Phoenix Rising

by Cara Carnes

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Phoenix Rising

  Copyright © 2014 by Cara Carnes

  ISBN: 978-1-61333-733-2

  Cover art by Syneca Featherstone

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

  Look for us online at:

  www.decadentpublishing.com

  ROAR

  Mischief, Mongrels & Mayhem

  Sorority Wolf by Rebecca Royce

  Coming Soon

  Imperfect Mate by Lia Davis

  Shifted Plans by Brandy Walker

  Tempting her Tiger by Virginia Cavanaugh

  Phoenix Rising

  By

  Cara Carnes

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to autumn, 2014. It’s a time for pumpkin spice lattes, cooling days, and kids heading back to school. I swear it feels like just yesterday that we were doing this last year. You know, I have a deep and abiding love for paranormal romance. I actually fell in love with urban fantasy and by extension paranormals thanks to two authors: Anne Rice and Emma Bull. If you’ve never checked them out, you should.

  Fortunately, in the years since I read those the genre of paranormal romance has grown by leaps, shifts, fangs, and fur. I’ve always had a soft spot for shifter romance, and if you told me a book had wolves or cats or bears in it—well, I was so there. This hasn’t changed, not one bit. I don’t think there’s enough shifter romance in the world, but I did want to see more—what happens when young shifters leave their packs? What if they go off to school? How do they start over? How does a young wolf or cat or bear or any young person really make that final leap to adulthood?

  I am thrilled to introduce Decadent ROAR as an answer to those questions. The line is dedicated to featuring stories about young weres and shifters who have come of age but now must determine the path of the rest of their lives. It's an exciting time of making your own decisions and not having to seek permission, but freedom always comes with a cost. Fortunately for these burgeoning adults, they have the ROAR hotline to reach out to.

  Run by the mysterious siblings Hui and Min, 555-ROAR is a line shifters can text or call for help, whether it’s, What’s the best spot to hunt, or I’m in danger. What should I do? It’s a helpline, and a lifeline in some cases. Growing up is hard—being an adult is harder.

  So what do we have to kick you off as ROAR launches a new school year? How about a mongrel attending college close to home who must contend with a sexy Alpha and his pride moving into her region? That’s the problem Mischief “Missy” Jones faces in Mischief, Mongrels & Mayhem by Heather Long.

  Pledging a sorority can be hell, but is it so bad when you have a demon on your side? Werewolf Alexandra will have to decide when Kieran promises to turn over heaven and hell to help her out in Sorority Wolf by Rebecca Royce.

  Not everyone gets encouragement when they head off into the big, bad world on their own. This couldn’t be more true for fragile and abused Riletta who’s dumped at school with no options, no fallback, and no hope—that is until delicious Macen intervenes in the hot ride that is Phoenix Rising by Cara Carnes.

  Choosing college can be a grueling experience, but, then again, so can diving into adulthood and taking responsibility for your actions. Samira faces s a lot of hard choices, none tougher than accepting human Gavin might be her mate in Lia Davis’ Imperfect Mates.

  Life is what happens when you’re not paying attention, and the best things don’t always occur in the order you expect. They sure don’t for Avery and Declan. Both are busy setting up their lives but the allure of mating throws them for a loop in Brandy Walker’s Shifted Plans.

  Attracting attention from the male species is a hard job, even more so when that male is a shifter. Some lines, though, are hard to cross, and Jordan will fight his attraction to his best friend’s sister, Stacia, with everything he has in Tempting her Tiger by Virginia Cavanaugh.

  Ultimately, the question these six stories must answer is not who will they be as adults, but who are they? How do they reconcile everything they've ever known with what can be? It's a new type of shifter romance, with all the love and passion required to achieve a happily ever after....

  Thank you for joining us as we launch a hot new series—we’ll do our best to make every single tale memorable.

  Happy Reading!

  Heather Long and

  Decadent Publishing

  www.decadentpublishing.com

  ~Dedication~

  Decadent Publishing for all their hard work and to the fabulous Rebecca Royce for encouraging me to write this book. I’m thankful every day for your friendship.

  Chapter One

  Riletta

  “Don’t make a scene, Riletta. Get out, and do not speak.”

  Unease pricked my skin. I fumbled with the door latch for a moment before it gave way, and I tumbled out of the black BMW. A crisp breeze ripped through the rustling trees around us. I would’ve grabbed my jacket had I known we were going somewhere.

  I stretched the soreness from my body as Jacob Cervantez slammed the trunk and set a suitcase on the ground before me. My gaze darted around, my brain disoriented from the shock and the utter silence that had been my only companion the past several hours.

  “This is the only university willing to accept you due to your limitations. I doubt you’re worth the favors I had to call in, but the pack will benefit from this sacrifice. At least we’ll be relieved of the burden your presence created.” The gruff tone made me step backward until I pressed against the car door I’d shut at some point. “Registration ends in an hour. I suggest you get in before they change their mind.”

  Registration? My mouth opened and then shut as I processed what to ask first if given the chance. I’d learned years ago to choose my words wisely because I rarely got the answers I expected.

  “I didn’t know—”

  “Riletta. Did I say you could speak?”

  I cast my gaze downward and shrank into myself.

  “You’re lucky I don’t have time to teach you etiquette. You aren’t my problem anymore.”

  What did that mean? He shoved his hand into his pocket with an exasperated sigh and grabbed a few hundreds off the massive wad of cash he always carried. The Alpha of the Cervantez pack would never be caught without funds. “Elise is too soft-hearted. She insisted you be given something until you get settled.”

  Settled. He was dumping me here. My heart sped; my breath quickened. Equal parts of fear and hope fought for my attention.

  “Don’t think I’ll allow her to give you more, so make it last. It’ll probably take a few months for them to handle your paperwork. They’ll have problems securing you since no one knows what the hell you are.”

  Amusement glimmered in his gaze when I cringed at the insult. I took the wad of cash and shoved it into my jean pocket. “Thanks.”

  “You’d better listen up, Riletta.�
�� Pain erupted along my bruised arm when he grabbed me and shook hard until my teeth rattled and my head pounded. “They’ll ask for your designation when you enter. Under no circumstances are you to reference my pack. I allowed your existence, but that doesn’t mean I accept responsibility. Nod if you understand, Riletta.”

  I nodded and shrank away from his menacing presence when he leaned forward. Garlic and alcohol burned my nostrils. The stench was nauseating, but made me recall the hunger I’d been trying to ignore. Swallowing, I pressed on my stomach, willing the rumble to subside. How long had it been since I’d eaten? One, two days?

  “That’s what you get for being too uppity to eat pizza.”

  You know I love pizza, you miserable prick. That’s why you piled it with meat I was allergic to. Every meal he oversaw in the pack focused on meat. The anger vibrated within me until my body trembled with a need to react. Just this once.

  “Go. I’ve wasted enough time dealing with you.” He prowled to his door and paused to glare over the vehicle. “Keep your trap shut about my pack and your presence there, or you’ll be sorry.”

  I nodded mutely, palmed the handle of my suitcase, and dragged it across the parking lot. The massive structure before me appeared to be some form of gymnasium or large meeting facility since there were no windows. I kept my gaze downward and ignored the jostling of the other bodies slamming into me from both sides. Surely the lone door offered refuge, a quiet place to breathe and absorb what had just happened.

  You’re almost there. Don’t panic.

  He threw me out of the pack.

  Knowing something was inevitable and accepting its occurrence were two entirely different things. Part of me wanted to race after the long-gone car or perhaps call Elise and beg to return. But that was crazy. They’d been done with me eighteen years, three months and two days ago—the moment I’d crawled into their land from no one knew where. I’d been two when they’d proclaimed me a freak of nature undeserving of life.

  But I’d been spared.

  Piercing shrieks and laughter drew my focus from my trudge forward to a crush of girls several yards away. I smiled cautiously when a few of them met my stare. Fitting in had never been my strong suit, but perhaps this place was different.

  Pain streamed through my core, radiating from my face when I slammed into an unmoving object—a massive chest adorned in a crimson T-shirt with a black-and-white snapping wolf. My throat constricted for a moment as I studied the muscular flesh beneath the shirt. He was huge.

  “Slow your roll there, mouse.” Warm fingers wrapped gently around both my arms, holding me up for a moment as my limbs forgot how to work. His full lips turned upward into a smug grin before he shoved me backward. My pulse slammed into overdrive as I met a metallic gray gaze. A rugged jaw line drew attention from his gorgeous face to the wavy mass of thick, black hair, longer than fashionable, which flirted with his shirt collar.

  This was someone who realized the effect he had on girls like me. I studied his shirt for a moment, reining in my riotous body. My lungs burned for breaths I couldn’t remember to take; something within me rubbed against my skin.

  The sensation made me gasp. What the hell was that?

  Could it be…?

  No. There was no way. I’d been tested. Repeatedly.

  I was inherently damaged beyond repair.

  Defective.

  “Breathe, little mouse. Nice and deep for me.”

  Fingers squeezed until I inhaled the welcoming brush of woodsy brine and earth deep into my lungs. I wanted to lean into his warmth, inhale deeper at his pulse point like I’d seen others from my pack do with the Alphas. He was utterly splendid in all ways.

  I knew better than to surrender to the desire, though.

  Abominations like you will not breathe the same air as my Alphas, Riletta. Don’t offend them with your presence. You exist because I showed mercy. Don’t make me regret my decision.

  “Sorry.” The squeak of my rarely-used voice made me shrivel away from the strength of his embrace. Could I be any more pathetic?

  I hardened my stance and waited for the slap, the shove. I’d been foolish to not notice him within my field of vision. I’d dared to slam into an Alpha. I closed my eyes, cringed, and waited.

  And waited. Chancing a peek at the gorgeous man before me, my heart flailed for normalcy, beating wildly until my brain could process his reaction. He grinned.

  No one ever grinned when I spoke, when they sensed what I wasn’t. I’d met his kind before. “If you’ll please excuse me, I need to register before they close.”

  “Of course.” He maneuvered to the side and opened the door.

  I forced a smile of gratitude and stepped into the massive room, which echoed with the hum of conversations and revelry. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people filled the large building. The swirling crowd created a noxious, heated cloud of sweat and perfumed stench. I covered my nose and breathed through my mouth.

  I can’t do this.

  Nervousness froze me. I knew nothing. This place wasn’t for me.

  Emotion choked me, and I forced back the fear welling in my eyes. I’d dreamed of my release from Jacob’s control for years, plotting and planning what I’d do. I’d never fathomed this as my fate. How stupid was I?

  Jacob always, always chose the worst scenario for me. This was my living nightmare—all those people. Humans—whom I’d never been around—and shifters—who’d declared me an abomination.

  I’d become too complacent. This was my punishment for being ill-prepared.

  Realizing the massive wolf I’d slammed into still loomed beside me, I inhaled deeply through my mouth and ordered myself to move. Avoidance only created more trouble. Accept your fate, and move the hell on. It’d been my motto for years and saved me many nights.

  “Thanks.” The dismissal seemed to go unheard as he dragged me forward. God, he was tall. Taller than Jacob—and not many could say that since the Alpha leader was well over six foot. This guy was much wider across the chest, too, but his hips were lean, his legs long and powerful thighs beneath his jeans. “I can handle it from here.”

  “This way.”

  He tunneled a path through the crowd with his muscular body, my suitcase in tow. When had he gotten my suitcase?

  I followed helplessly, darting apologetic gazes to unseen masses of people as I hurried along in his wake until we entered a smaller second room. I took a few moments to look around, relieved we’d parted company with the crush of bodies in the other room. Folding tables, manned by a couple of people at each, formed a half-moon in the room.

  A few students stood at most of them, chatting away with the smiling attendants. Human. Fae. Wolves. Lions. Tigers. Pumas. I read shifter faction after shifter faction, each one slicing my soul. Each beautifully decorated sign, complete with colorful emblems, sealed me within a tomb of doubt. The encroaching apprehension squeezed, crushing my few moments of normalcy with brutal efficiency.

  I was none of those things.

  “Well?” He flashed a grin and crossed his arms. “Don’t leave me guessing all day, sweet mouse.”

  Heat streamed through me. I grabbed the suitcase beside him before he could stop me and studied the options one final time. A handwritten piece of poster board leaning against the wall denoted my fate.

  Other.

  I foraged what self-confidence I’d squirreled away and closed the distance between me and the desolate table. I could feel the stares of those around me as I nudged my way past the lingering wolves and tigers.

  Several shouted to the looming shadow I’d inherited. “Macen.”

  The name continued echoing around me in a stream of welcomes, which agitated me. Maybe he wasn’t following me. He’d done his obligatory duty and gotten me in here—wherever “here” was. I thought a moment before I took the final few steps to the table.

  The coastal scent of pine and salt water had rippled through Macen’s aura when I’d been near enough to scent him. The memo
ry heated my insides with a renewed awareness of the man still shadowing me, even though we’d passed his pack moments ago. The unique musk already embedded in my brain as him blanketed me in the realization I was not alone—he was there behind me, his heat near enough for me to sense, yet distant enough for me not to flinch in discomfort. Why was he still there? Did he mean his presence to be comforting or threatening?

  I’d grown accustomed to being the bug under the proverbial microscope of existence. Pinned in place and unwillingly sliced apart time and again by others for amusement or perhaps to appease curiosity, I’d numbed to the ridicule and animosity.

  Until now.

  Whispers traveled as I closed the distance between me and the scowling blonde with large, barely contained breasts jutting out from an obviously modified Wolf Pack shirt. She scowled and leaned toward me, thrusting her tits forward—no doubt for Macen’s benefit and not mine. Grabbing a pencil and the sole sheet of paper in front of her, she sliced a blue-eyed stare my direction.

  “Well? Who are you?”

  “Riletta.” Cervantez. The latter almost tumbled from my lips without pause. That wouldn’t have boded well for me.

  Disgust mottled her flawless face. “Whatever you are, listen up. You might’ve been the princess from wherever you were, but this is the University of Nomadia. You are a nothing here. So, we need a last name.”

  “I don’t have one.”

  She tossed the paper to the scowling, green-eyed, brown-haired man beside her. “You deal with her, Logan. I’ve checked in four of these freaks—a slug, a turtle, a snake, and a fucking iguana. I don’t even want to know what this twisted bitch is.”

  “Stacy.” Macen’s voice was a husky whisper, low and growly. I didn’t want to think about the warm flush of heat in my insides.

  Logan checked the sheet. “Huh. There’s only one left to check in, and I doubt it’s you—unless you’re a male ferret named Dale.”