Slow Shift by Nazarea Andrews (best ereader for pdf .TXT) 📗

or if it can be taught—I just know it’s different from the witches. Shamans aren’t elemental the way that witches are, but I don’t know much about them.”

Chase smiles then, bright and eager, and Tyler has a feeling that the wild boy with bright gold eyes is going to find out.

~*~

He loses some time to researching, enough time that he doesn’t realize he’s due to study with Aurora until she’s in his room, her nose wrinkled in something like disgust, and he’s staring at her from over dusty tomes he borrowed from Tyler and a computer that’s almost buried in paper and notes.

“Aurora,” he mumbles, “We’re—shit. We’re supposed to study. I’m sorry, I lost track of time.”

She takes neat little steps into the room, sitting herself primly in the desk chair, and studies Chase critically.

“You look like shit,” she says, and he grins. “Chase, what are you doing?”

“I’m trying to protect someone,” he says.

Later he’ll wonder if it’s because he’s so tired, or because he wants desperately to be honest, or if it’s simply because, under her steely green gaze, he can’t possibly lie. But in the moment, while she stares at him and his fingers shake with exhaustion and caffeine, he’s painfully honest. “I want to protect someone I love.”

She stares at him, then nods and puts her books aside, giving him a small smile. “How can I help?”

~*~

Tyler hears the Bronco two miles out, and Chase, chattering happily, from a mile away. He smiles, listening to him, a smile that turns into a slight frown as he realizes—Chase isn’t alone.

Ben comes with him sometimes, but it’s rare and he always gives Tyler a warning before he shows up.

Chase’s heartbeat is going double time and his voice is—different. It’s warmer and softer than it is with Ben.

A low female voice filters through to him, and Tyler sighs.

He steps onto the porch, jumping down as Chase pulls to a stop in the front yard and clambers out. The girl slips down with more grace and a small smile for Tyler, her sharp gaze taking in every detail of the house.

There is something so alpha about her, it makes him want to snarl.

“Where’s Lucas?” Chase asks, glancing at the house.

“Watching a movie,” Tyler answers, “Who's your friend?”

Chase gives him a bland look, one that says eloquently that Chase isn’t buying his shit, but maybe she is.

“Aurora Black,” she says coolly.

Tyler nods and twitches. Chase huffs, snatching his wrist and dragging Tyler inside. “C’mon, Aurora. He’s kinda hopeless with new people.”

“Am not,” Tyler mutters, quiet enough that only Chase hears him, and it earns him a huff of laughter.

The only time Aurora falters is when she comes face to face with Lucas, his blank eyes bright as she stares at him, her heart pounding heavily in her chest, and Tyler watches, Chase twitching anxiously at his side.

She drifts closer to him, and when her fingers brush over his hand, he seems to sigh.

“What happened to him?” she asks wetly and Tyler stares at her, this beautiful cold girl crying for his brother.

Chase squeezes Tyler’s hand. “That’s what you’re gonna help me find out.”

~*~

Chase says she’s going to help and that he hasn’t said anything about them being werewolves.

It still itches under his skin, but he knows this is overdue.

Chase is Pack and he’s brilliant, the kind of human who could stand as second in a pack, the kind who would be a shaman if he had magic.

He isn’t surprised that Chase is digging, in the weeks after Andre Drake’s appearance at his house.

He’s only surprised it took this long.

~*~

“You’re too close to this,” Aurora says one night, and Chase blinks at her.

She doesn’t understand the history he has with the Reids, but she isn’t stupid. She’d waited patiently until he drove them away from the house in the woods that first time and then said, a smirk curling her lips, “So, definitely a secret boyfriend.”

“Of course I’m too close,” Chase snaps, “I’ve been taking care of them since I was fourteen. And the accident—it wasn’t an accident.”

“Then let me look,” she says, patience edged with temper, and Chase—

Chase stares at her for a long time and then nods. He snatches up a thumb drive and says softly, “This is everything I have, all the police reports, every testimony and the accident investigation, all the notes I’ve compiled over the years—everything.”

She nods and kisses his cheek. “Good. Now, our chemistry homework.”

He doesn’t know why he feels lighter when she slips the thumb drive into her purse, but he does.

~*~

“Do you trust her?”

Chase nods, and Tyler says gently, “It’s only been a few months, Chase.”

He nods again, and then, quieter, says, “I trusted you and Lucas faster.”

~*~

He’s out with Ben, a rare night when they’re alone—no Brielle, no well meant setup, no practice or parent or distractions—just Ben and Chase catching the newest Marvel movie and a huge plate of onion rings, when he gets the text.

>>You need to talk to Mia Drake.

>>And also Mr. Harper.

<<The CI tech?

>>It disturbs me that he’s who you’re confused by. Mia Drake?!

He hesitates and then texts back.

<<Thanks, Aurora. I’ll take it from here.

>>One day you’re explaining all of this to me.

He doesn’t respond to that at all, just pockets his phone and thinks about what started all of this, Andre showing up at his house in the middle of the night, wrapped in formality and position and expecting things Chase wasn’t sure how to deliver.

He still isn’t sure—but he knows it’s necessary.

~*~

His fingers shake as he dials, and he’s a little surprised when a sharp feminine voice comes across the line. “Hello?”

“Chelsea Reid?”

There’s a beat of silence. “Who is this?”

He straightens. “My name is Chase DeWitt, and I want to be the Reid Shaman.”

Chapter 11

He hates Chelsea and doesn’t do a very good job of covering it up.

“The Reid Pack is dead, kid. Dead packs don’t need shamans.”

“The Reid Pack is doing just fine,” Chase snaps, “It’s their alpha that seems to have a problem.”

She pauses, then says,