Massive book sale! Load your kindle with these awesome titles plus raffle giveaway

The Wolf Pack is doing another Pack Run and they have a ton of amazing books from July 15-17th. All the books below will either be free or 99 cents. Click the book cover or the link to get access to the book sale page and at the bottom of this post there is an awesome rafflecopter with fantastic prizes.

The Mating Challenge 

Andrea Slater escaped an underground prison only to be captured by a shifter tribe and forced into a new form of imprisonment. As if, escaping death in 2014 and thrust into a dangerous future where the number one focus is procreation wasn't enough, now she had six super hot, alpha males competing to the death to have the honor of mating with her. What's a woman to do? 

Ride

PUCA MATES SHORT #1 

*** This a not a full-length book. This novella is part one of a serial romance.*** 

Felicity Forrest has the perfect job as an investigative blogger for Everyday Supernatural. This curvy girl gets sent to the Aran Islands to find out whether a púca shape shifter is responsible for the strange accidents haunting a construction site. 

Niall O’Leary is tall, broody, and totally alpha. His mission is to discover why the veil between the human world and the Realm has lifted. And as the Chieftain’s son he must find a mate or his twin will be promised to a stallion he despises. He has a duty to his family, his clan, and a need for offspring. Otherwise the púca could become nothing more than folklore. 

Passion and frustration ignite when a curvy human female tempts his inner stallion like no other. There’s only one problem... She just got out of a relationship that left her broken hearted. Is she ready for a second chance at love? 

Reader Note: This book is for those who are 18+. It contains explicit language, sexual situations, and one helluva cliffhanger. However, if you like curvy shifter romance, a stallion who can’t resist his curvy woman, and a dash of humor, then this is the story for you. Please read these installments in order. Enjoy! 

Craving More

BOOK 1 in the Tiger Nip Series 

Corrine Hart is ready for few days off for rest and relaxation. At the top of her to-do list is spending as much time as possible in tiger form and doing her best to banish all thoughts of the mysterious Hunky Cupcake Guy who spent the last two weeks driving her libido insane. 

Jett Montgomery-Murphy just wants to know if the tasty treats that keep showing up at work are the same ones his best friend used to get while they were in college. A trip out to Sweet Confections confirms what he thought and brings him in close contact with the one woman he’s secretly lusted after for years, his best friend’s sister Corrine. 

A late night tryst leads to two tigers finding their mates and two humans unsure what to do next. Add in an overbearing brother, a best friend with her own drama, and a crazy ex-girlfriend that has a checkered past and you have a recipe for disaster. 

Will Corrine and Jett be able to overcome the unexpected obstacles on their way to falling in love? Or will they throw in the towel before the relationship even gets off the ground?

Sanctuary

Hunters don't care if you are a man, woman, or child. They'll kill you anyway. 

Tess Monroe is a werecat on the run. Her family is missing, and she's suffered a serious injury. By chance she stumbles upon a shifter haven. Determined to reunite with her loved ones, she accepts the help of, Nate, a werewolf. The attraction to Nate is instantaneous, and Tess trusts him despite his packs archaic beliefs and traditions. At the end of the day, he's a wolf, and she's a cat. A romance would be forbidden. 

Werecats can't be trusted. They are the enemy. That's the motto Nate Tucker grew up with, but when he meets Tess, he can't help feeling protective of the beautiful feline. He knows he shouldn't care about her, and he shouldn't be attracted to her, let alone desire her, but the feelings are undeniable. Tasked with escorting her to a nearby pride, Nate must fight his passion for Tess. His mom and his pack would never approve of an interspecies romance. But as they unravel secrets from the past and discover new threats, a taboo romance is the least of their concerns.

Desert Moon

Lana Dixon knows well enough to steer clear of alpha males, but Ty Hawthorne is as impossible to avoid as the sizzling Arizona sun. Her inner wolf just won’t give up on the alpha who’s tall, dark, and more than a little dangerous. One midnight romp under the full moon is enough for Lana to know she’ll risk her life for him — but what about her pride? 

Ty puts duty above everything — even the overwhelming instinct that says Lana’s the one. She’s the Juliet to his Romeo: forbidden. And with a pack of poaching rogues closing in, it’s hardly the time to yield to his desires. Or is love just what this lonely alpha needs to set his spirit free? 

There’s more than meets the eye on Twin Moon Ranch, home to a pack of shapeshifting wolves willing to battle for life and love. 

Gemi

Gemi Draglen has been searching for the woman that is destined to become his Wella for hundreds of years. One eventful night while visiting the city of New Orleans, he unexpectedly sees the woman he wants to be his forever. Unfortunately, he has two very serious problems. First, the woman to become his Wella is a witch, an age old enemy to all dragons. Second and most importantly, she has no idea who Gemi truly is and he must convince her they belong together, forever. 

Shalisi Narmon is no ordinary young lady. Shalisi is a witch from generations of witches and has known since birth that she is to have the most important role of all her sister witches. She has always accepted her destiny of becoming the Passer. At least that's what she has always believed until Gemi Draglen suddenly enters her life. She has never experienced love and could never love a dragon, an enemy to witches. It seems Gemi is not so easily deterred and is determined to win her affection and show her the joy that true love can give. Will Shalisi choose her sisters or the love of her life? 

Breaking the Storm

Don’t miss this sensuous paranormal romance: When Stormy meets rock star Knox, she lets herself dare to fall in love. There’s just one problem — her family curse, which could turn their passion into an all-consuming fire... 

*Due to strong language and sexual content recommended age is 18+

The Omegas

The Vanguards, #1 

Only a vampire is man enough to teach werewolves how to fight. 

Pretty librarian Sugar wants her life to stay quiet. That's hard enough when friends and neighbors turn into furry werewolves every full moon. But when a hot vampire gets involved, life's bound to get complicated. 

The Omegas have always been the pansies of the paranormal. Now Chicago's top werewolf pack has issued them a life or death challenge. Their only option: hire a vampire warrior to teach them the moves. 

Daedalus has been a powerful vampire for ages. Intrigued by the chance to train the geeks of the underworld, he wasn't bargaining on losing his heart to a human. Can he make the Omegas a success, fit into Sugar's quiet life, and avoid being ripped to shreds in the process?

Into the Light

They were supposed to be enemies, not lovers. Tanner Lyons is a shifter without a pack, which is just the way he likes it—until he rescues Olivia Bennett, princess of the Lightbearers. Suddenly, he finds himself fighting an attraction that makes no sense, because Lightbearers and shifters have been mortal enemies since the beginning of time. Intrigue, adventure, magic, and passion – you’ll find it all inInto the Light, Book 1 of Tami Lund’s exciting new fantasy series, Lightbearers. 

Shifters dominate the human world, while Lightbearers stay hidden away in their magically protected coterie. That is, until Olivia Bennett, princess of the Lightbearers, is captured by the most powerful shifter of them all—Quentin Lyons, who believes that to kill a Lightbearer is to inherit her magic. 

His son, Tanner, doesn’t believe his father’s theory. In the ultimate betrayal, Tanner rescues Olivia and vows to return her to her home. Along the way, he discovers two other Lightbearers who have left the safety of the coterie, not to mention an attraction to the Lightbearer princess that becomes increasingly more difficult to ignore with each hour he spends in her company. 

The attraction makes no sense. Lightbearers and shifters have been mortal enemies since the dawn of time. He’s supposed to feel the urge to kill her, not … well, you know. 

Despite shifters who are out to kill them and Lightbearers who don’t trust them, Tanner and Olivia decide to take the chance and give in to their mutual attraction, only to discover that Olivia’s destiny has been predetermined, and it doesn’t include her shifter lover. They must decide if they are willing to risk it all, or if they can walk away from true love for the sake of the Lightbearer species. 

Content Notes: Spicy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Shifters 

Highland Wolf Clan

Cameron Sinclair is a successful businessman, with offices all over the world and a multi-billionaire with all the trappings. He is also a Wolf and he vows never to return to Pack life, or his birthright as Alpha. 
He is ‘summoned’ back to his Highland Pack by his estranged father and things do not go smoothly, resulting in him leaving to help his Uncle in the USA with several of his friends in tow. 

What awaits is heartache, sorrow and the chance for a new life as Alpha of a large Pack. A life with love in it. His first sight of the white She-Wolf affecting him in ways he can’t even understand. 

First, he and his Wolves have to take on a deadly threat, the deadliest of all; a corrupt and depraved Alpha with a horde of guards as immoral as their leader. 

Will he take his chance at love? Or do as he always does; walk away? 

The Hidden Demon

A pariah among paranormals, Peter can touch the dead and read their last thoughts. Once an angel, now a demon, he is only tolerated by most because of his gift. Cursed with the power of influencing every woman or man he touches, Peter has lost any hope to experience true intimacy and companionship. 

Headstrong and sensual as only werewolves can be, Ophelia is desperately in love with her best friend, Samuel, who is in love with someone else. In the middle of her personal crisis, Rome is taken by storm by the latest archeology discovery, and as a forensic anthropologist, Ophelia is called to shed some light on the remains of a young couple embraced for eternity. 

Peter is sent to the site to help identify the dead. Amidst Roman villas’ ruins and a mystery that has lasted for two millennia, he meets the striking werewolf, and Ophelia’s exotic beauty and sharp tongue pique his interest immediately. 

Ophelia, too, is affected by Peter’s magnetism. Despite her heart belonging to someone else, Ophelia feels a pull toward Peter at first sight. An attraction that only grows stronger despite her doubts. 
Unfortunately, what has started like any other reading for Peter soon becomes a nightmare in which real enemies from several factions want him and Ophelia dead rather than let them discover the truth. 

Will they survive a manhunt the likes of which Rome has never seen? But most of all, will Peter and Ophelia remain unscathed by the fire of their burning passion?

Too Far Gone

It’s either the beginning or the end for Sadie James. She came to the small Adirondack town of Andora looking for a fresh start. One that didn’t include the pitying looks of strangers who saw her on the news. Only days into her new life and already she is in trouble. That is, unless the wolf in front of her was salivating at the sight of some other woman in the vast forest around her. 

After killing his sister, Tyson searched for oblivion the only way he knew how to. As a wolf he could run from the life he left behind and become the animal he always was. The time between lucidness grows longer each times he surfaces. One day he won’t be able to come back at all. It was the only thing he looked forward to until a lost woman fell at his feet. 

Sadie is in danger and she is blind to it. Although, it was never proven, Tyson always believed Jack was behind his sister’s ultimate demise. Now Jack has his sights set on Sadie. Can he fight the pull of the wild or will he let her face the wolves alone?

Shifting Currents

Blake doesn’t want a mate. No way. No how. And he certainly doesn’t want her camping on his land, floating down his stretch of river, or looking like she belongs in his bed. 

But that's exactly what he gets when he happens upon a curvy woman with shades of sunset hair named Leah. 

She's on vacation and isn’t looking for any complications, especially in the form of a shifter or the possessive MINE signal he gives off. 

So, what are two bears to do when they've convinced themselves they don't want, much less need anyone else? They give in to the pull and mate, of course, but in sex only. No life commitment. No cubs. No changing the way they live: Separate and independent of each other. 

Except when she leaves his mountain, Blake can't get her off his mind and Leah can't stop craving his particular brand of gruffness. Now, the one thing neither wanted, has come full circle, and is ready to bite them both. 

Beneath the Broken Moon

Werewolf relationships are all about influence and offspring, especially as they are becoming extinct. But Carmela Santiago resents that type of life. She dreams of falling in love, not following the example her parents have set.

When sensual vampire Derek Ashmore rescues her from dangerous hunters, she tumbles head over heels for him. Not a wise decision since werewolves and vampires are mortal enemies.

Meeting her caring mate-to-be Brendan Kelly has her further questioning the future. Regardless, her life has forever changed now that she's met not one, but two men who pull at her heartstrings...

Reconstructed

Some heroes aren't born...they're built. 

Westley Worthington has it all. Piles of money, good looks, a head for business, and a seemingly limitless supply of women who want to please him. And that's just the way he likes it. Until a brush with death causes him to rethink his priorities, and consider someone besides himself for the first time in his privileged life. 

Cordelia Cross has never had it easy. Her duty to her family has her working as an assistant to a man she hates just to pay her sister's medical bills. When her arrogant boss alienates his last true friend, she finds herself promoted from schedule-managing coffee grabber, to the newest member of West’s inner circle. 

Tempers, and passions, ignite as the two start spending time together, until a shocking accident puts their newfound attraction on ice. When West is faced with the toughest trial of his life, Cordelia helps him realize that he has all the tools he needs to be a force for justice. 

Together, they must turn West into the hero no one ever thought he could be. 

McDougal Pack Alpha

Mandi finds herself waking from a drug induced sleep, in the arms of the handsome McDougal Pack's alpha. But Mandi is a human, with no desire to be anything else. Just because the legendary white wolf blood might run through her veins, doesn’t give the werewolf council any say over her life. She may not be able to pick her relatives, but she can certainly choose the man she marries. Can’t she? 
Mac doesn’t think the mate the council chose for him is going to work out for him at all. But when he meets her, he begins to wonder if she might not be the one he’s been looking for all along. She wants to fight him and the attraction that flares between them. He has a surprise for her. He’s a fighter and he’s enlisted an unexpected ally from her family. The white wolf herself is on his side and he doesn’t intend to stop until he wins.

Wolf's Desire

After Keira's husband is brutally murdered, she is more than just alone but vulnerable to threats and tangled in a web of greed. Her decisions lead her into a corner, and safety is jeopardized. 

Aiden, Wolf shifter and Council member of the Caedmon Pack, has never failed when it comes to fulfilling the terms of his employment contract. When he is hired to protect an heiress, he doesn’t plan on her being the only woman to bring both challenge and purpose in his life. Without hesitation, he vows to keep the grieving Keira safe—even from himself. 

Keira trusts Aiden unconditionally and finds joy whenever they are together, but can love transcend a tragedy? Aiden’s urge to protect her is just as great as his desire to claim her. Once the passion is unleashed and fueled by the need to have all of her, the wolf will accept nothing less than his mate.

Forbidden

A SPIN OFF SERIES OF SHIFTERS FOREVER! 
This one takes place in Europe, the original home of the Tiero shifters. We start our journey in the Eternal City—Rome. 
Vax’s half-brother Rafe has it bad for Callie. He thinks that’s the kind of woman he needs. 

BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance 
If hot sex skeeves you out, you may want to pass on this book. 
If freaky, downright dirty sexy talk bothers you, yeah, for sure you gotta pass on this one. 
We believe in sex--hot, dirty, delicious sex. 
Yup, make it sweaty, too. It's not just sex, it's about the romance. 
But good romance has sex, and we keep the doors open! Oh, and the lights on! ;)

Hero

Maddie Joplin’s heart was broken by the small-town golden boy who took her virginity and left her behind. Now he’s back with secrets he won’t share and scars she doesn’t remember, and she wants just one chance to show him what he missed. Kane Villalobos had one choice: abandon Maddie or reveal his dangerous life as a wolf shifter. But with the mating moon on the rise, Kane is bound to take a mate. And this time, Maddie refuses to let him walk away alone. 

Following Fabian

Believed to be kept under guard by his traveling circus’s owner, Fabian Castillo hasn’t been seen or heard from for more than seven months. Astrid Falk has one week to root him out. The private investigators at Shrew & Company always find their men, and Astrid is no exception. 

When Astrid pulls the bewitching acrobat from captivity, however, he refuses to cut and run. He’s got a score to settle with his former foster father Jacques, and Astrid can’t leave Fabian on his own. He speaks no English, and she speaks no Spanish, but when they touch, they don’t need words. There are some perks to being psychic. 

Solitary Fabian wants Astrid to be more than just his translator, and she just might be on the market for a new partner. But, the last man she gave her heart to left her high and dry when she needed him most. Committing to Fabian would require a leap of faith she’s not sure she can muster, especially if there’s no net below to catch her if she falls. 

Dreaming of her Wolf

Jolie’s life is turned upside down after the death of the father she never knew. Someone seems determined to run her over, she's getting prank phone calls, and her mother is marrying a man Jolie has never met. As if that wasn’t enough, a brief lust-filled meeting with a smokin’ hot stranger turns into dream filled nights of passion that feel almost too real. 

Warning : If you are under 18, this book is not for you. This book contains a gorgeous plus woman, a smoking hot wolf who has eyes only for her curves and coincidentally happens to be her new stepbrother, and a whole lot of heat. 

Hunger Moon

Victoria Storm faces seemingly insurmountable odds to keep her dwindling pack of werewolves alive and together. She fights hunters- including the brother and father of her deceased lover-and the pack takes another devastating loss. When they seek sanctuary in a small town near Lake Tahoe, high in the secluded Sierra Nevada Mountains, Victoria discovers they are infringing on the territory of a vastly more powerful Alpha wolf. To save her pack, she uses her feminine wiles to seduce the Alpha. Nothing comes easily for Victoria. Her plans are complicated by the Alpha's erratic son, a ghostly wife, and a vengeful witch. Not even her status as a Valkyrie or the favor of the Goddess Freya can change the course of destiny for Victoria or her pack mates. 

Hungry for more? Here's a few more...

Rayne's Thunder (Part One) Master Chef

Dating a werewolf can get a little hairy, literally and metaphorically. Rayne Manchester's suitors learn this pretty quickly. Rayne and her siblings, Rhyme and River, have been through a lot lately, and the loss of their father was only more fuel for the firestorm that is their lives. 

Grief offers a subtle salve to the drama that eats up their existence and leaves them spinning like a tornado, but when their uncle reads their father's last will and testament they discover things are only going to get worse. The will divides the massive estate equally, but there is one catch; all three must be mated and married one year from their father's death. If even one of them fails in this mandate, none of them will inherit! Estranged, the siblings will now be forced to help each other. 

Rayne's Thunder is Rayne Manchester's journey toward finding a mate and walking down the aisle. Upcoming, Rhyme's Reason and River's Fire are River and Rhyme's stories to happily ever after. 

In Rayne's Thunder, Part One: Master Chef of the Dating a Werewolf Series, Rayne meets her first suitor, Brick. Their date goes well until payback is delivered for the disrespect the two made to the new alpha. Immerse yourself in this series, the characters, and their world. They're waiting for you to join them on their adventure. 

Each installment will serve up romance, suspense, intrigue, and action.

Rayne's Thunder (Part Two) The Veterinarian

This installment has a pack run, a kidnapping, some witchy magic and a taste of romance between Rayne and her veterinarian, Lincoln.

Rayne's Thunder (Part Three) The Politician and the Witches will be coming this month. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter here to get updates as to when it is released. 

To Love a Dragon

Homicide Detective Charity Holiday comes across some interesting characters when she works on a murder case of a stripper. One of those characters happens to be her mate. Working together with her dragon mate and his shifter community they uncover a conspiracy of mythological proportions. 

Malick Pendragon isn’t thrilled when his mate, who happens to be a witch, walks into his life. The timing is completely wrong. He lets her walk out of the roadhouse deciding to pursue her at a later date. What he doesn’t expect is her life to be threatened or that he’d have to save her or risk dying himself.

The Beginning: PBI Case Files

ADULT PARANORMAL MYSTERY ROMANTIC SUSPENSE 

Francesca and Sarah Hollister are going to learn very quickly that the monsters that go bump in the night are very real, and very…sexy? After a night of drunken mishaps the very human sisters find themselves in a tough situation that will change their lives forever. 

What they don’t know is they have been groomed for this life since the day they were born. Each possess amazing skill sets that will give them the ability to adapt and survive the new supernatural world they’ve fallen into. 

As the newest recruits of the PBI (Paranormal Bureau of Investigation), they learn quickly there is no learning curve, and their lives will be forever put in danger as they work side by side with their new supernatural colleagues. They have each other, and Sarah is learning she has also caught the eye of a brooding, possessive vampire who happens to be on his own road to redemption. 

This is the pilot episode of PBI Case Files, a new paranormal mystery novella series that is sure to keep you wondering… what if? 

Please note, this is an episodic serial. It was written in novella format and is a part of a series. 

This book also contains adult content of a sexual nature. 

Death Does Not Become Her (Ghost Connection # 2)

NEW ADULT PARANORMAL GHOST MYSTERY 

Cassandra O’Grady has the unwanted gift of being able to see ghosts. For most of her life she’s kept human interactions to a minimum and avoided befriending the living, choosing to be friends with her ghostly companions. In “Death Does Not Become Her” she learns there are people, living people, who care for her, and will do what they can to protect her. She may not appreciate the connection at first, but if things work out, she might learn how to create friendships that will aid her in her destiny. 

In the meantime, she still has Davis, her brother, Abel, and her deceased family dog, Frodo, to help, and she’s going to need every bit of help she can get when one of her classmates from college comes to her in spirit form asking for help. 

Mia Stone may not be a ghost…yet, but she is on her way to becoming one as her body suffers in a poison-induced coma. Cassie and her ghostly friends race against the clock to discover the mysteries surrounding the poisoning, and ritualistic killings related to Mia’s attempted murder in hopes of finding the cure that will save her from dying-for real. 

This is the second adventure in the Ghost Connection series. It is not necessary to read the first adventure titled Lost to understand the story but reading it can provide additional details to the back story of the overall series plot.

Genie's Treasure

Joshua and Josie Parker are antique hunters with a penchant for enchanted items. Josie’s discovery of a secret map in a genie lamp sets the siblings on a magical adventure to Galveston Island. An adventure that leaves each of them in precarious situations, one of them facing death and the other a broken heart. 

When Joshua triggers the genie, his life is turned upside down. Instinct has him wanting to save the girl but will his determination cost his sister her life? Join the siblings on an adventure that will leave you wondering, what if?

Lost (Ghost Connection # 1)

NEW ADULT PARANORMAL GHOST MYSTERY SERIES 

Ghost Connection is a series centered around Cassandra O’Grady and her unwanted ability to see spirits. In episode one, Cassie and her ghostly best friend, Abel, help a girl save her family from a jealous boyfriend. In the process her own family is destroyed. 

To make matters worse, her well-built stable world is turned upside down when secrets are revealed that affect her and Abe. Tragedy will strike again, and a savvy sexy detective notices an uncomfortable pattern with Cassandra O’Grady… people keep dying around her. 

Cherished Gift

As a hypnotherapist, Clara Jameson has seen a myriad of fascinating cases from past lives, inter lives, spiritual awakenings, spirit attachments and miraculous healing. But nothing has prepared her for Jenna's case. 

Jenna's violent past life death is haunting her and Clara and her soul mate, Michael - who is no longer human, will have to help her overcome the obstacle that is keeping her from living a normal life. The demon that has kept these two apart over the centuries is not ready to give them peace and it will take everything the very human, Clara has to defeat the beast. 

Clara's work on this case catches the eye of the supernatural authorities. If things weren't hairy enough, her life is going to get very complicated. 

* This book contains adult situations and language and was written for audiences 18 years and older.

Dragon's Dream Dancer

Kensi McKenna is looking for a way to escape the dangerous and deadly future she is fated to live so she turns to exotic dancing as a way to obtain the financial support needed to break away from the small Oregon town. The night of her first dance, Tremaine MacGregor storms into the club and kidnaps her. Her first instinct is to escape, her second is to help the man and betray her family. No matter what she chooses her life will never be the same again. 

Trey MacGregor is after an easy bounty. It seems like a piece-of-cake job so he goes it alone and leaves his family out of it. The moment he walks into the club where Mariah McKenna is supposed to work his life is turned upside down and becomes far more complicated. What he doesn’t know is the girl he steals away, his treasured mate, is his target’s sister. Theirs is a match gifted from the gods, but can they get past the obvious family problems? 

* This is a stand alone romance from the Demon Fairy Tales Series. 

All the books above are either FREE or $0.99 most are only on special for the next few days so get your one-clicking finger ready and click away.

As promised, here is another amazing giveaway sponsored by the Wolf Pack Authors...





a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

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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)
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