Shifters Rule (Rule Series) Read online

  Hand on the doorknob, Jack considered going back inside to tell Vanessa where he was off to and why. She would insist on either tagging along or sending Ian with him. He didn’t know which would be worse. If Silver woke up before he returned, she would think he’d abandoned her. But what choice did he have? If he told her where he was going, she would insist on joining him. Like mother, like daughter.

  Better for everyone if he went without saying a word.

  So he did.

  .

  *****

  .

  The second he stepped into the bar he forgot how to breathe. Memories of his life as Tobias crashed through his head like a jumbo jet. So many details about this bar reminded him of the bar Tobias had lived above. From the jukebox in the corner to the dirty floor, it was like he’d stepped into the past. Only, instead of bikers there were truckers and a few couples at a table near the back. They laughed, unaware of the danger.

  It had occurred to Jack while running to the edge of town that Jersey might not even show. Maybe it was a trap. Part of him hoped the head werewolf wouldn’t show up, but...

  Jersey was playing pool alone in an adjacent room. Although the truckers didn’t know Jersey’s origins, they automatically steered clear of him. It was interesting to watch. The head werewolf gave off a confident, yet homicidal vibe. People gave him a wide berth even though they didn’t understand why they were doing it.

  Jack wondered why he hadn’t sensed the vibe when Jersey was teaching at the high school.

  Jack moved closer to the pool table.

  Jersey racked the balls into a triangle. He took the stick to the other side of the table, ignoring Jack as he shot the cue ball across the green felt. It hit the other balls with a solid crack. They scattered. Both stripes and solids went into the pockets, three or four of them. Jersey righted himself and smiled smugly at Jack. “Have you played before?”

  “It’s been a few years.”

  Jersey chalked the end of his stick. “Care to make a friendly wager?”

  “Depends. What do you want?”

  “If I win, you hand over the diary.”

  A huge fist settled in the pit of Jack’s stomach and cold sweat broke out under his arms. “What if I win?”

  For a breathless moment the werewolf didn’t say a word.

  “I’ll return Silver’s prized possession to you.” Jersey removed the familiar silver dagger charm necklace from the pocket of his black trousers. He placed it on the edge of the pool table. Light bounced off the charm and hit Jack in the eye, taunting him. Jersey added, “You win, it’s yours. Since you do not have the diary on you, I will have to ask you to swear on your beloved’s head that you will give it to me once you lose.”

  Jack didn’t want to do it, but he had to return Silver’s necklace to her. He pictured the huge smile it would bring to her face. She would continue to be sad about her father, of course, but having her necklace back would definitely put a spring in her step.

  Months ago she’d told him how her father had taken the necklace to the Pope to have it blessed. It meant a lot to her. He had given it to her on her twelfth birthday. It was her good luck charm.

  She needed it now more than ever.

  “I swear on Silver’s life. If you win, I will hand the diary over to you.”

  And then I’ll kill you.

  Jack’s father had taught him to play pool as soon as he could see over the top of the table. No way would he lose to a werewolf. Besides that, Silver needed her locket to keep her safe from a growing werewolf population. It could mean the difference between life and death. As far as Jack was concerned, the bet was worth the risk.

  Jersey’s mouth stretched and turned up at the ends. Familiar amusement resided in his eyes. “I’m solids. You can have the stripes.”

  It was still Jersey’s turn so he bent over the table and shot a ball into the corner pocket nearest Jack with a loud crack. It almost got Jack’s finger. He quickly removed his hand from the table. Jersey missed on his next turn. With a mocking bow in Jack’s direction, he retreated to the corner.

  Why did Jack feel like he was being tested?

  He took his time lining up his first shot. He knocked two into a side pocket before saying, “That was a neat trick you pulled the other night, disappearing into thin air. How’d you do it?”

  Jersey shrugged, a slight tilt to his lips. “I have to keep some things secret.”

  “Were you responsible for Andrew’s death?”

  “What if I was? What are you going to do about it?”

  Jack sank another ball. He kept his cool despite Jersey’s obvious attempt to throw him off by making him angry. Silver’s necklace and the diary were both on the line. No matter what garbage came out of Jersey’s mouth, Jack intended to focus on the game at hand. He had to win. Losing was not an option.

  “It was a simple question,” Jack said. “Did you kill Andrew? Or did you have someone else do your dirty work for you?”

  Jersey lost the amused expression. “This may come as a shock to you, but I do not control every werewolf in the world. In fact, I have contact with very few of my kind. Andrew Reign was a hunter. It’s a dangerous profession. If you are going to play with the big boys, you need to learn how to lose gracefully.”

  “Not tonight.”

  Jack hit another ball in.

  Jersey’s amused look returned. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you were hustling me, Jack.”

  “I told you I used to play.”

  “Yes you did.”

  Jack continued on until only the eight ball remained. His palms began to sweat. He wiped them on his jeans before taking his final shot. Pointing at the corner pocket, he got ready to hit the eight ball in. As he was preparing to strike the cue ball, someone stumbled into him, hitting his arm.

  The drunk guy mumbled an apology, but the damage was already done.

  Jack watched in horror as the cue ball rolled in the direction of the pocket next to Jersey. The eight ball went into the right pocket, but if the cue ball also went in he was the loser. Hitting the cue ball in while trying to sink the eight ball was called a Scratch. It was the worst way to lose. His brother used to laugh every time he screwed up and hit the cue ball in on his last shot.

  But this wasn’t a laughing matter.

  He would have to turn over the diary to the enemy, and Silver would never get her necklace back. He’d really screwed up this time.

  Jersey reached a hand out at the last second and snatched the cue ball off the table. He shrugged. “You would have won if that jerk hadn’t hit your arm, and I am a man of my word. The necklace is yours.”

  Jack didn’t know what to say. Stunned, he lifted the chain into the air and stared at the dagger charm in wonder. His prize. Silver was going to be so happy to see it. Well, maybe not happy. Her father was still dead. But she would feel better at least.

  “I don’t understand,” Jack said. His eyes narrowed on the werewolf. Suspicion that it was another fake necklace surfaced. It was also possible the necklace had been cursed to do something to Silver. “Why?”

  “Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to look a gift horse in the mouth? Take the necklace. Enjoy your win.”

  While holding Jersey’s gaze, Jack put the necklace around his own neck. The werewolf’s close proximity set the charm to burning. Now Jack knew the burden Silver lived with on a daily basis. It not only hurt, the pain was distracting. How could she fight with this thing wrapped around her neck?

  “Say I believe you about not having anything to do with Andrew’s death? What about Billy? Did you take my brother from me? Did you turn him into a werewolf or did someone else do it?”

  “Will knowing who changed your brother help you deal with it? Will you be able to grieve for him and move on? Because I’ll tell you exactly what happened to him if it will give you peace.”

  It wouldn’t. The only thing that would help Jack is being able to kill Jersey. Unfortunately, Jack wasn’t strong en
ough yet, and they both knew it. If he tried to suck Jersey’s soul out, Jersey would take his before he could blink. It would be over before it began. Then Silver wouldn’t have him to lean on. She needed him now more than ever. He couldn’t afford to die today.

  He asked, “Why did you call me here?”

  Jersey shrugged. “I suppose I was feeling a bit nostalgic and wanted to play a game of pool with an old friend.”

  “Why don’t I believe that?”

  “It’s sad when someone becomes too jaded to recognize a friendly overture.”

  Jack got the feeling Jersey was playing a cat-and-mouse game with him. He was the mouse. Jersey wanted the diary, but he had allowed Jack to win on a technicality. The werewolf was up to something. It was going to drive Jack crazy until he figured out what. “If there’s nothing else, I guess I’ll go.”

  “Have a good night.” Jersey smirked.

  Jack took a step toward the door, wondering if Jersey was really going to let him leave in one piece. Jersey continued to stand next to the pool table, stick in hand and a smug smile on his face.

  .

  *****

  Chapter Six:

  SECRET BOYFRIEND

  .

  .

  Life moved on.

  In the weeks following Andrew’s death, Silver lived like a ghost. She didn’t speak more than a few words a day and hardly ate more than a bite. Having her necklace back brought a bit of relief to her eyes. Not enough to suit Jack. He refused to go home in case she needed him. Her mom wasn’t doing much better. Ian dropped in a couple of times a day to check on them. He wore a dark scowl and never missed an opportunity to warn Jack to watch his step.

  Jack stayed at the Reign home with Vanessa’s blessing. He stayed to be near Silver. Getting away from his uncle was an added bonus. Home was the last place he wanted to be. Ian made his feelings dangerously clear. He feared Jack was going to turn out like his crazy grandfather. Nothing Jack said seemed to have any effect on his uncle. Ian was determined to hate him.

  Jack didn’t want to be the next one to burn from the inside out.

  Hopefully Billy would avoid the farmhouse in Jack’s absence.

  It was twenty-four days after her father’s funeral when Silver turned a corner in the grieving process. She woke with someone else on her mind. Jack was lying next to her, staring at the ceiling and contemplating the mess his life had become.

  She said, “I’m worried about Trina.”

  Startled by the sound of her voice, a voice he hadn’t heard in what seemed like months, he nearly jumped out of his skin. He rolled onto his side to face her after his heart slowed to normal beats again. “Why are you worried about Trina?”

  “She has a new boyfriend, but she won’t tell me anything about him. It isn’t like her to be so secretive. I don’t like it. Trina tells me everything. At least she used to.”

  “And she will again. Give her time.”

  “How much time?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. As much as she needs, I guess.”

  “So I’m just supposed to ignore how she’s changing? Since my dad died I’ve hardly seen her. The old Trina would have been fighting with you over who gets to stay with me, but she barely dropped in for the funeral. Where is she? Where is my best friend?”

  Dart through the heart. Okay, she had known Trina longer, but deep down he believed he was her best friend. The fact she didn’t feel the same way hurt him more than he cared to admit. He pushed the negative feelings aside and refocused his thoughts on her.

  Jack rolled onto his back and put his arm around her, pulling her close against his side. Grief came in many shapes and forms. Let her deal with it her way. If it made her feel better to talk about her concern for Trina, he wasn’t going to send her mind in another direction. His arm tightened around her. He kissed the top of her head.

  Silver said, “I was wondering if you would mind going on a little mission with me.”

  “Mission?” He paused, his mind whirling. He hoped she wasn’t going to suggest they go hunting. In her state of mind she’d get killed for sure. She might even get them both killed. His fingers squeezed her shoulder. He used a light tone to hide the growing panic. “Sounds good. What do you want to do?”

  “Eavesdrop on Trina.”

  “Are you serious?”

  Silver got out of bed and crossed the floor in a new pair of black and red pajamas. He missed the pink ones she used to wear around his house when she and her family temporarily moved in. She rearranged objects on her desk while he watched. An amused smile touched his lips. She was so cute when she got all obsessive-compulsive. Her gaze finally turned in his direction and he quickly hid the smile, knowing she would take it the wrong way.

  “I have to know who she’s dating,” Silver said. “Since she won’t tell me, we need to do a little detective work.”

  “Remember how angry you were when you found out I invaded your privacy and listened in on your thoughts? You could lose Trina forever.”

  And he was worried Silver might overhear something he didn’t want her to know. Trina could be thinking about the promise ring they’d picked out for Silver if they dropped in on the wrong memory. That would ruin everything.

  He added, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to eavesdrop on Trina. Okay? Let’s just call and invite her over. We can ask her to her face who she’s been seeing.”

  “She won’t tell us.” Silver’s mouth turned down. Her eyes, excited a moment before, turned sad again. “Please do this for me.”

  How could he say no to that face?

  Sighing, Jack held a hand out to her. Silver took it eagerly and returned to the bed. Lying next to each other, they closed their eyes. It was kind of nice, working together again on a mutual goal.

  She asked, “Should I concentrate on Trina and her boyfriend or just Trina?”

  “Think about finding out his name. We need to either drop in on them when they’re together or on her when she’s thinking about him.”

  “Great. I’m ready. Are you?”

  “Ready. Now stop talking and concentrate.”

  She giggled and tightened her grip on his hand. “Thank you for doing this for me.”

  He grinned, eyes closed. “You’re welcome.”

  And his love for her deepened.

  .

  *****

  .

  Trina carefully crossed the living room to the front door. Her father had fallen asleep in front of the television… again. Rumbling snores interrupted the smooth voice of a man trying to sell aspirin. The commercial changed. Loud rock music blared to life and another man shouted about the great cars for sale on his lot.

  Her father shifted in the recliner and smacked his lips a few times. The fear he was waking up glued her feet to the floor. She waited, afraid to breathe. If he caught her trying to sneak out, she would be grounded until she had grandchildren.

  The commercial ended, and the television station returned to the evening news. Her father’s snores resumed without a hitch. She continued on to the door, opened it slowly, and stepped outside.

  It was a beautiful night.

  There were at least a zillion stars on a black velvet backdrop. The moon was bright, illuminating her path to the park. She took the time to check her clothes and her hair before skipping down the sidewalk. In another few minutes she would be with Derek. Everything was right and perfect in her world. Nothing could bring her down now. She was in love.

  “Love?” Silver’s thoughts rang in Jack’s ears. “Who in the hell is this Derek person?”

  Jack could hear her thoughts as well as Trina’s, not to mention his own. The added voice sent him plummeting down a steep incline like a runaway rollercoaster. Motion sickness hit him hard. He loved Silver, but he wished she’d be quiet until they could return to their natural selves.

  He did what he could to block her out, concentrating on Trina instead. He focused on Trina’s thoughts. It worked.

  Trina finally
understood why Silver had changed after meeting Jack. Being in love was like soaring high above the clouds. You didn’t want anything to cause your feet to touch the earth. All she could think about was Derek. She wanted to be with him every second. The stolen hours they shared were nowhere near enough. He was older than her so they had to be careful. They only got together in private places like the park at midnight.

  Sneaking around was beginning to wear on her nerves. At first it was fun and romantic. Her frustration grew after each encounter. She wanted to spend more time with him. She wanted to be able to tell Silver about him. But Derek warned her not to say a word to anyone because they wouldn’t understand. He could go to jail just for being in love with her.

  Stupid laws! Didn’t anyone understand what it was like to give someone your whole entire heart?

  Trina entered the park. She stood next to the swings in the usual spot and waited for him. It wasn’t long before she heard his voice behind her. The hairs on the nape of her neck stood at attention. Gooseflesh covered her arms, and her breath caught in her throat.

  She was flying high again.

  “Hey, baby.” A slight growl tickled her ear. “Did you miss me?”

  His sexy, husky voice skittered across her skin. She whipped around and threw herself into his arms, hugging him with a fierce passion she hadn’t felt for anyone in her entire life. He held her tight. His hard body felt incredible against hers. This was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. No doubt about it.

  Intense didn’t begin to describe her feelings for him.

  She pulled back and stared up into his gorgeous brown eyes.

  Cowboy?

  “What?” Silver started firing questions at Jack. His brain couldn’t handle the overwhelming load. He drifted away from the couple in the park; he fought to stay with them. He had to hear more, had to know what Cowboy was up to, and why he was dating Trina.

  Silver demanded answers. She wouldn’t back off, wouldn’t give him room to recover and refocus his power. They were both ejected from the memory.