by Gena D. Lutz
“I am happy to see that you are safe,” Nathan said, putting his hand on my knee as he sat in the recently vacated chair next to me. “I should know by now that it’s not wise to leave you alone even if it was so I could get you this,” Nathan reached in his coat and pulled out a box. “I guess I will have to wait until later to give it to you.” He winked at me.
Nathan tucked the rectangular, black velvet box back into his pocket.
I settled my hand on his and leaned in close to his ear, making sure my lips grazed the curve of his jaw. After a small nuzzle, I said, “You’re such a tease.”
The soft, seductive tone of my voice brought his eyebrows up. He turned his head so he could capture my lips. They hovered over his smooth chin, only an inch from his, but instead of locking onto his sweet mouth I quickly turned away. Nathan groaned.
Two could play at that game.
“You’ll pay for that later,” He said with a low, sexy growl.
I was counting on it.
The Adelphi leader cleared his throat. All sound in the room extinguished. Collin walked over to the bank of monitors that lined the far left wall and pulled out a rolling chair. Gesturing to Ember, she walked over and took a seat in it. Collin was always the gentleman.
“As most of you already know, the compound suffered a massive security breach tonight.”
Everyone nodded. A few wolves let out whispered curses.
“My mate’s pack suffered a terrible blow because of this breach. Sadie, her second in command, was taken in what we believe was a failed attempt to kidnap our son.”
The roomed swelled with the sudden intake of breath. Milo slammed his fist into one of the lockers. Collin turned and pinned him with a heavy glare.
“Are you able to control yourself, soldier?” he asked the stricken wolf.
Milo leaned against the same locker he’d just beat the crap out of. After putting his head against his forearm he just nodded. The little white furball, Mojo, was also visibly stricken. She sat at Milo’s feet, leaning against his legs.
“Good. I can finish then,” Collin said, this time with a more compassionate tone.
I looked over at Milo. He was hiding his face in the crook of his arm, so upset. I wasn’t aware that Sadie and he had become close, but it was obvious something was going on between them. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Collin’s commanding voice.
“Because of this direct attack against the Adelphi, I have no other choice but to declare war on Tyson and his Gatherers. They are no longer protected under the laws of our world. They are to be put down on sight and we will take no prisoners this time. They have been tried and found guilty by myself and the power given to the Adelphi by the collective group of elders. ”
Collin’s words rang in everyone’s ears, as the meaning of what he declared sank in. It left us with nothing but a heavy silence that settled like dust on the ground.
“What does that mean?” I asked Nathan, trying to whisper low enough for only him to hear. Not easy to do in a room full of werewolves and a vampire.
“It means that a lot of people are about to have a very bad day,” he whispered back.
Nathan pulled something from his pocket. When I looked, I saw that it was the black velvet box he had tucked away earlier. I watched on from our bed as his hand slightly shook when he opened it.
“This belonged to my great-grandmother,” He began to explain as he sat down next me. The mattress dipped against his weight, making our hips rub together.
“She left it to me with very strict instructions to place it around the neck of my truest love.”
My heart was thudding like a jackhammer as he pulled the necklace from its box. It swayed like a jeweled medallion between us as he unclasped it.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, reaching out to run a finger over the diamond and sapphires that adorned it.
The diamond was the size of a quarter; I had never seen anything like it before. The teardrop shaped gem was surrounded by several deep blue ones, and even in the dim light, the stones gave off a light show that could rival anything in Vegas.
He swept my hair to the side and circled his precious gift around my neck. My hand shot straight to it, not believing it was actually there. Nathan had just given me something that was extremely important to him, a gift straight from his heart. I squeezed the cool stone between my fingers. I would cherish this gift of love, his grandmother’s heirloom, for the rest of my life.
“Do you like it?” he asked nervously.
With tears in my eyes, I jumped him. We toppled off the bed, landing in a tangle on the ground. In silent answer to his question, my mouth searched out and found his. I kissed him with lust filled hope, desperate abandon, hard won trust; filled so fully was this kiss that it easily conveyed my intentions, it was an eternal promise of love.
Other Works by Gena D. Lutz
For Prime-Werewolf Ember Stilwell, life has been far from normal. Decades ago, a vengeful Witch cursed her Pack, leaving the women of her line incapable of feeling love. When an organized group of immortal killers begin to stalk and capture wolves from her pack, she sets out on a path fraught with danger. Just when it seems the world as she knows it will be changed forever, she meets Collin, an Alpha Werewolf with a body built for sin. As her heart begins to heal, she comes to find that the demons of her past are not nearly as dangerous as the nightmares she will be forced to face in her future. Can finding her true love conquer all? Or will the ability to feel for the first time be overshadowed by losing everything else she holds dear?
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Gena D. Lutz lives in the blistering heat of Arizona with her husband and four kids and two very high maintenance dogs, a Chihuahua and Australian Shepard. When she is not busy writing, Lutz can be found watching the classics, like Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, marathon style. Lutz enjoys reading, riding horses, playing poker and looks forward to the day she can travel the world.
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