Chapter 1
December always seemed to bring out the worst in people, apparently shifters were no exception. Animosity was her only emotion; her body ached fiercely from the cold New Hampshire air. Shivering, she spat at the ground. So much for being hot blooded.
Shudders racked her curvy frame viciously as harsh winds whipped through her thin clothing, riddling her skin with plump goose bumps. The only relief from the cold for miles was a small dimly lit diner. 'Blue Moon' flashed in neon through the windows, it almost looked inviting. Almost.
Stepping into the parking lot she realized how tired she was of this ridiculous running, maybe now was the time to seek out some help. Scoffing, she looked toward the empty diner wearily. Help? Yah right. Humans inherently feared her and any shifter would try to rip her throat out on sight or worse, she couldn't afford another mistake.
Taking a deep breath she felt her sensitive nose wrinkle in disgust, her sense of smell was muddled by the bitter stench of her own blood. Those fucking mages did a number on her, leaving welts and open slices peppered along her skin. Dark blood had soaked through her sleeves leaving horrifying stains along her clothes.
Walking inside hesitantly she felt the need to reach a table before anyone could get a good look at her. She didn't want to be seen. Thankfully, only a single old man sat across the large room reading the paper.
Slumping into an oversize booth with a huff, she tucked her arm close to her chest, willing the pain away. Her wounds burned terribly and would not heal. Dangerous acidic poison ate away at her muscle sending a constant dull pain through her, hammering away at her sanity. She couldn't withstand another fight, she wasn't even sure if she would fully recover from this one.
Her powers were depleting rapidly leaving her painfully vulnerable, she needed to think of a plan but her mind wouldn't respond with anything productive.
Glancing up, she watched as a waitress eyed her suspiciously from the stone counter. Gray frizzy hair hung loosely around her narrow shoulders, she looked frail but at the same time dangerously alert. Did she know? Could she sense what she was?
Offering a small smile, Morgan began looking through the dusty menu trying to keep her demeanor casual. Casual for a person bleeding to death in a public diner.
She watched the waitress walk hesitantly towards her, deep wrinkles and leathery skin stared intensely through thick bifocals. Her white apron was stained brown with splotches of food still caked on.
"Can I help you," she murmured fidgeting awkwardly with her pen and pad. Clearing her throat Morgan regarded the menu again, "Just a coffee for now. Do you recommend anything?"
"We only have breakfast at this time." Turning abruptly, the waitress walked toward the counter retrieving the pot of coffee pouring it into a small mug. Morgan could feel the hate radiate off the woman as she returned, "let me know if you want anything else."
Nodding Morgan twirled her spoon, "Thanks."
The woman looked at her with a fake smile as she walked off, leaving a bitter scent in her wake. Emotions smelled so distinctly and pierced over all other scents, this woman's anger and hate smelled like garbage and old eggs. Disgusting.
Taking a slow sip of her coffee Morgan let the warmth fill her stomach giving her brief comfort. She knew the waitress would probably call the police, at least if she had any sense she would. Might as well enjoy the coffee before they arrive, she needed to move to another location soon anyway.
Her legs twitched as sharp needles ran up her calves insistently, she wouldn't be able to go more than a few miles before collapsing. Running for eight days had destroyed her body more than she anticipated, her healing abilities weren't able to keep up with the damage she had sustained.
Rubbing her cheeks she wondered how terrible she must look. She wiped her face in vain trying to erase the dirt and blood residue. Closing her eyes, she released her mass of thick and unkempt curls from its elastic, running her flingers along her scalp. Loose black tendrils fell onto her shoulders brushing against her neck.
Touching her hair aimlessly she looked out the window again. Something didn't feel right. Before she could grasp what her instincts were telling her she sensed it.
Her eyes flashed open as a surge of energy slammed into her sending stars across her eyes. Nostrils flared, she picked apart the stagnant air, a dangerously familiar scent stung her nose. Fuck.
A male shifter was nearby, his powerful energy and enticing musky aroma grew more potent as seconds ticked by, she needed to leave. Now.
Her mouth felt painfully dry, she could barely breathe as her arm began to burn with renewed fervor. She knew she couldn't fight anyone and running with him this close would just make it a chase.
The gears in her head sputtered as she attempted to wake her spirit, her tiger was beyond exhausted whimpering softly within her mind. "Not now, come on this is an emergency," she whispered harshly to herself.
Closing her eyes she focused harder, stirring her reluctant tiger awake. Growling in frustration she looked around the diner, there was no other exit but the front door. She put herself into the perfect trap.
She felt her head grow foggy as she conjured the last of her power. Lethal sparks jumped between her finger tips quietly as it grew.
At least she could still conjure up some magic, being unable to shift was a serious handicap, her body was far too damaged to be physically useful. But her magic was beyond depleted; she had to use it wisely or she might end up hurting herself more.
She winced as his energy pulsed into her again, this time stronger and hotter. Her legs began to tremble as she felt him closing in, his raw power entered the diner before his body, warning her of his arrival.
Hot air filled the diner fogging the windows; steam crawled up the glass blurring her vision of the parking lot. He's here.
The slow creak of the front door screamed in her ears as her body burned with involuntary desire and ungodly pain. With every beat of his energy she felt more cemented in her seat, how could her body react like this when she was in such obvious danger. His power was impressive but she was at her last nerve, she would not be killed or captured. Not today.
She kept her eyes focused intently on her coffee mug, she knew that seeing his face would unravel her concentration and at this point she needed all the brain power she could muster up.
Her tiger purred within her sensing his proximity, she could feel her pussy tingle as a slow fire ignited. Damn him, he was affecting her. She could feel him, his strength and power hugged her like a warm blanket calling to her primal desire for protection and inciting an uncontrollable lust that grew by the second.
Gritting her teeth, she squeezed her legs together. She could not let her body control her; he will sense it and she will be at an even worse disadvantage.
Her mind was in a frenzy fighting a losing battle with her body, her natural urges were growing more powerful and persistent.
Crippling her in place, she felt her body yearn painfully for a mate, any fucking mate apparently. Her heat cycle was dangerously close, she needed to get out into the forest again before it was too late. She needed to run.
She knew her scent was already saturating the air inviting male shifters to her location but she underestimated how much time she would have before they caught up to her.
