Panic set in. She scrambled away. She had to get away from her. Ivy became a monster.
But the snow made it hard to flee on foot. She stumbled again as she tried to run. The snow beneath her feet gave way and Vanessa found herself sliding down the trail. She avoided a collision with a tree. Narrowly. Using the fall as leverage to put distance between her and the crazed woman, she ran in the direction of the house. She screamed as loudly as she could, calling out for Quinn.
Ivy’s dogs chased her, closing the distance between them in no time. She screamed in terror. One of the dogs bit her arm and shook her violently. The other got a hold of her boot. She tried to fight back but it was a futile attempt.
When she about to give up hope, three tigers leapt at her. This time, she freaked out even more. Were there tigers in Aspen?
The biggest of the three tigers pounced and yanked off her attacker. The dog howled in pain. The tigers were totally decimating her dogs. She didn’t see Ivy but a fourth dog ran away. Wolf? Were they really wolves? Nothing made sense anymore.
The tigers had saved her from the wolves’ attack.
But that wasn’t the most shocking part of all of it. The real surprise was when the biggest tiger suddenly transformed into the man she knew intimately in the past few days.
Quinn.
“Vanessa, you’re hurt,” he said in dismay.
She immediately fainted.
Chapter Five
“A shifter?”
Vanessa sat on the examination table, clutching her bandaged arm. The doctor had just finished suturing and dressing her wounds and left. Quinn was with her, fully clothed and silent. Even then, his simmering anger was still palpable.
What had happened to her in the last hour was still rather blurry. She couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that Ivy had attacked her out of jealousy, or that Ivy turned into a werewolf. Or that the man she was dating was not completely human. She hadn’t been hallucinating when she saw a tiger in her bed.
After the doctor finished treating her, Quinn began telling her the truth about himself, and his family, about the underground world where things that bumped in the night weren’t just products of fevered imaginations. It totally blew her mind.
Curious. How was it possible a man could become both human and animal? Could it be that the anomaly in human evolution existed all along? Or were mutants like in X-Men?
“So shifters really exist,” she repeated
“Yes.”
“Tiger shifters and werewolves. What about vampires? Do they exist as well?”
“I believe so.”
“Sparkly vampires or the Dracula-kind of vampires?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never met one.”
“How about elves? Do they exist too? Do they look like Lord of the Ring-type kind of elves or are they funny looking, like the ones that bake cookies in a tree? You know, like that commercial.”
Quinn came to her and held her hand. “Vanessa. Focus. We’re having an important discussion here.”
“I’m sorry. This is so freaking amazing. I had no idea cryptids existed.”
“You don’t seem upset that I’m not entirely human. I imagined the worst.”
“Upset? No.” Vanessa waved him off. “You should know me better. I think you’re very cool. What are you, Bengal? I imagine from the stripes. You fur patterns are very vivid.”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t Bengals from India? I thought you have Latino blood in you.”
“My paternal grandfather came from Assam. My mother’s family came from Chernogolovka, Siberia.”
“Ah. No wonder. Your brothers are shifters too?”
“Yes”
“What about your mother?”
“My mom came from of pure-blooded shifter family.”
“And your dad?”
“Same.”
“How about your extended family? Any of them married to a human?”
“Some. I have a half-blooded niece and a few first cousins.”
“Can they transform?”
“Transmutation genes in mixed blood don’t start until they hit puberty. But for full-blooded shifters, it triggers immediately. Weretiger babies are quite the handful. One second you cradle an infant and the next you are trying to wrangle a willful cub.”
“Oooh, that is so cute. Do you have any infant relatives we could visit?”
Quinn looked relaxed for the first time since he saved her. He seemed relieved. “No relatives, but I know a shifter couple that just had a baby.”
“Can we visit?”
“Once you get better. Not in the condition you’re in now. You’re pretty banged up.”
“This?” Vanessa snorted. “No big deal. Just some scratches. Can werewolf scratches turn you into one?”
“That’s just a myth. Werewolves bite.”
“That’s a relief. I still can’t believe Ivy is a werewolf. No wonder she’s a bitch.” She winked. “No pun intended.”
Quinn seized her and kissed her deeply. “You made me worry. I can’t take my eyes off you for one second without you getting in trouble. I’m sorry I failed to protect you. It’s my fault. I should have known better. Ivy was raised as an alpha female—an alpha female is aggressive and won’t hesitate to eliminate her competition. I didn’t think she’d go to those extremes.”
“Quinn, it’s not your fault. She’s got a loose screw. You can’t reason with that kind of person. What’s going to happen to her?”
From the four wolves that had attacked, Ivy was the only one spared. Her companions were brutally killed by John and Trent. The brothers took this incident seriously. Vanessa was glad she wasn’t mauled to death, but she wished nobody had to die.
When she came to after fainting, she’d already been strapped into a stretcher and trundled into a waiting ambulance. There were a lot people on the property. Cops, firefighters, paramedics, wildlife park rangers. And for some reason, dogs. Big, gray, scary-looking dogs. Wolves? Ugh, she couldn’t distinguish between dogs and wolves. They ain’t Chihuahuas.
Quinn came with her, riding in the ambulance, while Trent and John—still pissed-looking—gave statements to the officers.
“I talked to Jason Bishop, the alpha of the Bishop pack while we were waiting for the ambulance. He’d expressed his regrets and promised me a swift punishment for his niece. His pack is ruled by a strict code to not harm innocent bystanders. The fact you’re a human makes the matter more delicate.
“People like us prefer to keep our existence hidden from the general public. Jason didn’t tell me about Ivy’s punishment, but I think she’ll be banished from the pack and sent into exile. She won’t be a danger to you anymore, Vanessa. I’ll make sure she won’t be.”
“Don’t you think that’s kind of harsh, though? Ivy is already miserable; she can’t have you, Quinn. In times like this, she needs her family support more than ever. If her family disowns her, she could go even crazier.”
A wan smile surfaced. He stroked her hair fondly. “This is what I like about you. You have such a big heart, Vanessa.” He sighed. “I can’t dictate what Jason should do to his niece. Werewolves are proud creatures. They hate losing face. If Jason isn’t strict, he’d lose control of his pack and be replaced. The pack dynamic is quite ruthless.”
“Wow. Interesting. Who knew?”
Quinn cut his gaze to her arms. His eyes filled with anguish. This man really cared for her. She believed him when he told her he’d never made any marriage arrangement with Ivy’s uncle. Quinn was offered Ivy to marry, but he refused. He’d never been interested in that she-wolf.
Instead, Quinn chose her.
His feeling for her was real.
“Were you ever going to tell me the truth about being a shifter?” she asked.
“I was waiting for the right moment to reveal my secret.” Quinn managed to look sheepish this time, which didn’t suit him at all. “I failed to woo you in the conventional way. I told you, desperate times call for desperate measures.
When you kissed me at the New Year’s party, I thought, this was it. I won’t get another chance like this. I had to make my move now. Do you want to know what you said to me at that party?”
What she’d drunkenly mumbled that made him push her against the wall and kiss the life out of her. “What did I say?”
“Quinn, I want to be your mate.”
She widened her eyes. “No way. Why would I say ‘mate’?”
“I don’t know. Maybe your subconscious mind knew the truth: that you were to be a mate to an alpha. Or perhaps it was divine intervention. I took it as a sign. You didn’t say ‘I want to be your woman. Or girlfriend.’ You said ‘mate.’ Humans can get married and divorced, but for us, mating is forever. You belong to me, Vanessa Lyle.” He held her face and kissed her until she was breathless. “I’ll never let you go.”
“Not even to the bathroom or to the store?” she joked.
“Getting cheeky, aren’t you?” Quinn pinched her.
“Ouch.” Vanessa giggled. “Sorry, I can’t help myself. I can’t resist it each time you talk in bad poetry.”
His jaw twitched. “That’s it. You’re going to get it tonight, woman. I don’t care if your arm’s in bandages. I’m going to fuck you. And you’re going to get spanked. I won’t stop until your ass is red and—”
There was a commotion in the hallway and Quinn’s mom’s voice overrode the nurse with full authority. A second later, she burst into the examination room.
“Vanessa! Poor child! Are you all right? Were you hurt badly?” Savannah took one look at her arms and gasped. She shoved her son aside unceremoniously. “That bitch! How dare she? John called me and told me what happened. This is unacceptable. I will speak to her alpha and demand justice. I want that bitch’s head on a platter, and I won’t accept any less.” Savannah growled like a mad tigress after someone had messed with one of her cubs. “The gall of that lowly dog!”
“Mom. Your tail is sticking out,” Quinn pointed.
Savannah totally ignored him. “What am I going to say to your parents? That you got hurt while under my watch? I’m so ashamed.”
“Mom, your ears are showing,” said Quinn again.
Vanessa saw the transformation. It was very cute. Two furry-striped ears emerged on top of Quinn’s mom’s head. Having Savannah as an in-law would be very interesting. She found herself looking forward to it.
Savannah quickly recovered. She turned to make sure none of the nurses witnessed her spontaneous transformation. Nobody but the three of them were in the room. “Ah, forgive me, dear. I get so worked up when someone threatens my family. Yes, I think of you as my new daughter and you’re important to me.” She turned to her son, inquiring. “You are going to marry this girl, right, Quinn? I’m going to bring back your father from the dead if you’re not.”
“Yes, mother. I’m going to marry Vanessa,” said Quinn in mock tone. “As soon as she says yes, which isn’t going to happen because I haven’t had the chance to propose to her yet.”
Savannah waved him off. “We’re passed that kind of formality already. How about we arrange to meet your parents and your sisters next? Over a nice dinner party, of course. I personally know a chef who worked at Le Bernardin and I could ask him to oversee the menu. And naturally, we’ll need to go shopping for a new dress, shoes and—”
“That’s it. Out.” Quinn herded his mother to the door. John and Trent had just arrived at the hospital and were about to enter. “We’ll see you all at home. Goodbye.” He closed the door, ignoring his mother’s protests. His wicked grin returned. “Where were we?”
Vanessa smiled. “You have a lovely family.”
“They’re insane.”
“Mine, too. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Quinn closed their distance in two steps. “I have an idea—let’s go somewhere, just the two of us, for a few days. You need someplace with a lot of sun to recover. I’m thinking the Bahamas.”
“You want us to play hooky from work?”
“As your boss, I approve your extra vacation days. You can’t say no.”
“Hmm. I hear the weather is nice there this time of year.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll buy us tickets then get our stuff from the house and go straight to the airport. I need a real vacation and we need to work on getting you pregnant.”
“What?”
“Don’t make me beg with bad poetry.”
Vanessa laughed. She pulled him down and kissed him. “Deal.”
The End.
Dear Reader,
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About the Author:
Lizzie Lynn Lee is a gutter-minded hopeless romantic who doesn’t live in this world most of the time. In her perfect utopia, her heroes never take their women for granted, love at first sight exists and soul mates always find a way to be together. She invites you to visit her world, where she spins her tales because the men are sizzling hot, master the art of sex and they are really into their ladies—be that a slim girl, or curvy, interracial, interspecies, sassy or shy—their adventures redefine erotica. Are you ready to be thrilled?
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Lizzie Lynn Lee Bibliography
Shunga Chronicles: Lady of the Snow
Love in the Elevator
Shunga Chronicles: Prince and the Assassin
Payback
Shunga Chronicles: Flight of the Heron
Wicked Game
Eve Aizawa: Eve of Seduction
Busted
Eve Aizawa: Deus Eve Machina
Sexopalooza
Switched
Cyber Lover
Jumping Bones
The Wolf She Married
Savannah’s Menage
Charly’s Chocolate Factory with Celia Kyle
Original Sin
Lycan Wars 1: Instinct
Claimed
Hot-Blooded
Fierce Heat with Celia Kyle
Orient Fevre
Gilded Cage
Corporate Plaything
Spirit World: Maison Plaisir
To Bed A Goddess
The Last Siren
The Donor
The Alien King and I
Dangerous Curves: Wet
Lions of the Serengeti: Jennifer’s Lion
Lions of the Serengeti: Sarah’s Lion
Bound to Me: Fever Lust
Private Sessions
Lions of the Serengeti: Caly’s Lion
Faerykin
Werebeasties
Dragon Hunts
Night of the Lions
Chain of Lust
Taken By a Nymph
Maiden and the Lion
Dominate Me with Noelle Ashford
To Blackmail a Billionaire with Noelle Ashford
Her Dragon Billionaire
Kidnapped and Claimed
Her Tiger Billionaire
Raven’s Bride
Her Lion Billionaire
Bad Dick
Naughty Librarian
Lions of the Serengeti: Yazmina’s Lion
Naughty Boys
Scorched
Tamed
The Man with the Dragon Wings
Tiger In Her Bed
Special Preview
THE MAN WITH THE DRAGON WINGS
Available now!
For Emily:
She never would’ve imagined her knight in shining armor is a bounty hunter.
He’s too bastardly wicked to walk only the rig
ht side of the law.
Granted, he’s hot and sexy as hell, but when he surrenders to the nature of his beast, he’s more terrifying than a scary monster.
Her brain tells her to run. Her body wants her to stay.
But why does her heart ache when he’s in danger?
For Rovik:
He never believed in love at first sight, and yet, the moment he laid eyes on her, he knows he must have her.
Save her.
She’s a runaway bride and the man she was forced to marry doesn’t deserve her, but will stop at nothing to get her back. Including bringing in the whole clan to take down Rovik.
True mates are real, and he plans to convince her that nothing on earth could stop him from making her his.
Forever…
Author note: This story contains graphic dragon-on-dragon violence, a runaway bride who drives like a homicidal maniac, and a young dragon king who thinks every problem in the world can be solved with an orgasm.
Chapter One
The moment the young woman walked into the diner, Rovik knew with his heart and soul she belonged to him. His mate.
A surge of heat rushed into his head. His heart hammered fast, and an insane urge to shift threatened his perfectly mastered human form. It felt as if his blood was seared from the inside out and every fiber of his being called for her. Beckoned her. Wanted to claim her. Make her his. Forever.
Even though he was sitting a dozen feet from the door, his sharp sense of smell caught a whiff of her scent. Beneath the floral fragrance of her perfume, the distinct aroma of that woman became a powerful aphrodisiac. His cock stirred underneath his jeans. Goddamn it. Rovik grabbed the ledge of the Formica countertop, waiting for the unexpected reaction to pass. He had never experienced such interest toward a woman.
A human, at that.
Fuck.
He calmed himself with a simple meditation trick he learned while stationed in Okinawa. Breathe in, think of nothingness, become one with nothingness, breathe out.
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