by Selena Cross
“Come on, hurry up!” said the mouthy man in front of Damon in line. Rose sighed and hurried out as quickly as she could with his food, setting it in front of him, accidentally spilling his drink on him. “What the fuck, lady?!”
“Hey, chill out!” Damon said to him, aggravated with the man’s attitude. “Can’t you tell she’s new here? Give her a break.”
Just then, Damon made eye contact with Rose and she smiled at him, silently thanking him for defending her. Rose handed the man a new drink and he rolled his eyes while he picked up his food and left. Thankfully, there was no one in line behind Damon, so hopefully, he would have a minute to speak with her.
“May I take your order?” she asked, smiling.
“Um, yeah, I’ll have a small drink, burger, and fries, thanks,” he said. He gave her the money and a minute later, she handed him the food. “What’s your name?”
“Rose. What’s yours?”
“Jeremy,” said Damon. He hated to lie to her about his name, but he had been going by that alias for many years now. He hated to change back to his real name all of a sudden. “Um, what are you doing after work?”
“Well, thankfully I’m finishing up in about ten minutes. I’ve got no plans after that.”
“Would you like to grab a bite to eat?” he asked and she laughed. “Someplace else?”
“Definitely. That sounds great,” she said with a smile.
Damon couldn’t believe how things between him and Rose had drastically changed. He thought about it, replaying the memories in his head.
At first, he thought Rose was his true love. However, after a while, that spark in their relationship went away and every day that went by seemed to get more boring and dull. He had been drawn to her just as he had Helena, even Gwen. The feeling he got when he was near them was very slight. He realized this wasn’t right. True love must feel different from what he had with Rose.
When he first laid eyes on Morgan was when things seemed to drastically change for him. He was drawn to Morgan. Something about her intrigued him in a way no other woman had before. No, it wasn’t just something; it was everything. Every time he saw Morgan, his mood was lifted and he felt happier.
As he replayed the memory of the first time he saw Morgan, he realized it was then that the conflicts with Rose had started, and it was his entire fault. Seeing Morgan at work had become the highlight of his day, and when he got home and saw Rose, his mood changed and he became the darker person again that had caused his own brother to abandon him.
Since his relationship with Rose had officially ended, he was drawn to Morgan now more than ever. Anytime he ran into her, he got the strangest feeling, and would harden instantly. That was definitely a new experience for him. With the centuries he had lived and the women he had been with, this was undeniably different. He had a notion why, too. He would have to think about all this. Even though Damon had been working so long with Morgan, he didn’t know much about her, other than the fact that she was in her late-twenties and lived alone. He learned little random facts about her here and there from other employees in the prison, too, but nothing substantial. He liked to think he fancied her mainly because of her personality and good looks, both of which he had great difficulty finding in anyone in the past. It wasn’t that he had trouble finding beautiful women with nice personalities. He had trouble finding the right one. He needed to find his perfect match; his true mate.
There were other small, unique features he loved about her, like, her long, black, curly hair and her gorgeous, brown eyes. He loved the way she would smile and say hi to him every time he walked by her office. He loved the nice things she would say to him that would always cheer him up. He didn’t know if such friendly behavior was one of her normal traits, or she was paying him special attention. Either way, he enjoyed her company, and getting to see her every day brought happiness to his life. Fuck, he could use it, he told himself.
His brother had been right and Damon still had a chance to find a mate to start a new life with. The woman who came to mind when he thought of his mate was Morgan. He wanted nothing more than for her to be the one, but first, he needed to get to know her better, and there was only one way to do that, but he was nervous when it came to asking her out on a date. Seriously, Damon was nervous. Nothing in his life had ever made him nervous, but when it came to asking Morgan out on a date, he was definitely nervous.
He was starting to think there was definitely something to this mate deal. He figured before it was all over, he would make a fool of himself. Then what would Morgan think of him?
Damon shook his head and said in a low voice that only he could hear, When the hell have I ever given a shit what people think of me? Damn, she has to be my one. For God’s sakes; I am a wolf; a confident, strong and feared animal. I will get to know her better and I will ask her out. That is a definite; I will give myself no choice. Therefore, I need to stop acting like a lame-ass. There, that’s settled.’ After arguing with himself, he continued with his day.
Excerpt from Tyler’s Dream
Haven’s Wolves – Book Two
by Shelby Lynn
Prologue
It didn’t take Tyler long to find his beautiful mate. Tyler smoothed back his long dark-red hair and kissed his checks. He drew him up into his arms rocking him back and forth. Why would something like this happen after just finding each other?
"Why, Spirits, why would you take him away from me," cried Tyler to the heavens.
There was no answer to his anguished plea, as Tyler held Shannon tightly to him and the tears ran down his face. Tyler cradled Shannon to his chest looking down into his face. The fall of Tyler's tears touched on Shannon's check, and the air around them began to shimmer. Tyler held onto Shannon not knowing what to do. Tyler was scared of losing even this moment holding his mate close to his side.
The shimmering around them stopped in a cloud of smoke, and Tyler looked mystified by the display. He looked down at his mate gasping in surprise when his mate looked up at him and smiled. In that moment, Tyler almost dropped his mate.
"Oh my god, you are okay, baby. What the hell just happened, you were dead. I know you were dead!" Tyler yelled.
"I don't know, my mate, but I'm very much alive, Tyler," Shannon said softly.
Tyler hugged Shannon close to his chest. He looked at the heavens and thanked the Spirits for giving them another chance to be together.
"I promise you will be protected, my precious mate."
"We will protect each other, that I promise you, my beloved mate,” said Shannon.
The reinforcements arrived just as the fight was winding down. They stood at the edge of the forest watching in amazement as the Dragons fought in unison with the creature out of children's worst nightmares. They helped round up the rebel wolves of the Pack and were killed as the Cedarhill Pack cheered from the background.
There was a victory cheer as the Alpha fell and the Dragons tore him limb from limb. The people cheered on the Dragons as they took to the air with their massive wings. They roared in victory as they flew back towards the Blackwood Pack house. What a remarkable sight and one they would tell for many years to come.
Tyler came up carrying a very much alive Shannon in his arms, when out of the crowd ran a little boy who threw his arms around their legs.
"Shannon, you are all right, thank you, thank you, Spirits,” he chanted.
"I am fine, Timmy. I promise."
"Where are your parents, little one?” Tyler asked.
"They were both killed by a crazy man a few years ago,” said the little boy.
"Well, you have a home with us,” said Tyler, already able to read Shannon's thoughts plainly on his face.
The little boy, unsure of Tyler’s response, looked at Shannon and asked, "Really, Shannon, I can come and live with you? The people that were taking care of me did not like me much. Will you like me, Shannon?"
"I will love you, Timmy, I promise. You will always be loved."
; The people of the Cedarhill Pack watched the exchange between the grown men and the little boy. Something changed within them in that moment. They seemed to know their lives were changing for the better. They just didn't know what to do next after so many years of abuse. This Pack was going to need a firm but kind Alpha pair to guide them into the future.
Blackwood looked over at the pair cuddling the little boy close and an idea hit him. This would be the perfect Alpha pair to help repair all the hurt that had occurred over the years. It would take a lot of patience and loving care for these people before they would start opening up to others.
"Tyler, I have a proposition, and I would like to run it by you and your mate. As the highest-ranking wolf from this region, it is up to me to see the Cedarhill Pack gets the help it desperately needs to heal. I think you and your mate is exactly what this place needs for an Alpha Pair. Shannon is already familiar with the place and the people and you would make a fine Alpha for this Pack."
Tyler looked over at his newly found mate for his opinion on what the Blackwood Alpha was asking. Quickly, Shannon spoke into Tyler’s mind, ‘You are just what this place needs, Tyler, and I will help you any way I can.’
‘I will help you too, my new daddies,’ little Timmy said to them.
"We would love your help,” Tyler told his new son. "I have a feeling that you are going to be a handful young man."
Tyler looked out at all the wolves that were going to make up his Pack. It had been a long day and he wouldn’t change a thing about it. He had found his mate, and gained a son. Then he was given the opportunity to lead his own Pack. Tyler gathered his thoughts as he walked forward to speak for the first time as the Alpha of the Cedarhill Pack.
Excerpt from Alpha Battle
Isle of Paradise Series Book One
New Series from Marquaylla Lorette
Prologue
Jadelyn sat on her bed staring at her great, great grandfather Mase’s journal. Something she always did when she doubted her ability of becoming Alpha of their Isle. There was something about reading the accounts of the hardships her grandfather fought through and accomplished to become Alpha, it gave her the courage she needed to win the battle. Jadelyn needed the courage more than ever now since the battle was just four days away and causing her nerves to get the best of her.
Jadelyn blew out a deep breath as she reached for the journal directly in front of her. She had read the journal so many times that it opened right at her grandfather’s account of what happened when the humans hunted the shifters.
Before there was the Isle of Paradise, shifters lived in secret among the human race, until one fateful day when humans discovered them. Hundreds of shifters lost their lives before they were able to escape to the Isle of Paradise.
Jadelyn turned so she was lying on her stomach and crossed her legs as she read the first lines.
The smell of fresh pines filtered through my senses as I opened the door to my cottage. This was one of the reasons I loved living in the woods. As I was taking deep breaths of the fresh air, I jumped a little as something bumped into the back of my leg. For some reason, I had the urge to look outside even though I knew the layout of the land without having to look. Over a hundred different cottages lay behind and at the sides of my cottage. Trees surrounded us, making it hard to see anything in front of us or beside us.
I looked down behind my back and noticed it was my pup bumping into the back of my legs as he tried to escape the house. I waited until my mate was at his side before I stepped aside to let him pass.
I immediately shifted and took a huge sniff of the air as I stepped off the porch, when I heard the sound of leaves being crushed under a shifter’s paws as he or she ran rapidly through the woods right to us. The scent of my Alpha hit my nose. He smelled of his usual pine and rain, but this time mixed with fear. The Alpha burst out of the woods and blew right past me before I could discover what was going on with him. He must have brushed up against me when he ran past, causing a vision to assault my mind. One of my powers was the power to see what someone else saw just from their touch.
My Alpha, Wyatt, was arguing with the merchant who was providing the supplies to build or expand our cottages and for the new shifter, who joined our pack and bought acres of land in the forest we owned. The merchant was telling Wyatt the price of the supplies was going up for us no matter how much business we brought him. Wyatt became angry and started demanding the merchant lower his prices since he was only increasing the price on the “people who lived in the woods.” Wyatt’s milky white skin started to turn redder the angrier he got. As he started to approach Wyatt, the merchant yelled loud enough for the other merchants and shoppers to walk out of the stores. A few of the merchants approached Wyatt to come to the merchant's aide when Wyatt pushed him away from his face.
I felt the panic Wyatt felt when he saw the merchants approach him while putting their hands on their guns as the guns rested in their holsters.
Wyatt shifted as they drew closer to him and roared, startling the merchants and shoppers. The merchants and some of the shoppers pulled out their guns and shot at Wyatt as he turned and ran toward the forest. The merchants, along with some of the shoppers, jumped into their cars with their weapons in an attempt to follow Wyatt.
I snapped out of the vision and roared, alerting every kind of shifter in the woods to the danger we were about to face, since Wyatt didn’t, for some reason. I could see him gathering his family and running out of the corner of my eye.
I am a wolf shifter, along with my Alpha and every shifter living in this part of the woods. There are different kinds of shifters living in the front section of the woods, including bear, cat, lion, hyena, and many more. My pack lived at the back of the woods with the other shifter packs spread out over the front of the woods. For many centuries, every kind of shifter lived in the same woods to protect their identities from the humans. The Alpha from each pack promised not only to alert the other packs of danger, but also to help when danger came near.
I could hear heartbreaking roars after the sound of gunshots rang out. My heart ached as I heard some of the families roaring after their loss. I howled one last time telling them to follow my path as I gathered the rest of the wolf shifters and my pup and mate. I picked up my pup in my mouth, and with my mate by my side, I led the rest of the wolf shifters to safety. I felt the ground vibrating under my paws and knew the rest of the shifters were finally listening to me and following us. My mate left clues behind through her powers so only a shifter could find their way.
I could still hear shots echoing throughout the woods and more growls. I hoped we could get to the deserted airstrip thirty miles away without losing any more lives. I spotted Wyatt and his family not even fifteen minutes later just a few feet ahead of us. I wanted to kill him for bringing danger our way and then not having the courage to alert us of that danger. He was also responsible for the lives we lost just as much as the humans were.
I ran past Wyatt without a second glance. I knew we could outrun the humans and get to the airstrip without any more powers, especially since we were running through the woods. My mate had already cast a spell on the airstrip where only shifters would be able to make their way there. The ground began to shake as more and more shifters caught up to us.
After handing over my pup to my mate, I approached Wyatt to let him know how I felt about his actions. I was a few seconds away from attacking him when my mate pulled me back and brought me back to reality. We had to come up with a plan to get us out of the danger we were in now, instead of ripping apart the Alpha. I paced the ground of the airstrip with the others, trying to come up with a plan to solve our problems. I was just about to give up when a voice I didn’t recognize popped into my head.
‘Remember, you have the power to create a different land, Mase,’ a gruff voice said. I am not really sure how it works exactly, but somehow my power creates a rip in the universe, which creates an isle.
“Everyone, listen up, I ha
ve a solution for our problems. I have the power to create a different land for us to live on. My powers will create an isle for us to live on. The isle will be known as the Isle of Paradise, since shifters and other magical beings will only be able to find their way there. We will not have to hide from the humans any longer. Each pack will have their own side of the Isle, and each family will have their own business.
“I would like for one person from each family to approach me with the business they would like. Remember, the business will be passed down from generation to generation, so choose wisely,” I said as the shifters cheered.
The Alpha of my pack tried to step in and take over my plan, but everyone ignored him. Each family approached me with a business their families could run, except one. I asked that family to run the Isle of Paradise Police Department, since their whole family, except for the pups, worked as cops and detectives alongside the humans for many generations.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on creating the Isle of Paradise, with businesses and homes for each of the families with us. Paradise Construction would be building the new homes for the families who would later arrive on the Isle.
When I opened my eyes, there were two large planes big enough for all of us to fit in one trip. Everyone boarded the planes without looking back. Before the plane took off, my mate used her tracking power to help every magical being or shifter, when they were ready, find their way to the Isle of Paradise.
Everyone rushed off the plane to see what the Isle looked like as soon as the plane landed. The smell of fresh pines from the thousands of pine trees and salty ocean water blended and the scent assaulted my nose.
Someone from the crowd shouted out, “I vote for Mase to become the Alpha since he found a solution to the problems Wyatt caused. Not to mention saving us from the humans’ guns beforehand, instead of deserting all of us in order to save his own life.”