Rejected (Shadow Beast Shifters, #1)

by Jaymin Eve

To everyone who dreamed of being kidnapped by the devil. Because we’re fucked up like that. Embrace your darkness.

All shifters turned for the first time, under the winter solstice full moon, in the year of their twenty-second birthday.

Rule of First Shift had been passed from the original creator of our kind. The dark deity we worshipped. Shadow Beast. He’d set the shifter command and it couldn’t be overruled.

Why. Was. I such. A smartass? Honestly, this facet of my personality was going to get me straight up murdered. And I did not need any help in that department.

“I’m not my father. Why are his sins mine to pay for?”

The violent thoughts tended to linger for longer than the pain.

Never waste time on bad books. There were too many amazing stories out there waiting to be discovered.

Winter was finally coming. Yeah, I went there.

I mean, there was no way, just through some quirk in fate, I’d suddenly be all hot and heavy for one of these assholes who had tormented me. Right? Life couldn’t be that unfair.

Dragon shifters, amirite? I mean, I might have been a shifter myself, but the thought of a burly dragon dude was just freaking delicious.

The Shadow Beast was our god, more devil than angel, and I’d need his resilient strength to get through this. Darkness was going to be my calling,

I could rest when I was dead.

“But you were always different. Always had to stand the hell out and make us all take notice.”

Silent threats counted. It was fact.

“One day, you’ll look rattled again,” Jaxson said, staring me down. “One day, I’ll figure out your weakness, and when I do, you’ll fucking belong to me. Like fate always intended.”

“I’m sorry, what? Belong to you? That sounds awfully possessive for someone who thinks associating with a Callahan is a kiss of death. Not to mention, it’s only polite to take someone out to dinner before you try to own them.”

Dannie got in first. “You had everything in your hands, pup,” she said softly, “and you threw it away through pride and fear. You’ve lost what you could have had, and when our girl comes into her own, she’s going to rip your face off. I, for one, can’t wait to see that.”

I was lucky to have a friend who thought I was something worth losing, when everyone else in my life—except Simone—had just thrown me away.

There was no way to stop my beast as she sprinted for the grey wolf. The alpha’s son. Our true mate.

I had lost complete control of my beast now as we ran faster than the wind, our souls desperately searching for the one who would make us complete. The one who would right the wrongs this pack had bestowed upon us.

Demon bitch? I’d fucking show him a demon bitch.

No fucking way would they take me down. Never again would I bend to the will of the Torma pack. I knew I had untapped strength; I just had to find it.

we were not born of a human spirit. We were born of the Shadow Beast, and it was to him that she called.

She accepted our fate. Too much hurt existed between Torin and me for it to ever be repaired, and I would die before allowing him to claim us. He doesn’t want us.

I snorted. “Tight… uh, sure. I mean, Don and Shortie double-teamed her”—I winced—“in the same hole. But, you know, I’m sure those rumors about her peeing a little when she laughs are greatly exaggerated.” I shot her a fake expression of sympathy. “Kegel exercises are gold, babe. You really should look into that.”

A little darkness never killed anyone.

“If I have to choose between seeing your face again and death, well… I mean, that’s not even a choice.” I tilted my head back and shouted as loudly as I could. “Shadow Beast, get your ass over here and take my soul to the underworld.”

“How did you know I was here?” He stopped moving. “Your scent. I could find you anywhere, Sunny.”

Scent meant a lot to us and committing someone’s to memory was more than just normal pack behavior. It was mate behavior.

“You left me,” he said, interrupting, “and my wolf lost his fucking mind. We’ve barely shifted since you disappeared, and it was only when you returned that he’s relaxed enough to let me in. Apparently, you’re pack.” He took another pause. “To both of us.”

He was breathtakingly scary and perfectly sinful.

I didn’t move, though, unable to tear my gaze from him, devouring each detail like it’d be on the most important test I’d ever take.

I couldn’t tear my eyes from that face carved from gods and sin, wrapped in bronze skin and depthless eyes. I stared into a nightmare-spattered dream. And it scared the absolute fuck out of me.

“Shadow Beast,” I whispered. For this, I was rewarded with a smile. “At your service, pup.” Fuck me sideways with a spoon.

Shadow Beast cocked his head, staring at me again, almost as if I’d surprised him in more ways than one. Personally, I enjoyed surprising demon creatures—it was one of my strongest skillsets.

Shadow Beast snarled. “Darkness is not my calling card, mutt. You would do well to remember that.” Mutt. Charming. It kind of was charming in his almost-Scottish accent.

New goal: figure out how to toss him out into the snow and take over the library.

I’d seen Ghostbusters. I could handle this demon shit.

Fuck this guy and his intensity. If he kept this up, I was either going to blush or have a spontaneous combustion, a.k.a. instant orgasm. I mean, if I didn’t die of fright first.

Ugh. One should not admire the demon-god who wanted to murder you. It was just common sense.

I’ve come to realize that when someone is stronger and more powerful than you, and you are at their mercy, begging and crying does nothing except give them some sort of sick gratification. I won’t build up bullies any longer. They get nothing from me.”

Eventually, he’d let his guard down. Eventually, whatever this bullshit was would come to an end. When that happened, it would be my time to shine.

“I own you now, Sunshine, and I will punish any and all insubordination.”

I can do this. I can survive this. After Torma, I can survive anything. From the ashes, the phoenix will rise. A mantra was all a chick needed to make it through life. Right?

Food and books, could anyone ask for more?

The fact that I couldn’t experience a true sexual attraction toward women when men were such assholes was one of my greatest laments.

The second bite of cake was even better than the first, and an involuntary moan escaped from between my lips. Jesus, Mary, and thank fuck for sweets.

“You will learn to fear me, little wolf.” It was my turn to scoff, only it sort of came out like a snort. “Yeah, yeah. So you keep telling me.

you’re the asshole who kidnapped me, threatened my life, and treated me like your slave. You want me to bow to you, for fuck’s sake. You don’t get to call me cute nicknames.”

“You’re this bright, bubbly, annoying creature,” he drawled, “whom I can’t seem to kill, even when I want to. So ‘Sunshine’ stays, and if you have a problem with it, too fucking bad.”