Howl And Growl Complete Collection

by Cloe Cullen

  It took a moment for it all to sink in, but when the crowds began to roar in the triumph, he realized he didn’t care about the win in that moment. All he wanted was Nyssa. Looking around frantically for his mate, Jorah stumbled and turned his body, unable to see or hear anything other than his own mind telling him to run to Nyssa. All he wanted to feel was her touch. All he wanted to hear was her voice. But he couldn’t find her. Panicking, he turned and turned, until finally her golden hair stepped forward amid the ruckus, her brilliant, sparkling blue eyes catching his attention. Seeing her gave him a boost and he propelled forward, running straight for her.

  Catching her off guard, he slid to a stop before her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her lips to his, the sensation of her salty mouth making him quiver and tighten his grip, never wanting to let her go.

  “The contest of strength, has ended!” Dallan shouted into the chorus of voices. “Jorah is the victor, I say once more! Let it be known that the laws of isolation are now in his hands. You may all disperse and go on your ways if you so wish.”

  It wasn’t until Dallan finished his slow rambling that Jorah finally forced himself to let go of Nyssa’s lips to let them both breathe. They both let their tongues hang out, their chests heaving, and their eyes glued to each other. But then Nyssa went in for more, causing them to stumble backwards.

  “Geez, could you two tone it down, even for a few minutes?” Remus said somewhere behind them. “You realize a few hundred people are watching you both, right?”

  Jorah wanted to laugh and say he didn’t care, but he was too caught up in Nyssa to get the chance to.

  “Well, this means we can go talk to those Seers, right?” Darius said, grunting as he stretched. “I thought my body would freeze over before we got the chance.”

  “Tell me about it,” Torian agreed. “This bitter cold is frightening. How has the Bear Clan survived on this nasty plateau?”

  “By sheer willpower,” Dallan’s voice said.

  His adoptive father’s voice was enough to get Jorah to break from Nyssa once more, his lungs struggling to suck in air. He glanced in Dallan’s direction, watching the old Seer waddle up to them all. Dallan caught Jorah’s eyes, and nodded. “Well done, my boy. I suppose those isolation laws of ours will now be gone for good.”

  “They will,” Jorah said, grinning like a fool. “But I’m sure the rest of you can handle that conversation without us?” Laughter rang through the shifters surrounding them.

  For the first time in ages, Jorah witnessed Dallan smile. It was small, a rather weak curling of his frosted lips, but a smile nonetheless. Stunned, Jorah returned the gesture. “Yes, Jorah,” Dallan said. “I, and the rest of the Seers, can take it from here.” Turning his gaze to Darius and Torian, Dallan raised his head. “You wished to speak with us? To negotiate? Then let us get to it. We’re old and tired, and would rather not delay the inevitable.”

  “Sounds good to us,” Darius said. “Lead the way.”

  So Dallan did, leading Darius, Amara and Torian through the snow and to the other Seers.

  “So, what now?” Nyssa asked, gazing up at Jorah.

  Gazing back down into the oceans that resided in her two eyes, Jorah grinned from ear to ear. “What else do we do? Now I’m going to officially claim you once again, as my mate. Get ready, because you’re about to be run ragged.”

  With that, Jorah scooped up Nyssa in his arms and ran out into the cold winds, Nyssa giggling and gasping, Remus calling after them, and the rest laughing at the naked sight before them.

  Chapter Thirty: Nyssa

  O ne week. It had already been one week since Jorah had won the contest of strength against the Seers’ champion, forever changing the laws of isolation the Seers had put in place the day they settled on top of the Northern Mountains. That day had been a momentous occasion for all those involved.

  It had all been like a dream to Nyssa, a rush of pure adrenaline, watching her mate struggle against a burly opponent, seeing his moment of victory, letting herself be swept up in his arms as he raced away to consummate their love in some hidden cave. As they did, the rest of their friends and family began the process of mingling and speaking to each other, creating a plan to move forward with the Bear Clan as part of the ongoing peace alliance between the Pack, Pride and Vampires. In a matter of a days, her whole world had been flipped upside down, her mind and body strained, but in the end, she came away with the best prize of all: the sizzling hunk of meat called Jorah.

  “Can you believe it!” Finn said as they sat around the bonfire he and Keanu had erected in front of the cave they, Nyx and Jorah shared for years as their getaway from the rest of the Bear Clan. “There’s actually going to be a festival in the Oldwood to celebrate the Bear Clan coming into the alliance! A festival, for us!”

  “For all of us,” Nyx said, smiling, glancing in Jorah’s direction. “Especially for Jorah, and Nyssa of course. Without them, we’d still just be doing nothing but hunting scared game and Changelings.”

  Jorah shrugged, as if it were no big deal. “Well, I did win the duel, but everyone here helped get me to that point.”

  “Yeah, don’t forget about that time I fell off a cliff for you both,” Lowell interjected, chugging his jug of ale.

  Chuckling, Remus grabbed the jug from Lowell, sipping some himself. “Or me, for instance, preventing those bears from killing you three from fleeing down the mountain.”

  “Or me,” Bronwen said, following the mood of the group. “For simply being there to witness it all!”

  Everyone laughed, slapping each other on the back. Even Keanu, who normally kept quiet, bellowed in laughter, his voice carrying over the grove of trees surrounding them. Tears stung his eyes, causing the rest to chuckle at him instead. Elbowing him in the ribs, to barely any effect, Finn shook his head. “Why are you crying, you big lug? Calm down.”

  “We’re in a new era,” Nyssa said. “I don’t blame him for letting loose a little.”

  “I hear the Seers have already arranged for some bears shifters to move down to the Oldwood,” Nyx threw in, to shake up the conversation. “Apparently there are twenty shifters making the trip later today, when your Alphas and their crew finally descend back to the Oldwood.”

  Remus sighed heavily, glancing up to the midday sky. “Ah, don’t remind me! I’ve grown fond of these forsaken mountains. Snow filling my boots up to my ankles, the freezing cold nearly shattering my bones, my luscious skin now growing icicles…”

  Giggling, Nyssa punched her brother in the arm. “Yeah, you’ve made your point.”

  “I, for one, won’t mind going back down,” Bronwen said, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m due back in the Blackwood to speak to the Thirteen Vampire lords...and Remus finally agreed to come with me.” At her words, Remus rubbed his brows, and Nyssa gawked.

  “Wait, are you kidding me? You finally agreed after two years?” Nyssa nearly shouted, her surprise getting the better of her.

  Glancing between them all, Jorah blinked. “What’s this now? He’s going to the Blackwood with her? Why?”

  “To represent the clans of the Oldwood,” Bronwen said, continuing to gleefully stare at Remus. “He’ll be able to speak with the rest of the Thirteen Vampire Lords...rather, twelve, sine I haven’t become the thirteenth yet. To help continue our negotiations to smooth out a system of peace. Actually, there’ll be another from Red Rock coming with, a shifter Torian recommended...I forget their name, but they agreed to represent the cat shifters of the eastern part of the Oldwood.”

  Appearing confused, Jorah, Finn and Keanu glanced between each other. But Nyx leaned forward. “I suppose you’d like to bring someone from our clan as well, now that we’ve been revealed to still be alive?”

  Placing a finger on her chin, Bronwen gazed away into the trees around them. Snow began to slowly fall from the sky, the flakes big and intricate, many perishing once the flames of the bonfire consumed them. Tapping her chin, Bronwen eventually smiled. “Why, yes
, that would be ideal. I’d need someone who came in the interest of bettering your clan. Someone who can get past the grudge you all might have for my kind, because of what happened when we Vampires arrived on the Blackwood coasts...I know that might be difficult, so I haven’t really asked around just yet.”

  “And I’m sure the Seers wouldn’t be very keen to just hand someone over to a den of Vampires,” Lowell said.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Nyx said, her dark eyes dancing in the fire.

  “Why is that?” Jorah asked.

  Glancing towards him, Nyx smiled, her lips beautifully purple in the cold. “Because I’ll go with them.”

  Spitting out his ale and gagging on whatever was left, Finn shot Nyx a look. “Excuse me?”

  “You’re joking,” Keanu quickly said.

  “Oh dear,” Bronwen said, exchanging a look with Remus.

  “That’s not funny,” Jorah said to Nyx, leaning forward. “I know, with everything that’s been going on recently...between me and Nyssa, and how we’ve been at odds with the Seers and you, maybe you’re ready to move on, but that doesn’t mean you need to just get up and leave the Northern Mountains for good!”

  “Yeah,” Nyssa hopped in. “You don’t need to leave because of us! Jorah and I haven't decided whether we’re even going to stay up on the Northern Mountains or travel down to the Oldwood.”

  Groaning at the reactions of everyone around her, Nyx eyed them both, throwing up her arms. “Just because I got a little frustrated before doesn’t mean everything I do is based around Jorah, or you, Nyssa. I’m over this guy anyway...and I’ve been thinking this past week, long and hard about what I want to do with my life. At first, I simply wanted to move down to the Oldwood to get off this frozen hell of a home. Explore a new part of the world. But after hearing Bronwen just now, I got excited, wondering why I just don’t take my potential voyage a step further?”

  “You do understand the gravity of going to the Blackwood, though, right?” Remus said, frowning. “I mean, I’m not usually a picky guy, but I spent the last two years deciding whether to take up Bronwen’s offer or not.” Bronwen kicked out her legs playfully as he spoke. “Are you sure it’s what you want?”

  “As if you’d even find anyone else from my clan to go,” Nyx retorted, rolling her eyes. “Trust me, I’m ready for the change.”

  Bronwen clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! That’s what I like to hear. Actually, we should probably be getting back anyways, Remus and me. If you’d like to come with, tell your Seers you’ll be leaving with us, I’d be happy to back you up!”

  Chuckling, Nyx nodded, rising to her feet. “That sounds good to me.” Turning, she gazed at Jorah and Nyssa. “I suppose this is goodbye for now. I guess I won’t be seeing either of you for a while.” Turning to Finn and Keanu, she sighed at their whimpering expressions. “Or you two, either.” Stalking off, both Finn and Keanu jumped to their feet and raced after her.

  “Wait!” Finn said. I’ll come with you!”

  “Me too!” Keanu agreed.

  “I swear, if either of you persists in annoying me right now, I’ll clobber you both!” Nyx growled.

  Both Bronwen and Remus rose as well, though Remus came over to pull Nyssa to her feet and embrace her. “Well, this might be the last time I’ll see you for a while,” he said quietly into her ear. “Try not to miss me too much, alright?”

  Releasing him, Nyssa and her brother still gripped onto each other’s hands and wrists. “As if I wouldn’t...and we’ll see each other again, so don’t talk like we won’t ever see each other again!”

  Remus cocked his head, just smiling, but then he leveled a stoic look at Jorah. “Take care of her, you hear? She’s the only blood relative I have left right now. If any harm comes to my sister…”

  “You’ll come back up the mountains and beat me up, right?” Jorah said, his charming smile bubbling to the surface. “Believe me, I won’t ever let her be harmed.”

  “Good,” Remus said, nodding. “Then I guess we’re off. Bye, Nyssa.”

  Nyssa watched as her brother followed Bronwen away after Nyx and the others, the group disappearing into the plateau beyond.

  Now only three of them remained, with Lowell still slumped on his log, staring into the fire. Both Nyssa and Jorah glanced at him, and between each other. Sighing loudly when he realized they were staring, he stretched and rose to his feet, taking one last swig of the ale jug and tossing it on the ground. “Well, looks like it’s time for me to head back as well! Man, that was good ale!” He began to swivel on his feet and walk away, but then Nyssa jumped after him.

  “Wait, Lowell!” She called, causing the wolf shifter to hesitate in his tracks and turn. “Lowell...I’m sorry, about everything. If this were any different…”

  “You’d be dead, at the hands of stray Changelings that ambushed us a couple of weeks ago,” Lowell said, his thin lips turning to a smile. “It’s alright, Nyssa. I don’t blame either of you for anything. It may still be awhile until I get over you completely, but I’m fine right now, honestly.” After a pause, he glanced past her and Jorah to the world beyond. “I’m heading back down to Gray Creek, see how my luck turns out down there. Maybe I’ll come to visit once in a while.”

  “I’d like that,” Nyssa said, smiling, watching as Lowell continued on his way away from her, vanishing along with the rest of their friends.

  Finally, Nyssa and Jorah were alone. While Nyssa continued to stare into the grove Jorah came up behind her. “He’ll be fine,” Jorah said. “If he can survive a sheer drop off a cliff, he’ll be able to move on.”

  “I’m just worried about him, is all,” Nyssa said.

  “You want to know what I’m worried about?” Jorah said, his voice turning to a whisper. He gently wrapped his arms around Nyssa’s waist, pulling his rock-hard body to her back, breathing his warm breath on her neck, a tingling working its way through her skin. Nyssa gasped at the sensation, a smile forming on her lips. “I’m worried about how, now that we’re alone, we’re still doing nothing but talking.”

  “Easy there, you big bear,” Nyssa said, feeling his rough lips begin to kiss her neck. “We have all the time in the world.”

  “That just means more time to have fun!” Jorah said, picking her up and swinging her around in the air. Nyssa gasped and giggled, kicking the air as Jorah trudged over to the cave mouth. Stumbling inside, he placed Nyssa down on her feet, spinning her around to plant another kiss on her lips, this one bending her inhibitions to the point of breaking. Letting her body be pulled along with Jorah, they continued to kiss as they fumbled backwards, further into the cave, searching with their hands for the wall and a cot to lay down on.

  Blindly stumbling backwards eventually caused Nyssa to trip on something clothlike, and they both tumbled to top of a cot, the very thing they were absently searching for. Breathing in the cold air and staring up into Jorah’s devilishly handsome face, she cupped both her hands around his cheeks, pulling him towards her. Despite his eagerness to undress her, Jorah gently pulled on her jerkin top and trousers, making sure she didn’t get tangled in her own clothes. Naked and cold, Nyssa shivered, but Jorah pulled her body to his, warming her. Soon enough Jorah was naked as well, though Nyssa hadn’t seen him undress since she was lost in the sensations of his body.

  Moments later they were moaning and moving, feeling each other and fully succumbing to each other’s wills and desire.

  Nyssa forgot all about her brother and Bronwen, forgot all about Lowell, forgot all about Nyx, Finn, and Keanu...and she forgot Darius and Amara even existed. No longer was Nyssa beholden to her brooding ways, instead, she felt like her life was finally, truly beginning.

  Her adventure was finally at an end, and the mate she’d always been hoping for had finally come her way.

  Howl and Bite

  Howl and Growl Series: Book 3

  Cloe Cullen

  Howl And Bite

  Howl And Growl Series: Book 3
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br />   Cloe Cullen

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  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental.

  Prologue

  It was the rising sun that held Remus’ attention the most. From the darkness of the skyline, it rose slowly, shedding its orange layers over the landscape, brightening the endless sea of swaying trees. As the sun lifted itself above the horizon, shadows began to streak behind the forest, slowly squirming to stretch and hide from the encroaching morning light.

  The Oldwood was beautiful, Remus finally realized. As if to mimic his thoughts the wind whistled up from the forest and blew past him, softly rustling his curling blonde hair and stinging his watery blue eyes. Along with the wind a myriad of nose-tickling scents swirled up from the Northern Mountains; the damp musk of deer and elk, the fresh smell of pines after a sudden rainfall, the scent of sweet honey, dripping from the beehives that populated the western hills. Each and every smell took him back to memories he had long forgotten...of days when he was half the size he was now, sticking to his father, Ulrick, as he showed Remus the ropes of hunting; of when Nyssa was so young and shy she hid behind Remus as they walked through Gray Creek, whimpering whenever a stranger approached.

  Remus couldn’t believe it had taken him this long to find this view halfway up the Northern Mountains. Just the night before, Remus had left his sister in the care of the bear shifter Jorah, leaving behind on the snowy peak the last family member he had. It had been her choice to stay up there, and as much as Remus had wanted to stay with her, the cold didn’t sit well with him. Remus had come down with Darius and the others...until he decided to stop and relax a bit on the ledge he now rested upon.