Free Shifting Shadows (Sparks Collide Trilogy) by Amanda Kelly Page A

mine. “What a jerk.
Are you sure you’re ok?”
    “Well, I just feel stupid. I wish I
could’ve handled it on my own.”
    “Hey, there’s no reason for you to feel
stupid because you didn’t cause any of this. That guy should’ve let you go when
you asked. End of story.
    “I know but Trent and Logan and Brandon
and well, everyone hates that guy because of me. I don’t want them to have
enemies over something this insignificant.”
    “Kira, you don’t get a choice in how
we, as your friends, think. We’re going to dislike him on principle for being
an idiot. If that was me in there, would you like that guy?”
    No, I thought, I’d probably have
impulsively spelled him into a punching bag and placed him in the nearest gym.
“No, you’re right. I’m glad you guys were there for me. No one’s ever had my
back like that.”
    “It’s what we’re here for.” Logan said, as he and everyone else came
over to my car where Annabella and I stood.
    “You’ve done a lot for us and a lot
more for… well, you’ve done more for all of us than you
can possibly know. This was nothing compared to that.” Demi added.
    “Well, thank you…and I’m good now but I
really do just want to go home.”
    “You sure you don’t want me to kick his
ass because I’m really itching to.” Brandon said.
    Trent nodded “Same.”
    I shook my head “No, please don’t. He
made a mistake, he’s an idiot and not used to girl’s saying no. I wouldn’t
waste my breath on him.”
    “She’s right” said Demi decisively,
“Let’s go home.”
    Trent looked around “Sounds good but where’s Jay ?” Will clapped him on the shoulder and shook his
head slowly. No one spoke as we got into the cars. I got into in mine and
everyone else got into Trent ’s and Maxes. It was a terrible way to
end the night but I had this feeling that whatever Jay was going through, it
was worse.

Chapter 9  
Jay
    I threw a punch with my left hand and
met with a particularly bony jaw. Before he could retaliate I moved out of
reach and readjusted my stance. I was pissed at myself for having gotten into
this. True, I had started the fight when I hit on his chick at Ember, the club
where Werewolves and occasionally other supernaturals hung out but I hadn’t
expected it would take this freaking long.
    I told him to meet me at this place
because it was safe for fighting and what do you know, the bastard showed. When
I fought someone new it was clear from the get-go whether I was winning or
losing. As it turned out we were almost equally matched. Instead of feeling
grateful that I would have a challenge, I cursed my luck. Beating the hell out
of someone and getting the hell beat out of me could be equally as satisfying
when I was in one of these moods.
    Unfortunately this clash wasn’t
allowing for either and I wasn’t about to give in. It went against my nature.
No matter how much I wouldn’t mind going numb for a while.
    The werewolf was from a pack in Michigan , I was told and he had been summer
vacationing in the Sunshine State . He was an up and coming Alpha and a
few of his pack mates were watching from the sidelines. I was alone for once
and I liked it that way.
    He kept coming at me but his pacing was
getting slower. He had chosen to fight me in our human forms so if he was
losing stamina, then that was his problem. Wearing an opponent down was stupid,
you either beat him at his prime or not at all. I saw the opening and I took it
while he was still in it enough for me to feel like it was a true win. Between
one breath and the next, he was knocked out cold. Face kissing mat, and the
body to match.
    The brief pleasure at having won barely
touched me. The emptiness always won out. This fight had gone on too long and I
was late to the council meeting. Not that I cared.
    I pushed Michigan ’s fans out of my way as they came
rushing toward their Alpha. Not even stopping when the guy’s girlfriend, the
reason for the brawl, came up to me. She was