Guarded By the Wolf: Werewolf Romance

by Luna Lucas

  She leaned up and instantly regretted it. She’d expected to be sore. She hadn’t quite expected it to be that sore.

  “Aaaggghhhhh….”

  Her body was stiff. She felt like if she made too quick of a move, she might pull something. Slowly, gingerly, she got up from the bed. She didn’t even realize that she was still dirty from the day before.

  She hobbled out of the bedroom into the apartment.

  David was outside, looking freshly showered with a pair of athletic shorts and nothing on his chest. He glanced back at her with a big goofy grin.

  “Morning, sweetheart,” he said, holding some cash and looking towards the door.

  “Morning. What are you doing?”

  “I made breakfast,” he said, and someone knocked on the door. He opened it to reveal a pizza guy. The pizza guy blinked in surprise after seeing David’s sculpted chest.

  “Oh, you’re-you’re The Celtic!”

  “Guilty as charged.” He exchanged the money for the pizza box. Although she couldn’t see what he’d paid, she was sure that David had given a healthy tip. He always did.

  “Hey, man, can I have a selfie with you?”

  David managed a fake smile. “Sure.”

  The pizza guy snapped a quick snapshot and scurried away after thanking David. He turned towards her, and once again, Adrianna’s breath was taken away. It was hard to see his muscularity beneath a shirt, but he was rippling with muscles. He had a boxer’s super-fit body.

  “You cooked, huh?” She smirked. “Where’s Ellie?”

  “Still sleeping.” He pecked her on the lips. “Are you sore?”

  “You have no idea.”

  He winked affectionately. “Oh, trust me, I know. I know.”

  They went to the dinner table and popped open the box. The smell of freshly made pizza wafted into the room. Adrianna’s stomach grumbled.

  “Do you want to wake Ellie up?” she asked. “I really want to see her.”

  “She’s exhausted.” He pulled a piece away and bit into it. “She’s had a long week. There’s plenty of time, especially since you’re not going to be working for the agency for a while.”

  She grabbed a slice and sat down next to him. “I’m happy about it. I can’t think of anything that could be better. Stone got us off easy.”

  “How did he even do that?”

  She shrugged loosely. “He’s got all kinds of connections. I’m not going to ask.”

  “Scared?”

  “You bet I am.” She winked playfully. After all the stress of the past few days, she was feeling even more genial than normal. “I think it’ll be a while before we go out on a nice dinner without Ellie.”

  “Any dinner with you is romantic.”

  “Even this one?”

  “Especially this one.”

  Adrianna was still trying to fully register that everything had turned out all right. Sure, Stone had probably sent an email listing out a bunch of stuff to punish them. Community service. Training classes. All that stuff. But compared to the other options that Adrianna was afraid of? Nothing.

  So, with Ellie snoozing in the other room and with fresh pizza between her and David, Adrianna felt a sense of peace come over her.

  “Hey Dave,” she said, calling him Dave instead of David for the first time.

  His eyebrow raised. “Ads.”

  “This was a stressful last couple of days.”

  “You could say that.”

  “So…. what now?” she asked.

  He chewed thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing. “We plan our wedding, I guess.”

  Part of Adrianna wanted to stay in that moment forever. She wanted to freeze time and never let this moment end. But another part of her was ready for the future and whatever it might bring. She had a feeling that life would reach depths of happiness that she hadn’t ever known. She knew it wouldn’t be easy. She knew life probably still had some curve balls waiting for them.

  But she would be there with Ellie and David to face the obstacles.

  And she could not imagine anything else she would rather do.

  THE END

  Word-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed the book, please take the time to leave a review on Amazon. Even if it’s just a sentence or two. It would make all the difference and would be very much appreciated.

  Click this link to leave a review on Amazon:

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4EDCZE

  Want to know what happened with David and Adrianna after The Innocent Fighter?

  Get a FREE epilogue to The Innocent Fighter when you join my VIP Reader’s List (sign up below). After joining, receive sneak peaks at new books and book covers, engage in contests and giveaways, and find out about upcoming book promotions.

  Sign up for my VIP Reader’s List here:

  http://eepurl.com/cjofjL

  Visit Joli Torres on Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/Joli-Torres-1797364100536347

  About Author – Joli Torres

  My name is Joli Torres, and I am a new author on the writing scene. I live in a sleepy Southern beach town on the Gulf of Mexico with my lively two-year-old boy, who I love to spend most of my day with. I also love to travel and surf when I get the chance. At night, when my son goes to sleep, I love to write. Writing provides me with a little escapism from my day, and I hope my writing can do the same for you.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Did you like reading these two books? Do you want to read more about Adrianna and David? Let me know, because I’m trying to decide whether or not to do a third book to make this a trilogy. Do you have ideas for which way you’d like the next book to go? Should they get married already?!? Help me out…I really want to hear what fans of this series want to have happen. Give me some inspiration. Please either join my Exclusive Reader’s List or just go to my Facebook fan page to comment on what you’d like to have happen next. Maybe I could even use some of your names or ideas in the next book! If I don’t hear from you, I’ll know to start on a different series. If I do, we’ll keep this couple and their adventures going for as long as you like! Please click on one of the links below to continue this adventure with me. Thank you!

  Sign up for my VIP Reader’s List here:

  http://eepurl.com/cjofjL

  Visit Joli Torres on Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/Joli-Torres-1797364100536347

  BONUS BOOK 4 Description

  Vampire Quest

  By: Luna Lucas

  A Paranormal Romance Novella

  Book Description:

  I wasn’t sure if vampires really existed…until I met Colby.

  It all started with an assignment to write a paper for my college mythology class. Who knew it was going to lead me down a road with a real vampire, and a hot one at that.

  I know it’s dangerous for me to spend my time with him but that’s part of the attraction.

  Now I think I’m in over my head. I’m stuck with him and his coven until it’s safe for me to return home…if I even get to. Will I make it out of here alive? And if I do, will I ever be the same?

  AUTHOR’S NOTE:

  This is a short story of about 10K words. The included romantic suspense bonus book is longer, 25K words. Hope you enjoy!

   Copyright 2017 by Kenzo Publishing - All rights reserved.

  In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document by either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited, and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

  Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

  Vampire Quest

  By: Luna Lucas

  Chapter One

  He was a mere silhouette that moved so swiftly, he was almost a blur in the darkness. Still, Megan caught a glimpse of his left heel. The melancholy of the street was set off by the backdrop
of a captivating full moon, which seemed to drown everything in an overbearing sorrow. Yet it ignited the earlier rainfall to glisten like diamonds against the otherwise mundane concrete. She could smell the pizzeria close by. Its mouthwatering aroma made her stomach growl. She couldn’t remember what she’d eaten that morning.

  Turning away from the temptation, she dashed into the rather shady alleyway. A brief wind kicked up, blowing up bits of trash that danced along beside her. She tucked her blonde hair back over her ears and took a minute to search. She was quite sure she had seen his silhouette come this way.

  It wasn’t enough that she had sacrificed her social life and sanity for this research; now she was alone in an alleyway and could possibly get murdered. And it was all thanks to a college paper she was writing for her mythology class.

  She could hear her mother’s words ringing inside her head. The condescending tone bounced around her brain like a shout echoing inside a cave. “Oh, Megan, always with the paranormal stuff. A girl your age should be searching for make-up and boyfriends, not ghouls and ghosts.” She had dismissed her mother with a slight shrug. Twenty-four years of living with the woman and her mother still didn’t understand her. If she had listened, she would probably be home asleep. It must have been at least twelve, or a little later than that by the time she went bounding after him.

  A sudden clattering noise erupted through the silence. Megan raced toward where she’d heard the harsh sound. Two, tin trash cans had been tossed to the ground. There was no one in sight, but she knew that he had done this. A shadow brushed past her peripheral vision. She whipped around just in time to see blazing gunfire from the darkness. She was tackled by some unknown force. Air was forced from her lungs as her back met with the cold concrete.

  “Don’t move,” a raspy, male voice demanded. Megan stayed stone-still until the stranger leaped from behind her. Megan quickly backed herself up against the brick wall. The stranger met his attacker in the open where moonlight could fall upon their faces. The tips of the stranger’s long, dark hair glided across his forehead as he effortlessly knocked the gun from his attacker’s hand.

  The attacker, however, was prepared for close combat. Out from his jacket, he pulled a long, sharp dagger with a jagged blade. The attacker’s movements were swift and calculated. The dagger nicked across the stranger’s chin. Drops of blood fell from the wound and hit the ground. He didn’t even flinch, even as the dagger threatened to cut him again.

  As the attacker made another swing, the stranger grabbed his arm, thrust it back, and tossed the guy on the pavement. Suddenly, something zoomed out from the darkness. He sidestepped to his left. The object missing him by mere inches. His sharp, evergreen eyes stared toward Megan. “Run!” he yelled. Megan heard his orders, but she sat frozen. He was beside her in less than a second. He grabbed her arm and practically dragged her down the alley with him.

  He moved at an incredible speed. Megan struggled to keep up with him. Her heart beating uncontrollably, she needed to stop for water and air before her lungs exploded. “What’s happening?” she cried through gasps.

  “They’ve found us,” he said.

  “Who?” she asked but received no response.

  At last, he stopped for a moment. In a single movement, he unexpectedly lifted her onto his back. Wind whipped through Megan’s hair as he continued to hurry down the alleyway. He turned so many corners that Megan was completely lost as to where they were. Behind them, she heard a stampede of heavy footfalls.

  “Stay down!” he ordered, as he bolted through a door littered with graffiti. The door easily gave way. The place was dark. Rave music blared from upstairs. He wasted no time intruding into the party.

  Megan slipped off his back as they disappeared into the crowd. The place was crawling with teenagers getting drunk and fornicating to distasteful techno music. The stranger took Megan’s hand and placed it on his shoulder. They started dancing as his eyes searched the crowd.

  “Who are you?” Megan shouted over the music.

  “Colby Ferguson,” he said. “And I might ask the same of you.”

  “Megan Peters.”

  “What are you doing out here, Megan Peters?”

  “I’m a college student writing a paper about vampires for my mythology class.”

  He stopped and stared at her. “Still doesn’t explain why you’re out here,” he said.

  “I’m here to follow you. I saw you, and you can’t deny it. You’re a vampire, aren’t you?”

  He let out a boisterous laugh. “How charmed am I to be caught by the likes of you,” he said.

  Megan blinked. He crept closer to her and whispered in her ear, “You have no idea what you just got yourself into.”

  Megan backed away from him to study his unreadable expression. Suddenly shots rang out into the crowd. Screams of panic echoed around the room. People started knocking each other down as they rushed for the exit. Many of the fallen scrambled to get up. Some got trampled as people clawed their way through the chaos.

  The attackers wore hooded sweatshirts. Each one had a pistol in hand. Colby yanked Megan’s arm, and she ran with him opposite the crowd. They raced toward a window in the back room. Jumping out of that window, they landed onto the rooftop. Hurrying down a service ladder, they ended up going through the garage next door. Bullets bounced off objects behind them.

  “What do they think pistols are going to do to a vampire?” asked Megan.

  “Those are no ordinary bullets. They are specially designed to kill vamps,” answered Colby as they rushed into a storage-like room. It was dark and a bit cramped. They hid behind a few stacked boxes.

  “What are we going to do?” she asked.

  Colby didn’t have a chance to answer her. The door flew open, and two attackers came in. Megan threw her hand over her mouth to suffocate a scream.

  “I think they came this way!” shouted one of the men. After he had spoken, multiple flashlights lit up the small space. Megan’s heart was beating so loudly, she swore they’d be able to hear it. The men started knocking down boxes and turning over the other junk in the room.

  When they came to where Colby and Megan were hiding, the two jumped out from their hiding spot. Bullets erupted, lodging themselves into boxes, walls, and any other surface that stood still. Colby moved with such speed and grace that Megan wasn’t sure exactly what happened. One by one, the attackers fell to the floor, and the shooting ceased. When it was over, Colby stood breathless. He looked at Megan for a moment, then they heard clapping from behind them.

  “Well done, Colby,” said the lanky figure, standing in the doorway. “We’ve been tracking you for a long time,” he continued.

  Colby gazed at the man. His face showed a piercing expression of pure hate. Megan hadn’t seen a look like that before, especially plastered on someone with perfectly symmetrical features.

  “Landon Mallory, I should have known that you were behind this,” growled Colby.

  “Only the best to track you down. Don’t worry about your little coven. I have a feeling they won’t be joining this party,” laughed Landon.

  “What have you done!”

  “No sense in telling you. It won’t matter anyway.”

  A flash of radiant, hazel eyes and a bushel of curly, brown hair was all Megan could make out of this stranger Colby called Landon. The gun was raised, and in the blink of an eye, Colby was shot six times. The bullets struck his chest and exploded from the inside. Tiny spikes pierced his heart. He hadn’t been joking when he said the bullets were special.

  Colby toppled to the cement floor. His dark, red blood oozed out of him. “Colby!” Megan screamed. Her eyes were wild with fear as she realized she was now alone and trapped. Landon held the gun directly toward Megan. The barrel lined up between her eyes. Megan’s body grew stiff and her hands numb. Dear God, don’t let me die this way, she prayed silently.

  Her thoughts raced; she thought of her mother and all of her friends. A sickening feeling bubbled in the
pit of her stomach. Her knees grew weak, and she hoped to pass out so she would not feel the intense pain that was to come. She backed herself into a corner and waited for him to pull the trigger.

  “I don’t remember seeing such a pretty thing like you. Oh well; doesn’t matter.” There was a slight pause as if he might have been considering against it. But then…

  “Bye, bye,” he sang, giving a stomach-turning, high-pitched laugh. The noise was echoing off the walls and ceiling. It was the last thing she could remember before she shut her eyes tightly. A shot rang out and caused her ears to ring. She didn’t remember feeling the pain, but she felt herself collapsed on the floor. She was still very aware and couldn’t figure out why. She opened her eyes just a bit and saw a black shape move across her line of vision. She couldn’t remember anything else before she passed out.

  Chapter Two

  12 Hours Earlier:

  The cloudy sky was dark with the threat of rain. Megan raced, flagging down a white and blue bus before it took off. Breathless, she paid the bus fee and took a seat near the back. Megan was fortunate enough to receive admittance to her dream school. Unfortunately, living in a big city meant driving was out of the question. Insurance alone all but killed her. So she did what any other big city girl did: she took the bus.

  Which had always smelled like sweat, gas, and despair. Today, it was the latter. Except for the woman two seats behind her, who must have used an entire bottle of perfume before she left her house. The perfume was sweet and nearly sickly. Thank God her stop was coming up. She pulled the yellow cord above the window, and a tiny bell rang. The bus came to a halt with a high-pitched squeal at the next stop.

  Megan shuffled through the crowd. At last, she got to the double doors, and they opened for her. She walked down the stairs and up the sidewalk; she could see her school from there. The massive, brick monument with its off-green roof and great, big windows. The American flag stood and flew proudly out front. Hundreds of students were already milling around the campus. Megan stood just outside the large gate. She could read the name of the school clearly: Roosevelt’s Preparatory Academy. She felt her heart race with excitement. “Mythology 101, here I come!” she said to herself as she walked inside the bustling school.