Heart of the Pack

by Jenny Frame

  Table of Contents

  Synopsis

  By the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  About the Author

  Books Available From Bold Strokes Books

  Synopsis

  Selena Miller accepts a job in Wolfgang County, jumping at the chance to get away from her overbearing family. Crippled by anxiety, she’s determined to start a new, independent life.

  As Second of the Wolfgang pack, Caden Wolfgang is used to having her orders followed without question. When the Alpha allows a human to work in the heart of their business, Caden is horrified. Haunted by a childhood tragedy at the hands of a human, Caden makes it her mission to keep Selena from threatening everything they’ve built.

  When contempt turns into attraction and passion flares, can their love survive Selena learning the truth of what the Wolfgangs really are?

  Heart of the Pack

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  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Heart of the Pack

  © 2016 By Jenny Frame. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-567-1

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, New York 12185

  First Edition: May 2016

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Ruth Sternglantz

  Production Design: Stacia Seaman

  Cover Design By Melody Pond

  By the Author

  A Royal Romance

  Heart of the Pack

  Acknowledgments

  There are a great many people I need to thank for this book. First and foremost Radclyffe, for continuing to give me a platform for my work and creating a wonderful writing community that, just like the wolf pack, supports and allows its members to be the best they can be.

  To the Bold Strokes Books staff, Sandy, Cindy, Connie, Toni, Sheri, amongst many others, who work extremely hard behind the scenes to support us as authors and make everything run smoothly, thanks for everything you do.

  Big thanks to my editor, Ruth Sternglantz, for helping me grow as an author, helping me develop my writing style, being hugely supportive, and answering my endless questions and worries. I couldn’t ask for a better editor.

  Thank you to my good friends Amy, Gova, and Christine, who are always ready to give me an encouraging word whenever I need it.

  To all the readers who have supported me and taken the time to contact me about my stories, I’m extremely thankful for every email and message you have sent. You all keep me inspired and writing.

  As always thank you to my family for helping me so much on a daily basis and for their continued support in all that I do.

  Finally, my own little Frame pack. Lou, the Alpha of our pack, you do so much for me, more than you should have to, but you do it gladly. I’m forever thankful that you swaggered into my life and gave me the strength and confidence to be myself and taught me what real love looks like. A special thank you to our own little wolf, Barney boy, who keeps me company each and every day, stays by my side as I write, and teaches me so much about wolfie behavior.

  For Lou, as always

  The Alpha of our little pack

  PROLOGUE

  Two wolves ran through the dense, snow-covered forest at breakneck speed. They leaped over fallen trees and rocks blocking their path with ease. They were both fevered with the need to hunt down their prey and move in for the kill. The Alpha wolf in front, with a thick gray, white, and black pelt, began to slow and sniff the air.

  Behind the Alpha, the pack Second caught the scent of their quarry more strongly than before. She communicated telepathically to Dante, her Alpha, Alpha, we must be close. Every nerve ending under her dark brown, white, and black pelt tingled, now they were closing in on the prey.

  Yes, she is so close I can almost taste her blood on the air, Second.

  She followed the Alpha as she padded up to the edge of a clearing and peeked through the thick undergrowth. There licking her wounds was the pure black wolf, the Alpha of the Lupa pack, who had attacked the Alpha’s mate.

  Second, I’ll head into the clearing on my own, and you circle around to the rear.

  Yes, Alpha. As she rounded the perimeter of the trees, she watched her Alpha walk calmly out into the clearing. The Alpha had five or six inches on the black wolf and was more powerfully built.

  The black wolf, Leroux, said, The mighty Alpha has arrived, and your Second, Caden, too. You can come skulking out of the undergrowth, I can smell the stench of a Wolfgang at five paces.

  Caden walked out and stood defensively to the side, waiting for her Alpha’s orders. The two rival wolves circled around each other, Dante baring teeth and demanding submission.

  Once I’m done with you, Dante, I am going to tear all your whelps to pieces.

  Dante snapped and snarled. You will never get near my cubs.

  I managed to get to your mate though, didn’t I, Dante? Once I kill you, I will kill your cubs, take your mate, and seize your pack lands.

  Caden felt her Alpha’s fury in every cell of her body and wanted nothing more than to rip Leroux apart, but this was Dante’s fight. Leroux had attacked her mate so first bite went to the Alpha.

  You think you can beat me? Dante snarled. My mate, a small submissive wolf, ripped your face open. What chance do you think you have against me? You are pathetic. The Lupa pack must be in a sorry state if you are the best wolf to come from them.

  Leroux replied, My pack is strong—we live in the old ways, living off the land, ruling by power and slaying every human that crosses our territory, not growing fat on piles of money and selling our kills to them.

  Leroux roared and launched herself at Dante, but the Alpha easily dodged her opponent. Is that the best you’ve got?

  You are arrogant just like those that bore you. My grandfather was killed by your grandmother, and I swore I would one day control this pack and all it had. When I saw your mate…she was an added bonus.

  Well, good luck trying to take what’s mine, Mutt.

  Leroux went for her again, and this time Dante met the strike head-on, and they rolled over on the ground, each looking to gain the upper hand. They fought and snarled and bit, until a bloody Leroux was near collapse. Her flanks were covered in deep claw marks and there was a bite on her hip.

  Caden scented another wolf heading toward
them, and as they got closer, she recognized the scent of Dante’s daughter, Dion. She was being chased by a second Lupa wolf. Caden ran around to the spot where Dion would emerge from the trees and growled. Get behind me.

  The Lupa wolf was no match for Caden, but she was joined in seconds by Dante, who had sensed the danger to her cub. Caden brought the wolf to the ground, and Dante snapped at its neck, ripping the wolf’s throat out.

  She and the Alpha howled to proclaim their victory to the pack, but they turned back to the middle of the clearing to find Leroux gone.

  As if in an instant the clearing was gone and Caden found herself watching a chaotic scene in the middle of a freeway. People screamed, and the smell of acrid smoke permeated the air. In the middle of the road a car lay mangled where the big rig beside it had plowed into its side. Caden stood paralyzed, trapped in her own nightmare, unable to move with the fear of utter helplessness inside.

  Smoke was billowing from the car, and someone shouted, “Get back! That rig is carrying oil.”

  She felt the whoosh and heat of the fireball before she heard the explosion. Someone pulled her back from the carnage, and she screamed and kicked trying to break free, but it was useless. Everything that ever mattered to her or loved was gone in those few seconds.

  Caden woke up gasping for air, with sweat running down her body. She threw the bedsheets off and ran to the bathroom. She turned on the faucet and splashed the cool water over her face. As her breath calmed slightly, she looked at herself in the mirror above the sink, and a pair of angry yellow eyes looked back at her.

  “Never again. I swear by the Great Mother’s word, I will never allow pain or harm to touch the people I love.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  Selena Miller looked around her empty apartment and felt the familiar foreboding slither around her stomach. She had lost count of the number of times she had nearly changed her mind about this move, and every time she had to fight so hard to overcome her deep-seated fears and let her logical mind win out.

  I am doing the right thing, aren’t I? But before she had the chance to answer her own question, the moving supervisor interrupted her.

  “Ma’am? That’s everything in the truck. Is there anything else you need before we head off?”

  Selena pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose nervously. “No, you can go now. I’ll be a few more minutes.”

  “Sure thing. It’ll take around two and half hours for us to get to Wolfgang County, but you’ll probably make better time than us in that sports car of yours.”

  How embarrassing. She hated her new car, which was unusual for someone with a top-of-the-line Porsche Cabriolet, but she hated to stand out in the crowd. She had been happy with her mid-range Ford, but her father didn’t think it reflected well on the family position, so she was given the hot-pink Porsche for her last birthday. She had more important battles to wage against her overbearing parents, so she’d accepted the unwanted gift. But it had the effect she’d feared: people stared everywhere she went.

  “I drive slowly and carefully, so you’ll probably make it before me, but you have a set of keys. Please just start unloading when you arrive.”

  “No problem,” he said. “Next stop, Wolfgang County.” He headed outside to the truck.

  The fear of leaving the protective bubble she had built here in Salt Lake City was terrifying, but she reminded herself, as she had many times since she’d applied for this new job, that this was her chance for independence, a chance to move out from under her mother and father’s control and spread her wings.

  From the very second she had read about this transfer opportunity on her company’s internal website, the prospect of moving to a farming community in Utah had both excited and terrified her. Not only had she to fight her own internal fears but her mother’s and father’s too. When she told them she would be moving away, they were horrified, but the prestigious reputation of her new employer forced them to put up with it.

  Selena looked over to the teddy bear sitting beside her purse, and the man who had given it to her came vividly into her mind. Uncle Joel.

  Her mother’s brother was the black sheep of the family and loved it that way. She was the only family he connected with, and he’d seen past her many failings. After he died a few months earlier, she knew she had to make a change in her life. As he lay in the hospital toward the end, he had urged her to follow her heart. You’re not like my sister, your father, or your brothers. You’re a kind, gentle soul who deserves a loving, happy life. Selena, get away from here, or they’ll suffocate you. Follow your heart, and follow the moon. You are its Goddess, after all.

  This would be a new chapter in her life. Time to be brave and take the chance.

  *

  Caden Wolfgang strode purposefully into the head office of Venator, one of the most successful meatpacking and distribution companies in America. Dressed in her jeans, boots, and Stetson, Caden stood out in this corporate-suited world. Everyone who passed her either bowed their head respectfully or thumped their fist to their chest in salute.

  She took off her hat and smoothed back her hair as she approached the reception desk. “Morning, Kyra. You’re back with us? How was your trip?”

  The young receptionist lowered her eyes submissively and blushed. “Morning, Second. Yeah, I’m back. Just a few more months and I can start my teaching job at Wolfgang Academy. I can’t wait.”

  Caden always had a soft spot for Kyra. She was a close friend of Kyra’s family and she’d watched her grow up.

  She smiled and reached out to cup Kyra’s cheek. “You’ve done so well at college, Kyra. We’ll be lucky to have someone like you teaching our youngsters. Just remember to have some fun while you’re home. Don’t work too hard, okay?”

  “I’ll try, Second,” Kyra spluttered nervously.

  Caden gave her a nod and walked on toward the elevators. After a quick ride to the tenth floor, the CEO’s PA, Marcy, was waiting for her.

  “Morning, Marcy. Is she in yet?”

  “Can’t you hear the shouting from here, Second?” Marcy said.

  “Problems as usual, huh?” Caden slowed her long stride so the older woman could keep up.

  “The usual inefficiencies. You know she has very little patience for mistakes. You’re to go straight in.”

  “Thanks, Marcy.”

  Caden found the Alpha of the Wolfgang pack—the CEO of Venator, and her friend—at her desk wearing a headset, shouting at someone on the other end.

  Her own casual attire was a contrast to the executive-suited Alpha. As pack Second, Caden’s job was managing the ranch, slaughterhouses, and pack land. She loved the outdoor life and couldn’t imagine being cooped up in an office all day, like her Alpha.

  She knew the Alpha’s preference would also be for the outdoors. Until Dante’s father’s death, she’d spent most of her time with Caden down on the ranch, but as Alpha her job was to run the pack and the business empire. This one business and its offshoots supported their small county, and Dante took that very seriously.

  Caden could tell the Alpha was angry as her claws lengthened at the ends of her fingers.

  “I don’t care what kind of staff problems you have, Marshall. I want that shipment delivered, and on time. Get it done.” Dante ripped off the headset and threw it onto her desk.

  “Alpha?” Caden brought her fist to her heart.

  “Cade, come in. Sit.”

  She sat and waited for the Alpha to speak first.

  “What is it about humans, Cade? They tell you they will do a thing and then they don’t. A wolf would never do that.”

  Caden smiled and said, “You can’t expect anything else from humans. Shall I go and bite him for you?”

  Dante stretched and appeared to let go of some of her tension. “Humans aren’t all bad, Cade—just this one is particularly frustrating.” Dante gave a low growl. “I wish I could just rip off this suit and go running.”

  “Why don’t you? We could go up to
the deer park and hunt. There’s a surplus of them at the moment.”

  The carefully managed habitat around Wolfgang land was the pack’s pride and joy. The Wolfgang pack had settled in America generations ago, for the freedom to live as they wanted, and to have enough land to hunt without fear of detection. They began with a small network of ranches under the leadership of the Alpha, and then as time passed, they’d evolved into meatpacking and distribution, making the Wolfgang pack very wealthy.

  Dante sighed. “If only I could. I need to get through some paperwork if I’m to come out on the ranch with you tomorrow.”

  “Fair enough, I’ve got a lot I want to show you. Things are going well. Flash has made changes to the breeding programs that have been very effective.”

  “He’s excellent in handling the animals, but I couldn’t do it without you, Second. Come out running this evening—I promised Dion I’d take her hunting, and give her mother a break. She’s at that age that tries every parent’s last nerve.”

  Caden always enjoyed running with the Alpha and her oldest daughter. She was fifteen, but convinced she was an adult wolf, and very keen to show her wolf skills to her hero, Dante.

  “Of course, Alpha. How is the Mater?”

  Caden, like the rest of the Wolfgangs, adored Eden, the Alpha’s mate. She was mother of the pack, in name and in deed. Eden’s guidance and care of her wolves earned her great loyalty and love from them, not only because she nurtured and loved so devotedly, but because that love gave Dante the strength to lead the pack fearlessly.

  As always when asked about her family, Dante’s usual gruff commanding aura of authority fell away. “Eden is fantastic. I don’t know how she copes with three cubs running around all day. It would drive me insane, but she runs our den like a military operation, I might be the Alpha of the Wolfgang pack, but when I walk through our front door, I say Yes, ma’am, no, ma’am, whatever you say, Eden. I think if she was Alpha, the Wolfgang pack would have taken over the world.”

  “No doubt.” Caden picked up the family pictures on Dante’s desk and looked enviously at them. One showed Dante, tall and dark, holding the smaller fair-haired Eden on their mating day. They both looked so young and happy. The other was Eden and the cubs: Dion the oldest, her sister Megan, and Conan, their little one-year-old brother.