Shadows and Stars Read online

  SHADOWS AND STARS

  A LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION OF SCI-FI ROMANCE AND PARANORMAL ROMANCE NOVELS

  CONTENTS

  BECCA FANNING

  West Virginia Wild Bear

  EDEN ASHE

  Ever Mine

  LEILANI LOVE

  Violca’s Vow

  EVA WINTERS

  Winter’s Revelation

  CATE FARREN

  Paranormal Town

  LAURA GREENWOOD & ARIZONA TAPE

  Half Soul

  KIERSTEN FAY

  Racing Hearts

  TIGRIS EDEN

  In the Cover of Night

  CYNDI FARIA

  Spirit Awakened

  PEPPER MCGRAW

  Shifter Shenanigans

  ANGELA SANDERS

  Touched by a Vampire

  RACHEL RAWLINGS

  Soul To Keep

  CATHERINE BANKS

  Lynxed

  GINA WYNN

  Two by Two

  MIRANDA LYNN

  Jerome

  Shadows and Stars is a Multi-Author Bundle, Copyright © 2018 by Carter and Bradley Publishing.

  All individual titles copyrighted by the individual authors. Published April 2018 by Carter and Bradly Publishing.

  Cover Art Design 2018 by Rebecca Frank

  All rights reserved.

  Ebook Edition.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  SHADOWS AND STARS

  Destiny is fated unless you have the power to change it.

  Cursed or gifted, these heroes will need much more than enchantments, wits, and skillful fighting to defeat their equally crafty villains.

  Dive into these 15 action-packed stories where supernatural adventure meets conjuring danger. From fated mates to fated stars, the bonds that form are tested to their limits.

  Discover magic, love, and passion, in the Shadows and Stars paranormal & sci-fi romance collection today!

  WEST VIRGINIA WILD BEAR

  BECCA FANNING

  West Virginia Wild Bear © 2018 Becca Fanning

  * * *

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  WEST VIRGINIA WILD BEAR

  A woman lost. A bear shifter on the prowl. A murderer on the loose. How will these worlds collide?

  Heather took the West Virginia Turnpike even though her family had warned her against it. But she didn’t care. She didn’t care about them or what they thought any longer. Having left home after she caught her fiancé with her sister, Heather is making her way to Boston to start her life over and forget herself in her work in order to forget her past. But as he car accelerates up a turn, her rage and anger bubbling over, she soon realizes that the brakes are no longer working. The thought of jumping doesn’t scare her, so done with what her life had brought her. She jumps from the car as it continues to accelerate up and over the edge.

  Trent was in the woods again, trying to track down any signs of who, or what, had murdered the hiker in the woods. But with the hiker’s body strewn all over the forest, it was hard to get a good scent of the killer. But what Trent did see was a car flying off the edge of the road, the driver leaping right before it went over the side. Together with his sister, the make their way down to the road right as the ambulance arrives. But all it takes is one look at the woman to know that she is going to live, the sight of her drawing Trent closer, making him want to know more about her.

  Heather wakes to the sound of growling, seeing a strange man in her hospital room. She is soon introduced to Trent, a local Bear who lives just outside of town with his family. His sister eventually makes a visit to Heather, offering her a place to stay till she can figure things out and find a way to make it to Boston. But the more time she spends with Trent and his family, the more she is liking the small town life. Even more so when Trent admits that there is a strong connection between them that he cannot deny any longer. But if they are going to be together, then he’ll have to figure out who is killing innocent people in the woods and trying to make it look like Trent is behind all the killings.

  ONE

  HE HAD DENIED himself for so long; to the point where he had bordered on reckless. Blood coursed through his body when he had finally spotted his prey. He had never hunted a human before. There was something primal about it, more primal than hunting other animals. The thrill of the chase.

  The man’s breathing was loud and harsh as it rushed in and out of his tired lungs. He wasn’t in good shape at all. What a waste to hunt a man who could barely keep up a jog pace. The man had known it was the end when he first spotted the creature. It was like he had given up from the beginning. He had run though. Best of all he had that intoxicating smell of fear.

  Finally, when all four paws came together on the ground, it was time for the kill. He had grown tired of the chase quickly, though. With one swift push from his powerful paws, he knocked the man down. He could still hear the screams echo through his mind. It calmed him even now.

  After the kill he felt satisfied. It would only be temporary though. The thoughts and anxiety were still there. Hidden somewhere deep inside, waiting to surface. He’d be back. The Shifter would find a way out.

  He would be better prepared for the dead body this time. He had panicked briefly after the kill and tried to drag it somewhere to dump it. He thought to dig a hole quickly, but it would have never been deep enough to keep the varmints at bay. Finally, he had settled on simply letting them find him‒ bits and pieces of him scattered throughout the woods. Let them assume it was a wild animal. Let them think they can hunt him.

  With the thoughts on the kill on his mind, he started to crave that smell once again; the smell of the fear of imminent death. Those woods would call him back soon enough. Maybe nobody would be there when he returned. Save yourselves he wanted to say, but it wouldn’t matter if he would find another prey to chase. For now, he relished the silence and the calm and drifted into darkness.

  TWO

  HEATHER GRIPPED her steering wheel as her Mustang hugged another turn up the West Virginia Turnpike. Everybody told her not to take the turnpike, so it seemed like the best place to start her new view on life. She was sick of doing everything for everybody. Being at everybody’s disposal all the time, but when she needed an extra hand there was never one to be found.

  The only thing it had gotten her in the past 27 years was a broken heart, shattered family and a very long road trip halfway across the county. She turned the music up louder. The louder the mus
ic got the better she sounded as she sang along with the words. It felt good to sing at the top of her lungs. Just like it felt good to take the stupid turnpike that everyone warned her against.

  It was a beautiful drive. Much more so than the countless cities she had passed since she left Dallas, Texas. They were all the same. Big buildings, traffic jams and a lot of people who always seemed pissed off. Why did they continue to live that life? If she were being honest with herself, it wasn’t long ago that she was one of them. She would probably still be too had she not popped in on her unsuspecting fiancé.

  Thank goodness she had a key. If she had knocked, he probably would have had time to toss her sister under the bed or something.

  Her sister.

  Her sister!

  Heather’s grip on the steering wheel was painfully tight now. She tried to take nice deep breaths like her psychiatrist told her. That just frustrated her more. He cheated and somehow she was the one who ended up being told to go to a shrink.

  Her Mustang picked up speed, hanging tight around another curve. It never showed any restraint as she started up another hill. This turnpike was like a sexy woman; all curves and uphill work.

  Maybe that’s why Brian had ended up with her sister. Heather glanced down at herself. She wasn’t an ugly duckling by any means, but she wasn’t sexy. Mandy on the other hand was all sex appeal. Heather got the brains and Mandy got the big boobs, blonde hair and perfect ass.

  Heather hated her; much to her parent’s disapproval. There were way too many appearances to uphold to let a little thing like sleeping with your sister’s fiancé get in the way. What would the neighbors think?

  Heather didn’t give a damn what they thought. She thought it was the worst betrayal of her life.

  She pushed the gas down, urging the car faster up the hill, tighter around the curves.

  Deep breaths, nice deep breaths. There was a new life waiting for her now in Boston. Hopefully she’d find a tall, dark and handsome man waiting for her. One who, when she decided to speak to her family again, would make their heads spin.

  The car jumped as she hit a small hole in the road. She realized she was going almost 85 miles per hour. Just as she went to let off the gas, her car jumped again. Between the impossible incline, the small holes in the road throwing her tire and her ridiculous speed, it was all up to the laws of physics now.

  She tried hitting the breaks but it was no use as the pressure seemed to sever the old brake lines completely. Heather caught a glimpse of the ravine she had been following a couple miles back. Needless to say at this point, at her incline, it had to be deadly.

  With one more frustrating breath, she threw off her seatbelt and flung herself out of the car as it continued to speed forward. It felt like she was flying. The air drained from her lungs and her limbs all seemed suspended in air. Then she hit the pavement and her world turned dark. She didn’t mind the dark really. She accepted it.

  THREE

  “HOLY SHIT! DID YOU SEE THAT?” Trent yelled to his sister as he started making his way down towards the interstate.

  “I wouldn’t rush if I were you. I don’t think you’re going to find her alive. What was she thinking coming up Kidder Hill like that?”

  Trent ignored his sister as he focused on keeping his footing going down the hill. They had been out in the woods scouting for the rest of a dead body when they heard the sound of screeching tires. It wasn’t unusual for people to lose control on Kidder Hill. The state road refused to fix the potholes that littered their way up the steepest incline on the whole turnpike. Those potholes were just big enough to throw a small vehicle off track.

  This woman must have had a death wish. His sister was probably right; they’d be looking for what was left of her. What a shitty day. First a hunter was found dead, his body parts scattered all over the country side, and now this crazy woman driver.

  He let his bear senses take over enough that he could hear her heartbeat. It was steady, which was surprising. Her breathing sounded terrible though. She probably punctured a lung or at least broke a rib. Damn woman was lucky to be alive at all, even if she was all beat to hell.

  He skidded the rest of the way down the hill and crossed the now standstill interstate to the woman. People were skittishly pacing outside of their cars wondering what to do. Trent accessed her with his heightened senses as best as he could and figured there wasn’t really much to be done. Just simply wait for the paramedics to come.

  “Well, another notch on Kidder Hill’s belt, I guess,” his sister said as she crouched down next to him.

  “I think she has a broken rib or something. Her breathing sounds labored. Think you could find any identification or anything in her car?” Just as Trent spoke, a squad’s siren blasted through the ravine. They jumped out and immediately went to work tossing medical lingo back and forth while they worked.

  Once they had the woman loaded and headed back up the hill with her, Trent took off back in the woods. For some reason, he was headed to the hospital. Maybe it was just instinctual since she was seemingly alone, but he was drawn to her. He wanted to make sure he was the one next to her when she woke up.

  His sister never said a word as they kept a clipped pace back through the woods. They weren’t having much luck on their tracking expo anyway. Whatever, whoever, had killed that man had been gone for a while and the scent wasn’t strong enough.

  Acer, West Virginia was a tiny town. Evens so, a homicide of this proportion terrified the community. To simply be killed in the woods is one thing, but then to have the body parts spread out? Trent couldn’t understand the reason for it. He was part bear though, so trying to rationalize with human methods didn’t always work.

  They finally reached his parents cabin after a long walk from the turnpike. Trent ran inside long enough to grab his billfold and change his clothes. He jumped in his beat up old Chevy truck and raced to the hospital. The urgency he felt to get next to her side was a little alarming still. He was just thankful his sister or parents didn’t ask questions so he could leave easily.

  One good thing about Acer was it was too small to have much more than just a tiny hospital. There really wasn’t much to the town. They didn’t have any fancy fast food joints or chain restaurants. Just a few locally owned places that were just for necessities like groceries, medicine and one local diner. It was the epitome of small town, USA.

  Trent made his way to the emergency room part of the hospital. He had no idea what the woman’s name was or why he was even there, but he kept going all the same.

  “Hello, Tess. I was on Kidder Hill when the lady jumped from her car. I was wondering what the word was on her?”

  “Hey, Trent! It’s good to see you. They haven’t been back there very long and I really can’t say even if they did, seeing as how you’re not next of kin or nothing.”

  Tess had a lifelong crush on Trent and apparently was using this as an opportunity for leverage. She was a sweet girl, but she couldn’t understand that in his world if you weren’t true mates there was no point in dating. He could play this little game with her though if it meant getting info on the woman.

  “Tess, don’t be sour with me. I’m just concerned since she was all alone and thought she may want to hear what happened when she wakes up.”

  “Well, aren’t you a sweetie pie.” The sarcasm dripped from her words.

  “Fine, Tess. What will it take for me to have access to the woman?”

  “You know what I want. It’s been the same thing for the past fifteen years.”

  “Okay. We’ll go on a date. One date.”

  Tess bounced up and down in her seat and squealed.

  “Trent, I promise you after our date you’ll see what I’ve known this whole time. We really are meant to be.”

  Trent rolled his eyes. He would have to remember to pregame a little harder before that date if he was going to make it through dinner.

  “Okay, now your turn. The lady?”

  “Don’t get
too attached to this mystery lady, we have a deal. She’s being admitted now. The attending is running X-rays to check for any broke bones. She has a bruised rib and several nasty road burns. She’s also scheduled for a CAT scan later as well. All and all though, she’s doing pretty well for having flung herself from her car at that speed. They said she was going close to 100 before it crashed.”

  “Thank you. Is she awake?”

  Tess clicked several more times on her computer screen before answering.

  “No, she’s still out.”

  Trent looked at Tess knowingly. She knew what he was going to ask next, but she was trying to play dumb.

  “Tess.”

  “Oh, alright. I’ll add you on the visitors list. She’s in trauma room three. They’ll buzz you in down the hall.”

  “Thank you. You can be sweet when you want to,” he said as he was rushed down the hall.