Dane (Rise of the Pride, Book 8)
Page 18
The sun had been up for a few hours already, and the temperature was on its way to record numbers. She didn’t do more than wash and dry her hair before throwing it up into a sloppy bun. Her mates were waiting for her as she descended the stairs. Dane chose to drive them to the spot where their cottage would be built, and when they arrived, she immediately fell in love.
“This is perfect,” she said, wonder coating her voice.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Dane said, taking her into his arms. Cole took to her other side, and they stood there for the longest time, just taking in the quiet and peaceful scene before them.
She never planned on falling in love with two men, but the events of the last month had changed everything. They were all learning how to live and thrive in their new relationship, and she knew everything was going to work out for the best.
“I love you both so much,” she said, taking a moment to kiss them with the same passion. She never wanted either of them to think she had more feelings for one over the other.
“We love you,” Dane hummed as he took her lips again.
There was a thought somewhere in the back of her mind, reminding her they had to work today, but the beast who now lived inside her snarled at the thought. The panther and the female wanted nothing more than to take her mates back to their temporary home and make love until they were fully sated.
“I can scent your arousal,” Cole warned as he tightened his hold on her waist.
“Fuck, I forgot about that,” she blushed, but accepted the kiss from her mate.
Epilogue
Cole and Dane waited until Olivia was asleep before they silently left the room, closing the door behind them. Out in the hallway, Axel, Storm, and Kraven waited with their arms crossed over their chests. It was their duty to stay at the dorm to protect Olivia while the men left her alone for the next hour.
“She does not leave this room,” Dane ordered as Cole stripped off his shirt.
“Understood.” Storm nodded and found his spot closest to the bedroom door. “We will call out for the alpha if anything happens here. Be safe.”
“Will do,” Dane replied.
They didn’t speak as they exited the Guardians’ dorm. The moon was bright in the sky and there was no need for any light as they walked toward the forest behind the alpha’s home. The other males, along with the sheriff, had taken care of bringing the remaining male from the cartel to the pride’s land.
Cole had no idea which one had shot him, but he was soon going to end the male’s life for the things he’d done to him and his mate. Olivia had been saved, and so had Cole, but things could’ve ended tragically. If it wasn’t for the pride, they’d both be dead.
He paused in his steps when the clearing came into view. Deep in the heart of the land owned by Talon Shaw, a meadow sat empty of trees, but a man was in the center, tied to a pole that had been buried into the ground. As soon as their eyes met, Juan Esteban cursed in Spanish and spat on the ground at his feet.
“He is yours to do with as you please,” Dane whispered as they approached. “If it were me, I’d play with him a bit before you rip out his throat.”
“I like that idea,” Cole snarled as his panther made itself known.
The moment his eyes flashed amber, all of the smugness fled Juan Esteban, and the male began to fight his binds. Cole lifted one side of his lip when he growled at the male.
“You will not be leaving here alive,” Cole warned as he unleased one claw, slicing into one of the ropes that crossed over Juan’s chest. “We can do this one of two ways. You run, and I’ll chase you…or you die here. What will it be?”
“Fuck you,” Juan swore.
“Wrong answer,” Cole replied, slicing another rope. Behind him were the rest of the Guardians, making a circle around the meadow. “As soon as the last rope drops, you better run. If you make it to the fence, I will send your intact body back to your family for them to bury. If I catch you, I will send them pieces. Both results will be a warning to anyone else who may come here looking for me.”
The male screamed when Cole cut him free and shifted without removing his clothes. Dane was there, ripping at what was left of his jeans so the panther could hunt.
Juan didn’t make it to the fence line. He ran only thirty feet before Cole’s panther pounced, ripping at the cartel leader’s soft flesh, tearing him to shreds. The beast roared from the kill, relishing in the taste of his enemy’s blood.
The night ended, and so did the threat of the cartel. Cole kept to his word and shipped several boxes back to what was left of the cartel day by day for the next week, pinning a note to each piece, warning them to stay away for good.
The End….
A Letter from Me to You…
Readers,
With each book that releases in this series, I get emails and messages from you with questions about a host of subjects. Most of them are about the next book in the series, and what it’s about.
If you’re looking for spoilers, the answer is nooooooo. I refuse to give away anything {Insert evil laugh here}.
I’m sorry.
No, not really…
Dane’s book, and his relationship with two mates, has been planned since I wrote Talon. With paranormal, there is no “normal” to anything in their worlds. I always knew Dane would fall in love with a male and a female, because from the first time I wrote him, I knew he was going to be quite the kinky cat. I didn’t know exactly who he was going to be with until I wrote Savage. As Cole came to have a more important role in this series than just a guy who worked at the bar, I started to see something in his character that made me want more, and the first time I made the two males touch, not only did they feel a little spark…I did, too.
There was some worry about me throwing a ménage book into a predominately romance (non-erotic) genre series. Yes, I know this, and yes, I’m very certain my reviews will reflect that. I’m hoping it doesn’t.
I write every single book as the characters tell it to me. I’ve never drawn an outline to any of these books, and I don’t ever plan to. When I start writing a new book, I know where I want it to begin, and I know where I want it to end. The parts in the middle are all up to the characters in my head. I have never changed a storyline after it’s been written, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the outcome of my crazy thoughts.
I hope that you have enjoyed Dane’s story. Please take a moment to leave a review, and stay tuned for Booth’s book. I’m sure you thought Noah would be next, but you’re going to have to wait a bit longer…
Peace, Love, and Rock & Roll,
Theresa
For more information or how to contact Theresa Hissong, please visit:
http://authortheresahissong.com
www.facebook.com/authortheresahissong
Other Books by Theresa Hissong:
Fatal Cross Live!
Fatal Desires
Fatal Temptations
Fatal Seduction
Rise of the Pride:
Talon
Winter
Savage
The Birth of an Alpha
Ranger
Kye
The Healer
Morgan Clan Bears
Mating Season
Standalone Novella:
Something Wicked
Book for Charity:
Fully Loaded
Bad Girls of Romance:
The Huntress
Erotic Romance:
Rocked (A Rockstar Reverse Harem Novel)
About Theresa Hissong:
Theresa Hissong is the bestselling author of the Rise of the Pride series. She writes paranormal romance, rockstar romance, and romantic suspense.
She enjoys spending her days and nights creating the perfect love affair, and she takes those ideas to paper. When she’s not writing, Theresa spends her free time traveling and attending concerts all over the United States.
Look for other exciting reads…coming very soon!
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Theresa Hissong, Dane (Rise of the Pride, Book 8)