Callan

  Callan

  Undercover Shifter Book Five

  Ally Summers

  Meredith Clarke

  Copyright © 2019 by Ally Summers

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Hannah

  2. Callan

  3. Hannah

  4. Callan

  5. Hannah

  6. Callan

  7. Hannah

  8. Callan

  9. Hannah

  10. Callan

  11. Hannah

  12. Callan

  13. Hannah

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Oh my God. It was one of those things. The kind that could shred me with one swipe of their clawed hands. What were they called? It was crazy I was even trying to think while I ran for my life. I had hoped I’d never see another one again. With their sewn mouths and red glowing eyes, they were the things nightmares were made.

  I had to resist the urge to close my eyes. If I did how would I keep running? I had to find a way out of here before he caught up to me.

  I didn’t want to die. Who did?

  I tripped over a tree root protruding from the ground and caught myself with my palms before my face hit the dirt.

  “Ouch.” I winced, realizing something jagged had sliced the center of my hand. I shoved off the ground and held the cut to my chest and kept running. The blood soaked into the white sheet wrapped to my chest.

  There wasn’t time to stop the bleeding. I had to move. I looked up when I heard the thunder rumble overhead. This couldn’t be happening. A flash of lighting streaked across the sky. That’s when I saw them.

  My heart froze in my chest. I tried to scream, but I opened my mouth and nothing came out.

  There were two more sets of red eyes. I turned to run in the opposite direction, but I knew there was another one in that direction.

  I was cornered.

  The rain dropped in heavy splashes, covering my face and dripping from my nose. It was so intense I couldn’t see two inches in front of my face. I knew they were drawing closer. Those things. Those beasts. They were hunting me like a fawn.

  And there was nowhere else to run.

  1

  Hannah

  I exhaled when the plane popped out from behind a long line of clouds. I wasn’t nervous about flying usually, but something about crossing the Atlantic Ocean made me tense up. I was happy to see land again even if we were still hours from touching down.

  Six hours on the jet and I had managed to read an entire book and not get a second of sleep.

  I thought I was pretty lucky on the flight. No one had tried to rope me into small talk. That meant I didn’t have to tell them I lived in London now, but I used to live in the United States. I didn’t have to explain I was headed back for a few weeks to help my sister with her new baby. Most importantly, I didn’t have to go into any of the details about how my new baby niece was part bear shifter. I hadn’t wrapped my head around that part.

  I’d seen a hundred pictures of Olivienne. We had video chatted the day she was born. My sister wanted me to see her baby from every angle. I hated I missed the birth. I wanted to be there for Ava the way she was always there for me. I wondered if she had been scared. Knowing her, she had faced birth head-on, welcoming her baby with open arms. I knew I was missing the fearlessness she had. Maybe that’s why she was the big sister. I would have sucked at it.

  My niece was precious and sweet. Ava said she was a perfect baby. But she was half shifter. Her father was from a bear clan. The more questions I asked my sister about her husband and mate, the more questions I had. The more worried I became.

  It didn’t keep me from hopping on a plane the minute my big sister needed me. Nothing could ever stop me from that. Not even a tiny adorable bear cub with a dangerous growl.

  * * *

  I had to blink when I saw her.

  “Ava!” I ran toward my sister near the baggage claim carousel. There was a throng of people from my connecting flight from Chicago shoving and pushing to get to the front row. I didn’t care about my bags as much as I did about hugging my sister for the first time in months.

  “You made it.” She pulled me into her arms.

  “Where’s the baby?” I glanced around as if Olivienne could magically appear. Maybe she could. I didn’t spot a stroller or one of those car carriers. I had expected to see my sister loaded down with baby gear.

  “Nolan has her. He offered to stay home so we could drive and catch up on our way to Hunters Lake.”

  “That was sweet of him, but I want to see my niece.” I pouted.

  Ava laughed. “Trust me. You’ll have plenty of time with her.”

  “You look amazing.” I smiled at my sister. I saw the rosey glow in her cheeks. Her hair was shiny and thick. I swore her skin was glowing. I thought that only happened when women were pregnant, but I’d never seen Ava look prettier.

  “Don’t you mean exhausted?” She ran a hand through her hair. “I haven’t slept in two weeks. I was so excited to take a shower this morning I almost cried.”

  “Aww.” I put an arm around her. “No one would have a clue you’re an exhausted new mother. You look beautiful. And holy cow your boobs are huge. I’m jealous.” I eyed her chest. There was a deep V in her blouse that showed off her new curves.

  “You might not be so jealous of nursing a cub,” she answered quietly. “But Nolan seems to like them.” I saw the way her face flushed when she spoke about her husband. It was adorable.

  “I think he likes everything about you.”

  Ava and Nolan had visited me in London over part of their honeymoon. It was the first time I met my brother-in-law. It was also the first time I had laid eyes on an actual shifter. I learned quickly that he was more devoted to my sister than I could have imagined possible. I’d never seen a man so in love before. I was happy for her. Happy for both of them.

  Part of me couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have a man look at me the way Nolan looked at Ava. Was that part of the shifter package?

  “Do you see your bag?” Ava prodded me.

  “Oh. Right. The bags. You stay right here. It looks like it’s clearing out a little. Maybe I won’t get shoved to the floor.” I rolled my eyes as I made my way through the oncoming crowd rolling luggage behind them.

  Twenty minutes later Ava and I were in the car and she was driving us toward Hunters Lake. My bags were piled high in the trunk. I had packed half of one with cute British presents for my niece. I didn’t know what cubs liked, but I couldn’t resist a mini baby shopping spree before I left London.

  “Are you tired?” Ava asked.

  I shook my head. “I feel fine. I’m here to help you. Don’t worry about me.”

  “But you flew from Europe. You get a day to catch up on sleep.”

  “I don’t need a day,” I argued. “I want to do as much for you as I can while I’m here.”

  Ava smiled. “I appreciate that’s what you want to do, but I’m just happy you’re here. Really. That’s all that matters to me, spending time with you and the baby. The three of us. The Lance girls.”

  “We’re going to make the most of my time here,” I announced. I wasn’t going to let my older sister railroad me into letting her take over like she usually tried to do. “By the time I leave you’re going to be fully rested. I guarantee it.”

  “You don’t have to do that. Part of motherhood includes never sleepin
g again. At least that’s what everyone keeps telling me.”

  “I do have to do it. I need to take care of you too.” I closed my eyes. “It’s what Mom would want me to do.”

  A long silence fell between us in the car. Ava had taken over the parental role years ago. She needed to let someone help her for once.

  “All right,” she whispered.

  I pressed my lips together not knowing if I’d be able to do half the things my mother would have done with her first grandchild, but knew I’d work hard as hell to be the best aunt little Olivienne would ever have.

  * * *

  As soon as Ava pulled into the driveway Nolan walked down the front steps of their small porch. I barreled out of the car before it was fully in park. Ava called after me, but I was too excited.

  Nolan chuckled. I couldn’t see the baby’s face. He held her against his chest, wrapped in a soft blanket.

  “Can I hold her?” I looked into his eyes.

  “Of course.”

  He gently placed her in my arms. As I cradled against the crook in my elbow, I peeled the blanket away from her chin.

  “Oh my God. She’s so perfect,” I whispered. “So, so pretty. The prettiest niece in the world.” I thought I had started cooing involuntarily.

  The car door slammed and Ava walked toward us. Nolan wrapped her in a hug, kissing her on the side of the neck.

  “How was she?” she asked.

  “She slept the entire time,” he reported.

  “Liar.” She slapped at his solid chest.

  Ava withdrew her phone from her back pocket. “Hold still so I can get your first picture together.”

  I stopped swaying with the baby and posed for a picture.

  “How do we look?” I asked.

  “Beautiful.”

  Nolan leaned over Ava’s shoulder to look at the picture. “Looks good.”

  “Want to go inside?” Ava offered.

  “I’ll grab your suitcases.” Nolan headed for the car while we walked inside the house.

  I had barely looked up. I only had eyes for the baby. She had the most precious eyelashes.

  “We don’t have a ton of room,” Ava explained. “But we bought an air mattress and you can sleep in the nursery.”

  “Oh, I’d love to bunk with Olivienne.”

  Ava shook her head. “She sleeps in our room at night for now. You’ll have the nursery to yourself.”

  “What? What kind of situation is that? You and Nolan sleep with a baby?”

  Ava blinked. “Not with her. She has her own bassinet next to the bed. But it makes feeding her in the middle of the night so much easier.”

  I sat on the couch in the living room, enjoying every second of the baby snuggles. I looked up just as my sister started to yawn.

  “Why don’t you take a nap?” I suggested. “Go lie down. I’ve got the baby.”

  Ava looked skeptical. “You just got here.”

  “So?”

  “So. I should make you something to eat. Show you where the shower is.”

  “I think I can handle it. Go get a nap. I’ll sleep tonight. I’m too excited to sleep anyway.”

  Just then Nolan walked in with my suitcases. He scowled.

  “Sorry. I could have helped you.”

  “No. It’s not the bags. I just got a call from the station. I need to go in.”

  “No,” Ava whined. “Hannah just got here. You’re supposed to be off today.”

  “Sorry, baby.” He strolled her, pressing a slow kiss into her lips. I had to look away, feeling as if I was witnessing something private. Things were obviously still hot between them. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. You two okay for a while?”

  I nodded. “Yes. I’m trying to get Ava to take a nap.”

  “Good. You need it.” He eyed her and I felt her start to cave. “Hannah. Call me if you need anything. See you girls later.”

  He closed the door behind him and jogged down the front steps.

  “You heard the man.” I shrugged. “I’m in charge of the baby and you are taking a nap.”

  “Fine,” Ava groaned. “There are a few bottles in the fridge if you need one. I pumped this morning before I left for the airport. But warm it on the stove, not in the microwave.”

  “We will be absolutely fine. Stop worrying.”

  She stretched her arms overhead and glanced at me holding her tiny baby. “Come get me if you need anything.”

  “I will.”

  As soon as she was gone I smiled at Olivienne. “So. What kind of trouble can we get into today?”

  2

  Callan

  The sweat dripped down my chest. I ran the back of my hand across my forehead. I had to keep running. My feet hit the gravel path with a resounding amount of force and power. It wasn’t as if I could hide the fact that I was a bear shifter. I was stronger and faster than most men. It also didn’t mean I didn’t have to train, even on my day off. I wasn’t the only one pushing the physical limits. Everyone on the force knew we were up against something more powerful than we had faced before. Every extra second I had, I spent preparing. I worked on my speed. I focused on building my strength. I trained to increase my agility and quickness.

  Hunter’s Lake had a target on its back. Until it was lifted, no one was safe and those of us who protected the town needed to be ready for anything.

  The truth was I didn’t know how much more this town could take of the torture and uncertainty. There were more questions than facts when it came to the super shifters Allied had created.

  What I did know was that the supers hadn’t stopped attacking humans or shifters in the past few months. People were terrified. No one in Thunder Pike, the neighboring town, was talking. We still had a rogue agency on our hands with Allied, and a mythical stone stolen from the library was still missing. Rawlings wasn’t going to stop until he found it.

  Our squad had taken out Allied’s main facility. Allied had been running its super shifter program there until we were able to destroy it. Baker had paid the price. He was still recovering from the explosion. I shook my head thinking about what he had been through. We all carried a heavy burden as part of Hunter’s Lake law enforcement. Because we were also shifters, sometimes we took on more than other officers.

  There was a water station up ahead. I had been running on the trails for over an hour. I stopped to fill the camel pack on my back and take a few sips. I was surprised there wasn’t anyone else filling up. It was hotter than I expected today.

  I splashed water on my face. It mixed with sweat, burning my eyes for a second. I didn’t want to stay long. I had to train for endurance and long distance. The last super shifter attack had led one of our officers on a four-hour chase deep into the mountains. The terrain required us to perform at the same level they did. Some days it felt as if it was impossible. We were fighting beasts that shouldn’t even exist. They were abnormal hybrids, almost impossible to kill. I wasn’t going to stop pushing myself. Ever.

  I twisted the cap of my water pack to seal it. Time to keep running. I reset the timer on my watch.

  My ears prickled when I heard the first scream.

  What the fuck?

  I turned. I heard a second glass-shattering scream. I didn’t need to hear a third. I took off running toward it as fast as I could. I hurdled logs and fallen branches in the woods. I didn’t worry about sticking to the trail. I had to get to the source of that sound. I heard snorting and deep gasps. I pulled up just short of the clearing.

  I hadn’t seen anyone all afternoon. But I saw her now.

  Her back was against a tree and she was cradling something to her chest. Shit. It was a baby.

  I saw the fear in the woman’s eyes as she faced the super shifter standing in front of her.

  Neither one of them saw me. The baby started to cry. It seemed to startle the super. I imagined it had never heard a baby cry before. It was possible it had never seen one either.

  It might be the only chance I had to surpris
e it.

  In a split second I made the decision to charge forward, tackling it to the ground with a heavy thud.

  The woman with the baby shrieked and raced behind the tree. I couldn’t keep an eye on her and fight the super without one of us getting hurt. I focused my attention on him. Striking at his face, aiming for the red glowing eyes. One punch landed square on his nose. He grunted as I rammed another fist into his abdomen.

  It was clear I had taken him by surprise, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t going to fight to kill me. He started rolling, like some kind of damn gator. I wrapped my hands around his neck. He wasn’t going to shake me that easily.

  I spotted where he was taking me. There was a drop off near the trail. He was going to throw me off the side of this landing. Hell if I was going to let him flatten me like a pancake. As he began to pick up momentum, gunning for the ledge, I let go and he rolled full-force, catapulting off the side of the rocks. I shoved off the ground and watched as he landed at the bottom of the cliff, on his feet. He stared at me. His eyes flickered red before he shot off into the covered brush.

  I exhaled. I almost forgot about the girl and the baby when I heard the baby start to cry again.

  I turned and ran toward her. She was covering the baby’s head as she crouched behind the tree.

  “I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” she repeated, rocking the baby to her chest. “It’s going to be okay. It will. I promise.”

  “Are you okay?” I asked. I knelt beside her. “He’s gone.”

  She shook. Her head bent over the baby, trying to soothe its crying.

  I placed my palm on her shoulder. Her head lifted and her eyes traveled to mine. A deep pang in my chest vibrated to my bones. Who was this girl?