Finding Shadow BOOK ONE
More than friends

He was back again. Every evening, the same as always, Shadow would pop his head in the door, treating Isabella to that cheeky grin and presenting her with the same flowers, wildflowers picked from their hideaway.

It was still strange to see him all grown up, it seemed like only yesterday that she was telling on her latest bully, making Shadow go over and tell them off, but in reality, that was years ago.

And damn, did he grow up! Today he strolled in wearing a tight blue t-shirt, his bulging muscles threatening to split the seams as they flexed underneath his skin, and Isabella felt herself starting to get a little hot under the collar. What was wrong with her?

Black basketball shorts hung low on his hips, and Bella could see the faint outline of his six-pack as he sauntered towards her, making her insides quiver in awareness. What's going on right now? She thought frantically, quickly looking away before he could see her staring at him.

"It's okay; I don't mind, you know."

Shocked at his bold statement, Isabella's eyes flew to his, and damned if she didn't see the same lust swirling in his steely depths.

Shadow sat down on the seat next to her bed, the same seat he had occupied every day since she was admitted, and took one of Bella's small hands in his. Immediately tingles shot up her arms, and she gasped, but when she tried to pull away, he just held on a little tighter and started speaking.

"I know you can't remember," He began, the timbre of his voice growing husky with suppressed emotion, "And I'm trying hard to be patient, even though my wolf is driving me crazy, but before you hit your head, Izzy, we had just found out we were mates."

Shadow ran his free hand through his hair, pulling it a little as he considered how much he should tell her; today had been such a great day for him. His pack had really given it their all building the new home for their family. In a few days at this pace, the house would be completed, and he wanted nothing more than to start his life with his mate.

But pushing her too hard might push her memories further into that mind of hers, and he couldn't do that to either of them. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Her small hand relaxed in his own, and to Shadow's surprise, she covered his hand with her other one, a gesture they used to do as children when one of them needed comfort.

"I do feel something between us."Isabella confessed, "But I'm confused Shadow, there is a huge part of my life missing, things that I need to remember before I can allow myself to explore what we have any further, and it's killing me not being able to recall little details. I feel like I'm in a bizarre dream, and soon I'm going to wake up, and everything is going to be different again."

The sound of the clock ticking on the wall was the only thing making any noise as the two fated mates looked deeply at each other, and Shadow nodded slowly, telling her without words that he understood, before he opened up his strong arms and Bella crawled into them, where she felt safe again.

It was late when the Mercedes pulled through gates, driving slowly down the winding road that led to the packhouse.

The three occupants were each experiencing different emotions at their return to The Howling Warrior pack.

Raeann looked out the window, watching as the wide-open fields greeted them, a paradise to run through and play chase in the forests beyond; she was happy to be visiting Isabella, the house wasn't the same with both her and Mikhail no longer there, and Dr. Packard was one of the best specialists in werewolf medicine, so the 15-year-old was sure she would learn a lot during her brief placement with the pack clinic. But she couldn't shake the unnerving feeling of being watched as they drew closer to the pack boundaries.

The feeling had increased tenfold since they entered the gates to the inner territory, but despite looking around intently, Raeann could see nothing out of place.

That wasn't the only reason she was uneasy, though, and as always, when Raeann was nervous, she would play with her hands, a psychological attempt at offering herself comfort, the young woman thought.

it would be another two years before she could feel her own wolf and speak to her, but lately, there had been this stirring deep inside, awaking of sorts, that had her even more worried. Sighing, she resigned herself to last moments of quietness, alone with her thoughts.

Maria watched from beneath lowered lashes as her mate drove the final kilometer into the heart of pack territory and found her lips thinning in anger before she wrestled back control from her wolf. Not now, Tempest she warned, schooling her features back into that of a doting mate.

Santos thought she was stupid, but she was far from it; for years Maria had played the part of Beta female and mother to her beautiful pups, but deep inside a frenzied rage was building, her wolf feeding the flames with memories of her mate.

Being back here, in this pack bought everything back for the proud mother. Her best friend and her mate, they thought they were so clever.

But the stolen looks and secret smiles told their story long before the telling mix of both their scents betrayed the lovers.

Santos had clearly forgotten who Maria was before they found each other, and the sacrifice she made to support him in his career, giving up on her own promising path as the Alpha's lead tracker.

Maria's keen sense of smell was legendary. The Royal pack had even offered her a place amongst their ranks before she found Santos, but like a fool, she had chosen love instead.

The first time Santos and Abigail had crossed the line fully, having sex, their scents had mingled and both scents changed ever so slightly; not noticeable to the average wolf but to a tracker like Maria, it was like a red rag to a bull.

If it hadn't been for Abigail's rank as the Alpha female of the pack, Maria would have challenged her and broken the mate bond with Santos, but wanting to make sure her pups had security and a good life, she kept silent.

It was a gift from the Goddess, the day Dr. Packard left his computer unattended, and a few alterations later thanks to Maria's quick fingers, Abigail's paternity test showed that her pup was Tarakona's.

Santos would never know the truth, in a freak series of favorable timings, Abigail had received the tampered results, right before the rogue attack that wound up ending her whorish life, and Maria's mate would never know that he had lost a son that day as well.

Santos felt a sense of satisfaction as he slowed the car to a halt; there she was, waiting in front of the packhouse for them, his eldest daughter.

It was good to be back home.

Opening his door, like a good Beta, Camille greeted them formally.

"Beta Santos, Maria, and Raeann welcome to the Howling Warrior pack, my name is Beta Camille Menendez. I'm afraid Alpha Shadow is tending to your daughter at the moment so I am here in his stead to show you to your rooms, I trust you'll find them comfortable?"

Santos could feel the pride in his chest at the sight of Camille taking control. She was perfect in the Beta role and he was sure she would understand why she needed to stay there once he explained his plan to her, but first, he would need to rest.

It was a long drive and to execute this hostile takeover he was going to need to be at the top of his game, ready to assume his rightful role, as Alpha of the Howling Warrior pack.

Her parents had gone straight to bed, in the room adjacent to her own, but Raeann couldn't sleep.

The room was comfortable, perks of being on the Beta wing she supposed, and it was the bed was certainly inviting, but she couldn't shake that uncomfortable feeling of being watched.

Knowing that the best way to get rid of her paranoia was to face it head-on, she decided to kill two birds with one stone and take a trip down memory lane with a brisk night walk.

The air was crisp and pleasant, with the sweet smell of spring water dancing in the balmy breeze, and Raeann enjoyed hearing the crunch of leaves underfoot as she walked along the silent streets; she passed a few wolves heading to or coming back from border patrol along the way and realized it must be time for the changing of the guards. But they just left her alone, smiling in greeting as they passed or dipping their heads in acknowledgment as the stragglers running late hurried to their posts. And Raeann found herself starting to relax at last.

She was barely eight when they had left this pack and her memories at best were faded, but the feelings she got were all good ones.

Gamma Michael's house still stood out on the corner by the dairy, with its bright purple door and the monstrous dragon letterbox proudly guarding the fence line. Raeann seemed to recall being dared once or twice to put her hand in the dragon's "mouth" and she giggled at the childish memory.

Her feet guided themselves on their own journey of rediscovery and before she knew it Raeann was standing outside a house, with a large stooped porch, and a big front yard fenced off with a white picket fence. Counting the palings until she came to the fifteenth one, she traced her fingers along the initials carved into the wood 'RR' Raeann Romano, she had returned to her family home.

It stood vacant now, but the young girl could see that someone had kept up the maintenance to the house and yard, the lawns were nicely mowed, and the house itself looked clean. It seemed a shame that there wasn't a family enjoying Summer in the creek out the back, or playing tag in the front yard while the parents snoozed in the late Summer sun.

"Or maybe the house was just waiting for you to come home?"

A teasing voice whispered in her ear."Aaaargh!" Raeann screamed, jumping up and spinning around, but no one was there.

"Or perhaps I am but you aren't looking with the right sight." The voice whispered again, this time in her other ear.

'That's it, I have officially lost my marbles,' Raeann thought as she prepared to run back to the safety of the packhouse, only when she tried, her legs wouldn't move.

Panicking now, she tried to yell for help, but her mouth wouldn't open 'Oh my Goddess, what's happening to me?'

A beautiful gold mist swirled in front of Raeann's eyes and when it subsided in its place stood a slender young man, with bright purple hair.

His golden eyes were brimming with mirth at her obvious shock, and his voice was filled with laughter as he spoke.

"Please allow me to introduce myself, I am sorry I scared you by the way but I couldn't resist, my name is Valenar, apprentice wizard of the Black crow coven, and I have been waiting for you forever."

Raeann always thought she was a level-headed, practical girl, so when she fainted, it was a surprise to both of them.

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