Pursued: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance (Beasts of Edgewood, Book 3)

by Danica Rayne

  “Amazing,” Kayden said, his eyes tearing a little. “I wanted a family for so long.”

  Me too, Finn signed. It almost feels like a dream.

  I gave each one a kiss before moving over to Liam, who was heating up his glass of soda. “Um, I think you’re the only one in the world who boils their Coke.”

  “Alivia, my girl!” He spun me around. “Did you hear I got adopted today?”

  “I might have heard it through the grapevine.” I grinned. “I’m so happy for you, Liam.”

  “Thanks.” He kissed me.

  I moved up to Ryker who was adjusting his suit. “Okay, that kid really does have a sensitive stomach. She nearly puked on me.”

  “Her stomach’s probably still adjusting to human food.” I stepped forward to kiss him. “So how do you feel?”

  “Mixed emotions, I guess. Super thrilled that I have a dad again, but a little sad because of the parents I lost.”

  I hugged him. “I get it. I know your parents are happy for you. They’re happy you’re in a good home with a great family.”

  He squeezed me against him. “I know. And now I’m officially a Caldwell. But I wanted to keep the Dalton. Say hello to Mr. Ryker Dalton Caldwell.”

  “It sounds perfect.” I kissed him again.

  I met Meggie at the food table, where she was carefully selecting her next cupcake. “May I have the honor of saying hello to the newly minted Meghan Caldwell?”

  “Meggie.” She twisted her nose as she plucked a velvet cupcake from the bunch. “Meghan makes me sound like an old lady.”

  I wrapped my arms around her. “You’re such a lucky girl, you know that?”

  “Yes.” She bit into the cupcake. “I know there are a lot of kids who don’t have families like I do.” Her eyes moved to the supernatural kids. Some of them were still hesitant about socializing and kept to themselves. “You know why else I’m lucky?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m eating the most delicious cupcake in the world.”

  I laughed as I kissed her cheek.

  I met with Levi and Aunt Bea, who were discussing the supernatural kids.

  “It would just be the two of us,” Levi said.

  “What about funding?” she asked.

  “Maybe we could eventually register it with the state. Something along the lines of a school for gifted kids. We already have fifty altogether. They need training, Bea. But more than that, they need a place to call home.”

  “You guys talking about opening up a supernatural school?” I said.

  “What’s your opinion on it, Miss Slayer?” Aunt Bea asked.

  “Levi’s right. We already have fifty of them and he’s finding more every month. These kids need a place to call home. The guys and I will be happy to help. And I even have the perfect name.”

  “Oh, really?” Aunt Bea asked.

  “Supernatural Academy.”

  “It actually does have a nice ring to it,” Aunt Bea said.

  “Right?”

  “Alivia.” Kayden raced over. “Sense that?”

  My eyes flicked to the left. “Supernatural on Main Street. Duty calls. Save me some cake, will you?”

  “Call for backup if you need,” Ryke reminded me.

  “Always.” I strapped on my slayer belt and bolted out the door.

  Dear reader,

  Thank you so much for reading my book! It means the world to me. If you enjoyed this book, please leave a positive review on Amazon, or shoot me an email at authordanicarayne@gmail.com to let me know how much you enjoyed the book. I love hearing from my readers. For updates on future releases, please follow me on Twitter @DanicaRayne2 and click on the “follow” button on my Amazon Author page.

  Thanks,

  Danica Rayne

  Turn the page for a sneak peek to Exceptional, book one in my brand new reverse harem paranormal romance series!

  Sixteen-year-old Emmy Reid is on the run.

  A government organization hunting superhumans—Exceptionals—has been after her since she accidentally shot fire from her mouth. She’s saved by Alex, a guy with piercing blue eyes who takes her to a place where people like her can be safe. There she meets his friends, Kyle, Eddie, and TJ, who welcome her into their group.

  Emmy spends her days training, learning to control her fire, and falling for the four boys who have taken control of her heart. But when a secret operation ends badly, it’s up to Emmy to save those she cares about. Can she help them before it’s too late?

  Excerpt:

  I stand in front of the mirror, hoping they won’t be there. Just like I wish every morning after I get out of bed. But nope, there they are sticking out of my back like bat wings. Small, blueish-grayish with a rubbery texture, they’re easy to see. Which is why I keep them hidden with sweaters and hoodies. No one knows about them, other than my family. I’ve never even been to a doctor. “The freak” is what my older sister Julia calls me. I’ve been dubbed “weirdo” by my other sister Violet, who started college two months ago. I can handle those names—sisters are known to pick on the youngest one. But the worst are my parents, who pretend these things don’t exist. How can they not exist? They’re right there, bound with a cloth that I’ve been using for years. It’s gotten harder to hide them now that I’m sixteen. The wings have grown significantly since the summer.

  I don’t know how much longer I can hide them. I can’t fly, which sucks. As far as I know, they have no use.

  When I was younger, I used to follow my parents’ philosophy—that as long as I didn’t see them, they weren’t there. It didn’t help, though. It’s easy for Mom and Dad to pretend they don’t exist. They don’t see them every day when they take a shower or feel them moving on their back. Yes, they move. Like they want to break free from their binding. I’m not going to let that happen. I need to keep them a secret.

  “Emmy!” Mom calls from downstairs. “Breakfast.”

  Lately, I’ve been taking longer than usual to get ready. I don’t know why I stare at them more than I used to. It’s not like the longer I stare, the higher chance they have of disappearing. I went sixteen years with them on my back and something tells me I’ll go on another seventy years with them, too. That is, if I live that long.

  “Emelia!”

  After tugging on the binding to make sure it’s secure, I throw on a T-shirt, sweater, and jeans and go downstairs. Mom’s weird about breakfast, wanting the entire family to eat together. Something about strengthening our bond. Maybe she wants us to be a normal family. I don’t think we ever could be, not with those things on my back.

  “Morning,” I greet and sit down near Julia, who’s finishing up the homework she swore she did last night before my parents let her go to her best friend’s party. From the scowl on her face, I can tell she’s been grounded. Two weeks, maybe a month.

  Violet’s leaning against the counter, munching on a chocolate bar. She and her friends rent an apartment a few blocks away from her college and she comes here once a week for laundry. Many people claim parents don’t have favorite kids, but I don’t believe that. Violet’s my mom’s favorite. Maybe because she’s the oldest, maybe because she’s the prettiest, maybe because she looks like her and they have a lot in common. Julia would be Dad’s favorite. She’s our school’s star basketball player, just like he was in high school and college. And me? Well, I’m the freak who wasn’t supposed to be born. Mom and Dad decided to stop after two, but it looks like I changed their plans.

  Both my sisters have light brown hair and blue eyes like my parents. I was the only one born with hair that’s more red than blonde and green eyes.

  “I think they grew a little,” I say as I bite into some scrambled eggs.

  The room goes dead silent. Julia’s busy with her homework, Violet’s texting, Dad’s focus is on the paper, and Mom, at the stove, shifts from one foot to the other.

  I stuff my face some more. I don’t know why I was hoping we’d talk about it. Whenever I mention my win
gs, my parents freeze up, like I’m telling them I’m going to live on the moon with my alien boyfriend. Not that I have one. I guess it’ll always be like this, with Mom and Dad treating me like I’m normal. Not a…freak. I’ll never feel accepted unless I force myself to act like the “normal” daughter they want. If I’m me, then I might as well live on the streets. Okay, maybe that’s exaggerating a little. They’ve never said that to me, but sometimes it feels that way.

  After a few minutes of silence, Violet grabs her laundry bag from the floor and swings it over her shoulder. “I’m out.”

  Mom hugs her. “Come home more often. To visit and not only for food and laundry.” She plays with Violet’s perfectly straight hair. “We miss you.”

  Violet presses her lips together, probably thinking she loves her freedom and would only come home for emergencies, like laundry. I often wonder what it would be like to go to college, to be away from everyone and live the life I want.

  Someone honks outside, and Julia shoots to her feet. “Carson’s early.” She starts packing away her things.

  Mom steps forward. “Maybe it’s a good idea for you and Carson to take a break.”

  Julia rolls her blue eyes. “I’m going to be late.”

  Now Dad gets to his feet. “Remember our rules. No boyfriends if he interferes with your schoolwork.”

  My sister rolls her eyes again.

  “Emmy’s grades are superb,” Dad says. “Maybe if you concentrated like her, you’d get into Stanford like you’ve always dreamed.”

  Julia rolls her eyes for a third time. She takes in my ugly green sweater and ratty jeans and twists her nose. “Emmy gets superb grades because she’ll never have a boyfriend.”

  As much as her words are true, it stings to hear them, especially from her. She and I are only two years apart and used to be very close. Until she started middle school and became boy crazy. The boys at my school don’t look my way. I mostly keep to myself. I learned a long time ago not to trust anyone, which is why I don’t have friends. When people get close…it’s never a good idea for someone like me to lower her guard. It’s not exactly legal to be what I am. Practically every day there’s news of a new “superhuman” being taken into custody. A shiver runs down my spine just thinking about it. Maybe this is why my parents pretend I’m normal. They’re worried what would happen if I’m discovered.

  Buy now