Destined to be His (Love of a Shifter Book 5) Read online

  Destined to be His

  Love of a Shifter, Book #5

  Bryce Evans

  Contents

  Blurb

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Also by Bryce Evans

  About the Author

  Destined to be His

  Love of a Shifter, Book #5

  by: Bryce Evans

  Copyright © March 2017 Bryce Evans

  Art and Logo Copyright © Bryce Evans

  All rights reserved.

  Edited by: Alexis Ardent

  Artwork by: Jess Buffett

  Formatted by: Stacey Price

  Published by: Bryce Evans

  E-books are not transferrable.

  This book is intended for the purchaser’s sole use.

  Sharing, or downloading to other individuals or devices is illegal.

  This work is fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is purely coincidental.

  All Rights Are Reserved.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  I would like to acknowledge my mom, who passed away a few years ago; she told me to follow my dreams and never allow anyone to tell me I couldn’t achieve them.

  Thanks to the love of my life, John, for making me a place to write and even taking up the slack when I was typing away in my own world. You helped to make my dream come true. It may be a small table in the corner, but it’s my corner of make believe, where dreams do come true.

  Thanks to my beautiful kids, who keep me grounded and drive me crazy at the same time. I love you all.

  Thanks to Janka Dustan who agreed to be my PA and tells me now what to do and when to do it. We have been figuring it out and having a great time at it. Thanks Janka.

  Thanks to my Beta Readers: Janka Dustan and Mary Durham.

  A SPECIAL THANKS to the REBELS. You know who you are.

  It’s a long road but it’s worth it! We did it!!!!!! And now we are making it a reality.

  Please be kind and leave a review on the site you purchased the book from.

  Blurb

  Nash Wilder is used to being in control as the head of security for his pack, and it’s frustrating him to no end that so many of his family and friends have found love, while he sits around twiddling his thumbs waiting for fate to drop his mate into his life. When he’s sent to rescue shifters from involuntary medical testing, he goes in single, and comes out knowing who he’s meant to spend his life with.

  Emerson Prescott left home for a dream job that turned into a horrific nightmare. As a member of the Witches Council, she’s never felt helpless until she’s strapped to a table, forcibly drained of her blood for greed.

  Could it be her Prince Charming lives in a shifter’s body? He certainly looks the part, and Emerson can’t deny she’s drawn to him. Trusting him is another matter altogether.

  Unknown forces are plaguing Emerson and Nash and secrets are being kept at the Meadowland Lodge. Can the two stay together long enough to see if true mate’s equals true love or will the enemy find Emerson before they can find out.

  Prologue

  Don’t touch me! Emerson Prescott screamed out as the man pulled down the sheet covering her naked body, but no one could hear her. Her mouth was covered with tape and stuffed with a gag. Her lungs felt sluggish as the drugs they’d given her burned through her.

  “Now don’t say a word, I’ll make this feel so good. You won’t have to move a muscle. I love to see the fear in your eyes. I wish I could say that this isn’t going to hurt, but I cannot tell a lie…” The man chuckled behind the mask he had on. He was dressed in blue scrubs, like a doctor. All she could see of him were his cold black eyes as they moved up and down her body. His hands were ice-cold as they grasped her breasts.

  This isn’t happening! This isn’t happening…no…NO.

  Closing her eyes, Emerson mumbled a spell from under the gag in her mouth, but nothing happened. The lights dimmed as she chanted frantically, over and over, but still the man continued to run his hands over her skin. The spell wasn’t working. Nothing would work. If only she could move something, but her legs were strapped tight to the bed. The straps cut into her skin as she jerked around, trying to loosen them. She looked around the room, but there was nothing in it but a laptop on a desk. Nothing she could reach to help her get free. If only the spell would work. She went back to chanting, and the lights dimmed again. There was no hope for her. Wherever she was, the place was protected by another spell, one that wouldn’t allow her to work any magic.

  The man grabbed ahold of her head, forcing her to look at him. Her heart began thumping harder, knowing this wasn’t going to end well. She felt his cold hands move up her legs. She struggled, trying to make him stop, but he only laughed.

  No, no, no please stop, please someone help me! she screamed, but the tape muffled her voice. “No one’s coming to help you. Keep screaming, though. I wish I could uncover that pretty mouth of yours just to hear you cry out, but I’ll settle for this.”

  Emerson jerked again but the straps didn’t give at all. Then the man climbed up on the table with her and pulled on some cables, which yanked on the straps and forced her legs further apart. “Now scream for me.”

  Chapter One

  Emerson gasped for breath, shooting straight up in the bed. Grabbing at her throat, she drew in a startled breath. “It’s okay, Em. You’re safe, baby girl. You’re safe.” That voice…she knew that voice. She felt safe with that voice. Opening her eyes, she saw her father standing beside her pushing her hair off of her face and rubbing her back.

  She stared at him; unable to believe he was real. Reaching out, she touched the side of his arm and felt flesh. “Daddy?” Her throat felt raw.

  “It’s me.” Her father patted his chest. Only two simple words, but they were the sweetest words she’d ever heard. A sob broke through like a dam had given way. Emerson grabbed ahold of her dad’s chest, trying to shake away the memories of what had happened. “Daddy, please don’t leave me. Please!”

  Thank God her dad was here. Her hero. The one who’d taught her magic and how to control it. He looked tired, standing there beside the bed, and his shirt was disheveled. But he was here with her. She was out of that place. What happened?

  “I’m not going anywhere, baby girl.” His soothing words, and the warm hand still smoothing her hair back, made her tears lessen. “As soon as you’re well we’re going home where you belong. Where I can keep you safe.” Kingston Prescott’s tone was commanding.

  “What— Where are we?” Emerson asked, pulling away and finally taking in the room. It was nothing like the hellhole she’d dreamed of. This room was beautiful, with rich, dark wooden beams stretching across the ceiling. A comfortable-looking chair sat closely beside the bed. Glancing out the windows, she could see snow-covered mountains. It was the most beautiful vie
w she’d ever seen. The cold, white room she’d been held in flashed into her memory. She had to look at her dad again just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

  “What happened?”

  “You were kidnapped and taken to a facility where they were taking your blood. There were at least fifty paranormals in that place, along with you.” Emerson could hear the disgust in her father’s voice. “You should’ve been home with me, and then they would never have gotten you.”

  “How did you get me out?”

  Her dad sniffed and looked away from her. “I didn’t, the Unit did. Then they blew the place up. But if you’d have been at home where you belong Emerson, this wouldn’t have happened to you in the first place.”

  “Dad, I can’t leave. I gave my word to join the Unit, and I have to stay here. Especially now.”

  Kingston Prescott jerked around, staring at her as if she were some kind of science experiment. “Stay here? Are…are you crazy, Emerson? You were almost raped, for God’s sake. You couldn’t even protect yourself from that, and you think the Unit wants someone like you working for them?”

  She reared back, shaking, as her father punched the wall beside him.

  Tears fell from her eyes as his hurtful words rang in her head. “I thought they needed help, I didn’t know—”

  “Exactly, Emerson, you didn’t know that there were people like that out there. I sheltered you all of your life, protected you from anything bad happening to you. There are evil people out there in our world, people who only want to kill you. It’s a sport for them.” Kingston walked back over to the side of the bed and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Emerson, you’re not strong enough for this type of work. You just can’t do it. I’m going to tell the doctor you’re awake so we can go home. Where you belong.”

  She watched as her dad walked out. She couldn’t believe what he’d said. He was ashamed of her. That’s what he meant. His words were cruel, and they’d left her confidence destroyed. Leaning back, Emerson pulled the comforter up to her chin as if it would protect her. Did the Unit know that she would’ve been violated if they hadn’t rescued her? The Unit was a specialized group of paranormals—they wouldn’t need a weak link on their team, and she would be just that. Just like her father said.

  “Emerson.” She jerked around and found a man standing by the chair. She hadn’t heard him come in. “Hey, it’s okay, you’re okay now.”

  “Are you the doctor?” Emerson asked the man with the deep blue eyes. She knew she should turn away, but she couldn’t. Whoever he was, he was very handsome and kind-looking.

  The man chuckled as he crouched down to her level. “No, I’m not the doctor. My name is Nash Wilder. My cousin, Larken Wilder, owns this lodge. I’m your m…”

  “Get away from her!” Kingston Prescott demanded, barging back into the room.

  Standing up, Nash placed himself in front of Emerson. “You’re not going to keep me from her. She can make up her own mind.”

  Emerson watched as her father narrowed his eyes. She’d never seen him worked up enough for his control to slip. Why was he acting like this? This stranger couldn’t see her father’s magic as he got ready to strike. Without a thought for the consequences, Emerson jerked the comforter off of her and leapt between the man and her father, uttering a protection spell.

  A look of disbelief and shame covered her father’s face as he lowered his hands. “Dad, why…why are acting like this? You never…” Emerson couldn’t contain the tears that streamed down her face. “You don’t use magic against anyone unless—”

  Her legs felt like jelly. They started to give way, but the man behind her grabbed ahold of her before she hit the ground. He picked her up and placed her back in the bed. She turned away from both of the men so they couldn’t see her face. “Enough,” she sobbed. “Enough.” Her voice hitched, and her shoulders heaved as she cried into the pillow. What had happened to her father to make him want to hurt someone? What was going on? Kingston Prescott would never have done that. He always made her understand the rules. You never use magic against an innocent. If she hadn’t intervened, he would’ve used magic against someone, and for what? Because he was a shifter.

  She heard her dad clear his throat and begin to speak, but the shifter named Nash interrupted. “If you ever try to use magic against me again I can guarantee you won’t live to see another day.”

  “I’m very sorry. I—”

  Emerson listened as her father walked out of the room. She could tell the shifter had sat down in the chair beside her bed, even though he never spoke or made a sound. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and peeked over her shoulder to find Nash with his head tilted back and his eyes closed.

  “Are you okay?” Nash asked without opening his eyes.

  “Yes,” Emerson took a few moments just to check out this mysterious man who had threatened her father. As long as she lived she’d never seen anyone strong enough to do that. “I’m sorry, but he’s never acted like that before. He would’ve never used magic on you.” Sniffling, Emerson rolled onto her side, facing Nash.

  “Don’t make excuses for him. I’m a firm believer no matter how bad people’s actions are or how sorry they are for them, those are still their actions, their choices. Your father knows better. And I’m not so sure he wouldn’t have used magic against me.”

  Emerson couldn’t stop staring at Nash. His hair was short, with blond streaks, but long enough that she could run her fingers through it if she had the nerve to. He was intriguing, really too beautiful for someone like her. And she loved the dark scruff along his jaw. She pushed her hand under the comforter so she wouldn’t stupidly reach out and touch it. “Why are you in here, in my room?” She needed answers, no matter how good looking he was. She had too many questions, and everyone was acting crazy, including her own father.

  “Because you’re my mate and I can’t go far from you knowing you’ve been hurt.”

  Nash could’ve said they were living on the moon and she would believe that more than what he’d just said. Mates? The man had to be delusional, but his words made her body tingle.

  “I can see that you don’t believe me.” Nash leaned forward. “I know this may be hard for you to hear, but I’m a shifter, Emerson. I can scent your fear and disbelief, but I want you to know that I would sooner cut off my own hand than hurt you. I know you’ve been through a lot, and you probably don’t know much about shifters and what happens when they find their mates, but we know when we’ve found the one. And you are the one for me.”

  “I… I don’t know what to say.” Emerson said, pulling the sheets higher up. Was this a dream she was having? Because this was too bizarre even for her imagination. Nothing like this happened to her, ever. And yet here this shifter was, telling Emerson that she was his mate. Apparently, she hit her head somewhere along the way.

  “I know. I can see that you’re confused, but I can make you a promise that I’ll never hurt you or make you do something you don’t want to do. I hope you’ll just give me a chance and to get to know me. If you still want nothing to do with me, then—”

  Emerson watched him swallow hard. “Then what?”

  “Then I’ll leave you alone,” Nash whispered. “But I’m praying you’ll give me a chance.”

  “Uh… Right now,” Emerson could hear her voice crack. “I don’t know what to think. My father…”

  “Is a jerk and bigot! But I know he’s your father, so I’m trying real hard to be respectful to you. It’s just that he’s been pushing my buttons ever since he arrived, and when he talks to you like that…” Nash snarled. “It infuriates me that he treats you like a child, and I won’t let him hurt you or disrespect you. What happened wasn’t your fault. I would have stopped to see if that woman needed help. To be honest, I don’t know anyone who would have done it differently, and that includes the Enforcers in my pack.”

  “But you don’t even know me.” Emerson sputtered in disbelief.

  “But I do know you’re a
good person, Emerson Prescott. And nobody deserves to be treated like that and disrespected for trying to help others in need.” Nash explained. She watched as Nash’s hand reached out as if to touch her…but he hesitated and pulled his hand back instead.

  “Why do you want to touch me?” Emerson asked, visibly stunned at his actions. “I haven’t been around many shifters, except the ones at the Council center where I worked. I really liked them. They were good people, but none of them ever tried to touch me. Nobody did.” Emerson whispered the last part. Somehow this man was making her body come alive in ways she’d never experienced before. And now she wanted him to touch her more than ever, even if it was only a small pat on the arm. Her father never hugged her anymore. She wasn’t used to anyone showing her any kind of affection.

  Funny, she thought. I never realized how much I missed it. She could actually feel herself squirming as she took in the bluest and most captivating eyes she’d ever seen. She squeezed her eyes shut. She had to stop these insane feelings, which were making heat spread throughout her body like she was on fire. This whole situation was crazy, and what made it even crazier was that someone like him could be saying this to someone like her.

  She did what she always did when something made her nervous, and blurted out, “What kind of shifter are you?” She knew she was babbling, but she couldn’t help it because nobody had ever taken up for her like that. Not even her father.

  “A wolf. Would you like to see?” Nash asked, leaning forward in his chair.

  “I would…”

  The door to the bedroom opened up before she could say anymore. “There she’s.” Emerson jerked and stared as a tall man with short black hair walked over to her and stood beside the bed. He looked like a doctor, but not the kind that she was used to. The doctors at the Council were snobby and barely spoke to her. They wore signature black robes with a gold seal on them that showed they were doctors.