Running from the Shifter (Shifter World - Book Eight) (Series of 13 Short Stories)

Daryl turned and smiled. “And the male version of Mafilia is Mafilio. I’m sure my brother skipped that part.” He turned back to the car. “Could use some help here, Brother.”

Drezden grumbled, kissed her forehead, and went to the car to help his brother.

“How many are in the group?” Tamara asked as she watched them pull her belongings from the car.

“We don’t call it a group,” Daryl said.

“Oh,” she whispered. “What should I call it, then?”

“Family,” the brothers said at the same time.

“I see.”

“We also call it a clan,” Drezden said from inside the car.

“Or a club.” Daryl laughed. “Our first sister put a club together. They call it, The Fated Mates Club.”

Tamara chuckled.

Drezden looked up at her. “Right now, there’s me and my brothers, and now four of us have our mates.” He grinned. “Then there are four couples that aren’t blood-related, but they’re still family.”

“And two annoying vampires,” Daryl said as he pulled another box from her backseat.

She stared at them. “V-vampires?”

“Yeah. But don’t worry, they’re trained,” Drezden snorted.

“Nice, Kraftman,” a voice said from behind Tamara.

Tamara spun around and stared at the man.

“Tate,” Daryl said as he moved to the back of the car and unlocked the trunk.

Tamara stared at the man before her. He was really good-looking.

“Why, thank you,” the vampire said with a grin.

She blinked at him. She’d read somewhere that a vampire can read a human’s mind.

“True.” Tate smiled.

“Did Raj’s dad take care of the bodies?” Drezden asked.

Tate nodded. “Everyone will meet you three at the bar.”

She shook her head. She didn’t want to go back there.

“Don’t worry,” Tate said, studying her face. “The bar is closed. We’ll be the only ones there.”

“H… how?” she asked, confused.

“The Kraftman brothers own the bar,” Tate said with a grin. “Which means, now you do too.”

Her eyes opened wider as she stared at the vampire.

“Tate, go away,” Drezden grumbled.

Tate chuckled. “See you guys at the bar,” he said, then vanished.

“Oh my God,” Tamara mumbled.

“He’s okay—once you get used to him.” Drezden chuckled.

“Let’s get her stuff into my truck,” Daryl said as he lifted one of the boxes off the ground.

“Right.” Drezden nodded.

“This has been the craziest night of my life,” Tamara whispered.

Daryl laughed. “It’s going to get even crazier, little sister.”

~🐾~

“Welcome to the club,” Sharissa said when Drezden and Daryl walked in with the new member.

“Thank you,” Tamara said as she hid behind Drezden.

“Shy?” Lyvia asked as she tried to look around Drezden at his new mate.

“Perfect fit for Drezden.” Dustin laughed.

“She’s more nervous than shy,” Drezden said, then told them what happened to her before she came to them.

“Fucking hell,” Shar grumbled with an irritated growl.

“Don’t mind, Shar,” Drezden said, looking back at his mate. “She’s the mama bear of the Fated Mates.”

Shar snorted.

“Who was the guy that saved you?” Lyvia asked.

“I don’t know,” Tamara whispered.

“Introduce your mate to your family before you finish this conversation.”

The group turned to the newcomer.

“Mom.” Drezden took hold of his mate’s hand and led her to his mother. “Mom, this is Tamara. Tamara, this is my mother, Amirah Kraftman.”

“Ma’am,” Tamara said with a nod to the older woman.

Amirah smiled at her. “The Goddesses really hate me.”

“Mom,” Drezden growled.

Amirah looked up at her son. “No offense, Son.”

Drezden snorted.

Other than Dylan’s mate, who is only half human, and a powerful white witch, all of Amirah’s new daughters are human. Which she isn’t fond of. But she has overcome her hatred of humans enough to accept them as family. Especially since they’re popping out grandcubs.

“Green eyes,” Pearl blurted out.

Everyone turned to her, and she looked up.

“I know who saved her.” Pearl pulled out her phone. “Get your ass to the club,” she said, then hung up.

A cloud of grey smoke swirled around the room, and a man appeared before them.

“You summoned me?” the man asked with a grin.

“You.” Tamara stared at him.

“Oh, good. You made it,” he said, looking at her.

“Kota.” Pearl moved over to her brother. “You have some explaining to do.”

Kota turned to his sister and shrugged. “Do you think you’re the only one the Goddesses visit?”

Pearl’s mouth opened and shut, then she crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re not a Fated Mate.”

He shook his head. “No, I’m not. But I’m apparently a good guard dog,” he said, then barked at his sister.

Shar and the other women giggled.

“He saved me,” Tamara said, staring at the man who had saved her from the shifter who’d tried to claim her.

Kota turned to the newest Fated Mate. “I’m glad to see you found your mate.”

“You… you knew I’d find him here?” she stuttered.

“Of course I did,” he replied.

“Kota,” Pearl said, tapping her foot.

Kota turned to his sister. “Sorry, little sister. The Goddesses come to me sometimes, for this or that. They have for hundreds of years.”

Pearl blinked at him. “Why haven’t they sent you to rescue the others that have been compromised?”

Kota looked at Drezden, then back at his sister. “Because she’s a Kraftman Fated Mate, and they keep their eyes on them. They have so much going on that they can’t keep track of every single one. Just the important ones.”

“Makes sense,” Dustin said.

“I wish they could find all of them in time for us to save more,” Shar said.

“So, do they.” Kota looked at Shar. “But they can’t keep their eyes on every single Fated Mate and keep the war back enough for the children to grow.”

“At least they’re keeping their eyes on our mates,” Daryl said, looking at the newest member of their family.

Drezden properly introduced his mate to his family, then the group gathered to discuss their next move.

“At least we’re through with hunting, for now,” Pearl said as she leaned back on the bench seat.

“That’s true.” Shar nodded.

“What were you hunting?” Tamara asked.

“Dark witches and warlocks,” Pearl answered.

“You’re a witch, right?” Tamara asked.

Pearl nodded.

“A white witch,” Dylan pointed out.

Tamara nodded. “If he’s your brother, then I guess you’re not fully human,” she said, pointing at Kota.

Pearl chuckled. “He’s my half-brother. We have the same father.”

“My mom is somewhere in hell,” Kota said as he turned to look at the newest member.

Tamara swallowed. “So, you’re….”

“Half Demon,” Kota said with a nod.

“Wow,” Tamara breathed.

“Don’t worry. He’s more like our father than his mother,” Pearl said with a smile.

“I think it’s time to head home,” Dustin said as he looked down at his sleeping mate.

The others agreed, and everyone headed up the stairs to the apartment.

Tamara followed them with her eyes. “Does everyone live above the bar?”

Drezden chuckled. “No. That’s where the daycare is. There are twelve cubs, remember.”

She nodded, remembering why she’d come to this bar. To help with the Fated Mates’ cubs.

“Actually,” Josiah said as he came down the stairs with his sleeping daughter in his arms. “Eleven cubs and a pup.” He smiled.

“Josiah and his mate Gerald are wolves,” Drezden explained.

Tamara’s heart skipped a beat.

“Good wolves,” Josiah assured her with a smile.

She nodded and watched as a large man came up to his side and kissed his cheek.

“Goodnight,” Josiah said as he and his family left the bar.

“Did they adopt her?” Tamara whispered.

Drezden chuckled. “No. Josiah gave birth to her.”

She blinked up at him.

He leaned down and gently kissed her lips. “The Goddesses have a wicked sense of humor,” he murmured

~🐾~

Tamara didn’t know what to think. She knew her life was going to change when she’d discovered she was a Fated Mate. But this?

“Give it back!”

Tamara watched as two little girls fought over a doll. A flash of light slit across the room, and Tamara jumped back.

‘What the hell?’

“Ruby Kraftman!” Amirah called out as she entered the living room where Tamara stood frozen, unsure what to do with shifter cubs who seemed way too smart for two-year-old toddlers.

“Sorry, Gramma, but Kayden and Kaliya are fighting again,” Ruby said as she stood in the middle of the living room, her little hands on her hips.

Ruby was the most outspoken of the cubs, and she let everyone know that she had the power to make them do what she wanted. The only two Tamara hadn’t seen her use her powers against were Joy and Destiny.

Amirah said it was because Joy is the leader of this band of misfits, and Destiny is Ruby’s best friend.

“Catch him!” Pike hollered as he appeared in the living room with one of his grandsons in his arms.

“Whoa there,” Tamara said with a laugh as she caught Jackson when he tried to run past her.

“Put me down!” the boy yowled.

“You better be nice, Jack. Don’t forget that she’s your aunt. Uncle Drez won’t be happy if you’re mean to his mate.” Amirah crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at her grandson.

Jackson pouted.

“It’s okay,” Tamara whispered.

Amirah looked at her and smiled. “It’s not….” Before she could say anymore, a bolt of lightning flashed past Tamara and Jackson.

Tamara fell to the floor, Jackson in her arms as her body shielded his.

“Ruby!” Amirah screamed.

“Sorry,” Ruby cried. “It was an accident.”

“How is a bolt of lightning an accident!?” Amirah ordered.

“It was supposed to be a sparkler,” Ruby pouted.

Amirah puffed. She looked down at Tamara and her grandson, who was looking up at Tamara as if she was a superhero.

“Are you okay?” Tamara asked as she looked at the little boy beneath her.

“Uh-huh.” Jackson nodded his little head. “You protected me.”

Tamara smiled. “Of course I did.”

Jackson grinned. “You’re my new favorite hero,” he said, then squeezed himself out from under her. He walked over to his grandfather and pulled on his brother’s leg.

Pike smiled as he set Joseph on his feet. The two boys moved away from the others, whispering about something Tamara would probably have to clean up later.

“That’s it,” Amirah said, watching the surrounding cubs. “Where’s Geralyn?”

“Here,” the adorable little girl said as she shoved past the others so Amirah could see her.

Amirah nodded. “That makes twelve. We’re going to the park.”

“Yay!” they yelled as they rushed for the door.

Tamara chuckled. “I guess it’s easier to deal with lightning bolts outside.”

Amirah smirked. “Let’s go get the others. The bar isn’t open yet. They can spare an hour or two for their cubs.”

They moved down the stairs to the bar where the adults were gathered.

“What’s going on, Mom?” Dustin asked, looking up at his parents and the herd of cubs.

“We’re going to the park,” Amirah said, pointing at the bar’s front door. “And you’re all coming with.”

The Kraftman brothers looked at each other, then their mates and friends. They knew not to argue with Amirah Kraftman.

“You okay, Mafilia?” Drezden asked as he walked up to Tamara.

She smiled up at him and nodded. “Yep. Just had to dodge a lightning bolt….”

“Ruby,” Pearl scolded as she looked at her daughter.

“Sorry, Mama. It was an accident. I was trying to make a sparkler for Kayden. Kaliya had stolen her doll again.”

“Kaliya,” Rolando growled.

Kaliya hid behind her twin as their father tapped his foot.

“I think the park is a good idea,” Shar said as she watched her family.

“Exactly.” Amirah nodded.

“Let’s go.” Dustin reached down and lifted his daughter into his arms.

“Down, Daddy,” Joy said, staring into her father’s face.

Dustin chuckled as he kissed his daughter’s cheek, then set her on her feet.

Joy headed for the door, and the other cubs followed. The pup looked up at her daddies, then turned and ran after the others.

Shar smiled at her family. “They’re already following her lead.”

“That’s a good thing,” Pearl said as she watched her daughter with her best friend.

“We better follow them,” Amirah said as she ran for the door.