by Diane Rapp
Shocked murmurs spread through the room. “I love Andrew, so he’ll become my consort and king.” Her voice held a challenge. “I don’t plan to rule alone. My sisters agree to guard my back and they will be important to our new world. Felesia plans to help Shariel organize a dragon squadron and Tessa is already our emissary to the Council of Elders. Everyone will work together.”
“You don’t need to be trapped by the throne,” Donovan said.
“I’m not trapped. I choose to serve Drako and help create a world where daughters serve a purpose. We don’t want to become brood mares for politics but the lords might demand that royal daughters marry. If we don’t act now we risk losing any progress gained during this experience, for both sons and daughters of royal blood. As queen, I’ll wield power and introduce change like my mother. For Drako to survive we must blend cultures, historic and modern. Give the throne to your heir, Donovan.” The crystal in the dragon pendant glowed.
“It won’t be easy.” Bryant stepped forward. “The Council will fight you.”
Lauryn smiled at her sisters. “We have more power among the three of us than the Council ever dreamed. It will happen.”
“She’s right,” Krystal said. “We gave new skills to Drako’s young people and they’re willing to accept new ideas. As the lords yield control to their sons, they’ll make compromises to blend traditions. When the Institute comes back, Drako’s rulers must be prepared with technology and wit.”
Bryant knelt before Lauryn. “My queen, I pledge my sword to your service.”
Donovan handed Andrew his ring of truth. “You’ll need this to discover the truth behind men’s intentions.” He turned to Lauryn. “Don’t forget. I’m always available to offer advice.”
Tears filled Lauryn’s eyes. “Thanks, father.” She gripped Andrew’s hand and left the spaceship to greet her new subjects. Tessa and Felesia walked behind their sister, ready for new adventures.
Krystal squeezed Donovan’s waist. “I’ll miss them.”
He wiped a tear from his cheek. “They’d better stop by our cottage on a regular basis or I’ll storm the castle.
Trenton said, “Does this mean we’ve all got a vacation? You ever hunt a mountain lion under the red moon? It’s an adventure you won’t forget.”
Maggie pounded his shoulder. “Give the man time to breathe before dragging him off on a hunting trip. I’ll never understand you men.”
Trenton kissed her. “You know, you women can’t live without us, and we can’t live without you!”
“Glad we don’t need to try.”
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DEFINITION OF TERMS:
Council of Elders: A group of ruling telepathic wolves who interpret and implement Pack Law. They meet at the Bloody Lake, a sacred place constructed of red clay that blocks telepathic intrusion. The elders host the oldest ancestor minds. Pack Law requires the wolves watch over humans with telepathic ability and prevent the evil of forced hosting. The ancestors have not revealed their full history.
Drako: A planet on the fringe of civilized space colonized by humans as a recreation planet. The planet is part of a two-sun system, but the red dwarf sun looks more like a second moon from the planet surface. It is described as the dark moon by wolves and the red moon by humans and provides extra energy for night-blooming flora.
Institute: The Earth-based organization formed by the inventors of Transfer to operate and maintain the details of the program. The original team of scientists assigned their patent rights to Institute management but later regretted losing control over their organization.
Host: Telepathic wolves on Drako voluntarily absorb the minds and memories accumulated by an ancestor, also referred to as “hosting” an ancestor line. Although the living host assumes the identity of the ancestor line and listens to advice from ancestor minds, the final decision rests with the living host.
Span: The normal fifty-year time period between standard Transfers. Emergency Transfer can occur at any time.
Speed time: A skill that Donovan developed after many Transfers. He has the ability to move so fast that regular people can’t see him, but to Donovan it appears people and animals are moving slowly or frozen in place. If he touches an object, he can take it along but touching a living creature causes him to drop out of speed time.
Transfer: The scientific process of moving a patient’s mind into a clone of the patient. Multiple Transfers magnify an individual’s natural talents and learned skills in a logarithmic fashion. These skills eventually appear to be supernatural abilities.
Wolves: A telepathic species that are larger and live longer lives than Earth-type wolves. They carry white knives strapped to their chest and stand erect when challenged to fight. A wolf voluntarily “hosts” the ancestor minds of a dying pack member to keep their knowledge and minds alive. Pack Law is complex and governs group behavior. Readers of the series slowly learn the history of the wolves. The creatures arrived on the planet in a spaceship from Earth centuries before the arrival of humans on the planet. One of the ancestor minds that Tessa hosts is an Earth human but she seldom answers questions.
CAST OF CHARACTERS (Alphabetical)
Anthony: (Introduced in book 2) He is the son of Jarrack and Tanya. Jarrack’s mind entered the boy to escape from death during the Havenshire defeat. Tanya is unaware the evil man she hates is hiding inside her precious son, but the wolves know. They watch to make sure the boy’s mind still lives before they take action against Jarrack.
Bess: (New character in book 3) As Shariel’s foster mother, “Aunt Bess” raised the frightened girl in the mountains and worked as a weaver. An original member of the Zebulon, she arrived on Drako with Donovan and his crew. When she discovered she was barren, she yearned for her own child and rejoiced when Ronda asked her to raise Shariel. She loved Shariel and taught her unarmed combat and archery.
Brandon: (New character in book 3) The first son of Lord Dartmouth, he grew up in his father’s seaside fief of Griswold and learned to sail at an early age. He arrives at Havenshire determined to marry a princess and falls for Felesia. Why should she spurn him? He’s very handsome with sun-bleached hair, sultry gray eyes, and a glib tongue. He never fails to attract a beautiful girl and uses Felesia’s interest in dragons to get close. If he can get rid of Jordan, he’ll surely win her hand.
Bryant: (All 3 books) The best soldier on Drako, Bryant pledged his life to King Donovan’s service. Soldiers look to his leadership without question. He understands his friends’ telepathic talents and barely tolerates the use of technology.
Caston: (New character in book 3) Slight of build with wavy brown hair and soft brown eyes, Caston is timid and interested in music. He’s in love with a musician’s daughter, Keisha, who avoids him because he’s a lordling. If she’d have him, he’d chuck his inheritance and run away with the girl. Why can’t he become a musician and live a happy life? He wishes his half-brother Ryan could become their father’s heir.
Catherine: (New character in book 3) As the king’s cousin, she lives in the royal apartments at Havenshire. A bright red-haired beauty, she was trained t
o ride and shoot by the country’s best teacher. She’s determined to attract an important suitor among the lordlings gathered at the castle so flirts and plays games. She’s interested in Brandon, but he ignores her.
Chella: (All 3 books) Is a lanky black woman who was once an African princess. She developed a deep religious conviction. She’s a healer and sees unreliable visions of the future. Chella is a skilled fighter who kills to defend her friends and then prays for the victim’s soul.
Donovan: (All 3 books) Captain of the spaceship Zebulon, Donovan is a tall, imposing figure with reddish brown hair, green eyes and an infectious smile. He learned that he was an heir to the dying king and won the crown to protect his people. Special talents: He has an uncanny sense of strategy, strong leadership, and he can move faster than the eye can detect.
Dr. Alexander: (All 3 books) Part of the research team that invented Transfer. He’s a powerful empath able to heal with his touch but it’s difficult for him to share the pain of his patients. He implanted cloned embryos of Krystal in her womb and the results were three beautiful daughters. As a cloning expert he changed hair and eye color to make the girls look different.
Felesia: (Introduced in book 2) One of the three daughters of Donovan and Krystal. After her nanny was killed, Felesia grew up with animals in the forest. She is able to mind-meld with Marra (a panther), Arrow (a hawk), Killer (a mongoose) and the dragon chick, Flash. She has tawny hair and skin with hazel colored eyes, prefers living wild in the forest, and loves Jordan with all her heart.
Fremont: (Introduced in book 1) He was the Institute spy among the scientists who developed Transfer. Under his orders the scientists were targeted by Jarrack for assassination. He was embarrassed by the scientists at their last meeting, held frozen in a stasis field while they planned their escape from the Institute. He’s searched for them for over twenty years and is determined to wreak revenge now.
Jarrack: (All 3 books) He’s a sadistic Institute assassin who takes pleasure in causing pain and killing. After spans of Transfer he developed the dangerous talent of mind control, able to invade dreams and force his victims to do his will. He’s obsessed with living forever and wants Krystal or one of her cloned daughters for his own.
Jordan: (Introduced in book 2) He is the oldest of Jarrack’s many sons. He learned to hide from Jarrack by blocking his mind. He’s a strong telepath and sees auras (Jarrack’s is blue). He found an injured Felesia and nursed her back to health. He’s afraid of Jarrack but willing to fight for Felesia.
Julian: (New character in book 3) Son of Lord Trask who came to the castle with his cousin, Ross. The boys are both more interested in riding horses than courting a bride, but they’re bright and congenial companions—friends of everyone at the castle.
Kriegen: (All 3 books) A black telepathic wolf with golden colored eyes—pack leader of the Forest Guardians and protector of the humans. He hosts one of the longest lines of ancestor minds on Drako but prefers to remain with his pack rather than serve on the Council of Elders. He met Donovan while the human prepared for the tournament for the crown and they became fast friends. His pack works closely with Donovan’s people.
Krystal: (All 3 books) A medical empath who worked with Dr. Alexander for many spans. She is a lithe blond with blue-gray eyes, an ethereal beauty who captured the heart of a young cadet (Donovan) during his first span. Her experiences on other planets helped her develop extra talents: She can manipulate energy, heal by touch, and amplifies the talents of other people.
Lauryn: (Introduced in book 2) One of the three daughters of Donovan and Krystal, she is a blonde with gray-blue eyes who looks exactly like Krystal. Lauryn is a highly skilled healer with talents that rival her mother. Chella raised Lauryn in a convent, where she heard about Chella’s erratic visions. She often has her own dreams about the future.
Maggie: (All 3 books) The small dark-haired woman who stole Trenton’s heart when they served on Donovan’s crew. She loves to cook and her skill in the kitchen almost matches her ability to detect nuclear radiation. She once operated a nuclear reactor on Earth and can navigate the complexities of reactor design from memory. She cannot bear children but she and Trenton raised Tessa in their mountain retreat.
Marasuta: (All 3 books) He’s an inscrutable Samurai warrior with his own oriental castle, a master horseman, as well as a fierce and skilled soldier. He formed the Samurai Guild that included women who were abused captives in Jarrack’s harem. He vowed to fight Jarrack to the death and won’t rest until the kingdom is safe.
Ronda: (Introduced in book 2) She is Shariel’s biological mother. Dr. Alexander helped Ronda, Bess, and Shariel escape from Jarrack’s harem, and then she trained to become a skilled Samurai who helped attack Havenshire. She wouldn’t kill her daughter (like some women from the harem), but she couldn’t face raising a child who resembled the man she hated. Ronda put Shariel in the care of Bess and didn’t look back. Now she’s faced with a grown daughter and wonders if she can accept the woman.
Ross: (New character in book 3) He’s the cousin of Julian, interested in breeding and riding horses. He’s everybody’s friend but knows he doesn’t qualify to court a princess. He has a wicked sense of humor and plays practical jokes on everyone.
Ryan: (New character in book 3) He’s the illegitimate son of Lord Shelby and the paxman of his half brother, Caston. The two brothers are mismatched for the roles their birthright demands. Ryan is an expert marksman, big and burly with flaxen hair and searing blue eyes—the image of his father. He should be heir.
Salizar: (New character in book 3) He’s a black-haired desert rider with intense dark eyes, who accepted the honor of ransoming the mullah’s daughter, Tamarind, from the infidel king. He’s determined to restore his family’s honor and will do anything necessary to achieve his goal. He’s brave, intelligent, and resourceful. Perhaps he can steal a royal wife and gain the throne his heritage demands.
Shariel: (New character in book 3) The biological daughter of Jarrack and a Samurai warrior, Ronda, Shariel lived with her “Aunt Bess” in hiding since they escaped from Jarrack’s harem. With luxurious black hair and piercing black eyes, local men lusted after Shariel and women hated her beauty. She can hear thoughts and fears her inherited “mind control” abilities. Will she become evil like her father? Yearning for her mother’s love, she feels abandoned and rejected. Can she master her talents and establish a safe place for herself on Drako?
Tamarind: (New character in book 3) An exotic looking, pampered daughter of a desert mullah, she was meant to be the bride of Jarrack and live in his harem. Jarrack tried to take her before the wedding but her guards prevented the assault. The attack on Havenshire prevented the marriage, and Tamarind waited for months to be “ransomed” from the infidels. By throwing temper tantrums, she kept herself amused and repelled unworthy suitors while becoming impatient. When she returns to Asbohar, her father will negotiate a high bride’s price, and she’ll marry a rich pasha.
Tanya: (Introduced in book 2) She was an abused woman in Jarrack’s harem and bore a son. After she escaped from Havenshire, she joined the Samurai to fight Jarrack and rescue her son. Because Anthony was born with blond hair and blue eyes, she mistakenly believes one of the desert riders sired him.
Tessa: (Introduced in book 2) One of the three daughters of Donovan and Krystal, she’s the auburn-haired princess who volunteered to “host” the wolf minds of Amber. One of the ancestor minds she hosts is a human (Sandra) from the original ship that brought wolves from Earth. She was raised by Trenton and Maggie to keep her safe from the desert riders.
Trenton: (All 3 books) Claiming to be the best tracker on land or in space, Trenton was born on Drako. The ruling king sent him off the planet on a secret mission to guard and train Prince Donovan. He waited spans until they were called home and Donovan could become king. He’s a wiz at computers and weapons, has a quirky sense of humor, and loves Maggie. He uses clever disguises to spy for King Donovan and secretly constructed an elab
orate mountain home inside a network of caves with illegal spacer tools.
If you have not read the other books in the series, you might enjoy the beginning of the story:
THE ALPHAS is a prequel to HOWL OF THE WOLF, Heirs to the Throne Trilogy. It takes place in modern day on the planet Earth and is a mix of Mystery and Science Fiction. Has your dog ever stared into your eyes, trying to send you a message you can't quite understand? Learn what happens when you finally “get” that message.
What starts off as a perfect day for Carra Taylor, quickly spirals into a terrifying race to solve a deadly mystery. Carra learns that her friend, Frieda, has been murdered and the dogs in Frieda’s kennel are missing. Frieda was the breeder of Carra’s beloved German Shepherd, Kriegen, who was stolen five years before. Now Carra learns that she’s the heir to Frieda's hefty estate and the next target for a group of killers.
As she searches for clues to Frieda’s murder and a series of dog thefts, Carra and her husband Mike, find themselves on a dangerous journey through Frieda’s past. They uncover painful secrets about the woman and learn about a secret breeding project Frieda initiated over fifteen years earlier. Can two amateur sleuths blast through a web of lies to unravel the truth and rescue endangered wolves? Will they survive against a ruthless company that is determined to exploit helpless animals to complete research that might be worth millions? Carra is faced with decisions that might affect generations of sentient beings. You can buy the book by clicking this link: THE ALPHAS
