Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) by Maddie Foxx
Authors: Maddie Foxx
Ads: Link
want or don’t. I hardly think you’re in the position to make any assumptions, Seth.”
Seth moved away from Tessa, his fists clenched at his sides. “Oh, since when has one woman ever been your thing?”
“I’ve never been in the position to be with one woman for longer than a night of rutting and you know that. I have been consumed with fighting. It’s always been something. First it was to defend the full-bloods in Montana, but when the Shifter Patrol came up, I had no other choice than to rise to the occasion.”
“And they were okay when you left?” Tessa had to ask.
“Actually, no. I was told that if I left, not only would I never be allowed back, but they’d consider me an enemy. If they encountered me in the forest I’d be as good as dead.”
“Wow, that’s harsh,” Tessa replied.
“Yes, but I was a very good protector. They viewed my departure as betraying them. Especially since a band of marauding werebears attacked them, but I had nothing to do with that. They’ve been fighting over territories for years. The werebears just used my departure as a good time to pounce, so to speak.”
“And you were aware of the attack?”
“Yes, but the Shifter Patrol was a greater enemy. Ultimately, Katlyn was able to convince the governor and even Washington that they were no more than a marauding band of shifter murderers.”
“Yes, she’s good that way, but she had no choice since they were after her for what she knew about them.”
“I’m just glad those days are gone and the Shifter Patrol has been disbanded, but there are always more dangers when you’re a shifter. Sure, the townspeople act okay with us being so close to them, but every time livestock goes missing or dead, we’re always the ones who are to blame, if only in public opinion.”
“I’ll agree with that, too. I felt that way when Clayton told me about the missing sheep.” Tessa looked over at Seth who had a clenched jaw, and she had to ask, “So, are we done disagreeing for the time being? I really would like to find out what you have for dinner. I’m starved.”
“I’m good if Raphael is good,” Seth said. “Well, are you?”
“Sure, but next time let me speak for myself.”
Raphael turned and walked out the door, Seth and Tessa right behind him. Tessa locked up and hopped on the back of an ATV Raphael drove, while Seth tore off on his, leaving them behind in a cloud of dust.
CHAPTER SEVEN
When they drove past the cabin, which Raphael and Seth had taken Tessa to that one night, she wondered where the children lived. With them or someone else? Of course, their cabin wasn’t much bigger than the one she was staying in at the moment.
They drove past many more cabins, which were the same size as hers, too, and finally stopped at a much larger one, which had two rows of other cabins on either side of it. She surmised that the other werewolves lived there, but she wasn’t all that sure. She’d sure find out, though, and sooner rather than later.
The ATV skidded to a stop, and Raphael helped off Tessa. She didn’t need the help, but she took his hand anyway. If Raphael wanted to treat her like a lady, she’d allow him to since it was nice compared to most men she knew back in Wisconsin.
An older woman was inside with a boy and girl on either side of her around the age of eight. She knew Maxwell walked with a limp, and she trained herself not to react. She wasn’t sure how bad it was, but she didn’t want to do anything that would further upset the boy since he was already having troubles.
“Hello! The children are so happy to meet you, finally. I’m Palina and grandmother to most of the werewolves in the line of the alphas.”
Tessa smiled. Palina had more lines on her face than she expected her to have. She certainly was of an undetermined age, but since it was rude to ask any woman how old she was, she extended her arm and said, “Hello. I’m Tessa.”
Palina motioned her arm down.
Seth moved away from Tessa, his fists clenched at his sides. “Oh, since when has one woman ever been your thing?”
“I’ve never been in the position to be with one woman for longer than a night of rutting and you know that. I have been consumed with fighting. It’s always been something. First it was to defend the full-bloods in Montana, but when the Shifter Patrol came up, I had no other choice than to rise to the occasion.”
“And they were okay when you left?” Tessa had to ask.
“Actually, no. I was told that if I left, not only would I never be allowed back, but they’d consider me an enemy. If they encountered me in the forest I’d be as good as dead.”
“Wow, that’s harsh,” Tessa replied.
“Yes, but I was a very good protector. They viewed my departure as betraying them. Especially since a band of marauding werebears attacked them, but I had nothing to do with that. They’ve been fighting over territories for years. The werebears just used my departure as a good time to pounce, so to speak.”
“And you were aware of the attack?”
“Yes, but the Shifter Patrol was a greater enemy. Ultimately, Katlyn was able to convince the governor and even Washington that they were no more than a marauding band of shifter murderers.”
“Yes, she’s good that way, but she had no choice since they were after her for what she knew about them.”
“I’m just glad those days are gone and the Shifter Patrol has been disbanded, but there are always more dangers when you’re a shifter. Sure, the townspeople act okay with us being so close to them, but every time livestock goes missing or dead, we’re always the ones who are to blame, if only in public opinion.”
“I’ll agree with that, too. I felt that way when Clayton told me about the missing sheep.” Tessa looked over at Seth who had a clenched jaw, and she had to ask, “So, are we done disagreeing for the time being? I really would like to find out what you have for dinner. I’m starved.”
“I’m good if Raphael is good,” Seth said. “Well, are you?”
“Sure, but next time let me speak for myself.”
Raphael turned and walked out the door, Seth and Tessa right behind him. Tessa locked up and hopped on the back of an ATV Raphael drove, while Seth tore off on his, leaving them behind in a cloud of dust.
CHAPTER SEVEN
When they drove past the cabin, which Raphael and Seth had taken Tessa to that one night, she wondered where the children lived. With them or someone else? Of course, their cabin wasn’t much bigger than the one she was staying in at the moment.
They drove past many more cabins, which were the same size as hers, too, and finally stopped at a much larger one, which had two rows of other cabins on either side of it. She surmised that the other werewolves lived there, but she wasn’t all that sure. She’d sure find out, though, and sooner rather than later.
The ATV skidded to a stop, and Raphael helped off Tessa. She didn’t need the help, but she took his hand anyway. If Raphael wanted to treat her like a lady, she’d allow him to since it was nice compared to most men she knew back in Wisconsin.
An older woman was inside with a boy and girl on either side of her around the age of eight. She knew Maxwell walked with a limp, and she trained herself not to react. She wasn’t sure how bad it was, but she didn’t want to do anything that would further upset the boy since he was already having troubles.
“Hello! The children are so happy to meet you, finally. I’m Palina and grandmother to most of the werewolves in the line of the alphas.”
Tessa smiled. Palina had more lines on her face than she expected her to have. She certainly was of an undetermined age, but since it was rude to ask any woman how old she was, she extended her arm and said, “Hello. I’m Tessa.”
Palina motioned her arm down.
Similar Books
