Shifter In Ascent (Louisiana Shifters) Read online

  “The Legion believes that anything supernatural is of demonic origin,” James said, sounding as if he were reciting scripture.

  “Who the hell is the Legion?” Tessa asked, now hopelessly confused.

  “The Legion is a group dedicated to the continued health and survival of human kind. We believe that all supernatural species pose a distinct threat to humans, and must be eliminated,” James explained slowly.

  “You think you’re the friggin’ Ghostbusters?” Tessa asked, a hysterical giggle threatening to break free. If these people were really crazy enough to think there were demons walking around, Tessa and Camilla were in even more danger than she thought.

  “This is very serious, Tessa,” Jameson rebuked softly.

  “And I’m supposed to be- let me guess. A witch? A fairy?” she asked, trying to play along.

  “You’re a werewolf, as am I,” Jameson said seriously.

  “Oh of course! A werewolf, yes. How fitting. Now I can finally put my journalism degree to real use. ‘Reporter Discovers Werewolves; Apparently She Is One’. Hah!” Tessa couldn’t keep the derision out of her tone.

  “You’ll see for yourself soon enough,” James said mysteriously. Tessa cocked an eyebrow and shrugged, having no response to that.

  “The Legion has identified a group of werewolves living in Louisiana just outside of New Orleans. We need to find out more about them. How many there are, their living habits, and their social structure, things like that,” Jameson explained.

  “Uh… uh huh,” Tessa muttered. Nothing she said seemed to faze James, so she might as well just agree and get out of this horrible place. Once she got out, she could work out a plan to free Camilla.

  “The folder contains all the information we have on werewolves. It’s yours to keep and study, but you must get rid of it before you make contact with the New Orleans werewolves.”

  Tessa’s head snapped up abruptly.

  “Make contact?” she echoed.

  “Yes,” James said patiently, “that’s why the Legion needs you. You will make contact, infiltrate their group, and then brief us on their habits. Ideally you’ll find their lair,” he said.

  “I don’t understand. What is it that you hope to gain in all this?” Tessa asked, confused. It must be something big if they were willing to establish a whole facility near their targets, to kidnap and torture people, to do whatever they’d done to those nurses…

  “Your task is to gather information. We have identified some of the members of their group, as well as some of the establishments they frequent in New Orleans. The next step is finding out where they live,” James said, pulling the folder from Tessa’s hand and flipping to the section of photographs.

  The first photo was a stunning brunette, all legs and curves. She had the high cheekbones and perfect features of a supermodel. Attached was a sticky note that read, “Madeline Copeland”. The next was a similarly stunning man with deep brown eyes and perfectly tousled brown hair with just a hint of a curl. He had beautifully chiseled cheekbones and his jaw was set in a grim line that only enhanced his sexy mouth. Tessa found herself staring at the man whose photo was labeled, ““Jacques ‘Jace’ Copeland”.

  James cleared his throat, reminding Tessa that she wasn’t alone. She hastily flipped through another handful of pictures, each with a drool-worthy subject and a name attached. Still, she barely saw any of the other photos. The first man’s image stayed with her stubbornly, impossible barely saw any of the other photos. The first man’s image stayed with her stubbornly, impossible

  to forget. James was talking, but Tessa couldn’t focus. She needed to speak up, tell Jameson that something was wrong. A picture shouldn’t give her chills like this, shouldn’t make her feel anything at all.

  Instead, she asked a question.

  “When do I leave?” she blurted out.

  James smiled faintly and looked at his watch.

  “One hour,” he announced, “So we’d better get you dressed and ready. We’ll outfit you with

  clothes and a cell phone to be used strictly for contacting me. We’re going to put you in a lowkey hostel for your stay in New Orleans. You can read through the folder on the way to the city.” “Are we flying there?” Tessa asked nervously.

  Jameson looked at her oddly.

  “Do you remember coming here at all?” he asked.

  Tessa shook her head, biting her lip.

  “We’re only an hour outside New Orleans right now, Tessa. You left Boston over three weeks ago,” he said hesitantly.

  Tessa was floored. How had they brought her all the way across the country without her consent? And how the hell had she been here three weeks? Sure, it was all a blur, but…

  Tessa’s lower lip began to tremble as tears welled up in her eyes. She wiped her eyes with the backs of her shaky hands. She was locked in some secret facility belonging to a bunch of crazy people calling themselves The Legion, who believed that Tessa was a werewolf and wanted her to go find and betray other werewolves for the good of humanity. These lunatics had trapped Tessa first, and now they were holding Camilla hostage to make Tessa do their bidding.

  The more Tessa thought about it, the more absurd it became. Everything felt unreal, baseless, impermanent. Tessa’s chest constricted tightly until she could barely draw a breath. She could sense Jameson trying to say something, shouting for help. She could feel gravity shifting as her body began to topple over. Darkness swarmed in her vision, swallowing her before she hit the ground.

  TWO

  ``If Jace didn’t intervene soon, the human girl was as good as dead.

  Jace paused in the shade of a block-long second story balcony, one of many that defined New Orleans’ French Quarter. He waited a moment to be sure he wasn’t being followed before dashing across the centuries-old cobblestones paving the street. Taking advantage of a long line

  of people leading into a coffee shop, Jace tucked his lean 6”4 frame into a pocket of shadow near the building’s bright orange clapboard corner and peeked down the street where the girl had gone.

  He scrubbed a hand over two days’ worth of dark stubble on his chin and cheek before raking his hand through his roan brown hair. He’d recently had it cropped just above his ears, and had developed the habit of running his hand through it when he was thinking, or selfconscious. If he had to approach the girl, she was probably going to take one look at his wildman hair and disheveled clothes and run for the hills. If she was smart, at least.

  Don’t worry about what the damned human thinks. Worry about the man that’s about to abduct her, Jace reminded himself.

  Jace followed after the girl, passing endless rows of multi-storied shops and houses interspersed with shadowed, verdant courtyards set back from the street and guarded by massive wrought-iron fences. Usually every street in the French Quarter was teeming with life, from tourists snapping pictures and bicyclists enjoying the weather to black-uniformed locals heading to their service industry jobs. Unfortunately for Jace, it was a Catholic high holiday, the feast of someone or the other. That meant that the largely-religious local masses were crowded around St. Peter’s Cathedral to watch the procession of high-ranking priests entering the church. Such a large gathering would have been quite helpful had it not been at least twelve blocks away. Jace didn’t have twelve blocks’ time to intercept Jasper.

  He could see the girl strolling down the street about half a block ahead. She was holding a sleek black phone to her ear and frowning. If she was talking to someone, her voice was too soft for even Jace’s hypersensitive ears.

  The girl had a tumble of blonde curls that complemented her pale skin and light eyes. She was tall for a female, but fleshed out in just the right spots.

  She wore an eggplant-colored skirt, a white lace blouse, a yellow cardigan sweater, and simple yellow flats. She would have caught his eye even if she didn’t smell lovely, but he would have dismissed her immediately; he longed to do so now. But she was human, and therefore helpless. Also
very self-absorbed if her inattention to her surroundings was any clue.

  Just like a human. Pretty outside, brainless inside. That’s why I don’t mess with human women, Jace thought. Even the Ascendant ones.

  Jace scowled as he followed the girl. He couldn’t decide if he wished she would get off the phone so she’d realize she was being followed, or if he wanted her to stay on the phone and remain oblivious. It was possible that the other wolf would wait until the human was off the phone before attacking. They were not far off from the bustling part of Decatur St., so there was a slim chance that the girl might make it without noticing the men following her. It was always better to let humans think they were the only species occupying their little world.

  Jace scanned the street again, searching for the infamous Jasper McDonough, supposed rapist and killer extraordinaire. Like Jace, Jasper might have looked human, but they were rapist and killer extraordinaire. Like Jace, Jasper might have looked human, but they were

  definitely a breed apart. Jasper was nearly feral, and even surlier than Jace himself. At least he had been the last time they’d seen each other, a few years back by now.

  Where the hell is that crazy bastard hiding? I certainly don’t want him creeping up on me.

  Jace couldn’t see Jasper at the moment, but the other wolf’s scent was all around. Jasper McDonough was no idiot, but his hot temper had led him to expose his nature to outsiders before. This wouldn’t be the first human Jasper’s pack had hurt, either.

  Seeing as how Jace had been following the pheromone-laden trail of this female Ascendant for almost a week, he wasn’t about to let Jasper abduct the girl. As if stalking her somehow conferred a duty to protect the human. Jace had dibs, but in a creepy, pathetic way. He gritted his teeth.

  Just make sure the human is unharmed, then get the hell out of here. The last trouble you need in your life right now is a female. Walk away the second you know the girl is safe and be done with it.

  Jace didn’t know what had happened to the last human Jasper’s boys had scooped up like this, but the details were probably grim. Dead, or maybe some kind of drugged-out groupie for the Mobile pack. In other words, her lifespan was decidedly short.

  That doomed girl wouldn’t be the first one taken, but Jace was aiming for her to be the last. Aside from the wrongness of abducting someone against their will, it might bring heat down on the Shifter community unintentionally.

  And that’s something we definitely don’t need, he thought. Humans could be vicious when large groups of them got scared. Jace knew this better than pretty much anyone. He pushed back the flood of images: fire, a child screaming, and wolves howling in mourning.

  Worry about the human. No time for thinking on the past, Jace scolded to himself.

  Jace jogged after the girl, who was now spitting angry words into her phone. He caught a flash of movement a block down, something moving fast. Time had run out, and now Jace wasn’t going to be able to prevent Jasper reaching the girl. With the human between them, there wouldn’t be time for Jace to come up from behind the other Shifter. Jace would have to go in directly.

  “Sweetheart, I’ve been waiting for you!” Jace shouted. As the girl turned around he shot her a look. Go along with it, his eyes warned.

  The second their eyes locked, Jace felt a soft but distinct tugging sensation in his chest. His body wanted to get closer to her, needed to get closer.

  The blonde opened her pouty lips and stammered a confused apology, but Jace didn’t give her time to say the wrong thing.

  “Come over here and give me a big kiss. I’m getting lonely over here,” he said. Jasper was coming up on the girl fast, and if he got a good hold on the her, it was all over.

  The foolish human scuttled backwards right into Jasper’s waiting arms.

  Damnation.

  Jace watched Jasper breathe in the girl’s heady scent, pupils widening in reaction. The blond giant gripped the Ascendant girl tightly as an obvious internal struggle played out over his face. Apparently Jace wasn’t the only one affected by the gorgeous Tessa Anderson. Unsurprising but unfortunate, in this case.

  As the girl turned to look up at Jasper, Jace held his breath for a moment. Would she take one look at the other Shifter and simply give up? Or worse, would she enjoy his embrace?

  But no, now she was struggling a little. Trying to free herself. Too bad the girl’s instinct had But no, now she was struggling a little. Trying to free herself. Too bad the girl’s instinct had

  led her astray; in this case a little struggle would only fire Jasper up more. Any Shifter would react that way. Jace shouldn’t be pleased at her rejection of McDonough, even if it was just a gut reaction. The human was nothing to him.

  “Your little game isn’t working, Copeland. The Ascendant doesn’t carry your mark or your scent. She doesn’t even seem to recognize you,” Jasper taunted. The other wolf’s gaze was riveted on Tessa. He loosened his grasp slightly, and she broke away from him and looked to Jace with a pleading expression.

  The girl was saying something, but Jace was momentarily fixated on her slender figure. She was attempting belatedly to go along with his lie. Jace sighed. He was running out of options, and fast.

  “I claim her, McDonough,” Jace said, his voice flat and heavy.

  A tingling rush swept through his body, the feeling of old magic stirring. He’d said the words, he’d invoked the charm, and now he’d see firsthand if it really worked the way everyone said it did.

  Jace snapped back into reality as Jasper made a move to grab Tessa’s arm. Before Jace could intervene, the girl smashed the heel of her hand into Jasper’s face hard enough to elicit a nasty snapping noise.

  Smart girl.

  With that Tessa was off, her shoes clacking loudly as she fled toward Decatur St., where a long strip of boutiques and niche stores drew a large number of shoppers.

  Jasper was shifting, so Jace began to shift too. Then the girl tripped on an irregular bit of the street and went down hard, with surprisingly little grace. When Jace’s shift was complete, Jasper was practically on top of her. Jace could tell that Jasper was trying to hold himself back from tearing into the girl’s warm flesh.

  The blonde was panting with fear, and her scent hung heavily in the air. She smelled sweet but crisply clean, something altogether different. Jace shook himself, trying to ignore the girl altogether. Unfortunately, she looked like she might literally be scared to death at any moment.

  Before Jasper could lose his control entirely, Jace barreled into the other wolf. They tumbled across the sidewalk, away from the girl.

  For a couple of minutes, Jace and Jasper circled and fought hard. They were both pumped full of adrenaline from their shape shifts, and now that adrenaline was pushing them to go for the throat. The wolves were evenly matched. Jasper had an advantage with all his experience fighting, but Jace was faster and willing to play dirty if need be.

  Suddenly a loud shot went off, and Jasper froze. Jace took the opportunity to take a chunk out of Jasper’s hindquarters. Jasper growled viciously but a second, closer shot kept him at bay. Jace took in the little old lady standing on the stoop of a cheesy voodoo shop with a huge shotgun, and decided to get going. He grabbed the satchel he’d tossed to the side in his mouth and bolted before the storekeeper could get another shot off.

  Jasper was already streaking down the street, trailing quite a bit of blood as he ran. Shifters needed to stay in their animal form to heal in the most efficient way, so Jace probably had a few hours to find the human and keep her from talking about what she’d seen.

  If I don’t want to kill her, I’m going to have to find someplace to stash her. Maddie will kill me in my sleep if I bring a human female back to the Den. We’ll have to go to one of the safe houses. Shaw is not going to like this, Jace thought.

  His Alpha was no more a fan of human women that Jace was.

  There was nothing for it. Jace would never kill an innocent human, even if she was remarkably inconveni
ent. She did smell absolutely amazing, which meant that her Ascendant potential was coming into bloom. The human would be inexplicably drawn to his kind soon enough anyway, and even if Jasper wasn’t after Tessa another wolf would find and claim her.

  At least in the Louisiana pack, the human would have a choice of which wolf she wanted. Assuming Jace could figure how to take back his own spoken claim, that is. For now it was safer that she remained under the charm. He’d figure out how to disentangle himself later.

  Jace clenched his jaw and slipped into a shaded doorway to regain his human form. He opened the satchel and quickly pulled on jeans and a t-shirt before he followed her scent across Decatur St.

  He might not want the girl, but he wasn’t going to make it easy on any of his pack mates to claim her. A girl like that deserved a wolf that would protect and appreciate her. All he had to do was keep his hands off her long enough for her to choose, and she’d be a distant memory.

  Shaking his head at his own thoughts, Jace trotted toward the café she’d disappeared into, intending to catch up with the gorgeous but troublesome Ascendant female that he couldn’t get out of his head. Better that Jace find her before anyone else.

  THREE

  Tessa skidded to a halt in front of a busy independent coffee shop, using the glass door as a mirror to look for her pursuer. Her heart was hammering in her chest, her breath coming in shallow pants. If she’d ever doubted that all the things James had told her were true, now there was no way to deny it. The two men had changed their forms right in front of her eyes.

  Across the street a tall figure came into view, and Tessa breathed a quick sigh of relief before pushing the door open and entering the coffee shop. Instead of getting in line for a drink, she wove her way through the tables toward the back door. She exited the building onto an ill-used patio, quickly seating herself at a table facing the building.

  Use your weakness to your advantage, James had advised her on the drive to New Orleans. Shifters are macho to the extreme, so the lady in distress hook pulls them in every time.

  Tessa dropped her purse to the ground and buried her face in her hands. She didn’t have to affect the distress part, at least. Tessa just thought over the last two weeks of her life, imagined Camilla bound and gagged in some abandoned warehouse with a knife pressed against her throat. Tessa had led her little sister right into the Legion’s snare, and she was damned surely going to get Camilla out again.