Raining Kisses (The Opeth Pack Saga Book 2)

by Sascha Illyvich

  “I came into this world poor…”

  “Very well. Trust in yourself, Éva and may you prosper in the eyes of the Lord.”

  She left, struggled for a week, spending it on the street, and then came back to the church, unsure of what she could ask for. She’d already taken so much from them.

  Of course Father Gregori let her back into her old room, gave her food and lodgings while the two created a new plan of attack for her return to normal life.

  He’d found a house and helped her acquire a job, though it wasn’t one he would approve of. It would pay the bills.

  Éva had a feeling she needed to get used to doing things not everyone would approve of. The ends justified the means, in this case. Bartending brought with it great income for good bartenders and she’d proven her people skills on her first night.

  Hired instantly, she’d moved into the house he’d chosen for her.

  Occasionally, Éva heard a voice in the back of her mind calling her back to Hungary. That was another country, thousands of miles away. Why would she go there? Certainly she’d like to see the world someday and maybe even regain her former memories but until then, she had to set up her new life.

  Traffic was light today. The year was 1981 and it was June. Éva wondered how she would fit into a mostly Hispanic community, but nobody seemed to pay her any mind. A bus ran down the street, stopping just a few feet away.

  Éva pulled out change from her pocket and started to board when she caught sight of a large dog limping toward her. “Wait,” she told the bus driver.

  “Can’t ma’am. On a schedule. There’ll be another bus in fifteen minutes.”

  “Guess I’ll have to get the next one. This dog needs help.” Éva put her change away and cautiously approached the wounded dog.

  A closer glance at him made her breath hitch.

  A real, living, breathing wolf.

  His head lifted slightly, whimpered, pawed the ground. Then fell forward. His disheveled fur looked like it needed a bath, a brush and probably flea treatment if she had to judge.

  For some reason, she continued approaching cautiously, aware of her unnatural lack of fear.

  She’d made it to him, gravel crunching beneath her worn boots. She took a closer look and saw the protrusions from his thigh. Needles, large ones.

  Someone had been trying to kill him.

  He’d only been defending himself before they attacked.

  Bite marks marred his neck and torso. Blood, both dried and fresh, clung to his matted fur.

  Help me.

  It spoke to her? Was she losing her mind? Animals couldn’t talk.

  He whimpered again. Help me, please. You’re…you know what to do.

  A closer glance revealed blood dripping down his right front leg. Teeth marks and angry slashes marked his flesh.

  He whimpered louder.

  Éva knelt by the wolf’s side. “Do you have a name?”

  János. I… He fell on the ground with a thud and a scream.

  “Oh shit!” Éva placed her hand on his chest and felt the very slow beat of his heart. Blood from his fur stuck to her hand. She had to act now or he’d die.

  No vet would treat him. They weren’t equipped to deal with wolves in the city.

  Father Gregori taught her basic human care but lupine medical attention was beyond her.

  Éva closed her eyes and thought hard for a solution.

  The next thing she knew, she was in front of a house with a for sale sign in the front yard. Boarded windows, chipped paint and a collapsing roof were all signs the house was vacant. Still, transients liked to take up residence to shelter themselves for free from the elements.

  The grass had grown to waist height.

  In an instant, Éva wished the house was in better condition.

  And then it was. The grass had been cut; some of the boards had been replaced by nicer windows. The paint still looked chipped on the garage and some of the wood was rotted, but the house definitely looked more habitable.

  “Wow.” Éva’s jaw dropped. How had that happened?

  Whimpering, János raised his head. You must be a witch. I wonder if you’re someone important to a pack. I’m too weak to transform, but please, help me. I won’t hurt you.

  The notion seemed insane. But, she closed her eyes, thought about being inside the house and in an instant, Éva and János sat on the floor, his body huddled tightly around hers.

  He shook.

  Shock must be setting in. Fuck, she had no idea what to do. Still, she wished for the lights to turn on.

  The soft glow of white fluorescent illuminated the empty space and windows opened, sending in a gust to remove the stale air.

  The wolf’s body shook harder against her, his breath coming now in rapid pants.

  “Don’t worry János. We’ll get you fixed.”

  She had no clue how to heal him, let alone take care of him. All sorts of new questions flew through her mind. What the hell was she going to do with what would normally be a solid hundred and fifty pound predator bleeding out over the carpet?

  She looked around the house, starting in the kitchen, yanking open cupboards and cabinets until she’d located a phone book. The phone above the light switch looked dirty but promising. If there were lights on, there was current, which meant she probably had a dial tone.

  In seconds, she’d managed to locate a phone book. A vet who dealt in wild animals showed up quickly and bandaged János. He gave the animal several shots to knock out whatever had possibly infected the poor beast, all while tranquilizing him so he could heal. The vet said very little to Éva.

  When he began stuffing things back into his black medic bag, she cleared her throat.

  “You’ll take good care of him?”

  The older man narrowed foreign eyes at her, ran a hand over dark hair and put said hand in the pocket of his white lab coat.

  “Do you know what he is?”

  “Yes.” She nodded enthusiastically. “This neighborhood is a little rough so having a wolf around will provide me a modicum of protection. I start work in a few days but can care for him if you’ll let me.”

  The vet nodded, his quizzical expression startling her. “Then give him these pills, three times a day. And make sure you change his bandages when he’s in his natural state. I’ll be in touch in a few days to check on things.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “Natural state?”

  The doctor paused, looked at Éva but said nothing.

  She put her hands on her hips. “What do you mean by his natural state? Aren’t all wolves in their natural state?”

  The doctor’s eyebrows rose. “Did you hit your head or something?”

  “No.” She shrugged.

  “Then why would you ask such a stupid question?”

  Éva didn’t think the question was stupid. Still, she shrugged. Did he know the wolf could talk? She hadn’t heard him say a word so she supposed not. “I don’t have your medical training. I guess it does seem stupid. Anyway, thank you doctor.”

  The man started toward the front door. Glancing over his shoulder, Éva saw the same eyes she had seen on János. Her jaw dropped.

  “What? You’d think you never saw another wolf. Good day, Miss.” With that, he turned on his heels and left her alone with János.

  What the hell was going on? Humans and wolves shared a connection?

  Something around the doctor felt weird, almost deep and powerful, yet he wasn’t threatening in any way.

  Hell, a man who worked with animals such as János had to have a large heart.

  Setting her hands on her hips, she looked at János. “Come on, János. We’ve got to get dinner ready and then get some rest for tomorrow. I want to turn this house into our home.”

  Coming Soon from Sascha Illyvich and City Lights Press.

  A Look at Kisses Fall (The Opeth Pack Saga 3)

  As a witch, Éva’s life with János is interrupted when a stranger named Álmos shows up on her doorstep
, looking for hospitality. He’s claiming to be her pack mate and that she’s truly a wolf who has forgotten her magic. Her lover János is wary of the newcomer, who unknowingly brings attackers with him that end up making János sick and in need of transportation back to Hungary where the soil contains nutrients to help heal the wolves. As the three navigate their relationship and figure out how to function in the pack, Éva is shown her truth; she’s a shifter like the others, and she has a sister. Meanwhile, the threat from the Nobles escalates to the point where one comes after Éva, claiming to be her lover.

  Coming Soon, from Sascha Illyvich and City Lights Press.

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  Thank you.

  Sascha Illyvich

  About the Author

  Sascha, who was proclaimed by the publishing industry as The Gentleman Playboy of Romance, started writing seventeen years ago. His erotic romances have been listed under Night Owl Romance’s and Road to Romance’s Recommended read lists, and he’s been nominated for a CAPA by The Romance Studio. Recently, Torn to Pieces was a USA TODAY Recommended Read.

  Sascha is a trained and experienced public speaker, and enjoys giving talks and teaching, particularly on aspects of romance, erotic romance, and writing.

  Sascha writes for City Lights Press, Assent Publishing, Red Sage, Secret Cravings Publishing, Sizzler Editions, Totally Bound, and Decadent Publishing.

  Find more great titles by Sascha and City Lights Press, here.