Curse of Ancients (Rebel Moon Shifters #6)

Chapter 1

The beast inside Bayu perked up for the first time in months as Bayu stood barefoot beside the small creek.

The twenty-two wooded acres weren’t the same as the forests of his home country of Anjailang, but they did offer him privacy where Tiger could roam.

Shifting inside his apartment with the blinds closed wasn’t enough, and his beast rarely stirred these days unless it was to pout.

Not being able to run, to lie in the sun, to lap at the flowing water of a stream, had taken its toll.

His father warned him this could happen if he didn’t settle somewhere with plenty of space, but Bayu hadn’t wanted to put down roots anywhere.

He missed home. Missed his family. He hadn’t planned on remaining in the States this long, but such was the life of the firstborn of a Nuhuala, a creature blessed by their god, the ancient white tiger, Baekyo, to maintain the balance between good and evil.

The firstborn of each generation left their family at the age of eighteen, traveling to a faraway land, ensuring their safety should something happen to their father.

Bayu was a white tiger shifter. With there being other Nuhuala besides his father, Bayu assumed they were different types of creatures, but he had no idea what was out there since his father wouldn’t share that information with him. His father didn’t share a lot with Bayu.

With Tiger being listless of late, Bayu had no choice but to put down roots, and the small town of Ellenwood, Georgia, wasn’t too far from Atlanta on the days he was needed in the office.

With the property officially Bayu’s, he needed to speak with the architect to get started on his house. But first…

We’re home, he told Tiger. You can shift now. It’s safe.

At first, nothing happened, but Bayu was patient.

He continued to breathe in the crisp air.

To ground himself with the earth through the soles of his feet.

He focused on the birdsong as the different species of winged creatures floated through the air and landed on above branches.

With no warning, the view changed, becoming sharper, and four paws replaced his human appendages.

Tiger padded closer to the creek, dipping his head when he was close enough to lap at the cool water.

His tail swished behind him as the sun warmed his white back.

The two creatures shared the same mind, so Tiger knew how far he could venture safely.

Bayu had walked the perimeter of the property several times when considering if the acreage would be suitable for their needs.

There was a house close by, and from what Bayu could tell, the owner also held plenty of acreage for privacy.

He walked at the edges of their woods before deciding to buy this plot of land.

Tiger didn’t go far, as the dense underbrush snagged on his fur.

Bayu would need to hire someone to clear out the brambles and short, thorny bushes, leaving only the trees and taller plants.

Tiger approached a tree, stood on his hind legs, and scratched the trunk with his massive claws while purring loudly. Tiger was once again content.

We have to stay in the apartment a while longer, but we’ll visit our new land often so we can shift.

Tiger dropped to his paws and rolled over onto his back, scratching it against the rough ground.

Bayu remained in the background, letting the beast enjoy his freedom.

A black snake approached, close to his head, and Tiger flipped over, resting on his stomach.

A low growl rumbled from deep within, and the snake slithered away.

Tiger lolled in the sunlight streaming through the trees a while longer, and when he’d had his fill, he shifted back to human with Bayu lying on his stomach.

Cheeky bastard.

Tiger chuffed in response.

As he got to his feet, Bayu brushed grass and twigs off his clothes as he sent a small prayer to Baekyo, thanking him for his spirit animal.

He traversed the dense woods until he reached the small clearing where he’d parked.

Bayu slipped on his shoes before getting into his car.

Since the office of Stone, Incorporated was down the street from his own office building where he worked as a financial investor, Bayu didn’t need directions.

Once he arrived downtown, he parked in his designated spot of the parking garage next to his office and walked the few blocks to the Walnut Street Towers.

Bayu entered the building and was stopped by the security guard sitting at the entrance. “Good morning. Please sign in.”

Bayu signed his name and was given a visitor’s badge.

When the elevator doors closed, Tiger emitted a soft rumble, which was odd.

Bayu rode lifts every time he entered the building where he worked.

He didn’t care the reason; his animal was more alert than he had been in a long time.

The office of Sebastian Stone was on the top floor, and when Bayu pushed through the glass doors, he was greeted by a warm smile.

“Welcome to Stone, Incorporated, Mr. Tan. I’m Grace. How may I help you?” The security guard must have called ahead since Bayu didn’t have an appointment.

“Good morning. I was hoping to speak with Mr. Stone about designing a house for me.”

“Mr. Stone is currently in the West Virginia office. Would you like to schedule something with him via a video conference, or would you rather wait until he’s here in the next couple of weeks?”

Bayu didn’t want to wait. He needed to get started as soon as possible.

With the land being wooded, part of it would need clearing off.

Electricity and water were available at the road, but they would have to be run to the clearing.

He had looked for a house already built on a large tract of land, but those for sale close to Atlanta weren’t wooded enough, thus the necessity for a new build.

The office door opened, and a couple entered. Having seen his photo on the company website, Bayu recognized Travis McKenzie. The woman was a stunning blonde who was staring at Bayu.

“Mr. Tan, this is Travis McKenzie and his wife Brynna. Travis is over our commercial division.”

Travis held his hand out to shake, and when Bayu reciprocated, Brynna stared at the mark on Bayu’s arm. It resembled a tattoo, so Bayu didn’t think anything about her curiosity.

“It’s nice to meet you, but Travis is expected on a call. Please excuse us.” Brynna grabbed her husband’s hand and dragged him farther into the office. As they passed, Tiger sat up, figuratively. The female wasn’t human. Did Travis know?

Grace, who was tapping on her keyboard, muttered, “That’s odd.” Returning her focus to Bayu, she asked, “Video conference for later today?”

“I’d prefer to get started, so let’s schedule—” Bayu’s body vibrated, and his skin prickled all over. He held his hands out as markings appeared. No! This couldn’t be happening.

“Mr. Tan, are you okay?”

“I apologize. I need to go.” Bayu turned and rushed from the office, needing to get somewhere he could call home without being overheard.

He chose the stairwell until he noticed the security cameras.

Taking a deep breath, Bayu continued down the steps until he reached the lobby, handing the visitor’s badge back to the attendant.

Once outside, Bayu hurried along the sidewalk, dodging pedestrians, until he reached the parking garage, then he ran up the steps to his car.

As soon as he was seated, Bayu stared at his arm.

No longer was it bare other than the divine marking indicating he was firstborn.

He knew if he removed his shirt, his torso would be covered in the ancient symbols of the Nuhuala.

Tears spilled down his cheeks as Bayu mourned his father’s death.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not this soon.

Maybe it was a fluke. Maybe Hariz was at home with Wahida and Kiki, Bayu’s mother and sister.

He leaned across the console and popped open the glove box, retrieving the prepaid phone he kept for emergencies.

His aunt’s number was the only one programmed in it since he wasn’t supposed to contact his father directly.

This, to Bayu, most definitely constituted an emergency.

“Selamat Petang.”

Bayu responded in his native tongue. “The canvas is no longer blank.” Even though he was on a burner phone, Bayu would not speak plainly, just in case.

Gemi gasped. “This cannot be. I will call you back.” With that, his aunt hung up.

Bayu wouldn’t believe his father was gone until he had confirmation.

Instead of sitting and waiting, he started the engine and backed out of the space.

His apartment wasn’t far, and on those days he went into the office, Bayu walked unless it was pouring rain.

He drove the short distance, parked in his assigned spot, and got out.

Bayu engaged the lock, then strode to the lobby and took the elevator to the fourteenth floor, where his apartment sat at the end of the hallway.

The light gray walls were nearly as bare as the day he moved in eleven years ago.

He did have a few pieces of artwork depicting mountains similar to those in Anjailang, but there were no photos of his family except for the small ones he kept locked away.

Bayu went to his bedroom closet and dropped to his knees, removing the fake wall behind his clothes.

He pulled out the lockbox and opened it, brushing a fingertip across the top photo.

It was one of him and his father after they had run in their fur.

His mother, a human, loved seeing them together as their white tigers wrestled and played.

It was rare for her to take their picture since it wasn’t safe.

Not only were they shifters, but his father was a blessed warrior, so they had to be extra careful lest anyone find out his secret.