“I’ll die if they sever our bond,” Pru covers her face with her hands, her shoulders rise and fall with her silent sobs.
How am I to fulfill the prophesy of the Great Wolf when my own pack is being ripped at its seams?
If ever my wolf wanted to scream, he wanted to at the moment he watched a tear fall from Pru’s beautiful eyes. His beta was being torn apart.
****************
I sat in my room, listening to the creaks and groans of the trees under the weight of the snow. The earth was covered in a white blanket. I’ve been contemplating the next step to freeing Oakley. Every so often, I hear someone walking around in the house. It could be Alistar our dog, doing his night patrols.
I sighed, I was usually filled with ideas and solutions. We’ve come head to head with a brick wall. I spend much of my time lately worrying about the pack and the adversity we’re facing. What the necromancer said before she left has been haunting my dreams.
In a month, I’ll be bound to another human being, technically she’s a werewolf. Either way, I’ll be bound. Alarm races through me, am I good enough for her? Will we have a long life? There’s a part of me that feels guilty for even dreaming of happiness when one of my best friends is incarcerated.
A light knock on my door, startles me out of my deep dark thoughts. I grab my t-shirt from the bed and throw it on over my bare chest. It’s probably Dolly telling me she’s going to go for a midnight run.
She’s standing there in a pair of frog-covered pajamas with a matching robe. Her hair is a little rustled and she has sleepy in her eyes. Brianna is possibly the most adorable wolf I’ve ever seen.
We don’t say anything as I let her in and close the door. I turn up the gas in the fireplace and take her to my bed. The flames cast shadows on the ceiling like long fingers reaching out in the night.
Self control, I remind myself.
Still not saying a word, we crawl under the weight of my down comforter and wrap ourselves like a pretzel. Her head is buried in my chest, I feel her lashes tickle it as she blinks.
“Your wolf is worried,” Brianna whispers.
“He is, and I’m not sure how to fix it.”
“Abel, we will figure it out.”
“They’ve moved the trial to ninety days. We only have three months to save him.”
“We’ll find Tao and this whole thing will be a thing of the past.”
“How are you holding up?”
“I don’t miss my family like I thought I would,” Brianna admits. “I already love everyone here so much. Violet is even loving it here, so I don’t want you to worry about us.”
I squeeze her a little tighter.
“Have you thought of an exit strategy for Oakley? We could help and he can go underground until we can prove his innocence,” she says.
“I’ve thought of that too. Honestly, I don’t know what to do. If he was caught, they wouldn’t give him a trial, they’d execute him.”
“Oh.”
The warnings were all about Pru, I never considered Oakley to be in danger. Something doesn’t make sense. If Tao wants my powers, he’ll show up in Oklahoma. There’s no way someone would quit that easily. No, he’s coming after me and I have to figure out a way to make it sooner than later.
“That’s it, we will draw him out. What if we spread some rumors about the powers we have with a couple of embellishments. I can request all the alphas to come for a meeting. He would know that security would be tight, but easy to find weakness in the armor. We’ll plan it around the Handfasting, he would totally buy the story. This just might work,” I say and kiss her head.
For the first time in fourteen days I feel like we have a real plan. We have a lot of work to do, but we’re up for the challenge. Tao won’t take us down. He won’t make a fool of our pack. The Phelan Pack will come out swinging and Oakley will be brought home.
We stay snuggled under the covers, finding warmth in the arms of the one who was made for you. Soon I feel her breathing relax and the sounds of sleep stealing her from me. We snuggled until I couldn’t stay awake any longer.
Stay to read some exciting excerpts from other Indies and an excerpt from Sapphire, A Werewolf Love Story.
Acknowledgements
Here’s the part where I gush about the people in my life. Writing a book takes an army of people. I want to thank my amazing editors Paris Kelly and Amber Clark. Without them I couldn’t do this job. I must thank my wonderful critique partner Julie Askew for helping me iron out scenes. To every friend who listens to me talk about the fictional people in my life as if they’re real and doesn’t have me committed.
My biggest fans are my children Paris and Hunter, without them I would have given up a long time ago. Thank you both for being my creative muse. Thank you to all of the readers who have loved and shared my books. I read every single email that you send. Thank you so much for the words of encouragement! To all of the schools who’ve had me out to speak to the students about writing books. I love all of you! Thank you to the bloggers and readers who leave reviews and pimp out my books, you freakin’ ROCK! A big shout out to my girls at YA at Heart, Tressa Messenger, Natalie Star, and Daniele Lanzarotta!
Finally, I must say good-bye to a dear fan Patty Euefueno. The last message I got from her was a thank you for sending her a book thong I had made. She said she would cherish it forever. I didn’t realize her forever was only another month. Thank you Patty for every single email and message, I’ll never forget you.
About the Author
Devyn is a fulltime writer who lives in lush green North Carolina. She enjoys spending time with family and reading in her spare time. She volunteers as a mentor to high school students who have a desire to be a writer. Several times a year, Devyn goes out and speaks to schools, book clubs, and libraries. If you would like for her to come and speak to your organization, please email her at [email protected]
For her schedule about upcoming events, including conventions, please visit her website at http://www.devyndawson.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/DevynDawson
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Devyn-Dawson/145383098868553
Other books by Devyn
Young Adult Books
The Legacy of Kilkenny - Book 1
The Seduction - Book 1.5
Malevolence - Book 2
The Great Wolf - Book 3
The Light Tamer - Book 1
Enlightened - Book 2
Amber’s Faerie Tale - Book 2.5
New Adult Book
Sapphire a Werewolf Love Story
Cry Me a River PG-13
Adult Contemporary
Cry Me a River - Adult
Sapphire A Werewolf Love Story
By Devyn Dawson
Chapter 1. Soccer
SAPPHIRE
Three years ago
“Ruby, you’re getting on my nerves. I told you already, I’ve been volunteering at the hospital all day,” I complain. A few weeks ago, I was sentenced to community service at Mercy hospital after my sister Ruby got into a minor disagreement in the movie theater parking lot. I intervened; and my fist was caught making contact with a mouthy girl’s cheek. The security officer called the police.
“You were there for four hours, how does that make it an all day event?” Ruby asks. She comes into my room to admire herself in the full length mirror. One thing Ruby doesn’t lack…confidence. “How are my girls?” She says and turns sideways to see her profile.
“Your girls look fine. There is more to you than your boobs. I had to go into the shop before I did my CS, so don’t tell me if I’m tired or not.”
Ruby busts out laughing. “Okay Phire, I don’t need a lecture about how I’m so much more than my rockin’ body. I picked this shirt up at a yard sale last weekend. I love when I find a name brand bargain.” The red lipstick she carefully applied accentuated the fullness of her lips. “Come on, Erwin will be there with his boys.”
“I know Erwin,
and his boys are nothing but trouble makers.”
“Says the girl who just got finished with her community service,” Ruby quipped.
She did not just go there. “Oh, says the girl who started the fight.” The whole fight was over a girl flirting with Erwin. The girl threw a punch at Ruby and I turned and knocked her out.
Ruby crosses the room and kneels next to the bed, “I might be a pain in your ass, but we’re going to go strut our stuff. Get up, throw on your jeans and boots, it’s time to get rowdy.” She holds her hands up in prayer and pouting.
“If I go, you’re going with me to the casino after the game. You promised me that we’d do karaoke when I finished my community service. Keep in mind; as soon as Erwin’s boys start acting like horn-dogs, I’m out. Got it sis?”
Ruby leans over and kisses me on the nose. “You’re the best, I owe you one.”
“Yeah, yeah, about fifty…who’s counting? I hope it doesn’t rain tonight. I can’t wait until tornado season is over.”
~~~~~~
Ruby graduated high school last summer but she couldn’t give up soccer games. She played soccer until her junior year when she had an ACL injury. Her coach and doctor agreed her soccer days were over. At nineteen she not only looks older than she is, but she knows she’s an expert at prowling. She never had a shortage of boyfriends but she couldn’t stay committed when Erwin came around. He’d been a senior her freshman year. I was a senior too, but I took classes online so I could work during the day to help with bills. He was the quarterback, and she was smitten, they were picture perfect to the average eye. It wasn’t long before his personality proved he was after one thing and would stop at nothing. They dated off and on for the last couple of years. With every break-up, I loathed him more and more.
I tucked in my black button down blouse, making sure the top two buttons are left open. I turn around and check my butt, making sure the pockets make it look fuller. Black Ariat cowboy boots, and a rhinestone belt, yeah I’d turn heads, with any luck…the adult male ones.
“Ooo girl, wow, for someone that hates outdoor soccer games, you look smoking hot.” Ruby says as she shimmied into her denim jacket.
~~~~~~
We’d no sooner walked through the gates for the game, when we were bombarded by a group of screaming girls. Ruby has never had a shortage of so-called friends. I never trusted them; they only seemed interested in our half-brother Stone. His father is from Spain, mixed with our full-blooded Native American mother Pearl. His exotic look and big smile turns heads wherever he goes. He works as a ranch hand, which made him big and bulky, the kind that teen girls and cougars find sexy. Ruby would bring someone home and they’d no sooner walked in the door, and would ask where Stone slept.
Knowing Ruby would be gossiping for another ten minutes, girl can talk! I decide to bite-the-bullet and stand in the concessions line. I stand there staring at my cell phone, pretending to be engaged in an important text conversation. I glance up; my gaze lingers into amber-colored eyes. He’d been looking down at his phone a second ago, now, his eyes boring into me. My heart flutters as we lock eyes.
Don’t stare Sapphire, that’s rude. My mom’s words running through my head. I drop my gaze, but not before he gives me a crooked grin. He is not walking over here. Oh yes he is. I take mental inventory of my surroundings. Habits die hard with me, especially since I was attacked during my sophomore year. I left the library one night after dark, but my car was parked right in front of the building so I didn’t pay much attention to the parking area . I didn’t hear him sneak up behind me until it was too late. It wasn’t until the librarian closed up and she saw me face down in the parking lot. My shirt had been ripped and I had my throat slit open. The weeks that followed consisted of me in the hospital and police guarding me day and night. They were concerned the person would come back to finish the job since he thought I could identify him. Truth is, I don’t remember anything about the attack.
“Hey there, did I catch you at a bad time?” The deep voice startled me out of thoughts. He put his hands up, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Have you ever looked at another person and known that you were in trouble? Not in the bad kind of trouble, the kind of trouble that is sinfully good. I couldn’t help but smile at him. “Oh, sorry, I was thinking about something. Do I know you?”
He put his hands half-way into his front pockets of his faded Levi’s. He was making red flannel the sexiest material I’d ever seen before. My eyes dropped from his gaze and I snuck a peek at his chest. Only fair since I caught his gaze drop to mine too.
“No, I’d remember you if I’d met you before,” he replied. Even though it sounded like a line, it came across as if he meant what he said. “I saw you come in with your friend, and couldn’t help but notice she ran off.”
I’m not used to guys walking over to talk to me, at least not good looking sober ones. “Yeah, that’s my sister Ruby; she still has friends that go to school here.”
“I’m Parker, my friend Collin’s younger brother is playing tonight. He’s told me he’s been training for the Olympics for the last two years.” He holds out his hand for me to shake.
“Next,” the woman in the concession stand says.
“Excuse me for a second,” I say to him and turn to face the PTA mom. I order a bottle of water and some peanut M&M’s. Before I had a chance to dig two dollars from my pocket, Parker has handed the lady the money. “No, you don’t need to pay for my junk food.”
His eyes smiled at me and I knew he did it out of kindness and nothing expected in return. “If I can’t buy a pretty girl a bottle of water, what’s the point of working?”
“You’re good at this,” I grin at him as he holds a hand out to me. “I’m Sapphire, but my friends call me Phire.” We shake hands as we walk away from the concession stand. I look around checking if I can see Ruby, but of course she has disappeared.
“Ruby and Sapphire, I like the names and I love that you’re called Phire.” His five o’clock shadow was a couple of days old and I watched as the sun glinted off his auburn whiskers.
All around us were cheers and the sound of gravel as we crossed over towards the bleachers. His friend stayed next to the chain link fence, and was yelling out with the rest of the crowd.
“Yeah, my mom has always said she’d never have anything more precious than her children, so we ended up with names of gems. My brother didn’t get as lucky, his name is Stone.”
He and I walked up the metal bleachers; he puts his hand on my elbow and guided me to the top seats. A couple of girls nudged each other as we walked past. I didn’t blame them at all; he was nothing short of a younger, healthier, better looking Marlboro man. I’d almost expected him to smell like tobacco, he was that sexy.
Sitting down next to him gave me the feeling of belonging to someone, I felt protected.
Chapter 2. Casino
PARKER
Ten minutes until the game starts and I swear I’m going to pull out the tonsils on all the screaming girls. Collin’s little brother is vying for a spot on the Olympic team, Collin asked me to come out and watch him play. I’d been home-schooled by the family that I’ve lived with most of my life. I graduated when I was 17, now I’m 23, and I feel old around teenagers. Most of the time, I live at the Phelan farm, it’s on the outskirts of Choctaw, Oklahoma. I have a trailer I use as an office when I’m on special assignments for the pack. Choctaw is about a thirty minute ride from Oklahoma City, which was plenty of distance in my book. The trailer is the complete opposite direction, placed in the woods outside of Piedsville. The city has too many people, their smells and noises make my sensory system overload.
I’d been restless the last few days with energy I couldn’t explain. The wolf in me was edgy and ready to find some trouble. I’m a werewolf, I can shift any time I want, unlike the myth where we only turn on a full moon. Our pack is private, and we keep to ourselves. We run on our own land, and do our best to keep a low profile. The General
, our alpha, has been getting ready for the Great Wolf. The legend says a wolf would be born to human parents and will grow to rule all packs. Our pack princess Pru, the daughter of the General, has located the Great Wolf and now the pack is preparing for major changes. Pru’s been in training and will soon introduce him to our pack and let him know he’s a werewolf. Thankfully, I’m not the assigned bodyguard to protect Pru, she and I don’t always see eye to eye.
“Hey man, I’ll be back in a minute,” Collin says.
“No problem, I’ll be right here,” I reply. Without thinking about it, I take mental pictures of everyone and everything. The moment I check the concession line, I see her. A few minutes ago, I watched her and another girl who looked like a younger version of her come through the gates. Without warning, her eyes caught me watching her. Instead of turning her head away as most people do when their flee instinct kicks in, my inner wolf nodded his head in approval.
I’m not usually attracted to human girls, they have too many hang-ups. My head was telling me to stay away; my wolf was telling me he’d make life miserable if I don’t meet her. Never one to ignore him, I walked over to her. Her scent is distinct, and sends waves of desire to my wolf. She’d smell better if she didn’t have on perfume, but I could smell the real her. Something about her is animalistic, and something about her is trouble. All I want to do is grab her by the waist, and throw her over my shoulder and take her home. Something in her is damaged; I feel it all around her.
The Great Wolf: A Legacy of Kilkenny Novel Book Three (The Legacy of Kilkenny Saga) Page 14
