Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) Read Free

them all. She hoped that one day he’d be able to meet a woman who was worthy of his love.
    “Can I get a ride into town?”
    “If you’d like, but are you sure you want to go into town again tonight?”
    “Don’t worry about me, Angus. There’s not much else to do at Shadow Creek, and it gets boring staying in my cabin all the time.”
    “Okay, but be careful and call me when you want to come home. I don’t like the idea of you speaking with Raphael and Seth, either. It’s just strange.”
    “Why is that?” Tessa wanted to know.
    “I can’t imagine Raphael ever tying himself down to a woman, and I also can’t see him as the sharing type.”
    Tessa hugged her arms as a cool breeze carried over to them. “You’re so sweet, Angus. Just like a big brother I never had.”
    “What was your family like?”
    “Not like anyone around here. They weren’t all that nurturing, that’s for sure. I’m sure they loved me in their own way. If only they had expressed it like other families do.”
    They hopped in the truck and Angus drove into town. Two ATVs were parked alongside the saloon and she wondered if Raphael and Seth were inside.
    Angus led the way inside and sat at the bar since all of the tables were full. The bartender strode over and smiled. “Hello there, Tessa. It’s nice to see your pretty face in here again.”
    Tessa didn’t know if he was trying to flirt with her or just making small talk—she guessed the latter. “Thanks, Frank, I think.”
    “What can I get you two?”
    “Pitcher of beer sounds good,” Angus said.
    There was a loud boom as two men staggered inside. Tessa narrowed her eyes at the men. The scrawny one was Jason Traxler, who immediately stumbled his way toward her.
    “H-Hello. Look – it’s one of those Shadow Creek bitches,” he sneered.
    “Why don’t you come over and sit on my lap, honey?” the other drunk, Earl Sharp, taunted. He was still standing, but barely. He was the only man in Creeksboro who seemed to stomach Jason as a friend. He was a much larger man and word had it he was just paroled.
    Tessa knew Jason all too well. He was as low as it got, and calling him a man tasted bitter on her tongue. He had a history of abusing women, including Carrie, who was the mother of Melody, Seth’s daughter. Why any hawk shifter would put up with that was beyond Tessa. If she were Carrie, that man’s eyes would be missing by the pointy edge of a beak.
    She turned back around, ignoring the men. They continued to hurl insults their way until Tessa heard a loud and booming voice say, “Knock it off, you two, or I’ll lock you in the drunk tank.”
    “Lock us up, you old fool. You’re not the law around here, Cl-Clayton,” Jason responded.
    “Nope, you’re right about that one,” Clayton agreed.
    “But I am,” the sheriff said as he stood up, dressed casually, obviously out for the night. “You two had best head home and you’ll need a head start since you’re both too drunk to drive tonight.”
    “But I want a couple shots, first,” Jason whined.
    “I’ll give you a few shots,” Angus offered, turning.
    “Calm down, boy,” Tessa said with a grin, patting Angus’s arm.
    “Bitch, you better not be talking to me,” Jason threatened.
    Tessa was off the stool in seconds, taking hold of Jason’s neck. “Now that’s no way to talk to a lady.” She gave him a shove and he slid all the way to the door.
    He crawled to his feet. “What the hell are you? Another shifter?”
    “I-I’ve never seen a shifter do that before,” Earl said. “We should head home before this gets out of hand.”
    Tessa laughed. “It already has, you loser. You’re a waste of oxygen.”
    “Did you hear that, Sheriff? She’s threatening me. Do something.”
    “I didn’t hear her threaten anyone. You shouldn’t have insulted the lady.”
    Angus started laughing in his bear-like tone, which echoed in the room.
    “Stop laughing at me, Angus, before I come over there and smack