The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3

by Charlene Hartnady

  She looked at him from over her shoulder. “How many carrots should I cut?”

  “One more should do it.” He cleared his throat, his voice had that gravelly edge which only happened when he was feeling ultra-aggressive or ultra horny.

  His dick throbbed.

  “I thought you were hungry.” Her voice quivered ever so slightly, telling him she was just as affected as he was.

  For you. “I am.” He turned on the gas, the stove lighting after two clicks. Almost immediately, a delicious smell circled through the cabin as the butter melted and the onion began to fry. It helped to mask her mouth-watering scent, made all the more tantalizing by her arousal.

  He set to work cutting the rabbit into small portions, removing the meat from the bone. He added the meat to the onions, tossing in some herbs and spices followed by three cups of water as well. Next, he helped Stephany cut the remaining vegetables. He noted that she had done a much better job with the carrots and that she kept glancing at what he was doing so that she could mimic the action. Even her potato squares were actually half decent. “Put everything into the pot.” He walked to the sink and washed his hands.

  “All of it?”

  “That’s how you make a stew. Throw a whole lot of different stuff into a pot and cook slowly for an hour or two.”

  “That long? I thought you were hungry. What will you eat in the meanwhile?”

  Stephany must’ve caught his look that told her exactly what he’d like to eat, because she bit on her bottom lip for a fraction of a second.

  His eyes locked on the movement. “The apples looked really good.” He reached past her and picked one up, biting into the juicy flesh with a crunch.

  “I thought wolves only ate meat.”

  He shrugged. “A myth.” He winked. Stephany rolled her eyes at him.

  “What are we going to do while we wait?” Her eyes flashed with panic as she realized how he might take her question and she was right. The image of this sexy vampire’s head thrown back in utter ecstasy as he feasted on her pussy took residence in his mind. Once the image arrived, it moved in, kicked back, and settled in to stay.

  It was going to be a long ass night.

  Her expression quickly turned passive. It made him almost doubt the panic from a second or two ago. “How long have you been the alpha?” She arched a perfect brow as she sat back down on the sofa. Once again drawing those long, lean limbs underneath her. She leaned back on the soft rest and he had to work hard to keep from dropping his eyes as her chest thrust forward.

  “Too long. The wars have taken their toll on all the species, shifters included. Many of the elders were lost in battle, my father died too young.”

  “You were made alpha as a young wolf?”

  He nodded. “When most my age were out howling at the moon and rutting anything with fur, I was forced into the alpha position.”

  Her eyes widened. “Were you opposed? I’ve heard that although being alpha is a birth right to the wolves, your position can be contested.”

  Ward tensed. “What else do the vampires know about our kind?” He took a seat on the sofa opposite hers.

  Her startling blue eyes narrowed. “Not much. Relax. We can’t possibly know your well-guarded secrets you keep referring to.”

  He forced himself to smile. “You are right, just like with any of the species, alphas can be opposed and leadership contested. Just like with your kings”—he growled the word, not liking to compare himself with those dickhead rulers—“alphas have superior strength and ability. I was young, but I was also filled with pain and rage. My father had taught me well. I harnessed my emotion and retained leadership. I made some stupid mistakes, still do.” Trusting those blasted elves had been beyond stupid, somewhere in the realm of idiotic. “My mother still lives, and she was and still is a big help to me. I so should’ve listened to her. Hounds, she’s always right.” Ward’s gaze moved to the dying fire. He tossed in a few logs and stoked the embers.

  When he turned back to the female, she was smiling. “It takes a strong male to admit that he was wrong.”

  He shrugged. “She was against my taking the human female. Against a few other things as well, but I won’t get into all that.” His mom was against their alliance with the elves. Against this whole war with the vampires period. She believed that there were better ways of dealing with the inter species disagreements, but on that count she was dead wrong. The only known form of communication the vampire royalty seemed to understand was violence.

  “The human would not have agreed to the mating.” Stephany shook her head.

  “Oh yes, she would have.”

  Her eyes turned stormy as they darkened up a whole lot. “You would have forced her?”

  “I thought we had this conversation already and that I made myself clear. I would never have forced her,” he folded his arms across his chest. “There would’ve been no need for force. In the end, the human female would’ve begged for me to take her.”

  The vampire burst out laughing. It took her several long seconds to get herself back under control. He couldn’t help but to smile even though he knew she was laughing at him.

  “Full of it much?” She shook her head. “You males are all the same. Alpha wolf, vampire kings…all the same…”

  “I am nothing like them.”

  Her eyebrows lifted. “You are exactly like them.”

  He felt his brow crease. “How would you know? Who are you?”

  “I told you…nobody. My coven is a close knit unit though. We all know our king and know of King Zane. My initial statement was that you males are all the same. I should’ve left it at that.”

  The tension in him eased.

  “I still don’t understand why you would take the human. I thought that you and…that wolf female…are supposed to mate.”

  It was probably his imagination but she seemed to watch him closely now. Leaning slightly forward in her seat, her hands clasped over her lap. Her eyes tracked his every move. If he didn’t know better, he would think that she cared. “Luna is my best option for a mate. I have not made any commitment to take her though. If I had, I would never have gone after the human.”

  “It sounds like Luna has made her decision.” Stephany pulled her knees up, hugging her legs to her body.

  Part of him wanted to groan his frustration of not being able to see her glorious breasts beneath the thin shirt. Another part of him was relieved, his eyeballs actually hurt from trying to keep them averted.

  “I’m sure I will end up mating Luna. I must do what is best for my pack. What we need is a strong male heir and some females to secure our future. Luna will give them to me.”

  A flash of pain crossed her face. How could he be so insensitive? Chances were good, like many of her kind, that Stephany was infertile. “What if you only have females?” she asked once her expression turned neutral.

  He shook his head. “We’ll keep trying”—he paused—“until there is an heir. Females are just as important if not more so.”

  She smiled, almost sadly. “Again back to my original comment. You males are all the same. I can choose any female and she will eventually beg me to take her…” She imitated a male voice, “My seed is so strong, it will sire an army of heirs and my enemies will shiver in fear.”

  An icy fist clenched around his heart. “Is that what those bastard vampires are saying?”

  She cocked her head. Her expression cool. “It’s what you are saying.” Stephany laughed. “It is what you have been saying ever since I got here.”

  He felt his brow furrow. “It doesn’t sound like me at all.” His lips pulled into a self-satisfied grin. “Besides, the female you talk of would immediately beg me to take her. It wouldn’t take much convincing.”

  Chapter 5

  He winked at her.

  What a cheek! “Cocky much?” She shook her head. Okay, maybe she had thrown herself at him and begged him to take her, but that was because she was in hunt mode and well…beca
use his blood had tasted so damned good.

  Ward threw her a lopsided grin. “Cocky? Actually yeah, I am, literally.” He adjusted himself in his pants and she felt her eyes widen. “That whole blood drinking thing…” He looked pained for a few beats. “How long does it take to wear off?”

  How could she tell him that it should’ve worn off ages ago, like immediately? Yet, there was still a definite bulge in his pants. Her eyes snapped up to meet his. That feral gleam was back.

  She swallowed hard, then shrugged. “No idea.”

  “At this rate, I might need to take a cold shower. It’s not like I can take care of it”—his eyes flashed to hers—“myself…or anything. Not with you here.” He smiled at her in a way that looked like a dare.

  “You had better not,” she said, with as much force as she could muster. Even though heat ignited at the thought of his strong hands palming his cock. Those long fingers wrapped around steel. How his mouth would tighten, his hips would undulate. Would he growl or hold his breath as he found release?

  It had clearly been too long for her. Why the hell did her libido choose such an unfortunate time to come rushing back?

  Ward clenched his jaw, his nostrils flared. Shit, he could probably scent her renewed arousal. He turned and made for the closet where he rustled around for a few beats. The big wolf pulled a washed out grey shirt over his head. It had probably been black once upon a time.

  By now the fire was raging, the room was almost too warm. Was he really so worried that she was going to attack him that he felt the need to cover up now? It wasn’t like she had noticed his acres of bronzed skin which covered muscles of steel. Or the line of hair that disappeared beneath the snap on his jeans. A vision that might just become an obsession if she wasn’t careful. Maybe the shirt wasn’t such a bad idea after all. She shut her eyes, trying to banish the image of his naked torso.

  When she looked again, he was at the stove stirring the pot. The scent of gamey meat intensified. Not altogether bad. She would eat. Hopefully it would stave off the need to drink again. Maybe, just maybe it would buy her the time she needed.

  “Your eyes are glowing.”

  “I guess I’m still hungry.” She pursed her lips. Shouldn’t have said that.

  Ward hooked his thumbs into his jeans, his eyes narrowed on her. “Let me know if you need to drink again.”

  “A sucker for punishment I see.” She shook her head.

  He smiled. Too darned good looking for his own good…or was it…for her own good? “I will admit that foreplay without a happy ending is something akin to torture, but I’ll deal.”

  She pursed her lips.

  Ward’s brow creased, he walked over and dropped to his haunches in front of her. “I promise I won’t hurt you. I wouldn’t let you do anything you’d regret while under the blood influence either.”

  Her shame must’ve shown on her face because he leaned forward and clasped her chin. Altogether too close for her liking. “I mean it, Stephany. Don’t leave it so long. If you need blood then tell me.”

  She nodded, not trusting her voice.

  “Good.” He released her and moved out of her personal space. By blood! He scented far too good. Since when did wolf smell so enticing? Wild, untethered, musky animal, fresh earth like the forest after a rainstorm. Her fangs ached as they lengthened. She swallowed down her need.

  Luckily it wasn’t much longer before the stew was ready. They had sat in a comfortable silence as they waited, and then they were too busy eating to talk. Trying to make the period before she would need to drink again last longer, Stephany ate as much as her stomach would allow. Although, because of her mainly liquid diet it wasn’t much. It was a myth that vampires didn’t eat, they just didn’t eat nearly as much as humans.

  “It was really good. Thank you.”

  He nodded and smiled. “Thank you for your help.”

  Ward had wolfed down three helpings and most of the bread before taking the dishes to the kitchen.

  When she made to stand, he motioned for her to sit. “I’ve got this.”

  Thank the gods. She didn’t know the first thing about doing dishes. Ward moved around the small space with ease, washing the dishes and cleaning the surfaces while putting away loose items as he went along. This was where he differed greatly from the vampire kings, Zane and Brant would never perform such mundane duties. They wouldn’t be seen dead with a dishcloth in their hands. The big alpha picked it up and began drying dishes like it was the most normal thing in the world. He looked relaxed and content. Stephany rested her head on the side arm of the sofa, using her forearm as a makeshift pillow. She thought it was probably a bad idea since her eyes felt droopy, but she figured she would just rest for a minute. It was the last coherent thought she had before drifting off to sleep.

  Pure Torture.

  The vampire pushed herself more firmly against his side. Her hand was splayed on his chest and one of her long legs was slung across him, her knee in the vicinity of his groin. If he moved then he would wake her, if he didn’t and she woke up, she would feel how much he desired her. Her face was buried in the crook of his neck.

  Stephany sighed, hot air caressed his skin. Her breasts were flattened against his side. Her delicious scent enveloped him, he had to suppress a groan. Surely after this much time, he should’ve grown more used to her presence.

  This was the second night that they had spent together. The second time she had clung to him possessively. Wrapping herself around him from the moment he’d carried her to bed until the sun rose. During the day, they had talked non-stop. He liked the way her eyes flashed with panic whenever he made a flirtatious innuendo. Maybe it was wrong, but he actually enjoyed her company. Enjoyed it far too much. The feeling of her in his arms was heaven, he had to stop himself from tightening his hold on her.

  He kept reminding himself that she was a vampire. His enemy. It didn’t help. All he saw was a beautiful female who could be shy at times, and yet she was also someone who could be bold and stand up for what she believed in. Always in control, except when she was in the throes of taking blood and when she slept. Although maybe she would be more controlled if she wasn’t in…hunt mode as she had called it. The sadist in him secretly hoped that she waited too long again the next time around. He knew that he would have to fight much harder to maintain his willpower if she did.

  The hand on his chest rubbed absently, sliding across his pecs and then down to his abs. He sucked in a breath as her fingers dipped lower almost reaching the tie on his sweats. He let out a sigh of relief as it slid back up. For a second he thought she might wake up, but her hold on him tightened before she relaxed again, her breathing picking up a slow easy rhythm.

  Hopefully she would wake up soon, and put an end to this torture. It was more than a male should be allowed to endure. Yet, he recognized that as the lie that it was and that he was possibly a major sadist because he enjoyed the feel of her. Her weight against him felt right somehow.

  Maybe it was time to settle. To take a mate. Yet the thought of taking Luna to his bed left him cold. There were other options, he should explore those. The sooner the better.

  Stephany tensed, her breathing stopped and her heart rate tripled. He had to suppress a smile. Ward had the ridiculous urge to wrap his arms around her and kiss her good morning, but only because it would draw a reaction out of her. He suppressed the desire. Afraid of where a chaste kiss may lead. It had been months since he’d had a female. There had been opportunities granted to him as alpha, but most of his males had been without an opportunity to rut for so long that it seemed wrong to allow himself to partake. Right now he wished that he had, his dick had been hard for so long that he was sure he might have permanent damage.

  She didn’t scramble away immediately. Stephany sucked in a breath letting it out in a soft huff against his skin, causing goose bumps to form. His damned cock hardened up even more, which he hadn’t thought possible.

  “Why do you insist on grabbing me in m
y sleep?” She asked while she finally pulled away, putting a foot or two of space between them.

  Ward pulled the sheet across his middle, trying and failing to cover a major erection. “Yeah right, it was all my fault.”

  “At least you have the good grace to admit it.”

  He chuckled, the laugh dying as he turned to face her. Her hair was mussed, she had a crease on her cheek. Utterly adorable. “You are just as much to blame. Admit it…you enjoy being close to me.”

  Her eyes widened. “Full of it much, wolf?”

  “I’m at least honest. While you are here, you can cling to me as much as you want, vampire. You won’t hear a single complaint from me”

  Stephany made a sound of frustration but dropped it. He sat up, moving to stand, careful to keep his back to her.

  Down boy. His cock ignored him.

  “While I am here”—she muttered to herself—“about that. When are you taking me back?”

  “I’ll hear from the scouts later today, but I expect that Brant and a team of warriors are still out there. At least, that was yesterday’s report.”

  She gasped. “Really? Brant is looking for me?”

  “You are one of his coven right?” He turned to look at her over his shoulder.

  She nodded, sitting cross legged on the bed.

  “Well then…I would expect him to send out a search party. It baffles me that he chose to head up the team himself though. Dangerous for a king to be so far from his own territory.”

  Stephany hissed. “You wouldn’t have him hurt would you?”

  Anger surged, he forgot all about his erection and turned to face her. “What is he to you?”

  She shook her head. “My king. The future of my species.”

  Ward swallowed hard trying to decide if he believed her. “He’s too well protected.” He shook his head not liking the emotions coursing through his veins. If he didn’t know better, Ward would think that he was jealous but that was crazy talk. He didn’t know this female, not really, she was a vampire dammit. Her gaze drifted to his cock. Her eyes momentarily widened before dropping to her lap where she picked at a loose thread on the sheet next to her leg.