Page 21 of Waste (Legendary Shifters #4)

Drew easily carried her up the beach with Charlie following. Drew didn’t seem in a rush, and despite Shelley insisting she was too heavy, Drew didn’t put her down.

In fact, Shelley noted that he seemed to enjoy carrying her.

Drew/Ghoul

He could have carried Shelley around all day.

She was a warm bundle in his arms, and he was keenly aware of her soft skin touching him.

Shelley smelled like coconuts, one of his favourite smells.

Drew wanted to bury his nose in her throat, but barely refrained from doing so.

Worse, he was sorely tempted to taste her. Shelley’s mouth was very close to his.

Drew snapped his iron control into place. Shelley was on edge and probably wouldn’t appreciate being manhandled right now. He could sense the turmoil in Shelley as she fought against her fear. Was she having a panic attack? Drew headed down the private path to their hut, alert.

They reached it safely, and Charlie made a noise of annoyance.

“I’ve left my phone on the beach. I’ll be right back,” he exclaimed.

“Okay,” Shelley murmured. Drew noted that she seemed more relaxed now that they were back. “Thank you, Drew,” she said as Drew placed her on her feet.

“No problem, if you ever want carrying around again…” Drew let the sentence trail off and winked at her.

“I’ll call you!” Shelley laughed, but Drew noticed it had an edge to it. “I’m going to shower.”

Drew nodded, unable to reply as he imagined water dripping off Shelley’s curves.

He loved a woman with a figure, and Shelley had one.

She wasn’t fat or overweight but was just right for him.

A curvy, beautiful female. Drew felt the urge to kiss her, but Shelley disappeared through the door leading to her bedroom.

Damn, he’d missed his chance. And if he wasn’t wrong, Shelley wasn’t opposed to kissing him either, not by the look that had been in her eye.

Shelley

Had Drew been about to kiss her? Shelley smiled as she headed into her bedroom.

She certainly wouldn’t have pulled away.

Drew was doing funny things to her insides, and she was really beginning to like him.

Although she remained a little wary. John Saville had taught her a harsh lesson, but Drew appeared genuine.

Shelley limped into the bathroom and started filling the bath.

As she straightened, hands latched onto her throat and started choking her.

Shelley froze in fear until her lack of breath freed her.

She began scratching and clawing at the hands slowly strangling her.

Her eyes bulged, and her nose began to run as she desperately attempted to free herself.

An old remark by Charlie made her slam her head backwards, and there was a grunt, and the tight grip relaxed slightly.

“Help!” Shelley screamed, but it came out strangled.

Shelley tried kicking out to make a noise to alert Drew and Charlie, but there was nothing in reach.

She’d been dragged away from the bath. The hands clenched again, and Shelley’s panic rose.

She stamped her plaster-cast boot, trying to crush the attacker’s foot.

Tears trickled down her cheeks as her lungs begged for oxygen.

Shelley kicked backwards, and they both stumbled. Her eyes locked onto the mirror, and she was horrified to see a man dressed in black with a balaclava over his face. Around the edges, her sight darkened, and Shelley redoubled her efforts, but she was weakening quickly.

Her lungs strained for air as she desperately tried to haul in breaths. Their eyes met; his were dark blue, and hers were bloodshot.

Then they disappeared, and Shelley experienced a rush of fear.

The image in front of her sharpened, and a pale-faced woman with pure black eyes appeared. Her lips were blood red and pulled back in a snarl. Long, straggly, untidy black hair fell messily over her hollowed-out cheekbones.

“Release her!” the mirror hissed, and the attacker let out a shout, releasing Shelley and stumbling backwards. Shelley collapsed to the ground as she gulped for air and held her sore throat.

“You are marked,” the woman warned as she leaned out of the mirror in the direction of the man. He turned and fled towards the bathroom window, crashing through it. The noise was loud enough to attract attention.

“Shelley!” Charlie yelled and burst through the bathroom door. His frightened gaze swept the room and landed on Shelley. In two strides, he was across the floor and crouching by her.

“What happened?” he demanded frantically as tears streaked down her face and she continued dragging in air.

Drew raced in, and Shelley saw his eyes flick to the mirror. She followed him and spotted the woman disappearing and Drew’s image taking her place. Drew didn’t pause, though, and continued to head towards Shelley. He joined Charlie on the floor, his eyes sweeping the room.

“Someone attacked you?” Drew demanded as he put two and two together when he saw the broken window.

Shelley managed to nod as she clung to Charlie. What had just happened? Why had she been assaulted? Was this to do with Ghoul?

Fear was racing through her veins, setting them on fire. Her hands shook, and she couldn’t stop crying. Huge gulping sobs came from her as she clung to Charlie like he was her lifeline.

“I’ll call security,” Drew said softly, and Charlie nodded.

“Do it,” Charlie replied as he gathered Shelley up and rubbed her back.

Drew/Ghoul

He needed a few minutes to discover what had happened. He’d been shocked to see Mary in the mirror. Mary had looked angry, and Drew headed to his bedroom.

“What was that?” Drew demanded as soon as his door closed.

“She was attacked when she began running a bath. He was hiding behind the door,” Mary replied, appearing.

“Was it a Hunter?”

“No. If it had been a Hunter, he’d have simply snapped her neck. This was someone else,” Mary stated. There was no doubt in her voice.

“Shelley saw you.”

“Yes, but she was half unconscious; you can excuse anything she witnessed due to that,” Mary responded.

Drew sighed. “Shelley isn’t an idiot.” “Drew, I’m well aware of that fact. Killian is on his way. He’s disturbed that somebody got through security.”

“No offence, he should be. That’s twice someone has breached a resort of his. I’m sure Killian’s security is tough and strict, but this guy slipped through it.”

“What are you going to do?” Mary asked.

“I don’t know. But I’m not leaving Shelley, that’s for sure. She needs constant watching.”

“I can watch over her,” Mary offered, and Drew nodded in gratitude.

“Thank you. That means a lot. I can’t lose Shelley,” Drew replied.

“Drew… a bond…”

“No, but she is somebody special to me. Watch over her, Mary, please,” Drew begged, feeling desperation build.

He and Charlie had been next door, and someone had been choking Shelley out. Drew blamed himself for not hearing what had kicked off. Shelley had been close to death if Mary hadn’t interrupted.

Drew shook his head. Shelley could have died . His heart spasmed as the thought hit him, and Drew shuddered.

“Find out who this is. Why are they targeting her? Shelley is too nice to have enemies,” Drew murmured, his mind racing.

“I’ve already informed Vladimir. Look after Shelley, Drew. Don’t be surprised if she obsesses over me like she did you. Shelley’s eyes have been opened to the paranormal, you can’t put that back in the box.”

“No, where Ghoul is concerned, the cat is well and truly out of the bag,” Drew agreed.

“Remember, if she is not your mate, then we may have to wipe her memory,” Mary said gently.

“I’m far too aware of that outcome, Mary. The problem is, what other memories might we damage?”

“The risk of harming Shelley’s other memories is outweighed by protecting our people. We shall do what we have to,” Mary replied, and Drew nodded.

In the past, he wouldn’t have blinked. But as it was Shelley, the thought repulsed him. If she were his mate, the bond needed to snap into place soon. Still, Drew was unsure if he wanted it to or not.