Westmore Wolves Series: Shapesifter Collection Bks 1-5 Read online

  Thomas took a step forward. “Get out of my house!”

  “I’ll kill you, guardian.”

  “Not before I hang your pelt on my wall.” Thomas flexed his wings, a piercing cry sounding from his mouth that hurt Medina’s ears. At the sound Gabby cried out and crouched low and Grayson opened his eyes, his lips pressed together in anger.

  “You dare.” Grayson rose on shaking legs, his powerful body broken from whatever abuse he’d suffered before Medina had come into the room. She kept silent as the two faced down the beast, horrified when blow after blow reduced them both to unconsciousness.

  The restoration room was rife with shadows but in a flash of a moment, two things became clear. Gabby, Grayson and Thomas were in immediate danger and she had to stop this or the family she dreamt of would be over before it even started. She wasn’t sure if Grayson was still alive. Staring intently at him, she caught a faint and almost imperceptive movement of the rise and fall of his chest and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  A hulking beast towered over a terrified Gabby as she cowered in a corner by a window. Her eyes darted from Grayson’s still form to her father and the window. Medina could see she was working things out. He moved toward Thomas and struck him, the soul killing sound of fists meeting flesh sounding through the room. Thomas slumped, the hybrid’s strength overwhelming him in his weakened state.

  “You thought you could take it all. Now we’ll see. Look at your father now, such a protector.” The creature spat out his contempt and upended a tray of paints and chemicals, the sharp scent of turpentine trailing through the air.

  Medina crept into the room but the beast didn’t see her. Gabby’s eyes quickly darted in her direction. She started to speak, but Medina motioned with her hands and shook her head putting a finger to her lips.

  She mouthed the word “quiet” and put her finger to her lips once more. The silence alerted the creature something was wrong. He turned his head and observed Medina in the doorway.

  “Who are you?”

  She had to get closer. Peering into the dark, she could see the moon shining in through the window and as the rays reached her, the snakes beneath her skin began to move. “I’m only the nanny, who are you?” Pulse pounding, she struggled to remain calm.

  A little white lie, just until she could get close enough for the moonlight to activate her curse. The full moon, once her enemy would now be the only thing standing in the way between the people she loved most in the world and the abomination that stood before her. “I have come for your master’s progeny. When he wakes I will take what is his. This is my revenge.”

  He moved to Gabby, yanking the child to her feet. She cried out, tears sliding down her cheeks as she struggled against him.

  You didn’t mess with kids. Ever.

  Seething anger sizzled through Medina and her flesh itched to transform. “Leave her alone.” Ice and fire slid through Medina’s veins and her hands curled into fists, the nails biting into her palms. She strode forward, looking for anything that would throw the creature off balance.

  Books.

  There were piles of them. She grabbed the largest ones she could find and hurled one after another in his direction. She didn’t care. Her serpents sang with a different song now. Blood and fire and the need to protect what was hers. Her…what? Her captors? She could walk out right now and leave them to die. This could be her solution—if she wanted it to be.

  No. They were her mates and this…this was her child now. Her responsibility. The stark realization hit her square in the face. This abomination was in the way of her future and he wasn’t going to live to take another breath.

  Another noise caught her attention. The sound of a door opening and broken glass being moved.

  Oh God. Were there more of them? Nausea twisted in her belly and she drew herself up taller. She would do whatever she had to do to protect this child. Like no one had ever done for her.

  The monster imprisoned her in his claws, teasing her with one nasty looking talon.

  “Put her down, asshole.”

  She was going to kick his ever loving ass, even if it meant shoving a book so far up there the sun didn’t shine. But she had to do it now. Before his reinforcements came. If she died, it didn’t matter. But Gabby. She was…everything. And her mates. Thomas and Grayson. She would be their protector too.

  She took a step forward. “I said let her go, you furry motherfucker.”

  “Medina?” A female voice called from the stairs below, followed by a curse and more crunching of glass.

  A wave of relief sluiced through her. No more creatures. But damn it all, why had they come? Tonight of all nights especially.

  She clenched her teeth and her fangs pinched her lip, drawing blood.

  Her girls hummed, watching the shifter in front of them, just waiting for the right moment to make their move.

  How had her sisters found her?

  Shit.

  “Get out, Stef. Not now!”

  “We’re coming up.” Eleanor called out. The sound of feet tromping up the stairs and movement in the hallway distracted her and the beast got closer, dragging Gabby with him.

  “You think you’re going to stop me, bitch?” He laughed, an ugly sound reverberated thickly from his malformed face. “I’d like to see you try.”

  He swung at her but a burst of power from behind her set him back a few paces. The creature roared and cradled its hurt claw, surprise sliding across its face.

  “Stef?” Surprise widened her eyes. Her sister had never shown that side before.

  “Huh. Gods, Medina. What kind of place did you run away to?” Stef snorted and shot another zot in the creature’s direction.

  “Gabby!” The little girl ran to her, burying her face in Medina’s side. She smoothed her hair and gathered her close. “Are you okay, honey?”

  She nodded, sniffling. “Daddy. Grayson…”

  “We’ll fix it, baby. Just you wait.” Then she turned to her sisters. “Damn it. What are you doing here?” Medina demanded. “I left, remember? Gone. No forwarding mail.”

  “You took your phone.” Stef shrugged, stepping forward. In simple jeans and a black tee, she looked ready to take on anything.

  Eleanor appeared beside her, the dark shirt and pants almost black in the dim lighting. “Why did you leave?”

  “You know why,” Medina hissed. “Now get out. I’m busy.”

  “I see you found the next mark.” Eleanor grinned, her eyes darting all over the room. “This place screams money. Good job, kiddo.”

  Medina lost it.

  “Oh no. I did not call you. You called me. I came here to get the fuck away from you two, not to steal anyone’s anything. These people belong to me.”

  “Really?” Stef arched an eyebrow and shot off another spell at the creature. “So they’ve seen you in full bitch mode?”

  At her silence Eleanor gave her a saccharine smile. “No, but I’m guessing they’re about to.”

  Gabby sobbed, her hot tears soaking into her nightgown. “Make him stop, Medina. He hurt Daddy and Grayson.”

  “Here. Take her.” She shoved the child at Eleanor with a stern look. “Don’t you dare move. If she’s harmed and I’m still standing I’ll kill you.”

  “Ohhh. Threats from the snake girl.” Eleanor rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “If he kills you, you’ll just come back as annoying as ever. Look out. He’s headed this way.”

  Double shit.

  One look at the still forms of her men and the sound of Gabby’s tears and she was lost, forever bound to whatever consequences were about to fall down upon her. She would protect the innocent or die trying. To hell with what her sisters thought. About anything.

  The beast reached out with his claws to strike her but his large form was clumsy. Roaring his anger, he set his attention on her, cradling his hurt claw.

  “How did you get behind the security?”

  “Fools. We know their secrets. I think instead I’ll leave
Thomas and Carrick a further warning. I’m going to rip out your throat and leave you to die, your blood and the paint mingling. Let him think about what he’s done.”

  “Really?” Stef yawned. “We’ve heard this one before, haven’t, we Elle?”

  “Yup. In Athens I think. Some snotty little cyclops goat herder or one of those stupid dryads. I can’t remember now. Boooring.”

  “Will you guys shut up?” Medina groaned, exasperated. “And I don’t think so. Get. Out. Of. Our. House.”

  Her snakes hissed in agreement.

  “I’ll start with his daughter. Then I’ll watch you die drowning in your own blood.” The monstrous creature’s face was illuminated by the moon, but it wasn’t enough for what she needed. In a quick movement born of desperation, she flicked on the light switch and threw the closest, heftiest book she could find, knocking the creature back a few steps. He looked like a wolf, like abomination from the deepest pits of the underworld. She’d heard whispers around the world of genetic experiments with shifters but this…this was something far more terrifying. It was real and it was in her house.

  Her house.

  Yeah. And she was going to take it back.

  “Goddess…what is that thing?” Eleanor made an ick sound and Medina heard her back up toward the hallway.

  He roared, swinging out, catching the book and throwing it across the room, his rage a palpable thing.

  “The hell you will. Gabby run!” She couldn’t let anything happen to her, even with Eleanor and Stef beside her.

  Gabby’s wings burst from her back and she shifted, her small form darting for the open window. The creature caught her in his grasp and she let out a strangled cry as she was thrown to the floor.

  “No.” Her form shifted and she let it flow. The moon called to her and she heard the music deep inside of her as it struggled to break free. Her legs slipped into the form of a serpent’s tail and her snake sisters emerged from her hair, hissing and biting at each other for the first chance at their prey.

  He roared and charged her, his weight throwing him off balance as he hit part of the collection he’d come for, knocking it to the ground.

  Pretties…

  The girls hissed, their anger in full boil as they caught sight of the child cowering on the floor.

  Foul.

  Kill him.

  Medina heartily agreed. She hissed, baring her fangs at the creature, her nails, now talons, ready to slice him to ribbons if he dared touch Gabby or the two men that had found their way into her heart.

  “Get away from them. They’re mine,” she hissed, surging forward.

  Gabby blinked at Medina in awe and she turned her gaze away, frightened of what it would do to her. “Don’t look at me, sweetheart. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “I think she might be fine, Medina.” Stef stepped forward, a spell on her lips, knocking him back a few paces. “Now, Medina! Do it now!”

  The beast charged at the girl and Medina rose up, the snakes chittering and hissing as the curse took hold, the knowledge of what was happening to him alive in the creature’s eyes as he slowly turned to stone, never to harm anyone again. Her snakes stilled as the music slowed and the room righted itself.

  “Medina?” Eleanor came forward, laying her hand on her arm. “It’s over, honey.”

  “Did I hurt them? Goddess, I can’t look.” She turned away to see Gabby’s bright eyes looking into hers.

  “Miss Medina. Oh wow. Those are so better than wings.” A light touch on her tail brought Medina back from the panic invading her mind. If she hurt them she couldn’t live with herself.

  Gabby’s voice. Her eyes. She was okay. She drew the little girl into her arms and let the tears fall. “Oh, honey. You’re okay.”

  “I am. You protected me. And you turned him into a statue for the garden. Cool!” She kissed Medina on the cheek and glanced up at the snakes parading around her head. She held out her small hand and wiggled a finger at one of the snakes. “Can I touch one?”

  “I don’t know if you want to do that, kid.” Stef warned. She shook her head and winced. “Really. Those suckers bite.”

  The girls danced, hissing their approval. They wanted to be petted.

  “Not her they don’t.” Medina lowered her head a little and Gabby reached out her hand. In her stone form, the snakes adored her, wrapping around her arm and tickling her with their tongues. They released her with little snake kisses content now to writhe and dance in their victory.

  “Oh my.” Eleanor chuckled. “I’ve seen everything.”

  “I like your pets, Medina.” Gabby grinned but her smile faltered as she looked toward her father and Grayson. “Are they okay? He was so mean.”

  Medina took a deep breath, afraid to see who else she may have petrified. Tears slid down her face as she glanced over to see Thomas and Grayson struggling to help each other up.

  “You’re okay.” Her lips wobbled, and then she turned away, realizing her snakes still wriggled around her head. And her tail. Oh God. “If anything were to have happened…”

  “Medina.” Thomas’s voice sunk in first. He groaned, his body battered and bruised, even in his gargoyle form.

  “Don’t look at me. I don’t want…”

  Grayson’s hands. He turned her around, his gray eyes searching hers. “This was your secret?”

  She nodded, her lips thinning into a line to keep them from quivering.

  “I never thought I would ever…” Thomas limped forward. “You saved us.” He stood next to Gabby and laid his hand on the small of her back.

  “My heart’s protector.” His eyes grew moist as he shifted back to his human form. He pressed a hiss to her cheek and pulled her into his embrace. Grayson slid his arms around them both while Gabby hugged her tail. “You saved our family. Never leave us.”

  “Never.” She let herself be surrounded by the force of their love and smiled. Never was a very long time.

  “I would never have believed it.” Stef blinked, her mouth open in shock. “You did it. You found a guy who actually…wow. And he’s not a hamster. Or a cat.”

  “Shut up, Stef.” Medina rolled her eyes and gave a tearful laugh. “You’re just jealous cause I turned your new boyfriend here to stone.”

  “As if…” Stef lifted her chin, a look of disgust on her face. “I’m out of here. If you need us, we’ll be back in Olympia. Oh…and the name is Rachel now.” Stef winked, turning on her heel and making for the hallway. “Turning new leaves and all that…”

  “Um, Medina?” Gabby pointed at a sneaky Eleanor trying to get out the door with a painting in hand.

  Grayson growled, stalking forward. “And just where do you think you’re going?”

  Eleanor shrieked, dropping the painting and hauling ass as fast as she could down the stairs toward the front door.

  “Wow.” Medina blinked. “New leaves, huh? I don’t think I’ve ever seen her move quite that fast.” Her legs reformed and she sighed, relieved to be back on two feet again.

  “Mmmm. Hmmm.” Thomas wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on her cheek. Her snakes snuggled up to him and nibbled on his hair until he laughed. “That tickles.”

  “It does, Daddy. But I like them.” Gabby grinned up at her. “They wiggle.”

  “What the hell are we going to do with this?” Grayson stared up at the monstrous stone figure, a frown setting into his features.

  “Pigeons.” Gabby pointed to the garden outside, a mischievous grin sliding over her face.

  “What, honey?” Thomas drew his lips in thoughtfully.

  The girl sighed, exasperated with her father. “They need a place to poop.”

  “Oh.” Different kinds of tears slipped into Medina’s eyes now as her snakes slipped back underneath her skin. This was home. Her family.

  A sleepy Mrs. Talbot opened the door to her room. “Gabby. What on earth are you doing out of bed?”

  Thomas, Medina and Grayson looked at each other, neither one saying
a word. Medina laughed. The old woman had slept through the whole thing.

  “Helping Daddy. But I’m ready to go to sleep now. Tomorrow I get to play with the pigeons.”

  Medina snorted, swallowing another laugh. Goddess but she loved that girl.

  “It’s nothing, Mrs. Talbot. She had a bad dream but it’s over now.” Thomas led everyone out of the room and shut the door behind them. It would all wait until tomorrow. Pigeon poop and all.

  The sound of wings and loud voices below stopped Medina in her tracks.

  “I guess the reinforcements are here.” Thomas shooed Gabby down the hall and headed for the stairs.

  “What? Did you think it would have just been me without backup?” Grayson raised an eyebrow, his lips twisting into what had probably been intended as a smile but instead came off more as a wince.

  Medina rolled her eyes and trudged toward her room. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Not if I see you first.”

  Chapter Seven

  Grayson fidgeted, giving Thomas a frustrated stare. “What’s keeping her so long?” He sat on the bed in Thomas’s room, torn between wanting to finish the mating he and Thomas had started, but held off completion waiting for Medina. A week had gone by since the home invasion and Thomas was back on the mend. His own wounds were more superficial. More concerned with implementing new security measures, he had taken the precaution of moving the rest of the art work back to Carrick’s estate. The trip had been inconvenient but necessary. Announcing to your boss that you mated with a client could be a touchy thing, and then there were the much needed repairs to the house.

  “I’m happy for you, Gray. Get everything and get him back on these paintings. If my sister ever gets mated, I want these hanging in the gallery for the Gathering.” Carrick chuckled and sent him packing. “I expect to see you guys for the next family function. Medina can meet Sage.”