Luna's Shadows

By Kerry Davidson

Something is killing people in Fall Branch, something that hides in the shadows, and McKenna and Ted aren't getting anywhere on the cases. Things really heat up when the granddaughter of an Alpha werewolf is killed in her own home. McKenna will have to use everything she knows to find this mysterious killer. Can she figure out what is going on before someone else dies?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kerry Davidson
• Release date: Jun 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463881231

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.

Book preview

Chapter One

Fall Branch, Tennessee

The early morning orange-yellow rays of the sun were gradually making their way across the lawn. Dispelling the evening shadows. The predawn mist drifts over the cold, damp grass. Dark clouds dotted the skyline, giving every indication that winter was on the way.

Leaning forward, I rested my forehead against the steering wheel of my SUV. I was completely exhausted. Whereas other people were just waking up and getting ready for work. I had finally made it home. All I had to do was get out of the car and walk into the house and go to bed. I thought about how magnificent a steaming hot shower would feel against my tired, aching muscles. About how tremendous it would feel to lay down in my nice firm bed and sleep. Luna, I was completely drained. Any minute now I would get out of the car and drag my tired ass to the house. Any minute now.

Abruptly, red-hot angry energy surrounded the car. Someone has woken up alone again and wasn’t happy about it. A slow lazy smile crossed my lips as I sat back and gazed at the big house.

Wearily, I pushed my sore complaining body from the car to walk the longest twenty steps of my life. Power swished around me as I approached the back door. I released my power to greet him and sighed in relief as his power wrapped around me. The back door flew open as I approached, and I found myself wrapped in my mates’ big arms.

Could anything feel better than the warmth of a mate’s embrace? Well, maybe a Milky Way and a cup of coffee, but that was up for debate at the moment.

My mate, Gabriel Garrison, the Alpha of the Castilian Springs pack, the most incredible creature I’d ever seen in my life. Six and a half feet tall, short black hair, amber eyes, and a muscular figure. He was the only person who could make me feel small, and when he held me in his arms, I felt safe.

Were-beings believe the bond created between true mates is strong enough to follow each other from lifetime to lifetime. Gabriel and I had been true mates over a thousand years ago. In that life, I knew Gabriel as Cullen Gabriel MacDaibhidh aka, The Celt, King of the werewolves, and I was his beloved Queen, Branwen. While uniting the wolf pack together. A crazy witch woman cursed us on her deathbed. She told us at the moment of our death, we would be divided, we would never be together again. Recently, I’d remembered it was, Luna, the Moon Goddess, who caused the separation between us.

I drew her attention by trying to save as many lives as I could, after a bloody battle between our clans over land rights. Funny how a simple act of kindness can change one’s life forever. I spent the last nine centuries learning to be a Sōkjan and Gabriel had spent his time searching for me. When he finally found me, I didn’t know who he was. Luckily, my memories were slowly coming back to me, but I still had a long way to go.

He inhaled my scent as I snuggled closer into his warm fuzzy chest. A soft sigh escaped me, I could fall asleep right here, encased in his powerful embrace.

Welcome home, little Raven, he breathed, brushing a kiss against my hair. It was a deep and sexy voice, with just a hint of a Scottish accent.

He had me by six inches. My snow-white hair, icy blue eyes, and tan skin made an intriguing contrast to his darker features. Where he was handsome, I was an exotic combination of my Romani gypsy witch mother and my Celtic werewolf father.

I leaned back so I could peer up into his sleepy amber eyes. Affectionately, I combed my fingers through his short hair. Breathing in his earthy, spicy male scent, I leaned up to place a gentle kiss on his firm lips.

I’m happy to be home, Dark Angel. I smiled, inhaling his strong masculine scent.

I hate your damn job, he complained, running a big hand down my back. This is the fourth night I have slept without you.

Was he pouting? I almost laughed. I understood how he felt, though. It was the same for me when he went away to his stupid weeklong Alpha meetings.

Why are these murders so difficult to solve, my love?

I don’t know, I shrugged. We can’t find any clues, I grumbled.

Sweetheart, do you need the help of your pack?

Huh, no, I don’t need your fucking pack's help. I just need some damn clues. Normally, Ted and I didn’t need any help to close cases, but this one was turning into a major pain in the ass.

Ted Jenkins was not only my best friend, but he was also my partner. He worked for the Paranormal Law Enforcement Agency, a subdivision of the human law enforcement agency. PLEA was committed to solving supernatural crimes against humans. Ted and I met ten years ago. He was nearly my height, with short blond hair, warm blue eyes, and a down-home smile that made him almost irresistible. He usually dressed his slim build in blue jeans, and tennis shoes. Well, when he wasn’t stuck wearing his PLEA getup.

We had a very rocky start, but we’d finally worked out our present arrangement. When he has a difficult supernatural case, he calls me in as a consultant.

For the past two weeks, Ted and I had been running nonstop from one crime scene to another, and each one was just as strange as the one before it. Which was making our job much too difficult for my taste. Nothing at any of the four crime scenes was helping us solve the case. No mysterious hair left behind. No blood other than the victims. No evidence at all. Hell, we didn’t even know how the killer was getting into the homes. We had nothing. This is highly unusual. Usually, I can always find something, but there was nothing to find at these scenes. There didn’t seem to be any answers to these senseless, unexplainable murders.

Everybody was close to the breaking point. The strain from the long hours and late nights were taking a toll on the whole department. Not to mention the stress on our families.

No, I don’t need the pack’s help. A shower and some sleep will hopefully do the trick, I murmured. Look, Gabriel, I’m home safe and sound.

Well, more or less sound, anyway. I was starting to go a little crazy because I couldn’t figure out what was out there killing people. I saw these scenes everywhere I looked. Hell, I was even dreaming about them.

Come on, he grumbled. Let’s get you a shower and then to bed.

Hahahaha, sleep!

Later that afternoon, I stood peering out the great window in our sitting room. I watched the first snowflakes of the season dance on the wind. They shied away from the men working in the backyard, only to drift back and playfully land on their arms or in their hair. Some snowflakes drifted around before landing on the ground and melted away. What a sad end to something so fragile and beautiful. I marveled at the sudden change in the weather. When I’d arrived this morning, it had been cold but nothing like the bitter cold it was now. Evidently, the temperature had been steadily dropping all morning while I slept.

A loud bang drew my attention back to the men. I guess Gabriel had finally gotten tired of hearing all the booms and bangs coming from the basement or all the funny smelling potions I cooked in the kitchen. I wondered which incident drove Gabriel mad enough to build me a private workspace. I was betting on the accidental fire that had threatened to burn down the house. Whatever his motivation was, I was getting a workshop complete with a kitchen and an outside fire pit, for all my ‘smelly potions’.

Gabriel’s house was a three-story sprawling red-brick mansion. The first floor contained a huge open kitchen, a large dining room, an office, a living room, and a sitting room. The second floor held eight guest rooms with attached bathrooms. The third floor had Gabriel’s private suite, Jennifer, and Sam’s suites.

The house had been built in the early part of the nineteen twenties. When Gabriel took over the pack ten years ago. He added another hundred acres to the two hundred-acre property before updating the house to accommodate his growing pack needs.

Any other time I would have enjoyed standing here watching the men work. To merely drink my coffee and watch the snow dance on the cold wind, but today, I couldn’t genuinely enjoy the sight. My mind kept running back over the different crime scenes from the last two weeks.

Turning away from the window, I didn’t see the warm browns and dark greens of my living room. I didn’t see the big plasma TV hanging over the fireplace. Instead, I saw four cold white walls, and a dull brown carpet replaced the warmth of my room. To my left a small living room, behind me a tiny, cheerfully designed kitchen. Slowly, I moved through the living room to a petite bedroom. From the doorway, I scrutinized the space. Scarcely large enough to hold the full-size bed, a night table, and a wooden five drawer dresser. A curtain of dazzling colored birds covered the small closet in the right wall, and a white door led to the only bathroom in the apartment.

Someone had draped a green, well-worn terry-cloth robe across the foot of the bed. Framed pictures of happy smiling people lined the top of the dresser. Cheery sunlight poured into the room, highlighting the lime green square area rug beside the bed.

I focused on the large dark spot in the middle of the area rug. I noted the smaller dark drops leading towards the bathroom. I could still smell its delicious metallic aroma.

My gaze drifted over the body of the young woman lying face down on the rug. I kneeled to study the only wound on her body. Bones snapped and lengthened as my palm widened to the size of a plate, fingers elongated, and nails changed into six-inch heavy thick claws as I transformed my hand. Skin crawled over reforming bones and soft white hair sprouted over the freshly formed appendage. I dipped one thick claw into the bloody hole in her back. The sharp rusty coppery smell of blood invaded my senses as I lifted my bloody claw up. The smell made my mouth water before I tasted the blood.

Ah, what a shame! She wasn’t a supernatural creature hiding behind a human mask. She wasn’t even a witch, in fact, she wasn’t magical at all. Her delicious blood tasted like plain old normal human. A sad sigh escaped me. I always hope for something more.

All blood has a slightly salty bitter metallic taste. When magic is present, it burns the tongue or makes it tingle, depending on the strength of the magic. To me, blood tastes like the sweetest chocolate ever made. I have often wondered if vampires feel the same way when they feed. Not that I’m going to ask one. It’s just something I wonder every now and then.

Somehow someone had gained access to the room, and hidden somewhere until the girl came in, but where?

Where the hell had the attacker hidden in this small room? Why hadn’t she seen the attacker when she entered the room? Had he been hanging from the ceiling?

Changing my hand back to normal, I looked up at the ceiling.

Nope, nothing but a plain flat white ceiling. So, how had the attacker gotten into the room and kill this woman without her seeing him?

I looked under the bed. There was no way someone could hide under there. The window was way too small for most creatures to climb through. I moved the table and opened the window. No claw marks on the brick wall on either side of the window. Closing the window, I approached the closet. Moving the curtain aside, I scrutinized the tiny space. There was no way in hell anyone could have hidden in here, it was simply too small. I know this because I tried to hide in the closet. Dropping the curtain, I faced the room again.

The attacker didn’t leave anything behind, no hair, no clothing fibers, no fingerprints, no footprints, and certainly no magic clues. The only thing we’d found was the bloody body of a young girl lying face down on the area rug.

I pondered again how this had happened. I studied the young woman lying face forward on the rug. The attacker stabbed the girl from behind, but how? I guess the killer could have entered the bedroom as she was heading to the bathroom. I stepped back into the hallway and peered into the bedroom. It was possible, unlikely, but possible. If I were completely honest, there was nowhere for anyone to hide in the whole damn apartment.

Luna, this was infuriating! Why couldn’t I find the clues? I rubbed my hands over my face and growled in frustration. How was this possible? Every creature on earth left something behind, a signature, but where was this monster’s signature? Why couldn’t I find it?

McKenna? A small soft voice called from beside me.

Turning slightly, I peered down into the beautiful soft brown eyes of my adopted daughter, Jennifer. To me, she was one of the most beautiful creatures in the world. She had long black hair, chocolate brown eyes, and tan skin. Her impish smile always teased me.

Jennifer’s parents had died in a car accident almost a year before I stumbled upon her and her pack. On that fateful night while they were hunting against pack rules. According to pack rules there should have been an adult with them. That night an everlasting bond was formed between us in blood. The kids helped me kill a forest troll, and I also learned that my long-hated archenemy was still alive.

Willow, a five-hundred-year-old vampire, and I had tangled over the death of her favorite human pet. She incorrectly believed her pet could kill me or make me his pet. All of this happened one year after Angus left me. At the time, I believed him to be dead, so I developed a death wish. Because of this, I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life, and Willow managed to capture me. I spent one week as her guest before I broke free. The things she forced me to watch her and her pets do to other supernaturals and human beings scarred my soul. She still haunts my dreams. My hatred for Willow far out weights my hatred for that bitch Fate.

Now this vampire wanted my Jennifer, for what I didn’t know. What I did know was there was no way in hell she would ever get her fucking hands on my kid.

I’d lived most of my life without any bonds to anyone. Every person I loved died, or so I had believed. I had believed for ten long years that Angus was dead, but he’d come back to me and now I have pack bonds with Ted, Jennifer, Gabriel, and his pack. Funny how people can change your life if you let them in.

Nice, Jennifer had snuck up on me while I’d been lost in thought.

Hey, you, I beamed down at her.

I gently ran a hand down her hair. She, like everyone else, had learned the hard way to be careful waking me up. I wake up fighting.

What were you doing just now? She asked. Were you sleepwalking?

No, little one, I chuckled, touching her cheek. I was going through my last crime scene, I shrugged. I guess it could look like I was sleepwalking.

I also act out my dreams on occasion. The last time had been at the one and only Alpha meeting I’d been forced to attend. I’d had a dream about a demon-possessed werewolf, and I was hellbent on keeping him from entering this world. During the dream fight, I had torn apart our bedroom before I stopped the demon-possessed werewolf from entering our world. Well, at least in the dream. We also fought zombies, a werewolf mage, and then a demon possessed werewolf. I’ve been told it was the best Alpha meeting, ever.

Oh.

It’s just so frustrating. I can’t find any clues, I grumbled. Want a drink?

No.

I wandered into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.

What do you mean? She asked, moving to the couch.

I followed her. The killer isn’t leaving us any clues to work with, I responded. I took a sip of coffee as I leaned back against the cushions. It’s making my job so very difficult.

Did you know it was snowing? She asked with a sly smile.

I arched an eyebrow at her. I did. I sipped more coffee.

It might do you some good to go outside, she grinned at me. The cold air will help clear your head.

Go outside, to clear my head, I repeated slowly.

She was trying for innocence, but I could see right through her. It had been snowing when I got up this afternoon, but none of it was sticking to the ground. What was she up to? Did she just want to play in the snow or was there something else going on?

Yes, she grinned at me.

Let me change.

Ten minutes later I had dressed in jeans, black docker boots, and a black t-shirt with the phrase, ‘In my defense, I was left unsupervised’, in white ink. We walked down the stairs together. Once in the kitchen, I realized I hadn’t seen little Sarah. Whenever she saw me, she usually screamed my name and wrapped herself around my legs.

Where is Sarah? I inquired.

Sarah Jenkins, Ted’s only child. A pretty little brunette, blue-eyed girl, roughly four years old. Ted and Sarah lived with us when we were in the city. They also had a small house in the village. Ted’s wife of four years died about three months ago. She’d made a foolish deal with a master vampire. Her deal cost her more than her life. It almost killed Ted and Sarah. After we had them safely at home with us, Gabriel gave them pack status. Basically, they were considered part of the pack, they would have to follow all the rules, attend all the meetings, and fight for the pack when called upon. In exchange, they would have a home and a pack to call on if they needed help. Gabriel explained all of this to Ted, that even though they were human, they would be treated like any other werewolf. While I thought this was a kind gesture by Gabriel and even told him so. I also informed him that it didn’t matter, I would protect them for the rest of my life.

Once Ted was ready to return to work, he and Jennifer worked out babysitting for Sarah. Since the werewolf children are educated at the village or homeschooled, she had some time on her hands.

She’s with Ted, Jennifer answered. He told me they need some daddy-daughter time. He said he needed some downtime. She walked over to the counter and poured a cup of coffee. He suggested that you might need some downtime as well. She handed me a steaming cup of coffee.

I loved this girl!

Wrapping a hand around her head. I placed a big kiss on her forehead before I took a drink.

Did he now? I grinned down at her. What did you have in mind?

Well, I thought we could go to the mall.

What! I raised an eyebrow at her.

Everyone has an irrational fear. Lots of people are scared of bugs, animals, water, enclosed spaces, or the dark. I like most of those things, so maybe that’s why I’m afraid of the mall. She knew the extent of my hatred and fear of malls.

I narrowed my eyes and frowned down at her. She was up to something.

Her laughter filled the kitchen. I did love the sound of her laughter.

She is definitely your daughter, Little Raven, Gabriel stated with a snicker as he entered the kitchen. I glanced at him as he walked towards us. I’ll take a cup, little one.

The snow quickly melted on his coat, and in his hair as he walked towards us. With a quick smile, she turned to fix him a cup of coffee.

What are your plans for the day? Gabriel inquired, accepting the cup from Jennifer.

Well she-wolf and I were just discussing what we wanted to do, I answered. Did you want to come with us, or do you have some all-important pack stuff to do?

He eyed me as he took a sip of coffee. Yes, I knew how important the pack was to him, but that didn’t mean I had to like it all the time. Just like my job, he received calls at all hours of the day and night.

No, I don’t have any all-important pack stuff today. It would be my pleasure to go with y’all, he responded. I have missed spending time with my girls.

Oh, someone was lonely. I smiled at him. I missed him too.

Where is your pack, she-wolf? I inquired.

I placed my cup on the counter.

Most of them are at home, she responded quickly. We had to change our schedule because of the weather.

We both heard the hope in her voice. We knew how much she missed her pack when we were here in town. Even though they were young, they still felt the pull of the pack ties. Gabriel and I worked extremely hard to keep them together as much as possible.

Go pack a bag, little one, Gabriel told her.

She squealed, hugged him, and ran from the room. I watched her run out of the kitchen. My gaze darted back to Gabriel.

I want to thank you for the workshop, Dark Angel, I purred, wrapping my arms around his neck.

Your welcome, he said. It will take a couple of months to finish if the weather stays like this.

I pressed a kiss against his warm lips and tasted coffee. With a groan, I deepened the kiss. Oh Luna, could this sexy beast taste any better? Well, maybe if we had some chocolate.

There will be plenty of time for this later, my love, he murmured, resting his head against mine. I don’t like waking up without you.

You're so spoiled, I sniggered softly. You know I have to work.

I played with the ends of his hair. I liked waking up next to him as well.

Next week I have an Alpha meeting to attend. I would like you to come with me.

Oh no, I snorted. The last one didn’t go so well. Besides, you know I can’t leave until we solved the case we’re currently working on, I pointed out. Which was an attempt to get out of the stupid Alpha meeting. Why do you have to attend every meeting? Why don’t you skip this one and stay with me? I invited, wishing he would.

McKenna you know I can’t, any more than you can stop working on your case.

Yeah, I know, but it didn’t make it any easier. I was finding it more and more difficult being without him. Between my job and his pack stuff, we hadn’t seen much of each other lately. I didn’t like this side of the mating thing.

When will you leave?

Saturday, he kissed my forehead. I would feel a lot better if you were going with me. I have been thinking if I helped you out with the case. We could have it solved by then.

Yeah, right. He could somehow solve the case in a week, the same case Ted and I had been working for the past two weeks. I don’t think so, but I could play along.

Alright, when we get to the village. Ted and I will go over the case with you and see if you can find something, we’ve overlooked, I said. I’ll call Ted and tell him to meet us there.

Chapter Two

The pack owned several thousand acres of land roughly two hours from town. The main part of the village held four or five guest homes and the Alpha’s house. A three-story gray brick house.

In all honesty, I liked the city house better. Jennifer and I researched the history awhile back. To my surprise, the house was a hundred years old. Originally, the mansion was built back in the eighteen-hundreds by a prominent businessman. Passing from generation to generation, until the family fell on hard times and were forced to sell the family home with the surrounding two hundred acres. The local Alpha jumped at the opportunity and bought the house and all