by Unknown
Pallas could go suck it if he thought he’d leave her to drown. Heck, as if he’d leave anyone to die. Ian was here to learn to fight, not to become a cold blooded killer.
The vampire stood on the other side of the room. He scanned the crowd of forty-seven shifters packed like sardines with some sitting on tables and others on the floor. The bloodsucker actually smiled, sending ice water chills through Ian’s veins. What had made Pallas so cheery? Probably had eaten one of the hunters for breakfast.
Ian picked at the white threads lining a hole in his jeans, making it bigger. He wished the vampire would decide who went home before he flipped the fuck out.
Clare laid her small hand over his. Her strength poured into him soothing his frayed nerves.
Pallas lifted a form above his head so everyone could see it. “This is a pack registration form. If we don’t file by tomorrow, the sheriff will be forced to call Homeland Security to remove us from the area. For any group of shifters to live together, a pack must take shape. For a pack to take shape you need an alpha.”
Sharp pain daggered through Ian’s hand as Clare dug her nails into his flesh. “Take it easy, babe.” He pried her fingers open. “There will be other packs.”
She bared her teeth at him. “But I want this one.”
“I’m calling for nominations.” The vampire turned in a slow circle.
Penny jumped to her feet. “Clare.”
Blain was right behind her. “Ian.” Two others on his team, Yanis and Veronica, joined in Blain’s vote.
Ian jerked his head back. He must have made some impression last night.
Darrell and Julia, another red teammate, rose. “Clare.”
Ian and Clare glanced at each other. Guess they weren’t going home after all? Ian lifted his hand for silence. “Is anyone else going to pick another name?” He waited but no one offered another candidate. “If not, I’d like to announce that Clare and I are a mated couple.”
The room went dead silent.
Pallas folded his arms. “Last call for any others?” His voice sounded like gravel.
Ian smirked at the vampire. Nobody offered another choice.
“Fine. Ian and Clare will be the alpha couple listed on the pack form.” He eyed them. “This is an honorary title. You still answer to me while you live under this roof. Got me?”
Hands intertwined, they nodded. “So no one is going home tonight?”
Pallas shook his head. “I didn’t say that.” Police lights flashed in the distance as the sheriff’s car pulled into the long driveway. “But none of them are shifters.” He grinned at Ian. “I have a couple hunters begging to go home in the basement.”
On time, the sheriff pulled up to the manor as Pallas waited on the porch. He waited for her to climb out of the vehicle. She didn’t come out guns a blazing, as his brother Daedalus had predicted. He ran his hand over his mouth to suppress his delight. “Sheriff Lee, glad you responded to my call.” He’d been looking forward to seeing her all evening.
“You.” She rested her hand on her gun. He didn’t doubt she’d be a fast draw and resisted the temptation to test her skill. “You broke into my office.”
“I did, but not for nefarious reasons.” He held his arms away from his body to show he was unarmed. Not that it mattered. In one hand he held the registration forms. “I needed these. Since we were given an ultimatum with a short time frame, I had to resort to desperate measures.” A blush formed on her cheeks, softening her stern expression. Out of practice, he tried to smile. He made sure to keep his lips together like Sugar, Daedalus’ sweet wife, had suggested. “Maybe you can leave me with a number I can reach at night to avoid any future misunderstandings?”
She climbed the stairs until they stood face to face. “You’re a vampire.”
“You’re a human.” He widened his smile, revealing his fangs. Fuck Sugar. He’d flirt in his own manner. If the good police officer couldn’t stand the sight of him then so be it.
“You don’t look like any other vampire I’ve seen.” She ran her gaze over his face, focusing on his ears.
He relaxed his stance and tilted his head so she could examine him better. “I’m not an elf.”
She snorted.
He shot her a sharp glare.
She didn’t even flinch. “You could be a dead one.”
With a crisp nod, he stepped closer. “I’m from a very…exclusive clan. There aren’t many of us.” Luckily for the world. He’d been forbidden from enchanting humans. Was told there wasn’t any need for it anymore. Well, he’d test their theory.
She stood her ground. “You fight well.”
“So do you.” Her scent filled his nose and it didn’t taste of fear. She plucked the forms from his hand and flipped through the pages. “Looks like everything is in order. I’ll deliver them to the courthouse in the morning.”
“I’d also like to hand over some trespassers.” He signaled a couple of shifters in the manor who escorted his guests outside.
Both human hunters had their hands tied behind their backs, gazes pointed to the ground, and mouths shut tight. He’d promised personal home visits if they gave the sheriff a hard time. Soon word would spread that this pack was under his protection. Let the little people of this town quake in fear of his presence.
She eyed them with a firm frown. “Why are they tied?”
He gestured to the rifles leaning against the manor. “They were hunting on my land, which is clearly marked No Trespassing and it’s the second time I’ve caught them hunting for wolves.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “Wolf hunting is illegal in this state, gentlemen. Let’s take a ride to my office where we can chat.”
Pallas escorted the two to her vehicle.
She opened the passenger side door. “You too. I’ll need a statement.”
“I just gave you one.”
“I need a signed statement to make an official charge of trespassing and to investigate. Otherwise it will be your word against theirs if this goes to court.” She whispered so the hunters wouldn’t hear.
“I’m not a fool. My statement won’t matter to your judges.” He pushed the passenger door closed. “Keep your people away from here.” He leaned close enough to share her air and let his eyes go dark. “For their safety, Sheriff Lee.”
This time she did flinch. Not made of stone after all.
He took her by the elbow and guided her to the driver side. “About that number?”
She shrugged out of his hold. “The office has an answering service. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you…You didn’t give me your name.”
He bowed to her. “You may call me Pallas .”
Continue the series with A Taste of Shifter Geekdom!
Want to read where the Vanguards began? Click Here to see the whole series.
A Taste of Shifter Geekdom
Darrell is a weapons geek.
Guns, knives, nunchakus, throwing stars, he’s deadly with all of them.
While all seems set for him to pass his upcoming boot camp armory exam, life quickly becomes complicated when curvy, outspoken Julia invades his personal space.
If she doesn’t pass the weapons test, she’ll be sent home and forced into an arranged mating.
That will happen over his dead body.
He has three days to teach her, but she can’t hit the side of a barn in broad daylight with a laser guided missile.
To make matters worse, her intended mate makes an unannounced visit.
He’s rich and suave. Everything Darrell isn’t.
Pity Darrell is determined to get in the way of his plans.
Published 2015
Copyright by Annie Nicholas
Cover design by J. Hemmington
Edited by LB Briggs
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise—except in the case of brief quotations em
bodied in critical articles or reviews--without the prior written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America
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About the Author
Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon’s ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont.
Annie writes for Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, and Lyrical Press.
www.annienicholas.com
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Books by Annie Nicholas
Vanguard Elite
Bootcamp of Misfit Wolves
A Taste of Shifter Geekdom (Releasing Jan. 10, 2016)
Blind Wolf Bluff (Releasing April 2016)
The Angler series
Bait (Free)
Catch
Hunting Colby
Release
Chronicles of Eorthe
Scent of Salvation
Scent of Valor
Scent of a Scandal
The Vanguards series
The Omegas
The Alpha
The Beta
Omegas in Love
Sigma
Prima
Lake City Series
Ravenous (Free)
Starved for Love
Sinful Cravings
Stand Alone Books
Irresistible
Koishi
No Refuge
Boarded (Releasing Feb 2016)
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