Shifters: A Samantha Reece Mystery Book 1 by Jaime Johnesee (libby ebook reader txt) 📕

couldn't deny the hurt the man had caused us and so, like a good cat, she hissed at him. She somehow broke that hold he had over her and I felt it rip through me. Within seconds I had shifted and it felt good. I stopped and inwardly calmed myself down enough to shift back.

The pain from the quick double shift was like ice water on my furor. It calmed me down and allowed reason to prevail. So, too, did the quick check of my clothing to make sure the shift hadn't torn anything. As much as I wanted to, I knew that killing Ben in this elevator would be a bad idea. Coming out of the elevator in torn clothing wouldn’t be easy to explain and as much as I felt violated I didn’t want him arrested for assault. It wouldn’t be right no matter how badly I wanted it. Besides, people knew I was a shifter, but, as I said before, knowing it and seeing it are two different things.

I stood, staring into his face and letting him see the pain he’d caused. I allowed him to see every single feeling I had, naked and unashamed. He stumbled back in the car, face ashen. I realized then that he’d truly thought he was doing me a good turn by infecting me.

"I didn't mean ... I never wanted to ... rape? Oh God, you truly see it as … rape?" It was his turn to falter as the reality of exactly what he'd done hit home. He'd always seen it as he had done me a favor; learning now that I saw it as anything but, seemed to have the effect I’d hoped for.

Tears flowed down his face and he grabbed his stomach with both hands. As the doors opened on thirteen, I stepped out, leaving him retching and sobbing behind me. He stayed in the car, not bothering to get off and follow.

Seems I knocked some of the fight out of him. I swiped my sleeve over my face to dry away the tears and forced myself to walk to the lab door. I stood outside it for a brief moment calming myself and trying to appear less of the mess outside than I was inside.

When I felt significantly more normal I opened the door and came face to face with Dr. Grace Fujishima, our resident forensics guru and Director of the Evidence Response Team (ERT).

"Sam, I assume you're here for the latest Grisly case report. Are you okay, what's wrong?" She grabbed me by the hand and pulled me into her office.

Grace was a lovely woman and the most brilliant forensic detective outside of fiction. In fact, she probably could have given Holmes a run for his money.

"I met the man who turned me into a werejaguar today. He then showed up here and tried to tell me we are soul mates. I told him exactly what I thought of that idea. Apparently, I shocked him some when I let him know I saw his gift as fang-rape."

She whistled. "I'll bet. So, did you kick his ass?"

I nodded.

"Yes, apparently he had an office that overlooked the coffee cart I frequented and he saw that I was sad. He said when he saw me in the park he thought it was a sign. Said he thought he would help me change my life."

"Ugh! What a dick."

"Pretty much."

"Sorry you're dealing with this mess, Sam. You think he'll leave you alone now?"

"I honestly don't know. I want to say I hope so, but, at the same time, he's the only other jaguar I've met. The doctors say there aren’t many of us in the world. I have questions he might have answers to.”

“Are answers worth dealing with him?”

“I’m not sure. As you know, I experienced heightened senses after I was infected, but I also experienced this sixth sense of sorts. I can feel when there is danger nearby. I want to know more about it and how it works. He might be the only one who can answer that as none of the wolves nor the tiger I know can. They just don't have that ability."

"We vamps occasionally get someone with advanced gifts like that, but I've never heard of a were exhibiting their own spidey-sense. Take me for example, I have the ability to detect emotions. I suppose you might call me an empath of sorts. I can't feel it all the time, thank God, but when I do, I have a devil of a time turning it off. I'd be happy to help you explore your gift for sensing danger if you want." She walked me over to the little conversation area she'd set up in her office.

Four black leather and chrome chairs sat nestled on a thick-piled area rug among glass tables.

"Thanks, Grace. You know, I love my non-supernatural friends, but it's so nice having people around who understand problems of a super sort." I was grateful and blessed to have so many wonderful friends of all varieties.

Human, were, vampire, zombie, you name it. I was friends with the best people out there, that much was sure. The Lord had not blessed me with good family and to make up for that loss He had gifted me with some of the most wonderful friends anyone could ask for. It was they who kept me going when I wasn’t sure I had it in me. Without these people in my life I have no idea where I would've ended up.

Grace had spoken to me of her gift before now, but always in an offhand way. I had no idea she was an empath; it explained a lot about her. She was one of the kindest people I knew. She helped me transition during my first few months here. I'd been a shifter for all of six months when my transfer to CID (Criminal Investigative Division) went through. On my very first day I introduced myself to everyone as