Natasha was going to apprehend her and bring her in alive. No kill-shots this time. It was imperative that they nail the bastards higher up in this organization. For the first time, her hand shook. Natasha eased her hold on the grip. She sucked in a deep breath. She had this.
Using one hand, she counted down. The deputy on the other side used a battering ram to take the door out. There was a loud crash and she entered the house gun-first, and was immediately met with a spray of bullets. Natasha leapt to the side, landing behind a sofa. The bullets had come from the room at the end of the hallway. Tessa’s bedroom. The sheriff had given a detailed layout of the property.
Back up against the sofa, Natasha waited until Tessa stopped firing. “This is Special Agent Walters, put down your weapon and turn yourself in.”
“Never!” Tessa shouted, sounding more like a mad person than the well put-together, pretty older woman she had met just the other day. There was another spray of bullets.
Natasha sat tight. She would be able to hear if Tessa was on the move. According to the infrared surveillance of the property, there was only one person in the house. Tessa Hoole was alone and afraid. A dangerous combination. “Your house is surrounded,” Natasha said between shots. “You may as well give yourself up. There is no escape. You’re leaving in cuffs or a body bag. I can’t guarantee it will be cuffs if you don’t surrender.” Unfortunately, that was true.
There was a sobbing noise from down the hall. It was filled with anger, fear and frustration. Tessa was a sitting duck and she knew it. “Okay.” She sounded defeated. “Fine.” Resolute. “I’m putting my gun down and coming out.”
This was the hard part. Natasha was under no illusion that Tessa was going to do as she said. She’d seen a rookie cop gunned down because he trusted a perp in a situation such as this.
“Do it!” Natasha shouted. She heard something thud onto the carpet. It sounded like a gun but she couldn’t be sure. “Kick the gun down the hall.”
There was a sliding noise of metal against tile. Natasha lowered herself almost to the ground. “Make sure you are standing where I can see you and put your hands behind your head.” She quickly glanced around the sofa, keeping her head as low down to the ground as possible.
Tessa stood in the doorway to her bedroom. Her hands were up. Her gun was on the floor in front of her.
“I said hands behind your head.” She was sure to use an authoritative tone.
Tessa did as she said. The other woman’s eyes were filled with hate and a ton of anger.
“Do not move,” Natasha instructed. Now for the trickiest part of all. She needed to come out in the open.
No kill-shot.
No kill-shot.
“Don’t try anything.” Natasha slid out from behind the sofa, keeping her gun trained on the perp. She rose to her feet, not taking her eyes off of the other woman for a second.
Tessa’s eyes blazed. “You’re a vampire loving bitch,” she hurled. “They’re going to inbreed with us until our blood is no longer pure. They’re non-humans. That means that they’re not human. You like fucking with something that isn’t even one of us?”
Natasha didn’t answer.
“Did you let that thing suck your blood?”
Natasha moved towards the other woman. She ignored the slurs.
“You did, didn’t you? It’s sick. It’s disgusting. You’re going to breed with that scum, aren’t you?”
Natasha turned her head slightly, keeping her eyes on Tessa. “You can enter.”
Just as she said it, Tessa went for something in the back of her jeans.
Shit! “No,” Natasha warned. “Don’t!” she shouted as she watched the other woman pull a gun. Why, oh why? This woman wasn’t an idiot so why was she acting like one?
She had no other choice but to act. Natasha pulled the trigger. She half expected to see Tessa slump lifeless to the ground. Instead, the weapon flew from her hand and she grabbed her right shoulder with a yell.
“Do not move!” Natasha screamed.
Tessa didn’t listen, she dropped to her knees and scrambled for the gun. What the hell? The woman had a death wish. Natasha kneed her in the face. Tessa flew backwards landing with a hard thud. She gave a yell and tried to scrabble up. Her one hand groping uselessly on the ground. Her eyes were wide and she made moaning noises.
“It’s over.” Natasha turned Tessa over and put her good arm behind her back.
“Just kill me,” Tessa moaned. “I’m as good as dead.”
There was a sound of loud footfalls as her back-up entered the building. “Tessa Hoole, you are under arrest.” She pulled the woman’s arm a little higher on her back. “You are going to talk.”
“Just kill me,” Tessa moaned.
28
Three months later …
Titan laid into the big guy. His blade glinted in the sun as it moved from side to side in wide arcs. He moved gracefully, so light on his feet. Almost too quick for her eyes to register.
Her senses had sharpened in the months she’d been there. She was stronger and getting even more powerful by the day.
Her mate.
A rush of emotion welled in her. A week yesterday. If it had been up to them it would’ve been sooner but as it turned out, beating bloodlust was tough. Really tough!
She couldn’t believe how brave he was. How hard he fought for her. For them. Her eyes filled with tears. She’d had to shoot him four more times.
All kill-shots.
When under serious threat ‒ and let’s face it, a vampire in the throes of bloodlust was as serious as it got ‒ when in that type of situation, she didn’t know how else to shoot. Her aim automatically lined up for the kill. So many years of training meant that she never missed at close range. Titan still had to work hard to fight his lust for her human blood. Every day. A work in progress. It was easier now that they were mated. Would get easier as she got even stronger. As she took on more vampire traits. Her blood was changing.
Call her crazy, but his bloodlust was one of the things she loved about him. Titan didn’t do things by half-measures. Not even close. He was passionate and fierce. His bloodlust was a symptom of that.
In the end, Tessa had grabbed at a deal with both hands and had named ‒ shock and horror ‒ none other than Richard Evans as one of the people involved. Just when they thought they would have to let the asshole go on grounds of it being her word against his, bartender, Simon, had IDed him in a line-up as the unidentified male who had been with his father in the hardware store. This event had taken place just prior to Jenna’s kidnapping. Richard Evans was suspended from the Bureau pending the investigation and it looked like they might just be able to secure a conviction. It was amazing how many women had come forward accusing Executive Assistant Director Richard Evans of sexual harassment, and in some cases even assault. This included her ex supervisor Kimberly Stewart. Her old boss had been quite emotional about the years of abuse she had suffered at the hands of Evans and even broke down on the stand. So, it seemed, that even if they couldn’t tie him to the vigilante groups, he would most likely go down for more than one case of sexual assault. The bastard!
Titan and the other guy clashed blades, bringing her back to the present. Sparks flew. The other guy ‒ much bigger than her mate ‒ staggered back. Yeah!
“Get him!” she shouted. “Take him out!” she added.
Titan went at the brute but he used his strength against Titan and managed to connect a fist to his face. It was Titan’s turn to stagger back. Dammit!
“Get him!” she yelled, clasping her hands around her mouth. “Cut off his head,” she urged.
Titan choked out a laugh, almost getting brained by the giant.
“Hey!” she shouted. “He was distracted. No fair!”
Titan put a hand on the big guy’s arm. “I’m sorry.” He was laughing so hard he shook. Titan finally looked her way. “You can’t say things like that, love.”
“Why not?”
H
e was grinning broadly. Looking so hunky she felt like she should pinch herself to remind herself that he was hers. Especially his heart. She owned that sucker. Titan lowered his blade. “Um … taking off a vampire’s head actually kills them … we’re sparring, remember? We’ve gone over this.”
“So, death and dismemberment are allowed but no decapitation?”
“Yup. That about sums it up.” He walked over to her.
“You are seriously hot when you’re fighting. Did I ever tell you that?” she said, under her breath.
“Most days.” He sheathed his sword and then picked her up. Natasha hooked her ankles around him.
Titan turned back to the brute, who was waiting patiently. “Why don’t you go and check on your mate, Lazarus?”
The big guy grinned. It was scary to see. Like he was getting ready to kill you but with a smile on his face. “Yeah! I’d like that, thanks. Little Luke and Kyle are the cutest. You and your mate should come ‘round some time.”
“Yeah, sounds great,” Titan nodded.
“Cheers!” the big guy shouted as he lumbered off.
“Lazarus’s mate just had twins. So …”
“He found a mate?” She looked after his retreating back. “That big brute actually found someone to procreate with?”
“Every now and then, miracles happen.” Titan shook his head.
“I’m joking. He seemed sweet.”
Titan looked at her like she had lost her mind. “Lazarus is nowhere near sweet. Enough with the small talk. Come sex slave, let’s go and get some good use out of you.” He tightened his arms around her and began walking back towards the castle.
Natasha looked at her watch. “I have a meeting with Brant in half an hour.”
Titan smirked. “I can make you come about four or five times in a half an hour.”
“You so cannot and I thought you were my sex slave. It was a part of our agreement.”
“We are each other’s sex slaves. And I definitely can make you come … let’s make that six times in a half an hour.”
“Bullshit. Do you want to bet?”
“Yes.” He couldn’t help but grin. “I love you so damned much.” He turned towards their apartment and took off in an all-out run.
Dear Reader,
Hope you enjoyed A Mate for Titan. I ended up loving him to death - literally. LOL!!
I decided not to put my next book out on pre-order this time around. Next up is Keto’s story – Book 7 of The Chosen Series. This book will be out beginning of August, so not too long to wait. Please look out for it. I would suggest that you sign up for my newsletter to stay informed - http://mad.ly/signups/96708/join. I send out freebie, sale and latest release emails – so, in other words, no spam. You’ll only hear from me if I actually have something to say.
Thanks for all the support!
Charlene
P.S. I included ‘A Mate for Brynn’ as a little bonus novella to say thank-you, so keep reading…
A Mate for Brynn: A Novella
Copyright June © 2017 by Charlene Hartnady
Cover art by Melody Simmons (ebookindiecovers)
Edited by KR
Proofread by Bridgitte Billings ([email protected])
Produced in South Africa
[email protected]
A Mate for Brynn is a work of fiction and characters, events and dialogue found within are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, either living or deceased, is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum
1
“You have to meet with the male.” Her brother leaned up against her doorjamb. Taylor folded his arms, his dark eyes tracked her every move.
“What would be the point?” Tiffany huffed as she fell back onto the bed. She tucked her hands behind her head. “Just because he’s an alpha …” She let the sentence die.
Taylor walked into her cabin, closing the door behind him. “He’s come all this way, Tiff.” He raised his brows. “The least you could do is just say ‘hi’.”
“Remember, I’ve met him before. He’s a sweet guy, but he’s …” she paused, “he just doesn’t do it for me.”
“Sebastian is an alpha. He’s a good guy.” Taylor let his hands fall to his sides and took a step forward. “Talk to him. You don’t have to mate him or anything. There are other females he could have …”
Tiffany could feel her cheeks heat.
Her brother had the good grace to look sheepish. “I didn’t mean it like that. You’re a catch. A total—”
She put a hand up. “Stop.” Tiffany rolled her eyes. She couldn’t help it. “Fine. I’ll talk to the male but don’t expect miracles.”
Taylor grinned.
“I said not to expect miracles. I can see that you’re getting ideas already.”
He shook his head. “What do you expect?” His gaze softened. “You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. You’re cute and intelligent and any male would be lucky to have you. You should’ve been mated already.”
Tiffany sighed. So what if she was already past the mating age? She hadn’t found the right male yet.
Taylor smiled. “Sebastian is here because he wants to be, not because he has to be.”
It was a pity she didn’t feel anything for the male. Aside from a passing interest, she hadn’t felt anything for any of the males she had met. Maybe she should make more of an effort to get to know a couple of them. Maybe love at first sight wasn’t the way it worked after all. It’s just that she’d heard her mama tell her and papa’s story so many times. How she’d seen him first, out of a whole group of males. He’d been in his wolf form. Even in his fur she’d been drawn to his sheer size and strength. When he’d shifted, she’d known instantly that he was her mate. The One. Tiffany expected the same to happen with her. An attraction so fierce that it could not be ignored or denied. So far, nothing stronger than a mild attraction on occasion. Not with any of the betas, or the seconds. Not even with an alpha.
Tiffany looked down at her rumpled t-shirt. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.” She locked eyes with her brother. “I need to freshen up.”
Taylor grinned broadly.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” she chided. “Go.” She shooed him with her hands.
Taylor nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.
She’d make an effort but there was no way she was going to town or anything. Tiffany grabbed a fresh shirt and replaced the rumpled one. Then she brushed her teeth and washed her face. Lastly, she ran a brush through her hair.
She took a quick glance in the mirror. Her eyes were her best feature. They were large and almond-shaped. A rich chestnut color fanned with long lashes. Her mouth was a little full, but overall, she was an attractive female.
She turned and gave herself the once over. Her biggest problem was her size, she was small for a shifter. As the daughter of alphas, she was a complete disappointment. Though her parents had never made her feel that way, she still knew it to be true.
At least two heads below the average height of an alpha bitch. Not that there were too many of those around anymore. She was even shorter than most of the other betas.
Tiffany huffed out a breath. She was small in all ways. No ass, no thighs and very little in the chest department. Even her wolf was small. Her only redeeming attributes ‒ her fur was a very rare white and she could run like the wind.
Shifter females were a rarity, so a fertile bitch like herself still attracted suitors despite her shortcomings.
After leaving her cabin, she made her way toward the male. Sebastian’s face lit up as he watched her approach. He wore a pair of low riding jeans. He was clearly an alpha. Tall, muscular, y
et graceful. There was an underlying power that radiated from him.
“Sebastian.” She forced a smile. What the hell was wrong with her? He was a prime example of a male. Thick, dark hair. Beautiful brown eyes. A chiseled jaw and a near perfect body completed the look, yet she felt … nothing.
“Hey, Tiffany. How are you?”
Great, this felt awkward. “Fine.” Make that, it felt both forced and awkward. “You?” she quickly added, shoving her hands into her pockets.
Sebastian looked pained for a moment and then let out a sigh. “I’m sorry! I’m not very good at this.” There were so few shifter females that their males had resorted to taking humans. It was a formalized process. A slow process. Males had to wait for their turn to choose a female. As a result, they got to spend very little quality time with females of the opposite sex. Other than their town runs which only happened every couple of months and didn’t leave much room for conversation.
Tiffany smiled. This time it felt more natural. “No worries! I know what you mean.”
“You probably have guys beating down your door.”
“Um … not really,” she answered truthfully. Then again, males used to come around all the time but she normally didn’t give them the time of day, so they had stopped coming. “Do you want to go for a walk?”
“Sure.” He smiled. The male was really sweet. She wanted to feel something. She knew that her parents wanted her to choose a mate and to settle down.
They picked up an easy pace in the direction of the river.
“How are things with your pack?”
“It’s been tough.” Sebastian cleared his throat. “Really tough, but I’m hanging in there.”
A Mate for Titan (The Program Book 7) Page 25
