Save Me Read online

  Save Me

  Shifting Allegiance Book One

  by Imani L. Hawkins

  Copyright

  © 2020 Imani L. Hawkins, Save Me: Shifting Allegiance Book One

  Published by Pyramese Publishing Group

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. Copyright law. For permission, contact:

  [email protected]

  This is a work of fiction. names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Prologue

  “I didn’t do this,” I said, tears streaming down my face as I look up at my brother who towered over me.

  Streams of tears fell down his cheeks. His anguished expression deepened lines in an otherwise babyish face as he looked down at me, anger and sadness burning in those deep brown eyes. I winced from the intensity of his gaze, never having imagined he’d ever look at me with such disdain, such longing that even I felt my stomach twist into tight little knots.

  “Liar,” he spat out, bringing up his hand to strike me.

  He held his hand there for a moment before shoving it back down at his side. He slumped forward, defeated, allowing a blanket of dark curls to fall in his face. And I wanted to hold him, to console him, to do anything I could to make it better for my baby brother. My life. The only thing in the world I had left now, though even that was slipping away from me.

  I pushed myself from the floor, wrapping my arms around my waist to cradle what felt like broken ribs. Pain sliced through me as I tried to stretch to my full height, making it impossible for me to draw in a full breath. Suddenly dizzy, I leaned against the wall, my gaze gliding over to the cause of my torment.

  My father stood in the corner of the room, his dark eyes trained on me as if waiting for me to make a move. He held his gun, dripping with my blood from the beating he’d just given me, at his side.

  “You know I didn’t do this,” I said, thrusting a finger toward the bed where my mother’s corpse laid.

  Another slice of pain tingled through me, this one far more pronounced. My mother was dead, shot down in her own bedroom, in a place that should have been safe for her though it had been anything but.

  My mind flitted back to the night she’d insisted on moving in here. She’d wanted a secure door to keep her safe from my father’s hands when he’d return home, stinking of liquor and smoke. He’d often returned in a bad mood, ready to lash out on anyone who got in his way and it was my mother who’d bear the brunt of his disdain, taking beatings to keep his attention focused on her instead of her two children. When we were old enough to fend for ourselves, she’d finally gained the courage to look after herself. At least as best she could. Being married to a Don in an effort to create peace between two feuding families, she was trapped - prisoner to my father whose ambitions see her used as nothing more than a pawn.

  She’d decorated her room, doing all she could to bring a little light to her life and I remembered helping her paint the walls a coral pink with white trim. Walls that were now stained with her blood.

  I glanced toward my father, knowing full well he had something to do with this but I knew he’d never confess. Not if that meant placing his own life in jeopardy.

  He eyes me and I could feel the threat in that glare. He wanted me to pay for this, to pay for something I played no part in, and fear tumbled through me.

  “You need to run, as far away from here as possible. Once the others find out what you’ve done, they’ll be coming for you and I don’t want your blood staining my floors.”

  Chapter One

  Storm

  Moving our pack into a new territory should have been easy, especially when all we wanted was to get away from the fighting that had claimed the life of a large chunk of our pack members. With a little research, we'd stumbled upon the small town of Alamogordo, hoping for a better start. But as luck would have it, there would be no peace. Once here, we soon began to realize the town was filled with people far more dangerous than where we'd come from, in the middle of their own battle for supremacy and we knew we'd be in for the fight of our lives in no time.

  It was for this reason I found myself seated at a bar, located just outside of city limits, babysitting Shadow who'd begun talks with the vampires for what he'd hoped would be some sort of truce. The silly bastard thought he could broker a deal with nothing more than a handshake and our word not to bring harm to any of their kind, but I knew the truth. Vampires weren't to be trusted. They'd turn on you in a heartbeat if it meant gaining more power for themselves, something I knew all too well.

  Seated beneath the purple and pink fluorescent lights of the ridiculously named Nightfangs bar, I picked up my drink and pulled it toward my lips, allowing my eyes to scan my surroundings. Shadow had disappeared into a basement with one of the leaders of the Nightborne Renegades, a dark-skinned man who was built like a truck, leaving me alone in the bar, surrounded by others of their kind. I watched as red eyes slid up from their own drinks to pin me with curious glances as if they'd never seen my kind before. A few openly sneered in my direction, making it known I hadn't been welcome there and were it not for Shadow, I wouldn't be there. Hell, the moment I realized we'd stumbled upon a town filled with vampires and a group called HU, I'd suggested we find another place, but moving a pack was expensive. We'd already managed to run through over half of our reserves and another move just might bankrupt us. It would be years before we've built up enough money for another move.

  I finished my drink and sat the glass back on the bar. Within seconds, the bartender slid in front of me, grabbing the emptied glass and tossing it into the trash. Running his hands through deep black curls to shove the strands away from a face covered in makeup, he leaned in toward me.

  "Would you like another?"

  His purple eyes skimmed over me in a way that was near indecent and my skin prickled. Fucking vampires and their open displays of desire. He could have at least had the decency to hide his open attraction toward me, though it wouldn't have done him much good. I could sense his eyes on me from the moment we entered the bar.

  Plucking a fifty from my pocket, I slid it across the bar where he picked it up and held it up to the light before shoving it into his pocket. In a flash he was on the far side of the bar, directing a short blonde to prepare the drink.

  I watched as she pulled a few bills from her own tip jar before picking up the glass and walking toward me with a smile. Setting the drink before me, she offered me the cash.

  "I'm sorry. Jon has this crazy tipping policy and..." She rolled her brown eyes, before flashing me a smile that lit her face. "You'll get used to it."

  I waved my hand. "Keep it."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Honey, if the man asked you to keep the money, keep it." Jon directed, snatching the money from her hands and returning it to her tip jar. With a burst of vampire speed, he was back beside her, his hand placed on his hip.

  I jerked up straight, stunned by the sudden intrusion and he laughed, shaking his head.

  "Don't worry, I won't bite unless you beg me to," he said with a wave of his hand.

  The blonde swatted him on the arm before returning her attention to me. "Don't mind him. He's just messing around."

  "Or am I?" He flashed me another crooked grin but I could see the playfulness in them.

  Were he not a vampire, I probably would have enjoyed his display but as it was, I didn't trust any of them. For all I knew, he'd attack us the moment we left the bar, thinking us nothing more than weak wolves there for their amusement. Little did th
ey know, they'd have a real fight on their hands.

  I thought about the other pack members stationed outside, waiting for something to go down, prepared for a fight should one present itself. Walking into a vampire bar was stupid as it was, but we'd come prepared.

  The blonde shooed him away before walking around the bar and claiming the stool beside mine. Spinning to face me, she offered me her hand.

  "I'm Davina," she said as I took her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

  The moment our hands connected, I felt...something. I couldn't quite figure out what it was but there was a presence that jolted into my head, like a warm breeze before quickly flitting away.

  She gave me a smile that was full of knowledge and comfort. "A wolf? I've never met a wolf before."

  I pulled my hand away from hers, rubbing it on my jeans to quell the tingling sensation. "I can't really say I've come across many hunters in my lifetime, though I'm sure you'd understand why I wouldn't exactly feel comfortable with you rummaging around my head."

  She gave me a sheepish smile, one that lit those gorgeous brown eyes and shrugged. "I'm sorry. I'm still learning how to control this thing. I guess I never considered I should also maintain certain boundaries..."

  I waved my hand. "No apologies needed."

  She tugged a strand of light blonde hair behind her ear and bit her lip. "So you've seen others like me before?"

  I gave her a tight nod as my eyes darted toward her neck. Looking past a mask of glamor, I could see two distinct puncture wounds on her neck, something I may have missed if I didn't know where to look. To normal human, it would be practically invisible, but with my enhanced sight, I could see past the magic to the evidence of what this girl was up to. She was either mated to one of the vampires, or well on her way. It took a considerable amount of magic to create a glamor to hide their feedings, magic they only reserved for those humans they truly cared about.

  I grimaced disgusted by the thought of it. Davina seemed too kind and too confident to fall for a fanger but the evidence was clear. She'd been claimed and would serve out the remainder of her days a feeding bag for the beasts.

  It was too bad really. She was a decent enough looking girl and deserved far better than the fate that laid before her. Hell, I'd even consider taking her on were she not already claimed. But, if I were honest, she wasn't exactly my type. She was thin with gentle curves, too gentle for hands that liked to ravage and claim. There wasn't much to hold on to and I found myself wishing I could shove a cheeseburger or two down her throat.

  Tearing my eyes from her, I glanced down at my watch. If Shadow didn't hurry up, I'd be forced to tear down those stairs and snatch him out of there. As it were, my skin prickled every time I noticed another fanger glaring at me, probably wondering if I were friend or foe and it would take them no time to allow their curiosities to get the better of them.

  I swept my gaze over the club again, this time focusing on everyone surrounding me. There were fifty, maybe sixty, vampires gathered on the small dance floor or sticking to the shadows with their blood bags, humans who craved the bite as an addict would crave their next hit. While some were kind enough to hide their indiscretions, others openly flaunted it, engaging in near sexual acts in clear view of others. I cringed at the thought of it. Where wolves tended to keep most of their acts private, fangers didn't give a fuck.

  My gaze swept past a few more fangers before landing on a woman that had me sucking in a breath of air. Long dark hair with pink streaks flowing through it fell upon small shoulders as she pushed her hand in the air, signaling for service. She sat just before the dance floor, directly in the center of the club where she'd have access to either exit should the need arise and I found it odd she'd chosen that seat. It was the very seat I would have chosen had Shadow not been taken down into the basement because of its tactical advantages, and I couldn't imagine she had any need for that. Still, I watched as Davina slid past my view and walked over to the woman to take her order. Order placed, Davina left to retrieve her drink, and the woman leaned back in her seat.

  My eyes scanned her body and I'll be damned if my wolf didn't stir within me at the sight of her. She was tall from what I could gather, with a set of curves that made my palms itch to touch her. She wasn't too skinny or too thick. She was the perfect combination of the two, and when her brown eyes met mine, my wolf wasn't the only thing stirring as I imagined what it would be like to have a woman like that in my bed.

  Her full lips curled into a smirk before she cast her eyes away from me, focusing on the entrance to the bar. I followed her gaze to a set of large humans perched on stools beside the entrance, their gazes locked on her. The first was a tall lanky man, dressed in an expensive gray suit with short straight hair that was slicked back from a brutal face. The other, a dark-skinned man in leathers that screamed MC. His eyes were hidden behind dark frames, an odd choice in a bar that boasted very little light. They felt oddly out of place there and it wasn't long before I realized why. They were human in a bar meant for fangers, yet they sat there with a cool confidence that had me worried I just might have to signal my guys in for the girl's protection.

  I looked back at her, noticing the way the muscles of her arms twitched as she tried to keep her focus from the two men. Whoever they were, they certainly weren't hiding the fact they were after her and I wondered why. She certainly didn't appear to be a danger to anyone but looks have deceived me before. Still, I couldn't help the urge to protect her that seized me at the moment as my eyes darted between the girl and the two men. Whatever she'd done had to be serious, considering the men had guns tucked into the waists of their pants, slightly hidden from view by their jackets. Were it not for the glint from the fluorescent lights, I would have missed that fact.

  "Do you know that sweet little thing over there?" Jon said, suddenly standing across from me at the bar.

  "Do you?" I responded with a question of my own.

  He shook his head theatrically, propping his hand on his waist. "Honey, I've seen a lot of people come and go over the years, but that girl has me shook! She's been in here a few times but never with her bodyguards."

  "I doubt they’re bodyguards," I said, dismissively, hoping to end the conversation.

  "Regardless, the way you're staring at her means you must be interested. I've never known a wolf as fine as yourself to be so timid. Get your ass up and go say hi." He nodded in her direction before sliding a drink in front of me. "Take that with you. And walk slowly, the girl seems a bit skittish and I wouldn't mind the view."

  His eyes raked over me in a look that was an odd combination of salacious and playful, not exactly hiding his attraction to me but not exactly flirting either.

  Taking the drink and my own, I slid from the bar stool and pointed my feet in her direction. Jon had been right. She did seem a bit skittish but no matter how tried to slow my pace, my wolf propelled me forward, demanding to be in her presence.

  I inwardly chastised the beast's impatience. Only once before had he been so impatient and that time proved to be a huge disaster. He growled within me, not one to be denied as I pushed forward. She looked up with a smile.

  "Hi," she said, her sultry voice washing over me as my wolf reveled in the sound of it. One simple word and my wolf was convinced he wanted her.

  I couldn't say he'd been too impulsive once I was close enough to really get a look at her. Her face was gorgeous, angelic with hints mischief in those brown depths that sat above a small nose and full lips. She held a confident air about her, letting me know this was a woman who could hold her own, and had proven so on multiple occasions.

  I slid the drink in front of her and watched as she curled her fingers around the glass, bringing it to her lips. Her eyes dropped to her glass assessingly and her nostrils flared. If I didn't know any better, she was testing the offering, making sure it hadn't been laced with anything that would harm her, and that thought brought on a feeling of dread. Whatever happened to this woman to cause her to
be so alert was beyond me, but at that moment, I'd do anything to figure it out.

  Satisfied, she took a small sip, testing the liquid on her tongue before taking another. "A little heavy-handed with the alcohol but what can I expect from someone clearly not used to serving humans," she said, before nodding toward the seat in front of her.

  I took the seat as she leaned back in her seat, her gaze trained on me.

  "So you know what he is?" I asked, surprised by her knowledge. Where I came from, humans and the underworld rarely mixed, except in battle. And even then, the underworld had been reasonably secretive about their existence. I was beginning to think the same didn't apply for this place.

  She laughed and the sound of it was melodic and enchanting. My wolf agreed. "I didn't at first, until..."

  I followed her gaze around the area, noticing again how comfortable the fangers were there. They did little to disguise their differences, some even flaunting them as they bared their fangs at each other.

  "I noticed it the first time I came to this club. It frightened me, at first, but I quickly got used to it."

  "And you don't mind being surrounded by them?"

  Her eyes met mine and she shrugged. "Honestly, I find it comforting, knowing there are others out there far more powerful than my father. You could say, I find safety here."

  I cocked my head to the side, confusion marring my brow.I hadn't expected such an honest answer considering the woman knew nothing about me.

  "You've noticed the two men by the door, haven't you?"

  I gave her a nod.

  "My father sent them after me, I suppose." She took another sip of her drink before placing it on the wooden table between us, shaking her head. "Such a waste of good talent."

  I had a hard time keeping up with the conversation, considering how cryptic she was about everything but I nodded. She hid as much as she revealed, a skill very few I've come across have mastered and I found it intriguing.

  Holding out her hand, she said, "By the way, my name is Joslyn. And you are?"