by Vaughn, V.
An elder scoffed audibly, and even Ty gave her an incredulous look.
She spoke directly to him, telling herself it was only Ty she had to face, and not an entire troop of hostile shifters. “The owl, remember?”
Ty gave her a slow nod, his eyes warm with the memory.
“The Mexican spotted owl,” she explained for the benefit of the others, “is an endangered species. A protected species.”
Nothing but blank and angry faces. They just weren’t getting it. Lana all but stomped her foot in exasperation. “We can— I mean, Twin Moon Ranch can declare an adjoining section of its own property a preserve to protect the owls, doubling the size of the Seymour donation. Yes, I mean it,” she insisted to the dismissive faces. “But Twin Moon Ranch would retain the right to that land. That will do it!”
Ty seemed to be the only one who was taking her seriously. “Do what?”
“First of all, it demonstrates good will,” Lana said, ignoring the old alpha’s scowl. Like he’d ever appreciate the subtleties of land negotiations. “If we — you — declare the land a nature reserve and vow to keep it off-limits to the public, Seymour Ranch will be forced to do the same.”
There, she thought, watching realization dawn over her audience. She savored the moment for all of three seconds before steaming along while she still had momentum. “At the same time, Twin Moon could cede public right of way to that isolated patch of land you own over near Slide Rock State Park.”
The gathered men grew darker still. Convincing conservative old wolves to give away land? No easy task, but Lana knew exactly how to handle them. She’d been through the wringer with the elders in her home pack on more than one occasion.
She put her hands up before they could protest. “It’s a small parcel with no practical use to the ranch — but it’s got scenic value. That’s our ace. The public will still gain access to new land, and Mrs. Seymour’s wish to set aside Spring Hollow will be respected. Most importantly,” she gathered her nerves and looked old Tyrone right in the eye, “the pack will avoid unwanted visitors. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
She folded her arms and shut her mouth. There. Let them chew on that.
There was a collective scratching of heads, a few surprised stares, but no rebuttals, no complaints. Just a weighty silence that stretched on and on.
“And you think they’ll go for this?” one the elders ventured.
“I know they’ll go for this,” Lana said. “I can draw up a formal proposal and have it ready for the state authorities by tomorrow.” Plus copies for Seymour Ranch and the usual environmental watchdogs, she made a mental note to herself, already working out the details. She’d need the original deeds, and maps, and a thousand other things, but that part was all routine. “They’ll take the deal, believe me.”
Nobody seemed too inclined to believe her, but then again, no one was protesting her plan. Not even the mighty old alpha.
“How’d you figure this all out?” Ty had asked, once he’d found the hinge to his jaw.
“It’s what I did at home, silly. It’s my job.”
The elders frowned. Did she really dare speak to the upcoming alpha that way? But Ty just cracked into a grin that was all love layered with pride, and for the next minute, all Lana did was drink it in. Forget the elders, forget his father.
Mate. My mate. She still couldn’t fathom her luck.
Ty’s father tilted his head at her as if seeing her in a new light. “That will do,” he grunted, dismissing her.
She managed a firm nod, then made for the door. She got as far as the second hitching post on the right before leaning into it, hard. Jesus. Had she really stood up to the old alpha?
Her pulse was still racing when the council house door opened and Cody came out. His eyes sparkled as he came up to her, like he’d just surfed down the biggest, baddest wave of his life.
“I’d kiss you if my brother wouldn’t skin me alive,” he said, coming right up to her. “Oh, what the heck,” he said, glancing left and right. Then he leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek. “You did it!” He was like Huck Finn in a second skin, always excited to embark on a fabulous adventure that was sure to go wrong a hundred different times. She wondered if he’d ever grow up.
If only he was aware of the obstacles still ahead of them. Lana didn’t know what the hurdles would be, exactly, but they were out there. The only constant in the tumultuous world of a wolf pack was trouble. Sooner or later, it’d be back, for sure.
Ty came out then, and all her worries fled. With her mate, she could accomplish anything. They could accomplish anything.
The door slammed against the wall as Ty’s father stormed out of the council house like the back edge of a hurricane: all dark and mumbly, yet weary. He pulled up two steps away from Lana, and though he fixed her with those laser eyes — just like Ty’s, yet nothing at all like Ty’s — the hand he raised was pointing right. Lana followed it to another low-slung building with dusty panes of glass. “That one,” he barked. “That office. I want her where I can keep an eye on her,” he snapped, then stormed away.
Cody gave Lana another winning grin, then ambled off, leaving her and Ty alone. She caught her mate in a loose hug and leaned her forehead against his chest. God, it felt good to be so close. To know she’d never have to let go again.
“Throwing down a challenge, is he?” she managed, picturing the musty files the old alpha would be heaping on her desk soon enough.
Ty shook his head and pulled her flush against his body, ignoring the elders filing past. “He’s already sold on you, sweetheart. Not that he’ll admit it.” Then he released her and turned firmly in the direction of his house.
Our house, he insisted, pulling her closer.
She slipped a hand into his back pocket as they walked side by side. Home. The sweetest four letter word ever. She could stay — not just as Ty’s mate, but in her own right.
“But no more work ‘til you’re fully healed,” he added.
This time, she didn’t mind the bossy tone one bit. “I am healed,” she insisted. “Or just about.”
“Well, no work until we’ve had some time for us.”
“That, my love, will never be enough.”
But hell, they’d certainly given it their best shot over the past days. In the cabin, up at his lookout, in every room of the house. And now they rolled slowly out of bed, still tingling from their lovemaking. They shifted and loped into the night, Ty’s long stride perfectly matching her quick footfalls. She was glad to work her stiff limbs and even gladder to be running side by side with her mate. The hushed voices coming from the desert on this moonlit night were no lies. Ty was her destined mate, all hers. Now and forever.
They nestled together on Ty’s hill and lifted their muzzles as one. To warm up, they let out a mournful howl that acknowledged the pain of the past, then moved on to a long, happy howl for the future, one that sang on and on into the night. Around them, the desert listened, maybe even shed a sentimental tear. Destiny was smiling on them, and she never wanted it to end.
Her lips curled in a canine grin as she squeezed closer to his side. There didn’t have to be an end.
This was only the beginning.
More Desert Moon
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AUTHOR BIO: Anna Lowe loves putting the “hero” back into heroine and letting location ignite a passionate romance. She is a middle school teacher who loves dogs, sports, and travel – and letting those inspire her fiction. On any given weekend, you might find her hiking in the mountains or hunched over her laptop, working on her latest story. Eit
her way, the day will end with a chunk of dark chocolate and a good read.
The Gathering: Killian and Lyra - Ellis Leigh
You are cordially invited to the event of the season...
Please be our guest as the National Association of the Lycan Brotherhood hosts the seventy-eighth annual Gathering. The biggest event of the social season, the Gathering has become the favorite method of networking among packs and bringing together fated mates. At the Gathering, shifters from across the country show up to show off and to see who's the true leader of the pack.
The black-tie welcoming dinner will be the perfect chance to meet Killian O'Shea, Alpha of the Appalachia pack. Killian's rough, tough, and built for fighting, which is a good thing as he's got a road-blocking Alpha standing between him and his destiny. Lyra, Killian's newfound mate, likes the way he disregards the rules keeping them apart. She's ready to risk it all for the bigger-than-life Alpha who makes her heart race.
Come and enjoy tales from the biggest shifter event of the year as wolves from around the country fall in lust, in love, and in fate at the Gathering.
Copyright
Copyright ©2014 by Ellis Leigh
Edited by Silently Correcting Your Grammar, LLC
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
To the readers, for keeping it fun
Chapter 1
Lyra
“If the whelp doesn’t learn his place soon, he’ll be finding himself alone. I won’t put up with such disrespect.” My Alpha glared across the room, eyeing the offending wolf with venom in his expression.
I pasted a sympathetic smile on my face and nodded. Playing the part of the good little pack shewolf. Putting on a show for my Alpha so he would believe he was getting the respect he felt he was due. Even though, in my opinion, he was due nothing but a dog pile of angry wolves to force him out of his spot.
I took a sip of my champagne and caught the attention of my packsister, Cheyenne. Her blue eyes twinkled as she rolled them subtly. We weren’t fans of our current Alpha. He’d blasted into our pack with talk of becoming more modern and the freedoms we should have. But in the end, he’d become like all the others. Over the summer, he’d kicked out twelve of our unmated packbrothers, claiming they were planning an uprising against him. Everyone knew he did it to cut down on the competition for females. And only days before, he’d called his very first Alpha Prerogative, demanding three shewolves join him in his bed for mating season: Cheyenne, our packsister Melody, and me.
I gagged every time I thought about what the winter would bring.
The man our Alpha was speaking to looked a bit uncomfortable at the conversation. “Yes, well…we try to promote more modern ways in our pack.”
Alpha laughed, loud and quite obviously being sarcastic. “Modern ways get you nothing but trouble.” He ran a finger up my arm, dropping his voice to what he considered a sexy tone. “I find I get more from my pack when I enforce strict rules based on the traditional ways. Isn’t that right, Lyra?”
I fought off the goose bumps threatening to give away my disgust and nodded once at the other pack leader. “Yes. We appreciate the guidance our Alpha’s traditional views bring us and enjoy the structure of our pack.”
The old man looked at me with something like pity on his face. I probably deserved such a look, but that didn’t make it sting any less. Yes, I was stuck in a pack that thought women were nothing more than objects to be tossed and traded for the pleasure of the men. Yes, my Alpha would be demanding my attention in his bed at regular intervals this winter even though I had no interest in him. And yes, my life was not exactly what I’d dreamed about when I was a pup. But being part of what we jokingly called “the Alpha’s harem” had gotten me here…to the Gathering. Where wolf shifters from across North America came to meet others and find their fated mates. And while I didn’t dare hope I’d be so lucky as to find mine, this was truly my only shot at it. My one chance to escape the man currently making my stomach churn with the lustful way he leered at me.
As soon as the older man excused himself and walked away, Alpha’s friendly facade dropped. “Melody, go touch up your makeup. You’re looking a bit mussed. Cheyenne, I expect your hand on my waist at all times. And Lyra”—his eyes met mine and a predatory smile spread across his face—“don’t drink too much. I think it’s high time you and I got to know each other better. You might be spending the night in my room.”
I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat. “Of course, Alpha.”
Melody’s eyes grew wide before she disappeared into the crowd of shifters around us, not that I blamed her. I probably would’ve done the same had the situation been reversed.
Suddenly, the trumpets played the introduction call. The double doors leading into the ballroom swung open, and a plump man in a formal blue uniform walked in.
“The National Association of the Lycan Brotherhood is pleased to announce the newest pack to our ranks. From far west North Carolina, please welcome the Southern Appalachia pack.”
A group of male shifters strode into the ballroom, all tall and muscular, wearing closely tailored suits made of a dark blue fabric. Stunning and strong, they lined the path from the doors toward the dance floor before each one crossed his arms over his impressive chest. Next came a group of equally attractive females, all dressed to the nines in eveningwear. I coveted their long, flowing skirts and more natural faces. Alpha had dressed the three of us to turn men’s heads. That meant short, tight dresses, superhigh heels, and more makeup than any woman should wear.
Once the women stood with the men of the pack, the announcer once again raised his voice. “Please welcome this pack to the Brotherhood, and show your honor and respect to their leader—Alpha Killian O’Shea.”
I gasped as a man walked into the room. Walked? No, that wasn’t the right word. He stalked. A head taller than the rest of his pack, with broad shoulders and thick legs, he ate up the distance from the door to the middle of his pack. Eyes as dark as ebony scanned the room, taking in the various shifters milling about, evaluating them. Determining their worth.
My heart raced and my knees grew weak as he looked my way, devouring me with a single glance. He was a true Alpha, one born with an innate power to lead. I could feel it, sense it even from across the room. A spark ignited within me, one that told me to follow him, to let him lead me, to surrender to him.
My entire body wanted to submit to him.
“He’s nothing more than a child.”
I nearly hissed at Alpha’s denigrating comment, even though I knew he was speaking out of fear. Fear that another wolf was stronger than he. And standing where I was, watching the new Alpha claim the attention of the room even as he kept his eyes on mine, I had no doubt that fear was not unfounded. Killian was quite obviously the biggest, baddest wolf in the room. And I had a deep and all-consuming need to wrap myself around him and never let go.
Chapter 2
Killian
“The National Association of the Lycan Brotherhood is pleased to announce the newest pack to our ranks.”
“Are you ready for this?” Moira reached up and straightened my tie. I didn’t know why she bothered… I’d have the damn thing pulled down again in a matter of minutes.
“As much as I have to be,” I growled, brushing her hands away.
“From far west North Carolina, please welcome the Southern Appalachia pack.”
The men I’d brought with me for a chance to find their fated mates stormed into the room. I smirked as the gasps and murmurs drifted through the open doorway. We were a ne
w pack to the NALB, but we were hardly weak or green. Our families had been running through the mountains for centuries. We’d just never thought it necessary to participate in these group things. That is, until we went two decades without a single shifter finding their mate.
The men and women of my pack had grown restless and fearful, so for the first time in our history, I contacted the NALB about joining and attending the Gathering. The packmates I’d brought were some of our older shifters, and I was hopeful at least a few would find mates.
“Easy, killer.” Moira grabbed my elbow, stopping me in my tracks. “You’ll get out there soon enough.” I hadn’t even realized I’d been creeping forward. Something was making my wolf anxious, enticing us into the ballroom.
“I hate all this…showbiz stuff.”
Moira, my eldest sibling at a mere eleven months older than me, smiled. “You hate everything. I swear, brother dear, if you don’t find your mate at this thing, I’m taking you on a countrywide road trip. You’re cranky.”
I scowled. “I’m not cranky. I’m just worried about the men and women who trust us to lead them.”
Moira grew quiet, watching as the women of our pack glided into the ballroom to take their places in line with the men.
“So am I, but I’m worried about you as well.” She smiled as I met her gaze. “The men and women of the pack aren’t the only ones in need of a mate. Their Alpha could use one as well.”
I huffed and returned to staring out the open doorway where I’d be expected to appear shortly. “I can take care of myself.”
“Perhaps, but a good woman would do you some good.” With a pat to my arm, she followed the women out the door. We’d practiced this ridiculous entrance routine before we left North Carolina, all of us required to know exactly where to be and how to behave. This was the stage show of the NALB, the pomp and circumstance. It was a way of introducing me to the leaders of packs from Canada to Hawaii. This was where we threw off our wolf instincts and pretended to be part of some upper-crust human society. If the NALB was truly looking to support the wolf shifters of North America, this thing would be outside, in the forest, where we belonged. I’d play my part of a well-bred human socialite because my pack needed me to, but I hated every second of it.
