Almost Shifted

Almost Shifted


LINCOLN

Rafael’s eyes flared wide for a second, his attention falling to a dozing, half conscious Ginger whose head rested easily on my chest and he smiled. “Perhaps she isn’t unmarked after all. I knew there was a slight taint to her scent, it is part of what kept me from sharing my beliefs with her when we met outside. Still…she is practically a carbon copy of her mother, as Giselle is of yours.”

“In more ways than one, unfortunately,” I informed him, noting the way he stiffened and then threw a glance downstairs toward the East Hall.

“Giselle is young and…impressionable. Perhaps there are reasons more deeply rooted inside of her, pertaining to her loss of her parents, my brother and his wife, that caused her to lie about them the way she did. Trauma like she has endured has been known to cause a number of people to act out in ways that we might not rightly understand at first, but…I intend to provide her with all that she needs to heal. As happy as I am to have found my real niece, I refuse to believe that Giselle is entirely evil. After all, she was raised by two of the most selfless people I have ever known. No, I will give her the benefit of the doubt until I see evidence of her transgression for myself,” he stated firmly.

I smiled, I had to, because I just happened to have said evidence on my phone. “Twenty minutes,” I repeated, “and in the meantime, I’d like you to watch a little video that I’m going to send you. In fact, you and your Beta should watch it. Maybe while you finish eating your dinner.”

His eyes darkened with the memory of the circus that took place only moments ago, and he appeared almost suspicious of me for a second, but what he said was, “Alright. Send it.”

Then, he backed down the stairs and I watched until he disappeared around the corner, heading back to the East Hall.

Racing up to the third floor on silent feet, I kept to the shadows to avoid prying eyes, only slowing my pace once I’d reached Ginger’s door and Ghost dutifully opened it as if he’d been standing there waiting this entire time.

“What the hell happened to Red?” he snarled as I stalked past him.

Ginger, who looked to be asleep in my arms, batted her lashes, her eyelids dragging up slowly as she blinked awake and stared up at me. It was as if she heard
Ghost’s question and she too, was awaiting my answer.

Concern wrinkled my brow as I realized she might have been wanting to ask me herself, but was too weak to voice the words.

Shit. I may have given her a hair more than I should have.

She would still burn through it and all it would do was put her down for the count a bit more heavily than I wanted, but just now, seeing her like this—weakened to the point of silence—only served to remind me of how vulnerable she really is. Anyone could do anything to her in this state and I hated the reminder that it was possible. 

Fortunately, I just so happened to possess a brew that would combat the effects of the wolfsbane and push it through her system that much faster, but I still needed her to drink it and by the looks of things, I’d have to funnel it down her throat.

“She almost shifted,” I replied, my eyes glued to hers as I navigated down the hallway to her bedroom. Ginger’s eyes widened and I couldn’t help but grin down at her.

“No shit?” Ghost chuckled. “Her timing is impeccable. Something must have set her off. Have any idea what it was?”

Ginger’s face scrunched up angrily, her eyes narrowing into slits and filling with malice. I laughed softly, watching with fascination as her face flushed a startling shade of scarlet and her fists clenched the fabric of my shirt. 

“I think I might,” I answered Ghost, stalking toward her bed as we entered her room and nodding my thanks to Ghost when he suddenly whips down the heavy velvet duvet.

“What was it, then?” Ghost prodded me, backing toward the hallway as I laid Ginger down on the cool white sheets.

My eyes feathered across her body feeling a groan build behind my throat at the sight of all of her exposed skin. Her deep caramel tan stood out against the stark white of the sheets, made only more enticing by the added brightness of her skimpy little party dress. The two together made every dip and groove of her flesh more pronounced and Ghost’s presence in the room was grating on my nerves. 

I had about fifteen minutes to spare before I had to be downstairs and my friend and old professor was suddenly in my way.

“Timberwolf,” I said easily, feeling my pants tighten when Ginger sent me a furious, albeit sleepy, glare. 

Damn it, I love that look.

Spinning around to shove Ghost out of the room, I was pleasantly surprised to see that he was no longer standing there.

After sending Rafael a quick message complete with attached video file, I swung the door shut with a bang, then sauntered back over to my Strawberry, disappointed when I saw her eyes were closed again and she was curled up on her side, still shivering.

I quickly removed her sandals, dropping them onto the floor next to the bed before drawing the covers over Ginger’s body and tucking them under her chin. Not being able to help myself, my hands smoothed over her body on the outside of the blanket, stroking up and back several times until she released a soft sigh of contentment and stopped shivering.

A quick listen to her heartbeat told me that she was well and truly asleep, so kissed her lips softly and whispered, “I’ll be back soon, Strawberry. I promise.”