His Oracle

By Kerry Davidson

Zaria, a werewolf, has had nightmares for almost as long as she could remember. She dreams of the recently deceased and sends in what clues she can to the local alphas, or police to find the bodies. This time her nightmares are different. Now she is being stalked by the serial killer. Will her packs' protection be enough to save her?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kerry Davidson
• Release date: Jul 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463531563

Kerry Davidson

I'm the author of the McKenna series. A paranormal/urban fantasy series jammed packed full of werewolves, witches, vampires, and so many other supernatural creatures.I have two children and live in the great state of TN. I love anything paranormal!When I'm not writing or playing games with my family. I love to read, garden, and watch movies.If you would like to learn more about the McKenna series, please fill free to look me up on Smashwords, Barnes and Nobles, or Ibooks.

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His Oracle

By Kerry Davidson

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Kerry Davidson on Smashwords

HIS ORCALE

Copyright © 2019 by Kerry Davidson

Other works by this author:

The McKenna Series:

Luna’s Sōkjan

A Lunar Stalking

Luna Remembers

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook 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’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter One

Dark green leaves slapped at my face and my feet kept slipping on the wet grass as I ran through the forest. It seemed like the entire forest was fighting me.

I must get out of here! I must find help!

I pause, to catch my breath leaning back against a tree. As I stood there panting. I tried to think up a better plan, anything better than running blindly through the forest.

Throwing a panicked look around, I searched for any movement in the brush, straining my ears desperately to hear any sounds.

If only I could get back to town, I could find someone to help.

Taking a step forward, I froze, did something just move up ahead?

I dashed behind a fallen tree and crouch down. Carefully, peeking over the fallen tree, I scan the woods in front of me. Something moved, and a loud crack echoed.

Was he in front of me? How did he do that?

With my heart racing in my chest, I cautiously peered to my right, then to my left, nothing.

Right or left? I ponder. Which way would be better? Which way would be safer? Did I have a choice? I have to find someone to help me.

SNAP, a branch, broke to my right. I crouch down lower behind the tree, trying to hide.

Oh Luna, don’t let it be him!

Since the sound came from my right, I jumped up and ran like hell to the left. After running for what seemed like hours, it dawned on me I was still in the forest, but this wasn’t right. I knew I had been running in the direction of town.

I stopped running and panted for breath.

Why hadn’t I reached town yet? I looked around again. Shouldn’t I have reached a road by now?

I can hear heavy breathing behind me. The smell of blood is so strong it made me gag. I slowly turned around and stared deep into the woods. Reaching out, I grabbed the nearest tree for support.

Where was he?

Slowly the ominous blackness of night closed in around me, making it difficult to see. Suddenly out of the darkness, two dark glowing red eyes stalked me from behind the brushes. A low predatory growl resonated around me.

My breath froze in my chest as I realized, there’s nowhere for me to go, there’s no help coming, and no one knows where I am. I am completely alone, all alone in the woods, with a monster.

Instinctively I stepped back in fear, I slipped, and lost my balance. Falling backwards, I landed on something squishy and wet. Quickly, I flipped around to see dull green eyes looking up at me. Blood drenching the ground around the lifeless body. A scream of pure terror erupts from my throat.

I lurched backward reeling in revulsion. My heart slammed against my chest as I scrambled to regain my footing. Wildly, I scanned my surroundings. Where was he? My eyes flashed green as I searched.

Abruptly, its eyes peered out of the darkness, I couldn’t catch my breath as a heavy clawed paw flashed out at me. It raked across my arm drawing blood, as I cried out in pain. Grabbing my arm, I step backwards. I heard him sniff the air.

Werewolf. A terrifying laugh erupted all around me. You’re a werewolf!

I jolted awake. Sitting straight up, I wildly search the room.

The blanket had fallen to the floor sometime during the night. My sheet had wrapped around me, making it difficult to move. I slowly realized I was in my bedroom and I was alive. I unwrapped myself from the sheet.

‘Just a nightmare. Just another horrifying dream!’ I chanted over and over to myself, trying to calm down.

Placing a trembling hand over my racing heart, I fell back against the sweaty pillows. I touched my arm, and I noticed there was no pain or blood. I was safe. Thank Luna, I was safe and sound in my bed. Blessed Luna, it was only a horrible dream!

When I closed my eyes, all I could see were those ghostly green eyes staring up at me. I could see the horrific expression of terror frozen permanently on her beautiful face. Blood matted her short, thick black hair to her head. Blood had streamed from the many wounds she’d suffered as he had savagely beaten her to death. Her hands were frozen in a defensive position above her chest. My mind’s eye kept going back to the bloody hole in the woman’s throat.

With trembling hands, I covered my face. I loathe seeing scenes like this. I detested knowing that somewhere out there was a young woman who would never see her family again. She would never smile again. She would never hug again. She would never laugh again. My heart broke for her and her family.

Sweat covered my body and I couldn’t stop shaking. I was suddenly freezing, but this happened after every dream. A warm shower should help, but I knew it really wouldn’t. Nothing truly ever helped.

Glancing over at the bed side clock, three a.m. I let out a soft, weary sigh. The dreams always came around this time of the morning. I have never really understood why. Then again, I’ve never had any control over them either. For the past three nights, I’ve been having the same recurring dream. With slight variations in each dream, making it extremely difficult to figure out where the young girl was and or who had killed her.

I got up and staggered to the bathroom. While I waited for the shower to heat up, I stared at myself in the mirror. I’m a pretty woman with a slim form not from working out but from the lack of food, I forgot to eat half the time. I’m about the average height of a female werewolf, about five feet, eight inches tall. My wavy brown shoulder length hair was a mess from tossing and turning around throughout the night. My exhausted green eyes held a shaken look in them. I stared at my reflection until the steam started clouding over the mirror, with a sigh, I got into the shower.

After the shower, feeling a little more refreshed, I dress in an old pair of gray sweatpants and a loose green t-shirt. With a big yawn, I pick up my dream diary from the bedside table and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

As I walk through the moon lit living room into the dining room. I turn on the chandelier that hangs above the dining table, and I put the diary on it. Before I sit down, I glance at my inherited china cabinet, filled with dishes and glassware my mother had collected over her lifetime. I recalled when she found out about the dreams when I was a child, she grabbed me by the shoulders and told me, Don’t tell anyone about the dreams, especially the alphas. If they find out, they’ll take you away, and you’ll never see me or your father again. I was fairly paranoid after that. I grew up in Clinton city roughly five hours to the north of Stonehaven, which is where I moved to, a year after my mother died. She’d always said that she liked it in Stonehaven and had thought about moving here after dad died; however, she didn’t want to leave our old pack. After reminiscing, I started to head to the kitchen, pale white and crimson red marble slabs covered the counters and the backsplash. There is an island in the middle of the kitchen covered with the same colored marble slab. I made a pot of coffee, before sitting down at the table. It seemed that the nightmares were stirring up other painful memories and the emotions I had felt at that time.

Opening my diary, I thumbed through it to a clean page, and marked it with today’s date. I wrote down everything I could remember from the frightening dream, as I do with every dream. It helps me find the clues I need to locate the victim and occasionally, I could find symbols in my dreams that can help identify the killer. This dream was very different, there weren’t a lot of clues for me to find. It was odd, it’s like the killer knew what I was doing or what I was looking for. As well as what it said to me You’re a werewolf!.

My cell phone rang, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin.

Hello? I answered warily, trembles of slight fear still in my voice.

Zaria, Addison screamed in my ear. Did I wake you? She sounded out of breath.

No, Abby, I just got up, I replied with a smile.

Addison Riley, my best friend, is a beautiful redhead with bright sparkling blue eyes. We’re about the same height and weight, which was very fortunate since we swap clothes all the time.

When I put the help wanted sign up in my magic store, Moon’s Mystical Magical store, on Front Street. She bounded into apply for the job and never left.

I know it’s still early, but I just had to call you. The run tonight was just so amazing! You really missed it this time! She exclaimed. You missed the best run ever!

Did I? I asked with a big smile on my face. According to Abby, every run is the best run ever. With a chuckle, I asked her. So, I’m working by myself today, huh?

Not that I minded, I knew she was going to be very tired. The pack runs usually started early in the evening around dusk and ran all night.

No, I’ll be in today, she laughed. I’ll just be a little late, that’s all.

I could hardly hear her over the other voices surrounding her. From the sounds of it, she was at the ‘after-run party’. It was during this time that the whole pack would sit around talking and laughing over the events of the night. It was a special bonding time for everyone.

Hey Zaria, you really missed it this time! Addison’s cousin, Jake called out. The freaking best run ever!

I laughed aloud. Abby had a huge family and out of all of them, I liked Jake the best. He was like most of the males in the pack. Tall with lean hard muscles with black hair and brown eyes. Personally, I have always found him very attractive.

I didn’t realize it at the time but when I hired Abby, I hired Jake as well.

He worked part time at the store with me and Abby. We worked around his college schedule and the witch holidays.

Hush, Jake. Go away for a minute, Addison said tartly. Zaria, listen. Everyone’s noticed that you’ve missed the last two runs. The Alpha’s inner circle has been looking for you all night. I tried to explain to them this was our busiest time of the year, but truthfully, I don’t think they care. You might have some unfriendly visitors later today. Jake and I will be at the store as soon as we get done here.

I groaned inwardly. This was something I didn’t need right now. I don’t have time to deal with the Alpha’s inner circle. I’ll just simply have to make time for the next run, no matter what.

Don’t worry Abby, I’ll call the Beta on my way to work and see what I can work out. I’m sure there is something I can do to make him and the Alpha happy, I assured her. The only problem, this would be the second time I promised not to miss another run. I wasn’t sure if I could keep the promise. You and Jake take the day off and get some sleep. I’ll be fine. Maybe we could do a girl’s night this weekend.

That would be awesome! She squealed before dropping into a low whisper. You know Zar, you could just tell them about the dreams. I’m sure the Alpha would understand. You need to tell someone what is happening to you, anyway. I know I’m not much help to you and maybe they could find someone to help you.

No, I don’t think so, I thought as I chewed on my fingernail.

Oh yes, I could tell the Alpha about my dreams and then life as I knew it would end. Every time I would wake up in a panicked state Mother would say, I’d be locked up so fast my hair wouldn’t have a chance to move. I’d be completely at the mercy of the Alpha or someone worse.

She never explained who would be worse than the Alpha but then again, I could never bring myself to ask.

Abby don’t worry about this. I’ll take care of it, I reassured her again. Look, go have fun. I’ll see you both tomorrow morning.

We hung up. I stared at the phone for a moment.

Perhaps, it was time to move again. I sighed. I loved Addison and Jake. They had adopted me when they found out my parents were dead. I loved my store. I liked the new memories I was creating here. I also liked the freedoms of my life. Hell, I even liked being part of the pack.

Sitting back down at the table, I read over my notes again. The young woman had black hair, green eyes, and from what I could remember she’d been pretty. I sat back in the chair, as I took a sip of coffee.

Had anyone reported her missing? I wondered. Was it too early to run a scan through the missing persons program?

There was only one way to know for sure. Decidedly, I stood up and reached for the diary. Moving quietly through the dark house I headed towards the office.

My office was a regular sized room. I used rich browns and dark greens to decorate the room giving it an earthy feel. Double windows looked out over the front lawn. A small brown couch sat under the windows covered with dark green accent pillows. A big comfy chair sat next to the couch. Full dark wooden bookshelves lined one wall. Diaries with fake covers were hidden in between books I bought to read when I had the time. The coffee table sat before the couch on an area rug of browns and greens. My desk was positioned so I could look out the windows.

I lived in a two-story red brick house in a very noisy neighborhood. People came and went at all hours of the day and night, but I liked it. It reminded me of the time I’d lived in the pack village.

There was nothing special about my home. The downstairs held an open floor plan, kitchen, dining room, living room, a half-bath under the stairs, and my office. The upstairs held three bedrooms and two full baths. With hard wood floors throughout. True, it was more space than I needed but I’d fallen in love with it the minute I’d seen it.

I looked out the windows, while I waited for my computer to start up. The front yard was pretty, with a variety of flowers lining the walkway. Small green bushes underlined the windows. Several trees were scattered throughout the yard.

I looked down at the computer when it beeped at me. I queued up the program I wanted. For the next few hours, I went through all the missing women matching the description of the young woman from my dream. I didn’t know where she lived but I was sure I would recognize her when I saw her.

At times it took weeks even months to find the women from my dreams. If I got lucky, I could find them within days of them being reported missing. Sometimes I couldn’t find them at all, and they became one of the many nameless spirits in my nightmares.

At eight in the morning, I walked through the showroom of my store. The cheery space was filled with any element one would need to create any potion, and components for any number of spells. If you didn’t want to make your own potion, I sold readymade ones.

Yes, I know that's what I said last month, but my sales are up due to the upcoming witch’s holiday. This is a very busy time of the year, I repeated for the third time. I knew he could taste the truth in my words. Halloween was right around the corner, one of the biggest holidays for witches. I’m truly sorry I missed the run last night, but I have a business to run. I promise I’ll make it next month.

Provided I could make it, that is. Within the last year, the stores sells had increased, and it was all I could do to keep up.

I walked through the showroom to the back of the store.

Zaria, we understand this is a very busy time for you, but you can’t miss any more pack events. It is very important that you bond with your pack. Maybe you should hire more people around the holidays. Listen the pack could send out several members to help you fill orders before the runs. The Beta told me patiently. You know how important these events are, not only to the pack but for you as well.

Yes, I knew how important the pack runs were. It gave us a chance to burn off some of our natural aggressions, to socialize with others like us, and find mates. Every pack in the world had pack runs for every full or new moon. Some packs held runs that lasted for three days.

There has to be something I can do to make it up to the Alpha and the pack. I said setting my coffee down on the desk.

I dropped my bag on the floor next to the desk. I felt a slight breeze lift the hair on my neck. Strange, I looked over at the small window in my office, closed. I glanced at the door to the storeroom. To my shock it was ajar.

Zaria, this is more than making it up to the Alpha or the pack, the Beta droned on. You need to understand how important the pack runs are to you. You need them to strengthen the connection between your Alpha and the pack. How they recharge you as well.

Yes, I know, and I do understand, I murmured absently.

Pushing the door open wider, I gasped in shock. The warehouse door was standing wide open, letting the cool morning air in. A cold fear swept through me.

Someone had broken into my store!

Oh, sweet Luna, the back door is open, I whispered. Terror wrapped its icy fingers around my heart. Damian, I have to go.

Quickly, I slammed and locked the door, before running back into the office. I banged the office door closed then leaned back against it.

How did someone get in? Oh Luna, what if the intruder was still in the store?

Now that was a chilling thought.