Mated To Magic (Stark Creek Shifters Book 1) by Barb Shuler (free ereaders .TXT) 📕

“I got him! The stupid bastard, I got him!”

“Where?” The snarl left me before I could push my wolf down.

Liam looked from the computer screen to me then dropped his eyes.

“Creekmore Motel on the highway. The facial recognition I was running has him going into a room ten minutes ago.”

“Room number?”

“Last room on the back. Corner room, I can’t see the number, they’re security cameras are shit.”

I moved from the office and hurried down the hall, bursting through the back door. My lips came together and I let out a shrill whistle while I ran flat out to my truck. I tore my shirt off, replacing it with a black long-sleeved Henley. My boots and pants were next. I pulled on black sweatpants and slid my feet into trainers before I dropped the tailgate and hopped in the back. When my thumb made contact with the small code reader, I felt the warmth of the scan. The toolbox opened and I flipped down the front panel.

I hadn’t needed the extra fire power or to be prepared to shift with Sinclair, but with Morris, we couldn’t take any chances. Heavy footfalls thundered up behind me. I tossed Ty a shotgun and a box of ammo, which he caught mid-stride.

“Kody, I need you to stay here, watch this place for any signs of Sy. Max and Ty, you’re with me.”

“Boss, you sure—”

I held a hand out and nodded. “I’m good. Ty and Max will be enough if the fleabag goes crazy.”

“All else fails, bring Mia to him. She’s the only person on the planet he’d never hurt,” Max said, catching the knife belt I tossed him.

“You going unarmed?” Ty asked, taking in my attire.

A grin pulled at my lips, and I was sure by the looks on their faces that I impersonated the Joker well.

“I’m the only weapon I need. Max, the GPS should be programed now, you drive my tru—”

“No offense, but no. I’ll drive my car…”

“Dude, you want a pissed off wolf tearing up those seats?” Kody asked.

He grimaced. “Never mind.”

I tossed him the keys and closed the toolbox, securing the top latch back into place. I planted my ass on the floor of the bed.

“Let’s go.”

“Go get ’em, boss,”

We pulled out of the lot, my mind racing with possibilities. I wanted to show this fucker a thing or two before I let my wolf have him for dinner. If the sight of me didn’t make him piss himself, my two hundred and fifty pound wolf would.

The trip to the motel wasn’t long, just enough to make me jittery. When the truck rolled to a stop, I hopped over the side, landing on the balls of my feet.

“Which room?” Ty whispered.

“Last one in the back. You and Max go around and come in on the sides.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going through the door.”

We split off, my trainers crunching on the gravel drive. I wasn’t trying to be quiet. I wanted him to hear me coming. If he was stupid, he’d run… I really wanted him to run. I’d give him a head start then follow after him, enjoying the chase.

As I approached the room, I heard a muffled scream.

My foot met the door before I could process what was happening. The woman’s screams filled the room then went quiet. The smell of days’ old blood and fear filled my nostrils. Morris jumped from the bed, grabbed a handgun, and pointed it at me. I stalked forward, not afraid of his toy.

He fired, missing me as I ducked one bullet. I didn’t miss the second one. The bullet grazed along my bicep. Another hit my side. I felt it burn as it hit my rib cage. I roared and lunged for him. His body slammed into the floor, knocking the breath from his lungs. My fist connected with his jaw, once, twice, three times. He struggled to break free, but there was no chance of that happening.

“Why are you trying to kill Mia James?” I slammed him back against the floor.

“Money. The bitch stole what should have been mine.”

I was tired of people calling my girl a bitch. I knocked his head into the floor again. My nails bit into his flesh, drawing blood.

“How much?”

“Twenty,” he gasped.

Twenty thousand dollars to kill her. This was mind boggling. I got up, grunting as the pain set in. This fucker was going to pay for this. With a snarl, I yanked him to his feet, just then noticing the half-naked, bloody woman on his bed.

“She was fun…” he laughed, his blood-stained teeth showing as he looked at the corpse. She was marred with cuts and bruises.

I pulled the door open and shoved him outside. He fell down the three steps and rolled into the gravel.

“Run,” I growled out. “Run fast.”

He stared up at me, stupefied. Guess I looked a little crazy to him. The change was seamless for some of us. For others it was a bit slower, more painful. But either way it was a sight to see. His eyes bugged and he skittered backwards, his hands moving him away from me. I stalked down the steps, my change taking over with a surge of anger; the need to hunt calling to the beast inside of me—I hit the ground on all fours. Ty and Max both stood back, ready to do what was needed. They knew this was my kill. He’d hurt my mate.

My lips pulled back to put my fangs on display. My growl sent my jowls flapping, saliva falling to the ground. I was going to enjoy this. He scurried to his feet, stumbling across the gravel. He headed toward his vehicle, but encountered a snarling golden-eyed Max and decided to go the other way.

My claws bit into the earth, tearing at the surface as I slowly stalked after him. Each step brought me closer to him. He finally turned and ran for the tree line, leaving behind a trail of fear for me to follow.

Now it was