Read Online Shifters of Shadow Falls Collection (Books 1-3) by Crystal L. Shaw - Free Book Online

his mate.  She’s our new alpha.”  He stresses the last bit and I feel my resolve crumble. 
    I sure as shit don’t have any other ideas on how to get through to Lizie.  Maybe telling her will help; she can’t get any worse, right?
    “And secondly,” Caleb’s voice brings my concentration back to him.  I raise my eyebrows and wait for him to continue.  “Stop thinking like that.  I hate that you’re all butt hurt that we’re sharing our mate.”  My brows knit together in anger.
    “Get out of my head Caleb.”
    “You know I can’t.”  At least he has the decency to sound remorseful.  “We’ll make it work.  Fate fucked us over for a reason right?”  His arm swings around me and he pats me on the back.  “Maybe we’re both too fucked up for her on our own,” he grins wickedly, “but together we’ll be whole for her.”  I snort.  Fucking romantic .
    “The only problem with that is that we’re the same kind of fucked up.”
    He laughs in my face.  “No way, you’re way more fucked up than I am.”  He smiles broadly at me and for the first time since I realized that we were going to share Lizie, I don’t resent him; I don’t want to punch his pretty-boy face in.  “It wouldn’t kill you to smile, you know?”  And just like that, the urge to knock him the fuck out comes back.  I shove him into the wall.
    “I’m just fuckin’ with ya.”  I know he’s just bullshitting, but it really might make a difference for Lizie if I could lighten the fuck up.  Scary-as-hell seems to be the most common description of me from the humans.  I decide to change the subject. 
    “Vince back yet?” 
    “Not that I’ve heard.”  I watch Caleb’s fists clench.  He usually doesn’t get his feathers all ruffled.  He’s the light-hearted, smooth-talker of the bunch.  Always on about some bright and cheery bullshit.  Just slightly more tolerable than Lev’s jokes.  Vince is gonna be fucked when he gets back.  Nearly everyone in the pack is pissed.  He’s supposed to have the girl’s background info ready for us.  We already had Ari’s since Devin practically stalked her this past year, but we need Lizie’s background as soon as possible.  We didn’t know she was ours until yesterday.  Instead he high-tailed it out of the offering and hasn’t been back since.  He felt his mate in the audience, we all felt it, but he’s going to have to wait until she’s offered just like Devin had to.  He can’t just take her.  He sure as shit isn’t that stupid.  It’s been nearly twelve hours since we last touched base with him.  That’s too fucking long for him to not be up to something that’s going to fuck us over with the authority.  He can’t be pissing around in human territory; he knows better than that.  I shake off my thoughts before I get too pissed off.
    “So you got all of their shit in there?” 
    “Yeah, it’s time to move them into their new home.” 
    “It’s fucking weird.” 
    He shrugs at my comment.  “It’s what Alpha wanted.”
    Devin wanted the rooms set up exactly like their apartment.  They have the east wing entirely to themselves.  Everything but a kitchen.  And now they have an extra bedroom and bathroom since they were sharing one before. 
    “Honestly, it’s not a bad idea.  It’ll give them a sense of home and safety.”  His words hit me hard and I scowl.  “I know man.”  He pats my back again and I let him.  It doesn’t do much to console me, but at least I know he’s feeling the same.  “One day we’ll be her home and safety.”  He nods his head as if he’s reassuring himself.  I fucking hope he’s right. 
     

Chapter 12: Ari
     
    I wake up in Devin’s arms.  The alpha.  My alpha.  I breathe out deeply and snuggle into his warm hold, nuzzling into his hard chest.  I sigh and feel my cheeks heat as I remember him taking me, shattering me.  And then my eyes widen.  I sit straight up.  Something’s