by Dianna Love
“Famous last words if you accept the alpha position,” he warned.
She removed her arms and took in the motley crew of wolves. She announced, “You have a choice. You can hate me if you want for killing Reinhold, but you knew your alpha was sick. If Leonard still lived, he would be the one to take over, but he’s dead. For those who have never been a rogue wolf, you should know that if you take off on your own SCIS will find you and I won’t be able to step in and save you. If you stay here and help us build this pack, plus observe our laws and respect each other, both Adrian and I will protect you.”
Adrian said nothing.
This was her pack and he couldn’t be prouder. The idea of doing this would probably hit him tomorrow, but he’d have Jaz, Tarski, and Red at his side.
Jaz continued, “Some of you have issues other than the bond sickness. I will work to heal you, but be warned if you harm a human or another shifter, I will not hesitate to do my duty as an alpha.” She took a breath and swallowed, then went on. “This is your chance to accept me as your alpha. If you walk out now, you’re free to go. I will not hunt you. If you stay, you swear your loyalty. I never wanted to rule this pack or any other, but neither will I walk away and watch you kill each other for control only to have the last ones at the mercy of SCIS. Choose.”
One wolf shifted to his human form and said, “I’m not fucked up like the others. I don’t bow to bitches.”
Adrian took a step, ready to shove those words down his throat.
Jaz put a hand on his arm, stopping him. “It’s okay.” She told the wolf, “You have ten minutes to pack and get out of here or you’ll do more than bow.” She crossed her arms.
He started to walk past her. Two steps away, he lunged forward in an intimidation attempt.
He stopped short right in front of her.
Adrian clenched his hands into fists, determined not to undermine her power. This would be harder than he’d realized.
The wolf shifter said, “You won’t last long.”
Jaz didn’t move a muscle or show a reaction. “I can say the same for you. You have nine minutes.”
Growling, he strode off and picked up his pace until he was out of sight.
She cast a serious look at the wolves. “Anyone else?”
One by one, their animals rose to a sitting position and lowered their heads.
Nodding, she said, “Let’s rebuild this pack. With females, too.”
The wolves howled happily at that, then they shifted back to human and walked toward the central area of the compound. As one walked past, he said, “Be careful. Tanza may not accept you.”
Adrian realized Jaz had not made Tanza show her acceptance.
Jaz said, “I appreciate the thought, but that’s my problem to deal with.” She turned to address all the wolves who paused at her raised voice.
“Upon the next full moon, we’ll have the official blood transfer to cement our pack. If you change your mind about staying before then, approach me from the front. Come up behind me and you won’t get a chance to take your next breath. I may be a woman, but enemies don’t deserve mercy. Don’t become mine.”
Chapter 35
Jaz held her end of a wood plank as Adrian lifted his end into position. With the exterior slat in place, he nodded at her. “Nail it.”
Over the past week, the weather had turned cooler. Leaves were showing colorful hints of changes, as was the pack. She’d had to battle one to calm him down more than prove her dominance.
Another one in wolf form tried sneaking up on Adrian, who released Red to face the poor example of a threat. That wolf took one look at Red, dropped down, and covered his head with his paws.
Tanza hadn’t spoken to Jaz since that awful day. Jaz and Adrian had taken it upon themselves to build their own little home away from the big house.
That was Tanza’s home.
Jaz couldn’t be happier with the A-frame structure of one big room with a loft bedroom at the top. It was two or three times the size of her cave.
They’d finish this in a couple more days.
Adrian turned out to be a demon when it came to construction. He enjoyed working with his hands and building.
She paused and whispered, “Company.”
Adrian finished his nailing and put the hammer down, turning as Jaz did the same.
Tanza walked up. She still had that empty shell look. Since she had come to them, Jaz only said, “Hi.”
Adrian leaned back against the partially finished exterior and nodded at Tanza.
The young woman asked, “When will this be completed?”
What the heck? Was Tanza going to give them shit about the A-frame? Holding her patience, Jaz said, “In a couple more days. We’re moving pretty fast. Two of the pack have shown up to help.”
“That works,” Tanza said, lacking any emotion in her words. “I need to move in here.”
Patience blown, Jaz said, “Now, wait a minute. We built this with our own funds.”
“I realize that.” Running her hands through wavy brunette hair that could use a brush, Tanza said, “I can’t stay in that house with all the memories. I may not stay here at all, but I want a smaller place until I figure everything out. You two can live in the house.”
Adrian exchanged a look with Jaz. He asked, “Are you sure, Tanza? Maybe you should give it another week. We’re fine out here.”
“I’m done trying. I’m done with ... a lot of things.” The poor woman sounded defeated and beaten into the ground. Jaz so wanted to help her.
She had no doubt Adrian would agree with her about accepting the swap, but they wouldn’t do anything until Tanza was ready.
Jaz sent a look to Adrian and he gave a half shrug. She said, “If that’s what you want, Tanza, that’s what we’ll do.
Jaz understood the need to control your world when it collapsed around you. She had to support the woman’s choice even if it broke her heart for Tanza to give up her home.
Adrian added, “Okay, Tanza. We’ll be happy to finish this up for you. We’d love some input on what you want, but even when we move into the house, all you have to say is you changed your mind. We’ll be happy to move out of the house and back here.”
“I won’t change my mind. I don’t need anything special. Finish this however you want.” She turned to walk off, then paused and looked over her shoulder. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Jaz could tell how difficult those words had been.
As Tanza moved away, a bird up above caught Jaz’s eye. She watched the huge hawk drop from a high branch and glide through the tree like a miniature fighter pilot.
Jaz asked quietly, “Do you see that big bird? Looks like a hawk. I’ve never seen one that big or that color. I swear it seems to be following Tanza.”
Adrian looked up sharply. “That is a hawk. He’s big because he’s one of ours.”
“That’s a Gallize shifter?” she asked softly. The pack knew that Adrian’s people were something special and respected the power, but not all the details.
“He’s not a Gallize, but he’s been on our teams for a long time. He showed up overseas and the Guardian brought him here.”
Jaz observed the bird’s covert motions again. “Really looks like he’s watching Tanza. Why?”
Adrian shook his head slowly. “Don’t know, but I plan to find out. Once we get this built and Tanza settled, I’ll make a visit to headquarters and chat with him. The boss wouldn’t send him without telling me.”
Pulling off his leather gloves, Adrian grumbled, “Tanza still hates me.”
“She hates us,” Jaz clarified with a smile. “Remember, now that we’re mated we share everything.”
Adrian gave her a fast smooch. “You hungry?”
“Yes. I haven’t had time to make a run to the store.”
Waving that off, he said, “I’ve got the list we made this morning. I’ll go. I want to swing by the hardware for some supplies.”
When he’d walked
away, she said, “Grab wine and we’ll dine under the stars tonight. Looks like a clear sky.”
He swung around and walked back to pick her up and kiss her soundly. When he put her down, he whispered, “I plan to dine on you tonight.” Then he strode off with a cocky hitch to his gait, laughing with pure happiness.
She’d never get tired of hearing that sound.
Watching him until he drove off, she turned to start picking up the wood scraps. Adrian did that all the time, saying it was easier to work on a clean site.
When she walked around the structure, admiring their construction work, she almost ran into Percee.
Jaz jumped back. “Fuck! You scared the shit out of me.”
“Doesn’t that mean you have a guilty conscience?” Percee tapped her cheek and smiled as she said that.
“Very funny,” Jaz griped. Then she took in Percee’s tight jeans and half top. She had interesting braids falling down each side of her face while the rest of her black hair moved like an ebony sheet. Cleaned up and with brilliant blue-green eyes in a tanned face, Percee looked every bit the powerful guardian Jaz now knew her to be.
That wasn’t a normal harpy eagle eye color.
Jaz had done some research. “What are you all dressed up for? Got a date?”
Percee cocked her head in a bird-like manner. "You practicing to be a match maker now? If I remember right, you needed me to hook you up with your mate last time.”
Jaz muttered, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
Percee studied the structure. “How quaint. Does this qualify as a tiny house?”
Still perturbed at the eagle-shifter’s first comment, Jaz snapped, “No. Don’t diss this place. We’ve worked hard on it.”
“I guess it’s a matter of taste ... or a lack of,” Percee mused.
“Is there a reason for this visit or did your broom break in mid-flight?”
Percee laughed. “I like you. Some of the others had no personality.”
That reminded Jaz of something she’d wondered about. “Why didn’t you come down that day?”
“What day? The one where you annihilated the Blood King’s second string killers?”
Shaking her head at the odd woman, Jaz said, “Yes.” She paused to look around. No one near. “The male Guardian watched you. They told me I’m a Gallize like Adrian, but the female version.”
“You are. Like Eli, you’re a rare female Gallize shifter where many of the others are not shifters,” Percee explained. Scrunching her nose, she added in a miffed voice, “As for that sea eagle, I’m not ready to talk to him.”
Jaz wondered how those two eagles could have any conflict when Adrian’s Guardian hadn’t seen the female guardian in over two hundred years.
Which made her wonder ... “How old are you, Percee?”
“Isn’t it rude to ask that?”
“No, it’s a simple question when no one has heard from a female Gallize guardian in over two hundred years. The men need your help.”
Muttering under her breath, she said, “They seemed to be fine. They have someone watching over them. The females need my help.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Not necessarily. I have to go.” Percee backed up three steps.
“Wait,” Jaz held up a hand. “Did you find the woman you were looking for?”
“Not yet.” Percee bent her knees and pushed off the ground, shifting into a massive harpy eagle as she did.
Jaz sighed and muttered to the empty spot, “You could have at least told me who you were looking for in case I meet her.”
The eagle caught air, flying higher and higher.
Then Percee’s voice came into Jaz’s mind. I’m searching for my mother. With that, she shot out of sight.
Thank you for reading my new League of Gallize Shifters series. I hope you enjoyed this story and would appreciate a review wherever you shop for books.
Please join my PRIVATE READER COMMUNITY so that I can let you know about new releases, special offers just for my readers, and events. Also, I do not share anyone’s information. I hate to have mine shared.
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You’ll find out more about Percee in future books of the League of Gallize Shifters series. Watch for a new spinoff as well called Gallize Wild Wolf Pack where Jaz and Adrian have their hands full trying to rebuild a pack of damaged wolves.
More stand-alone Gallize shifter stories coming soon.
LEAGUE OF GALLIZE SHIFTERS
Book 1: Gray Wolf Mate
Book 2: Mating A Grizzly
Book 3: Stalking His Mate
Book 4: Scent Of A Mate
Book 5: Wild Wolf Mate
RAVES ABOUT DIANNA’S OTHER SERIES:
Belador Urban Fantasy:
“When it comes to urban fantasy, Dianna Love is a master.” Always Reviewing.
"There is so much action in this book I feel like I’ve burned calories just reading it." D Antonio
“There are SO many things in this series that I want to learn more about; there’s no way I could list them all.” Lily, Romance Junkies Reviews
Slye Temp Romantic Thrillers:
"...suspense, thrills, excitement, danger and a super romantic couple...Dianna Love writes romance suspense so well, as I consider her one of the best at creating believability and hooking us in from the start all the way to the exciting climax." ~~ Barb, The Reading Café
"Dianna never disappoints! ... would have give it a 10 if they would let!!! Very enjoyable read, can't wait for the next one :-)." ~~ Amy, Goodreads
Red Moon Young Adult Sci-fi/Fantasy Series by Micah Caida (pen name of collaborators Dianna Love & Mary Buckham):
"Time Trap is amazingly original and unexpected...I loved every second of reading it!"~~ Alexandra F, 15, who has read The Book Thief, The Hunger Games, and Anna Karenina.
"Reading this book is like riding on a roller coaster, getting to the top and not knowing when the next drop is."~~ Alex B, 12 years old and has also read all of Rick Riordan’s books, the Hunger Games, the Chronicles of Nick, and the Rangers Apprentice series.
To contact Dianna – email her assistantATauthordiannalove.com
Websites: AuthorDiannaLove.com
Facebook – “Dianna Love Fan Page”
“Dianna Love Reader Community” Facebook group page (You’re invited)
MORE BOOKS BY DIANNA:
Are you a fan of romantic suspense? Then you’ll enjoy Dianna’s Slye Temp black ops series, which is completed (great for binging). Be sure to visit DiannaLoveSignedBooks.com for the best deals.
Prequel: Last Chance To Run
Book 1: Nowhere Safe
Book 2: Honeymoon To Die For
Book 3: Kiss The Enemy
Book 4: Deceptive Treasures
Book 5: Stolen Vengeance
Book 6: Fatal Promise
Dianna Love and Mary Buckham created the sci-fi/fantasy Red Moon Trilogy, which is appropriate for Hunger Games readers. (Order signed/personalized print copies at www.MicahCaidaSignedBooks.com)
Book 1: Time Trap
Book 2: Time Return
Book 3: Time Lock
For more on this series, visit www.MicahCaida.com
AUTHOR BIO
New York Times Bestseller Dianna Love once dangled over a hundred feet in the air to create unusual marketing projects for Fortune 500 companies. She now writes high-octane romantic thrillers, young adult and urban fantasy. Fans of the bestselling Belador urban fantasy series will be thrilled to know more books are coming after soon with the new Treoir Dragon Chronicles. Dianna’s Slye Temp sexy romantic thriller series wrapped up with Gage and Sabrina’s book–Fatal Promise–perfect for bingers! She has new League of Gallize Shifters paranormal romance series. Look for her books in print, e-book and audio. On the rare occasions Dianna is out of her writing cave, she tours the country on her BMW motorcycle searching for new story locations. Dianna
lives in the Atlanta, GA area with her husband, who is a motorcycle instructor, and with a tank full of unruly saltwater critters.
Visit her website at www.AuthorDiannaLove.com or
www.DiannaLoveSignedBooks.com
A WORD FROM DIANNA...
Thank you for reading WILD WOLF MATE and thanks also to all the readers who have written wonderful notes about my new League of Gallize Shifters series. I appreciate your feedback so much! And, yes, I do have more books planned, which include a new Gallize Wild Wolf Pack spinoff.
As always, thank you to my husband, Karl, who makes it possible for me to write my stories.
A special thank you to Judy Carney who gets better with every book she goes through, Stacey Krug who jumps in super early to read pages before they’re totally clean. Also, I appreciate Jennifer Cazares and Sherry Arnold for being terrific early beta readers who catch a number of small things missed by all of us even after multiple editing passes.
I want to send a huge thank you to my Super Read-and-Review Team peeps, who read early versions then share their opinions – you rock!!
Sending a shout out to Candi Fox and Leiha Mann, who work hard to support me in so many ways. Thanks to Joyce Ann McLaughlin, Kimber Mirabella and Sharon Livingston, too.
As always, the amazing Kim Killion creates all of my covers and Jennifer Litteken saves my butt time and again with great formatting just when I need it. Much appreciation to both of you.
Hugs and love to Karen Marie Moning, a wonderful and talented woman I think of as more than a friend.
Thank you to my peeps on the Dianna Love Reader Group on Facebook. I love coming out to visit with you.
Dianna
