by Brenda Trim
Ravin
Hollow Rock Shifters Book 4
Brenda Trim
Tami Julka
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
EXCERPT FROM Impeached BOOK #5
Authors’ Note
Other Works By Trim And Julka
The Rowan Sisters’ Trilogy
Untitled
Copyright © February 2019 by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
Editor: Amanda Fitzpatrick
Cover Art by Maddie Trim
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writers’ imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction of this work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the authors.
Created with Vellum
My soul is a wolf ruled by two moons. One beckons me into darkness. The other is calling me home.
Chapter 1
Cassie climbed from the back seat of Liv’s Jeep, and frigid air slapped her face. The temperature accentuated the emptiness in her soul, and she sighed. The past few weeks were the loneliest she’d felt in years, and that was saying a lot. Shaking off her negativity, Cassie huddled in her down-filled jacket and cursed when she realized she forgot her gloves. Tennessee winters were unpredictable, and the new year had started with a big, freezing bang. In more ways than one.
Snow crunched underfoot as she joined Liv and her new husband, Lawson. Cassie still hadn’t forgiven herself for not attending their celebration party. It was selfish and shitty, regardless if Liv said she understood why Cassie declined their invitation. She never wanted to be that woman who allowed her feelings for a guy to interfere with plans made with friends.
To make matters worse, she wasn’t even with Ryan when she bailed on Liv. What a friend she was, she thought as they walked toward the building. The ugly truth was Cassie was so depressed about Ryan, she couldn’t drag her ass out of bed to share in her friend’s joy.
She glanced at the entrance to Smith & Kimbro and took a deep breath. She was beyond nervous about seeing Ryan. It had been a few weeks since they captured him and brought him to Liv’s facility for treatment. He wasn’t happy about his current situation, but it was for his own good.
“Thank you for bringing me here. I know this is the last thing you wanted to do on New Year’s Day,” Cassie stated and looked over at Liv.
She was grateful Ryan was safe, even if he didn’t agree. Liv was part owner and head scientist at S&K, so Cassie couldn’t have hand-picked a more capable doctor of helping the man she loved. Even if he ditched her. She reminded herself for the millionth time the Ravin was in control of Ryan, but it didn’t make her feel any better.
The worst part of it all was knowing Ryan might not ever come back to them. Cassie refused to accept that fact. She couldn’t go there right now. She wanted, no needed, the man she loved back in her life.
Liv stopped at the glass door and rummaged through her handbag. “Don’t mention it, Cass. We planned on coming by today,” her friend replied as she pulled out a lanyard. The attached metal keys clanged together like chimes on a windy day.
Cassie snickered as she stared at the canvas strap decorated with images of wolves. Only those close to Liv understood the meaning behind it. Liv was mated to a wolf shifter, and her collection of items depicting the beautiful animal was growing by leaps and bounds.
“Um, any day, Sunshine. My balls are freezing over here,” Lawson teased as Liv struggled to open the door.
“Oh, bite me, Outlaw. How fast chivalry dies once you say I do,” Liv countered and bumped her hip against the handsome shifter.
Cassie smiled at the playfulness between the couple. She envied their love and devotion, and couldn’t imagine a better man for her friend.
Lawson reached over and gently took the keys from her hand then opened the door on his first attempt. “Showoff,” Liv commented with a smirk.
“After you, my lovely,” he said with a wink as he held the door open for Liv. “Oh, and you, too,” he joked, glancing toward Cassie.
“Thanks, Footlong,” Cassie countered, referring to the nickname she recently gave Lawson.
She’d never forget seeing the man, bare-ass naked, during one of their searches for Ryan. When shifters were in wolf form, no clothes were needed, but when they resumed human form, they were left wearing nothing but their birthday suit. There was no denying his impressive manhood, hence the silly term. Truthfully, Ryan put him to shame in the endowment department, but Cassie enjoyed razzing Lawson about it.
Her chest constricted as she thought about the shifter she loved. Apparently, the reminder to guard her heart was falling on deaf ears. That figures, she thought bitterly. She had terrible taste in men, always drawn to the bad boy in a crowd. And Ryan was the quintessential bad boy.
As they entered the building, Cassie’s thoughts dissolved as a deep, bone-chilling roar echoed through the quiet space. It reminded her of a scene from a horror movie. A loud boom followed the ear-piercing sound, and Lawson and Liv took off down the hall with Cassie five steps behind.
She cursed her short legs when their lead increased. Liv was a good four inches taller than Cassie, and Lawson was easily a foot taller than Liv. She felt like a midget and had to run twice as hard to keep up with their pace.
The three rushed into the room where Ryan’s holding cell was located, and Cassie’s mouth dropped. The area looked like a tornado blew through and tore it apart. The devastation was so widespread Cassie glanced up to make sure the ceiling was still attached.
It was evident the Ravin was still in control of Ryan’s body. For months, Ryan denied what was happening to him. Too many times, Cassie saw the tell-tale signs that he was losing the battle within, but he refused to discuss it with her. Now, she wished their relationship had revolved around more than sex, but at the time it didn’t seem major.
Admittedly, their five months together had mostly been spent between the sheets. The irresistible shifter had Cassie on a one-track course of wild sexcapades, and she acknowledged she was weak when it came to the sweet-talking, sinfully sexy Ryan Scott.
As she gaped at the creature in the cell, Cassie recalled everything she recently learned about aging wolf shifters. As they neared eighty years old, the chance of turning Ravin increased significantly. If they fell victim, their minds and bodies were taken hostage by a vicious creature Cassie could only describe as a werewolf. And, that’s precisely what was staring her way.
She didn’t see a hint of the handsome man she’d spent the last several months humping and grinding at every chance. No, the creature before her was covered in long hair over thick skin, and its elongated snout revealed large canines jutting from its jaw. What she wouldn’t give to see her blond-haired, blue-eyed boyfriend. She missed him more than she cared to admit.
Another lo
ud bang startled Cassie, drawing her out of her thoughts. A wooden dresser smashed into several pieces on the concrete floor. Clothes were strewn about his cell, and several books were tattered and destroyed. His mattress was ripped in half, and its stuffing littered the floor.
“What the fuck?” Lawson yelled, grabbing the Ravin’s attention.
The creature spun around and met Lawson’s gaze. It gnashed its teeth and growled at Lawson.
“Ryan, it’s me, bro. I know you’re in there. You need to come back to us. So much has happened and I need to talk to you. I miss you,” Lawson pleaded as he stepped closer to the metal cage.
Cassie watched Liv walk to a desk near the cell and pick up a clipboard. The Ravin snatched a piece of the broken dresser and hurled it at Liv. The wood smacked against the iron bars and cracked before falling to the floor.
“Why are you doing this, Ryan? You like Liv. Remember what I told you? She’s my life mate now. She’s family,” Lawson reminded his brother, and Cassie watched to see how Ryan would react. Family mattered a great deal to Ryan, and she couldn’t imagine him trying to harm his brother’s mate.
The Ravin narrowed its eyes and stalked to the bars. “What makes you think I care?” he growled.
His raspy voice grated against her skin, and Cassie shuddered. It sounded nothing like Ryan’s low, sexy drawl.
“Ryan cares!” Cassie roared at the creature as she finally found her voice. Anger rose as she stared at the hideous monster that took Ryan away from her. “Let him the fuck out,” she demanded.
“He likes it in here. We don’t want you,” the Ravin hissed as it glared her way. Cassie saw nothing but contempt in the creature’s eyes.
“Fuck you,” she shouted and charged the cell. Her fear for Ryan combined with anger at the situation took over before she could stop her actions.
The Ravin reached out and grabbed Cassie around the throat, and she screamed. Lawson lunged forward and grabbed the creature’s hand and pulled, but its sharp claws dug deeper into her flesh. Cassie felt warm liquid trail down her neck as she gasped for air. This thing that Ryan had become was going to kill her, and she was helpless to do anything to stop it.
Her vision blurred and Cassie’s chest ached from lack of oxygen. Absently, she thought she heard footsteps run from the room. Was that Liv running off? If so, why? Cassie needed help and fast. She didn’t have to contemplate long because, in the next moment, the Ravin’s menacing laugh echoed in her ears. Cassie’s ears were ringing as the awful sound bounced around her skull.
Liv suddenly shouted, “Laugh at this, asshole.”
Cassie tried to look over her shoulder to see what her friend was doing, but she couldn’t move. And then a low growl pierced her ears, and Cassie saw a dart lodge in the Ravin’s cheek. The creature released its hold on her neck then yanked the metal tip from its face. Cassie quickly scrambled out of harm’s way, clutching her bleeding throat.
The Ravin went berserk, pounding the metal bars and Cassie cupped her ears against the deafening sound. Could the cage take such a beating? God, she hoped so. Cassie couldn’t believe this creature was Ryan. She’d never seen such violence before, let alone from Ryan, and couldn’t help but wonder if they would ever get him back.
In the next blink, Cassie felt strong arms around her waist and looked to see Lawson carrying her away from the cage. Liv was right beside them, and they rushed out of the room. Liv locked the door behind them as Lawson set Cassie on her feet.
Cassie’s mind whirled, and her heart raced as she tried to wrap her brain around what happened. She glanced down and noticed her hand and sleeve were covered in blood.
“My, God. Are you alright?” Liv blurted as she spun Cassie around, inspecting her neck.
“I have no idea. I can’t feel much. That thing can’t be Ryan,” she muttered, suddenly feeling faint. “Am I going to bleed to death?” It was difficult for her to determine how severe the injuries were when all she could think about was the rage on that beastly face. She might love horror flicks, but when it came to a real-life crisis, she was a first-class scaredy-cat.
Cassie wasn’t a badass like Liv. Her friend went toe to toe with a female shifter that wanted Lawson as her life mate, and Liv won. In a fight to the death. Hell, she got queasy just seeing other people’s blood.
Cassie froze as a thought suddenly struck. Was it possible she could turn into a werewolf? Its claws broke her flesh. She had no idea what it meant to get attacked by a Ravin or the side effects.
Liv rushed into the room next to Ryan’s then returned, holding a towel. “Here, apply pressure. The wound doesn’t look deep, but we need to stop the bleeding,” she explained.
“Shit, do I need a tetanus shot or something? Am I going to turn into one of those fucking things?” Cassie shouted.
“No, you won’t. You’re going to be fine, but I’ll give you a shot of antibiotics just to be safe,” Liv reassured as she helped Cassie secure the towel around her neck. “Come with me,” Liv added and led her and Lawson to a lab a few doors down the hall. Liv quickly gathered some supplies and pointed Cassie toward a nearby chair.
“What the hell is happening to him? He’s not responding to treatment like Jerry did. Why, Liv? Is this not the cure for Ravins, like you thought?” Lawson asked, and Cassie saw the terror in his eyes. She squirmed in her seat, wondering the same thing.
“Be still, Cass. I need to clean the wound,” Liv ordered, and Cassie tried not to move.
With gentle hands, Live swabbed her skin. When Liv picked up a large needle, Cassie turned away and winced as Liv administered a shot in her arm. After that, Liv wrapped gauze around the wound and Cassie released a heavy sigh she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She was genuinely pathetic when it came to bravery.
Cassie looked to Liv, thinking about Lawson’s words. It was true. Ryan had received several blood infusions with no improvement.
During Liv’s research to cure cancer, she accidentally discovered that blood from a shifter that had shared its life force with a mate reversed the effects of turning Ravin. That was what healed another shifter, Jeremiah Winger. Unfortunately, Ryan wasn’t experiencing the same results. If anything, Ryan was worsening.
“Liv?” Lawson asked, his agitation sharp.
“I heard you. I’m thinking,” Liv snapped, and Cassie acknowledged the situation with Ryan was stressful for all of them. “I don’t have any answers, Lawson, but I’m going to figure this out. We helped Jeremiah, and we will do the same for Ryan. You have to trust me,” Liv told her husband and reached over to caress his cheek.
Lawson nodded and pulled her close, holding her tight. “I do trust you. I just hope we get some answers sooner rather than later. I feel like the longer the Ravin has control, the harder it will be to get through to him,” he confessed.
Cassie’s heart dropped to her feet, leaving a hollow ache behind. She agreed with Lawson and hearing him say it aloud made it worse. She buried her face in her hands, trying to hold back the tears.
“Oh, God. I’m so sorry, Cass. That was completely insensitive of us. I know you’re worried about him,” Liv admitted and crouched, so she was eye-level with Cassie. “I’m going to bring Ryan back to us. To you. I promise,” her friend added.
Cassie met Liv’s green eyes and saw sheer determination. If anyone could help Ryan, it was Liv. She admired her friend’s perseverance and quick mind. The woman solved problems faster than most could begin to understand what they faced.
“You better, dammit. He’s the first man I’ve dated for longer than three months, so we’re practically engaged,” she joked, feeling a smidge better. She had to believe Liv would solve this problem and bring Ryan back to them.
“No doubt. Ryan’s a keeper for sure,” Liv said with a wink. “Let’s go back to Safe Haven and try again tomorrow. After all, he’ll be sedated soon, so there isn’t anything else we can do tonight,” Liv divulged as she helped Cassie to her feet.
“I suppose you’re right. Mind
if I stay in Ryan’s room at the hotel?” Cassie asked as the three of them walked toward the front of S&K. Tomorrow was another day, and she wasn’t giving up on Ryan, either.
“Of course. Stay as long as you want. How will you handle things at work?” Liv asked as they exited the building then she locked the main door.
“I’ve got plenty of vacation time if I need to take it. Most days I work from home anyway. Have laptop, will travel,” Cassie said with a chuckle.
Her supervisor, Blanca, would do anything to keep her on as program manager. So long as Cassie stayed on top of things and attended the weekly meetings, Blanca cared less if Cassie worked from home, wearing pajamas.
When they turned to walk to Liv’s Jeep, Cassie jumped as two officers appeared from out of nowhere, startling her. And then she spotted a familiar face standing alongside the cops. It was Bart Smith, Liv’s business partner, and ex-boyfriend. He was also the governor of Tennessee, and Cassie wondered what he was doing there on New Year’s Day. Surely, it wasn’t about Smith & Kimbro.
Cassie’s gut churned as dread washed over her. This wasn’t good.
“Hello, Olivia, Lawson, Cassie,” Bart greeted in a professional tone she’d only heard him use with colleagues.
Cassie was aware of the strained relationship between Liv and Bart. The two were extremely close for years before Liv met Lawson and fell in love. It crushed Bart. The man had carried a torch for her and wasn’t taking her rejection well. In fact, it seemed their friendship was beyond repair.
“Hi, Bart. What’s going on?” Liv asked as she stared from Bart to the policemen.
