The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3

by Charlene Hartnady

  “I told you that I wouldn’t hurt you and I meant it.”

  “I know. I just really wish you would let me go.” Her plea sounded almost desperate. There was something she was keeping from him. He understood her desire to return to her people, to have this whole episode over with. What he didn’t understand was her desperation. Had he not made it clear that she was safe? That he would provide for her and take her back himself?

  Her shoulders sagged and she stopped slicing. Her eyes remained firmly on the food in front of her. “It’s just that, it’s not going to be long before…” She took a deep breath. It seemed as if she was finally going to confess whatever it was that was bothering her.

  The door slammed open. Chilly air swirled into his cosy cabin along with one pissed shifter. Gage’s face was contorted in rage, his hands were fisted at his sides. Even though Ward doubted the male would hurt the vampire, he still moved to put himself between Gage and the female.

  Aside from dropping the knife and turning to face Gage, Stephany remained silent and outwardly calm.

  “What the fuck, Ward?” Gage growled, his teeth were sharp points. If the male became any angrier, he would start to sprout fur. Tearing towards them, he stopped almost chest to chest with Ward. The shifter’s gaze held his for a few long beats before moving over his shoulder to the vampire behind him.

  Ward couldn’t stop the low growl that tore from his throat as Gage’s eyes narrowed on the female.

  “She can’t be here. It’s too risky.” Gage snarled, his canines long and gleaming.

  Ward shoved the other male, managing to get the big SOB to take a step backwards. “I will deal with it,” he snarled back.

  “I will not risk…all that we have worked for…I refuse.”

  “Calm the fuck down.” Ward tried not to snarl in retaliation. Someone had to keep a clear head through all of this.

  “Fuck you!” Gage’s eyes were glowing, his shirt stretched across his chest. If Ward were willing to risk glancing down, he was sure he would find claws at the ends of the other male’s fingers. Gage was so angry that he was in a semi shift. The problem was that Ward could understand the reasons behind the anger and underlying fear. If Stephany found out…moreover, if the vampire kings were to find out their plans…they could be in real trouble. “I will deal with this, Ward. You seem to have lost your mind.”

  “I said that I would handle it and I will. Trust me to do what is necessary. This is my call…I don’t want to fight with you, Gage.”

  The other male visibly bristled. “You brought the enemy into our midst. A human female is one thing, this”—his eyes moved back to Stephany, glowing brighter as they landed on her—“is something else entirely.” His lip curled in a silent snarl. “I will take the vampire.”

  A hissing sound erupted from behind him. Ward glanced back. Great, judging from her red eyes and long canines, the female’s fight instincts were kicking in. Another deafening hiss sounded as she advanced.

  Ward snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her into his back. It was the best he could do and still keep Gage at his front. Her hands shoved at his back but he held tight.

  “Leave. I’ve got this.” He tried to sound as calm as possible.

  “Bull fucking shit, Ward.”

  “You’re the one that’s making her act like this. I refuse to let you take her. You will bleed before that happens.”

  “She’s a bloodsucker, Ward. This is how they are.” Although his frame was still tense and his eyes were narrow, he had calmed enough to rationalize with.

  “She’s a female in my care. Hayden took her by accident and I will see that she is returned. In the meantime, she will stay by my side at all times.”

  “What if she finds out?”

  “She won’t,” he growled.

  “And if she does?” Gage didn’t give him a chance to answer. “If she does, she dies and by your hand.”

  Stephany stopped trying to get away from him. Instead, she pushed herself against him, her hot breath fanning his back. She seemed to sense that she didn’t stand a chance against this fierce shifter. That Ward was her only chance for survival. She might be tougher than a human female but she was no match for a shifter male in his prime.

  “I won’t kill a female…vampire or otherwise.”

  “Give her to me then. I will take care of it.”

  Ward grit his teeth to keep from snarling. “You would have innocent blood on your hands?”

  “I’ll take her to the canyon and leave her to find her way back to civilization…”

  “It would be kinder to cut her heart out right now. Good luck trying.” His arm tightened around the female at his back. It was irrational but he would kill this male if he had to.

  “If she stays and finds out.” He spoke through clenched teeth. “She dies. You have taken ownership so it will be by your hand. Do we have an agreement?” Gage’s eyes darkened.

  Ward felt his skin tighten as his wolf attempted to erupt. His gums tingled and his hands turned to claws at his side. “You have no authority over me.” His voice had turned gravelly. His beast fought for dominance, it wanted to hurt Gage but that would put the female in danger.

  “Hand her over or accept responsibility.”

  “I have taken ownership of this female. She will not find out, if she does I will take her as my mate.”

  Gage’s jaw dropped open for a second, then he roared, his face twisted in rage. “What? You would dare bring a bloodsucker into the pack. Are you out of your fucking mind?”

  Ward punched him. It felt good to feel Gage’s nose snap under his fist. The big male looked momentarily dazed. “What was that for?” He used the back of his hand to wipe away a trickle of blood.

  “Calm down. I don’t plan on taking a vampire as a mate. It’s to prove to you how serious I am about her never knowing our secrets.”

  “Those bastard kings can’t find out. You know she would tell them.”

  “I know.”

  “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Gage’s canines had retracted, his shirt hung normally on his shoulders.

  “I’ve got this.” Ward noticed that Rushe was standing in the doorway.

  “Fine. Don’t fuck this up.”

  “You said that like I’m known for fucking up.”

  Gage shook his head, his lips twitched. “Don’t start now.”

  “I don’t plan to.”

  Gage nodded once, turned and walked out. Rushe closed the door. Ward turned, expecting to find a quivering female in need of comfort. A few kind words, maybe even a hug. The sight before him though made him take a momentary step back.

  Her eyes may have been red before, but not like this. Her irises looked like they were bleeding. No wonder she’d dropped the blade earlier, the claws at the ends of her fingers put the paring knife to shame. Her eyes narrowed even more, zoning in on him. She hissed, her canines long and deadly. Stephany looked down at the claws on the ends of her hands, the ones that were covered in blood. From the light sting on his back, he knew that it was his blood.

  She swallowed hard, and licked her lips before tearing her gaze from the crimson rivulets on the ends of her fingers. Squeezing her hands into fists, she pulled them behind her back. “Run,” her red eyes pleaded as she spoke.

  “Do you need blood?”

  She closed her eyes, squeezing them tight and shook her head. “I said to run.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. Tell me what’s wrong and I’ll help you.”

  “Too late.” She hissed again. When her eyes opened, they held a predatory gleam. It wasn’t his imagination when they settled on the pulse at the base of his neck. “I’m in hunt mode.” She took a step towards him and he had to fight to stand his ground. Crazy, she was tall for a female but no match for him. Vampire or not.

  “If you need blood, you can take from me.”

  “I intend to.” Stephany looked up at him through thick lashes. In that moment, her hungry stare turned sensual. Ye
t still as deadly as the sharpest blade. Damned if his body didn’t respond. She shoved at his chest and he stumbled in the direction of the bed.

  “Know that I don’t want this.” She said as she advanced on him.

  “You don’t have to do this if—”

  “I don’t have a choice.” She closed the rest of the space between them and slid her hands onto his chest. He sucked in a deep breath, amazed at how her scent had intensified. Buttery vanilla and sweet, lemony frosting. His mouth was on the verge of drooling when she shoved him again. He stumbled back, barely keeping his footing.

  “If you want me on the bed that badly, all you have to do is ask.”

  “Let’s get something straight, wolf, I don’t want you.” Her eyes said otherwise as she stalked towards him using one hand to push him. This time he was ready, and although he could’ve broadened his stance and held his ground, he allowed her to push him so that he landed with his back on the soft mattress. She straddled him, long lean thighs on either side of his hips. His cock strained against his zipper.

  Down boy.

  His dick refused to listen. Vampire or no, it wanted and it wanted bad. He would’ve thought that red eyes and claws would be enough to turn a male off, but Ward was a wolf after all and she kept flashing him the longest most delectable canines he’d ever seen on a female.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.” Even when she was out of control, she was controlled. It didn’t make any sense, yet it was true. “You can’t hurt me, honey.”

  “Oh, yes I can. Lie still or suffer the consequences.” She grabbed a hold of his arm, turning it so that his wrist was exposed. He so longed to know what exactly those consequences would be.

  There was a sharp pinch as her canines breached his skin. Stephany made a tortured sound dropping his arm. Her gaze settled on his neck. “So thirsty.” Stephany leaned in, her pebbled nipples slid over his chest as her mouth locked on his neck. There was another pinch and she sucked deeply. His hips rolled forward in time with her draw. The female made a sound of utter rapture, or maybe it was him that made the noise?

  Fuck.

  He felt his eyes roll to the back of his skull. It felt like her lips were wrapped around his cock instead of on his neck, like each pull was a long languid suck from the base to tip. His hips found a steady rhythm in time with her mouth. He fought the urge to pull her against him, to bury himself inside her heat. Instead of pulling her closer, he grabbed a hold of the sheets.

  Stephany moaned.

  Chapter 4

  Ward tasted divine.

  So good that her brain fogged over and shivers raced up and down her spine. He tasted forbidden although she couldn’t remember why. Didn’t want to.

  Her breasts felt heavy against his chest. Her nipples stiffened to the point of pain. Her skin felt too tight. Her body flushed. A deep seated hunger awoke in her, making her clit throb and her womb clench. She needed to ease the ache. Needed to…her core met with hard male.

  Yes.

  She whimpered, her desire kicking up a few hundred notches as she slid herself against him.

  More.

  Rolling her hips, she sought the friction that would ease the need. Gods be damned, she needed to cum more than she needed to take her next breath. Her clothing felt scratchy against her skin. One final pull had her mouth filling with his delicious blood. Ward made the most sensual growling noise. It increased her need, her desire.

  She rubbed her aching core against his hard cock, making a sound of frustration at the layers of clothing that separated them. She needed to feel him inside her, needed to ride him until she found completion. Stephany tore away from his neck, sitting so that she could pull her shirt over her head. The worst of her need for blood slaked. His eyes dropped to her breasts. They weren’t very big and for the briefest second she thought to cover her chest. To stop this insanity. His intense green eyes flared with desire. His hands closed on her hips. She leaned back down, wanting to taste his mouth. Wanting all he had to give. It had been many years since she had burned with desire this fierce. So long. Too long. Even though she knew it was wrong she moved closer, her eyes zoning in on his lips.

  “I don’t think this is a good idea.” He said as his calloused fingers moved from her hips to cup her face.

  Ignoring him, she pressed herself more firmly against his chest loving how the smattering of hair she had seen earlier abraded against her nipples shooting zings of desire to her core.

  He held her in place, “As much as I would love to turn you around and rut you till you scream my name, you don’t want this.”

  The wolf was right, yet he was also very wrong. She hadn’t wanted this. By blood, she shouldn’t want it, yet she really, really did. “I do.” A breathless whisper just inches from his mouth.

  “I think my blood went straight to your head.” He smiled. “I’m a wolf, honey, I only possess so much will power. You really need to get off me and get dressed before I…do something we’ll both regret.”

  Her blood ran cold. For just a moment she’d forgotten the very reason she had chosen to stay celibate. She had accidentally mated Lance all those years ago. Even though they had never lived together as mates, it didn’t change the bond they had shared. Lance had died trying to save her, his body barely cold in his grave and already she was shamelessly throwing herself at another male. The horror of what she was doing rose up in her, she’d attacked Ward, had practically raped him.

  Thank the gods he hadn’t wanted her back. That flare of desire she thought she had seen must just have been her imagination. Most males she knew would rut with a female if she made herself available. Ward wasn’t like that and she could count herself lucky.

  Stephany scrambled off him, her arms clutched across her chest. Ward snagged her shirt and handed it to her. His abs ribbed as he moved to a sitting position. She noticed the major bulge in his pants as she grabbed the shirt, turning her back to him so that she could put it back on. Stupid, since he’d already seen her.

  Her eyes burned, but she refused to cry.

  Not happening.

  “About that rabbit stew.”

  “I’m not hungry,” she blurted.

  Ward laughed. The rich, warm sound almost made her want to smile. Almost. “Well some of us haven’t eaten yet and besides, I said I would make a decent cook out of you and I plan on making good on my promise.”

  It was the last thing she felt like doing. She sensed his presence behind her. Stephany squeezed her eyes shut wishing that the ground would just open up already and swallow her whole. Instead, by some sick twist of fate she would be forced to spend the next few days with this male. The worst part was, in her haste to rut with him, she hadn’t drunk her fill before pulling away. The chances were good that she would need to take blood from him again before he let her go.

  Stephany suppressed a sigh. She turned to face the wolf. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

  Ward held up his hands. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

  “I should’ve warned you or…something. I really shouldn’t have…never mind…” She shook her head.

  “Is it always like that?

  “Like what?” It would be best if she played dumb.

  He arched an eyebrow. “That explosive, intense? Like the best foreplay I’ve ever had.”

  Stephany had the urge to gasp and grin all at the same time, but chose the best option instead…she suppressed both. “Not always.” Vampires drank from each other all the time without jumping each other’s bones. She must be attracted to him on some level…even though he was a wolf and she had sworn off males. This was why she preferred to drink from a safe source…Xavier. Tried, tested…no feelings of lust.

  “Not always? When does it happen then?” He threw her a lop-sided grin that told her he knew exactly why it had happened. Made her want to stomp on his feet and claw out his sexy eyes. Wait just a minute…the wolf was so not sexy. He might be really big and seriously stacked, and maybe he had an evocative
grin and a deep commanding voice, but that didn’t make him sexy dammit.

  “I was in hunt mode. Not thinking clearly. It won’t happen again.”

  Ward looked thoughtful for a few seconds. “Actually, it was nice to see you let loose a little.” He lifted his eyebrows and pursed his lips. They were full, soft looking…edible. Ughhh…not going there.

  If she had been human, her cheeks would’ve flushed. “Yeah right, like you enjoyed my trying to jump you like that.” She could’ve slapped herself. The ground still refused to open.

  Those sexy green eyes of his turned stormy as they slid down the length of her. “Let’s get something straight, you can jump my bones any time you like. Just not when you’re in some blood crazed state.”

  “I’m a vampire.” She flashed him her fangs as proof.

  Ward locked his jaw, turning his eyes on her. “I told you not to flash your canines at me, yet you keep insisting—”

  “Fangs. I’m not a wolf. I don’t have canines.”

  He threw her a tight smile that had her belly doing a somersault. “Fangs, canines.” He shrugged his big shoulders. “Flash them one more time and I’ll take you up on the offer.”

  By blood, the wolf did want her. The desire in his eyes had been real. The feral gleam was there right now. That uncomfortable throb between her legs told her that the feelings were mutual and not just blood induced. No way, no how. This wasn’t happening. She didn’t like the female she became when she was in the throes of rutting. The all out, let loose, let ‘er rip female that had mated Lance by accident all those years ago. She detested that part of herself. His nostrils flared.

  “You promised to teach me how to make stew.” She turned towards the counter. Wolves and vampires did not mix. It would become her mantra for the rest of her stay.

  A not so subtle change of subject. Her arousal permeated the small space. Her scent drove him crazy. By now his dick would have an indent from his zipper. Her tight nipples speared the fabric of the t-shirt making it hard for him to think straight. Only because he could clearly remember exactly how her breasts had looked. They reminded him of succulent peaches, the smaller juicy kind, they were tipped with the pinkest plumpest nipples. His mouth watered for a taste.