Bewitched and Bewildered Book 8 Read Online

  Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Prologue

Affiliate 1

Chapter Two

Affiliate Three

Chapter Four

Chapter 5

Affiliate Half dozen

Chapter Seven

Chapter 8

Chapter Nine

Chapter 10

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Affiliate Thirteen

Chapter 14

Epilogue

Nearly the Author

Coming Soon

Other Books on Amazon

My DEFENDER

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Bewitched and Bewildered

_________________________________________________________

ALANEA ALDER

Copyright © 2017 Alanea Alder

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may exist reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in whatsoever form or past whatsoever means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed "Attention: Permissions Coordinator," at the address beneath.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

This is a piece of work of fiction. Any names, characters, places and incidents are the production of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or expressionless, business organisation establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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P.O.Box 280

Moyock, NC, 27958

Digital ISBN- 978-i-941315-18-7

Print ISBN- 978-1-941315-xix-four

Sacred Forest Publishing

Dedication

~Omnia Vincit Amor- Beloved Conquers All~

May all my peepers learn to dear themselves as much as I do. Remember in that location are over 7 billion people in the world but only ane of you, then how could any version of you be wrong?

PROLOGUE

Grant woke with a get-go and immediately saturday up in bed. He had dreamt of his mate once more. At to the lowest degree, he believed her to be his mate. All he could see was creamy skin and terrified chocolate-brown optics.

The female stood in the heart of a murky swirling mass of darkness. He chosen out to her, tried to wade through the inky waves, merely could non reach her. The more he tried to push the blackness aside, the deeper he sank. Then, slowly, as she remained only out of reach, the ebony mist began to pull her nether.

He could gustatory modality his own fear every bit her gasping cries for help echoed in his mind. Within him, his wolf began to claw, trying to become free, enraged at their helplessness. In the cease, she disappeared as the darkness took her, the pain in his chest the simply confirmation she had non survived.

How had Adriel and Declan faced these nightmares and remained sane?

He looked at the clock; it wasn't quite midnight. He sighed. If he went back to sleep now, he risked having a second nightmare, simply if he didn't, he'd be exhausted for patrols the next solar day.

He lay dorsum in his bed and brought his forearm upwardly to encompass his eyes, equally if that could block out the images that haunted him.

How could yous fight something you couldn't touch?

Chapter ONE

Grant felt like he'd only been asleep a few moments when he heard banging at his forepart door. Bleary-eyed, he got out of bed and stumbled downwards the stairs. When he opened the door, he was shocked to see his unit leader standing in front of him. "Adriel, what'southward incorrect?" he asked.

Adriel looked only as tired as he felt. Grant turned to expect at the clock on the wall; it was simply a little bit after three a.grand.

"Stefan simply came to visit."

"At iii a.thou.?" Grant asked.

Adriel nodded. "A few of the children do non feel well and are asking for you lot on Level Six."

Grant frowned in confusion. "Why me?"

Adriel cocked his head to one side. "Good question. Are you able to come?" he asked, giving him a apartment, wearied await.

Grant nodded absently. "Of class. Give me a few minutes to go dressed." He shut the door, went back upstairs, and pulled on the first things he came across. It would be a miracle if he matched; he could barely keep his eyes open up. Satisfied he at to the lowest degree had his body covered, he went downstairs and left with Adriel. They walked in silence toward the tunnel. Adriel held out his arm, and together, they rose to Level 6. In one case they reached the marketplace, Grant saw Stefan push button away from the wall he had been leaning against. The young Blastoff walked over to greet them.

"Grant, thank you lot for coming. I have 3 children who aren't feeling well. One of them is Benji'south foster sister Clara; the other two are the Hamilton boys, Ricardo and Matteo.

Grant turned to Stefan. "They actually asked for me?"

Stefan nodded. "Yep. They called out for Mr. Grant. Well..." he paused, "...except for Benji; he's not talking yet, but we all know he's taken with you. His foster mother, Susan, just can't become him to settle. Poor little guy is probably picking up on the stress in the house." Though young for an Alpha, Stefan took his position seriously. Grant had never seen an Blastoff then closely involved with his pack members before. Stefan treated anybody as though they were family; it was this practice that had won him the respect and admiration of most of the warriors.

They rapidly made their way through the vendor stalls, which were closed for the night, to the wide opening that led to the refugee campsite. What was supposed to exist a unproblematic housing project for the witches had turned into creating a tiny city carved out of the walls of the cave. Stefan led them to the third house, and they veered to the left. He knocked on the door, and a worried looking shifter answered.

Tobias and Susan Garcia were immature parents with huge hearts. They had taken in Benji almost immediately when the poor kid was orphaned. When the exhausted father saw who was on his doorstep, he looked relieved.

"Grant, thank you lot for coming. Susan's been upwardly with Benji for the past half-dozen hours while I've been sitting with Clara. She tin can't get him to settle for the night. Both of the Hamilton boys and Clara all are complaining they don't feel well. Personally, I recall Benji is upset because Clara is crying." He led them through the corking and tidy home to the dorsum door, opened it, and showed them to the open courtyard where both families and the three children waited. Grant was surprised to see that Dr. St. John was kneeling abreast the makeshift beds, examining one of the children.

"Hey, Md," Grant chosen out.

Dr. St. John's head popped up. "You're here. Good. Y'all've been requested." He nodded his head to the three modest children who were looking up at Grant, tear tracks on their faces. Grant winked at them and walked over to where Susan sabbatum with a fussing Benji in her lap; she glanced at him, and he could most see the relief flow through her.

"I simply can't get him to sleep." Her voice croaky as she gave him a shaky smile. Without proverb a word, he lifted Benji into his artillery; almost instantly, the child quieted, laid his head on Grant'due south chest, and promptly fell asleep.

Susan's jaw dropped. "That's impossible. How did you lot do that?" she demanded.

He shrugged. Adriel pointed to the inflated mattress on the gr

ound, grinning wickedly. "Get comfortable," he ordered.

Grant rolled his eyes just was actually grateful for a adventure to lie back down. He climbed into the bed and settled Benji on his chest. Very gently, both shifter fathers placed the two boys on either side of Grant.

Stefan kicked back in a recliner someone had dragged out of one of the houses with little Clara in his lap. Inside moments, the whimpering and tears slowly faded, and the sounds of even breathing filled the air. All four children were asleep. The parents looked on in amazement. Clara'southward male parent shook his head. "I don't want to know how; she'due south comatose. Benji is asleep and then we're going to turn in. Grant, phone call us if yous need annihilation; there's a baby monitor by the bed."

He yawned. "Certain thing." The Hamiltons whispered their thank you and headed into 1 of the houses. Adriel covered Stefan and Clara with a blanket. "Sugariness dreams, you two. Grant, swing past Level One in the morning for a briefing." Grant barely heard Adriel and Dr. St. John leave; he was already drifting off to sleep.

*****

The side by side morn, Grant woke upwardly to an empty bed. Slightly panicked, he looked around, making sure that he hadn't accidentally rolled over and squished Benji or one of the Hamilton boys in his sleep. When he heard voices coming from one of the houses, he went to where he knew Benji lived with his foster family. Feeling a bit awkward, he knocked on the dorsum door. Tobias opened the door wide, grinning brightly. "Good morning time, sunshine."

Grant nodded without comment, walked into the firm, and headed to the kitchen. Tobias followed behind him. "We picked upwards Benji and Clara start thing this morning time. The Hamiltons picked up the boys about an 60 minutes subsequently. We're finishing up breakfast. What tin I become you?"

Grant shook his head. "I could utilize your bathroom."

Laughing, Tobias pointed the way. After Grant splashed some water on his face and used the facilities, he looked in the mirror. He didn't look any different than the other shifters. Why did the kids want him? Shrugging, he walked back to the kitchen.

Clara was boot upwards a fuss in her highchair, refusing any more than food, and throwing pieces of egg off the highchair'south tray. Susan, despite the previous night'southward rest, already looked worn out. Grant turned to Benji, who was sitting quietly in his ain highchair, watching the entire scene with broad eyes. When he saw Grant, he raised his hands. Grant moved almost subconsciously toward the child and lifted Benji into his arms. "How about I take this niggling guy for a few hours to give you interruption," he offered. Susan looked up surprised. "Are you certain? We wouldn't want you to miss patrols."

Grant looked downward at Benji. "He's no trouble."

Tobias looked grateful. "Thank you. We will spend some extra fourth dimension with Clara. Mayhap she needs to take mom and dad to herself for footling while." Grant bounced Benji on his arm while Tobias packed a baby bag. Both parents thanked him again equally he left. Once clear of the houses and into the humming atmosphere of the market, Grant looked down at Benji. "Well, it'due south just you and me now kiddo. Think nosotros'll be okay?"

Benji blew spit bubbles happily and clapped his tiny easily.

"I'll take that as a yep." Balancing the baby on his arm, he made his way toward the transport tunnel. He really hated flagging downwards ship escorts; they always seemed to have some sort of snarky remark to make, simply every bit luck would have it, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Micah running toward them.

"Cute kid." Micah tickled Benji under his chin. "I expected you earlier; y'all must've been really tired. But I guess that's what happens when you go woken up at three o'clock in the morning." Micah placed a paw on Grant's arm.

"Meeting still going?" Grant asked.

"Just started actually, and then y'all oasis't missed much."

Micah floated them downwards and dropped them off at Level I before heading back up to beginning his own patrols. Grant had merely been to the Majestic level a few times with Adriel, and he was merely every bit nervous at present as he had been then. He knocked on the door and waited. Moments later, the door opened and Sebastian, Prince Magnus' squire, stood grin at them. "And who is this little admirer?" he asked, reaching out a hand for Benji to grasp.

"This is Benji. I'm kinda babysitting," Grant replied.

Sebastian held out his artillery, practically vibrating with excitement. Grant handed the toddler over to Sebastian, who cooed and generally fabricated a large fuss over the tiny child as he carried him to the dining room.

Grant collapsed into a chair and blinked down at the tabular array, willing his mind to function. He hated mornings. He looked around for some coffee.

"Are you our own Mary Poppins?" Bethy teased.

He grunted, still looking for the coffee. "Allow me," a voice said from backside him. Ryuu, Meryn's squire, turned the white coffee cup right side upwards on the saucer and poured him a cup of steaming fresh coffee.

"Cheers," Grant said and picked upwards the loving cup. He sipped information technology slowly, feeling his reality realign after having been out of sync from the odd dark.

"No cream or sugar?" Meryn asked.

Grant shook his caput. "No need."

"Have you lot tried it?"

"No."

"Then how do you know at that place's no need?"

Grant idea well-nigh it for a moment. "Good signal. I'll try some in my next loving cup. I usually beverage it blackness considering it's easy."

"Not everyone drinks foam and sugar with a bit of java similar you practice, honey," Aiden said, kissing the meridian of his mate'southward head.

"Sugar plus coffee equals brain fuel." Meryn yawned and sipped her ain cup.

"Grant, what can I get you for breakfast?" Sebastian asked, rocking dorsum and forth with Benji on his hip.

"Any is the quickest," Grant replied, rubbing his stomach.

"Of course. I will get something for this petty one while we are dorsum in that location," Sebastian said. But when he went to walk into the kitchen, Benji began to cry. Everyone looked at Benji. Sebastian'due south face up revealed a hurt expression.

Grant spoke up. "It isn't you lot. Trust me. He wouldn't even serenity for his foster mother last night."

Sebastian's smile returned. "In that example, I recollect information technology best he wait with you." He placed Benji on Grant'southward lap, and instantly, the child brightened. Sebastian'southward eyebrows rose. "How peculiar." Shaking his head, he made his way back to the kitchen to start Grant's breakfast.

To his left, Magnus began sticking out his natural language and making faces at Benji, who, in return, was blowing raspberries back at Magnus, making the Prince of the Vampires laugh. Bethy watched the interaction with a smile on her confront.

Magnus looked up from playing with Benji. "How are the children?"

"Clara and Benji are both doing better, though Clara was starting to go fussy when we left."

Dr. St. John cleared his throat. "I tin can't make heads or tails of it. They weren't running much of a fever, low-grade if anything. I can't find or make up one's mind a reason why they would be interim this way. Unlike the other three, Benji isn't glassy eyed or sluggish. I think he was reacting to the tension effectually him and simply wanted Grant."

Sebastian walked out of the kitchen and set a tiny bowl of dry Cheerios on the table in front of them for Benji and a plate of toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon for Grant. Benji'south tiny easily immediately attacked the bowl, and he was stuffing dry out cereal into his mouth faster than Grant could keep track of. Dr. St. John watched the entire interaction, tapping his lips with his finger. "Yous accept no idea why they'd ask for you lot?"

Grant shook his caput. "Peradventure it's because I'm a wolf."

Eva turned in her chair toward him. "Are you Mexican grey wolf?" she asked.

"No, a timber wolf. I was born into a pack whose territory sits on the border betwixt Montana and Wyoming."

"I didn't know that." Declan frowned.

Grant shrugged. "No demand to know."

"He'due south quiet, similar me." Meryn piped upward from across the tabular array. Grant shared a knowing smile with the small homo. Out of anybody at the tabular array, he identified with Meryn the near. Neither of them really liked people only did the all-time they could. Benji turned on his charm and flashed Meryn a little i-molar grinning.

She laughed. "Look at him: Super Fan

g!"

Bethy rolled her eyes. "You tin can't phone call him Super Fang."

Meryn shrugged, and everyone knew she would ignore Bethy and call Benji whatever she wanted. "He's cute."

Dr. St. John slumped back in his chair. "I'm non aback to acknowledge I feel out of my depth. I have no idea how to treat children. In fact, I'chiliad not quite certain how to treat adult shifters either; they don't become sick. Broken bones and stitching up wounds I tin handle, only I can't tell if the children have fevers or are but running warm. I'g not even sure of the correct dosage or even what medications to requite them."

Kari turned to Magnus. "I have a friend in the urban center where I used to live earlier setting upwardly my business concern. She is a pediatrician. I met her when nosotros worked with the managing director of her infirmary getting him set up upwardly with an assistant. She is brilliant. I could call her and see if she knows someone who could help."

Magnus nodded. "Encounter if she is able to come. I am willing to pay all her expenses, whatsoever she needs."

Kari stood, jail cell phone in hand. "I will requite her a call. She is an early riser so I know she will be awake." She left the dining room, walking toward the lobby. Grant ate his toast with ane hand while keeping an eye on Benji. He looked upward and caught Adriel watching him closely.

"What?" he asked.

"Null, you wait very natural doing that."

Grant shrugged and handed Benji his little sippy cup from the baby pocketbook.

Declan chuckled. "Are you going to do patrols with him?"

Grant nodded. "His foster mom needs a break. Information technology'south not like he'south hard to care for; he's a good baby."

Meryn chuckled wickedly. "Those audio like famous last words."

*****

Ellie wiped her hands down her slacks nervously. Her palms were sweaty and her middle was beating out of control. It wasn't often that she was called into her boss' function. He by and large left her alone to care for her patients and do her research. Virtually all of the executives at the hospital were paranormals. Vampires, shifters, and witches worked together to help human children fight their illnesses and diseases. To her, information technology was unfair that humans were so fragile and their children even more than and so. Information technology seemed similar every illness could kill them and then rapidly. She was surprised they had grown to the numbers they had. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

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