Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) by Maddie Foxx

rise and fall of her chest, she would have thought her dead. “Wake up, Mama.” She looked up at Maxwell. “Get help, quick. If Jason did this, he might come back to finish her off.”
    Maxwell limped off and met his teacher who was frowning. Brendan was also with her, and Maxwell blurted, “We found Melody’s mama, and she’s injured.”
    Brendan and Katlyn followed Maxwell to where Carrie was sprawled out on the ground. Brendan scooped her into his arms, carrying her to his truck. Katlyn quickly folded a horse blanket in the bed for Brendan to set Carrie on.
    “I want to go with Mama,” Melody begged.
    “Fine, hop in the cab,” Brendan agreed.
    “I’m coming, too,” Maxwell said.
    “I’ll stay here with the other children,” Katlyn announced, ushering Joel and Ivan back into the schoolhouse.
    Maxwell jumped into the cab of the truck with Melody. “I’m sorry, Melody,” he comforted.
    She nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder as she wept.
    Brendan slid into the driver’s seat and slowly drove back to the main house. “Where did you find her?” Brendan asked.
    “She came stumbling out of the woods,” Melody answered. “I just knew that Jason would hurt her after how he acted last night when he came to the ranch looking for her.”
    “Let’s not pass judgment just yet. We’ll get your mother the medical attention she needs.”
    “Will she be taken to the hospital, or—”
    “Paige is good about nursing shifters back to health, or vampires, but we’ll call Dr. Evan and ask him to come out to the ranch. He treats the shifters in this area.”
    * * *
    Angus and Seth were talking outside when Brendan drove past. He rolled the window down and said, “Fetch Dr. Evans. Carrie’s been badly beaten.”
    He continued to the main house and Melody and Maxwell got out of the truck, watching as Seth lifted Carrie, carrying her inside.
    Paige met them just inside the door. Flipping her dark sunglasses up, she asked, “What do we have here? Is that Carrie?”
    “Yes, and she’s been beaten badly. The children found her in the woods,” Seth said.
    “Bring her upstairs.”
    Paige led the way and Seth placed Carrie down on the bed she’d treated many a shifter on. Seth looked around and sighed. “Good. Brendan must have the children downstairs. This is the last thing Melody needs to see right now.”
    Paige and Seth removed Carrie’s clothing and he seethed at the bruises, which covered her body. Not only that, but she had many lacerations as well, most of them superficial. Her eyes were both black and swollen almost shut.
    “Are you thinking what I am?” Seth questioned. “It almost looks like claw marks on her arms.”
    “Yes, but hard to know for sure until she wakes up to tell us who did this to her.”
    Paige and Seth gently cleaned Carrie’s body. “I can’t imagine anyone doing this to Carrie. I mean, she might have made bad choices, but nobody deserves this.”
    She was covered with a light sheet that became quickly peppered with blood. It wasn’t long before Dr. Evans came through the door, medical bag in hand. “What happened?”
    “We don’t know,” Paige said. “Brendan said the children found her in the woods.”
    “Her daughter?”
    “Yes, and Maxwell.”
    “It’s too bad she had to see her mother like this.” He cleaned her wounds, bandaging the worst of them before placing a gown on her, which Paige always kept in supply.
    “Was she conscious when she was brought here?”
    “No,” Paige answered. “Should she go to the hospital?”
    “Let’s wait a little longer. Besides those black eyes, her head doesn’t look like it took a blow. I need to ask the children a few questions. It might help me to determine a course of action.”
    “Why not take her to the hospital?” Seth queried.
    “Because they ask too many questions. It makes retaliation that much harder. You do plan on going after whoever did this, right?”
    “Of course. Once we figure out who that