Lacing Shadows Read online

  She tried to turn her head. Her face throbbed, and she realized that whoever was holding her was female. Mom? Asia’s mouth was cottony when she spoke. Before she could lick her lips and try again, a finger silenced her.

  “Shh…”

  It wasn’t her mom.

  Slowly, the memory surfaced of the impossible event Asia had witnessed. Jesse becoming aggressive… and the dog… She bolted upright. Her head whipped from side to side, pain skewering her skull.

  Tears streamed down Nati’s face as she sat next to the pillow that was indented with the shape of Asia’s body.

  “Asia…”

  “No. No! No! You can’t be here! I can’t… Where is he? Your brother. I know I didn’t imagine that!”

  “You didn’t. Please, just let me—”

  “Explain? I don’t want to know. I can’t! I can’t. I can’t…” Asia gripped her hair in both hands and scooted toward the windowsill, away from the person she thought was a friend. She shook her head in denial and sobbed. The last strand of her mind was bound to snap any moment.

  Nati came closer to put her arms around her. Asia cringed, whimpering. “No. I don’t know what you are. Please, go away.”

  Instead, Nati hugged her. She stroked Asia’s hair and rubbed her back. The touch stirred another memory in Asia—the recollection of a sensual dream.

  “Shh… You weren’t supposed to find out like this. I’m so sorry.” Nati rocked her and kissed the top of her head. “I can explain everything. Trust me.” She pulled away so she could see Asia’s face.

  Nati’s eyes pleaded. Asia could only stare, mesmerized by the gold stars twinkling against the jade irises. And then she knew. Those were the eyes from her dreams.

  “Asia, I know this is a lot to ask, but I have to… I’m going to do something, and I need you not to freak out. Just trust me. Okay?”

  Asia just stared, speechless.

  Apparently satisfied, Nati backed a few steps away. Asia guessed what was going to happen next. It started at Nati’s eyes. Molten gold light cascaded over her, bathing her in it. The air around her shimmered. A wolf head appeared above Nati’s. Asia gasped, squinting against the brilliant glow. Next thing she knew, a golden wolf, almost identical to Nubi, stood in front of her.

  The air rippled and blazed again. Nati returned to her human shape and waited in front of Asia, a dozen questions playing across her dejected features.

  After a long moment, Asia’s voice quivered. “Okay, I’m not dreaming this time. What are you?” The back of her head bumped the wall behind her.

  “Easy answer? A shape-shifter, or what some people would call a werewolf, but that’s only part right.” Her hands fidgeted in her lap. “Just like there are different breeds of wolf, there are different breeds of shifter. Our family—pack—manifests the spirit of the jackal, an Egyptian wolf breed.”

  “And what do you want from me? There has to be something. Was it even an accident that day we met at the lake? Or was that a setup? Tell me the truth. I’m too tired for lies.”

  “It wasn’t a setup, I swear. It wasn’t like I came looking for you out there. I didn’t even know you existed. Afterwards, all I wanted was to be friends.”

  It seemed to Asia that a please wanted to cross Nati’s lips.

  “So what do you want now? What happened out there?” Asia massaged a temple and closed her eyes.

  She heard Nati slide closer, felt the warmth radiating from her body.

  “Asim thought Jesse was threatening you. He was protecting you… for me.”

  “What?”

  Nati frowned and sighed. Her eyes shone like glass. Combing the fingers of one hand through Asia’s curls, she drew her down, pressing their mouths together. Her tongue traced the outline of Asia’s shocked lips.

  As suddenly as she started the startlingly sweet kiss, she ended it. Nati’s hand flew to her mouth, and her face crumpled. She stood. “I’m so sorry about all of this.”

  Asia whispered as Nati lurched toward the door. “No.”

  Nati’s hand gripped the doorknob.

  It seemed as if all the breath had been sucked out of Asia’s lungs. “Stop.”

  A jumble of thoughts tumbled through Asia’s mind. The main one the clearest—You can’t go!

  Turning halfway toward Asia, Nati whispered, “What?”

  “Don’t go.”

  As she struggled to her feet, Asia’s thoughts resumed their chaos, heated and swirling like clothes going around in a clothes dryer. She had no idea what she might do or say next, only that Nati had to stay. She wanted her to stay.

  She wanted Nati.

  Hadn’t she known it that first day? Hadn’t she felt the spark between them? Hadn’t Nati haunted her dreams right from the beginning?

  Asia’s body trembled so hard that she thought she might fall. “Stay.”

  One of Nati’s eyebrows lifted. “I’m a wolf, not a dog.”

  “I didn’t mean—” She cut off the sentence.

  “Are you sure?” Nati’s face seemed hopeful with its half smile, but uncertainty mingled with fear.

  Asia shook her head, but then grabbed Nati’s belt loops and tugged her close, erasing the empty space between them. She craned her neck forward. Nati met her halfway, and their lips connected. The passion that Asia had until then only experienced with Jesse flooded her as she melted into Nati’s soft arms.

  Physical attraction had ignited the initial sparks with both Jesse and Nati, but that wasn’t the sum total of what Asia felt toward either of them. Both were fun, smart, and in their own ways, they “got” Asia. The difference was that with Nati, everything just felt right.

  *

  He had known about the other pack in the territory, making sure to avoid detection by them. They were a small group, less than a dozen in all, but he was still no match for them as a group. Not yet. It was vital, now more than ever, that he convinced Asia to join him—for them to create a new lineage of spirit wolf.

  He watched the others carry her away. She had fainted, they said to each other. He regretted striking her. It had not been his intention at all. They shouldn’t have jumped him and forced him to defend himself. She was reasonable, and she would understand that hitting her had been nothing more than an accident. Harming her had been the last thing he wanted. She would forgive him.

  5.

  Later that afternoon, as Asia reclined in her arms, Nati couldn’t get the stupid grin off her face. Asia’s… enthusiasm had been a shock, almost overwhelming. They had only kissed—fondled a tiny bit—but it was like some switch clicked in Asia’s mind and everything had fallen into place. She couldn’t seem to make her arms release Asia.

  Earlier, Asia had been worried about the fight between Asim and Jesse. Nati assured her that Asim was all right.

  “I can’t believe Jesse would hit me. That’s so not like him.”

  “Not to defend the guy, but it didn’t look like he meant to. Once he saw that he hurt you, he stopped and took off. He was obviously upset at himself.”

  “I know I shouldn’t, but I hope he’s okay. I wouldn’t want him to hurt anyone else. Or himself.” She twirled and untwirled a lock of hair around her finger.

  Eventually, Nati eased Asia’s worries. Jesse’s issues took backstage to other questions, like, “How did you become a werewolf, werejackal, whatever?”

  “Everyone embodies an animal spirit that depends on their true nature. Jiddo saw it in you. Remember? For some, their bestial, wild side is closer to the surface than for others. All it takes is knowing how to bring that spirit all the way out. He taught Asim and me, and we trained a few others.”

  “That’s what he meant? No offense, but I just thought he was a little senile.”

  They both chuckled. Asia shifted to turn more toward Nati.

  “Seriously. He thinks I could be like you?”

  Nati had already explained how she and Asim pretended to be dogs so that they could keep their shifting skills sharp without raising any s
uspicions or risking Animal Control calls. Asim was partial to the lake, so he transformed into Nubi. He took Nati out to different parks.

  “He used to use me to pick up girls, but that became a problem once when we were both interested in the same person.”

  A knock at Asia’s door interrupted their conversation. It was Asim. He had helped Nati bring Asia back to her dorm earlier.

  When Asia opened the door, she gasped. “Oh my God. Nati said you were okay!”

  Gauze was packed into his nose, one eye was swollen shut, and on the same side of his face, his upper and lower lips were split and enlarged.

  “I’m fine. Your boyfriend is apparently a rightie. Anyway, sorry to bother you, but I learned something you both should hear. I already talked to Jiddo.”

  He came in and shut the door behind him. After scanning the room, he settled himself into the desk chair. He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees.

  “So get this. After your boyfriend left, something told me to shift back to my wolf form and track him. I thought he’d head to campus, but he stormed off to a different part of the park, an unmarked trail up to higher ground. Nati, I could smell him all over the place up there.”

  Nati’s gut twisted with a feeling of what direction Asim’s discovery was heading. She watched as Asia’s eyes widened and her hands gripped the pillow she was hugging to her belly.

  “I stayed upwind of him. He was too pissed to know I was there. Pacing back and forth, punching the air. He hit a tree at one point and never broke stride, even though his knuckles were bleeding. Then—”

  “Oh God, is he some whack job that’s going to shoot up the campus? Did you smell guns?” Asia’s eyes glistened even though her voice held steady.

  “No.” Asim looked directly at Nati. “He shifted. He’s a lone wolf. From the look of it, he’s from the line of Cain. If that’s the case, I’d bet any amount of money that he wasn’t intending to be alone for long.” His gaze shifted to Asia.

  It took a few moments for understanding to kick in, and her top lip curled. “You mean—”

  “He was probably planning to slowly sweet talk you into being his mate. After today, he’s going to be coming after you. Hard.

  *

  As unbelievable as it was that Jesse could be a shifter, too, Asia had to accept the facts. She’d seen both Nati and Asim change forms. She’d touched Asim as a wolf. If they could be shape-shifters, it was only logical that Jesse could be as well. That evening, she, Nati, and Asim went to ask Jiddo’s advice about how to handle the situation.

  They found Jiddo dozing in his chair. When Nati whispered his name, his eyes flickered open, and he grunted at her in response.

  As his gaze landed on Asia, he grinned. “Ah, I see the wolf is revealed to you sooner than expected. Do not fear.”

  “I’m more confused than afraid.” Was that the right way for her to address the leader of a wolf pack? There were so many things she needed to understand, and soon.

  Jiddo laughed. “Yes, there are many things that require explanation. Sit. Ask your questions.”

  It was as if he had read Asia’s mind.

  They explained what had happened in the woods and afterward, when Asim shifted and followed Jesse to his makeshift den.

  Asia finished up the story. “I don’t think he would really hurt me, but Asim seems to think he’ll try to make me his mate whether or not I’m willing. Can he do that?”

  “Tell me, have you found yourself doing things you wouldn’t normally do?”

  The middle-of-the-night runs, the solo excursions in the freezing cold, and the strangely sensual dreams all came to Asia’s mind. “Yeah. Are you saying that was Jesse’s doing? But how?”

  “Shifters have a degree of telepathy, normally used to communicate with packmates. Using it to influence a non-shifter is against spirit-wolf law. He has likely been compelling you to do little things against your will in the event you refused him.”

  Her fingernails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists. It was bad enough he was pressuring her so much that she was aware of. How dare he violate her mind and will that way? He was just as bad as the guys she overheard her suitemates talking about who had roofied the punch at a party a few weeks ago.

  Asia raked a hand through her hair. “I can’t believe him.” She began to pace. What could she do? The police would think she was high. If she confronted Jesse, he’d just deny everything. “Isn’t there any way to stop him? Or will he just rip my throat out if I try?” She finally slumped onto the weathered vinyl couch opposite Nati’s grandfather.

  “You will have to be cautious, but it is possible to thwart his efforts. Shifters from the line of Cain tend to take what they desire, violently at times. The line of Anubis follows a code of honor and relies on cunning; therefore, we will not be much help if you wish to physically subdue him.”

  “She could always do the spirit quest and let her wolf deal with him.” Asim had wandered out of the room and now returned, chowing down on a loaded burger.

  “She could indeed. And then she will have to make her choice of which path to follow.”

  “Is that the only way?” Nati was crouched next to her grandfather, looking up at him. “What if she doesn’t want to be a shifter? That’s a big decision to make. She shouldn’t have to rush into it.”

  Asia could have kissed her. When she learned that Jesse could control her mind, she had a moment of doubt about whether Nati had done the same thing. She flashed Nati a smile of gratitude, all doubts extinguished. Any feelings that had developed toward Nati were genuinely Asia’s own.

  They all talked for a long time, until Asia’s eyes were drooping, no matter how hard she fought. After Jiddo explained everything she could think to ask about what a spirit quest involved, she thanked him, hugged Nati, and went back to her dorm to sleep on her decision.

  *

  Asia hadn’t answered any of his calls, and Jesse was sure it had something to do with that other pack. They were moving in on his mate, forcing him to act sooner than he wanted. He couldn’t lose her.

  It had been over a year since he had left his old pack, and his omega status, behind. Four hundred lonely nights filled with fear and desperation as he tried to find a place to settle. He’d reached New Paltz last spring but avoided the town, sensing that there was a pack in the area. When it seemed safe, he ventured out and began to reestablish himself.

  When he met the tawny-skinned girl with the wild hair, it had seemed like destiny. She was shy in the beginning, just learning the new social rules of life on a college campus. Soon, he felt the wolf spirit surrounding her. Jesse knew he had to have her.

  Her potential as his spirit mate wasn’t all he wanted her for. He legitimately cared for Asia and enjoyed her wit, intelligence, and compassion. She made a fierce competitor, even if she wasn’t as driven as he was. And what fool wouldn’t want to get between those sleek, sexy thighs?

  Jesse had to win his girl back, by whatever means necessary.

  6.

  The phone calls started at around one AM. Asia rejected the first call. After the second, she put the phone on vibrate. A few unanswered calls later, she finally gave in.

  “I told you not to call me.”

  “I know, but I really need to see you. Please, Asia, just hear me out. I’m so sorry about everything. Just give me another chance.”

  “Jesse, it’s…” She groaned when she saw the clock. “Holy crap, it’s three o’clock. If you really wanted another chance, you would respect my need for sleep. Then again, it was lack of respecting boundaries that got you into this mess in the first place.”

  “I know, I know. And I’m sorry, but I’m desperate here.” His voice cracked. “I need you, Asia. You have no idea. I feel like you’ve been pulling away from me, and it’s been making me a little crazy. I don’t even know what I’ll do if you won’t give me another chance. Please! I really need to see you.”

  A chill rippled through her. She sat up in bed an
d swung her feet to the floor. “What’s that supposed to mean, ‘you don’t know what you’ll do?’ Where are you, anyway?”

  He was quiet for a moment. “I’m up at the lake, at the overlook.”

  Asia’s stomach flipped. He couldn’t really be suicidal, but she couldn’t risk it. “Okay, Jesse. I’ll come. But I won’t be able to find you in the dark. Will you meet me in the parking lot? We can talk.”

  There was an audible whoosh of breath on the other end. “Yeah. Thank you so much, babe. I’ll make everything up to you, I swear. I love you.”

  Love? This was worse than she thought. “Um… okay. I’ll see you in a few.”

  *

  Jesse restrained the wolf and waited for Asia to come running to his rescue. He wanted to witness her anxiety, smell her fear. She would be his. Whether she did so with complete willingness, out of love for him, or whether some level of coercion was necessary, remained to be seen.

  From behind a signpost at the edge of the woods nearest the parking lot, he heard her approach. Two spots of yellow light grew bigger and brighter as the car wound its way along the narrow, black road.

  She killed the engine and cut the lights. When she opened her door, the overhead light cast her in silhouette. He loved the wildness of her hair, especially when it fanned out as it was now, dancing in the breeze. If he were in his human form, the fantasy of gripping fistfuls of those crazy curls as he drove into her would have given him a massive hard-on. Fortunately, the wolf had better control.

  One lamppost cast a small circle of illumination near the entrance to the trail, but did little to make the rest of the lot more visible. Asia disappeared into her car for a moment and reemerged with a flashlight. Sweeping the light across the lot, she appeared to search for him.

  He breathed in deeply.

  Something was wrong. He didn’t smell fear, only frustration and impatience. What was happening?