Submission
The Unleashed, Volume 1
Mandie Stevens
Published by Mandie Stevens, 2018.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
SUBMISSION
First edition. December 28, 2018.
Copyright © 2018 Mandie Stevens.
Written by Mandie Stevens.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Submission (The Unleashed, #1)
Submission – Prequel to Grapple
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three | Lyla
Jack
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About the Author
Submission – Prequel to Grapple
Jack Harrington is a lover, not a fighter. The pack playboy is running from his responsibilities and for his life.
To save himself, he joins another pack, starting at the bottom, which is exactly where he wants to be. The Tampa pack is different than anything Jack’s ever known: these shifters fight MMA, and their leader is all business. Although he’s just a lowly dishwasher and errand boy here, Jack has no complaints until he’s assigned the menial task of guarding a human.
Lyla Johnson is nothing like werewolf girls. She’s free-spirited and sassy, a girl after his own heart. But if Jack gets too close, he’ll compromise everything he’s worked so hard to find. When Lyla’s life is in danger, though, Jack’s wolf takes over. And fighting is what the wolf does best.
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Submission
The Unleashed, Book 1
Copyright ©2018 Mandie Stevens
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy.
Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Chapter 1
Death stalked me. It had been after me for over three months, and it was only a matter of time before members of my pack caught up with me. The thing was, though, three months was more than most who crossed my brother got. Somehow, I’d escaped when I ran. I’d closed my eyes and taken a deep breath, as my finger hit my new destination.
My eyes opened. The Big Easy.
I guessed New Orleans was as good a place to die as any. It was better than the cold of Missouri.
The square downtown was crowded with tourists both young and old, enjoying the loud jazz blaring from everywhere. There was a sense of freedom in the air, but there was a pressing feeling of doom in my chest. Why was I even running? I was delaying the inevitable; my brother would catch me, and I would die.
How did we get to this? There had been a time when I idolized him. I’d followed him everywhere. Those days were long gone, and now he hunted me.
I paused in front of the cathedral. Even God couldn’t save me from my fate, but it was a good place to hide for a while. The pack was around three days behind me at most, but knowing my luck, they could be just around the corner. Half of them wanted me to be their Alpha, and the other half — my brother included—wanted me dead. He would get to me first.
I pushed the heavy cathedral door open and slipped inside. The afternoon sun peered through the stained-glass windows, and a sense of peace settled over me. The smell of frankincense reminded me of the cathedral at home, a home I’d never see again. I clutched my hands and rested my forehead on them. I needed to come up with a plan if I were to survive. Running wouldn‘t work. I’d be dead in no time.
I felt her presence before I saw her, and I scrambled to my feet. A tall, slender dark-haired woman leaned against the back of the pew where I’d been sitting. She must have just slipped in.
“You ain’t gonna be able to hide out here for long.”
Her accent was slow and drawn out. I narrowed my eyes.
“What makes you think I’m hiding?”
She shrugged her shoulder. “The way you were praying, and now you have a look of fear in your eyes. Like prey just waitin’ to be caught. Only wolves around here are partying or here for a reason. You don’t look like you’re having a good time.” Her dark eyes shifted to green like a reptile and back again.
She was the first nonhuman I’d met in a few weeks and I wasn’t quite sure what she was. Being near the bayou, I suspected alligator. While I was supposed to check in with any Alpha in the area, I was never anywhere long enough for that to matter.
I crossed my arms. “You seem to know a lot about me.”
“Well, darlin’, I know your kind. Y’all come here to escape your life. You’re standing like a gazelle waiting to be taken, and there are plenty here that will take advantage of that.” She leaned in closer getting a good whiff. My instincts took over. I stood and released a guttural growl.
A large smile spread across her face, and she winked. “Maybe you aren’t a lost cause after all.” She stood straight and motioned for me to follow her.
I narrowed my eyes. “You threatened me. Why would I follow you anywhere?”
She cocked her hip and crossed her arms. “Because I expect you haven’t checked in with Baptiste yet. Not that it would do you much good if he is in a pissy mood which he is, most of the time. As soon as he finds you, you’re dead for not checking with him before comin’ on down here.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “And who is Baptiste?”
“My brother, and he’s in charge of this area.” She shrugged and grabbed my hand.
I pulled my hand from hers. “And you’re taking me straight to him.”
“No, dummy. If so, I wouldn’t have told you about him. Duh. For someone so sexy, you sure are dense.”
I stared, my mouth open. “I supposed you’re helping me out of the goodness of your heart? Why? You haven’t even told me your name or asked mine.”
She leaned back against the door and shrugged. “You’re easy on the eyes, and then there’s the whole goo
d deed thing, ya know. Maybe I can amend for some of Baptiste’s sins?” She smiled. “By the way, I’m Valerie and you are . . .?” Her large blue eyes squinted.
“Jack.”
She held her hand out. “Are you comin’ or not?”
“Sure.” I nodded. What did I have to lose? I hadn’t come up with a plan on my own, and at this rate I would die soon anyway.
Valerie pushed the door open, stepping onto the street. The smell of fried donuts hit me hard, making my stomach growl. She reached down, grabbing my hand, pulling me along across the square to the vendors.
She paused in front of a table filled with the wares of an old woman, who crouched behind the weighted surface on a stool that was too small for her bulk.
The woman’s hiss reached me from behind the mass of items. “Val, where have you been?” Her eyes raked over me, disdain clear in the lines on her face. “I see you have another pet.”
“Mama, we need your help,” Valerie whined.
The old woman’s weathered face turned to me. “I suppose you haven’t checked in, have you?” She pursed her lips.
I shook my head, and she held out her hand. “The fee is $50.”
“For you to help me? Whatever.” I pulled out my wallet. I only had a $20 left. Thinking longingly of the donuts, I held the money out to her with a sigh. “This is all I have.”
The old woman grunted, snatching the bill from me then cut her eyes to Valerie.
“Please, Mama. I’ve got a good feelin’ about this one.” Valerie bit her lip.
The old lady sighed. “Give me your hand, boy.”
I sat in front of her table and held out my hand. She placed her right hand on the glass sphere that was in the center of her table and took my wrist in her other hand.
The old woman’s eyes shifted to reptilian, then she closed them. Her body trembled as she gripped me tight. I glanced at Valerie, who didn’t seem concerned, probably just to make sure I wouldn’t be, either.
The older woman’s eyes shot open, and she gripped my wrist tighter. “Open your hand.” She peeled my fingers apart and traced the line across my hand.
“You can’t keep running, boy. Your destiny will catch up with you. When the time comes, you need to remember who helped you. Now go! Baptiste is coming.” She dropped my hand and turned to Valerie. “Take him to Roderick’s. Now!” The old woman’s voice broke.
Valerie looked over her shoulder at four men coming around the corner. She cupped her hand in mine. “Act normal, but walk fast and follow me.” She blurted.
She didn’t have to tell me twice, Valerie pulled me through the crowd in the square. Hugging the building, we hurried then turned right on Bourbon Street.
“Who in the hell was that?” I dropped her hand and stopped.
“My brother and my cousins. You’ve been spotted, and now they won’t stop until they get you.”
“But I haven’t done anything.” I looked around.
“Well, you didn’t check in, and they saw you with me, so that made you an extra target. Duck in here, you’ll be safe. Don’t leave until Roderick tells you that the coast is clear.” She opened the door and leaned against it as she looked down the street. “Don’t worry, they’ll keep following me. Dem boys are too dumb to track your scent and Roderick is the best warlock around, he’ll keep you safe.”
I looked above the door, seeing that there was no sign marking it. Just a plain blue door. “What about you? What happens when they catch you?”
“Awwww, you care. That’s so sweet, silly boy. Nothin’ will happen to me besides a tongue lashin’. They know not to mess with me.” Valerie leaned in and kissed me, her lips cold and wet. “All right, lover boy, take care of yourself and remember what my mama said. You can’t keep running.” She shoved me through the door and shut it behind me.
The smell of musty books hit me hard, reminding me of my father’s library. I’d spent a lot of time with him there. The memory twisted in my chest, and I ground my jaw. Charles needed to pay for what he did to our father, but I wouldn’t be fighting. I’d have to let karma take care of him. He was faster and stronger. I’d barely gotten away. I still had the bite mark on my side to prove it.
“Hello?” I called out to the empty room.
A stumpy goblin pushed a curtain to the side and hobbled toward me from the back of the room. “Bartholomew, about time boy. Roderick has been waiting on you. You’re late!”
I turned to look behind me, there was no one else he could be talking to. I tossed my hands. “How can I be late? I never planned on coming here. Please, call me Jack.”
The goblin’s skin was the color of ash, and his lips were oversized for his face. We’d had a colony of goblins near my father’s home in England, but I’d never seen any here in the States.
“Don’t get lippy with me. Come on. Roderick is on the phone with your mother.”
A moan escaped me, I didn’t care what she said. I couldn’t go back. Charles was too powerful, and he’d want to fight me for alpha. He could just have it. I didn’t want it, and I sure in hell didn’t want to die. Even my mother couldn’t protect me.
The stumpy man headed back through the curtain where he’d come from. If I left here, I’d have to deal with Vanessa’s brother, and if I followed the goblin, I’d have to deal with my mom.
I sighed. Well, at least it was only a phone call. I reluctantly followed him.
“Yes, yes. He is here, but he can’t go back. You and I both know that.” A white-haired man with spectacles sitting on his nose had a rotary phone to his ear. Books were piled over every surface but for a small desk and path to sit behind it. “This will work, I promise. It has been prophesied, and even you can’t change that.”
The man held the rotary phone out and I frowned, placing it to my ear. “Hello, Mother.”
“Bartholomew, this is absolutely ridiculous. You should come home so we can properly deal with this.”
“So Charles can kill me, with you watching? No thanks, Mother. You know I can’t come back. Even Roderick—whoever he is—said I can’t go back.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“Fine. I thought you would say that. You need to listen to everything that Roderick tells you to do. Everything. Bartholomew, this is the only way you will survive.” She hung up on me. As usual she was abrasive and short. I turned to the man who had a huge smile on his face.
I narrowed my eyes. First, he’d known I was coming, and now he was working with my mother? I didn’t trust him, but I didn’t have much of a choice.
“What are you getting out of this?” My mother had to be paying him.
The goblin hobbled in with a plate of beignets, fried donuts covered in powered sugar. He set them on the table between Roderick and me. The old man nodded, and I grabbed one in each hand.
“Doing a favor for one of, if not the most powerful werewolf clans in the world can’t hurt. Besides, dear boy, you are someone I want on my side.” The old man looked over his glasses at me. “I’m sending you to Tampa. We’ve a lot to do before you leave.”
Chapter Two
The humidity was stifling and steam rose from the street, but it was better than the bus that had brought me here. Who knew when the dude next to me showered last, and that was saying a lot.
Luckily, I’d showered and eaten at Roderick’s house. The goblin, Tunick, had packed me a bag with fresh clothing and insisted I take food with me to eat on the bus. I was lucky he let me shower on my own, I didn’t think Roderick had the same luxury.
I turned the corner and stood in front of the convention center. A slight breeze from the Gulf kicked up, giving me some relief to the heat. I tucked the amulet into my shirt. The warlock had given it me to mask my shifter scent, making me smell human. No one needed to know I was here until I was ready.
Tonight’s event at the arena started in an hour, and I needed to change my clothing. But first I needed to eat. I slipped my bag off my back and pulled out a sack of fast food. It was easy, and I could be
inconspicuous. The more I kept my head down, the better. Across from the convention center were brick buildings. I ducked into the alley way and spotted trash cans, a great place to change. Leaning against the door in the alley way, I reached into my bag. The door creaked open. I turned, pushing the door open with my foot and stepping inside. This was an even better place to change. The stairs in front of me were dark, but at the top of the stairs, a light shone through. I followed the railing up the stairs.
At the top of the steps, the door was open. I pushed it with my hand to find a wide, open room with large windows that looked straight across to the arena. This couldn’t be more perfect.
I stepped in. The large room smelled musty and dark, except for in front of the window where a stream of sunlight illuminated the corner. My senses spiked, and I heard a clatter coming up the stairs.
“What are you doing in here, boy? You don’t belong here. This is mine.” I turned to find an old man standing in the doorway holding a bucket filled with change. His face was sunburnt, and he had on heavy green jacket, which in this heat only made worse the body odor wafting from him.
He hobbled over to the corner sat down on a lone dirty blanket. “I know what you are. You is one of them dogs.” He cowered in the corner.
I didn’t blame him. I’d heard of how some supernaturals treated humans. For the most part, my pack stayed away from humans.
I clutched the pendant under my shirt. It should have masked me from everyone. Even under all the smell, this man was clearly human.
“I’m not sure who or what you think I am, but I promise you, I mean you no harm. Here, take this.” I walked toward him and extended my sandwich. He needed it more than I did, anyway.
He cowered further into the corner. “Don’t—don’t touch me.” He growled, reeking of fear and filth.
I shook my head and tossed the sandwich to him, watching it land at his feet. I turned my back, stalking towards the window. This place was perfect for what I needed to do. I was right across the street from the convention center, and I could see who was coming and going.
Submission MMA Shifter Urban Fantasy: (The Unleashed Book 1) Page 1