Pack Beta (Were Chronicles Book 11) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Legal Page

  Title Page

  Book Description

  Dedication

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  New Excerpt

  About the Author

  Publisher Page

  A Totally Bound Publication

  Pack Beta

  ISBN # 978-1-78430-296-2

  ©Copyright Crissy Smith 2014

  Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright October 2014

  Edited by Faith Bicknell-Brown

  Totally Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

  Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

  Warning:

  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 1.

  Were Chronicles

  PACK BETA

  Crissy Smith

  Book eleven in the Were Chronicles series

  Thrown into an attempted kidnapping and a shooting, Pack Beta Chase Lawson will do anything to protect his Pack. The hunted has now become the hunter.

  As Pack Beta, Chase Lawson loves his position and the time he gets to spend helping others. Always the problem-solver, Chase tries to keep the Pack running smoothly for his Alpha. A request to check on one of the older members in the heart of the Canyon leads to a man shot and bleeding on his porch—and Chase ducking for cover.

  Someone is hunting Chase’s fellow members. Chase might not be the biggest or the toughest of all the shifters but he’s determined to find who is responsible for the crime.

  The last twelve hours have had Kayla Webb running from an attempted kidnapping. She returns to Canyon, Texas after her father is shot. At the hospital, Kayla and friends walk into a mystery—a secret her father’s kept from her and the entire Pack—and it has come back to haunt them all.

  Unsure who to trust, Kayla teams up with Chase to track down the man who hurt her family.

  The logical, by-the-book Beta and independent, strong-willed female will save everyone but the secrets revealed will send a shock wave through the plains of Texas.

  Dedication

  A big thank you to my Facebook Fan Page members. Your encouragement has helped make each Were Chronicles book possible.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  iPhone: Apple, Inc.

  Styrofoam: The Dow Chemical Company

  Facebook: Facebook, Inc.

  Chapter One

  Kayla Webb raced past another alleyway without slowing down. She could hear her best friend Randy at her heels breathing heavily and fighting to stay with her.

  She wasn’t sure how they’d ended up running for their lives through the deserted streets of Lubbock, Texas. All she was certain of was that they had to get away.

  Ahead she saw what she was looking for. Slowing only slightly, she motioned Randy to the right. Together they made the turn, bringing them to the opening of an old, abandoned building. Kayla slipped through the small gap first before reaching out to grab Randy’s hand.

  Her friend clutched her as they collapsed on the cold, dirty concrete floor.

  “Do you think we lost them?” Randy managed, panting.

  Kayla held up her right hand to have Randy quieten down as she strained to pick up any sound of their pursuers. Taking a chance, she peeked around the opening to look out into the night. “I think so,” she whispered.

  Wiping the sweat from her face as she leaned her head back, Kayla tried to calm her breathing. She wouldn’t have thought she was so out of shape but a chase for over a dozen blocks had her feeling sick. Plus she wasn’t sure she could stand if need be. Her legs shook and her muscles cramped.

  “What the hell was that all about?” Randy asked as he twisted to try to look out into the alley.

  “I don’t know, but they sure know who we are,” she said. “That wasn’t a random mugging. Did you see how they immediately zeroed in on the two of us? How they expected us to run?”

  Leaving a restaurant together, Kayla and Randy had been headed to her truck when three men had stepped out of the shadows and advanced on them.

  Her wolf had sensed the threat, making it difficult to stop from shifting. She’d managed to hold her wolf back and grabbed Randy’s arm, pulling him to a stop. They had been too far from her vehicle. She would have chanced a sprint across the parking lot until she had spotted movement in that direction too.

  Three more men had blocked her and Randy from their escape. They’d had no choice but to run—and run fast.

  There was no way that anyone, even six large men, should have been able to keep up with two shifters. It should have been an easy escape. Instead, Kayla had barely been able to lead Randy to safety.

  If she could call an old building that was about to collapse safe. She’d attended a party—an illegal party—there almost ten years ago. The structure hadn’t been stable then. It was in even worse shape now.

  “We can’t stay here long,” she said.

  “We can’t go back to the restaurant.”

  Randy had a point.

  “I have a friend who lives a couple blocks from here.”

  “We’re in the middle of an industrial zone,” Randy argued.

  “He’s a metal artist,” she explained. “He converted one of these old warehouses into a studio with a loft. If we can get to him, we can at least think about our next move.”

  “Okay, let’s do it.”

  Standing, she reached down to help Randy to his feet. “Is your leg okay?”

  He shrugged. Damn, she hoped he could make it as far as Justin’s place. She would carry him if she had to, but that would slow them way down.

  “I’ll make it,” he said.

  She wanted to hug him, promising that everything was going to be all right, but she couldn’t. Also, just because Randy had an old injury and limped a little didn’t mean he would put up with her coddling him.

  “Stay close,” Kayla warned.

  Stepping through the opening, she paused long enough to insure no one was around. She picked up on the scents of trash, rotted food and vomit. Those were the only smells, though. No humans around.

  As quietly as possible, she crept away from the building. Keeping to the shadows instead of using speed, she hoped their stealth would prevent them from being discovered.
>
  Randy’s presence at her back provided a solid reassurance as they carefully maneuvered in the dark. Justin’s building was part of an area that the city had once tried to bring back to life. The plan had never really gotten off the ground but Justin had told her he was happy about it.

  He enjoyed the privacy of the area. If he was up all night working with a welding machine or other tools, he had no neighbors to worry about disturbing. She didn’t get it herself but she had no reason to judge him.

  As the structures in the area started to become familiar, she found herself calming. If they could just get off the streets, she knew they could regroup as they tried to figure out what was going on.

  Coming up on the backside of Justin’s building, Kayla could have wept with relief. She pressed herself up against the wall, drawing in long, deep breaths. She motioned to Randy to do the same. While Justin didn’t normally like surprise visits, she hoped he would make an exception this one time.

  “Um, my friend can be a little weird sometimes,” she told Randy.

  He snorted. “Well, he is a friend of yours, so that’s to be expected, right?”

  It seemed so strange to smile at a time like this but she found herself grinning over at Randy anyway. “I guess so. I mean, I am friends with you,” she teased.

  “Exactly.”

  Shaking her head, she patted his arm. “We’ll have to make a run for it, just in case the pursuers remained close by. The stairs lead up to the front but it’s three flights. They’re all outside and the door is sturdy metal, solid, so we can’t break in to his place. Keep an eye out.”

  “You got it.”

  Breathing deeply, Kayla mentally counted to three then took off at a full run. She leaped over several steps and rushed up the staircase. Pounding on the door, she prayed that Justin was inside.

  It was early enough that if he was in town, he should still be home.

  Repeatedly beating on the door, she finally sagged in relief when she heard Justin’s cursing coming from the inside.

  He swung the door open, frowning. “What?”

  Instead of answering, she pushed him back into the interior, allowing Randy to slip past her. She slammed the door closed, quickly turning both deadbolts.

  “Kayla? What the fuck is going on?”

  Leaning against the door, she took in Justin’s appearance. He hadn’t shaved, which gave his looks a dangerous edge. His mussed black hair fell around his face, framing the deep frown lines on his forehead. Dressed in only a pair of thin sweats, he looked irritated and suspicious.

  “Hi.” Fuck. That was stupid thing to say. Now that she stood in front of Justin, she was at a loss for words. After all, it wasn’t everyday she raced away from attackers.

  Amusement flittered briefly in his eyes as he pressed his lips together. When he crossed his arms, she sighed.

  “I can explain.”

  “Come on in, then,” Justin said as he turned on his heel.

  Kayla followed, but only after she glanced over her shoulder at Randy, who still stood off to the side. Randy looked at Justin with a mixed expression of awe and a little bit of fear.

  Well, Justin could be intimating but Randy wasn’t normally frightened either.

  The narrow hall led to a large, open kitchen. Kayla had been there enough times to be comfortable in Justin’s home. The third floor consisted of the kitchen, bedroom, office and bathroom. Below, Justin used the other two levels for his art. Kayla had never been to those areas, even though she’d tried numerous times to talk Justin into giving her a peek.

  Standing at the counter, Justin had his back to them as they reached the granite island. Kayla pulled out a bar stool and sat, nodding for Randy to do the same.

  “Coffee?” Justin asked.

  “Sure,” she replied.

  Justin played his long fingers along the pot as he prepped the machine. The strong muscles in his back rippled when he reached for mugs above the sink.

  They’d first become friends when she’d moved into town. Justin had been taking a business course located right next to her math class.

  Something about him had called to her, resulting in a quick friendship with the reserved man. Although, at the time, Kayla had been hoping for more.

  After a few dates, they both realized that the chemistry between them just wasn’t there. They’d known the relationship would never progress, so they’d remained good friends.

  Once he’d got the coffee brewing, Justin turned to face them. “Who’re you?” he asked, looking at Randy.

  Shit, he must be in one of his moods. The hostile edge to his tone was not what they needed after running for their lives. Justin could get rude and defensive when anything unexpected happened but he usually showed more patience than jumping his guests like this.

  Randy started to laugh, cutting off her response. “Randy O’Hare,” he answered still grinning. “I’m a friend of Kayla’s.”

  “The musician? Huh.”

  Glancing between the two men, Kayla tried to gauge how the meeting was going but she wasn’t sure. Justin appeared just as grumpy as he normally was. However, Randy’s amused manner threw her off on what was going on between them.

  “Yep, you’re the temperamental artist.”

  She started to stand when Justin shocked her by laughing—a full, loud, belly laugh.

  “I like you,” Justin said, as he pointed at Randy.

  “My heart is all aflutter,” Randy replied but he winked at Kayla.

  Relaxing back onto the stool, she knew everything would be okay. Randy and Justin were two of her best friends. They were bound to meet eventually anyway.

  As he turned back to the coffee pot, Justin lowered his voice as he grew serious. “So you want to tell me what you two were running from?”

  “I guess we’d better,” Kayla told Justin. While she spoke, she could see Justin listening carefully by the way his features changed, tightened with worry then relaxed with relief. It was a short story, although by the time she was done, her stomach had soured.

  She sat blowing on her coffee as she waited for Justin to say something, anything.

  “You both are all right?” he finally asked.

  “Yeah, sure,” she said, exchanging glances with Randy.

  “Did you hear them say anything?” Justin inquired.

  “No, they just went after us,” she replied.

  “Uh, I did.” Randy waved his hand.

  “When?” Kayla asked.

  “What?” Justin looked at him intently.

  Running his gaze from her to Justin, he sighed heavily. “Just as we exited the restaurant, I heard a voice say ‘get the wolves’. I didn’t see who said it, though. I didn’t have time to really think about it.”

  “The only thing you heard them say was to get the wolves?” Justin pressed.

  “Yes.”

  Kayla tried to go back in her mind but she couldn’t recall hearing the men speak. But if Randy said he did, she believed him.

  “Stay here. I have to make a phone call.”

  Stunned silence filled the kitchen as she watched Justin flee.

  “He’s kind of…”

  “Intense?” she offered.

  “Yeah.”

  Nodding she placed her hand over his on the counter. “I don’t trust anyone for something like this other than you and Justin.”

  “I can’t scent him.”

  In the time she’d known Justin, she had never been able to get a trace off him either. Normally when she was around a shifter, their unique fragrance was a connection to their animal. Humans tended to have a more chemical or fabricated odor. Justin had neither. There was no smell whatsoever.

  At first it had bothered her but she eventually got used to it. For thousands of years nature had shown that there were always exceptions to the rule. Over time, Kayla had chalked up Justin’s unusual non-scent to just being a part of him.

  “I know. I never figured that out.” She shrugged to show Randy it didn’t bo
ther her.

  Randy hummed but didn’t say anything more on the subject. She suspected he wouldn’t let it go, but they had a bigger issue at the moment. Justin’s low voice traveled through the building but even with her superior hearing, she couldn’t make out the words.

  Since she couldn’t eavesdrop on his conversation and not wanting to dwell on what happened earlier, she thought about Randy’s words. Justin was more than he appeared—she knew that for sure. Justin had known right away that she was a shifter. Kayla hadn’t realized that she had given any signs to her true nature but obviously, she had. Justin had asked her before they were ever intimate. The way he’d asked had made it easy for her to be honest.

  Luckily, he’d accepted her shifter half.

  Justin reentered the kitchen, causing Kayla to snap out of her thoughts.

  “I think it would best if both of you stayed here tonight.”

  “What? Why?” Kayla questioned. Sure, she had come to Justin for help but she hadn’t planned to hide.

  “There have been rumors for the last few months about a group targeting shifters. I’ve only heard bits and pieces but from what I’ve put together, if you’re being stalked, there is a real danger.”

  “That’s crazy!” Randy slid off his chair. “How would these guys even know what we are?”

  “I don’t know,” Justin responded. “How would they?”

  Shaking his head, Randy stood, trembling, revealing his upset. “I’ve got a family here, a younger brother. I need to go check on them.”

  “Give me their address. I’ll send someone discreetly to watch over them. The first thing we need to do is figure out why you two were chosen.”

  “Who are you, really?” Randy asked, his voice dropping dangerously low.

  Kayla stepped in front of Randy. “He’s my friend.” She waited until Randy met her gaze. Randy’s eyes were already glowing, the wolf inside striving for release. “You need to calm down.”