The Wolf's Bride (Shifters Unleashed Book 1) Read online

  THE WOLF’S BRIDE

  Natalie Aejaz

  Copyright 2019 Natalie Aejaz

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, 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, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  BOOKS BY NATALIE AEJAZ

  CHAPTER ONE - HELA

  CHAPTER TWO - HELA

  CHAPTER ONE

  * * *

  LEANNE HAD DREAMED OF HER WEDDING since she was a little girl, and her big day was finally here.

  I can’t believe it.

  Posing in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom, she admired her transformation as her best friend Beth went crazy taking photos with her mobile. Those weeks spent trawling shops for the perfect wedding dress had been more than worth it. The long white skirt was a dream, skimming over her hips and flowing to the floor, reminding Leanne of the princesses in the fairy tales she loved as a child. She shifted to look at her reflection from a different angle. The laced-up bodice? Still a bit tight, but buying a dress two sizes small had not pushed her into achieving those weight loss goals; she was never going to lose the last few pounds, but the bodice did show off a hell of a cleavage, so that was something. The makeup artist was a downright genius, making her brown eyes stand out and emphasizing the fullness of her lips. Leanne twisted to look over her shoulder, lifting the delicate bridal veil so she could admire how her dark hair had been lined with pearls and styled in a braided chignon that was a far cry from her usual plain old ponytail.

  Today she was … beautiful. But would Dave think so?

  She glanced out of the window. Early this morning it looked like it would be a lovely summer’s day, but now rain was on the way. Damn! The weather would not hold up much longer and there was also the good old London traffic to contend with, so she grabbed her beaded purse from the dressing table and turned to Beth, whose slim figure carried off that strapless pink gown to perfection. “Time to get moving, babe.” They both left Leanne’s apartment and hurried down the communal stairs to the ground floor, pausing at the entrance of the building. Leanne drew a deep breath at the sight of the plush Mercedes waiting at the end of the path, nerves fluttering inside her stomach. She kissed her friend. “I’ll pick dad up and see you at the church. Don’t forget—”

  “I won’t forget your suitcase and travel bag.” Beth flung her brown hair back, green eyes wide in mock horror. “As if I would dare.”

  This was it. Dave and she would spend tonight in the hotel where the reception was to be held, and tomorrow morning leave for the honeymoon in Spain—as Mr. and Mrs. Henderson. It was going to rain any minute now, but as she left Beth at the entrance of the building and rushed to the car, skirt lifted high, even that prospect did not dampen her spirits. As long as she reached the church before it poured it down, that was the main thing. The chauffeur stepped out of the Mercedes to open the door, dressed in a black two-piece suit, and she registered a tall and muscle-packed frame as she placed one foot inside the vehicle. At his sharp intake of breath she looked up, into ice-blue eyes that sent a jolt straight to her core, making her pause with her other foot on the pavement. Damn, he was handsome. Thick dark hair, somewhere between brown and black, a strong jaw underneath that designer stubble, and a face with perfect angles as if drawn by an artist. And the intensity of his gaze pulled her … He was also still, jaw taut and eyes locked on hers, the tension between them growing with each moment.

  “Leanne!” Beth’s voice hit her like a glass of cold water, pulling her back to reality. “Get into the freakin’ car! Or else it’ll be raining by the time you reach there.”

  Flustered, she gathered her long skirt. As she got into the Mercedes, she held the door for support and her fingers brushed his, making her jump. He froze for a moment, his expression making it clear he also felt the spark that had passed between them. Closing the door behind her, he returned to the driver’s seat; when he shut them both inside, the spacious interior suddenly seemed tiny, her goddamn heart beating out of control. What was wrong with her? After a six-year relationship, Dave had popped the question she had been waiting for—yet here she was, leaving for the wedding of her dreams and unnerved by her proximity to this stranger, shaken by her reaction to him. She glanced at the rear-view mirror and when their eyes met, could not look away, a surge of heat rushing between her legs.

  Her phone rang, and she dragged her gaze from his, a mixture of relief and regret churning inside her. “I need to collect dad and get to the church,” she mumbled, lifting a finger to point ahead, as if he did not know where the bloody road was. As he used the snazzy push-button feature to start the engine, she took her mobile out of her purse. It was her mum Margaret, who had been at the church hours ago to make sure the arrangements were perfect. As usual, she was frantic about everything happening on time, expecting last-minute emergencies. “Of course I’m in the car, mum. Where else would I be? Yes, I’m going to pick up dad and we’ll be there soon.” She tried to shift her focus to the conversation, but it was impossible to ignore the chauffeur’s presence or the tension crackling inside the luxury vehicle.

  “Be quick, dear,” said mum. “Dave will be here shortly. You cannot have him waiting.” Leanne had struggled nonstop with weight and self-esteem issues since her early teens, and mum was still in shock that she had nabbed a successful accountant like Dave, who for sure was going to be a partner in his firm one day. “Where’s Beth?”

  “Picking up our friends in her car and then she’ll be there.”

  “At least the rest of your bridesmaids are here. Valerie is blooming. I always knew pregnancy would suit her.” Whereas Leanne would no doubt resemble a bloated balloon in the same scenario. Her perfect older sister Val was tall and slim, married to a stockbroker, and a picture of elegance even when nearly nine-months pregnant. Leanne just hoped her sister would not go into labor at her wedding. That would be just like Val, taking the attention for herself. “I hope you appreciate how lucky you are,” mum added. “You need to take good care of Dave, keep him happy. If this does not work out, you will not find anyone else like him. You know that, don’t you, dear?”

  Thanks, mum. As if she needed reminding that she would hit thirty soon and, according to her mother, become an even more undesirable prospect for many men.

  She returned her mobile to the purse, deciding to look at anything but the chauffeur. But as he drove her gaze kept returning to the back of him, taking in his dark hair, muscular frame and lar
ge hands, so in control on the steering wheel. He shifted his body as he turned a corner, his shoulder muscles moving sinuously under that fitted jacket and giving a preview of what lay underneath; sending her imagination into overdrive. Dave had been her first serious relationship and sometimes she could not help wondering if she had missed out ... no, she was being an idiot. Mum was right; she could not do any better than Dave. Okay, so she had not experienced the sexual adventures Beth had to boast of, but that was not what life was about.

  Dave was a kind man, and attractive enough with his dark brown hair, green eyes and above-average height—sure, he might not have the magnetism of the chauffeur, but that was not important. Her Dave was committed, which was the main thing. And for a woman less than stunning? Enough to be grateful for. He had already hinted at having children and she was more than ready, especially now he was being promoted to senior accountant in his firm’s Manchester-based office. He had a few months to move to Manchester and start the job but had decided to take up the position soon, which meant it was time to say goodbye to her role as an editor cum writer at a popular online portal, The Alternative, which specialized in all news bizarre.

  It was the right choice, but she was leaving just as things were getting really interesting. Over the last few months she had published countless articles about shapeshifters, creatures with the ability to change between the forms of beast and human. The reports were pure fantasy—like most news on the portal—but with enough witnesses and fans to call for publication. The increased number of apparent shifter sightings around England had provided her with plenty of material, the stories attracting so many clicks that a few weeks ago her boss put her in charge of her own online media campaign, focused on all things shapeshifting. It meant a lot of fun and games, like the ridiculous witness account she received a few days back: “I swear I saw this man turn into a giant creature, over ten feet. Its eyes glowed, in a weird color.” This project had been her favorite since joining The Alternative nearly two years ago and it was a shame she would let go of it soon, because after the honeymoon she was speaking to her boss about handing in her notice.

  The chauffeur stopped the car at a red traffic light and when she looked at the rear-view mirror, her eyes met his again. Her insides slowly heated, mind going out of control as she imagined exploring the body that lay under that smart suit, until she could practically feel his hard muscles as they rippled underneath her fingers … and lips. She forced her gaze to the window instead. Her response to him was because of last-minute nerves, that was the only explanation. She was a woman of average aspirations; sensible men and commitment had always been her thing. Any attraction to this stranger was nothing more than a case of self-sabotage.

  Dave was the one for her.

  REX HAD BEEN BEYOND PISSED at having to play chauffeur for a wedding. As he stopped the Mercedes outside the apartment building, in a West London area best described as a transition point between shitty and up-and-coming neighborhoods, all he cared about was how soon he could get the hell out of this situation. Until he saw the bride, Leanne. As she ran to the car her laughing face displayed a joy he had not felt in years, and her eyes shone with excitement, pulling at some primal need buried deep inside him.

  What was it about her?

  As he waited at the red traffic lights, her reflection in the rear-view mirror captured his attention. She stared out of the window, at nothing in particular. A tendril of her dark hair escaped to flutter around shining brown eyes; and when she suddenly smiled, it lit a spark inside him. He wanted her, but she was about to marry someone else. That thought raged through his veins, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel, a heaviness in his head. Fuck, the change was coming. As his nails grew into claws, he closed his eyes and took a few long breaths to calm down before fangs pushed through in his mouth. I have to control my beast. He inhaled again, deep, using relaxation techniques practiced for years. Relief spread through him as his claws retracted, back to the length of human nails.

  Damn it, how could he have been so careless? At a time when his kind, which had spent centuries hiding from humans, was facing a new threat? For months, reported shifter sightings had appeared on that online site, The Alternative, drawing attention to them. The portal had even created web forums dedicated to shifter fans, as the obsessed followers of the stories called themselves. Those idiots spent hours hanging out in random places, watching out for people displaying animal characteristics. The subject was not taken seriously by most of the public yet, but how long before the government took an interest? The Global Council for Beasts, GCB, had put out several warnings for shapeshifters to be even more cautious than usual. As the Representative of the London arm of the Council, which supported the interests of shifter beasts worldwide, he should know better than to lose his cool in front of a human.

  Luckily, the bride had not noticed his claws or panic, still too busy staring out of the window. Dreaming about her wedding? And why did it piss him off if she was, when he was just supposed to get her to the church and then get the hell out of here? He should not even be here. He ran his own investment firm and had taken the morning off to deal with GCB issues, only to be forced into this bloody situation to cover the job for a good friend, a shapeshifting panther who worked as a chauffeur. After contacting practically everyone he knew, the shifter phoned on the second mobile—the one Rex only used for Council matters—calling in an old favor. He planned to throttle the chauffeur later for using that number, but in the meantime was helping out because he owed his friend. If the idiotic panther had called him first, there would have been time to find someone else to do the job; in any case, he was not sticking around for long as he had lined someone up to take over the Mercedes at the church. In less than half an hour he would be back to GCB business, doing what he did best—look after the interests of shifters.

  Finally, she glanced at the mirror again, but their eyes met only for a moment because she quickly looked down at her clenched hands. She had taken his breath away as she ran toward the Mercedes, an angel in that beautiful dress. And as she got into the vehicle, the contact with her eyes stunned him. Fuck, when she flashed a finger at him he was almost overwhelmed by the urge to catch it and pull her closer; explore her hands and arms, those bare shoulders. Every luscious part of her. I want her. So why was he behaving like a bloody craven and driving her to be someone else’s bride? He breathed in deep, trying to keep a hold on his resentment, control the beast that struggled for release. What was he doing, fantasizing about someone else’s bride like some adolescent? He forced his attention to his meeting with the GCB media team instead, which was taking place in two hours to decide whether the Council should put out its own communication to counter potential effects of The Alternative’s interest in shifters. He needed to focus on that, not her. He had worked hard as a Council member for years before being elected to his current position, and as a Representative his responsibility was to ensure the welfare of beasts, above all else. He would never compromise the safety of his kind.

  Not for a female—a human one, at that.

  CHAPTER TWO

  * * *

  THE CHAUFFEUR WAS SILENT, had been since they got into the car. And it suddenly hit Leanne that she had not heard him speak or seen him smile. His voice was probably low and deep, the kind that would make any red-blooded woman weak at the knees … What did it matter, anyway? After today, she would never see him again. And no, she was not bloody disappointed at that thought.

  Her mobile rang again. Dave’s name flashed across the screen, making her smile.

  “Hello? Leanne?”

  “I’ll be there soon, Dave.” He could be so impatient sometimes. “I’m nearly at dad’s place and from there it’s just a few minutes.”

  “I’m not at the church.”

  Late? “As long as you’re there before me. You do know it’s rude to keep the bride waiting?”

  “I’m not coming.” Had something happened? An accident? D
ear God, please no ... “Are you all right, Dave? What’s—”

  “I can’t marry you, Leanne.”

  “Can’t … what?” Was she hearing things? “Dave? We’ll talk properly at the church—”

  “I already said I’m not coming.” Lips trembling, she struggled to hold back tears that would spoil her beautiful makeup. Six years. Of course he was going to come. “I’ve wanted out for a while but felt stuck. This wedding … it was only to make you happy—and because of the bloody pressure from your mum.”

  Not true. “You wanted this,” she reminded him. “More than anything. That’s what you said the day you put a ring on my finger.”

  A pause. “I thought this was what I wanted, but I’m not ready for the whole marriage and kids thing, not yet.”

  “Please, Dave, don’t do this. Everyone’s waiting at the church …” The chauffeur glanced at her in the rearview mirror, jaw tight. “Let’s talk things through. Whatever it takes, I’ll make you happy.”

  “Sorry, Leanne. It’s over.”

  “Dave!”

  REX SLOWED THE CAR until it stopped. The silence stretched, becoming more unbearable.

  He glanced at Leanne, increasingly concerned for her as she just stared out of the window, her expression even more pained as rain began to fall—a light drizzle at first and then faster, until the pedestrians walking past were forced to pull out umbrellas. It was difficult to believe her laughter had taken his breath away as she rushed to the car less than half an hour ago. He wanted to kill the bastard who had hurt her but right now, she needed to be cared for.

  He spoke after some time. “Where should I take you?”

  Her expression was confused, as if she had forgotten about him. The thought cut deep. Eventually, a response. “I don’t want to see anyone.” Her mobile rang again, and she hesitated before answering. “Beth?” Now in tears, she talked between her sobs. Rex took a few breaths and closed his eyes, knowing the glow was there. I have to bloody relax. But her misery was putting him on edge, making his beast clamor to come forward and hunt the prick who had done this to her. “Dave’s not coming,” she cried. “He doesn’t want to get married.” A barrage of expletives was released on the other side, easy for him to decipher with his superior hearing. Whoever this Beth was, she was sound. “No, don’t give the phone to mum … I don’t want to talk to anyone, just need to be on my own. Don’t come to the apartment because mum will be there straight after you.”