ‘No’, but I wondered whether it was for the best. Then again, I might lose the only income I had if I told Derek I wasn’t interested.
I sighed and deleted his texts. It was better to avoid. I would deal with it on Monday. Right now, I wanted to enjoy nature in all her splendor with only myself to keep me company, which I preferred. It wasn’t as if I didn’t want anyone in my life, I did, but the next guy would have to be worth it.
Ava
Splashing from waterfalls and swimming woke me, but it was only my aching bladder. I unzipped my tent, crawled out and grabbed tissues and a disposable bag.
I didn’t want to go near my tent or the path. I ventured a short distance farther into the dense vegetation with the silver moon as my guide. Once I found a spot void of thorns and bushes, I squatted and relieved my bladder.
When done, I covered the wet spot with sand and packed the used tissue in the disposable bag I’d throw away when I reached a trashcan at the main campsite.
Glistening water caught my attention, and I turned in the direction of the rushing river. I’d never seen it so clear before. The other hiking trails seemed to miss the views of the river completely, and with the moon reflecting on the water, it was a sight to behold.
When I turned to retrace my steps, I couldn’t figure out which way to go. I traversed through brushes on my left and when I didn’t reach my tent; I backtracked. I ended up at the same spot I’d seen the river and walked straight up the mountain. Again, my tent was nowhere in sight. I turned around to get to the area near the river, but when I didn’t find it, panic settled in. I closed my eyes and pinched my nose. I tried to steady my breathing and when that didn’t work; I carried on walking. I’d never gotten so disorientated before that I’d lost my campsite. Next time I’d pack string to find my way back.
When bright light caught my attention, I exhaled thinking it was the fire at my campsite but then I remembered I’d killed the fire before I went to sleep. Someone else was here.
I carefully rounded a thorn bush, but my shirt hooked on it. I tugged, got free, but ripped the material.
Sounds caught my attention, and I neared.
Peering around a tree I saw a fire blazing, the red, orange and yellow flames hypnotizing. But that’s not what caught my attention. I watched him lean on his elbows, kissed the woman’s neck and thrusted inside her. His ass cheeks clenched as he moved above her. He kissed her gently yet passionately down the slopes of her breasts. She moaned and writhed beneath him.
Oh, my gods.
I felt my cheeks heat and crossed my legs. My jaw slackened as I stared at their sensual lovemaking.
It was not right to watch. I should feel guilty and a little dirty, but I didn’t. There was something beautiful watching this couple—it was raw and sensual. She lay on a blanket, her long dark hair pooled beneath her, her arms clutching onto him as he drove himself into her; over and over. The man was tanned and much bigger than his partner. He had short, neat hair, with muscles in all the right places; they moved with such dexterity—like liquid metal.
My core tightened as I watched him. His rhythm quickened, she whimpered in pleasure and I watched with bated breath.
I couldn’t look away; I didn’t have the willpower to leave. I only regretted not having my camera with me—they were irresistible, their heavenly bodies entwined as they made love.
I bit my lip as my inner muscles clenched, seeking my release.
My hand slipped down the front of my shirt and into my shorts. I was so turned on it wouldn’t take me long. It had been months since I’d had stimulation by my hand, and a year by another. It was by choice. If I ever dated again, it would be different. It had to be.
I leaned my shoulder against the tree to free my other hand and pinched an aching nipple.
I bit my lip again as the man grunted his satisfaction while she writhed and moaned, but he didn’t stop—he brought her to the edge then slowed as he eased himself out of her then slipped back inside. He sucked on her nipple and I pinched mine. I wanted to feel his hot breath against my chilled skin, his teeth grazing my nipple, and I pinched the other one. I wanted his weight to crush my body, limiting my movement as he drove deeper.
