Shift (Southern Werewolves Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  About The Author

  Shift

  By

  Heather MacKinnon

  Shift

  Copyright Ⓒ 2018 by Heather MacKinnon

  Book cover: SelfPubBookCovers.com/Ravenborn

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All Rights are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  About The Author

  Chapter 1

  “We, the people, find the defendant: not guilty.”

  Yes.

  The courtroom erupted with sound. Some in celebration, some in denial, but I sat there quietly.

  This was my first case as lead attorney, and I’d knocked it out of the park. The jury had only deliberated for an hour before they’d returned with their decision. The only decision I’d left them with, after the words I wove, and the evidence I’d pranced before their eyes. Since the first day of this trial, I knew they’d be putty in my hands.

  My lips pulled into a small, tight grin as the judge called for order. She dismissed the case with a bang of her gavel, and my lips stretched into a full smile.

  I did it.

  I packed my things in my brown leather briefcase and stood to face my colleagues.

  “Nice work, Montgomery,” John Walsh said as he extended a hand for me to shake. The brittle smile on his face belied his sincerity.

  “It was a team effort, John,” I lied.

  He’d been expecting me to fail, like most of the other men I worked with as junior associates at our law firm. I’d had to work harder, stay later, and take on more cases to get exactly where that half-wit was standing.

  But, it had all paid off.

  The other lawyers on the case offered their own brand of insincere platitudes and half-hearted hand shakes, and I took them all with a smile. Just like the good southern girl I was.

  When I got to the end of the line of lawyers, my defendant was standing there seemingly lost in thought. I cleared my throat, and his dark brown eyes snapped to mine.

  “You did it,” he said softly.

  My smile returned. I wanted to pump my fist, and make a celebratory lap around the courtroom, but instead, simply nodded.

  “I did.” I was sick of sharing the win with the other attorneys. I’d done the research. I’d done the interviews and fact checking. I’d been putting in the overtime for the past few months, and damn it, I would take the credit.

  “I don’t know how I can ever thank you. You saved my life.”

  His words hit me hard, but I recovered quickly. That I’d had such a huge positive effect on this man’s life humbled me.

  “I did my job and made sure you weren't convicted of something you didn’t do. It’s so tragic that your wife took her own life, but it would have been made worse if you’d gone to prison over it. I’m just glad it all turned out the way we’d hoped.” The way I’d planned all along.

  Without warning, Henry launched his short, pudgy frame at me, and wrapped his stubby arms around my waist. I’d never been comfortable with displays of affection, and this was no different. My face burned with what I’m sure was a fierce blush as I awkwardly patted his back.

  “There, there,” I muttered, hoping I’d placated him enough to get off me.

  Henry pulled back with a sniffle, and I pretended to not see the wetness in his eyes.

  “It was nice working with you, Henry. Hopefully, our paths won’t cross again professionally.” My attempt at dry humor did its job, and Henry’s face cracked into a small smile.

  “Yeah, no offense lady, but I hope so too.”

  I gave him another smile and a nod before making my way out of the courtroom, and into the warm North Carolina day.

  It was only May, but the air was humid, and the sun was hot. I slipped my suit jacket off my shoulders and folded it over my arm as I made my way to my car.

  I zipped across town, making good time in the light midday traffic. When I got to my office building, I rushed inside and over to my cubicle. If I could get out of here in the next thirty minutes, I could make it to my apartment, and be on the road before rush hour.

  “Heard about your win, Montgomery. Nice work.”

  I froze at the voice behind me, but didn’t turn.

  “Thanks, Ben.”

  “So, are you free Saturday night? There’s this new French Bistro that just opened downtown, and I thought you could accompany me.”

  My eyes squeezed closed, and I took a steadying breath before facing him. “Sorry Ben, but I have plans.”

  His eyes narrowed, and his lips tightened. “Is that right?”

  “Afraid so. I’ve rented a cabin out in Asheville. I’ll be away all weekend.”

  “Who are you going with?” His voice had a touch of belligerence.

  I straightened my spine and sent him a withering look. “Nobody. This is a solo trip. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get on the road.”

  Ben was one of those guys that thou
ght since I was single, I was fair game. I was not. I didn’t have time to date, and if I did, it wouldn’t be with someone who gave me the creeps like Ben did.

  I swiped the rest of what I thought I’d need into my briefcase and stood. Ben still hadn’t moved from his spot, so I had to walk around him to leave my cubicle.

  My brisk pace took me through the office, and as I reached out a finger to call an elevator, I heard my name being bellowed from the corner office on my right. I slowly retracted my pointer finger and curled it into a fist. With a deep breath, I spun around, and made my way to where my name had been called.

  Mr. Hildebrandt was a hefty old man with only small tufts of white hair left on his shiny head and liver spots on his hands. He looked up when I walked in, and a rare smile graced his withered face.

  “Good work on the Walker case, Montgomery. That’s what we like to see around here.”

  I nodded. “Thanks, Mr. Hildebrandt.”

  “I know you’re heading out for the long weekend, but I expect you in my office Tuesday morning for an important meeting. Eight AM sharp, got it?”

  My palms began to sweat, and my stomach erupted in butterflies. This was it, I would finally make senior associate.

  I nodded again. “I’ll be here.”

  “Good, good. Now get out of here. Have a good weekend, Ms. Montgomery.”

  He’d put the “Ms.” in front of my name. That was a good sign.

  “Thanks Mr. Hildebrandt, you too.”

  I closed his office door before practically sprinting to the elevators. I needed to get out of here before someone else called my name or needed something from me.

  When I finally stepped back into the bright Carolina sunlight, I let my lips stretch into what felt like the first genuine smile all day. With the windows down, and my music blaring, I drove the fifteen minutes to my apartment on the other side of Raleigh.

  The dash clock showed I had about half an hour to get changed, take care of Charlie, and get out of the city before hitting rush hour. I was up the stairs, and in the cool darkness of my apartment in record time.

  My briefcase was abandoned at the door as I called out, “Where’s my handsome man?”

  The black and brown striped tabby cat poked his head out of a bright purple flower-shaped cat tree in the corner. He let loose a joyful meow before stepping onto a giant furry petal and leaping to the floor. Charlie came barreling toward me, smashing into my shins when he couldn’t stop himself in time on the smooth hardwood floor.

  I picked him up and scratched his head as I walked toward my bedroom in the back of the apartment. “Boy, I swear, you are the clumsiest cat I’ve ever met.” He responded by rubbing his furry face against my jaw.

  “Now while I’m away, I’m countin’ on you to watch this place, all right?”

  I walked through the multi-colored strings of beads that hung in the hallway, and into my bedroom. He leapt out of my arms, and onto the rainbow zebra-striped bedspread, making himself comfortable in the center of my pillow.

  “I’ll only be gone three nights, but I have this nice lady comin’ by every day to check on you. So you’ll have to get along with her, Charlie.”

  Turning to my white and turquoise painted dresser, I took off my everyday formal clothes, and traded them for a white polo shirt and khaki colored capris. I tugged on a pair of sneakers and faced Charlie.

  “I know how you feel about strangers, boy, but this lady’s your meal ticket for the next few days. It would be in your best interest to make friends.” With a glance towards the feline, I saw that I was being ignored, and let out a sigh.

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

  My bag was packed, so I shooed Charlie off the bed and out of my room, closing the door behind me. In the kitchen, I made sure he had enough food and water for the day, and took a quick look around the apartment. Everything looked neat, and tidy, and colorful, and interesting. Just the way I like it.

  “All right Bubba, I’m leavin’.”

  Charlie rubbed the length of his body against my leg, and I relented by giving him one more head scratch. With my apartment locked up tight, I got back in the car, and pulled up my GPS app. As I typed in the address of the cabin I’d rented, I was interrupted by an incoming phone call. I recognized the area code as being from North Carolina, but not local.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Elizabeth Montgomery? It’s Mabel, with the house rental.”

  “Ah, yes, of course. I was just heading your way now.”

  “Oh, perfect! I’m fixin’ to head over there and drop off the key. It’ll be in the box on the doorknob. We could leave the key there all the time, but sometimes we go weeks without a renter, and I just don’t like the thought of leavin’ the key just sittin’ there. I know you need the code to open the box, but they got all kinds of gadgets these days to steal just about anything, don’t they? I don’t trust it. Besides, I can take a look around while I’m there, and make sure nothin’s gone wrong. Most of the folks we get are good people, but there’s always a rotten one in the bunch every now and again. Ya know, one time we had a man leave a bunch of needles in the kitchen trash?” She sounded scandalized.

  “Maybe he was a diabetic?” I offered.

  “Ya know what, honey? That could be true. The man did look...well fed. Ya know, I had a girlfriend who had a diabetes spell, and it took her foot! Poor thing’s hobblin’ around now–”

  “Ma’am? What did you say the code was? I want to write it down.” I knew she hadn’t offered it yet, but I needed to get her to stop talking without being rude. There was no surer way to make an enemy in the south than by forgetting your manners.

  “Oh, sure, baby. You ready now?”

  I rolled my eyes, but smiled. “Sure, ma’am, I’m ready.”

  “It’s 0-8-1-3-8-7. Ya got that, now?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I got it.”

  “Okay, sweetie. You need anything, you call me, ya got it?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I got it,” I repeated. In situations like this, it paid to keep it simple. Taciturn.

  “Okay, honey, take care. I’ll talk to ya later.”

  “All right, thanks, you too,” I responded and quickly ended the call.

  Dang that woman could talk.

  I typed in the address and headed toward the highway while the directions finished loading. I had a three hour and forty-three minute drive ahead of me. At a red light, I plugged the aux cord into my phone, and selected the new Nicholas Sparks novel I was listening to.

  The narration sounded through the speakers, and I dug out my sunglasses with a smile. This long-fought-for weekend away was just what I needed. The pressure to work harder, be smarter, stay longer than all my male counterparts wore on me. I didn’t let it show, but I felt what the stress was doing to me.

  I’d lost a few unnecessary pounds for that reason. Between working through lunch and being so tired after work I sometimes fall asleep before dinner, it was no wonder my clothes were loose. I’d always relished being a curvy girl, and unlike most women, wasn’t happy losing those few pounds. Even my honey blonde hair was looking duller.

  This weekend I’d promised myself no work, and I think that’s exactly what I needed right now. A few days to read, nap, hike, and take pictures. All the things I used to love doing before work consumed my life.

  Wish I’d known then how much I should have appreciated my blissfully simple life. Wish I could have somehow prepared myself for how this weekend would change everything.

  Chapter 2

  The steep, unpaved road seemed to go on forever, before I pulled up to the small wooden cabin I’d be spending the weekend in. I lowered the volume on the audiobook as I rolled to a stop, the incessant crunching of the gravel finally silent. With the windows down, I could hear birds chirping, and leaves rustling, and not much else. No highway noises or loud planes overhead. It was heaven.

  The cabin’s covered front porch had two old rocking chairs, and a set of wind chimes that tinkl
ed with the light breeze. Beyond the porch was a teal colored front door flanked by two large bay windows. The trees surrounding the small home were full of bright green leaves; the ground coated with a thick blanket of old pine needles. The breeze brought the rich scent of the forest with it, and I inhaled with a satisfied smile.

  I grabbed my things, and made my way to the front door, finding the lockbox on the door handle as Mabel had promised. With a wry smile, I spun the dials, and removed the key from its depths.

  Once inside, I found the downstairs was one large room, with a kitchen area off to the side opposite the living room. A beat up, but comfortable looking sofa sat in front of a fireplace of interlocking river rocks. A polished, wooden staircase led to the loft above.

  The bedroom upstairs wasn’t large, but plenty big enough for me. A queen sized bed with crisp white sheets, and a mountain of pillows dominated the center of the space. Behind it was a wall of windows, the view breathtaking. The Blue Ridge Mountains rose in the distance, the navy, cobalt, and cerulean peaks stretching toward the clear sky above.

  I was dying for a good hike, so I dug out my camera, looping the strap around my neck, and tucked my phone in my back pocket.

  It almost immediately chirped, and I begrudgingly pulled it out. The office was calling.

  “Hell no,” I muttered.

  When the call went to voicemail, I turned it off, and stuffed it back in my pocket.

  “Outta’ sight, outta’ mind,” I proclaimed to the dense forest ahead of me.

  After just a few minutes of walking, I took a look over my shoulder. The cabin was completely obscured by the thick trees. Thankfully there was only one trail, and it would be easy enough to follow back when I was done.

  A bright yellow bird flew overhead and landed on a branch nearby. I quietly picked up my camera and snapped a picture. The lighting was too dim this deep in the woods, and the bird’s bright colors weren’t showing up like I wanted them to. I turned the flash on, and tried to take another shot, but the bird was gone. In its place was a large black raven. Some think they're bad omens, but I don't believe in superstitions, so I took its picture too.

  I lost track of time as I walked along the trail, admiring the flora, and taking pictures of anything I found interesting. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon a small blooming meadow at the end of the trail that I realized how late it had gotten. The sun was falling behind the tall trees, and I knew it was time for me to get back before I got stuck out here in the dark.