The Crane Curse Series Complete Boxed Set (Shape Shifter Romance) Page 7

  "Okay, I will. I'll text you later if I find out anything good."

  "And don't disappear again, will you? I mean seriously, you're my best friend so I can tell you this, but you have no idea how jealous I am that you're a shifter. I think I'd give just about anything to be something. How is it in a town full of all kinds of crazy shit, I'm the only normal person?"

  "Well, you realize that your being the only 'normal' person here makes you completely abnormal, right?" Hannah teased.

  Pinky laughed, but Hannah noticed a little sadness in her eyes. "Trust me, Hannah. You have no idea how hard it is sometimes being ordinary in such an extraordinary world. Then again, you're just finding out exactly how extraordinary the world we live in is," Pinky said somberly.

  After years of being bullied for being a witch and now having to learn how to manage her wolf spirit, Hannah couldn't imagine why anyone would be envious of her. As she hugged her friend tightly, Hannah realized Pinky felt as dejected now as she did when she was being bullied as a child. She might not understand Pinky's jealousy or sadness, but she knew how hard it was to be an outsider looking in. Whatever happened to either of them, Hannah would always be there for Pinky no matter what.

  ***

  Blinded by the sun's reflection off the marble and stone building that was City Hall, Hannah squinted and kept her head down as she climbed the steps two at a time. After entering through the large wooden doors, she made her way upstairs to the Department of Public Records where a frail, bald man with a pair of thick round glasses sat behind a desk in front of a room filled with filing cabinets.

  With his head down, looking at a stack of papers on his desk, Hannah stood in front of him, waiting for him to acknowledge her. Shifting on her feet and lightly tapping the top of the desk, she began to get impatient. She didn't want to be rude, but he was acting like she wasn't even there.

  Clearing her throat, she waited for him to look up. Nothing. Not even a glance. She coughed loudly while looking at him, but still no response. Leaning down, she put herself directly in his line of sight when he snored. Gently shaking his shoulder, she stepped back when he snorted and shook his head.

  "Oh hello there, dear. I must have dozed off. What can I help you with?" he asked, his voice gritty.

  "I live in Leeds Point and was wondering if you could give me some information about the house I live in and my ancestors."

  "Goodness me. You wouldn't believe the amount of records we have. And it's all on paper. The original documents are now all public record so if you'd like, I can bring you to that area and you can look for what you're interested in."

  He hobbled towards the back of the room and Hannah followed him, forcing herself to walk slow instead of running ahead like she really wanted. The area smelled musty and the fluorescent light overhead buzzed softly. As he tapped the top of an old taupe filing cabinet, dust flew into the air.

  "These are them, dear. Unfortunately, the cabinets aren't marked. If you need any help, just come get me or ask for Abraham if I'm not around and they'll find me."

  "Thank you, sir," Hannah said before he wobbled briefly then headed back towards his desk.

  As she pulled open a drawer, the cabinet made a horrible scraping sound. The filing cabinets were so old they rusted years ago. She yanked open another one, letting the metallic groan fill the air.

  A long row of yellowed paper greeted her. Pushing back the stack so she could look at the first one, she saw a name that began with A. Close enough, she thought as she skipped ahead several inches of paper to find the Cs. Thumbing through the files, she saw 'Crane' flip past and went back to find it.

  She couldn't believe her good luck. Excited, she pulled out the piece of paper and saw her address on top. It was the original land deed. Rebekah Crane's name was listed with her husband Jacob's, but it was neatly crossed out.

  At the bottom of the deed, a notarized portion declared the land belonging to Rebekah after charges of witchcraft and wolf charming were dropped. It seemed her husband accused her of witchcraft after finding out she had an affair.

  Hannah thought about the Jersey Devil tales and wondered if they all began because of an angry, jealous husband. Yanking open several other cabinets didn't provide her with the answers she wanted.

  She found the Leeds Point Bible where all births were recorded and saw Rebekah listed thirteen times, once for each child. The last child had a deceased date next to him. It was enough to make Hannah realize she needed a folklore refresher. She had to find the oldest stories about the Jersey Devil.

  After closing the cabinets with a strong shove, she ran through the short maze of files to Abraham's desk. Turning to thank him, she noticed he was asleep again and just kept walking. The public library was a couple blocks away and she couldn't wait to continue her research.

  The library stood at the center of a busy block. It was one of the oldest libraries in the state and had been recently renovated. Hannah remembered going there with her mother and Pea when she was a child. The lower level had a blue three-story dollhouse Hannah always admired on their visits there.

  She thought about entering on the lower level, just to walk past and see if the dollhouse was still there and if it was as she remembered it, but she didn't have time for nonsense. Positive the answer would stop the murders of Caleb's pack, she needed to get to the root of Rebekah's curse.

  Climbing the sandstone steps up to the circular foyer, Hannah grew anxious. She was sure she would get some answers here, and curiosity had already gotten the better of her.

  If she couldn't find out what she needed to there, she was definitely summoning Rebekah in the clearing. Another full moon was already here and she knew that, coupled with the fact that she had already seen her before, meant that she could bring her back again.

  A gust of warm air and the smell of books enveloped her as she entered the library. The main section was rounded like the building's exterior. At the center was a long rectangular desk with two academic looking people–a man with a tweed blazer and a woman in a tan skirt with a black turtleneck shirt. Both of them smiled as she entered the foyer with its square stained glass skylights.

  "Can I help you?" the woman asked as the man went back to scanning a stack of returned books.

  "Yes, where can I find articles about the Jersey Devil?"

  The man's head popped up and he smiled warmly at Hannah. "I can help you with that," he said as he stepped around the expansive desk. "I'm Brian. I'm considered the Jersey Devil expert around here. If you don't mind my talking your ear off, I'd love to help you."

  "Okay, great. I'm looking for the origins of the story."

  Brian led Hannah through a two-story archway lined with bookcases. Stopping towards the end of an aisle, he pulled out several books and motioned for her to continue following him. He placed the books down on a long table at the back of the room, near picture windows that faced the adjacent park.

  "Anything in particular about the origins?" he asked as he sat down. "As I'm sure you know, there are several theories."

  "I'm really looking for anything about Rebekah Crane."

  "Ahh, Mother Leeds. Such a tragic story really. Most people don't even know her real name," he said as he flipped through a hardcover book and then slid it in front of her. "This book has a collection of writings from the 1600s all based on the Jersey Devil."

  "What's tragic about her story? All I know is she cursed the baby while she was in labor. I imagine she was tired of being a baby-making machine."

  "That's the tale, but I doubt it's true. There's no evidence, but I always felt she was a victim of her time. Based on research I have done on that time period, women who cared for the land themselves were more likely to get accused of witchcraft. Many of those accusers stood to gain adjoining portions of their property if said witch was prosecuted."

  "That's terrible!" Hannah said.

  "Indeed. Rebekah was lucky though. Her accuser was her husband. But before his claim was finalized, he came do
wn with a brain fever and died. Many people believe Rebekah was behind it, but Jacob Leeds was well established as the town drunk, so most were happy to be rid of him."

  "What happened to her after he died?

  "Unfortunately there are woefully few accounts of her after his death. I believe she shut herself away from society. Perhaps she was embarrassed after all she went through with him. As time went on though, the stories Jacob told came back and grew even more fanciful. It's from these that the tales we know as the Jersey Devil came to life."

  "Wow, what a rough life that must have been. It's a shame there isn't more information. So did she really have thirteen children?"

  "By all accounts, yes. But her husband didn't believe the last was his. Records of the time say the baby died soon after birth. I've often wondered if Jacob was responsible."

  "Oh no!"

  "It wasn't uncommon for infants to die back then, but he was a terrible man and there are letters where he said the child would never carry his name."

  "So that thirteenth child would really be a Crane and not a Leeds?"

  "Yes. There are stories about a curse on the Crane family, but none of them give details. I know it sounds absurd, but I've hired witches in the past to contact her. I would have loved to see if she'd appear to tell her side of the story, but it ended up being a waste of time. She never appeared. I was just trying anything I could think of. There are reports that her husband had her gravestone carved before he died, but no one knows where she was buried. It's a shame. So much history lost."

  Ready to burst from excitement from the few things she learned, Hannah nodded and thanked Brian, not wanting to give anything away as she left the library. Excited that Rebekah appeared to her and not some so-called professionals, she knew she needed to call her as soon as the moon was right. Hannah hoped she could get the answers she needed and not only find out more about her ancestors, but finally learn the truth about the Crane curse.

  Chapter Twelve

  The Kapok Shifter Council was made up of the twelve most dominant breeds in the tri-state area. Councils existed throughout the world and were broken up by number of territories. The Kapok Council was known to be one of the most powerful because of the number and size of the territories each Alpha controlled.

  Because of their connection to the past, it was a requirement of all packs within the Kapok Council jurisdiction to use Celtic tree symbolism in choosing a name. The Council believed trees were not only known for their healing properties and wisdom, but to remind the shifters of the days they hid from society and used the trees for protection. Caleb's pack had been named Rowan for their protection and connection to nature.

  Council meetings took place in the secret room of the Smithville library. The back of the library faced a wooded area that was perfect for each of their arrivals. From there, they were able to descend into the basement, still in animal form, and then enter a private room each of them kept a change of clothes in. For over two hundred years, this was how the Kapok Council met, and no one wanted to initiate any changes.

  Dressed in dark blue jeans, a black t-shirt that clung to every muscle on his chest, and his favorite pair of black motorcycle boots, Caleb entered the room. The wood-planked floor creaked with each of his steps. The room buzzed as Caleb took his seat at the antique artisan-crafted round table the Council used for their meetings.

  Seated around the table were the Alphas from each of the twelve packs in the tri-state area. Caleb's oldest friends, Erich and Joaquin, each took their places as Alpha years ago and now sat on either side of him. Erich, the handsome, oversized brute of a man was the grizzly bear Alpha of the Alders. Alder was chosen to remind the bears of their endurance and strength, traits that Erich believed he embodied and would fight anyone who disagreed with him.

  On the other side of Caleb was Joaquin, the good looking, dark-skinned Alpha of the Blackthorn panthers. He believed so wholeheartedly in the discipline and control the blackthorn tree represented that he was known to take things a little too far at times. Focused to a fault, Joaquin sometimes put Blackthorn's overall well being over those closest to him.

  Across from them sat Monica, the tall, svelte fox Alpha of Willow. She was the eldest and most outspoken of the Council. She valued the willow's intuition and used it in her leadership. She believed it sometimes meant ignoring the analytical, but things always worked out for her in the end.

  "This better be good, Caleb," said Erich. "You know I despise these emergency meetings. I'm an important man."

  "We're all important, Erich," Caleb snapped at him before looking around the table at each Council member. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. We've all been concerned about the recent murders in the Pine Barrens. Right now, the grey wolves seem to be the only ones who have been killed, but each of our packs have missing members and as we all know, it's only a matter of time before one of their bodies is found."

  "Get to the point, I don't have all day," Erich growled.

  Leaning towards Erich in his seat, Caleb gave the bear leader a long look, matching his gaze, a low growl in his throat.

  "Okay okay, that's enough, boys," Monica said.

  "Forgive me," Caleb said as he cleared his throat. "I have reason to believe the Hawthorn coyote pack is behind the killings and missing pack members. I've learned that the coyote Alpha, Abel, believes in an ancient curse that will give him power over wolves and possibly other shifters as well."

  "Are you talking about a wolf charmer? I remember hearing stories about them years ago as a child. I didn't think those stories were more than fable though," Joaquin said. "Whatever your plan is, know that the panthers are behind you one hundred percent."

  "Unfortunately, I want to be certain. Nothing has happened since we began patrolling the woods, but I believe Abel is waiting because he thinks he's close. A red wolf, an Omega named Renfield, who is in servitude to Abel, said he's after a human. A witch to be exact."

  "How will he find this witch?"

  "I met her in the woods one night. She knows nothing of the curse or of charming wolves. It seems she has werewolf blood and is slowly becoming one of us," Caleb said, wanting to protect Hannah as much as possible, but knowing he had to give the Council some information. "Her scent is growing stronger. I have an old photo of her father, but she knows nothing about him. His name is Knox." Caleb took the photo out and passed it around for the other Council members to look at.

  "I believe I've seen him before," Liam of the Oak lion pride said as he ran his fingers through his blond hair. "He was living within my territory. A quiet man with an air of sadness. Unfortunately, he is one of my missing."

  "I've heard of shifters with ancient blood that do not shift until they're in contact with others," Monica said. "I believe it's some sort of adaptation within their DNA to protect them. How much contact have you had with this girl?"

  Caleb didn't want to respond. He couldn't tell them she was his fated mate. The idea of a fated mate, while important within the shifter community, wasn't something to discuss at Council where they followed their heads, not their hearts.

  "Several times. She continues to enter the woods despite my repeated warnings."

  "Is she in any of our territories?" Monica asked.

  "No, she's in the neutral zone, not far from where the casualties have been appearing. She needs to be protected, especially if Hawthorn is after her."

  "I'm sure we all agree."

  After the meeting was over, Joaquin pulled Caleb aside, and Erich joined them. The three Alphas had taken it upon themselves to secure the woods.

  "You look troubled, brother," Joaquin said to Caleb. "Is it the girl?"

  "Yes, I'm worried about her. If her scent is growing stronger because of our interaction, then perhaps I need to stay away. Her best protection is for her to not complete the transformation into a shifter. Once that happens, her scent will be strong enough for Abel to track her."

  "I've dealt with that pack of coyotes before. They
're beyond dangerous. We cannot let them endanger humans as well. I'm sure whatever your decision, it'll be for the best."

  Caleb snorted. He didn't like his decision, but in the back of his mind he knew staying away from Hannah was the best thing for her. Maybe if things were different, if Abel was caught, then it would be safer. Until then, she was living life as a human. She was human. And she needed to be treated as such.

  "I'll forego the neutral zone in my rounds and let her be," Caleb said. "But know this, if anything happens to her, I will declare war on the Hawthorn. There is nothing that will stop me from protecting her," Caleb said as he slammed his fist into his palm.

  "Finally, something I can get behind," Erich said, an evil grin spreading across his face. "You declare war and I guarantee I will be by your side."

  Caleb didn't like having his hands tied, but he knew attacking a pack without proof was one of the worst things any Alpha could do. He would wait and watch the woods. Once everything was over, he could return to Hannah again. Until then, he would have to stay away from her, no matter how much pain that caused him.

  Knowing he couldn't just leave her, he planned to talk with her and explain why he couldn't see her anymore. Her scent and her shifting were increasing, and it was only a matter of time before her transformation was complete. He would die before he let his selfishness be the reason Hannah was in danger.

  Chapter Thirteen

  For the first time since Pea died, Hannah wasn't going to visit her on a full moon. She missed Pea but if she wanted to call on her ancestor Rebekah Crane, she knew it was going to take every ounce of her energy.

  Collecting the stones for the circle was hard that night. The full moon lit enough of the ground for her to find them easily, but she couldn't help but think of Caleb each time she picked one up. There was the first time they met when she tripped over one and he let her ride him home. Or the time he handed her a stone to help her with the circle.