Moon Shifter 02 - Primal Possession

pissed at first that he’d disobeyed orders, but he’d get over it. And if he didn’t, fuck him.
    The sheriff’s sister was a good bargaining chip. The local pack leader’s brother was all into her, so they could use that against the Armstrongs. Edward had told him that getting that pack out of Fontana and the region was their number one priority right now. Doing it this way made more sense. If they tried it Edward’s way, it would just bring more violence into the area and more heat on the APL.
    That was the last thing he wanted. When he’d joined the APL, it wasn’t to bring violence to humans. It wasn’t like he was a terrorist. He just wanted the shifters gone.
    His brother had been killed by one of those animals in a bar fight. Over a stupid table. And the judge had let the shifter off on some sort of technicality. His brother might have run his mouth from time to time, but no one deserved to die like that. It wasn’t fair.
    Joseph’s breath quickened as the women exited the store. The redhead looked around as if searching for someone. Not wanting to get caught staring, he slowly headed down the street away from them and toward his parked truck.
    But she didn’t pay any attention to him anyway. He slid into his vehicle and turned around to watch them through his tinted back window. A few people carrying colorful shopping bags walked past him on the sidewalk, but no one noticed him.
    Katarina stood there waiting with December. Finally the redhead shook her head and shooed the other woman to her car. Looked like she didn’t plan to wait around for her man.
    Joseph smiled and kicked his truck into gear. He already knew where she lived, so he didn’t plan to follow her. He’d simply wait for her to come to him.
    Taking side streets, he reached her block quickly. The neighborhood had quaint, historic-looking homes and was exceptionally quiet. A far cry from where he’d grown up in a crowded city in a loud, run-down apartment building where his family had been the only whites.
    He parked a few houses down from December’s place and scanned the neighborhood as he got out. No blinds open and no kids playing in the front yard. He slipped on his gloves and zipped up his coat as he hurried across the street.
    His opportunity to strike would be limited, but getting her out of the house should be easy. He needed tosubdue her, tie her up, then pull his truck into her drive and deposit her into the backseat. He could risk trying to drag her to his parked truck, but then he wouldn’t be able to bind her without taking a huge risk. And that left more opportunity for her to fight back or make a scene, or for someone to notice them.
    Glancing around once more as he strode up the stone walk toward her front door, he breathed a sigh of relief that no one was watching. Unless she’d stopped somewhere, she should be home soon.
    Instead of going all the way up to her front door, he ducked behind one of the bushes by the entrance and withdrew his gun. Not perfect cover, but with dusk falling it was good enough. Just as he got into position, he watched her steer past the house. Without standing, he couldn’t see, but he could hear when her car door slammed.
    When he heard her boots clacking against the walk, he tensed, ready to spring. With his gun ready, he knew he’d have only one shot at this.
    As she neared the small step before the covered entrance, she jerked back as she noticed him. Before she could scream, he brandished his gun high enough for her to see.
    “Say a word and I’ll shoot you in the gut. You’ll bleed out before the cops arrive.” He wasn’t actually going to shoot her, but she didn’t know that.
    Color drained from her already pale face. She dropped the plastic bag she was carrying.
    He cursed under his breath. “Pick it up and act natural and unlock your damn door.”
    A battle waged in her head. He could see it in those pretty blue eyes. He guessed she was trying to figure out if she could make a run for it.
    “I’ll empty my gun into you before you’ve taken three steps.”
    She swallowed hard. Her keys were clutched tightly in her hand, but she still hadn’t made a move to do as he said. “What do you want from me?”
    “I don’t want to hurt you, but if you make me, I will.”
    “That’s not an answer.” Her voice shook and her entire body began to tremble as she stared at his gun.
    The longer they stood out there, the bigger chance he had of getting caught. He went for