Submission MMA Shifter Urban Fantasy: (The Unleashed Book 1) Read online

  Vonny looked at me, laughing. “You look fucking ridiculous. Are you sure this is the only way?”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. “The only way I could get past Lyla’s mom. That woman is a beast. Especially for a human.”

  Vonny shrugged. “She was the first person in the family who accepted me as a vampire. She’s not so bad.” She looked me up and down then shook her head. “You ready to go in?”

  “No,” I sighed but pushed on the door to open Lyla’s hospital room.

  The doctor and Lyla stopped talking. He looked me up and down. “I’ll give you some time with your friends. I’ll stop in later.” He patted her on her knee before leaving. He was blond, tanned, and a doctor. I bit down on my jealousy hard and smiled at Lyla. No matter what my wolf thought, Lyla wasn’t mine. We could only ever be friends.

  Lyla scrunched her nose. “Jack? Is that you?”

  I nodded, reaching out to Vonny to steady myself. “I need to tell you something.”

  Lyla’s eyes flickered with confusion. “Why are you dressed up?”

  “I’m . . . I’m not dressed up. This is me.” I leaned against the bed. How in the hell did women deal with wearing high heels?

  She looked from me to Vonny. Her eyes burned with anger. “How long have you known about this?”

  Vonny spread her hands and shrugged. “I just ran into him in the hallway. I’m as surprised as you are.”

  Lyla scrunched up her nose, “What does this mean? Are you a cross-dresser? Are you gay? How did I not know?”

  I nodded, “I’ve recently discovered this about myself. This won’t change anything between us, will it?” I blinked my ridiculously long eyelashes. I knew this was going to change everything between us.

  “What?” She cleared her throat. “No, of course not. Just don’t leave me again, fucker.” She punched me on the shoulder. I’d just officially been friend-zoned, but that was the point of this, wasn’t it? My wolf whimpered, and my heart ached.

  I sat on the bed next to her leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I promise, never again.” It was the truth. Even if I couldn’t have her the way I wanted, I loved her, and I would never leave her again.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  I looked down at my new phone to check the time. Damn, this thing felt like a leash. Corbin, Jonathon, and Odecir liked to keep tabs on me. While technically I was in the pack, we didn’t have a strong connection. Corbin said it was because I was an alpha and supposed to have my own pack. At least he knew I’d never vie for his position.

  Mum was late, but she always worked on her own time. I guess I took after her that way. She was the perfect alpha. I didn’t think she could be anything but an alpha. No one could ever tell her what to do, not even my father. He didn’t even try. As much as their marriage was for political reasons, a union to make the two packs into one, creating the largest pack in the world, I knew they regarded each other highly. I’d even like to think they had loved each other on some level.

  Jonathon stood under the trees, shifting uncomfortably. “Let’s go ahead and start the ceremony for Tallulah.”

  Corbin stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Does anyone protest Tallulah joining our pack?”

  No, no one was going to protest a full-blooded female, especially one who was pregnant and was our friend. It thrilled me she was joining; and she belonged with us.

  Corbin waited a moment in case someone wanted to object. When no one did, he pulled out a knife. “Tallulah Beckett, do you renounce your membership to the Montana pack and in turn swear allegiance to The Unleashed?”

  She held out her hand smiling. “I do.”

  Corbin gave a half smile. “Does anyone vouch for Ms. Beckett?”

  Jonathon, Odecir, and I all stepped forward. Odecir laughed. “Now you have mandatory training, at least once the bambino is born.”

  Tallulah smiled. “Sounds good.” Corbin sliced her hand and sliced his. Closing his eyes, he grabbed hers. I felt a jolt, then I could feel her in my mind like I did the rest of the pack. Far and distant, but still there.

  “Welcome to our pack, Tallulah. We will wait until the end before we run as a pack.” Corbin looked around and pursed his lips. My mother still wasn’t here. Corbin was a man who lived by the book, and my mother was making his eye twitch.

  Jonathon pulled out his phone. “Okay bring him.” Two wolves planked Captain as they came from the gym.

  “We have an induction for a new honorary pack member. This will be the first time that a human is an actual part of a pack, but we feel that Captain is brave and would make a good addition.”

  Captain stood next to Corbin and waved at me. He looked good, was bathed and his eyes were clear.

  Corbin looked to me. “Captain will live with us, too. You ready, Captain? I’m going to cut your hand. While you won’t have a magickal connection to us, it will symbolize that you are part of us. Got it? You sure you want to do this?”

  Captain was misty eyed. He held out his hand. “Yes, I’m ready to join.”

  I laughed. “I thought we were all dirty beasts?”

  I looked to Corbin. He was a good person and a great alpha. My father was good, too, but Corbin looked out after those who were lost and forgotten. I thought that was why I felt so at home here. Even though he pushed me to be more, he also let me be me, and now he was extending his graciousness to Captain, who needed a support system. He needed our pack.

  He chuckled. “Well, the ones here ain’t so bad.”

  I could see why so many people joined Corbin’s pack. Captain was going to have a place here with us where we could keep an eye on him, and he’d keep an eye on us. He would finally belong after being on the streets for so long.

  I felt my mother before I saw her. We no longer had the pack link, but she held a presence wherever she went.

  I turned to see her walking with Marcus up the path toward us. She was dressed in a white linen suit, looking impeccable as always.

  “Dude, that is your mother?” Odecir leaned toward me, “Damn boy, you didn’t get your looks from her.”

  She looked like my older sister, but when she spoke, it was clear that she was much older. Marcus looked tired. He had the weight of the last few days on his shoulders.

  “Bartholomew.” Mum nodded to me. I cringed as a couple of the guys snickered. “Oh yes, I forgot, you like to go by Jack. Good god, boy, is that mascara on your lashes?”

  “Um.” Damn it.

  She looked over to Corbin, then back to me, “That’s it. You are coming home. Enough of this foolishness. Your brother is gone. There is no reason for you not to come home.”

  I shoved my hands in my pocket. “I’m sorry, Mum, I’m not leaving. Even if Corbin kicked me out of The Unleashed, I wouldn’t be going back with you.”

  Marcus crossed his arms. “You were always stubborn like your mother. Margaret, he isn’t going anywhere. Let’s get on with this.”

  My mother lifted her chin. “Fine. Corbin, we’re ready.”

  I looked from my mother to Marcus. “We’re?”

  She pursed her lips. “Marcus and I have mated and will rule together,” she stated matter-of-factly.

  I shifted from foot to foot. “Oh. Um, good?”

  She waved a dismissive hand, and Marcus lowered his head. “I would have asked for your blessing, but we are under duress and decided quickly. Please know that I have respect for your mother.”

  I held his eye with mine. Marcus was one of the finest men I knew, and I felt a sense of relief. “Of course, and I know that no one will stand against you and Mother as a united front.”

  Marcus put his hand on my shoulder. “We are just saving the spot until you are ready.”

  I nodded. I knew I was never going back, but this was no time to argue. “Thank you.”

  Jonathon walked up with a scroll and handed me a feather pen. “You need to sign it with your blood.”

  Odecir handed me the ceremonial knife. I slid it across my p
alm next to my last scar. It would have been easier to prick my finger, but we had to keep up appearances for the ceremony.

  I squeezed my hand drawing as much blood as possible and dipped my pen in. I read through the contract. It sounded good to me: I’d have no responsibility to the pack. I was handing it over.

  As soon as my pen finished signing my name, I felt a loss. Something was gone. Something that I hadn’t noticed before, but now that piece of me was gone. It left me with a hollow emptiness.

  I swallowed and handed the contract to my mother. She said nothing, but she knew, she knew that I felt the loss.

  “What happens now?” I asked, feeling the emptiness in my soul.

  Odecir smacked me on the back. “Now we all run.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Lyla

  Jack leaned down, kissing my forehead. “I’ll stop by tomorrow, the doctor told me they’ll be releasing you then. I’ll bring you home.” He squeezed my hand.

  I held his hand. I didn’t want to let go. “Okay. Jack, I’m glad you are back.”

  “Me, too. Are we good?” He batted his eyelashes. He looked ridiculous. I loved him and wanted him to be happy but it was hard for me to see him like this. This wasn’t my Jack.

  I patted his hand. Who was I kidding? He was always going to be my Jack, any way I could have him. “Yes, we’re good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He stood and walked toward the door on wobbly legs catching the door handle to steady himself. He turned and waved before exiting.

  I sat up in the bed and crossed my arms. “He left lipstick on my forehead, didn’t he?”

  Veronica smirked. “Yeah, a little.”

  I pointed toward the door. “And did you see how he walks in heels? This must be something new. He leaves us, then comes back cross-dressing. What the hell?”

  Veronica bit the inside of her cheek. “He’s our friend. We should support him.”

  I supported him, but it still felt off.

  I leaned back pouting. “How did I miss this?”

  She shrugged. “Maybe you bumped your head.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Ha, ha, funny. I thought Jack and I had a connection. I really liked him. How did YOU miss this? You’re the most intuitive person I know.”

  She leaned against the bed and shrugged. “I always felt Jack was a little off. Don’t get me wrong, I like him but not for you.”

  I looked down at my hands. “Well, as we can see, you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Neither of us do. Hey, what happened to those guys we were supposed to go on that date with? Did you tell them I got into an accident?”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t think going out with them is a good idea. They gave me the heebie-jeebies, and they said they were on their way out of town. What about that hot doctor of yours?” Vonny wiggled her eyebrows.

  I laughed. “What about him? He’s hot and way out of my league. Besides, he’s seen me at my worst.”

  Vonny smiled. “I’ve also seen the way he looks at you. His entire face lights up.”

  I shrugged. “He’s just being nice. Besides, I’m a waitress, he’s a doctor.”

  She shook her head. “You have an excuse for everything, Lyla. Just promise me that if he asks you out, you’ll say yes.”

  I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Whatever.”

  She crossed her arms. “Say. Yes.”

  “Fine. I’ll say yes.”

  Jack

  Lyla wasn’t buying it. Hell, I couldn’t even walk in these ridiculous shoes, but I had to pull this off. If I didn’t convince her that we could only be friends, then I’d be reassigned, and her family might try to make her leave Tampa. That wasn’t going to happen.

  As if anyone could make Lyla do anything. Her father was right, she’d make a horrible wolf. She was far too independent, but her independence in a pack setting could cause problems with her and her parents. I didn’t want that. That was another reason he couldn’t go back home.

  I looked over my shoulder into her room. She had her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Vonny turned her back to the door, blocking my view of Lyla. I sighed and slipped my heels off. I couldn’t imagine trying to wear these on a daily basis.

  “Hey, Jack, uh Jackie.” I turned to see Lyla’s doctor. “Do you have a minute?”

  I pulled my wig off. “Sure. Is everything okay with Lyla?”

  He held out his hand to shake mine. “Oh. Yes, she’s fine. By the way, I’m Ben. So you are her best friend, right? I mean besides Veronica. I thought you were her boyfriend until today. Veronica told me you weren’t. Anyway, Veronica thinks I should ask Lyla out.”

  I narrowed my eyes. Damn Veronica. I couldn’t have Lyla, but I certainly didn’t want this fool to ask her out. I plastered on a smile. “Do you want to ask her out?”

  He shoved his hands in his pocket and leaned against the wall. “Well, yeah. Do you think she’d say yes?”

  I looked at Dr. Ben with his perfectly cut light blond hair and his perfect physique, with his perfect job. It would thrill her parents, and Lyla wouldn’t think about me anymore. I guessed Dr. Ben was the perfect solution to my Lyla dilemma, but my heart hurt. I didn’t want to think about anyone else loving her and kissing her.

  I held up my wig, pointing it at him. “Ask her out. I don’t know what she’ll say, but if you hurt her, I’ll hunt you down.”

  I turned on my heel with my shoes in one hand and my wig in the other, still trying to figure out how I’d gotten myself into this mess.

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  Mandie Stevens has always been accused of living in her own world so she decided to put it to paper. When she isn’t writing you can catch her lounging on the beach reading. She has ridiculously little feet and would be happy eating seafood every day.Connect with MandieTwitter - @AuthorMandieSFacebook - http://facebook.com/authormandiestevensWebsite - http://mandiestevens.comNewsletter - http://eepurl.com/btc3R5Fangroup - https://www.facebook.com/groups/893240127458778/

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