Author Jami Brumfield narrates chapter one of Rayne's Thunder part one M...

Sneak peek of Rayne's Thunder (Part Three) The Politician and the Witches

It is with great pleasure that I announce the release of Rayne's Thunder (Part Three) The Politician and the Witches. So much has happened to Rayne and her siblings since their father passed and the action, adventure, drama, and romance is only heating up. Rayne's Thunder is Rayne's journey to true love. Rhyme's Reason and River's Fire will be next. But first, Rayne must kiss a few frogs to find her prince... and maybe do a little growing up in the process.

If you've missed the first two installments you can check out the sneak peeks here.

Rayne's Thunder (Part One) Master Chef excerpt

Rayne's Thunder (Part Two) The Veterinarian excerpt

Introduction to the third installment of this romantic serial...

Rayne Manchester’s adventures in dating continue as she meets her newest suitor, Senator Archibald Bachiemer, and he makes one heck of a first impression but is it enough to grab Rayne’s attention or is he better suited for another wolf at the compound? Will wolves from her past come back into the running for her hand?

The lives of the Manchester siblings have been in turmoil since the day their father’s will has been read. All three of them must be married and mated in one year or they will lose their massive inheritance. Rayne has taken to the dating scene like a fish out of water, Rhyme believes she has the right man, and River is so busy with pack politics, taking the Colorado Alpha seat, making a peace treaty with the local witches’ coven and defeating the rogue pack that has designs of overthrowing River and owning Colorado.

This is the third installment on Rayne’s journey to true love. At the end of this adventure she will find her mate and happy ending but the world around her will become a strange new reality and those she loves will be changed forever. Part One, Master Chef and Part Two, The Veterinarian are available on Amazon. 

Chapter One

“Hello?” I picked up the phone, despite the unknown caller identification on the screen. It didn’t help that my eyes were blurry from the hours of tossing and turning as my dream lover did unspeakable things to my body while I slept. The naughty dream haze left me unable to focus on the voice of the caller or the words he said. “What was that?”

The chuckle from the other end of the line ran over me like a warm rainfall. “I said, what time would you like me to pick you up for our date tonight?”

“Date?” I sat up in bed and ran my hand over my face, forcing the blood to circulate to my skin, and help me wake up. I knew he was making some sort of sense, I just couldn’t piece it together because my mind was like a mixed up jigsaw puzzle still in the box waiting to be put together.

“I know it’s early, and I apologize for that. I have a very busy schedule today, and wanted to make sure I confirmed this date before I lost track of time.” His voice was confident, cool, and oddly, comforting.

“Okay, I’m lost.” I yawned. “Who is this?”

“Archibald Bachiemer, but you can call me Archie.”

And that was when it all fell into place. “Archie! Oh, yes, I’m so sorry. Carter said you’d be calling to confirm. I just didn’t expect the call to be so early.” I put my head in my hands and shook it. Nothing like making a terrible first impression.

The laugh that erupted from the other side of the phone caught me off guard. “I’m thrilled that I can amuse you.” I grumbled into the phone. Ugh! These random dates with men my father picked out for me were constant headaches. It looked like this one was going to be the same as the master chef, the vet, our pack’s enforcer and now the politician. More frogs to kiss! Will any of them be my prince?

It was beginning to seem doubtful. Then what? What would happen if I went through the list of ten eligible bachelors and came up mateless? A shudder ran through me. That couldn't happen. My family needed me to man... er... woman-up and pick someone. That meant I needed to give these guys a chance and open myself up to the possibility of finding love. I shook my head. Right now, I was coming off a sexy dream haze. The lack of deep sleep for the last few weeks was beginning to rub my nerves raw and made me irritable. It wasn’t his fault. Focus, Rayne. Focus on the man's voice that is speaking to you in the real world. He's the one that matters right now.

I pushed the images of strong hands roaming my feverish body, teasing and delighting my senses away only to have them replaced with the memory of his lips and gentle nips on my neck and mouth. The goosebumps on my skin weren't from the voice of the man on the phone, but from the vivid imaginings of what my faceless dream lover did to me last night. Gah! This dream lover was driving my body to desire with only mere thoughts of him. FOCUS on reality! I yelled at myself in my head.

“Believe me, it’s a good thing I find you amusing, Rayne. I work with dry, politically correct people all day long. I find you a breath of fresh air, and I’ve only just spoken to you on the phone. I can’t wait until we meet in person.” His warm, gruff voice shattered through my thoughts like broken glass.

Oh goodie, another man who knew all the right things to say. It was unfair to think negatively about the man because he was a smooth talker. He’s a politician. Weren’t most of them good with words? He also seemed kind and interested so he may have potential after all. One point for the senator against the dream man who visited me every night, he was real. That was a very big point in his favor.

After a short, awkward pause, I mean, what was I supposed to say to his last comment? ‘A breath of fresh air?’ It was a little cliché, and I was suddenly becoming very cynical about this entire dating process. The idea that Rhyme, River, and I could find mates and marry in one year from lists given to us by our recently deceased father was ludicrous. We were trying, but true love doesn’t work on a time table, does it?

He cleared his throat. “So I’ll be arriving later this afternoon, and your brother said I could stay at the compound for the weekend, but if you prefer, I can get a room at the local hotel?”

“No, that’s fine. We’ve got more than enough room here,” I told him as I refocused my attention on the conversation. Besides, if he stayed the weekend, I would be able to get a good feel about the man and see if he was even in the running for my heart. If he didn’t make the cut, we could part ways, and I could seek out bachelor number five.

My response seemed to please him. His voice took on a comfortable tone. “Great, I’m looking forward to spending time with you this weekend. I have tickets for a show tonight. Does that sound like a fun first date?”

“Sure.” I shrugged, pointless, I know, because he couldn’t see it, but it made me feel better.

“Wonderful, I’ll see you this afternoon.” He hung up the phone before I could even say goodbye. Wow, okay, that was an interesting wake up call. I put the phone on the white, antique night stand and buried my head under the pillow, resisting the urge to scream. If I had there, would be multiple werewolves breaking down my door to make sure I was not being attacked. I just wanted to go back to sleep and meet up with my dream man, whoever he was.

The quick rap on the door followed by the excited entrance of my best friend, Chloe, made that desire unattainable. My bouncy friend plopped down on the bed and cooed as she handed me a large package. “Look what came by messenger for you this morning.”

I tossed the pillow I was holding, and glanced at the large, white box with a red bow. “What is it?” My tone dry and uninterested.

“Open it!” She shoved the box in my hands.

I gave her an irritated glare. “You are entirely too happy this morning.”

“I suppose being rescued from my kidnappers, and back home safe and sound might have something to do with that.” How she managed to say that without sarcasm was amazing to me.

I swallowed the guilt at her grateful statement. It was, in a roundabout way, my fault she’d been kidnapped in the first place. If I hadn’t brought her home with me in grade school, and introduced her to the pack life, if I hadn’t made her my best friend, if I hadn’t screwed the pooch on my first date with Brick, shamed him and his family, and caused Brick’s sisters, Jewel and Britain, to seek vengeance, Chloe never would’ve been kidnapped. It was like my actions were dominos, and they’d been knocked over, creating a ‘cause and effect’ impact that led us to this point. “I’m so sorry.” The remorse for my involvement was eating me up inside, and I could feel the misery and sadness pulling me into the lonely abyss. The chasm of pain was not anywhere I desired to be. Ironically, that painful void was why we became friends in the first place.

She pulled me out of my depression when I was younger and made me see the positive in life. My mind raced back in time to our first meeting. My siblings and I were in the school lunchroom. Our mother had recently passed away, and I was wallowing in self-pity and sorrow. I had alienated all my pack friends, including my siblings who insisted I be strong, put on the good face, show the world I was unaffected by the loss of a mother I barely knew. Chloe was new, but people seemed to gravitate toward her like moths to a flame, only she wasn’t deadly. She was like a lighthouse calling everyone to a safe harbor. It wasn’t just her good looks, it was her soul. The person inside was so good and genuinely cared about people.

“Can I sit?” The younger version of Chloe asked as my mind clearly recalled the memory.

I had barely opened my lunch bag when she approached me, and didn’t wait for me to respond before she sat across from me at the table.

“I’m Chloe.” She extended her hand to shake.

I busied my hand with opening my sandwich bag which allowed me to avoid touching the girl. Kept me from making a connection. Most people would’ve walked away, but not Chloe. She just shrugged and started eating her lunch.

“This cafeteria food is terrible.” She blurted out.

“It is.” My younger self, despite the overwhelming sadness that was claiming my soul, answered.

Chloe pushed her plate to the side.

“I’m sorry about your mother.” Her eyes connected with mine and held my gaze.

Tears moistened my eyes, a lump formed in my throat making it hard to eat. I didn’t want to eat anyway. “Thank you,” I managed after a few moments of fighting the urge to break down.

She reached a hand across the table and squeezed my wrist. “I lost my mother last year to cancer.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” She offered a shaky smile. “It’s hard, and takes a long time before you can breathe, let alone pull yourself out of the murky quicksand of sadness, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. One day you wake up and feel like you can live again.”

I offered her half of my lunch and we were inseparable from that moment on.

Looking back, her words seemed so mature for someone so young. Losing a parent at such a tender age does that to people. It makes you older than your years. It was the loss of our mothers that bonded us, made us best friends forever. Something so horrible created something beautiful because life goes on even after those we love are gone.

“I love you.” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could hold them back.

“Is that a gift of love? Is that what the card says?” Chloe looked at me excitedly.

“No, that’s me telling you I love you, and I’m so glad you’re safe.” I pushed the box aside and hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry you’ve gotten mixed up in all the wolf drama.”

“It’s okay, Raynie. I’ve been caught up in the wolf drama since you and I became friends. It’s your life, and I love you, so I’m here to support you.” She pushed the box back in front of me. “Now open it,” she urged.

I wiped a tear that threatened to fall out of the corner of my eye. “I’m also sorry that I abandoned you the last couple of years.” I’d already apologized many times for betraying our friendship when I went away to college, but I still felt ashamed of how I deserted her.

Chloe and I had grown apart while I was away at college. When I returned home for the funeral, she was sure to make me aware of how much I’d failed her. Failed us. The accidental overdose, the kidnapping, it’s odd how extreme trauma can create unbreakable bonds, but time and separation can loosen those ties that bind.

“It’s okay. All is better now. We’ve been reunited, and all is right with the BFFs.” Chloe laughed. “Now enough of all this crazy talk. You need to open that meticulously wrapped gift.” She patted the box in front of me.

With a shaky hand, I opened the note. “Please consider wearing this tonight for our date,” I read aloud. “Really?”

Chloe smiled “Just open it,” she insisted.

I opened the box and pulled back the packaging paper to reveal an elegant black dress with white lace overlay. On the side there, was a pair of white sparkling pumps. “Seriously, Chloe? You know I’m not going to wear this.”

“Not even to make a good first impression?”

“I’m not looking for a fashion consultant as a mate. I want an alpha male that makes my heart race when he’s in the same room with me.” My eyes took on a dreamy state. “I need someone that can be strong and supportive, and love me for who I am, not try to change me into what he wants.”

“And this man may be just that with a hell of an awesome fashion sense.” Her eyes sparkled as she picked up the bodice of the dress.

“Okay, maybe, but you’re forgetting one thing. I don’t wear dresses,” I reminded her. Wearing dresses, frilly and sparkling things, was Chloe’s cup of tea, but I felt more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt with a pair of comfy tennis shoes.

“You don’t wear dresses often. Just humor him tonight and let him know how you feel, if you like him, when he kisses you good night.”

“I guess you’re right. It can’t hurt to play the game for a while to see if I like him.”

“Exactly.”

“But I can tell you right now, he’s in the deficit with me on the scale of first impressions.”

“Come on, let’s go four-wheeling and get your mind off these foolish things.” Chloe stood up and pulled me by the arm out of the bed.

“Now that sounds like fun.”  

Get Rayne's Thunder (Part Three) The Politician and the Witches FREE with Kindle Unlimited or only $0.99. 

Thank you for reading Rayne’s Thunder from the Dating a Werewolf Series. I truly hope you’re enjoying the adventure. There are only a few more installments to go before Rayne chooses her mate. The romance is only going to get hotter, and the action and drama will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you’re enjoying this series, please come join my reader’s group on Facebook here. There are character updates, sneak peeks, and great comraderie between the fans and me. I love popping in weekly to chat and give updates. I also like to keep my fans posted with new releases and great deals in this group. You can also get up to date news, deals, discounts, giveaways and more by subscribing to my newsletter here.

Because I write paranormal, and am a fan of the supernatural, I often publish interesting news, explore myths, and dig into the unknown on my blog. Check it out and subscribe here.

If you haven’t read Rayne’s Thunder (Part One) Master Chef or Rayne’s Thunder (Part Two) The Veterinarian, below are the links on Amazon. I hope you enjoy. If you have, and you’re waiting for Part Four coming in August 2015, check out some of my other series on Amazon. They’re tasty bites of paranormal romance, intrigue, mystery mixed with mythology and fairy tales. I hope you’ll enjoy them. The links are below. Again, thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!

Also look for River’s Fire and Rhyme’s Reason adventures as part of this series. The three only have a year to find a mate and marry. If they are not successful, they forfeit their inheritance. Leading the Colorado Wolf Pack with very little funding will be a difficult task.

Please Check out my other series on Amazon.

Dating a Werewolf Series

Rayne’s Thunder (part one) Master Chef (Ebook) ~

Sometimes one must kiss the frogs to find their true love

Rayne’s Thunder (Part Two) Veterinarian (Ebook) ~

Date with a sexy vet, kidnapping, & werewolf pack politics check out the Dating a Werewolf Series 

Shifter Love Tales (Adult paranormal romance with mythological Gods)

To Love a Dragon (Ebook) ~

Dragon shifter prince falls for his witch detective mate & battle against the gods for their futures.

Demon Fairy Tales (Adult paranormal romance with mythological Gods)

Dragon’s Demon

Dragon’s Dream Dancer (Ebook) ~

He finds his mate stripping in a club, what's a dragon shifter to do? 

Also available on Audio. (Audiobook)

Mystery Springs (Adult paranormal romance with mythological Gods)

The Witch’s Vampire (Ebook) ~

Can they defeat the threat from the ancient gods & still find their lost love?

Also available on Audio. (Audiobook)

Paranormal Hypnotherapy Files (Adult paranormal romance with action and demons)

Cherished Gift (Holiday story with past life lovers) ~ Love lost once was painful enough for this immortal werewolf, but twice will kill him.

Vanished (Paranormal sci-fi romance/dystopian with time travel)

Death Interrupted (Ebook) ~

Taken from the past on the brink of death & thrust into the future to save mankind.

The Mating Challenge (Ebook) ~

From one prison to another sexy strong BBW must watch as 6 alphas compete for her love 

Demon Ascension (Paranormal romantic comedy, dark fantasy)

Father Made Me Do It (Ebook) ~

Forbidden love between an angel & demon unique romantic comedy

PBI Case Files (Paranormal mysteries with mythological gods and romantic suspense)

The Beginning (Ebook) ~

What happens when you wake up to a one night stand & he's dead? 

Also available on Audio. (Audiobook)

Outbreak (Ebook) ~

Ebola outbreak mutates into a supernatural strain 

Also available on Audio. (Audiobook)

Lost Plane (Ebook) ~

Plane disappears over the Pacific, Gods, banshee & cyborg help the PBI team find the missing passengers. 

Also available on Audio. (Audiobook)

Justice Driven (Ebook) ~

Revenge sanctioned by the Gods. The Amazons use vampire’s mate to neuter him.

Also available on Audio. (Audiobook)

Ghost Connection (Ghost mysteries, new adult)

Lost (Ebook) ~

Reluctant psychic helps one ghost save her family from ex-boyfriend & discovers terrifying secrets of her own. 

Also available on Audio. (Audiobook)

Death Does Not Become Her (Ebook) ~

Cassie sees the dead & helps these ghosts only this time the one she's helping may not be as dead as she thinks. 

Also available on Audio. (Audiobook)

The Winters Saga (Young adult paranormal romantic suspense, urban fantasy adventure)

Lone Wolf Rising (Ebook) ~

Revenge has deadly consequences! Get bitten by the Winters Saga 

Vampire Princess Rising (Ebook) ~

Savvy goes from Homecoming queen to Vampire Princess in one terrifying night.

Magical Secrets (Paranormal romance)

Genie’s Treasure (Ebook) ~

Treasure Hunters risk their lives to free a genie from her prison 

Sneak Peek of Rayne's Thunder Part Two and other Great News

So I'm wrapping up the rough draft of Rayne's Thunder (Part III) The Politician and I just realized I haven't posted the sneak peek of Part II The Veterinarian. So after drinking a steamy pot of coffee and slapping my hand for falling behind on the ball I'm ready to share a sneak peek of this new part. I hope you enjoy. I'm hearing great things and the reviews coming in are awesome.

Rayne's mission to find a mate has ran into a snag. Her best friend, Chloe has been kidnapped. They say trauma can bond people quickly but will it help increase the attraction between Rayne and Lincoln, a Veterinarian from a neighboring pack? You'll have to read to find out.

You're also going to find out more about the connection between River and Chloe in this installment. Could there be lingering feelings?

As far as Storm, Rayne is coming to respect the man for all he's done for her family, but respect is only one aspect of love. She can't seem to get past the muddy waters of their history together. Not to mention the tiny fact that he's dating her nemesis (we won't point out to her that little hiccup was her own doing).

Are you enjoying Rayne's Thunder? I know I'm loving these characters and really enjoying writing the story.

Here's a taste of part two...

Chapter One

I felt apprehension as I maneuvered my car up the winding driveway toward the home I grew up in. It had been a little over a month ago since I attended my father’s funeral here, discovered I had a year to choose a mate and marry, saved my best friend from an accidental overdose, disobeyed and disrespected my brother -- the new alpha, created a rift in the relationship between the Wyoming Pack and my own Colorado Pack, and found out the boy I’d always hated had grown into a delectably sexy man. Hotness was his middle name and he wore that like a badge of honor. Untouchable might as well have been his last name because that was what he was to me. And denial was my middle name if I believed the crap I was shoveling down my own throat at this moment.

All of that insanity happened in just the first few days I had been back. They say times of drama create explosive relationships. I was doing my best to make that a cold, hard truth. Truthfully, I was astonished that River was letting me come back home so soon, but I suppose it was easier to pair me off and get me married while I was in the same town as opposed to several states away.

Now that I was moving home, I had to wonder what other damage I was going to cause before things could get back to normal. Everything and everyone had changed drastically, and I was the one running to catch up. Thankfully, life was a marathon and not a sprint otherwise I would’ve already lost the race.

It was agreed that I needed to leave for a while to let the chaos I created settle and give my brother a chance to take control of the pack. So I went back to college to finish out the semester and transfer my credits to the local Colorado University. Two more semesters, and I’ll be ready to start medical school. As exciting as that was, driving home was like dousing the flame with water.

I spoke to my sister, Rhyme, a few times over the last month, and my best friend, Chloe, almost every day. I was worried about her. She seemed to be recovering nicely from the breakdown she had that almost cost her life, but Chloe was always good at putting on appearances, something we were all trained to do since the moment we were pups. But Chloe was human so the fact that she managed to maintain herself was extraordinary. But it was definitely not my strong point.

The one person that had no time to chat with me was my brother, River, the new alpha. I couldn’t blame him. I’d made quite a mess my last visit, but I intended to fix that mistake now. He had a hundred percent of my support. I was going to make sure he knew it. I just hoped he’d accept it.

I parked the car in front of the garage and hopped out of the vehicle. The satisfying crunch of the gravel beneath my sneakered feet reinforced I was home. I heard a ruckus out back. Many of the younger pack members were already out wrestling, preparing for the hunt tonight under the full moon. I had no idea how much I missed my pack until that moment.

The breeze carried the scent of pine and tree bark signaling the night was approaching. It always cooled down as Colorado summer evenings arrived. The wind picked up, whipping my golden-brown hair around my face as I pulled out a couple of suitcases from the trunk. I turned and ran smack into a brick wall. Hands went to steady me at the waist as I blew the wisps of hair out of my face so I could see who I hit.

“Geez, Storm, you’ve got to stop sneaking up on me like that.”

“I just wanted to see if you needed any help with your luggage.” His voice was like silk on my skin.

“No, I’m fine.” I needed to get away from him and his electric touch for so many obvious reasons.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He grabbed my bags and started toward the house.

I sighed -- heavily, shut the trunk, and followed him into the house.

Chloe and Rhyme ran down the stairs. The girls were night and day. Chloe, brilliant with blonde hair and tanned skin, and Rhyme’s contrasting midnight black hair and pale skin. They embraced me in a bear hug as Storm took my luggage upstairs.

“I’m so glad you made it home in time for the hunt.” Rhyme cooed.

“And wait until you meet the hunk your brother is setting you up with.” Chloe grinned.   

I pulled out of the hug and looked at my two greeters. “I just got here! I wasn’t expecting to be set up on a date tonight.”

“That’s too bad because I was really looking forward to meeting you.” His voice was strong and masculine. Not that I would expect anything less from a man my father and brother picked for me. I was suddenly nervous about turning around. I knew my hair and makeup were a mess from a day’s worth of traveling.

Before I left I told my brother to pick the man that would best support his leadership of the pack. It was my way of showing fealty to the new alpha. I really disrespected him and with the problems brewing between the Carters and our family, it was not a good thing to do. River chose this man. That meant I needed to make a good impression because I was going to do everything I could to make a good mating connection with him for my brother’s position as alpha and my family.

“Okay, well, I’ll go upstairs and change and meet you down here in a few…”

Chloe shook her head and spun me around to face one of the most handsome men I’d ever met -- and I’m a werewolf! Most of them are handsome. His eyes grabbed me first. They were a crystal blue, and looked like two twinkling gems in a face complemented by two deep, lickable dimples. His skin reminded me of toasted almonds and his hair was light brown with sun kissed highlights, just like mine.

He closed the distance between us and kissed both of my cheeks, my heart stuttered at the contact. Wow! I stumbled over my greeting. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

He smelled of spice, cinnamon and sugar. It reminded me of cinnamon rolls like Meriam used to bake us for breakfast in the morning. I couldn’t help but wonder if he tasted as good as he smelled. He was dressed in a pair of relaxed fit jeans and a cashmere sweater and looked like he’d just walked off the cover of GQ.

“I’m Lincoln Evans.”

“And where are you from, Mr. Evans?”

“Please, Lincoln, and I’m from the Arizona pack.”

I nodded. “Lincoln.” I pulled my hand from his warm palm. “I have to go upstairs, freshen up and change. Can I meet you out back?”

He clicked his heels together, reminding me of an officer in the military, and said, “I look forward to your return.”

Rhyme and Chloe walked with me up the marble staircase. “How’s River?”

“Super busy but he’ll join the hunt tonight.” Rhyme looked away nervously.

“He still hasn’t forgiven me has he?” I chewed my lower lip.

“Not entirely, but he will.” Rhyme patted me on the shoulder in a comforting, big sister way. It was an odd feeling. Ever since our father’s funeral, Rhyme and I have been trying to reconnect and build a sisterly relationship, something we’ve never really had thanks to the strained relationship she had with father in contrast to the good one I had with him because of the middle child and baby of the family dynamic.

“And he thinks this Lincoln is the best possible mate to help him keep his seat as alpha?” I asked, curious about how much she knew.

“He does, and Lincoln is a veterinarian.” She smiled excitedly.

I nodded. The jigsaw pieces were starting to click into place. “And I’m studying to be a doctor.”

“Together you’ll make a power couple and offer an added layer of security.” Rhyme seemed more enthusiastic about the situation than I was.

“It takes a village, I guess.” A doctor and a veterinarian in the same alpha family would only add strength.

“Not to mention, he’s totally drool worthy.” Chloe offered a predictable comment and wiped her lips for added emphasis.

Rhyme and I looked at her and giggled. “I love you.”

“What? I know,” she nodded sarcastically, “it’s hard to find an ugly wolf.” She stopped me at the top step, “but what I wouldn’t give to fall for and have one of them fall for me.”

“Be careful what you wish for, Chloe. Need we remind you what happened with you and Eddie Gates?” I warned.

Chloe shivered. “Nope, I don’t need any reminders of that nightmare.”

Chloe started dating Gates last year. She was human, but had been a part of the werewolf community since she was seven, when I brought her home and insisted she know about everything. Chloe didn’t have a very good family life so she became part of our family very quickly.

It was not unusual for shifters to take human mates, especially as our numbers continued to dwindle out over the years. Gates claimed Chloe and proceeded to beat her every chance he got. One night she fought back and killed the man. I was away at school and knew nothing about it. Thankfully, Rhyme and River protected Chloe. They burned the body and disposed of the ashes. No one could know that a human killed a werewolf. It would devastate the uneasy truce between both species.

Chloe was forced to cover it up. The pressure became too much for her and during my father’s funeral she overdosed on her pills and mixed medication with alcohol. It was a terrifying problem and one of the few things I did right my last stay at the compound.

Now, I needed to focus on my family and help River rebuild our pack. If that meant I was to entertain and possibly mate and marry a handsome veterinarian, then so be it.

Storm exited my bedroom and nodded at us. “Glad you’re back, Rayne.”

I looked at him and my heart raced. I wanted so badly to tell him how wrong I was about him all those years, to thank him for all the help he’s given my brother, to welcome him as part of the family, but words escaped me. His dark look stole my breath and crumbled my composure. “Thank you.” I entered my room and headed straight to the closet. It was time to do the Manchester name honor.

I changed into a green t-shirt that complemented my eyes and turned a shade or two crimson when I noted the stain on the left breast area of the dirty one I arrived in. I knew I looked a mess when I meet Lincoln. He was far more generous than I first believed for him to ignore my disheveled appearance. My golden-brown hair was windblown, and not in a good way. My face paler than normal. The half-moon dark circles under my eyes gave away the fact that I hadn’t slept much lately.

I finished getting dressed, arranged my long hair into a braid that fell to the middle of my back and headed down the stairs.

When I stepped outside on the soft, green grass, my bare feet sank into the earth, and I knew I was home. I wiggled my toes and breathed in the pine, lilac and crisp mountain air. The compound property was eleven hundred acres which backed up to the rocky mountain range. Trees dotted the landscape of meadows, grassland, fields of crops, and multiple streams all of which were wonderful playgrounds for the wolves during the monthly hunts.

“Should we be partners in tonight’s hunt?” Lincoln’s smooth voice ran over me like warm water from a showerhead as he came up behind me.

“Sure.” I grinned and nodded. “I think that is a wonderful idea.”

Storm and his irritating girlfriend, Angel, came up beside us, her arm nestled firmly in the crook of his. The sight made me want to gag. If she only knew he was with her because of his loyalty to River, and my own stupidity last month, she wouldn’t be preening like a peacock that won the best-in-show award. If I hadn’t acted like a spoiled brat with Brick on our first date and disrespected my brother, and if she hadn’t been there to witness my meltdown, Storm would not be in this position. The guilt I felt over that was as huge as Pike’s Peak in the distance.

“We will also be joining you during the hunt, as chaperones.” Storm informed us.

“But it’s a twosome affair, not a foursome.” Angel batted her pretty eyes and I threw up just a little bit in my mouth at the disgustingly obvious attempt to claim him as hers.

“We’d love to have you join us.” I told them. “Isn’t that right, Lincoln?”

“Of course.” Lincoln looked a little disappointed, but he recovered quickly.

“You must understand while courting happens, River insists there are chaperones on dates for both of his sisters.” Storm explained.

“But Rhyme is with Jax tonight, and she isn’t getting a chaperone,” Angel whined. I swear I saw her stamp her foot on the ground, but it happened so fast there was no time to laugh at her explosive temper tantrum.

“Rhyme and Jax will be joined by River.” Storm kept his words short and sweet, the only indication that he was upset was the tick in his jaw. Despite the fact that I hated him most of my life, he was my brother’s best friend and I knew him better than most because of it.

“I guess that means we’ll only have one team to beat.” I pointed out the positive.

“My brothers will be competing too.” Storm added.

“Oh.”

“Yes, so we’ll need to stay close to your siblings.”

“Got it.”

There was still the possibility that Storm’s brothers, Thorn and Bear, were going to challenge River for the alpha seat. We were all on pins and needles waiting for one side of the scale to tip and spill over. The Carters against the Manchesters, kind of like the Hatfields and McCoys. There could be only one alpha. The rest were betas in line to take the alpha position. River needed to win the hunt today to prove to those that had little faith in him as the leader that he was not only stronger than they imagined, but that he was the strongest.

Storm’s brothers had been vying for the alpha seat since the day my father died. Prior to that, David, the Carter patriarch, tried to steal the alpha title from our father until dad managed to sideline the guy. The rivalry hadn’t started there. It is rumored it started with our great-great grandparents. All over a girl, in fact. Our great-great grandfathers fought over who would mate and marry the alpha’s daughter, Elizabeth, my great-great grandmother. The Carters believe they lost the alpha position because Joseph Manchester stole Elizabeth’s heart, and they’ve hated our family ever since, vowing to steal the seat back someday.

Today was not only the monthly hunt, but the lead up to the official ceremony where River will take the alpha seat, which was scheduled for tomorrow. The one thing keeping the Carters at bay is that Storm has sided with River. Storm was the strongest of the three brothers, and would protect River with his life. If Thorn and Bear made a move, it would surely spell death for Storm, but a win for River. None of us wanted the bloodshed, and River was hoping for a peaceful resolution to the problem. I was not so optimistic. It was still hard for my mind to grasp that Storm chose River over his own family, but River believed it, and Storm had done nothing to indicate he had ulterior motives so I waited idly by to see where everyone fell. If it came down to it, I would protect my brother with my last breath.   

“Hello, Colorado Wolf Pack!” River spoke loudly from atop the large boulder in our back yard. The crowd erupted in cheers. It was the first time I’d seen him or heard his voice since we last spoke before I went back to college.

It was a memory emblazoned in my mind. I could still hear the fire crackling in the mantle, and feel the anger that vibrated off of him in waves.

“I don’t want to leave,” my words barely above a whisper. “Please give me another chance to make this right.” My feet followed him to the doorway.

“I don’t know how you can right now.” His voice was so lost, so sad, full of so much disappointment.

“I’ll finish out this semester, and then come back and date whoever you think will be the best ally for the pack.” Storm had said it was time to grow up. Rhyme had made it clear I had responsibilities to the family and pack, and River and Chloe needed me. Maybe aligning myself with the best ally for the pack would be a good start.

“Maybe.”

“Come on, River. It’s a good deal and you know it.” I pleaded with his back because he refused to turn and look at me. So much like our father in that regard. My fingers ached to reach out to him, but something held me back, the wolf perhaps.

He stopped walking away. “Fine. We’ll try it and see how it goes.” Without a glance back, he left the room.

The memory still made me choke up. I only hoped things would get better now that I was home. I looked at Lincoln. He seemed like a stand-up guy. At least I hadn’t been saddled with someone who meant me or my family harm. At least, he had potential.

I turned my attention back to my brother. River stood proud, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, not his usual business suit flare. I supposed that was to endear himself to the pack members. Many had a hard time keeping clothes on, and most avoided suits with a passion. Even now, most were half dressed and ready to change. There was no greater feeling than running free as a wolf.

“We’ve faced many hardships these last few months, but today is the start of a new beginning. Allow the full moon to wash away the past, and the wolf to give you rebirth. Tonight we hunt and allow our animal to take control. Tomorrow, we rejoice in the new journey ahead of us as a united pack under your new alpha’s rule.”

The crowd roared their excitement. My brother always was a wordsmith, and today was no exception. I felt a burst of pride as I watched him claim his rightful place as the leader. My eyes flitted to Storm who was staring daggers at his brothers. Apprehension and a touch of fear ran up my spine, vertebrae by vertebrae.

I didn’t know much about Thorn and Bear. Growing up, I avoided them like the plague, but rumors of their devious acts often ran rampant in the pack. As I glanced between the three brothers, a memory flooded back to me. When we were younger, Storm came over beaten and bloodied. I was the one who answered the door.

The pre-teen version of Storm was gangly and awkward. The child version of me was small and spunky. “What do you want?” I asked as I hugged my dolly closer to my chest.

“Where is your father?”

“Out.” My younger self raised her chin defiantly.

“How about your brother?” Even then there was something dangerous in his green eyes. Something that scared me to the core, causing me to shiver with dread.

“I’ll go get him.”

“No need, little Raynie, I’m here.” River jumped down the last few steps of the marble staircase. He patted me on the head and said, “Go on upstairs. I’ll take care of our guest.”

My eyes bounced back and forth between both of the teen boys. They were only a few years older than me, but in that moment they seemed far more mature. I nodded slowly and headed toward the staircase. River pulled Storm into the foyer. Instead of running to the safety of my room, I snuck to the doorway and listened in on their conversation.

“My father is going to challenge yours at the hunt this weekend.”

“Are you sure?” River asked,, worry clear in his voice as he poured Storm some water.

“Yes, Thorn and Bear did this to me to keep my mouth shut. I couldn’t. It’s just not right.”

“Your brothers are bastards.” River clapped him on the back. “You know father will protect you from them. He’d claim you as one of his own if you gave him permission.”

“I can’t, they’re my family.” He took the water gratefully.

“Then you have to let me help you. I want you to start training with the enforcers.”

“I’m not big enough for that duty.”

“You will be when they’re done with you.”

“I don’t know, River.”

“I’m not going to let you get hurt anymore. I’ll get father’s approval, and you’ll start training tomorrow after school.” River drank his own glass of water as he sat down with Storm on the couch.

Storm lowered his head and sighed. “Okay, thank you.”

I had forgotten that memory. It was buried somewhere deep beneath my dislike for the man. From the very beginning, Storm had been supportive of my family despite those that reared him. I looked at the man out of my peripheral. He stood solid, ever the protector, watching, observing everything and everyone around us. I looked away when he turned toward me.

There were so many layers to this man I once hated. I couldn’t even remember really why I hated him anymore. It was becoming painfully obvious I wasted so many years disliking someone who didn’t deserve it. He deserved my friendship for his loyalty to this family.

I glanced over at Thorn and Bear. They both had sun-kissed skin, dark hair and hazel eyes. One wore a goatee and the other was clean shaven. Being that they were twins, it was a way to tell them apart, but I couldn’t say which brother was which. They were pumping up for the hunt, slamming their fists into each other’s arms. Neither one cared to listen to River. I wished River would just exile them from the pack, but he wasn’t that vindictive. He was not a coward and he would face them if the challenge was proposed. It was the way we were taught to live life. Grab it by the horns, and ride it until it was broken and you were in control. I was certain of one thing, Storm was right. If his brothers took control of the pack, it would be very bad indeed.

“So, without further ado, let us engage in the ritual of the hunt.” River’s voice broke me from my thoughts.

The people around me began to transform, morphing into wolves of varying sizes and colors. Instinct took over as my body engaged in the change. Hair covered my skin, my arms turned into legs, and hands to paws putting my head closer to the ground, my nose grew as my teeth lengthened. Smells, sounds, sights, and hearing increased. Instead of human. I was now a predator, deeply connected to nature. The urge to run, frolic and hunt took the driver’s seat in my mind. Human concerns seemed to fade away the longer I was the beast.

Lincoln’s black and grey wolf nudged my hindquarters and bounced back in an effort to get me engaged. I bit back playfully. We raced around Storm’s large silver wolf, then I made a beeline to River and Rhyme’s wolves. The smell of a buck scented the air and I stopped midstride. Lincoln’s wolf was forced to put on the brakes to keep from slamming into me.

Rhyme and River’s black wolves turned their heads in the same direction. Everyone froze, and then the chase was on. Padded claws hit the ground at full stride as the pack bolted in the direction of the prey.

This installment is only $0.99 or Free with Kindle Unlimited on Amazon. Get your copy here.

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As I mentioned earlier, the rough draft to part three is almost ready for the editor. I'm also finishing up the rough draft for Remote Paranoia (PBI Case Files #5)... here's a sneak peek of the cover.

Coming soon:

Fire Master Rising (book three of Winters Saga)
Faerie King's Guardian (book two of the Mystery Springs Series)
Dentist's Burial Ground (book three of Ghost Connection Series)
Deadly Market of Woes (book two of Demon Ascension Series)
And a few more this year...

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Sneak peek of my newest release "Father Made Me Do It"

Father Made Me Do It, book one of the Demon Ascension Series is now live on Amazon and I'm so excited about my new venture into the romantic comedy realm with Charm Livingston, her friends, family, genie, furies, and her angel, Zachariah... Each character adds a fun layer to the story and Charm is the perfect, naive leading lady. She's also tough. Unfortunately, her smarts and strengths are contained in the underworld and her duties as a vengeance demon.

Her weak grasp on emotions and the human "living" realm makes for endearing qualities and great laughs. It's a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, not to mention turn arounds as Charm juggles meeting her monthly soul collection quota with interactions with her father, the devil, her estranged mother, Fiona, her friends, human witch turned vanity demon, Tabitha, dominatrix succubus, Layla, fallen genie, Amelia, her new quirky genie friend, Faris, her selfish sister, Lovely, demanding brother, Jasper, and her smoking hot angel, Zachariah.

If that's not enough insanity to drive her to Crazy Town, her father promotes her to leader of the furies and Mundane City just as a revolt is rising up against the Soul Factory from a charismatic silver tongued evangelist who has stolen her father's hell hounds.

Her newest discovery and chance to become human has forced her to dig deeper than surface emotions and a major emotion she comes face to face with is her guilt over collecting souls. Mix all these awesome ingredients together and you find a delightful read.

For a limited time the book is only .99 on Amazon. Check it out, add it to your wishlist, and one click it before the price goes up. For your reading enjoyment, please scroll down and read an excerpt from this new book. Hope you enjoy!

Excerpt:

Chapter Three

I watched, invisible to human eyes, while the authorities gathered what little evidence they could, questioned Ericka, the witness, and transported the victim’s body to the medical examiner’s office. I knew they wouldn’t find anything. This was a supernatural crime, not a human one. The case would remain cold and then filed away in a dusty room in the basement of the police department. The victim was one of their own. They would do all they could to find his murderer. I knew it wouldn’t be for lack of trying, but the weapon was a fire sword so nothing they understood would be a match to the blade that cut Leo’s throat. There would be no real forensic evidence, it all drained down the street. It would be like searching for a needle in a haystack and then the challenge would be to separate what they did find from items not associated with the crime.

The only justice Ericka would find for her fiancé’s death would be what I could dole out. The question will be how much my father will allow me to dish out. For this woman’s soul, I wanted a smorgasbord.

When the coast was clear I rematerialized to the living realm and began touching surfaces for any clues I might find. My gift of psychometry or psychoscopy came in handy for these types of injustices.

“Do you really plan to take that poor human’s soul?” His voice was deep and warm like whiskey over my skin. It was also unrecognizable. I turned to find out where it came from, preparing for anything that could result in the interaction by pulling out the dagger from the sheath on my hip.

“Who are…you?”

His voice may not have been recognizable, but his image was one I’d seen a lot of in the last few hours. He was the man the redheaded demon had fought earlier. The dark skinned, muscled man was favoring his side, the injury delivered from the fire sword was not healing quickly. It looked to be a mortal wound. Something he’d probably not recover from.

“My name is Zachariah, and you are?”

“In better shape than you are,” I told him. “What are you? Can’t you heal?”

He grunted. “I can, usually. Unfortunately, your friend used poison on his blade and engraved a slow healing rune in my chest.”

“He’s not my friend.” I raised my chin defiantly. Very few demons were.

“You’re a vengeance demon, aren’t you?”

“I prefer justice, but yes.”

“So is he.” His face looked pain and I found myself taking pity on the man.

I reached out, inches from his wound, he cringed. “May I?”

“Going to finish your friend’s job?” He snapped bitterly.

“I was going to try and help, but if you prefer to suffer, then so be it,” I turned and headed to another wall.

“I’m sorry. I’ve just never met a vengeance demon who wanted to help those like me.”

I turned and examined him. “What are you?”

He smiled a crooked grin that popped a dimple on his cheek. “Help me and I’ll tell you.”

I grunted, “Sure you will,” as I headed to his side and touched his wound.

I closed my eyes as a vision flooded my mind and body. I felt the demon’s evil, his hatred for the man he was preparing to kill. A room, which looked like an attic built up around him, brick by brick. The only light in the room filtered through the shaded window. A priest was bound to a chair, gagged with a filthy rag, his face bloodied and crushed.

The redheaded demon plucked red and black colored peas, rosary breads from a potted plant. He placed them in a stone bowl and crushed them with a pestle. He forced the poisonous mixture under the priest’s nose. The aging father shook his head. The ginger demon pushed the priest’s face inches from the stone bowl as he pressed a dagger against the old man’s aging throat. The brutalized man relented and began speaking over the crimson liquid laced with black specks.

When he was done, the demon slit the fleshy part of his own hand and squeezed blackened blood into the bowl, then he poured the liquid on the unlit sword. It was all I needed. I pulled my hand away and the false world diminished around me. I was in the alley with the devastatingly handsome stranger again.

“I think I know what he poisoned you with.” I stepped back, stumbling slightly. The poison could kill many creatures, but mixed with the blessing and demon blood meant he was one thing. Nephilim.

There were good and bad Nephilim just like every other race. The bad were usually friends to demons, the good were mortal enemies.

“Out with it, girl,” the man groaned in pain.

“Are you friend or foe?”

“Depends,” he grunted.

“On what?”

“Do you really plan to take that girl’s soul?”

“I have no choice.” I stood up and began pacing the otherwise abandoned alley.

“We always have a choice.”

“Not everyone. Sometimes people are stuck in the roles they were born into.”

The man seemed to grow in size, his broad chest puffed up. “And you were born to steal souls of emotionally destroyed people.”

“That’s not… look, my father…” I shook my head, his assessment of my job was accurate. There was no point in denying it. I didn’t like what I did, wished I could change my fate, wanted desperately to live a human life, but that was never going to happen. “Yes, I’m a justice demon. I get justice for those that can’t get it for themselves.” I raised my chin a notch.

“You must be so proud.” He snarled and started to stagger away.

I watched him for a moment, knew it wasn’t smart to help him, but couldn’t stop my feet from following. “Where are you going?”

“To get help.”

This was such a bad idea, my inner voice chided, but I couldn’t stop. “He poisoned you with rosary peas that a priest had blessed.”

The man stopped. I put on the brakes to avoid slamming into his granite back. The man had muscles that you couldn’t help but want to touch.

“That’s not good.” He didn’t turn to look at me. He knew his fate was sealed. The demon had planned to kill him, not only kill, but torture.

“Why does he want you dead?”

“Why do all demons want Nephilim dead?”

“The same can be said of the opposite.” I shot back. The man wasn’t in any shape to have a verbal volley. I knew this. I just couldn’t keep the words from popping out of my mouth like that Rice Krispie cereal. It was the demon. She wasn’t a very nice entity. The man started walking again. I followed, like a child chasing a puppy. “I’m sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’d like to be alone for a while.”

I watched as Zachariah continued to walk away. He was slowly dying, but wouldn’t give up. The pain had to be excruciating. I turned and started back toward the crime scene. I didn’t need to get mixed up in the mess between the demon and angel, the ginger killer was probably one of my father’s assassins. The angel deserved to die, right?

The ebony skinned man fell against the brick wall, the commotion made me turn in his direction. He was fading quickly and undoubtedly suffering immensely. There was probably very little I could do for him. I was a justice demon. Despite the price, I find justice for people. Does that include angels? Was an injustice done to him?

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The beast that shared my soul warned me to stay out of it. I knew I should listen. I bit my lower lip as his raspy breaths fell on my supernatural ears. “Oh, hell.” I sighed as my feet started moving in his direction. I needed to know what happened, I told myself. It would help me get vengeance for my client.

The withering angel slid down the brick wall at the opening of the alley. I stood a foot or two in front of him and held out my hand.

“Go away and let me die in peace,” he hissed.

“Sorry, I can’t. You might have information I need.” I reached down, cautiously. I didn’t want him to feel threatened. I’d seen cornered, wild animals with nothing to lose. They were vicious. This man was on the verge of reaching that point.

“Back off!”

“I may know someone who can help.” I stepped back, but kept my hand out toward him. “Please let me help you.”

“Demons don’t help Nephilim.” The chuckle that tumbled from his lips sounded ugly.

“No, we usually don’t.” If it was any of my co-workers, they’d leave him. I knew it. He knew it. What I was doing was highly irregular, but I was not the usual demon. I’m not saying I have a code or anything, I mean, that would be laughable, but I had a mission and I was an out-of-the-box thinker. Somehow, I’d convinced myself this angel could help me. At the very least, he might know the name of the demon that murdered my client’s fiancé.

Sure, I could torture him for the intel, but where’s the justice in that? And if father didn’t allow me to take out the demon then the angel might be the sword needed to exact revenge for my client. A person could convince themselves of anything if they really wanted to, and I’d convinced myself that this angel hybrid needed to live. Right or wrong, it was my belief.

The angel was on the verge of passing out from the pain. His head lolled down from his neck like a drooping flower. It was now or never. I knelt down. “I’m sorry.” I placed my hands on his arm and closed my eyes.

Want to read more? Here's the link to the full book. Hope you enjoy and please be kind and review when you've finished this first book of the Demon Ascension Series.