Page 1 of Her Forbidden Shifters
PROLOGUE: NOAH
Noah stood in front of the wall-length window of his top floor apartment, looking out over the city. The lights that shone from the land below reminded him of better days. A time when he didn’t have to hide who he was. Though being high up reminded him of flying, the scenery only came as a close second to the real thing.
He desperately wanted to fly again, but with modern technology, he couldn’t risk it. Not in Denver. And he didn’t have the time to drive out to the mountains to stretch out his wings.
Melancholy filled him as he checked his watch. The time eased his tension and filled him with a small bubble of excitement.
Five minutes were left until his scheduled call with his sister. He needed to get ready and didn’t want to be late. She would never let him live it down.
He pulled himself away from his view and walked to his kitchen. Once there, he collected his glass filled with a couple of ice cubes and his favorite bottle of bourbon. He took all of that to his office, where his computer was stationed in the center of his desk. Once he sat everything down on the surface, he took his seat and poured himself two fingers’ worth of his drink of choice.
Any minute, Avery, his baby sister, would call him.
They had opposing schedules, and this was the only time he could meet with her. They had intended it to be a weekly ritual for them. But with how busy their lives were Noah considered himself lucky to have it as a somewhat bi-weekly ritual. Though that was a loose interpretation of how often they were able to meet. Nowadays, it seemed to become less and less frequent.
As Noah stared at the screen, waiting for the call to come through, he thought of the sensation that had settled in his stomach. A hint of missing something that was just strong enough to become an annoyance. Something more than his need to fly. Maybe he would talk to Avery about that. She always had great advice.
Wise beyond her years, she was. And she was his grounding force, keeping him from making mistakes that could ruin the both of them. Without her, he didn’t know what he would do.
Noah’s eyes dropped to the time. Two minutes past time, and he smirked to himself. She was always late. But he didn’t mind. Their talks were always worth it. He was positive she would be on soon.
Five minutes past time, and his eyebrows drew together as his green eyes searched for a reason on the computer screen. She might have a tendency for being late, but there was something deeply unsettled in his gut. Something more than his pesky melancholy. The sensation was something different. He could feel it in his gut, increasing by the second.
Seven minutes past time, and Noah started to wonder if she had forgotten. But then the call finally came through. He sighed to himself and picked up his glass with one hand while pressing the answer button on his screen with the other.
Avery’s face popped up on the screen, smiling. Her hair was done up in a braid and makeup still covered her face. But there was something in her eyes that betrayed her. A deep set worry that made him want to protect her and help her.
“Took you long enough,” Noah said, setting his glass back on the surface of his desk. “What’s wrong?”
She looked around her. The lights were off, and the blue light of the screen illuminated the small space around. Behind her, he could see the old quilt his grandmother had made for her covering her bed. He hated the idea that she chose to live so plainly. She came from wealth and had more than enough money to live better than she was. But this was how she chose to live.
And despite how much he hated how she chose to live her life, he was deeply proud of her for making her own way. She lived life on her own terms. And he wouldn’t have her living any other way.
“Nothing. Sorry, I’m later than normal,” Avery said.
“Why is it so dark?” he asked, noting the background’s severe lack of light.
“Power is out,” she said and sighed as she situated closer to the screen. “That’s part of the reason why I was late. How was your week?”
“Do I need to call the super?” Noah asked, growing irritated.
She chuckled softly under her breath. “No. Please don’t. I’m sure whatever is going on is just a busted transformer or something.”
“Keep me up to date on that, please,” Noah said.
Avery nodded. “I will.”
“So, what was bothering you?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Just creeped myself out a little bit, is all. Don’t you want to ask me how my week is going?”
Noah ran his fingers through his hair and sat back in his seat. “Of course, how has your week been?”
She nodded. “Weird and normal all at the same time.”
“What do you mean about that?” Noah asked.
She shrugged. “Do you ever have the feeling that something around you is very off, but you can’t quite put your finger on what is wrong or why?”
