Summer Shifter Nights

by Harmony Raines

  “Was that the first time someone told you that you were a werewolf?”

  Elle pushed the fluffy scrambled eggs around her plate. Tears filled her eyes, but she dashed them away. She wasn’t crying for that asshole. No, she was ashamed of her weakness for him. Furious he’d spun such pretty lies and all the while he’d hated her guts. “He said he’d done it before. Found women like me. He’d killed them more quickly. But me… I had money and fame. He got greedy. With my fortune, he could fund his vengeance for the rest of his life.”

  “He told you these things?”

  “The night he came to kill me.”

  She couldn’t eat. She pushed away the plate of food. The fork clattered against the ceramic and tumbled to the table. “When I was a teenager, I remember watching this horror movie. This guy woke up with blood everywhere and he couldn’t remember where he’d been or what he’d done. Turns out he was a werewolf and he’d change, go off and kill someone…well, you know how those movies are.

  “After my father died, I dreamed of wolves. I would wake up and have dirt in my bed. My window would be open, my carpet a mess. My pajamas were gone or ripped to shreds. No blood. I don’t think I ever killed anybody.”

  “Until Simon.”

  Her eyes widened. She pressed a hand against her thundering heart. “Xavier…”

  “Do you remember how it happened?”

  “Simon enjoyed causing pain. He used his words to torture me while he pressed a very sharp blade against my throat. One quick flick, and my carotid artery would be severed. He wanted to watch me bleed out. Then he started talking about the Anubinake and my father and how we were abominations. He said my father didn’t deserve to live any more than I did.” Her throat clogged and tears squeezed from her eyes. “His parents were hunters. They’d deliberately set out to kill the wolves in the area. Earlier that year, his father had tracked and killed…my father.”

  She rose from the table, her fury re-ignited. “My mother lied about his death and sent me away to boarding school to protect me—not to punish me. I don’t know if she died in the fire because she wanted to or because someone forced her to stay.” She paced in front of the table and felt electrified by the same anger she’d felt that night with Simon. “I don’t remember what happened. I was so goddamned mad I couldn’t see straight. I blacked out. When I woke up, Simon was dead and I was covered in his blood. The taste of him was in my mouth, the smell of him in my nose. And I wasn’t sorry.” Her gaze ensnared Xavier’s. “I’ll never be sorry.”

  He stood up and gathered her into his arms. She absorbed his strength, reveled in the knowledge of his…yes, his love, and wept furiously.

  The floor quaked beneath their bare feet then the breakfast nook seemed to explode. Xavier was ripped from her arms and the whole world went dark.

  It was the last thing Elle saw before she tumbled into an endless black.

  8

  Xavier’s howl nearly shook the prison to its foundation. Tanin himself had dragged Elle’s body into the cell across from his. The awful stench of burnt flesh permeated his nostrils. Elle’s body was riddled with bullets. The wounds were singed and blackened. Silver. Holy Anubis.

  If the outside of his beloved’s body was this damaged, Xavier couldn’t fathom how the inside looked. Elle had suffered terribly—the silver bullets surely burned through organs. That bastard Tanin had hit vital spots—heart, lung, stomach, womb.

  “You will die, you bastard!” Xavier’s voice broke. “Elle!”

  “Oh, now don’t worry, cousin. You’ll join her soon.”

  Xavier’s knees buckled and he howled his grief, over and over, until his voice went hoarse and all that was left were his tears.

  Tanin, despite his arrogance, was not stupid. They had dispatched guards at the tunnel’s entrance and at several points along the way. Now Jonas and his team were in the main cave, lit by torches. Jonas watched as Tanin droned on about the true King of the pack. His heart broke at the number of Anubinake who stood with Tanin. How could the pack survive when so many had abandoned Xavier?

  Jonas crept around the outside of the crowd. The others in his team stuck close to the craggy, mold-smelling walls until they were only two feet from the raised dias that held a chained Xavier and the bloody body of Elle. The necklace was still on her neck, but its stone was dark.

  Goddamn it!

  Tanin, dressed in long, black robes, strode to Xavier. Jonas recognized the chains. The magic held in those cuffs prevented Anubinake from changing. The long silver dagger held in Tanin’s grip arced toward Xavier, who showed no sign of fear.

  Then Elle’s body rose from the stone altar.

  Startled, Tanin backed away, clutching the dagger before him. Fearful murmurs rolled through the crowd and those closest to the dias moved back.

  The bullets still embedded in her flesh popped free and struck the stone floor. Jonas watched in amazement as the jewel around Elle’s neck glowed blood-red. The light encompassed her whole body. Moments later, the glow dissipated.

  His queen stood on her own two feet, her eyes closed. Anubis be praised! She was healed. Though her clothes still show evidence of her trauma, her wounds were gone. His gaze switched to Tanin and saw that the coward was retreating.

  “Hold!” he cried. He leapt to the staging area and those with him followed.

  Trapped in a circle of his enemies, Tanin rushed toward Xavier, whose gaze had never left his mate’s form. He aimed the blade at Xavier’s neck, but at that moment, Elle’s eye snapped open. She pointed at the dagger and it flew from Tanin’s grip into hers.

  “Betrayer!” her voice boomed in an unearthly tone. “The Anubinake are one tribe.”

  Tanin’s eyes were wide with fear. The Anubinake in the room squeezed together. Terror vibrated on the very air.

  Jonas’ heart thudded in his chest. He wasn’t sure what was happening or what to do. He held his ground and waited. What else could he do?

  Elle touched the chains binding Xavier and they fell away. Xavier growled even before his body began the change. Tanin threw off his robes and also began to take his wolf form.

  Bones snapped and realigned. Fur sprouted. Jaws elongated. In no time at all, the black wolf stood ready to battle the blond beast.

  Xavier snarled and leapt toward Tanin. The blond yipped and staggered backward. Then he jumped away, and snapped at Xavier’s front legs. The move gave Xavier the opportunity he needed. He clamped his mouth over Tanin’s neck. Tanin struggled harder, pushing back, trying to drag himself out of the powerful jaws.

  He whimpered and growled and scrabbled, but he could not free himself. Xavier tossed him to the floor and the blond wolf landed on his side. Before he could get up, Xavier leapt forward and tore out his throat.

  Then he dragged the betrayer’s body to the edge of the dias and tossed it before those gathered. The body landed with an unsettling whomp, blood leaking from the jagged wound, creating a pool of dark red on the cave floor.

  Elle sank to her knees, shaking. It was then Jonas realized that Anubis had released her. Xavier padded to her, sitting near her. She wrapped one arm around his neck.

  “Hear me, oh Anubis,” she shouted, clutching her necklace. The Tears of Anubis responded to her prayer. The jewel grew so bright Jonas had to shield his eyes. “We need your guidance to cull the loyal from the deceitful and the cruel from the merciful. Let your righteous judgment see into the hearts of the Anubinake!”

  The ruby’s light went molten. Everyone was forced to close their eyes. Jonas fell to his knees and listened to the screams of agony from those who would know no mercy from the Great God Anubis.

  9

  The Alpha wolf padded into the meadow, his nose lifted as he smelled food. Roasted chicken. Warm rolls. Potato salad. Chocolate cake. His gaze found the picnic blanket and on it, the feast that tantalized his senses.

  “Hungry, Xavier?”

  He looked over his shoulder and saw the female human, his human. He barked at her, a co
mmand that brought a grin to her lips. As he watched, the one known as Elle knelt on all fours and within a minute, had become his equal.

  For a long time, they played together in the meadow, chasing each other, snipping, snarling and barking. The feel of earth under his paws, the familiar scents of pine and cedar and moss, the cool breeze ruffling his fur…these blessings were for the Anubinake.

  His mate nipped his ear, and licked his muzzle. He knew she was hungry and wanted to start their picnic. But he was not thinking of food as he dived onto the female and rolled end over end until she lay on her stomach, quivering haunches up, submissive to his needs.

  Within moments, they had changed to their human forms.

  Xavier gazed at the beautiful ass of his wife and sighed in pleasure. He leaned forward and peppered kisses on those cheeks, his hands parting her thighs to slip two fingers inside her sex.

  “Oh yes,” she moaned.

  “You’re wet for me,” he said in a low voice. “Elle, I want you so much.”

  “Then what are you waiting for?”

  He bared his teeth and growled, kneeling behind her and sliding his cock into the wet heat of her sex. His fingers curled around her hips as he slowly pumped his cock in and out of her tight sex.

  Damn. He wasn’t going to last long. The orgasm rushed through him, a burst of bright pleasure then—fuck oh fuck—he came hard, his seed emptying violently into his mate’s receptive sex.

  After he recovered, he slipped out and rolled Elle onto the picnic blanket. A low sound gathered in her voice as his head dipped between her legs. His tongue lapped at the folds of her sex, tasting the heat and the wet of her and of him. She smelled good, like she was made only for him.

  He suckled her clitoris until she came, her sex contracting on his chin, her juices flowing like nectar.

  “You belong to me,” he said.

  “Yes, Xavier. Always.”

  Later, after they’d eaten, they lay on the blanket staring up at the stars. She turned her head to kiss his shoulder and then her gaze returned to the sky. “I have new stories to tell with my brush.”

  “I’m glad, sweetheart.” Xavier rolled onto his side and gathered Elle into his arms.

  “We are such a small pack now,” she said, worry evident in her voice. “Anubis’s vengeance was greater than we imagined.”

  “That’s what happens when you call upon the powers of a god. Our pack is smaller, but we are stronger.”

  “We’ll rebuild our present so that future generations will have a firm foundation to stand on,” said Elle, drawing a finger across Xavier’s brow. “That was my favorite line from your speech.”

  He smiled and sucked the tip of her finger into his mouth. “And guess what my favorite line is… on you?”

  On a full-moon night deep in the Georgia forest, the howls of two wolves echoed into the starry sky.

  About the Author

  Michele Bardsley is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance. When she’s not writing sexy tales of otherworldly love, she watches “Supernatural,” consumes chocolate, crochets hats, reads voraciously, and spends time with her Viking hubby and their fur babies.

  Visit Michele’s Website

  http://www.michelebardsley.com

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  Savage - Kim Faulks

  Underground Kings

  Warning: this story is filled with dark, graphic sexual fictional situations and should be read by ages 18 and up.

  Text copyright © Kim Faulks 2015

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

  1

  “You’re close to the change, aren’t you Mia?”

  The needle stung as the doctor punctured my arm. Red bloomed in the vial before the plunger was dragged all the way to the end, filling the syringe with blood.

  “Your temperature’s elevated.” The sleeve of his lab coat rode high as he pulled the needle free. I stared at the dark hair on his arms. “Your body is sending out pheromones. Your blood work is off the charts. Your wolf is in there, isn’t she? She’s listening to me right now. You have no idea what a breakthrough you are for the Carlson Corporation.”

  I closed my eyes. Sharp claws dug into the soft flesh of my palm. The sting was instant as I clenched my fists in denial. The earthy tang of my blood filled the room.

  “You’re stronger than the others. You’ll survive if you let her take control. You need to submit. If you don’t, she’ll tear you apart.”

  His words weakened my hold, and the beast inside snarled. I’ll kill you. Even if it means I’ll kill myself too. I wrenched open my eyes and held his gaze. “No.”

  “Then you won’t last a week, not out there… not with them. The guards will hurt you. I can’t stop them, not anymore.”

  The wolf paced my walls. The wolf paced inside me. Watching, waiting for an unguarded moment where she could seize control. Her growl tore through my head. No matter how hard I tried to block her out, I felt her power. The tremor in my upper lip, the way the corners of my mouth curled up—none of that was under my control. My heart sped. No. No, you’re not taking control of my body, you monster. Kill him. Tear him apart. Feel his blood on your hands. Sink your teeth in. So warm, his blood would be so warm.

  The vein at the base of his neck throbbed. The sound of his heart was deafening inside my ears. The way his pupils flared, I knew he saw, not the woman, but the wolf inside. His hard breath blew stray strands of hair from my face. His grip eased as my snarl echoed inside the lab. I took a step closer. The wolf was too close and too hungry.

  The sharp tips of my canines lengthened and dug into my tongue. I tasted blood. I slid from the seat. The woman’s steps would echo in this soulless room, but I was the wolf and my bare soles made no sound as I stalked toward him, screaming inside for her to get back! Get back and stay back! But she propelled me forward.

  “Your eyes….” His face turned ashen under the fluorescent lights. “Jesus, your eyes.”

  The guttural growl reverberated through my chest. I took a step, watching his eyes widen as he stumbled backwards. The steel tray slipped from the cart. The motion drew my eye as it toppled, then crashed to the ground. The deafening sound shattered the silence. Heavy footsteps sounded outside the door. I glanced over my shoulder. Glinting, silver eyes reflected back at me. The uniformed man—Guard, his name is Guard, you stupid wolf!—stopped, eyes wide, before he pushed through the door.

  There was a moment, a second, where the animal and the woman surged as one. Run. The automatic doors slid open, heavy footsteps filled the room. I glanced up to the high windows and the dimming sunlight, then dropped my gaze to the weapon at his waist.

  Guard demanded, “Everything okay in here, doc?”

  “You can take her back.”

  I skimmed the navy uniform and lingered on the tag over his right breast. Guard. He pierced me with his gaze. “How close is she?”

  “She won’t shift tonight. But, the other one… Sasha keep your eye on her.”

  I turned away from the spark of excitement in Guard’s eyes.

  The doctor took one look at me, then moved away. “Never forget what they are.”


  Guard gripped my arm. “I never do.”

  I stumbled to follow, keeping my head down, counting the cracks in the concrete. Guard’s boots echoed in the empty space. I lifted my eyes to my open cell door. The wolf inside retreated.

  She didn’t like the cell.

  She didn’t like the weapons.

  Most of all, she didn’t like me.

  Whimpers echoed through the building. I risked a glance to the bank of guards outside Sasha’s door. A fresh ache bloomed in my chest. My sister was all I had left. There’d been ten of us. Ten girls who lived side by side in these tiny cells. Together we turned into ten women.

  Until we realized we weren’t women at all.

  The wolf inside paced. I felt her fur brush my barriers. Felt her watchful gaze. She was waiting… always waiting.

  Sasha’s low moan distracted me. Seizing control suddenly, the wolf halted outside the cell door. Try as I might, I couldn’t lift a foot to take a step inside. I stared through the window at the darkening sky. The struggle to hold her at bay grew harder and harder as she grew stronger. I knew in my heart neither of us would make it through the night.

  A hard shove at my back sent me toppling toward the open cell door. The slam of the door rang. Under the boom, their laughter sliced my skin and wormed its way underneath. Our pain was funny to them. Our fight to survive was nothing more than entertainment. A cry through the cell bars had me stumbling to the cold concrete wall.

  I gripped the steel and smashed my face against the bars. I caught sight of Sasha’s bare legs as she thrashed. Guard laughed and watched from her door. I kept my focus on her. My sister needed me.

  “I’m here. Focus on my voice. I’m here Sasha.”

  “Mia.”

  The word was nothing more than a whimper. I speared my fingers through the gap, reaching as far as I could. “I’m here. I’m right here with you. Fight the change. Fight the change and survive.”

  “Fight the change.”

  My palm burned as I wrung the steel rods between us. I strained to reach her. The bars dug into my shoulders and breasts. I swallowed the pain and focused on Sasha.

  “Take my hand. That’s it. Hold on to me. You can fight her. She’s just an animal, that’s all. Just an animal. Fight the change and survive.”