A Hidden Werewolf: Werewolf paranormal romance

  Copyright © 2016 by M.J.Cooper

  All rights reserved.

  In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

  A Hidden Werewolf

  Werewolf Paranormal Romance

  By J.W.Wolf

  A Hidden Werewolf

  Chapter 1

  As the clock ticked rhythmically in the human sciences classroom, Dr. Gordon Lowe graded papers while his students worked on a small essay. They were to explain the impact of the American population on the environment, how this could affect the rest of the world, and what steps could be used to reduce devastation. Though he intended to focus on America, Gordon was particularly fond of the Canadian forest region where wolves thrived, a golden paradise decorated with trees and all manner of life.

  Wolves were definitely Gordon's passion. Having been born a werewolf, his concern was always focused on his brethren and whether they would survive the ever-growing population of people and hunters. He was a shifter who could switch between the human world and the wild one, something that gave him an elevated perspective on the issue of environmental devastation. It's why it concerned him.

  While the students busied themselves with their short paragraphs, one student stood out amidst the rest. It was Mary Bennett, a bright woman with a smart mouth that always challenged conventional opinions. She was staring at the clock as the small hand ticked across the numbers, her eyes following it with ease. Gordon noticed her distracted demeanor and tapped his pencil. It caught the attention of half the room who looked up to focus on the noise. Mary didn't react.

  “Miss Bennett?” Gordon called out, her eyes suddenly shifting to him as he spoke her name. “Is there something immensely captivating about the clock?”

  “Only that it's constructed purpose doesn't serve mine.” She responded without flinching.

  “And what would that be?”

  “Leaving class.”

  A row of students chuckled in the back, causing a hardly amused Gordon to raise an eyebrow at Mary who was barely able to hide the smirk crawling across her lips. She was the type of woman to keep a stern face in most situations while also retaining a sense of class. The foolish way she had responded wasn't a sign of immaturity, but of great intelligence as it was clear she had finished her writing long before the other students and was incredibly bored.

  “What do you propose we do about this terrible inconvenience?” Gordon asked, laying his pencil out on his desk.

  Mary considered a few ideas before responding: “I think we should end class.”

  More chuckles erupted from the back row as well as from a few students next to Mary who were eying her with amazement. No one spoke to the professor that way, at least not if you wanted to survive his course. It seemed Mary was fearless in the face of danger. Gordon appreciated that. This particular trait would carry her through her career in the human sciences field and would be a stepping stone to possibilities that would impact the world.

  He sighed.

  “Well, is everyone finished?” Gordon looked around at the other students who wore panic on their sleeves.

  Weak, the lot of them, he thought. No one wants to speak up.

  “Then, that settles it. Class dismissed.”

  The frightened students all gathered their materials in a hurry, rushing to exit the large lecture room before the generous professor changed his mind.

  Mary sat in her seat patiently as her peers stumbled down the stairs around her. The gaze between her and the professor didn't break until all the students were gone. Gordon rose from his desk.

  “Once again, you've managed to liven up my classroom.”

  Mary giggled.

  “It's my pleasure, Dr. Lowe. I'm sorry I disturbed everyone. You know I can't help my own damn mouth.” She held up her paper. “Do you want to read my new idea?”

  Gordon enjoyed Mary's dedication to the course and to her work. In all his years, he hadn't seen a woman as deliberate as her about social justice, environmental issues, and the general health of the world. Her heart was enormous. It was difficult to fathom how she ever managed to take care of herself when she fought so hard for everyone else to get equal care. She always proudly claimed it was her job to defend those who couldn't defend themselves and that included animals in their natural habitats. To Gordon, that was inspiring. He hoped her ardor would inspire the rest of the class to be just as dedicated. It's why he allowed her to get away with all that she did.

  As Mary sat quietly reading through some notes she had taken earlier during the lecture, Gordon read through her paragraph of concisely written ideas and nodded emphatically.

  “This is wonderful. I insist you make this part of your undergrad dissertation. Such a phenomenal idea could make an impact where it's most needed.” Gordon smiled lovingly at the paper. “You'd make a fine environmentalist, you know.”

  “That's alright. I'd rather go on to become a therapist. I've always been good at helping people. Maybe I'll even travel. There's so much work that needs to be done.”

  Mary shook her head and looked down at her books scattered across the desk in front of her. She took up so much space. It was a wonder anyone ever sat next to her. As Gordon started penciling in some notes on her paper, she nervously shuffled through her folder to find something to occupy her time. She was far from intimidated by his criticism, but rather shaken by his presence. Part of her daily side comments came from a place of affection and playfulness because she had always been heavily attracted to Gordon, especially when he had revealed his love for wolves and their preservation.

  One of the reasons she accepted a second semester of this particular course was so she could learn more as well as spend time around him. She knew, though, this was a childish fantasy. He was probably married with kids and didn't have time for budding students who weren't even college age anymore. If he was going to have a passionate romp, he'd likely choose one of the other girls in the class who were fresh out of high school.

  Mary regarded Gordon's profile, the silence between them bearing down heavily on her shoulders and causing her to slouch. She cleared her throat.

  “I should head home. My other papers are waiting for me even though I'd love to dedicate all of my time to this one.” It sounded more smug than playful and she kicked herself as she gathered her things. Gordon didn't seem bothered.

  “I understand, Mary. You're doing a great job. I expect the same, if not more, from you this semester.”

  “Of course, Dr. Lowe.”

  With that, Mary left the lecture room.

  Gordon watched the door close after Mary had left, still holding the paper she had written in his hand. A mixture of emotions settled in his gut as he tried to sort through his thoughts. Each emotion felt intensified by the scent she left behind, the delicious and savory primrose that seemed to follow her everywhere she went. Gordon shook his head, walking to his desk to put down the paper.

  Mary is a fine woman, he thought. But she's probably already in a committed relationship with someone normal.

  Though Gordon was incredibly talented at hiding his shifter nature, he knew he wouldn't be able to function in a regular relationship for long without his significant other discovering his strange abilities. He was also aware that student-teacher relationships posed a potentially hazardous environment for everyone involved.

  Many students might claim f
avoritism and complain which would cause a rift to develop between the two dating. Part of him wanted to be incredibly selfish by sweeping Mary off to Canada where they could study the wolves. Another part of him just wanted to run off so he could be in the appropriate environment for his nature. And yet a greater part of him didn't want to expose her to the risks of the shifter lifestyle.

  Lately, Gordon had noticed the faint sound of footsteps following him home each evening after class. He lived relatively close to campus, but it was still a hardy walk for those who weren't particularly fit. He used to shift into wolf form prior to the footsteps appearing, and that might have been the cause of those footsteps to start. Someone had noticed. It was likely a hunter, but Gordon wasn't sure as he hadn't seen the person or noticed any other changes in his immediate vicinity. Nothing went missing from his home. No signs of trampling in the yard. Whoever decided to study him was crafty, maybe even bred into the hunter scene.

  Most times, families raised their young to be nothing but killers. It didn't make them any better than his brothers in New York who chose to kill because it was thrilling. It was one reason his clan had spread out down to North Carolina to find regular, peaceful living that separated them from the chaos in the northeast. Still, nothing helped. As his life became more settled, more of his brothers disappeared. He had remained alone for safety purposes so that his brothers could have an average life. It seemed that safety was coming to a close.

  Still stuck in his troubled thoughts, Gordon picked up his materials and shoved them into a satchel that he carried to and from home. He tidied up, shut off the lights, and locked the door. One of the perks of being a permanent professor was that he had his own lecture room that belonged to him. He didn't have to share it with anyone else. It was what he loved about this particular university: they loved him, too.

  Surely if he reached out for solidarity, he could find others who would help protect him. It was simply a matter of looking. The technology available was immense and held endless opportunities for reuniting with former family members. There might have been another shifter within the same neighborhood, but he wouldn't know. He didn't smell anything, hear anything, and he certainly didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

  On occasion, Gordon picked up a semi-familiar scent, but it was only in passing. He typically shrugged it off to his nostalgia that came barreling through his mind at random moments throughout the week. Most of the time, he continued without acknowledging it, hoping that it would be enough to forget everything. But he couldn't forget he was a shifter. That simply wasn't something he could ignore.

  Chapter 2

  As Mary let herself into her apartment, she recalled the look the professor had given her as he was reading her paper. She knew her creative intelligence would only get her so far with him. Eventually, she'd move on to taking other courses that he didn't teach that she would be required to complete in order to graduate. Scheming to stay in his classes would not only be detrimental to her, but to her grades as well. She sighed heavily and dropped her bag to the floor. A growl arose from her stomach as she crossed the room to the kitchen where she started pulling frozen food from the freezer to heat up. She thought about her undergrad dissertation.

  It would be something about the environment, wouldn't it?

  Mary's mind was filled with all sorts of research topics and issues that she could help solve. In recent years, she had come to understand her own concern with the world and the tragedy that struck her personally coming from every corner of it. Most of her younger years were wasted to partying, a sin she found to be unforgivable as it prevented her from a proper education. Now she was older with more wisdom, but she was starting over with college to get herself a degree that would lead to an important career. She didn't want to be stuck in retail for the rest of her life. Becoming a cognitive behavioral therapist would pave the way to helping children, teens, and families overcome tragedy and cope. She wanted to be the force of good in the world making a difference. It was one small change that could have a huge impact.

  The microwave beeped, signaling that Mary's food was finished cooking. She took it out, mixed it with a fork, and then sat on the couch to get lost in the television for an hour before working on any essays. A full belly meant a sharp mind. As the light from the television danced across her vision, she noticed a shadow pass one of the living room windows. It immediately caught her attention.

  Mary stood steadfast from the couch and approached the window with suspicion more than curiosity, her heart beat picking up a bit at the thought that she lived on the second floor. There wasn’t much that could cast a shadow on her window as it didn’t face the street. Every muscle of her body was tense, her instinct warning her that peering through the thin curtain covering the glass might elicit a response from the shadow lurking outside. To her relief, there was nothing.

  All her life, Mary had seen strange things out of her peripheral vision. Figures watched her from afar, shadows flutter across windows, and inexplicable pains filled her body. Everything was odd in her world, but she was used to it. Shadows still made her panic, but they were mostly just passing visions. It was nothing to seriously worry about.

  For now.

  *****

  During the next class period, Mary was less distracted by Gordon's physique and more concerned with the shadow she had seen two nights prior. She had proven to herself that it was nothing, but she couldn't seem to shake the eerie feeling that something was nearby that was dark and harmful. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

  Gordon was going on about how humans have evolved and progressed, outlining different points on his slide presentation and displaying a few photographs he had taken personally of historic dig sites. As a human science professor, he made sure to cover all that pertained to humanity which included habitat, culture, behavior, and DNA.

  “Everything is important in this class,” he said, “because it's all about you.”

  This phrase moved Mary the first time she heard it last year. It's what made her look at Gordon the way she did. He understood humans and took the time to understand their habits, inspirations, and triggers. At one point, she admitted to her best friend, Bette, that it was incredibly hot the way he displayed his passion for humanity.

  “Bette, I think I might have fallen in love with the man,” Mary said during a luncheon.

  “Don't get me wrong, Mary, but just think about what you're saying. He's your professor and you fell in love with him over – while it is rather inspiring – a simple phrase that he probably uses at the beginning of his course every year.” Bette stirred her tea. “Don't you think you're jumping the gun here?”

  “You know how I am. Hardly anything moves me. Why wouldn't I jump when a man's words stirs my heart?”

  “You said that about Paul.”

  “Don't you talk to me about Paul.”

  Bette looked down at her hands that were cupping her warm mug. She bit her lip and then looked back up at Mary who was still glaring at her with daggers in her eyes.

  “I'm sorry, Mary. You know I'm just trying to watch out for you.”

  It was true. The previous year, Mary had a horrible relationship with a man named Paul Rutter, a piggish man with soft features and a manipulative nature. It wasn't her fault she had fallen for such an awful guy. Vulnerability had gripped Mary in a strong bind and she got sucked into his false comfort, fooled momentarily by the promise of happiness. Mary's desperation had proved the culprit, but Bette convinced her it still wasn't her fault that Paul was such a gas-lighting bastard.

  As Mary came back to the classroom setting, she realized that students were staring at her. A moment of examination revealed that Gordon had called on her for something.

  “Monkeys,” Mary said jokingly. “Whatever it is, the answer is monkeys.”

  A chorus of laughter surrounded Mary who knew she had been called upon because she was lost in thought. Gordon closed his eyes slowly, breathed deeply, and then opened them again w
hile toying with the projector remote in his hands.

  “Miss Bennett, would you mind staying after class?”

  For a sophomore college course, the banter that whispered about her was rather immature. She disregarded it. Gordon finished his presentation and assigned work for the weekend before turning off the projector and sitting at his desk. He shuffled some books about as Mary stood carefully and walked over between the bustling crowd of students. When they were gone, the two were left in a pit of silence. They seemed to continually meet this way.

  Mary expected to be chastised by the good professor, understanding that her attention during his class was as important as the quality of her work. She suddenly felt like a teenager in a history class. A picture suddenly appeared in her head of her wearing a plaid skirt and white socks with a blouse that dipped too low. It caused her to tense her thighs and she panicked, pushing the thought away as quickly as it came.

  “Mary, is there something bothering you?” Gordon folded his hands in his lap as he held her gaze, assuring her with his eyes that concern was his main focus here instead of a reprimand.

  Mary shook her head.

  “No, I've just been overwhelmed by the amount of work I've been doing.”

  “That's a lie. You're never overwhelmed by your work, Mary. You've always insisted on having more.” He paused and tapped his finger on the desk. “I can tell something is bothering you.”

  And why wouldn't he know? She had been sitting at the front of his lectures for the past year. Her attentive gaze had always inspired him to do better, more informative lectures that engaged his class so his other students would react with the same excitement to learn. Her fervor excited him.

  “You wouldn't believe me if I told you.” Mary said as she rubbed her arm.

  The room was so suddenly cold. When had it gotten cold? Mary walked back to the elongated desk to retrieve her jacket, zipping it up before gathering her backpack in preparation to walk.