Shifting Fates (Sanmere Shifters Book 1) Read online

  Shifting Fates

  Sanmere Shifters

  Lola Gabriel

  Shifting Fates: Sanmere Shifters

  Text Copyright © 2020 by Lola Gabriel

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  First printing, 2020

  Publisher

  Secret Woods Books

  [email protected]

  www.SecretWoodsBooks.com

  Contents

  Secret Woods Books

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Other Books You Will Love

  Thank You

  About the Author

  Secret Woods Books

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  1

  Ellery Martin kept her head down as she walked along the street in sunny Miami. She could feel the sun beating down on the back of her head and the suit jacket made her feel sweaty and uncomfortable. She wished she hadn’t bothered with the jacket now. It hadn’t done anything for her. If anything, it had made her job interview worse as she was so damned hot all through it.

  This morning when she was getting ready, she had told herself that she wanted to look the part for the job interview. She had ignored the heat and after putting on her favorite black shift dress, she had added the jacket. She remembered thinking she looked professional like an office worker should.

  She had been confident as she made her way to the bar downtown where the interviews were being held. Within ten minutes of her interview starting, her confidence was gone, replaced by an overwhelming need to just get up and run out. She had managed to resist the urge, but she knew she wasn’t getting the job.

  It had all gone wrong from the start when the interviewer had asked her about her administration experience and she had had to tell her that she had none. The interviewer’s whole demeanor changed and Ellery knew that the interviewer was just going through the motions, too polite to tell her to just leave.

  Ellery sighed, shuddering at the memory of the awkward encounter. I should have just left, she thought to herself. Done us both a favor. A mixture of pride and shyness had stopped her from doing so. It was this same combination that made her walk with her head down now so no one spotted the tears sparkling in her eyes.

  She had moved to Miami two weeks ago, using the last of her savings to put down a deposit on a tiny studio apartment just outside of Wynwood. It was meant to be her fresh start. To say the last year had been the worst year of Ellery’s life would be an understatement. The problems had started for Ellery four months ago when she had lost her job as a retail assistant because the store she was working in went bust unexpectedly, leaving her jobless.

  She had soldiered through for the first couple of weeks, taking on agency work here and there, but she knew if she kept doing that, her savings wouldn’t last much longer, so she’d gone to her parents and asked them if she could move back in with them temporarily. They had agreed, and Ellery had gone home with her tail between her legs, having put her furniture into storage, taking with her only her clothes, her toiletries and makeup, and a few personal possessions.

  She had tried desperately to find a new job, but Jacksonville seemed to be hitting an economic downturn and nowhere was hiring. She had managed to get a part-time cleaning job, but this barely covered the money she gave her parents for her share of the bills and her food.

  Ellery had thought her life couldn’t get much worse, but the universe had other plans for her. Three months ago, she had attended a job interview for a full-time position in a little boutique store. She had been up against hundreds of other applicants, but her mom had convinced her she was as good as any of the others applying, and she had attended the interview confident and happy.

  She had left the interview feeling like she had a chance of getting the job and she had gone home feeling optimistic, only to find that her home no longer existed. In the three hours she was out, her parents’ home had burned to the ground. A policewoman talked to her in a soft voice, informing her that both of her parents had been trapped in the kitchen where the fire originated. They had both been dead by the time the fire fighters got them out of the building.

  Ellery’s world had collapsed then. Homeless, jobless, and completely alone in the world, she had gone to a motel that night and contemplated ending it all. One thing had stopped her. From what little she had been told about the fire, she was convinced it was arson—a deliberate attempt at her parents’ lives. She told herself she had to fight for justice for her parents, and only once she had that would she end her own life.

  By the time the inquest was over and the police had ruled arson out, Ellery had started to come to terms with losing her parents and she no longer wanted to end her own life. She knew the thoughts for what they were—a knee-jerk reaction to the suddenness of her grief.

  Ellery wasn’t convinced the fire had been accidental, but no amount of pushing the police or the coroner would convince them to reopen the case, and eventually, Ellery had to accept defeat. She had known she couldn’t stay in Jacksonville. It held too many bad memories and she was no closer to finding a job than she had been the day she lost her old one. The interview she had felt so positive about hadn’t resulted in an offer, and she hadn’t had the energy to go through the motions of applying for more jobs after the fire.

  She had decided then to leave Jacksonville, and she had started scouring the internet for options. She had stumbled across her tiny Miami apartment, called up and arranged a viewing that day, and she had never looked back.

  She still hadn’t found a job, but she had only been here for a week and a half and she had another couple of interviews lined up that week. She thought tomorrow’s interview was more promising. It was for a job in a large clothing store, similar to the one she had worked in ever since she had left college. Surely five years of experience had to count for something.

  She raised her head, blinking back her tears. This melancholy attitude wasn’t helping her. She would find a job, and when she did, she would make friends and then she could shake off this lonely feeling too.

  “Excuse me,” a voice said from beside Ellery.

  She glanced to her left and saw a man looking at her questioningly. He looked a little older than her, maybe around thirty. He was well dressed and his smile seemed genuine. He had intense grey eyes that Ellery found herself gazing into. She caught herself staring at the man’s eyes and forced herself to look away from them, giving him a shy smile.

  “You don’t happen to know of a decent dry cleaner’s place around here, do you? I’ve tried several laundry mats, and my theory is I’m just
not cut out for doing this shit on my own. Today is the third time I’ve managed to dye my white shirts pink,” he said with a smile.

  Ellery found herself returning the smile. The man’s gentle self-deprecation and the humor in his face put her at ease and she felt sorry that she couldn’t help him.

  “I’m sorry. I have no idea where to find anything,” she said. “I’m new here.”

  “Me too. It’s the worst, isn’t it? Not knowing anyone or where anything is. Still, there are worse places to be, right?” he said.

  Ellery nodded. She supposed there was.

  “I know this is going to sound crazy, but would you like to grab a cup of coffee?” the man asked, nodding to a café across the street.

  “No, thank you,” Ellery said. “I’d best be getting back home.”

  “Oh, come on,” the man said, still smiling at her. “One quick cup.”

  Ellery shook her head, flustered suddenly and wanting to get away but not seeing any way to do it without being rude.

  “Please,” the man said. He sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I sound like a total creep, don’t I? I don’t mean anything by it. I’m not suggesting anything weird. And I’m not even asking you on a date. It’s just, well, I’ve been here two months, and it’s hard getting to know people. I’ve barely spoken to anyone who wasn’t behind a cash register in all of that time. I just got carried away meeting someone else who is new to the city. I’m sorry. Have a good day, miss.”

  He started to walk away and Ellery’s own loneliness buzzed inside of her, reminding her that she could really use a friend herself.

  “Wait,” she called. The man turned back to her. “I’d love to grab a coffee.”

  The man flashed her a charming smile and came back. He extended his hand.

  “Kiefer. Kiefer May,” he said.

  Ellery shook his hand and smiled at him.

  “Ellery Martin,” she said.

  They started to cross the street and head for the little café.

  “How are you finding Florida, Ellery?” Kiefer asked.

  “I’m originally from Jacksonville so Miami isn’t a huge culture shock or anything, but to be honest, I’m not loving it so far. I mean, the city itself is nice enough, but it’s like you said. It’s so hard to meet people here.”

  “I know. Do you remember being a child, when making friends was as simple as announcing your name to another kid?” Kiefer said.

  “It was much easier that way,” Ellery smiled, feeling a little nostalgic.

  “The trouble is that it just doesn’t work as an adult. People just think you are totally nuts. Trust me, I’ve tried it,” Kiefer said.

  He gave her a mischievous grin that made his eyes twinkle and Ellery found herself laughing. She didn’t know if it was a case of Kiefer being the only person she had really spoken to here, but she thought there was definitely potential for them to become good friends, and boy, could she use a friend right now.

  They went into the café and ordered their drinks. Kiefer tried to pay for Ellery’s coffee, but she reminded him gently that this wasn’t a date and insisted on paying for her own beverage. They found a small table beside the window and sat down to people watch.

  “What’s her story, then?” Kiefer said, nodding to a young woman walking by.

  She looked around twenty with blonde hair with red and purple streaks in it. She was wearing ripped jeans and a band t-shirt for a band Ellery had never heard of. Ellery smiled and began to tell the woman’s story.

  “She was a good little Catholic girl up until she turned eighteen, and then she rebelled. She fell for the lead singer of a punk band, but he broke her heart. She got her revenge by starting her own band, the one on the t-shirt, and now she’s an overnight success, outselling the guy completely. What no one knows, though, is that at night, she goes home alone and watches Lifetime movies with her cat.”

  Kiefer laughed along with Ellery’s story.

  “What about him?” she said, nodding to a man who was passing by.

  He was an older man, in his fifties, carrying a briefcase and decked out in an expensive-looking suit. He was holding a cell phone to his ear, jabbering into it, angry-looking.

  “Well,” Kiefer said, “he was an accountant at a top firm, and then one day, he made an error that cost the company millions of dollars. They sacked him three months ago, but he hasn’t dared to tell his wife yet. He walks the streets dressed like that every day.”

  Ellery watched Kiefer out of the corner of her eye as he talked. There was something about him that seemed familiar and she tried to place him. She dismissed the idea. She didn’t know anyone here, and she thought she would have remembered Kiefer if she’d seen him around in the last few days.

  It must be the way his hands move when he talks, she thought to herself. It kind of reminds me of my ex-boyfriend. Satisfied that was the case, Ellery let it go and tuned back into Kiefer’s story.

  “His briefcase is empty except for a sad little tuna sandwich. And that phone call? That’s his father who knows the situation. He’s trying to convince him to tell his wife, but he won’t. Not until he finds another job, but the chances of that are slim as everyone knows how badly he fucked up at his last place.”

  “Aw, I kind of feel bad for him,” Ellery smiled.

  “Don’t. He’ll be okay. Guys like him always are,” Kiefer said. “So what do you do for a living, Ellery?”

  “I’m job hunting at the moment. I worked in the womenswear department in a large department store before I came here, and I have an interview lined up tomorrow for a retail position, so fingers crossed,” she replied.

  “You’ll be fine,” Kiefer smiled.

  “I hope so,” Ellery said. “What about you?”

  “I work in sales,” Kiefer said. “I won’t bore you with the details.”

  Ellery didn’t think it would be boring to hear about Kiefer’s job, but it was clear he didn’t want to talk about it and she didn’t push it.

  “Are you married?” Ellery asked.

  Kiefer shook his head.

  “No. You?”

  “No,” Ellery said.

  “Sometimes I think marriage is an outdated concept,” Kiefer said. He grinned at Ellery. “And other times, I acknowledge that’s just something I tell myself because I haven’t met Miss Right yet.”

  Ellery laughed softly.

  “I feel you on that one,” she said.

  “There’s plenty of time before you have to worry about settling down,” Kiefer said. “You’re what? Twenty-one, twenty-two?”

  “I’m twenty-four, but thanks,” Ellery smiled.

  She finished up the last of her coffee.

  “Well, I’d best get going. I don’t want to keep you,” Ellery said, standing up. “This was fun.”

  “Yeah, it was. We should do it again sometime. If I ever find a place that’ll do my laundry for me, that is. Otherwise, I’ll be all out of clothes soon,” Kiefer grinned.

  He stood up too and gestured for Ellery to lead the way. They stepped out onto the street. The air conditioning in the café had lulled Ellery into a false sense of security and the heat hit her like a wave as she stepped outside. She moaned quietly.

  “What’s wrong?” Kiefer asked.

  “This heat,” she said.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty bad and it’s going to get a lot worse,” he said.

  They stood awkwardly for a moment, and then Kiefer spoke again.

  “Let me give you a ride home, get you back into somewhere with air conditioning,” he offered.

  “Oh no, it’s fine. I’m not far from here,” Ellery said.

  “I’m parked round here,” Kiefer said as though Ellery hadn’t spoken.

  He started to walk in the direction he had indicated. Ellery opened her mouth to repeat her protest, but no words came out. She felt her feet start to follow Kiefer against her will. What the fuck? she thought to herself.

  She tried in vain to stop walking, but her fe
et kept going. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. Panic started to set in as she realized that somehow, she was no longer in control of her body.

  “Relax, Ellery. You are under my control now. Don’t try to fight it. I’ve heard that people who do end up breaking their minds and we wouldn’t want that, would we?” Kiefer said.

  Ellery realized with growing horror that Kiefer hadn’t spoken out loud. She could hear his voice inside of her head. That’s it. I’ve officially lost my mind, she thought to herself.

  “Not at all, Ellery. I’m a warlock and mind control is kind of my specialty,” Kiefer said in her head.

  She tried to reply, but she still couldn’t speak. She realized Kiefer had answered her last thought, so a little self-consciously, she thought at him, “Why are you doing this to me?”

  “Because it’s the only way I could get you to come with me without causing a scene. And I do hate a scene, don’t you?” He paused for a moment, and when his voice came again, Ellery could hear the amusement in it. “I wonder how many people in these windows are playing our little game. I wonder what stories they’ve created for us. Definitely not this one, I’m betting.”

  Ellery’s panic was gripping her like a fist now. She still thought on a rational level that she had to have cracked up. It wouldn’t have surprised her after everything she had been through, but if she was having a breakdown, then surely she wouldn’t be using logic to think this through. Her panic must have been showing on her face, because a man stepped into her path with a look of concern on his face.