I stood up slowly, my attention moving to Owen, who looked as confused and exhausted as I felt, before moving to Dante, who appeared as calm and collected as always.
Something isn’t right.
“One more time, where are my Pack members?”
“You think knowing...will stop...what has already...begun?” Michael laughed. The noise, so raw and inhuman, made my hackles rise. “You’re too late, mongrels.”
One swift movement and Carter had Michael’s head between his shaking hands. “It’s never too late.”
“Brave words for the man...who didn’t even know...we lived in his back garden...and for so long.”
The tension running in Carter’s arms gave away how close he was to changing. The fact that he hadn’t already ripped Michael’s head from his body just proved how much control he actually had.
“Carter?” Dante said softly, yet firmly, as he walked over and unclipped the suitcase in his hand.
“I have something very special planned for you.” Carter dropped his hands from Michael’s head as he stood, then reached into the case.
“Look familiar?” he asked, holding up one of the daggers Graham had removed from Owen.
Michael simply smiled.
“Scott, take him to the basement. I will be with you in one minute.”
Scott stepped forward, yanking Michael up by the chain. The press of metal caused another hiss to pass his lips. Moving his hand to Michael’s arm, Scott dragged him forward, walking him toward the house.
“Oh. By the way….” Michael coughed, twisting away from Scott so he could look at us. The skin on his face began to tighten as his black eyes smiled at us. “Marie thanks you for the gift you sent her.”
“Get him in the house,” Carter growled at the same time another bout of anxiety rolled through me.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Owen asked, walking toward us.
My gut suddenly went cold as Carter slowly looked back at me, the silver of his eyes fading.
I sighed. “Heather is in Italy, isn’t she?”
“You knew she was leaving.”
I rubbed my hands over my face, praying I would be able to rub away the exhaustion and irritation weighing me down. “Yeah, but I didn’t think she would leave so soon.” At least, not until she had healed a bit more, or until I could check on her. “And she definitely didn’t say she was leaving to go to Italy. How long has she been over there?”
“Only three and a half days, but she had other reasons.”
I looked at him, knowing full well I wouldn’t like what he had to say.
“A letter arrived from Sofia. It contained a plane ticket.”
“Shit.” Of all the things he could have said, it had to contain the fucking S word.
Without another word, I turned around and jogged back to my truck.
“Brendan?” Carter’s voice rolled over me, causing my muscles to tense until I came to a stop.
I turned and looked at him.
“Before the letter arrived, she told me she thought Eve, Flynn, and Phil may have been taken over to Marie.”
“Why didn’t you mention this sooner?” Owen asked.
“Because it’s a hunch. Heather believes that since Marie is connected to this Vampire, Marko, and since Marko is the one who wanted her in the facility….”
“She thinks he is bringing his research closer to home, but not to his doorstep,” I finished, rubbing my temples. “Does Maximo know? Has he given permission?”
“I called him straightaway. He gave his permission this morning.”
“Then I need to go.”
“Brendan, you’re in no condition.”
“I need to go, Carter.”
He looked at me. Something flickered across his face for the briefest of moments before he turned to look at Thomas. “Tom, I need you to give Brendan a ride to the airport.”
“No problem,” Thomas replied, walking toward us.
“She went to look for Marie, but she has been keeping a lookout in case her hunch turns out to be true,” Carter said, looking back at me. “So far, nothing has come up.”
“You’ve spoken to her?”
“She checks in every morning.”
The small piece of information made me feel idiotically relieved. “Is she okay?”
“Yes. Maximo has instructed one of his Pack to be with her at all time.”
My Wolf growled. Relief gone. I definitely needed to go, and right now. The idea that another Werewolf was hanging around with her.... Just a precaution. It’s just a precaution, and just so both Carter and Maximo feel better with someone keeping an eye on her. It makes perfect sense...Fuck sense.
I dug in my pocket and threw my truck keys to Thomas as he walked past.
“The moment you hear anything, you call. We will be right behind you,” Owen said, his expression darkening.
I suddenly felt torn looking at him. Needing to go, but wanting to stay. Fucking shared feelings.
I took a deep breath and peered at him. “I know you will. Now go see Clare; let her know you’re okay.”
Turning around, I jogged gently down the drive. My muscles screamed as exhaustion hammered at me. God, I’m so fucking tired.
“Brendan?” Carter called from behind me. Suppressing a growl, I stopped at the gate and glanced at him. “Italy is another Pack’s territory. You’re a guest; make sure that you are a polite one.”
God, I hope he told Heather that.
To be continued . . .
Blood Series: Book Two
Coming Summer 2015
She-Wolf
Blood Series Prequel
Blurb:
Dealing with the Rogue Werewolves terrorizing his Pack? Simple.
Trying to convince his mate he does want to be with her? Bloody impossible.
Owen MacLaren is the Alpha's son and the Pack's second, and he has never been one to let anything get to him. So when a bunch of Rogues begin purposely dumping mutilated bodies around the Pack Keep, he is more than ready to deal with the Werewolves responsible.
But one night off and a trip to a local strip joint for a colleague's stag night changes things, and Owen soon discovers he isn't immune to everything....
Being an independent Loup and travelling the world? Easy.
Having to come home and face the Werewolf who broke her young heart? Challenging.
After five years away, Clare Walker finds herself back home in Scotland, working in a strip club. The tips are decent, and she gets to dance, but it isn't a place she thought she would ever be, let alone Owen, her Pack second and the mate she has always desired.
Although Owen is determined to prove he wants to be with Clare, things can't go smoothly between them, not when they have past issues to sort out and a bunch of unusual ‘Rogues’ to deal with.
This title contains explicit language, violence, and graphic sex.
Available at most online retailers. Also available in print.
Blood Series Glossary
Characters
Werewolves
The United Pack
(In order of dominance)
Carter MacLaren – Alpha
Owen MacLaren
Clare Walker
Dante MacLaren
Brendan Daniels
Scott Miller
Eve Miller
Solomon Whelan
Dabria Whelan
Graham Riley
Richard Jones
Thomas Walker
John MacLaren
May MacLaren
Philippe Bianchini
Alcander Linard
Christopher Jones
Flynn Riley
Katharine Jones
The Italian Pack
Maximo Valentini – Alpha
Rogues
Gideon McKeller +
Vampires
Ancients
Marko Pavel
The Italian Colony
Marie Mancinelli – Colony Leader
/> Luca Mancinelli +
The United Colony
Michael Kirk – Colony Leader
Antonio Ferrari +
Carlson Archer +
Constance Lombardi
Jackson Dean +
Kane Enfield +
Katrina Cowan +
Lance Mason +
Slayers
Alexandra (Alexis) Ryan +
Bernard Renaud
Catherine Renaud
Danielle Renaud
Dorian Ryan +
Heather Ryan – First Born Infected
Jean-Louis Renaud +
Sofia Renaud – Clairvoyant +
Terms
Alpha - Dominant Werewolf: Leader of the Pack
Ancient – The eldest known Vampires
Baptize - Term used by Vampires; Vampires baptize Infecteds with their blood in order to turn the Infecteds into Vampires
Bad Blood - Werewolf term for a Were who is deemed unstable for any number of reasons
Blood Bonded - Vampire connection through blood: Bond between Maker and Bloodling
Blood House – A Vampire Nest with human occupants
Bloodlings – A Makers term for the Vampires they create
Bonded - Werewolf connection through blood: Only between mates
Bonding Ritual - Werewolf ceremony: blood bond made between two mated Werewolves
Clairvoyant - An individual who is able to perceive events in the future
Colony - Group of Vampires (aka nest)
Generations – The different ages of Vampires created after Marko Pavel
Glamour - Vampire trick; First Three Generations of Vampires are able to take hold of animals and humans minds and therefore control them
Infected – A human who has the Vampyrric Virus
Initiation - Blood ceremony to welcome new Werewolves/Loup-Garous to the Pack
Leech(es) – Term used by the Werewolves in regards to Vampires
Loup-Garou – Female offspring of a male Werewolf
Maker – The term for a Vampire who turns a human
Master – Male Maker
Mate - Werewolf term for Soul-mates/The One
Mated - Physical connection between two Werewolves
Mating Process - Werewolf version of dating; intense process which involves the couple having to challenge any other interested parties, announcing themselves as mates to the Pack, mating, and gaining permission off Alpha to be bonded
Mistress – Female Maker
Monkshood - Poisonous to Werewolves (aka. Wolfsbane)
Nest - Group of Vampires (aka. Colony)
Pack - Group of Werewolves
Premonition - A strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant
Pure Blood - Term used for a born Werewolf or Loup-Garou
Second-sight – The ability to see future or distant events; clairvoyance
Shift - First Three Generations of Vampires are able to shift into an unknown form
Shifter – A human who is able to shift from their human form to an animal of their choice
Silver - Type of metal: Harmful to Vampires and Werewolves
Slayer – A person who hunts and kills Vampires
Strigoii – A Romanian Vampire
Vampire – A species that is commonly known for drinking its victim’s blood
Vampyrric Virus – The mutation that starts the first stage of being turned into a Vampire
Venom – Poison contained in Vampires saliva & blood, which kills its victims
Werewolf – An individual who is able to shift in to a half-form; combination of woman/man and wolf
Were-gene – The Werewolf Gene
Wolfsbane - Poisonous to Werewolves (aka.Monkshood)
Language Translations
English(Slang)
Bollocks - Nonsense/rubbish
Brick Shithouse - A person with a well developed body; implies an element of indestructibility
Cockney - London Accent
Geordie - Newcastle Accent
Gob - Spit
Got Pissed - Got Drunk
No shit - You Think?
Northerner - Individual from the North of the country
Mate - Pal/Friend
Piss Off - Get lost/go away
Pissed Off - Angry
Shite - Shit
Tattled - Told on
French
Femme - Female
Merci - Thank you
Oui - Yes
Irish
Eejit – Idiot
Italian
Bastardo – Bastard
Bella Mia - My beautiful one
Brava – Bravo
Brutta Sgualdrina – Ugly bitch
Cane - Dog
Cara Mia – My dear/honey
Contagiata - Infected/Disease
Mia - My
Piccola – Little
Puttana – Whore
Sgualdrina – A female who sleeps around/loose woman/dirty whore
Si - Yes
Ti voglio – I want you
Scottish
Aye - Yes
Bonny - Attractive/Beautiful
Laddie - Boy or Young Man
Lass(ie) - Girl or Young Woman
Pet - Term of endearment
Wee - Little
Spanish
Mi pequeña asesina - My little murderer
+ = previously deceased characters or characters who have died/been killed during the series.
Acknowledgement
I’m so thrilled to be able to re-release both Cranberry Blood and She-Wolf (Blood Series Prequel.) I personally feel that these editions are better than the original, something that wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance and support of my amazing editor and friend, Zee Monodee. Thank you for all your help and compliments in regards to this series. I’m so glad that not only have you enjoyed editing the books, but reading them, also.
Mina Carter, the creative genius behind the book covers. I really can’t say thank you enough for capturing both the feel and essence of both books. I really do love them.
Dianna Hardy, thank you for your constant support, and for helping me down the road of self-publishing. I’m too blonde for my own good sometimes, but no matter the day or hour, you have always been there to answer my silly questions. You’re a good friend and an inspiration.
Ninfa Hayes and Natalie G. Owens, thank you both for helping me out with language translations. Without you both, I’m pretty sure I would have a) made a fool out of myself and characters, and b) possibly and accidentally offended anyone who can actually speak/read Italian, Spanish, and/or French. So thank you, ladies.
Tanja Müller, my original beta reader; did you think I had forgotten about you? Never. You have read every draft of Cranberry Blood. You have always given me fantastic and honest feedback, and I am so grateful for all your scientific input. Thank you for your support. I’m sure you will be happy to know that I plan to finally start book two. I know, I know. It’s about time. Ha.
And my readers, old and new, thank you for taking a chance on my work. Thank you for your support, your comments, and your reviews; just thank you. You are truly wonderful, and I hope from the bottom of my heart that you continue to trust in my creative insanity and enjoy my stories.
About the Author
Elizabeth Morgan is a multi-published author of urban fantasy, paranormal, erotic horror, f/f, and contemporary; all with a degree of romance, a dose of action and a hit of sarcasm, sizzle or blood, but you can be sure that no matter what the genre, Elizabeth always manages to give a unique and often humorous spin to her stories.
Like her tagline says; a pick ‘n’ mix genre author. “I’m not greedy. I just like variety.”
And that she does, author of erotic ménage horror, Creak, paranormal erotic horror and UK, US & Australian Amazon best seller (Gay/Lesbian, Fiction, Lesbian), On the Rocks, erotic romance, US, UK & Spanish Amazon bestseller (Erotica Short Story) Truth or
Dare? And sweet contemporary romance, UK & US Amazon bestseller (British/Drama & Plays), Stepping Stones.
She also has her hand in self-publishing. Look out for more information on her upcoming releases at her website: e-morgan.com
Away from the computer, Elizabeth can be found in the garden trying hard not to kill her plants, or dancing around her little cottage with the radio on while she cleans, watching movies or good television programmes – Dr Who? Atlantis? The Musketeers? Heck, yes! – Or curled up with her two cats, reading a book.
For more information on Elizabeth’s work, published and upcoming, head on over to her site: http://www.e-morgan.com
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