The Challenge (The Pack Book 2)

by Kristin Coley

  “You’re not…” she broke off, shaking her head.

  “I’m not him,” Trent finished for her and she yanked her arm from his hold, running straight for the forest as he stared after her.

  I was contemplating backing away when Trent glanced over at me, “I know you’re there, Jess. I can smell you.”

  “Should I be offended by that?” I asked, shuffling toward him, my arms crossed over my chest.

  “No,” he replied, his gaze haunted as he stared at the spot where Anna had disappeared. “The eavesdropping though,” he glanced at me and I shrugged.

  “No one tells me anything,” I defended myself and he smiled bitterly.

  “Maybe so,” he finally murmured his hands moving restlessly.

  I scuffed my toe against the concrete, ducking my head as I offered him a sucker I’d stashed in my pocket. He took it with a muttered thanks as I cast a sideways glance at him.

  “Spit it out,” he grumbled, unwrapping the sucker.

  “You told me once before that Anna was special. Rare.” I stared at where she’d run. “I don’t think I understood.” I glanced at him. “Can you explain?”

  The sucker rolled from one cheek to the other before he nodded. “I was fifteen when I was cast out of my Pack. I wandered all over the country. Met a lot of wolves. Visited a lot of packs.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Only met one female shifter though.” He popped the sucker out of his mouth, pointing it in the direction Anna had gone. “At least, until her.”

  “Maybe the other packs hid their female shifters?” I offered, lifting one shoulder and he shook his head.

  “Nah, they’re rare. Special,” he confided, his eyes cutting toward me. “The one I met was kind. She offered me a place in her pack.”

  I stilled at his words, my gaze jerking to his face and he smiled.

  “Yeah, you heard me right. The only female shifter I’ve ever come across was the Alpha of her pack.”

  The words echoed in my head as I stared at him, his persistence that Anna was more, that she was better, taking on a new meaning.

  “She’s not meant to be an Alpha’s mate,” Trent stated, his expression almost reverent. “She’s meant to rule.”

  I stuffed my hands in my pockets, the night air suddenly chilly, and Trent nudged me back toward my room. I spun around as I came to the corner and declared, “She doesn’t know.”

  Trent shook his head, his gaze straying back to the forest. “None of them know, except for Dom.”

  I nodded, my head bowed as I made my way back to my room, thoughts spinning. I climbed back through the window, stopping short at the sight of the huge black wolf lounging in the middle of my bed, his golden eyes watchful as they pierced the darkness.

  I padded over, curling next to him, my fingers digging into his fur as I warned, “You better be gone before he wakes up.” He chuffed as I wiggled closer. “I’m serious. He keeps the rifle loaded over his bed.” He whined, nuzzling me, and I closed my eyes with a sigh. He relaxed, his head propped against mine as I considered everything that had happened and the possibilities of what tomorrow would bring as I drifted into an exhausted sleep.

  Ready for the conclusion to Jess and Dom’s story?

  The Alpha is coming November 30th.

  Continue reading for a sneak peek.

  Sneak Peek

  “It’s not safe, Jess. Not anymore.” Dom ran his hand through his hair, staring at me firmly. “You need to go. Get away from here and start college. Be a teenager.”

  I rolled my eyes, ignoring him as usual. “You’re going to give me a complex, Dom,” I said sweetly. “Or whiplash with the way you keep changing your mind.”

  “I want you to be safe,” he groaned, dropping to his knees in front of me. “Can’t you understand?”

  “What I understand is that you should get on your knees more often, and also, I’m not going anywhere.” I shoved his shoulders, not even rocking him slightly as I scooted past him. He turned to follow my path as I headed into the apartment’s kitchen, my stomach rumbling. “Do we have any cookies left?” I mused, tapping my chin.

  “Jess,” Dom said forcefully and I spared him a glance.

  “Not going,” I said pithily.

  A knock on the door interrupted him from whatever he was about to say and I went over to it, not bothering to check the peephole with Dom right behind me.

  I yanked it open and blinked at the person standing in front of me. “What are you doing here?” I asked brusquely and her lips made a small moue of disappointment.

  “Is that anyway to speak to your mother?”

  Author’s Note

  I hope you enjoyed The Challenge! (Shhhh…..I think I love this one even more than the first book!) The Alpha is coming soon and with it, I’ll be wrapping up this amazing community of shifters and the humans that protect them.

  I’m the first to admit I love the characters I write. It’s my favorite thing about writing….the dialogue, the snappy comebacks, which I can never seem to manage in real life, and the relationships they build. My head sometimes feels like a continuous loop of movies playing where I hit pause and frantically try to write it all down.

  You can reach me on Facebook or on my website www.kristincoley.com and sign up for my newsletter for any upcoming new releases.

  If you have a moment, I’d love for you to leave a review. Reviews help readers decide if they want to try a new book/author and I appreciate the honest feedback.

  Happy Reading!

  Other books by Kristin Coley:

  Hidden Truths (5 book series)- High school senior, Addie, never expected her unique 'gift' to lead her to a missing student, but when it does she's thrown into the middle of a dangerous drug war. Now, she's forced to work with a gorgeous (and completely off limits) detective to discover the truth before it kills them both.

  Their reluctant alliance will reveal more than either could have anticipated as Addie's ability leads them to a dangerous showdown and a shocking betrayal.

  The Trinity Sisters Trilogy - Three powerful sisters. Three men born to protect them. The fate of magic lies in their hands.

  Unbound - Sinclair: The oldest of her three sisters, she remembered the night they were torn apart with an aching clarity. She's spent years fighting to find the sisters she lost and bring them back together, but it's a chance meeting with a stranger that leads her to the destiny she had no idea of.

  Found - Kincaid: The middle child and a powerful seer, she's been waiting years for the arrival of her oldest sister. However, it's the sudden appearance of a man who knows too much that catches her off guard. He awakens a truth in her she never anticipated, but is he there to save her or kill her?

  Unite - Quinn: The youngest and the strongest of them all, she has no clue about her ability or the prophecy she must play her part in. Only the unfailing love of her childhood sweetheart will keep her safe as she discovers her sisters and the dark destiny they must face.

  Charming Jane (Reverse Harem) – When Jane finds herself stranded in an unfamiliar city for the summer; she’s rescued by three gorgeous men.

  Playboy Ian.

  Ruthless Michael.

  Bodyguard Buster.

  As a hot summer in the decadent city of New Orleans brings them closer, Jane realizes she wants all three of them. With her guys haunted by past betrayal, can Jane have the happily ever after she craves?

  The Anderson Brothers - A teen pregnancy knocks life off course for Hannah. When she decides not to tell her boyfriend about the pregnancy a chain of events are set in motion that no one could have predicted. The bond between brothers will be tested as secrets become known and a new love is found.

  Summer Escape - Abbi was looking for a summer away from her demanding younger siblings. Any escape would do. Playing housekeeper for the spoiled son of one of her stepfather’s business associates?

  Piece of cake.

  John West was country music royalty with a list of hits a mile long. His face
was instantly recognizable around the globe. With the exception of his new housekeeper.

  A minor irritation.

  They were about to discover one summer can change everything.