Heat 0f The Night (Werewolf Shifter Romance)

by Gaja J. Kos

I’d sworn to protect Hans from the blowback, cover for him before ICRA rolled in. But unconsciousness got in the way. Hans, for his part, hadn’t fled the scene either. With me down and Demyan in a similar state, it had been him who’d finished off the remaining weres, babysat Yuriy, and called the Agency to wrap up the entire mess. Looking at the vamp sitting on the opposite side of the utilitarian desk, the scar on his temple pronounced thanks to the frightening starkness of his features, I suspected it had been the latter that had truly saved Hans from ending up in a damn cell. Or executed on sight for the bodies he’d left behind.

  We hadn’t played by the book practically this entire time, but my brother had in the end. It counted for something.

  “I can’t thank you enough for that, sir.” My fingers fumbled with the loose fabric of my simple black pants. “It was me who brought Hans Freundenberger in as backup.”

  “So you should be the one to bear the consequences?” He cast me a dry, unreadable look, then rose and walked over to the window overlooking Munich’s old center. With that utter vampiric stillness ruling every inch of his body, Superintendent General Gabler was a damn scary sight to behold.

  I worked some moisture in my mouth, but the word I uttered was a resolute, “Yes.”

  If it hadn’t been for Hans throwing his lot with us, Demyan and I would have definitely died at that distillery. I still wasn’t clear on all the details, but from what little my brother and I could talk when they released me from the Fürstenfeldbruck facility before dragging me straight to Gabler’s office, Demyan had lost it when I went down. Lost it in the best possible way, though best was definitely a term I used loosely given his body had also shut down within a breath of death shortly after the explosion of murderous aggression. And that was where Hans had rolled in.

  Without Demyan or me getting in the way—and with the sight of us bleeding out on the damn filthy ground fueling the icy lethality my brother was made of—he’d issued shot after shot to keep the pack from descending on us like fucking vultures.

  Of course, without Hans, our mission would have probably ended right about the time Nikolaev’s enforcements had come spilling out of the surrounding buildings and from underground. Knowing myself, I would have rushed down there anyway. And ended up one slaughtered wolf all the sooner.

  “Hans Freundenberger acted with merit.” Gabler turned from the window, hands still clasped behind his back and gray eyes on mine. “His actions not only kept two of my agents alive, but enabled the capture of several individuals tied to one of the core Russian crime organizations.”

  Capture? Either Hans had had the foresight to wound the weres within an inch of their lives, or the bodies had led ICRA to more associates.

  Either way, I wasn’t about to question the vamp.

  Actually, I didn’t as much as breathe during this small pause that was anything but a reprieve, laced with uncertainty and anticipation.

  Gabler went on with a slowness I was sure was a deliberate means of further torturing me. “For your brother’s actions, Agent Freundenberger, you will face no consequences. And…”

  My heart stammered.

  “I do not intend to discipline you for the part you played in this mess.”

  “I—” My throat closed off. I cleared it, licked my parched lips, then tried again. “How come?”

  Gabler strode back to the desk and eased himself into the austere leather chair with vampiric grace that was almost at odds with his rough appearance yet projected a powerful impression of the ages this man had lived through. He might not be one of Violent Crimes’ killers, but he was definitely a terrifying motherfucker who’d seen a lot more blood than just the one he drank.

  Though, I suspected, the two often went hand in hand.

  He laced his fingers atop the mahogany desk. “Senior Agent Demyan Morozov knew he was acting out of line.”

  Each word sliced through me like a dagger.

  “He’s your superior and, from all the feedback I heard from the Violent Crimes division, a leader who earned your respect. I cannot hold your loyalty to him against you. As it is”—I sucked in a deep breath as he paused, briefly glancing through the window before lowering his gaze to the documents sitting on his desk—“his actions were his own. And for that, I have no choice but to release him from service.”

  “How is his transgression any worse than my own?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

  But even if I had the time to think things through, the question was valid. Demyan might have known he was acting against rules, going after his old pack on his own. But so had I.

  I could have stopped him, loyalty or not. Could have insisted we did this by the book once he’d told me everything.

  Instead, we tracked down every damn were with a connection to the pack and took matters into our own hands. Together. Because we fucking chose to.

  Gabler, however, didn’t seem inclined to debate the issue any further.

  “I said all I intend to on the matter.” He placed one long-fingered hand atop the file. “There’s something else we need to discuss.”

  As discreetly as I could, I eyed the folder. Thin. Unmarked.

  Possibly a document of some sort.

  He said he wouldn’t suspend me but—

  “I want you to lead the Violent Crimes unit.”

  An oppressive silence blocked my ears, only the Superintendent General’s words replaying in my mind. Sweat coated my palms, and I was pretty sure my heart was hammering loud enough for the vamp to hear without even straining.

  “Lead?” I croaked, then, when he nodded, added, “But I don’t have the qualifications…”

  Gabler leaned back in his chair, something almost akin to amusement breaking up the stoic facade of his features and adding a gentle curve to his scar. “We both know you should have been promoted some time ago. Effective immediately, you’re now Senior Agent Freundenberger. And, if you choose to accept it, the head of the Violent Crimes division.”

  Fuck.

  The storm raging within me was almost too much to contain. And fucking impossible to tame.

  This was a damn dream job.

  But it was one I’d get only because Demyan had lost it.

  Besides, I hadn’t been shitting him when I said I didn’t have the qualifications. Being an agent came naturally to me, but leading a whole team? Being responsible for their lives?

  Shit, that took matters to a whole other level.

  Yet at the same time, my gut was telling me I could do it.

  My coworkers were my pack. The natural instinct to protect them was there already. We had trust. We had respect. We had a relationship that ran deeper than most people had the honor to experience even once in their entire lifetime.

  I wouldn’t be able to stand by if ICRA appointed an outsider to lead the unit. They were mine. So, as much as I hated stepping into Demyan’s position before he even properly left it, I knew I’d accept the offer.

  Senior Agent Freundenberger.

  The head of Violent Crimes.

  “I’ll take that as a yes?” Gabler asked, his keen eyes undoubtedly reading the rollercoaster I’d gone through right off my face.

  I loosened a shaky breath, then straightened my spine. “I appreciate your offer and will gladly accept it. Under one condition.”

  I expected him to yell. To shoot me one of those cold killer looks that spoke all too well that I was just a little shit who should be grateful she wasn’t out of the job right now.

  But Gabler merely kept on observing me, almost as if he’d expected I wouldn’t go down without a fight. Or up—given I was headed towards my very own office as one of ICRA’s leading peeps.

  He leaned back and crossed his arms. “Name it.”

  “Morozov.” I licked my lips, discreetly wiping the sweat off my palms as I rubbed them against my thighs. “I want him on my team.”

  “He can’t be a Senior Agent—”

  “Then just an agent,” I said, this time with a lot more ste
el to my voice. “I don’t care if he joins us as a novice. He’s an excellent tracker, can keep a calm mind even in the worst situations, and is incredibly efficient out in the field for the type of work we do. That was the very reason he was offered the promotion in the first place, wasn’t it? When he transferred from the Russian office?”

  Gabler wasn’t surprised by the extent of my knowledge. A corner of his lips curled up in a lazy smile.

  The effect, while chilling, somehow put me at ease.

  “You present quite the case, Senior Agent.” He leaned forward and smoothed down his pitch-black tie. “If I approve this, Morozov will be under your command. Your command. If I catch even a whiff of you stepping back to let him lead from the shadows, you’ll both lose your badges. Do I make myself clear?”

  “So he—”

  “Agent Morozov can come back to work, yes. We can get the documents signed today after you get a taste of what it’s like to lead your own unit.” This time, as Gabler rose and offered me his hand, he didn’t contain the smile within a casing of ice. “Do right by them, Senior Agent Freundenberger. Regardless of the circumstances, this is something you earned.”

  Epilogue

  Demyan’s fingers closed around my throat as he thrust inside me, chasing his climax.

  My own orgasm built up like a storm.

  Searing sunlight filtered through the window and illuminated his powerful body, the clench of his muscles as he worked his hips. I wanted to close my eyes and ride the surge of release, but the desire to watch him won this particular battle. Shit, was he entrancing. Raw and harsh, yet the love and adoration in his eyes exuded such warmth, such affection, that the clash of qualities became a damn drug I knew I’d never get enough of.

  The gentle pressure on my throat increased, and the heat shimmering in my very core threatened to spill over.

  “Come with me, Greta,” he commanded.

  With his next thrust, I did.

  Demyan pushed inside me again, riding my climax until his own took over. We both screamed, grunted, growled, my body shattering yet feeling unimaginably whole at the same fucking time.

  No, I could never get enough of this werewolf.

  I shivered as he pulled his cock from me, then turned on my side so he could spoon me from behind. His warmth licked at my skin, the safety of his arms a sensation I craved to experience every single day for the rest of my life.

  Demyan kissed the back of my neck, then flipped me on my back and claimed my mouth.

  “You ready to get to work?” he asked and brushed his lips against mine once more.

  I snagged his lower lip between my teeth before letting go. “Are you sure you’re okay with this, Demyan?”

  “What? You leading Violent Crimes?”

  I smacked his shoulder. He knew what I was asking. But the damn tease would make me work for it.

  “Being your boss, you ass,” I play-snarled.

  I’d been leading the unit for the past week while Demyan was still in recovery. And loving it. Fucking loving it more than I dared to admit for a while before finally embracing that this…this was my calling.

  But today was the first time Demyan would be among my team members. The first time I’d act as his superior, holed up in the office that used to be his while he claimed my old desk out on the floor.

  I traced a finger along one of the fresh scars running down his chest. “You don’t mind?”

  Demyan snorted and brought his mouth to mine. His kiss was long, exploratory—a merger of our past, present, and the future we both wanted. I might have let out a moan when we parted at last.

  “I don’t give a fuck if you’re my superior, Greta.” He braced himself on one powerful arm and traced the line of my jaw with a finger. “You’re my mate. You’re the one I love. Even if you decide to be a hard-ass and bust my balls on the job, the only thing I’ll feel is gratitude for coming home with you afterward.”

  Tears stung my eyes.

  “I love you, too, Demyan.”

  He grinned. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  * * *

  Thank you so much for reading Heat of the Night! If you enjoyed Greta’s story, please consider leaving a review.

  If you came here after Transient Moon, you can continue Lotte’s story in Phantom Moon.

  If not, I kindly invite you to join Greta’s sister Lotte in the first book of her series, Shadow Moon.

  Last but not least, if you’re on the lookout for some more steamy paranormal romance set within the same universe, here are some titles you might be interested in:

  Succ

  Nightwraith series

  Paradise of Shadows and Devotion

  Acknowledgments

  It’s been an honor to give Greta a voice after years of her hanging on the sidelines. She was one of the very first characters who came to me, born before the Kolovrat Universe even truly existed in my mind. I’d like to thank her for all the stories she prompted just by sticking with me all this time.

  Of course, this book wouldn’t be what it was without the usual suspects.

  Lindsey R. Loucks, you’re an absolute star. All the praise in the world wouldn’t do the work you do justice. Your support means everything. Love you!

  Michelle Rascon, I don’t think I could ever be this calm publishing a book without your eyes on it—as sharp and as precise as a Black were’s claws. Eternally grateful for being your client.

  Linda, your kind words never fail to make my day. I hope I’ll continue delivering stories you enjoy.

  Boris, thank you for believing in me even when I don’t. I love you and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you in my life.

  Leeroy and Merkaba, as always, thank you for all the doggy joy. You’re the dream pack.

  And last but not least, a huge thank you to my readers. None of this would be possible without you.

  Love,

  Gaja

  About the Author

  Gaja J. Kos is a USA Today bestselling author with a mission to breathe fragments of Slavic lore onto many, many pages of fiction.

  She resides in Celje, Slovenia, with her husband and two Chinese Crested dogs.

  For more information visit:

  gajajkos.com

  Also by Gaja J. Kos

  FANTASY WORKS CO-WRITTEN WITH USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR BORIS KOS

  SHADOWFIRE TRILOGY

  Upper YA fantasy

  Evenfall

  Emergence

  THE IRON HEAD TRILOGY

  YA epic fantasy

  The Fox

  The Heart

  The Bird

  FORGED IN FLAMES

  New adult anti-hero epic fantasy

  SOLO WORKS

  ROMANCE

  SILVER FOX CLUB

  Steamy May December standalone novellas

  Cotton Candy

  KOLOVRAT UNIVERSE

  PRESENT

  BLACK WEREWOLVES SERIES

  Urban fantasy

  Novels:

  The Dark Ones

  The 24hourlies

  The Shift

  The Ascension

  Novellas:

  Never Forgotten

  Chased

  NIGHTWRAITH SERIES

  Paranormal romance

  Windstorm

  Blackstorm

  Nightstorm

  SUCC

  Standalone urban fantasy romance

  FUTURE

  PARADISE OF SHADOWS AND DEVOTION

  Standalone paranormal romance

  LOTTE FREUNDENBERGER SERIES

  Urban fantasy

  Shadow Moon

  Darkening Moon

  Transient Moon

  Phantom Moon

  SHADE ASSASSIN

  Urban fantasy

  Shadow World

  Shadow Lies

  HEAT OF THE NIGHT

  Standalone paranormal romance

  DAWN OF KOLOVRAT

  Urban fantasy standalone novella

  Destin
y Reclaimed