Page 16 of Shifter and the Succubus (The Pack #1)

Sabrina parked her car and tried to center her energy. She tamped down her worry as well. Time to put on her doctor face before heading inside. She hoped Griffin and Bea would be able to help Jason this morning. Before Sabrina even made it up onto the front porch door, it opened.

Bea greeted her with a smile. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course.”

“Would you like some coffee while we wait for Jason to come downstairs?”

Sabrina never said no to good coffee, and she knew for a fact that Griffin had wonderful coffee. He was almost as particular as she was about the blend he used in his fancy coffee maker. Almost.

“I would love a cup.” Sabrina put her coat in the closet, and they walked to the back of the house into the kitchen. Bea nodded to a chair at the counter, which Sabrina took, setting down her medical bag. “How is Jason doing?”

Bea poured a cup and handed it to her. “Restless most of the night.”

Had Jason and Bea’s relationship already progressed faster than she realized? There was that heat in her chest again, but now it threatened to fill her body. Sabrina looked down and studied the coffee, letting the aroma calm her.

“We had Jason stay in a guestroom close to both Griffin and me so we could keep our senses in tune with him. Just to make sure he was okay. I could hear him tossing and turning most of the night.”

That calmed Sabrina down more than she cared to examine right now, so she would ignore it. And the heat that dissipated. If she didn’t know that demons didn’t get acid reflux, she would blame it on that. “You haven’t seen any more signs of his animal?”

“No. Other than him being anxious, he’s been fine.”

Sabrina had called Griffin the night before so that they could discuss their plans for this morning, and they had ironed out the details, which they would be sharing with Jason soon.

Bea poured a cup of coffee for herself and added a little milk. Which was a crime in Sabrina’s opinion.

Bea chuckled. “Oh, that look. You’re a coffee snob like Seamus.

He practically shudders when I add milk to my coffee.

If we go to a coffee house, I order the most ridiculous drinks just to get under his skin.

I thought he was going to leave me on the side of the road when I ordered a coffee and had them add shots of this and pumps of that with extra whip.

I didn’t even know what extra whip meant at the time. ”

Sabrina smiled. “I would have booted you out as well.” She took a sip and groaned.

Griffin walked in and nodded. “You like the new blend?”

“Yes. It’s similar to mine.”

“I’ll send some home with you. As soon as Jason is here, we’ll talk about our plans for today.”

“I’m up,” Jason said as he stepped into the kitchen. “Sorry if I kept you waiting.”

“I just got here, and I’m enjoying the coffee,” Sabrina volunteered.

Jason smirked. “You and your coffee. Addicted much?”

“Everyone is allowed at least one vice,” Sabrina said before taking another sip, hiding how happy she was that he could joke right now.

“Do you want some?” Bea asked Jason.

“I think I’m nervous enough without adding caffeine.”

Bea smiled at him. “True. But I made you a sausage and egg burrito. You need some protein before we get started.”

“Thanks.” Jason sat down at the counter next to Sabrina and dug into the breakfast without arguing. Griffin poured a cup, and they made small talk until Jason finished. He carried his plate to the sink and then faced them. “I’m surprised Misha and Kyle aren’t here.”

“Oh. They wanted to be. It took some convincing to tell them to stay away. For right now the fewer people the better,” Sabrina said.

“Thanks. I already feel like a lab experiment now.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “So what’s the plan?”

“We’re going to try a few things,” Griffin said. “We’re going to have you talk to your animal again. It’s obviously closer to the surface now, and hopefully you can coax him out.”

“And if that doesn’t work?”

“Then I will try my alpha power with you to see if your animal will respond to it.”

“Alpha power is a real thing?”

“Yes. Many animals are hierarchical in nature. When I moved into the shifter leader position, the power imbued in me can direct other shifter’s animals.

Honestly I don’t use it much. In my opinion if I have to use it, then I’m not the right leader for our people.

However sometimes the power can help with first-time shifts. ”

“Then why didn’t you try with me before?” Jason asked.

“Because I hoped that you would be able to shift on your own.”

Griffin exchanged looks with Bea and Sabrina.

Jason frowned. “Wait. Is that what you meant yesterday when you said you used your alpha voice? But that didn’t work.”

Griffin nodded.

He looked at each of them. “So how do you know it will work this time? Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”

Bea rested her hand on his arm. “Normally when alpha power is used, the shifter is cognizant of Griffin and what he represents. In the lab, your animal was confused because it wasn’t connected to you.”

Jason clenched his hands into fists. “Which means I could be dangerous if my animal takes over my consciousness again.”

“But this time we’ll be prepared,” Griffin said.

“Then you better have the tranq gun ready. Are you a good shot?”

“I am, but Bea’s better.”

Bea patted his arm. “I’ll have you covered. Everything will be fine.”

He turned to Sabrina. “And what are you going to do?”

“Monitor your reactions and make sure you aren’t in distress. Like Griffin said, we’re prepared.” Sabrina pushed down her worry and smiled at him. He needed encouragement. To get a handle on what being shifter was all about. And they were going to make that happen for him as best they could.

They moved into the back sunroom, which had minimal furniture and, if Sabrina wasn’t mistaken, looked like some of the breakables had been removed.

Jason looked around in surprise. “I thought you would take me to your clinic. Are you sure you don’t want to lock me in a cage or something?”

Griffin watched Jason with a slight frown before glancing at Sabrina.

Which meant Jason’s fear scent must be strong or his heart was beating fast. Griffin had told her during their conversation last night that he would let her know how Jason reacted through using his shifter senses.

Although she could feel spikes of agitation in his energy as well.

Bea shook her head. “Jason. You are pack. We’re here to help you and your animal. We want you to relax. If we threaten you or your animal, it could cause more harm.”

Jason nodded before his gaze rested on the table where the tranquilizer gun sat. “Says the woman who will be wielding the gun.”

Bea smiled. “I know what I’m doing.”

“You must if Griffin admitted you’re better than him,” Sabrina quipped, happy to see that Jason smiled. Which had been her intent.

Griffin crossed his arms. “I see it’s pick-on-Griffin day again.”

Bea grinned. “Isn’t that every day?”

Another small smile from Jason. “I don’t know if I would want to get on your bad side, Bea.”

Bea chuckled. “Probably not.”

Jason blew out a breath. “Okay. I think I’m ready to try this.”

Sabrina glanced at Griffin, who nodded. She set down her small medical duffel and let Jason take a seat.

She walked over and held her hands above his head. “I’m going to get a feel for your energy first.” She closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment. Other than anxiety, she didn’t sense anything abnormal. “Okay, everything seems fine. We can get started.”

Griffin sat across from Jason. Bea stepped next to the table in reach of the tranquilizer.

“Do you remember how to do the relaxation breaths?” Bea asked Jason.

“Breathe in three, hold four, breathe out five.”

“Exactly. Close your eyes and relax.”

“Easier said than done,” Jason said with a smirk before closing his eyes.

They let him breathe for a bit, and then Bea walked him through some suggestions to connect with his animal. After a few minutes Jason let out a frustrated breath and opened his eyes.

Griffin nodded. “Okay. Let me see if I can try and coax him out.” When Griffin released his alpha power, it filled the room. Even Jason seemed to feel it, which was good.

But after fifteen minutes of Griffin talking to Jason’s animal and getting no response, he finally stopped. Sabrina stood over Jason again with her arms raised, using her demon senses to check his energy, and she didn’t feel anything off.

“Why won’t he come out?” Jason asked.

Griffin shook his head. “I don’t know. With what happened last night, he is obviously there.”

Sabrina lowered her hands. “I think that possibly stress triggered it. Or being trapped. And before you ask, I don’t think it would be a good idea to put you under duress to try and bring your animal to the surface.”

“Could it have been the drug or whatever that liquid is? Like what happened to Griffin?” Bea asked.

Sabrina shook her head. “No. Even though the lab sensors went off because it didn’t recognize the chemicals, if it is a drug, it isn’t something that is administered through inhalation. I’m still running tests on it. I should know more soon.”

“Now what?” Jason asked.

Sabrina had anticipated this. “I think we should involve Lela.”

Griffin frowned. “Sergei’s wife?”

“Yes. She has the ability to actually see energy inside people. She has helped me diagnose illnesses in the past when someone’s energy isn’t flowing through their system. She can also sometimes help heal issues as well.”

“And you think she could help us in this situation?” Griffin asked.

“It can’t hurt. Maybe she can see why Jason’s animal won’t surface. She also has the ability to look at a shifter in human form and see their animal.”

Griffin stood up. “What!”

Sabrina took a step toward him. “It’s okay. I’ve explained to her about a shifter’s desire to keep their animal private. She tries to control her powers now so that she doesn’t see your animals, but even if she does, she won’t tell anyone what she sees.”

“Except she has offered to tell me what my animal is,” Jason said. “And I was hesitant before.”

“But it’s different now. I think we should ask her to help,” Bea said.

Sabrina nodded. “I spoke to Lela about Jason a few days ago. She said she would be happy to help.”

Jason stood. “So let’s get her here.”

“Lela is in the demon realm right now. She won’t be back for a couple days.”

“So what do I do in the meantime? I can’t sit around here and not help with the investigation. And I don’t think Bea wants to follow me around with a tranq gun.”

“As interesting as that sounds, no.”

“I have an idea,” Sabrina said. “I’m going to have Misha help me with something. Hang on for a bit, and I’ll get back to you.”

Jason’s mouth had settled into a thin line. Sabrina wanted nothing more than to alleviate his stress. She rested her hand on his arm. “Trust me.”

“That’s a given.”

A good kind of warmth filled her chest at his immediate response. “I’ll get back to you soon.” She looked at Griffin. “In the meantime, if the team needs to meet, can we come here?”

“Of course. Anything you need to do for Jason and the case.”

Sabrina collected her medical bag, which she thankfully hadn’t used, and said her goodbyes before heading back to the car.

She hated when she couldn’t help someone.

And when it was someone she cared about, the pressure increased tenfold.

But she had a plan to help Jason get back out into the field where he belonged.

He had to feel useful and contribute to the team.

He hadn’t talked much about his past, but Sabrina got the impression he had few close friends or people he could rely on.

Even though he didn’t say it, she also knew that him becoming a part of the BSR team had saved him somehow.

And she would do anything to help him—to keep him safe. Her heart that she normally kept locked down wouldn’t allow anything less.