by Evelyn Vox
My nails lengthened into lethal claws, my teeth sharpened into deadly fangs, and I felt the power and strength of my wolf rise within me.
Just let go.
I felt the brush of fur, the scrape of claws, as she tried to break free.
I want to run.
A deep rumbling in my chest started low and rose until I felt the undeniable urge to howl. I lifted my face to the Moon and howled into the night, singing her my song of worship.
Let me out!
I winced, feeling the bite of my wolf trying to tear her way out of me, but I didn’t hold back. I let her take over. I wanted to set her free.
It felt like I was sinking into a black abyss, the human part of me giving way to my ancient blood. The blood that was strongest under the Full Moon. When I opened my eyes, everything was sharper, the colors richer, and Vincent was staring at me. I knew if he’d been in his human form, he’d have a look of astonishment on his face.
I lifted my snout and howled my thanks to the Moon.
I’d shifted.
18
Vincent
I was a fool for thinking my mate couldn’t get any more beautiful. The silver she-wolf that stood before me was as stunning and gorgeous as the Moon herself. I couldn’t believe Sadie had shifted. I padded over to her and licked her nose, she whined and nuzzled into me. Our mating bond was more pronounced, the connection stronger now that we could not speak. I felt her elation, her utter joy to be free of her human form.
Her shifter blood had to be powerful indeed. It was unheard of for a half-human to shift fully. I sent my admiration, my love for my gorgeous, incredible mate down our bond, and she huffed before running into the woods. Tonight, we would run together as wolves, and my wolf would be able to mount her at last. He snarled, excited and ready for her already.
He’d have to catch her first…
19
Vincent
Two years later
Halloween at The Harvest Moon had turned into a local tradition. No one threw a Halloween party like we did. It didn’t hurt that Sadie was a mad genius at all things scary and creepy. I’m sure the fact that real-life shifters owned the bar helped add to the ambiance, even if no one knew our secret. I watched as Sadie tried to squeeze her swollen belly behind the bar.
“Here you go, sweetie,” I handed a gummy monster to Adelaide to put on the window.
“Dracula,” she giggled, playing with the gummy decoration before sticking it onto the glass with all the grace of a toddler.
“Mama’s taught you well,” Sadie said, ambling over to us. She peeled another decoration off the sheet, handing it to Adelaide. “And who’s this?”
“Fwanken’s Monster!”
Sadie scooped Addie from my arms and nuzzled into her face. Adelaide shrieked with giggles.
“You’re my smart, beautiful little monster!” Sadie said between a flurry of kisses.
“Awooo,” Addie howled her little puppy howl and it was so cute I thought my heart would stop.
Who knew the big, bad wolf had such a soft side? We weren’t sure Addie would be able to shift when she was born. With Sadie’s heritage, everything about her shifter capabilities was a mystery. Then one night, a few months ago, we found a wolf pup wagging its tail in the crib where we’d left our baby.
Nothing made me happier than being out in the forest with my mate and our pup. We stayed close to the house. Addie wasn’t old enough to go deeper into the woods, but some day, she’d be as fierce and strong as her mother.
I could only hope she’d find a mate worthy of her.
Sadie groaned as she tried to stand. She was bigger this time. I suspected she was carrying twins, and I had a feeling they were boys. The thought made me swell with pride. We were starting our own little pack here in Portland. I never thought I’d have a place again, not after what happened in California, but it would seem that I was one lucky bastard.
Glass crashed to the floor as Sadie dropped the pint she was holding, sniffing the air in shock.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, but then the scent hit me.
Shifter.
A growl ripped through my chest and I knew my eyes were flashing with silver. It was luck that the bar wasn’t open yet, because I could feel myself beginning to shift.
“Daddy?” Addie looked up and I could see the fear on her little face.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” I said, my voice deep.
“We don’t know who they are,” Sadie walked over. “They could mean us no harm. Let’s talk before we flash our fangs.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My instincts were on overdrive. I would do anything to protect my mate and our pups. I took a deep breath and willed my wolf to calm down. He was pacing, snarling, fur bristled at the scent of another male headed our way. Sadie scooped Addie into her arms and held her protectively. I stood in front of them, ready for a fight, as a shadow darkened our door.
Daylight streamed into the bar and he entered. He was just a boy. Couldn’t have been older than thirteen, but from the harrowed look in his eyes, he’d seen more than anyone his age should have.
“Please,” the boy said, his face gaunt with hunger. “Help me.”
“My goodness! What happened to you?” Sadie asked, plopping Addie into my arms before I could get a word in edgewise.
“My pack, they were…” he fell to his knees and began to sob.
My wolf lowered his haunches. The boy was clearly no threat. Addie wriggled in my arms until I let her go. She tottered over to the boy and handed him a gummy monster.
“Don’t be sad,” she said.
The boy stared at Addie in wonder before taking the monster. Addie jumped into his arms to give him a hug, and he encircled my daughter, holding her tight as he wept. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew he wasn’t going to hurt her. With some effort, Sadie got on one knee and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“What’s your name, sweetie?”
“Zander,” the boy said, sniffling around Addie’s black curls. “Hunters. They killed my family. I wandered the woods for days until I caught your scent and followed it here.”
“You poor thing. That’s terrible.”
“Come on,” I said, walking over to them. “Let’s get the kid some food.”
“You can stay with us as long as you need to,” Sadie comforted him, pulling Addie from his grasp so he could get up.
“Zandie staying?” Addie asked, her blue eyes shining with excitement.
“He’s welcome to stay as long as he wants,” Sadie confirmed.
“Thank you,” Zander’s voice cracked with emotion.
It seemed our pack was about to get even bigger. My wolf hummed with satisfaction. It looked like I was going to be an Alpha after all.
Also by Evelyn Vox
The Devil Makes Three
Unmasked
About the Author
Evelyn Vox is an emerging romance author (be gentle with her, it’s her first time). She's working hard on the Club Midnight novels, a set of three series based in the world of Club Midnight, the most decadent, exclusive S&M club you never knew you needed to read about. Her books are steamy, heart-racing, and not for the faint of heart. While she may like to put her characters through the ringer, she knows things will work out for them in the end. When she's not writing the heavy, domineering Alphas of Club Midnight, she satisfies her sweet tooth with a different kind of Alpha in the Holiday Shifter Series. These bite-sized shifter romances are full of heat with lots of mating bond love. Not to mention, they're always festive.
Evelyn lives in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn with her husband.
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