Hearts Unleashed: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

by C. D. Gorri

  She laughed. “My way of travel is faster.”

  Stepping closer to tower over her, he felt his lips lift in a sensual smile. “Yeah, but I like driving my car.”

  She shrugged and side-stepped him. “Suit yourself.” Then she vanished.

  Damn it.

  Chapter Eight

  Nyla let out a sigh of relief as she materialized inside of Kasen’s office. It was a good thing that she had been there before. Teleporting was a handy and quick way to travel, but it had its limitations. Like she could only teleport to places she’d been before. Place she’d never been, she had to focus on the area and hoped she got close enough to her destination.

  She walked into Kasen’s large office with a great view over the whole city with the mountains as the backdrop.

  The office had an elegant, rustic feel to it. Black titled floors and dark grey stone walls made it seem like she was in a fancy cave. The furniture carried on the grey and black color scheme. Even the computer was black.

  She was tempted to use her magic and change the color of something just to mess with the Alpha. Maybe another time.

  The door flew open and Nyla whirled around while forming an energy ball in her palm. Dalton frowned at her and advanced toward her. Nyla pulled back her magic and watched the male as she sat behind Kasen’s desk.

  Dalton dropped in a chair across from her, a smirk forming on his handsome face. “Did you kill our Alpha?”

  She snorted. “No, I didn’t kill your Alpha. He just doesn’t like to teleport.”

  After the computer fired to life, she stared at the login screen. “What Kasen’s birthday? Never mind.”

  It took her about three seconds to break into his computer and another few minutes to find what she was looking for—the server with the camera feeds. She traced the IP to the server. The following steps would take a bit longer because there were a lot of files to go through.

  “Grab your laptop and help me search through these files.” Nyla lifted her gaze at Dalton.

  He leaned forward to look at the screen. “What is that?”

  “Files on the server where I tracked the IP from the cameras around the pack circle.” She clicked on one and scanned through the thumbnails. Things would be a lot easier if the damn folders were labeled to hint at what they were.

  Dalton left and came back a few minutes later with two laptops. He sat one of them on the desk beside her, then sat back in the chair he was in moments ago with the second laptop. Once he was settled, she linked both computers to hers, well, Kasen’s, but she was using it.

  “There is a lot of files in here.” Dalton

  A few minutes later, Kasen and two of his enforcers filed into the office. Nyla understood why the space was as big as it was. With all the large male wolves there, the room seemed to shrink.

  Chance Becket was the head enforcer, and Tate Barnes was a senior enforcer. Both men were lethal, charming, and easy on the eyes. But neither made her insides melt like Kasen did.

  After a few moments, a few more enforcers she didn’t know entered and took their places around the room like it was second nature, or they had assigned seating. Kasen locked gazes with Nyla as he crossed the room to her.

  Towering over her, he raised a brow. She grinned, which made her nose wrinkle and pointed to the laptop and chair next to her. “Have a seat.”

  His lips curved into a sexy smile as he sat. He leaned into her, cupped her nape, and pressed his lips to hers. Her body lit up with liquid fire, and she fought off a moan. Even though she knew he was staking a claim on her in front of the enforcer, she couldn’t help be to lash out. She let her tiny fangs extend and nipped his lower lip, making him jerk back.

  “What was that for?”

  She poked him in the chest and pushed. “You didn’t ask for permission.”

  Someone chuckled and then coughed to cover it up. She glanced up and met Dalton’s amused stared.

  The taste of Kasen’s blood on her tongue sparked the wildfire of pleasure. She wanted more, but it wasn’t the time. Damn it.

  After a few moments, her tongue tingled, and a little thread formed in her core. Surely, she didn’t take enough blood to form a bond with him. Then again, Kasen had told her they were fated mates.

  “What’s wrong?” Kasen whispered in her ear.

  She waved him off and pointed at the screen. “I need to look through these files to find that guy I saw in the vision.”

  “What did he look like?” Kasen asked as he woke up the laptop.

  “Shaggy brown hair and grey eyes. He’s built like a shifter but not as build as you.”

  Dalton chuckled. “That narrows it down.”

  Nyla picked up a paperclip that was next to the keyboard and threw it at Dalton. “If you find a video or picture of a man show it to me.”

  Dalton caught the paperclip in mid-air. “On it. But we should plan to set up a trap for him.”

  Kasen nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. Since the cameras are still up, we should start a rumor that we will be holding a meeting at the pack circle.”

  “What if the creeper doesn’t do anything except watch?” Nyla closed out the folder she was in and opened another one. “We don’t even know what he wants. Besides, I don’t set traps.”

  “You track them down and kick ass.”

  Nyla glanced up at Chance and grinned. “Damn straight.”

  When she looked back at the screen, she froze. The man from her vision stared back at her from the video feed recording. She turned the screen for Kasen to see. “That’s him.”

  Everyone in the room moved to stand behind her and Kasen to get a good look at the guy. Chance was the first to speak. “I haven’t seen him before.”

  A lot of “me neithers” went around the room.

  Kasen took the keyboard from her and pushed her chair over to give him access to the computer. He backed up the video and paused it at the place where the guy looked directly at the camera. Then he opened up The Network app.

  The Network was a social media site for shifters. It was created by the former Alpha of Hunter Ridge, Travis Hunter, who was mated to Shayna—the sister of the Ashwood Falls’ leopard Alpha.

  Almost all the U.S. packs were on The Network. It was a handy tool to have during times like tracking down a rogue.

  Once he was logged into his pack’s page, he sent out a message to all Alphas registered on The Network, asking them if they had seen the man and to send any information they found to him in a private message.

  “How long do you think it’ll take to get a response?” Nyla asked. She wasn’t one to wait around, but in this case, she had nothing to go one. They didn’t even know the guy’s name.

  Chapter Nine

  “His name is Roz Tran.” Kasen read from the message that came from The Network about thirty minutes after sending out the mass email through The Network. “The last Darin Huston knew Roz was part of the Steelridge Pack.”

  Chase and Dalton cursed at the same time, but Tate said, “That can’t be good.”

  Nyla met Kasen’s gaze. “Steelridge?”

  “We have a history with the pack’s Alpha.” Kasen reached for the keyboard, but Nyla was already typing.

  “They have a profile.”

  Kasen rolled his chair closer to hers to read the screen. “It says here that Talon is the Alpha.”

  Tate growled. “You know that bitch most likely killed her father to be Alpha.”

  Chance nodded. “She is certifiably crazy, but I don’t think she is as crazy as her father.”

  That was true. Balan Brooks was mean, psychotic, and a sadist. Kasen knew Talon hated her father, so Chance’s theory was plausible. He took the keyboard from Nyla and sent Talon a message through the Network asking her if she’s heard from Roz lately.”

  A reply came back a few seconds later.

  Roz Tran is no longer welcome in my pack. He left with the other trash when I won the Alpha challenge.

  Kasen repeated Talon’s
message for everyone in the room to hear.

  Dalton shook his head. “I’m not buying it. She’s as crazy as her father.”

  “Maybe, but she isn’t our problem right now.” Kasen stood and looked down at Nyla. “Want to help me take down the cameras? There is no need to leave them up.”

  Nyla jumped to her feet. “Yep. Maybe I can get a read from one of the cameras so we can go hunting.”

  To his and his wolf’s joy, Nyla rode in the Range Rover with him. Now her scent would be in there every time he got in the vehicle. He wanted it everywhere.

  “What do you like to do for fun?”

  Her random question threw him a moment, then he chuckled. “You’re not having fun?”

  “I don’t like not knowing. It puts me on edge.” She ran her fingers over the armrest and followed the curve of the handle.

  Kasen snapped his gaze back to the narrow dirt road that led to the pack circle and his home. “Yeah. I’m the same. After we take down the cameras, I’ll shift and search the area to see if I can catch a scent.”

  “I thought the enforcers searched?”

  “They did, but my wolf wants to check for himself.” He parked the Rover in front of his cabin.

  Nyla turned in her seat to face him. “You don’t trust your enforcers?”

  “With my life. Everyone’s senses are different. Something what one person might dismiss, another would investigate more. Plus, I have fifty generations of Alpha magic running through my veins.” Among other things. He reached up and tucked some hair that had escaped her pony behind her ear and let his palm rest on her cheek.

  She watched him closely but didn’t pull away. “So, your wolf needs out to run, and you need to distract him with something to do.”

  Frowning, he drew back a little to study her. “Did you pull that out of my head?”

  She returned his frown and turned back to face the front of the vehicle. “My telepathy and mind control doesn’t work on you.”

  That was good to know. It wasn’t surprising because they were true mates. Instead of reply to admission, he opened his door. “Let take down the cameras.”

  She got out of the SUV and went off to remove the cameras. Giving her some space, he moved in the opposite direction. He sensed her desire whenever they were close and even more so when she bit him. A small link had formed right after that, and he knew it was the mating bond forming.

  Nyla wouldn’t be able to fight him off much longer. He was going to use that to his advantage.

  *.*.*.*

  She watched from the corner of her eye as Kasen moved off in the distance, knowing he was giving her space but for how long?

  Hell, she didn’t even know how long she’d last until she attacked him. That was the reason why she stayed away from him for so long. Now she was paying for distancing herself from her mate.

  She used her magic to rip the cameras from the hiding spots all at once. Kasen cursed from a few feet away, making her laugh. “Are you okay?”

  He stumbled out from behind a tree holding his head. The scent of blood washed away her amusement. She rushed to him and jerked his hand away. “I’m sorry.”

  He curled his fingers around her wrist and kissed her palm. “Don’t be. You didn’t do it on purpose.”

  Warmth drifted through that small thread between them that she started by biting his lip. She wondered if he felt it. Of course, he did. And she bet her ass that he was going to use it to get what he wanted.

  She was so screwed.

  “I’m still getting used to the telekinesis. It’s a tad stronger than I expected.” Her admission of a moment of weakness drew a smile to his lips.

  There was never a doubt that he was her mate. And she did want to be his more than anything. If only she weren’t a soul demon. The happy, fluffy feelings diminished. Before she could take a step back, He cupped her cheek.

  “You’ll master the next time you use it.”

  His confidence in her blew her away. No one except for her father and brother had shown her they believed she was strong. Kasen believed his own words. She felt it through the newly forming bond.

  He stepped away and stripped. She didn’t look away or even try to hide the fact that she found him gorgeous—every hard, lickable piece of him. Kasen Wilde wasn’t an overly muscular man. He had lean, well-defined muscles, board chest and shoulders, and a trim waist.

  Every inch of his skin looked like he sunbathed nude. If he did, she sure wanted front-row seats. On second thought, she would be the only one there. She’d eat any female who dared looked at him the wrong way. And not in a fun sexual way either. She’d strip the bitch of her soul and feed on her terror.

  Damn. She turned her back on him and closed her eyes. That last thought of hers was why she couldn’t complete the bond with him. Her darkness would pollute each member of the pack through the Alpha bond.

  A moment later, Kasen’s wolf rubbed up against her leg. She patted his head as she knelt down to be eye to eye with the beautiful animal. Kasen’s wolf was pitch black with a diamond shape white patch under his chin. Both man and wolf had the same piercing blue eyes.

  Taking his large head in her hands, she pressed her forehead to his. “Go do your thing. I’ll be okay here.”

  He licked the side of her face, making her laugh and push him playfully away. “Go.”

  After a brief pause, he ran off into the woods.

  Once the wolf was out of sight, Nyla went inside the cabin. She stood in the middle of the living room and inhaled his scent. But he wasn’t the only one in there. Hers was and several of the pack members. The combination of scents reminded her of family.

  Family she couldn’t be part of.

  “You just need to tell him why you hold back.”

  She whirled around toward the female voice and smiled. Erin Wilde entered the cabin. The youngest Wilde sibling was a lethal beauty. She was also the baby, and her three brothers protected her like a princess. In a way, she was.

  “Dalton said you were here.” She crossed the room to Nyla and drew her into a hug.

  “Kasen has been keeping me busy. And what did you mean by telling him? Tell who what?” Nyla played like she hadn’t a clue to what Erin was talking about.

  In a sense, she didn’t know. She figured it had something to do with Kasen, though.

  “Tell Kasen about your fears of mating with him.” Before Nyla replied, Erin held up her hand, indicating that she wasn’t done talking. “I’ll tell you what he will say. That your fears are a waste of energy.”

  “What do you know about my fears?” Nyla crossed her arms and glared at her friend.

  Erin rolled her eyes. “You’re afraid your demon will taint the pack. I’ll have you know dear friend, that is impossible because we already have demon blood that runs through the Wilde family.”

  She winked, then left before Nyla could question her more. Was that true? She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Erin’s number. The female was not ending the conversation that easily.

  Erin answered with, “Not tell you anymore. Ask Kasen. Bye.”

  She hung up, and Nyla sighed, then smiled. She was in Kasen’s house. There had to be something there that would give her some answers.

  Thirty minutes into searching the house, she found the largest bathtub she’d ever seen. It was like a fancy as hell indoor hot tub with stares that seem to down into the floor. The wall was made of black stone. When she turned on the faucet to fill the tub, water also cascaded down the black rock wall. “Oh, cool.”

  She was in love with a bathtub.

  Turning to the linin closet just inside the bathroom door, she found towels and a few of the bath bombs that Serenity makes and sells in her shop. They were all Nyla’s favorite scents.

  On the same shelf with the bath bombs was the shampoo and conditioner that she used. It didn’t fail her to notice that Kasen stocked the bathroom with things that Nyla liked. Gathering all relaxing smells, she set the shampoo on the edge of the tub, unw
raps the bomb, and then tosses it into the water.

  Then she stripped and slid into the warm water where she would wait for her mate to return from his run.

  Chapter Ten

  Kasen had searched every inch of the northeast quarter of his territory for a scent or a clue to who the hell this bastard was. He caught a scent that didn’t belong to anyone in the pack, but every time the trail went cold. His wolf growled as he moved through the forest on their way back to the cabin where their mate was.

  At least Kasen hoped she was still there and didn’t take the opportunity to bale on him again.

  When he reached the cabin, he inhaled. Nyla stayed. Her scent was fresh, but the house looked too quiet. The sun had started to set, making the forest darker than it was when he went searching for Roz’s scent. There should be lights on downstairs.

  Shifting into his human form, he rushed up the steps and burst through the front door. It hit the wall hard enough to bounce back and slam shut. But Kasen was already up the stairs and following his mate’s scent. Fear rude him hard as thoughts of finding her dead churned in his mind.

  He should have never left her alone. Not with Roz out there and they didn’t know what he wanted.

  As soon as he entered his bedroom, someone jumped him from behind. They barreled into him, knocking them both on the ground. Then the scent hit him—his mate.

  Instantly he took control over the situation so she wouldn’t hurt herself or him. She was obviously protecting her space and was out for blood. Or a soul. Flipping over, he wrapped an arm around the waist and tucked her under him. At the same time, he caught one wrist and holding it above her head.

  She growled and her demon fangs elongated. Her eyes were black. When she went for his face with her free hand, he grabbed and held it above her head with the other one. Then he tightened his thighs against her hips.

  “Nyla. Stop!” He hated putting power into his words, but she had gone completely demon on him.