Into The Shadows (The Shadows Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  Contents

  Into The Shadows

  Prologue

  Chapter One: The Day Everything Changed

  Chapter Two: Secret Kept

  Chapter Three: Kyran Lewis

  Chapter Four: Powers Unboundr

  Chapter Five: Falling In Love

  Chapter Six: Training Begins

  Chapter Seven: History Lesson

  Chapter Eight: I Love You

  Chapter Nine: A New Change

  Chapter Ten: Accepting A Mate

  Chapter Eleven: Paranormal Hunters

  Chapter Twelve: Smith Revelation

  Chapter Thirteen: A New Life

  Chapter Fourteen: Danger Arises

  Chapter Fifteen: The Government

  Epilogue

  Exclusive: The Alliance Except

  Into The Shadows

  Book 1

  A Shadows Trilogy Novel

  By ClareMarie

  Coming Soon

  The Alliance

  Book 1

  The Rockstar Alliance Series

  By ClareMarie

  Acknowledgements

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to events or actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

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  All rights reserved. Copyright© 2016 ClareMarie

  Dedication

  * * *

  This book is dedicated to... Me. It's to congratulate myself in pouring everything I have into this original story. I knew writing was my passion but having read so many books it's hard to write an original, new and exciting story. It took me some time to come up with Into The Shadows.

  For a while, I was lost and unsure, I didn't believe I was a good enough writer always doubting myself but in writing this book, I found me again and decided this book is a trophy to myself in finally following my dreams of writing a novel I'm truly proud of. I hope you enjoy Ava's and Kyran's story as much as I did creating it.

  Into The Shadows

  Prologue

  * * *

  I'm lying here curled into a ball on the cement floor after many weeks in captivity, beaten, bruised and weak. My wounds will soon heal before the next interrogation but as always I'll remain silent. I think back on a happy memory I shared with him; Kyran Lewis.

  Our world was once free until they came along. Our country once in the light now exists in shadows, because they live in darkness.

  Nine months earlier, I was walking to work through the woods near my home on a cold, foggy morning where the scent of pine is in the air and the crinkle of leaves below. I could certainly feel someone or something following me. I see movement from behind a tree, a grey wolf with soulful green eyes; I’m mesmerized. The wolf stares back into my blue ones, well aware that I should be terrified, but strangely a warm feeling of calm fell over me.

  It took a few steps towards me and I stood still not out of fear but letting him smell me knowing dogs like to do that and wolves are probably similar I would imagine. I'm not sure how I pick up the wolf is male, just a hunch I feel and oddly a sudden hit of attraction which quite frankly is disturbing.

  The wolf stops in front of me continuing to look into my eyes, I stare back, and deep in his, I could feel intelligence in there much more than an animal’s. The woods was grown for the werewolves by The Government next to Central Park, and it isn't difficult to figure out he is one. I'm not sure how but I know my life just changed, and in a sense something moved inside of me clicking into place and from the slightly startled look in his green eyes, he felt it too.

  I put my hand out, palm up, for him to sniff and to come closer. He takes a sniff but I think purely for show sending out his ok for me to stroke his fur. I move towards him allowing my hand to run through his pelt. It's so soft and glossy looking, he makes a rumbling noise in pleasure. Remembering I should be at work soon, I move back and start walking the way I'd been going before I saw him but looking over my shoulder every few seconds to watch the wolf who's going from tree to tree following me.

  The wolf stops on the border of Woodlands Creek as I leave him, going into the streets of New York, crossing the road. I look back at him one more time before opening the door to work and find him still watching me, sitting on his haunches.

  That's the first day I met Kyran Lewis, but I hadn't known that then. I wouldn't find out the secret he held until many months later when my story began.

  Would you want to live in the shadows?

  Chapter One:

  The Day Everything Changed

  * * *

  I walked the same route to work through Woodlands Creek next to Central Park at 8:30 am. The morning stroll doubles as a time to think and relax. I'm quite dull looking 5'7, size eight, long black wavy hair almost down to my rear with dark blue eyes, plump pink lips, oval shaped face and light brown skin. Sometimes I would just stare at the tag with my name “Ava James” on it and get lost in thought.

  The woods are so peaceful. I pick up on a connection to the earth here, the smell of the trees reminds me of pine leaves, crunching beneath my feet as I walk, birds chirping some distance away but my favorite thing about the woods is the beautiful gray wolf with green eyes. He’s around most days following me but not in a threatening way, it appears to be walking me to and from work. I've stared into its green eyes so many times to try and guess if the person in there is someone I might have crossed paths with but I’ve never seen those eyes outside of these woods and I would have sensed them anywhere by now, of that I am certain.

  I didn't understand who I was, always felt like there was something in me wanting to be known but could never sense what. I just knew if I wanted to, I could live many centuries finding out. Until then, I enjoyed working at Blue Starr, a nice small bar and restaurant a few blocks away from where I live with my mother Ariana, father Kai, my sister Aaliyah and twin brothers Addison and August. Now you're probably wondering what's with all the names beginning with A? Well both my grandparents had “A” names, so they decided to give their children “A” names too. My mother liked this tradition, so she carried it forward with her kids.

  While busy thinking, I hear a twig snap behind me. I whip around looking side to side and lift my eyes up into the treetops searching. I could see nothing. I was disappointed my wolf didn't show today. I arrive work, got into the locker room taking off my light navy blue sweater, nothing fancy. We were allowed to wear what we want to work, provided they were dark colors and no jeans or sneakers so I wear the same clothes to work every day; navy blue t-shirt or my sweater when the weather is cold, plain black trousers and black shoes. I bought two of everything to own an extra work outfit
.

  I clock in my time sheet and grab an apron tying it around my hips. It’s white with a blue stitched logo and a pocket for my pen and food docket pad. I spot Una Smith, twenty-one, my best friend turning on all the coffee machines for the customers who stop in for coffee on their way to work. Looking up she spots me and walks fast over to me with a huge smile on her stunning face wearing the same work uniform as me. We decided on that when we first started working here two years ago. She's 5'5, model curvy, straight medium length brown hair tied up in a bun and the warmest brown eyes ever seen with bee-sting-shape lips and light skin complexion.

  "Ava, you should be off work tomorrow," Una wonders, clapping her hands together practically bouncing on her feet. I smile.

  "Why Una, why must I be available tomorrow?" I reply leaning on the bar counter.

  "Cause Tobias got us tickets to see The Legends play at the Concert Hall in SoHo" Una adds with her eyes open wide with excitement now.

  "Your brother is the best but since he’s in the band, it’s an easy win," I tease with a smile.

  "Yeah right," Una chuckles.

  "Well, I could ask Paul to cover for me."

  "Oh, he will if those puppy eyes he’s always giving you is anything to go by" Una adds with a raised brow and a smile.

  "Stop it. He does not, but I'll ask, when he comes in for his shift," I answer while opening the dishwasher, taking out the tray of clean cups and putting them beside the coffee machines. I love the scent of coffee roasting in the pot but home brewed is my favorite, and the breakfast grub Ben is cooking in the kitchen smells so good like how my mom cooks her bacon, eggs, mushrooms, and sausages.

  The bar is a small family-friendly environment of one floor but with fifty tables and bar seating. The place is quite traditional looking with brown oak wood as the theme of the room, green painted walls, old paintings with gold frames hanging on the wall and gold lamps installed on the walls. Just me, Una, Paul Rig; twenty-two, Ben Stanford; twenty-eight, he’s our chef and our boss. John Starr; sixty, works here, he is tall at 5'9 with short gray-peppered hair, light skin and a bit of a beer belly with his daily black or blue suits.

  John's wife Lisa used to work here during the day, but she sadly died a year ago due to a long battle with breast cancer at fifty-one. They refused to become MH's (mutated humans), and I get it, that option is not for everyone, and he told me one night a few months after she passed while closing up, that Lisa's favorite color was blue so when naming the pub he called it Blue Starr after her. They opened the bar ten years ago wanting to own a family-friendly pub cause they had no family left, or family members moved away, and they couldn't produce kids, and now he's got no family except for loyal workers and customers. My heart breaks for him. He’s had a bad hand in life, and I try to take as much of the workload off him as I can.

  Una and I first met when I was twelve and she thirteen at New York High (NYH). Her Mom Aoife; fifty, looked like Una, and her Dad Tadgh; fifty-three, also like Tobias, and her brother Tobias had moved from here to Galway Ireland, moving into a condo around the corner from mine. On Una's first day I helped to pick up her books after someone had knocked them out of her hand, we got to talking and became inseparable best friends telling each other everything and being teenagers. When Una turned seventeen, her parents died in a car crash leaving everything they own to her and Tobias in the will, and since he was twenty-one, he took on guardianship of Una until her eighteenth birthday.

  It’s noon. Paul should be out for a smoke during his break. Picking up my purse from the locker room, I step out looking out for him. I know his work habits well and before long I had found him.

  "Hey, Paul how are you?" I ask while checking my ED (electronic device) quickly.

  "Oh hey Ava, yeah I'm good can't wait until the day is over. It has been a long week", I feel a pang of guilt asking him to cover for me now.

  "So I guess now would be a bad time to ask you to cover for me tomorrow even though it is your day off?" I ask tentatively chewing my bottom lip, a nervous habit of mine. Paul is quite short at 5'4, thin, full head of short curly brown hair with blue eyes and a long shaped face with glasses.

  "Kinda, yeah" he smiles and chuckles "But for you, I'll do it, 9 to 5 right?" He questions taking a drag of his cig.

  "Yeah. Thanks, Paul."

  "So where do you have to go tomorrow?"

  "Tobias got me and Una tickets to view his band playing live in SoHo," I respond distracted by the siren speeding by us.

  "Oh man lucky. They’re getting massive now, hard to get tickets."

  "Yeah, I heard they’re hard to get a hold of, I'll tell Una to put you on the list for any available tickets left to Tobias" I add smiling satisfied to help.

  "Thanks, Ava, I better go in. Shift’s about to start." he says putting out his cigarette and tossing it into the bin.

  "Ok, talk to you inside after lunch," I tell him.

  I go across the street to Café New York, hearing the door chime ding as it closes behind. I stroll up to the counter to order my favorite sandwich roast beef on white with onion and a coffee. This is one item the Blue Starr doesn’t have on their menu and Ben has always had a hard time explaining to me why he wouldn’t include it. I can smell all the food cooking and hearing the kitchen activity of pots and pans. Café New York has plain white walls with abstracts of New York hung up, white floor tiles, red round dining tables and a clear counter where all the desserts are on display.

  Taking a seat I check my ED again, a technology piece clipped and molded to your ear. Everyone is connected and speak commands into it like call someone, send a text, make a note. With a click of a button, a single small screen hologram appears where you can access all your files and view people you are talking to, a beehive with little privacy. We are issued one on our sixteenth birthday along with fingerprint, eyes scanned, voice recognition, blood test and security question identifications for entry into some locations. The government in the year 3000 is highly strict, paranoid and got this way after paranormals were discovered.

  Our world got divided into four species in 2950; Paranormals, Descendants, MH's and Humans. For example, if someone asked you what you are, you reply with either "I'm a paranormal, human, descendant or MH." Descendants are children born from only one paranormal parent and inherit immortality and powers. One parent must be paranormal, and the other has to be either human or MH, making a child born mixed, a descendant.

  Humans are people born ordinary, no enhancements, MH (Mutated Human), are people born ordinary but decided to be immortal changing their DNA with a serum and its inherited powers. Paranormals and descendants are natural born immortals with powers. Paranormals are Werewolves/Were-cats, Chimæras, Elementals, Vampires, and Witches/Warlocks. What am I? I'm human, but sometimes I don't think so, a secret feeling I don't understand but accept. While eating my sandwich, a voice so silky smooth brings me out of these thoughts and my heart races. I glimpse up to witness the most stunning man I’ve ever seen in my twenty years of existence.

  "Can I sit down?" He queries with laughter in his voice and a smile in his eyes, having to clear my throat to catch my breath I answer.

  "Yeah off course" I take a sip of my coffee and turn away to the window and watch the busy streets of New York outside thinking the end of that.

  "What's your name?" I turn to him and smile, and I notice his eyes, his green eyes, familiar eyes. I study his features. He’s extremely tall at about 6'0 and muscular all over, advertising tanned skin and oval shaped face. With the sexiest plumpest kissable lips and his blonde hair, oh my, he's got it tied up in a man bun shoulder length. If I had to guess, and of course those green eyes I would recognize anywhere…

  I eventually answer "Ava, and yours would be?" My voice is a little hoarse from a mixture of arousal and uncertainty of why my wolf is approaching me now.

  "Kyran" his lips twitch before taking a drink of his coffee.

  Chuckling he asks "Do you have a surname?" Taking another sip.
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  "No, my parents didn't think I deserved one" my lips smile in mischief

  "Oh really? That's too bad. Mine is Lewis." He smirks, his green eyes sparkling with delight.

  "Well Kyran Lewis, I'm Ava James, I seem to recall my last name. Guess they did give me one," I say trying not to show I'm playing taking a big mouthful of my now lukewarm coffee.

  He laughs and shakes his head almost doglike, my inner voice repeating 'Mine' on a loop. I'm shocked to have never had this reaction to a guy before, I find it unnerving, but he’s a Paranormal so I sigh inwards because from what I’ve seen they stick with each other, so I should tell him I'm not his kind.

  "What's wrong," he inquires frowning moving closer to the table.

  "Nothing just got to get back to work now," I say trying hard not to sound sad. There's something about him that I want to spend time with, but when he finds out I'm a plain human, that's how paranormals view us, weak and boring he'll want nothing more to do with me.

  "Oh right at Blue Starr" my head whips up, with a show of surprise on my face. I say, "And you know that how?"

  "I’ve seen you there when I called in for a pint before heading home, but you were waitressing so I doubt you saw me. Or did you?" He wonders, shifting in his seat looking almost nervous that's strange.

  "Oh ok. Well, I must go" I push my chair back ready to stand when he puts his hand on mine and asks if he could call me.

  "Look Kyran I think you’re interesting, I do, but I'm human not exactly what you paranormals like." His eyes widen in surprise.

  "Wait, you know who I am, and why do you think paranormals can’t like humans?" He questions sounding almost wounded.

  I laugh a little "Ok well, have you guys dated a human?"