Introduction
Rhyme Manchester is the second in
her family to take on the Mating Games. Despite the chaos that ensued for her
little sister, Rayne, during her own games, Rhyme decides to give it a go. All
three siblings only have one year to mate and marry and time is running out.
Logically, it makes perfect sense.
The problem is that Rhyme has never
had the best emotional intelligence. Intelligence is her comfort zone and she
will need to escape that tidy little box she has put her life into in order to
find the love of her life.
When one of the ten contenders is
murdered on the opening night of the games, Rhyme’s reason flies out the
window. What is worse, all signs point to multiple contenders in the
competition for her heart as the potential killer. Will she be able to work
through the clues to find the other half to her soul? And when she does, will
that man be a murderer or will he be the next one murdered?
This is the first book in a six
installment paranormal romantic murder mystery serial from the Dating a
Werewolf Series. Thank you for joining Rhyme as she embarks upon her journey to
love in part one of Rhyme’s Reason.
Chapter One
DEAR DIARY, I’M
STARTING THIS journal to keep my life in order, my emotions in check, and to
help me make the most informed decision possible as to who I should choose as
my mate. So much has happened in the last few months. My father passed away. My
brother became the Colorado Alpha. My sister found her mate. My best friend,
Isaac, was killed in a battle that bordered on the epically infamous Hattfields
and McCoys feud, in truth, many people died in that battle, all over becoming
alpha. I never really understood the need for power. My father had that gene,
so does River. All I ever wanted was love, but I digress.
I have not even begun
to tell you about how my little sister became the second Colorado alpha. Rayne was
kidnapped and forced to kill her captor. In that one act, she went from a
tracker wolf to an alpha pack leader herself, and now she and River have split
the territory of Colorado. I can promise you, I have no intention of becoming
an alpha, and I hope the Mating Games go smoother for me than they did for
Raynie.
I’m ahead of myself,
again… See, that’s why I decided to make this diary. If given leeway, I tend to
babble. It is one way to process information, one I learned in law school.
Thinking out loud, kind of like brainstorming. And you’d never guess how much
you can discover when you talk out the problem. Not the most effective way, but
it worked for me. It also helps me to write out lists, especially pros and
cons. Seeing it written in front of your eyes in a logical manner helps to
eliminate the emotional factor that messes everything up.
So I guess you’re
wondering why the need to get married and find my mate? I would be wondering, inquisitive
mind and all. Another law school trait.
When our father died,
he left behind some hefty stipulations in his will. The only way we’d be able
to receive our inheritance would be if all three of us find our mates and get
married within a year of his death. One down, two to go.
Ironically, the one
person I could see myself with, once we helped him over his own grief, died,
and now I’m mourning Isaac’s loss while trying to find my husband. Father left
each of us a list of ten men he pre-approved for the match, but while he was
always good at pairing off his pack mates, his track record with his children
wasn’t stellar. Well, that’s not true. He matched Storm and Rayne, but that was
a no-brainer. We all saw that coming, all of us but Rayne.
He also picked men
who betrayed my sister and our pack. Grayson, may his soul burn in hell for
eternity, and Brick, who was now in the Authority prison for his betrayal were
also on his list and they were epic fails. Interestingly enough, he also had
Simon on Rayne’s list who is now dating Chloe, which killed two birds with one
stone. Daddy never wanted River and Chloe to date, and putting Simon in the mix
helped with that. It was pretty obvious Simon wasn’t meant for my sister. He
was nothing like her type.
I’ve already broken
off one engagement to a cheating lawyer and one of the men from father’s list,
Jax. He turned out to be a better friend than lover. There was always a kind of
wall between us. One I had no clue how to break down. He was good at playing
the doting beau, but after seeing Rayne and Storm together I knew I was
settling.
I almost fell for
him, but my little sister taught me one thing, a mate is a cherished gift and
if you picked the right one, the fireworks would light the night sky. I wonder
if I’ll be able to recognize love if it comes? Rayne says it will bite you in
the ass if you ignore it. You just know.
If it is possible, I
want to find that soul-searing lover that leaves me vulnerable and yet safe in
the arms of the man made for me. It’s not too much to ask, right?
I’ve never really
opened up to the idea of sharing my emotions and trusting someone enough to
make that a reality, but I’m going to give it my best shot. I promise. Which brings
me back full circle. The reason I’m writing in this journal is so I can keep my
thoughts straight and avoid letting my emotions muck things up. I figure I can
use this as an analysis system. It will help me balance the pros and cons and
make an informative decision.
It seemed like a tall
order, but I’ve opened my heart to the probability of it working. Now the
challenge will be to pick the right man that I can trust with my heart, and do
so in a timely manner.
They say you can’t
hurry love, but my father was obviously not of that school of thought. The idea
that all three of us will find our true loves in a year is tough to swallow,
but I am not going to let my family down and I have a vested interest in this,
more so than the others. Well, that may not be true, but I have a problem, and
that money will help me get out of the hole I’ve buried myself in. Hopefully,
the man I choose will help me stay out of trouble in the future. Who knows? I
guess we’ll see.
Okay,
that’s Eva, the Games’ Master calling me. Things are about to get started. Wish
me luck!
Rhyme
Rhyme
closed her journal quickly and hid it away in her desk. “Coming!”
Eva was
outside the door, tapping her foot impatiently on the carpeted hallway. “I do
hope you’re not going to be as difficult as your sister was during this whole
process, Rhyme.” She tossed her red hair behind her shoulder and raised her
dark eyebrow in the unspoken question.
“My
sister wasn’t difficult, Eva. She just didn’t like all the restricting rules.”
Rhyme defended Rayne. She really hated it when people spoke ill of others,
especially when those others were members of her family. “Raynie, has never
been big on being told what she should and shouldn’t do.”
Eva
sighed and placed a hand on her thick hip as she examined Rhyme's looks. She had
styled her dark hair in a French twist, a style she was extremely comfortable
with and applied makeup to her pale skin. They had lost Georgio, Eva’s stylist,
during the rogue attack that happened during Rayne’s Mating Game session. His
death was heartbreaking. Eva and Georgio seemed close so it was logical she
hadn’t replaced him yet. That meant it was up to Rhyme to do her own hair and
makeup, something she didn’t mind at all. At least until she had to endure
Eva’s scrutiny.
Thankfully,
she approved of Rhyme’s fashion sense, for the most part. “It will have to do.
Now get downstairs so you can greet the men who are competing for your hand in
marriage.”
Rhyme
ran into her closet, grabbed her heels, and followed Eva’s heavyset frame down
the stairs. No amount of preparation could make her feel comfortable for what
she was about to face outside. She’d read all the dossiers on the men she was
going to be welcoming into her home, which were sent to her by uncle Mitchell,
the executor of the will. On paper, they all seemed suitable mates, but she
expected no less from the list of men her father had left her in the will.
Rayne’s adventure reinforced Rhyme’s belief that just because they looked good
on paper didn’t mean they were decent people. She’d seen many people in her
time as a lawyer that looked good on paper or in person, but turned out to be
real slime bags.
“Are you
ready for this?” River, Rhyme’s brother and her alpha, asked as she joined him
on the front porch of the compound. The blazing sun that reflected off the
fresh layer of light snow outside blinded her. She loved fall and winter in
Colorado. It could snow one day, and the next, be fresh and clear as a spring
day. Since this was autumn, she knew the snow would melt away by afternoon as
though it hadn’t even fallen.
She
blinked her ice-blue eyes, the same shade as his, as she tried to focus on his
dark hair, which was longer than usual, a sign he was still stressing over the
recent alpha responsibilities. “No. Not really,” she told him honestly as his
tan skin and ruggedly handsome good looks came into focus.
He
chuckled. “I’m sure it’ll go easier than Raynie’s games.”
“It
better. I don’t think I can handle all that chaos as well as she did. When will
she be coming home?”
“You’re
a Manchester, You’d swim in that situation rather than sink, and you’ll have us
here to help you if you get tangled in seaweed.”
Rhyme
rolled her eyes at River’s attempt at comedic metaphors. Father was brilliant with
them. River, not so much. He was still a work in progress.
“She’ll
be here in the next couple of days. She’s bringing Simon and Chloe. Apparently
she wants to discuss wedding plans.” River’s grin wavered slightly. Seeing
Chloe move on with Simon couldn’t be easy for him, but he was handling it like
a trooper. “Do you have any favorites yet?” He asked, changing the subject.
“Nope,
I’m going to go with my gut and see where that leads me.”
“Good
luck with that, sis.”
She
elbowed him in the stomach.
“What?
We both know your gut feelings aren’t always the most reliable.” He rubbed his
torso as a black Town Car pulled up the gravel driveway.
Rhyme
sucked in a nervous breath as they watched Mack Fredericks exit the vehicle. He
wore a white suit, which contrasted brilliantly against his dark skin. His
black hair was shaved close to his head and his brown eyes held an intriguing
spark. He straightened his suit and pulled out a bouquet of flowers from the
car. His movements were fluid and stealthy as he walked toward Rhyme. Before
she could react, he held her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. The touch
ignited an interest in her body. He was sweet, as far as she could tell, and
quite the gentleman.
“Pleasure
to meet you, Rhyme.” His European accent only increased the instant attraction.
From what Rhyme read in his file, he was a regular Indiana Jones. Doctor of
Archeology, curator of the National Arts Museum in Denver, Colorado, and a
black belt in Ju Jitsu.
She
couldn’t help the slight blush that colored her cheeks. “Nice to meet you,
Mack.”
“Yes,
very nice to meet you, Mack. I look forward to chatting with you about your
work at the museum.” River offered his hand to shake. Mack accepted, but was
reluctant to turn his attention away from Rhyme, which only made her
temperature rise.
“And the
adventures I’ve experienced as an archeologist?” He gave a knowing grin to
River before turning his attention back on Rhyme. The intensity in his stare
was creating heat in her body.
“Yes,
I’m sure you have a great many interesting stories.” River acknowledged. Rhyme
knew he was an adventurer. River had always wanted to have an exciting career
in anthropology or as a covert spy, but father had other plans for him, being
the firstborn, and his son, River’s destiny was determined before he took his
first breath.
“I hope
I’ll get to hear some of those tales too.” Rhyme told them both.
Mack
nodded and took his spot next to Eva just as a second man exited the town car.
The
first thing Rhyme noticed was his wavy, dark brown hair that hung just above
his shoulders. His hair moved so fluidly it reminded her of those chocolate
commercials, ribbons of ooey gooey deliciousness. Her mouth watered and fingers
itched to touch the strands. As her gaze traveled, she stopped at his green
eyes, then his sexy smile and strong, square jaw. He wore a green plaid button-down
shirt over a dark grey t-shirt that did little to hide his rough and tough
build. The stonewashed, relaxed fit jeans he wore hugged his hips and large
thighs, and covered his cowboy boots. Rhyme recognized him as Trigger Malone,
the owner of the Wolf Creek Ranch in Montana. He was all muscle compacted in a
5’10” frame. He moved with ease and had a genuine smile, and what seemed like
an easy-going attitude, but there was a glint of danger in those moss-colored
eyes, just enough to catch and hold her attention.
“You are
far more beautiful than your photo.” Trigger smiled as he walked up to Rhyme
and gave her a hug, which surprised her. After the shock wore off, she relaxed
in his embrace moments before he pulled back. “I’ve been excited to meet you
ever since I got the call from Eva. I’m sorry for your loss,” he told her in a
country boy accent that made her stomach call out the butterflies.
Sadness
rolled through Rhyme for a moment. She knew he was referring to her father, but
there was far more loss surrounding her family than one man, including her best
friend and his fiancé. “Thank you.”
“It’s a
rough world we live in, but that knowledge doesn’t make it any easier.” His
words indicated he also knew about the recent tragedies that had befallen the
Manchester house. He squeezed her hand in a comforting gesture, which served to
spark her interest. He seemed genuine. It was nice. He was far more profound
than she would’ve thought. Trigger was going to be interesting to get to know.
He
handed her a wooden miniature of a wolf, then he took his spot next to Mack
just as the next car came up the drive. Rhyme found herself fascinated with the
tiny wolf statue. It was an intricate design. She turned to him. “Did you make
this?”
He
nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I did.”
“You are
very talented.”
“Thank
you kindly.” He winked and Rhyme felt the flutter of butterfly wings in her gut
again. Two for two. ‘Well, father, so far
so good’ she thought to herself as the next bachelor approached. His blond
hair looked like wavy ribbons that layered around his boyish good looks and
hovered around ear length. The tan on his skin indicated he loved the outdoors.
He was wearing jeans, a blue t-shirt, which matched his eyes, and a worn
leather biker’s jacket, which showed he liked his motorcycle, and her dossier
told her that motorcycle was a Harley Davidson. He sauntered across the gravel
drive to her side and placed a patch in her hands.
She looked
down, and read the words, ‘Lives to be a
bad girl’ and couldn’t help the smile that spread across her lips. She was
the farthest thing from a bad girl, but had always wanted a bad boy to help her
live dangerously.
“Dash
O’Grady, I presume?”
“Right
on the money, sweetheart. You might as well toss all the others out the window
and ride off in the sunset with me on my hog.” His words rolled over her like a
toxic spill. Something didn’t seem right about him. He was sexy. He said all
the right words, but when he spoke, his close proximity made her want to step back.
He reminded her of those smarmy guys who thought they were God’s gift to women.
She didn’t like smooth talking douche bags. ‘Looks
like I thanked you too soon, father.’ She thought to herself.
“I think
we’ll let this game play through and see what happens.” She placed a hand on
his granite chest as he moved closer to keep distance between them. “But it is
good to know you are so confident in your ability to win my heart.”
“I’m
confident you’ll find us perfectly suited for each other.” He grinned and
settled for a kiss on the back of her hand.
It took
every ounce of willpower in her not to wipe her hand off. She wasn’t ready to
discount him yet, but he hadn’t rubbed her correctly and she wasn’t impressed
with their first meeting.
She
breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized Levi Mason as he breezed across
the space between them. He was a lawyer, a very good defense attorney, and
Rhyme figured they’d have the most in common. His light brown hair, layered
with golden highlights from the sun showed he really did enjoy the surfing that
the report outlined as one of his favorite past times. The Puka shell necklace
he wore around his neck confirmed his hobby further. Today, he wore khaki pants
and a polo shirt, but she had a feeling he looked just as delicious in Bermuda
shorts, flip-flops, and little else, which was her idea of the perfect beach
attire for a physically fit man. When he smiled, his teeth seemed to glow. It
was painfully obvious he used a little too much whitener, but he was known for
his easy-going smile and she guessed he was attempting to put his best assets
forward.
“Rhyme,
I’m very pleased to see you again.”
“As am
I. I’m glad to see you were able to work around your schedule to participate.”
She smiled shyly. She’d gone up against this man in court a couple of times and
he was quite the contender.
“I
wouldn’t miss this for anything.” When he smiled, a dimple showed in his cheek,
one to match the other in his chin. Aside from the cheek imperfection, his face
was perfectly symmetrical which was rare in the werewolf world. Noses and other
bones were often broken from rough housing. Thanks to the transformation,
things didn’t always morph back correctly. It wasn’t like an arm would move to
a leg, but even Rhyme had seen minute in discrepancies after a change or two.
They usually fixed themselves after a couple more morphs, but it was common
happenstance in their world to see minor changes in one’s appearance over time.
“I’m hoping the heat in the courtroom translates to heat in our personal lives
also.” He whispered in her ear as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.
If Rhyme
was honest with herself, he was one of her top choices, on paper anyway, and it
also helped that she knew him in the real world outside of this competition,
not that they were ever friends. Being on opposite sides of the courtroom didn’t
make it easy to socialize.
The next
man to put his name in the running for Rhyme’s hand in marriage was Chance
Woodbridge. Short for Chancellor Woodbridge III. He looked like he was getting
ready to hit the ski lodge. Navy blue cashmere sweater with tan khakis and
brown shoes. His auburn hair feathered back lightly over his ears. His face and
hands were lightly sprinkled with freckles, and a peach tone. His fingernails
were manicured and Rhyme guessed he’d never seen a day of real work in his
life. He was put together like a GQ model, but she couldn’t help but wonder if
he was strong enough to be a contender for her heart. She liked manly men, the
kind that could work on a broken down vehicle one minute and then carry himself
like a socialite the next.
“Hello,
Rhyme, nice to meet you.” He spoke with an Aussie accent, which helped up the
attraction level. She searched her mind to review the file she had on this man.
He was a trust fund kid from Australia. There was very little detail of the man
other than his extensive partying history. He wasn’t her top choice, but she’d
give him a chance -- no pun intended.
Next up
was Elijah Jenkins. His hair was long, dirty-blond, and tied back in a leather
ponytail at the nape of his thick neck. His face was strong, and the claw mark
scar on his neck indicated he was a wolf that was made, not born into the life.
He was built smaller than most of the other wolves, but Rhyme was sure he was a
scrapper. He shook her hand and pulled her into an embrace, which was only off-setting
for a moment. The man smelled of rosewater and pine, and was far stronger than
he looked. ‘A firm handshake can tell a
lot about a man,’ Rhyme’s father’s voice echoed in her mind.
“It’s
nice to meet you, Elijah.” She told him when he let her go. He was a preacher,
but he wasn’t wearing his collar. He wore a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt,
and he wore them well. Very well.
Rhyme
had to admit she was excited to see Diesel Jacovich. He was as handsome as his
picture. Olive skin, shaved head, and dark, inquisitive eyes. Diesel owned a
martial arts dojo as well as a coffee shop. He was a successful businessman
which was probably the reason why father had picked him; a prominent business
owner who knew how to fight and defend his family.
“Hello,
Rhyme.” He nodded and kissed the back of her hand. His dark eyes intensely
focused on her blue ones. The stare made her feel unnerved, but she held her
ground. His touch was electric and she was disappointed when he pulled his hand
away. Something about this man intrigued her.
“Nice to
meet you, Diesel.” She smiled.
Myles
Dunkin was the second to last man to arrive. He did so in style, eclectic
style. The man walked up strumming a guitar and serenading Rhyme on the front
steps with the song ‘Stairway to Heaven’. His voice was smooth as silk. He had
green eyes that were alert and playful, and a smile that teased and enticed.
His sturdy build and strong jaw were simply the bow that tied the sexy package
together. He had long, wavy, brown hair, and like most of the men in the group,
he had muscles that moved smoothly under his tan skin.
There
was a military tattoo poking out from under his t-shirt sleeve, a stark
reminder of his time in the service. According to the file she had on him, he
served in Iraq and Afghanistan before returning home to take care of his ailing
father who recently died. Something they had in common. There was something
‘nice’ about the man, but ‘nice’ wasn’t always good in the wolf world, and with
all the drama that had descended upon her family lately, nice wasn’t a safe
place to be.
The next
man to join the competition was Stone Phillips. This man gave his name justice.
He looked like a stone statue, and had just as much definition, from what she
could see under his tight t-shirt, as those Greek marble statues. His pecs were
the size of boulders and his arms looked more like missile launchers than guns.
His blond hair made her think of the Norwegian God, Thor. This man was actually
a bear shifter while the others were wolves. It was odd he made the list.
Father wasn’t a purist, but he had never recommended anyone but wolves to her
as possible mates. The idea that he was a bear shifter intrigued her more so
than his striking good looks.
The file
she had on him was sparse in comparison to the others, probably because intel
on a bear would be more difficult than that of a wolf. She knew very little
about him other than he lived in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York.
How he and father knew each other was a mystery and one she intended to
discover.
“A
pleasure to meet you, Rhyme.”
“And
you.” Rhyme repeated. “I look forward to hearing more about the Adirondacks.”
She told him.
“Of
course, and I look forward to hearing more about the Rockies. They are
beautiful.”
“Yes, they
are.” She agreed.
The
tenth man, Jackson Lasiter, was already out of the competition. They’d decided
they were better off friends. He’d be arriving later that night and joining in,
but more as a spy to tell her what was going on when she wasn’t around than an
actual contestant.
“Our
last contestant will be arriving tomorrow, but tonight I’ve put together a
party in the garden so everyone can get to know each other better.” Eva
announced. “So if you’ll follow me.”
And if you haven't read Rayne's Thunder, check out the complete serial here or each individual installment on the list below.
Rayne's Thunder
Part One (Master Chef)
Part Two (The Veterinarian)
Part Three (The Politician and the Witches)
Part Four (Mating Games)
Part Five (The Battle Begins and the Games Continue)
Part Six (Alpha's Call)
You can also get the complete serial in a box set here.
Check out my other paranormal series on my website here.
Looking for an awesome deal? Get the Paranormal Affairs Box Set here. It includes 11 full length novels and novellas from 11 of my highly rated series. Hours and hours of romance, page turning action, and twisted adventures.
