by Brenda Trim
Impeached
Hollow Rock Shifters Book 5
Brenda Trim
Tami Julka
Contents
Impeached
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
EXCERPT FROM HOLLOW ROCK SHIFTERS BOOK 6: ANARCHY
Authors’ Note
Other Works By Trim And Julka
Impeached
Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
Copyright © July 2019 by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
Editor: Amanda Fitzpatrick
Cover Art by Madison Trim
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writers’ imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction of this work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the authors.
Created with Vellum
Lovers will come and go, but there is only one that truly understands the howling in your soul.
Chapter 1
Bart placed his hand at the small of Erika’s back and escorted her to a nearby table, away from the crowded ceremony and loud music. He was eager to discuss his job offer in the hopes that the wolf shifter would become the newest staff member at the governor’s mansion. Gaining the trust of the shifter community was crucial, and bringing one of their own into the mix was his best shot at gaining their approval. It showed he believed in them, and truly saw them as equals.
He noted that in high heels, Erika was slightly taller than his six-foot height. To his surprise, her towering height didn’t deter from her appeal. Generally, Bart wasn’t attracted to shifters. They stuck out among humans like a giraffe in a herd of goats. Taller, more muscular, bold features.
Erika, however, was shorter and leaner than any shifter in the room, and he wondered the reason. Did their offspring follow animal traits or human ones? Did they carry multiple babies in each pregnancy? Was Erika a runt, like a puppy litter? If she was, it would certainly explain her smaller stature. Or, was he being ignorant even considering it?
Her black hair was fastened in a high ponytail, and her pale-pink strapless dress hugged her curves perfectly. Needless to say, Erika wasn’t a typical shifter. No, she was the type of woman all men fantasized about.
He pulled out a chair for her, and Erika took a seat. It garnered him an eyeful of cleavage and Bart immediately imagined his face buried between the lush globes. “I still can’t believe that was you I carried from the lab,” he commented and shook off the erotic notion. Remain professional, jackass, he mentally scolded. Erika, naked and writhing in his arms, wasn’t his objective.
Bringing up the incident that led to her rescue cooled some of his ardor. Bart recalled when he accompanied Lawson, the leader of the Hollow Rock shifters, and a few of his pack members to Nashville in search of abused shifters. At the time, Bart assumed it was going to be a waste of resources, but as governor of Tennessee, he felt obligated to investigate the accusations of shifter kidnappings.
Despite Lawson’s torture during a three-year captivity, Bart sincerely believed the exploitation of shifters stopped, mainly due to the fact the man responsible for Lawson’s suffering was dead and gone. Surely, the abuse ended with Jim Jensen’s death.
But when they discovered four wolves strapped to a table, while blood was drained from their bodies, Bart couldn’t act fast enough to assist in the rescue. He remembered carrying a light-gray wolf to Lawson’s van then proceeded to hold and comfort the animal during the three-hour drive from Nashville to Hollow Rock. He had no idea that wolf was Erika, and was floored when Lawson introduced him to the stunning woman.
“Yep, that was me,” Erika answered with a smile before she took a sip of champagne.
Again, his thoughts turned sexual, and an image of her full lips sucking him sprang to mind. What the fuck was wrong with him tonight? It hadn’t been that long since he had sex. Bart needed to get a grip before his growing erection embarrassed the hell out of him.
Stay focused. You need her on your team. A one-night stand will only complicate matters, Bart mentally emphasized.
“I should’ve been more attentive when I had the chance,” he said with a wide grin and his gaze was drawn to bewitching blue eyes.
“Is that so?” she replied curtly, and her eyes narrowed. She obviously didn’t care for his comment, and he didn’t like the disdain on her face.
“Don’t take it the wrong way,” Bart recanted and lifted his hands in surrender. “I’m just giving you a compliment. You’re very attractive,” he confessed and grabbed his crystal flute, taking a deep swig. This conversation was going nowhere fast.
“Is that all that attracts you to a woman? Her looks?” she asked with a raised brow.
Bart leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest as he considered her comment. “Well, it certainly doesn’t hurt. I think physical attraction is very important. Probably the most important aspect of a relationship, if I’m truthful,” he relayed with a slight shrug.
“Well, that explains why you can’t stop looking at my breasts,” she countered with a glare.
“That’s not what I meant. I-I-I,” he stammered, searching for a way out of the hole he was digging.
Erika leaned forward, placing her hands on the table. “Look, Mr. Governor. If you think that your fat bank account, expensive car, or sexy smile are impressive, think again. None of those qualities mean shit to me.”
“You think I have a sexy smile?” Bart asked with a smirk.
“Seriously?” Erika spat incredulously, and a crease formed between her brows. “Can we please discuss the job? I’d like to get back to the party,” she snapped as she glanced toward the dance floor.
Bart couldn’t deny he was captivated by the feisty woman. And dumbfounded. Most women jumped at the chance to be with him. None of that mattered, he scolded himself. He needed to respect her wishes and shut off his lust-driven brain. There was no place for sex in their non-existent relationship.
“As you wish,” he replied and grabbed two flutes of champagne when Ashley, the cook at Safe Haven, walked by carrying a tray of the bubbly concoction. He placed one in front of Erika and took a deep drink from the other. He desperately needed alcohol to calm his frayed nerves. This woman had him all sideways.
“So, as I mentioned before, I need someone to come to the office once or twice a week to handle the calls from the shifter community. I want them to trust me and believe that I’m serious about charging those responsible for abuse, as well as, finding any loved ones that are missing. I also want to learn more about shifters, so I can better fight for what they need, not what I think they need. I realize it’s a long commute, and I’m happy to arrange accommodations for the days you’re in Chattanooga,” Bart explained.
Erika slowly nodded her head. “Well, Lawson wouldn’t have asked me to do this if he didn’t think it was im
portant. I’m happy to help the pack any way I can,” she admitted and took another sip of champagne.
“Is that a yes?” Bart asked.
Erika regarded him with impassive eyes and slowly nodded her head. “I will try it out, but if I suspect you aren’t working in our best interests, I’m out.”
“Fair enough. I cannot ignore what I’ve seen, and I’m committed to helping. Thank you, Erika.”
“How soon would you like me to start?” she asked and glanced to the dance floor again.
Bart followed her gaze and replied, “As soon as possible.”
Erika watched the newly mated couple, Cassie and Ryan, dancing to You Make It Easy by Jason Aldean. When Erika’s eyes closed and she swayed in her chair, a smile spread across Bart’s face.
“Jason’s the best,” he observed, and Erika’s eyes popped open.
“I agree. He’s my favorite country singer,” she admitted.
“I know him. He’s a close friend, actually,” Bart divulged.
“Get out,” Erika exclaimed, and he saw the excitement in her beautiful blues.
“Scout’s honor,” he pledged, holding up three fingers. “I’ll see when he’s coming through Tennessee and arrange a meeting. Backstage passes to a concert, if you’d like,” he offered. He’d finally found a common interest with the black-haired temptress and wanted to connect in any way possible.
“I would cut off my right arm to see him in concert,” Erika confessed, and her disposition relaxed. She immediately went from cold and caustic to happy and smiling. Bart acknowledged he liked the latter much better.
“I don’t think such drastic measures are in order, but I’ll take that as a yes. Now, back to the job. When can you start?” he inquired. He wanted something definitive on the books before he stuck his foot in his mouth again and she backed out of their arrangement.
“How about Monday?”
“Perfect,” Bart said with a nod. “Give me your cell number and I’ll text you the address,” he requested, and pulled out his phone. He punched in the numbers as she relayed them, then added a contact name. “I just sent you a text, so you’ll have my number, too.”
“Sounds good,” Erika replied and drank the last of her champagne.
“Another?” he asked, hoping for more time with her. Their conversation was coming to a close, but he didn’t want it to end.
“Sure, why not?”
Suddenly, the music stopped, and Ryan turned to the crowd. “Hollow Rock pack members. Time for our run beneath the full moon,” he bellowed.
Cheers erupted, along with howls, and the pack quickly shuffled from the room. Erika glanced to Bart and shrugged. “Sorry. That’s my cue.”
“That it is,” he sighed. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Erika––” he trailed off as he extended his hand, realizing he didn’t know her last name.
“Erika Pittman,” she finished and reached for his palm. “It was nice to meet you, too, Mr. Smith. See you Monday.” He held her hand a little too long, enjoying the warmth of her silky skin.
Let go of the woman, pervert, before she tells you to jump off a cliff, he scolded then quickly released her palm.
Erika bolted through the front door, along with, the pack members and Bart made his way toward Cassie and Liv who were standing beside the champagne bar.
“Hey, BS,” Liv called out when he approached. It was the nickname the brazen red-head had given him when they were teenagers. BS was his initials, but also stood for bullshit because Liv insisted that he was full of it. “Come join us in the family room. Us two-legged creatures have to stick together,” she said with a laugh.
Liv was an ex-girlfriend and Bart’s business partner at Smith and Kimbro, a research facility where Liv was head scientist. She’d fallen for the pack leader, Lawson, and recently mated him. Initially, Bart couldn’t accept their relationship given he’d carried a torch for Liv for the past ten years. It was only in the last few months he’d seen how deeply she loved Lawson that Bart came to terms with the fact they were close friends, and nothing more.
“Thanks, but I really need to go. Long drive back to Chattanooga,” he answered as he glanced to the large picture window that overlooked the front of the hotel. He couldn’t deny his curiosity about the wolves. He’d never seen them band together for a run.
“We have plenty of empty rooms. Stay the night,” Liv suggested.
Her long, auburn hair fell in waves down her back and her emerald-green eyes sparkled with life. She was bursting with joy, and it wasn’t because of the celebration. She was a woman in love, and it showed.
Liv’s offer to stay was tempting. It would give him more time with Erika, but duty called. “I can’t. Early meeting tomorrow. Raincheck?” he replied, and Liv nodded.
“Thank you for coming,” Cassie murmured, and Bart leaned down to hug the short woman. Cassie was five-four at most, and a dwarf among the tall shifters.
“Happy for you, Cass. You deserve it,” he whispered in her ear.
“So do you. Be patient. The right one will come along,” she murmured in return.
He knew the meaning behind Cassie’s comment. There was a time he hoped to rekindle his romance with Liv, but that wasn’t happening. Plus, the idea of falling in love again was the last thing on his mind. For now, he was content playing the field.
“Don’t hold your breath,” he chuckled before he excused himself then quickly made his way down the hallway, through the large kitchen, and out the back door.
The cold air cleared his muddled brain as he walked to his Mercedes. He was about to climb inside the car when he heard shouts and screams coming from the front of the hotel. What were the shifters doing? He was dying to know and couldn’t resist sneaking a peek.
Bart trudged around the side of the large building. Snow crunched underfoot and he glanced to his feet when cold seeped through his dress shoes and thin socks. Not the best attire for trekking through the snow, he surmised. When he reached the edge of the brick building, he peered around the corner. He knew he shouldn’t spy, but he had to see this. The transformation from human to wolf was unthinkable, yet that was exactly what shifters did. He couldn’t pass up the opportunity to witness it firsthand.
In hindsight, he should’ve stayed inside the hotel with Liv and the other two-legged creatures, as she so eloquently put it. But then he wouldn’t have this prime spot. He was so close to the action he could hear every word and see every detail.
A large bonfire blazed, casting shadows across the snow-covered ground. The pack was hooting and hollering, like a football team gearing up for the big game. The energy was tangible, and Bart glimpsed what it meant to be a part of this formidable group. They were wild and free, and Bart couldn’t deny his envy.
He spotted Lawson and Ryan as they shifted. He was amazed at the fluidity. It happened so quickly he almost missed it. And, they were massive. In fact, their animals were closer to the size of a lion rather than a wolf.
Ryan, a tan-colored wolf, lifted his snout and howled. Lawson, a much larger dark-gray wolf, added his deep howl to the mix. It was the most incredible scene he’d ever witnessed. Each pack member quickly shed their clothes and joined the celebration. Bart remained cemented in place with his eyes glued to the scene.
Bart scanned the group until he spotted Erika’s pale pink dress. She was standing off to the side, removing her shoes. She looked out of place and Bart wondered why she wasn’t with the others. Shifters clearly weren’t shy about nudity, so why was she standing alone?
She tugged the band around her ponytail and her long, silky hair cascaded to her waist. So fucking sexy. Then she reached around to the back of her dress, and before Bart knew what was happening, the material puddled at her feet.
His mouth went dry and his body hardened as he perused her curvy figure. If he were honest, the pink dress didn’t do her justice. She was perfect. In fact, she should walk around naked all the time, Bart surmised as he drank in her toned legs and firm ass. He knew it
was wrong to lurk in the shadows and ogle the woman, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Granted, it wasn’t solely based on his attraction to her. He genuinely wanted to see the wolves’ next move.
In the blink of an eye, Erika shifted, and a light-gray wolf joined the pack. It was the wolf he carried from the lab, and the animal was more captivating than he remembered. When her wolf howled, something stirred deep inside. It resonated with Bart’s soul in a way he’d never felt before. Perhaps they shared a special bond because he rescued her.
He’d never forget the moment inside the van when he stared into her wolf’s sky-blue eyes. It was as if he’d been assigned to protect her. Always. It would certainly explain his undeniable attraction to her.
Bart watched as the pack huddled together, their howls intensifying. It was the call of the wild, and it was both magical and haunting.
Ryan’s wolf shot across the lawn first then disappeared into the thick forest. The others followed suit and Bart watched as Erika sped past his hiding spot then leapt over a large stack of firewood. What her animal lacked in size and strength, she made up for in speed and agility. It was impressive as hell.
The light-gray wolf charged toward the trees, and was gone in the next breath. Bart stood there a moment and listened to the echo of their howls then turned and walked toward his car, overwhelmed by the scene he witnessed. Again, he envied the bond shared among the pack.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated, and Bart reached inside his coat pocket. It was a text from Kelly, asking him to call her asap. The woman was a fuck-buddy at best, and he contemplated whether he should respond. Exhaling, Bart climbed in his car and turned the ignition then hit the call button on his phone.