Blue Moon

Blue Moon – Halloween Love Series - Book 3 Published by Sam Cheever at Smashwords Copyright 2011 Sam Cheever

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Smashwords Edition License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work. Author Note My Halloween Love series follows the Lupire, a race of elite protectors with both werewolf and vampire in their bloodlines, and the beautiful black females of the Lupa Guardian pack. These two elite groups share a common goal...to protect the magical and human worlds from evil. What they don't realize...yet...is that their destinies are also intertwined under mating magic...the most powerful force any of them will ever encounter.

CHAPTER ONE

Kidren Bell wiped sweat from his brow and forced himself to keep moving forward through the dense wood. He could almost feel the moon pulsing against his skin, driving every cell in his body into hyper drive, so that his skin jumped with it and his senses throbbed under its pull. His fangs ached with the desire to drop, his mouth watered with anticipation of the blood his body craved. When he lifted a hand to push moisture laden leaves from his path his hand was shaking. Kidren was in a bad way. He’d always had trouble under a full moon. But a Blue Moon was more than twice as powerful. And to make matters worse, the air was thick with the scent and call of the mating heat. He knew he was getting close to the core of Lupa Guardian territory. He could feel the pack’s excitement in the air. They’d formed a wide ranging circle around him the moment he’d stepped into the wood. Staying well out of sight, but close enough to quickly surround him if they felt he meant them harm, the powerful pack wasn’t taking any chances with a dominant predator in their midst. Even if he was there to help. He smelled the blood well before he reached pack Headquarters. It wasn’t an appetizing scent, despite the tang of fear attached to it. A reluctant aphrodisiac to those of his kind. It was old blood. Cold blood. A chilling reminder of a violent death rather than the hot enticement of vibrant life. Kidren became aware of another scent as he stepped into the wide clearing. It was a much more enticing scent. In fact, it made his fangs drop and his groin tighten immediately. She stepped in front of him almost before he knew she was there. She stood with her legs spread and her hands on softly rounded hips, looking like a warrior. She’d been waiting for him. He growled his surprise, showing her his fangs before he could stop himself. Amazingly, her answering growl didn’t fill him with aggression. It made his cock tighten with need. She was very tall, very lean, with rounded hips and full breasts. Her legs were impossibly long and shapely, with the highly toned musculature of a creature who spends an inordinate amount of her time running and leaping. Her small, heart shaped face was framed by a short afro, which was the perfect counterpoint to her features. Her golden eyes were almond shaped and turned up slightly at the outside corners, giving her an exotic look. Her nose was long and straight, flaring slightly at the bottom as she scented

him. Her mouth was a burgundy tinted cupid’s bow, which was currently pursed with disapproval. Her skin was the color of rich earth, frosted with morning dew. She made his fangs pulse. Lanna Sato clenched her muscles and held her breath in an attempt to retain control. The male standing before her was blasting pheromones like a window air conditioning unit set on high. With the blue moon and the mating heat already upon her, Lanna could barely function as it was. Now she had a brutal murder to deal with, and a strange male intruding on her world. It was the last thing she needed at that moment. Especially when the new male looked to be nearly seven feet tall and weighed around two fifty, most of it muscle. The man stretched the bounds of a soft, charcoal gray t-shirt and tested the seams on a fashionably tattered pair of jeans. His arms arced away from his lean torso, too laden with muscle to rest against his body, and the fists that were clenched at his sides were the size of snack plates. He had longish, curly, light brown hair that rested against the thick column of his neck and fell across a wide brow in a charmingly unruly fashion. His eyes were a deep, turquoise blue, like the Mediterranean Sea. Lanna’s mouth watered as she took in his wide mouth. His lips looked full enough to nibble and soft enough to suck. She bit back a sigh and glared at him. “I presume you’re the elite protector sent by the Vampire Commission?” The Commission was the ruling body for all things paranormal in the States. When something went awry in the supernatural world, the Commission sent out a Lupire, one of their top cops, to deal with it. “I am.” He lifted one of the snack plates toward her. “Name’s Kidren…Kidren Bell.” “As in ring my?”She ignored the offered hand, afraid to touch him for fear that she might yank him in for a taste if she did. He dropped the hand. His chuckle was a husky promise in the magic saturated air. “If you insist.” Lanna shook her head. “That’s just the mating heat talkin’, Kidren. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea or anything.” His narrow, sea blue gaze skimmed her from head to toe, lingering noticeably on the in between parts. “I don’t think that’s possible.” Lanna felt herself sliding under a thick fog of pure lust. “And your name is?” She jumped a little. For a moment she’d succumbed to the blood boiling effects of his open, appreciative appraisal. “Uh…sorry. Lanna Sato, I’m the Regulator for the Lupa Guardian pack.” “Regulator huh?” She watched a spark of new interest light his eyes. Lanna grinned. A man who wasn’t threatened by a powerful female. Interesting.

She jerked her head toward the log building across the clearing. “She’s over here.” Kidren followed her across the clearing, noting the way her fine ass bent the air on either side of her long, luscious body as she walked. She seemed to know he was staring at her backside and was giving him his money’s worth as she swayed across the open space. And then some. She stopped before the white-washed wooden door of the cabin. A tarp on the ground covered something long and lean. One, slender foot with pink toenails stuck out from the end of the tarp, twisted in a grotesque manner that made Kidren frown. The scent of violent death spun through his senses, making him almost dizzy with its force. “Black magic?” She expelled a long breath. “I’m afraid so.” “Damn.” Kidren knelt down and pulled back the tarp. A gust of wind swirled through the clearing and sent the ‘Information’ sign hanging over the front door swinging. The sign cast wavering shadows on the woman’s battered face as he peered down at her. She looked young. Probably early twenties. Her thick, strawberry-blonde hair was matted on one side with blood, and the side of her face was crusted with it. Her features were delicate and feminine, the open, staring eyes china blue. She looked like somebody’s sweet, innocent college aged daughter. The haunting tune, Blue Moon, played inside the cabin, providing a sad backdrop to the girl’s horrific death. Lanna indicated tire tracks in the dusty ground. “The killer drove through here on a dirt bike and dumped her, then sped off.” “Did you chase the bike?” “Of course. But by the time we found it the rider was gone.” “Gone?” She slanted him a look that was filled with anger and suspicion. “Either shifted…” She arched an eyebrow at him, “…or flew away.” Ahhh, so that was why he’d been getting battered by waves of hostility since arriving in the clearing. “You think it was Lupire?” Lanna shook her head. She might suspect his kind, but she wouldn’t admit it. Yet. “What about tracks around the bike?” “Some paw prints, large, like a shifter. Unfortunately the bike was dumped in a spot where there’s tons of foot traffic. Beside the lake. So there are too many scents to pick out just one.” “Not even if it’s a strange scent?” She shrugged again. He guessed she didn’t want to admit to him that she didn’t have the ability to pull a single scent from hundreds. He could probably do it. But then he wouldn’t be familiar with the scents of the pack, so he wouldn’t know which one was out of place either. He stood up. “Show me the site.”

She lifted that slim, black eyebrow again and cocked a hip. Her whole body tightened and went still, the exotic golden gaze narrowing with aggression. He could feel her fury like tiny spikes of electrical charge against his skin. Kidren recognized his mistake. He was an outsider on her turf and he was there probably against the pack’s wishes. The Commission didn’t always recognize the finer points of pack law. They functioned under the assumption that everybody recognized their dominance and accepted it. Obviously the packs had their own laws and they didn’t much like outside interference. Even if it was meant to help. “Sorry. I’m riding the blue moon tonight in a big way. I’m afraid I’m not at my best. If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to see the bike now.” Some of the anger leeched from her stance and she nodded. “This way.” Kidren fell in behind her, giving her the superior position for political reasons. Besides, he figured there were worse ways to spend the next few minutes than watching Guardian Lupa Regulator Lanna sway toward the lake.

CHAPTER TWO

The bike lay on its side in the gathering dusk. The tires were covered in mud, the seat already coated in mist from a building fog. Kidren circled the downed bike, scenting the air and using his keen night vision to scour the ground for signs of the creature who’d abandoned it. The whole time he worked, a corner of his mind was lost to contemplation of the woman standing a few yards behind him. Her scent enfolded him in a lust building fog of its own, the thick, humid air carrying it across the space so that it settled over him like a thick, down blanket. No matter where he moved he couldn’t escape it. Her very essence clung to him with the tenacity of a caterpillar building a cocoon on a thick, green leaf. Along with her scent, her aura throbbed with innate power, serving up a constant challenge that was impossible for him to resist. It had been a very long time since Kidren had bumped up against a female who affected him as this one did. She was creating all kinds of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings in him…just by standing silent a few yards away. He wasn’t quite sure what to do with those feelings. “Do you smell another Lupire?” Her voice was thick with challenge, as if she fully expected him to deny it, no matter the evidence he’d found. “I’m not sure.” He sensed her surprise at his honesty. Kidren knelt down beside the bike and placed his hand on the engine. It still held a few degrees of warmth. “The predominant scent I’m getting is wolf. No surprise there.” He glanced toward the water just beyond a thick scruff of trees. “But there is something else. It might just be residue from the black magic…” He shrugged. He didn’t feel inclined to tell her that black magic and the Lupire aura bore similar markers that made them indecipherable from each other under certain circumstances. It didn’t seem the right time to remind her how close his race was to the dark side. Not when he was wondering how she’d feel naked and writhing beneath him. He stood up and started toward the lake. Lanna fell in behind him. The trees grew close together along the path, making it almost a certainty that the creature who’d abandoned the bike would have touched one of them as he passed by. A thick walnut tree at the edge of the wood held a very distinct mark near its base. It was deeply scored with fresh claw marks. Kidren knelt beside the tree. “It’s definitely a male.” The electronic signature of the print was enormous. He placed his hand over the marks, not touching them but allowing the signature to rise toward his heat and tease his skin. “And he’s not far away.” Kidren turned to the Regulator and looked her right in the eyes. The sexy golden gaze held his, showing no fear, only anger. “Why do you say that?”

He headed toward the lake. “That print is less than an hour old.” Kidren searched the area both visually and telepathically. He wouldn’t be able to tap directly into the mind of the rogue wolf but, if he was close by, Kidren would feel the vibration of the creature’s mental path in his mind. And if the wolf’s aura was stained with black magic he’d tarnish everything he touched. “Should I call the pack?” Kidren threw her a look over his shoulder. He knew she probably should alert the pack and enlist them as backup, just in case he screwed up and the creature managed to get past him. But his alpha was clawing at his insides, trying to escape so it could strut its stuff for the pretty female, and the last thing he wanted to do was give her the idea that he was weak. In any way. “I can handle this alone.” He sloughed off her disapproval, which throbbed on the air between them, and plunged ahead, continuing on toward the lake. Despite his bravado, Lanna knew the Lupire would have his hands full with the creature they were following. If it was one of his kind, it could well be a match for him. If it was wolf, well, her pack had a right to be involved in the take down. The rogue had killed one of their own, a precious female, and one who’d yet to reach her official mating age. In their world it was the ultimate sin. Then there was the very public way the she-wolf had been delivered to them. There was a message in that delivery. A challenge that had to be met. She knew her alpha would want to meet that challenge quickly and as publicly as possible. Which was why he’d already set out after the creature with the strongest members of the pack. They’d been told by the Commission to stay out of it. But they’d ignored that command. Nobody would know unless the Lupire she was babysitting found out. And she certainly wasn’t gonna let him know. Despite the fact that they’d left her behind to deal with him. That had really pissed her off. He stopped suddenly and she just barely managed to keep from running into him. Her hands rested on the first body part they found to keep from slamming against him. Looking down, she saw with surprise she was fondling his fine, round backside. She jerked her hands away. The memory of their firm roundness seared into her fingertips like a brand. He spoke without turning. “This isn’t really the time or place…” He glanced over his shoulder and she saw that he was grinning. “But if you give me five minutes to dispatch the bad guy, I’m all yours.” She snorted. He had the cocky alpha thing down pat. Not that he needed it to draw the interest of a female. At least not this female. She’d pretty much plunged headfirst into his net the moment she laid eyes on him. They reached the edge of the lake and he stopped, lifting his head to scent the area. “He stopped here. And shifted.”

“He’s in wolf form?” “He was a few minutes ago. Unless I miss my guess he’s in that cave over there.” He pointed toward a rocky ridge on the other side of the lake. The shadowed indentation in the wall was two thirds of the way up the rock face. The rocky wall was too steep for a man to climb, but probably wouldn’t be too difficult for a powerful, agile wolf to navigate. Kidren tugged his shirt over his head and yanked the button of his jeans open. “You stay here. If I don’t come back in fifteen minutes call in your pack.” “Not a chance.” She was already toeing off her boots. He didn’t waste his time arguing with her. He simply stripped, giving Lanna a truly fine view of his taut, round backend before he shifted into a massive charcoal gray wolf with cream markings. The entire transformation took only a few ripples of skin to silky fur. In wolf form, he turned his head to watch as she threw her jeans to one side, a long pink tongue sliding over massive canines as he appraised her form. Lanna shifted quickly. Her wolf was creamy white with black markings. The Lupire gave an appreciative growl as she padded up beside him. Nice markings. Bite me. His laugh was a throaty growl. Maybe later. Stay close. I’m getting some pretty scary vibrations from this guy. I hate to sound like a girly man, but I may need your help. Which explains why you told me to stay here. You’re a woman, I knew you wouldn’t listen. And it preserves my manliness. She coughed out a sound that would have been a snort if she’d been in her human form. They broke into a run and circled the lake, their noses scenting the ground as they ran. The scent was clear and easy to follow. Too easy. Either this guy is butt stupid, or he’s setting a trap for us. Lanna was relieved. She was beginning to think he hadn’t noticed. I was thinking the same thing. What do you want to do about it? We don’t have a lot of choice. We need to follow the trail. But keep an eye out for a divergence point. He must have backtracked and jumped off somewhere. They moved apart, staggering their approach so they couldn’t be ambushed together. When they reached the rock wall, Kidren went up first. Lanna paced the base of the ridge of rock looking for a change in direction or signs of a shift. There was nothing there to indicate the predator had done anything except climb the rocky outcropping to the cave above. Kidren’s yip told her he wanted her to start up. He was almost to the cave. There’s no sign that he veered off or shifted back to human form down here. I’m not surprised. His scent is strong on this rock. He definitely came this way. As she started the climb, Kidren disappeared over the ridge above. He’d apparently reached the cave. By the time she got to the ridge he was nowhere to be seen. Kidren? I’m inside the cave. This goes much deeper than I thought.

She sniffed carefully around the entrance and along the rock wall surrounding it. The creature’s scent didn’t exist anywhere except in the mouth of the cave. The entrance was topped by another wide ridge, boulders of varying sizes gathered on its surface. It looked like a rock slide had closed off most of the cave’s original entrance. She ducked inside the narrow opening, blinking to adjust her wolf’s vision to the dim light. Although the sun was quickly going down outside, it was still far brighter than the dim interior of the cave. How far in have you gone? Quite a ways. There’s a deep pool in the center, and several passageways. He could be hiding in any of them. A tiny sound brought the hair up on Lanna’s shoulders and she turned with a snarl. The narrow opening was clear. Nothing blocked the light from outside. No one stood in the entrance. What’s wrong, Lanna? She whimpered in lieu of a frown. How had he known she was startled? It wasn’t unusual for wolves to share a telepathic link in wolf form, but an emotional one was rare, usually only experienced in mated pairs. She heard the sound again and all thoughts of links and matings fell away. Lanna? There’s something… An explosion shook the cave and Lanna yelped, falling to the ground as dust and rocks rained down on her. She rolled into a ball and covered her face with her paws, trying to protect herself from the falling debris as best she could. Still, she yelped several times as sharp shards of falling rock pelted her. The light disappeared as the entrance was engulfed in debris. As soon as the rumbling stopped, Kidren was back inside her head. Are you hurt! I’m coming, just stay where you are. I’m okay. But…Kidren? What is it? He’s closed up the entrance on us. We’re trapped!

CHAPTER THREE

Kidren limped through the narrow space toward the cave’s entrance. He could feel the she-wolf’s fear and taste her panic. Something inside of him had kicked into danger mode as a direct result of that fear. He’d all but forgotten the wolf they tracked in his headlong rush to get to her. Don’t move, Lanna! I’m coming. You’re hurt. It’s nothing. But that was a lie. A huge rock had landed on one of his legs during the cave-in caused by the explosion and he was pretty sure the bone was broken. Without blood it would take time for it to heal. Too much time. I’m all right. He could feel her forcing calm through her system. Let me come to you. No! I’m almost there. Don’t move. The wolf we’re tracking could be nearby. Stay alert! Kidren stepped down too hard on the leg and pain took his breath away, nearly sending him to the ground. He forced a wall between their emotions, not wanting her to know the extent of his damage. He wasn’t sure why they had the emotional connection in the first place. It was almost unheard of with his race…only occurring when a male found his mate. Surely the cranky female hunkered down amidst rocks and dust in that cavern was not his mate, despite his almost frantic need to get to her. He’d always pictured himself with a less capable…happier female. Someone who would stare up at him with undisguised adulation. Someone he would need to protect. Kidren scoffed at himself. He just realized he was a 1950s throwback. Still in his wolf form, he used his three good legs to lever himself off the rocky floor and gritted his teeth to hold back a whimper as pain spiraled through him in jagged waves. They were in trouble. He’d be weak as a kitten if the rogue attacked them now. Kidren knew the female was strong but he doubted she could best the rogue all by herself. The dead Lupa female in the woods was pretty much proof of that. Kidren stopped to catch his breath and leaned against a pile of rocks to rest. Looking down, he saw the initial warning ripples in his fur that told him his wounded body was trying to shift back. He fought the change hard, but, in the end his weakness was too much for him and his muscles started to lengthen and twist, his bones reforming as his teeth retracted into his skull and his fur slipped beneath his skin. Normally he’d make the change in a matter of seconds and, though it would have been painful, it would have been over so quickly he would barely have noticed the pain. But since he

had no control at the moment, and because he didn’t have the strength to enhance the change and speed it, it rolled over him slowly and wrenched each change from his tortured body with exquisite violence. Despite his efforts not to alarm the she-wolf, Kidren found himself howling in agony. The howl turned to a scream as his human form took predominance over his wolf form and Kidren crashed downward, hitting the pile of debris and initiating a rumbling avalanche with his weight. The massive and jagged rocks quivered like jelly for a second and then started to tumble, crashing downward onto the ground below, where Kidren’s helpless human form took the brunt. He jerked and cringed with every new assault, praying for a swift end to the pain. Finally he got his wish. As the last few rocks rumbled down upon his battered body, Kidren took a boulder to the temple and felt his consciousness slipping away. His last awareness was of her, the she-wolf, sending panicked cries across the mental channel they’d opened without even trying. He could easily feel her fear. ~~*~~ Lanna ran full out through the narrowed passageway, heading for the sound of the Lupire’s slowing heart and following the addictive scent of his spilled blood. She’d been trying to communicate with him for several moments but had gotten nothing. Either he’d put a wall between them or he was unconscious. Having felt him struggling to get to her over the last several minutes, she figured it was the latter. He’d probably passed out from the pain. Or he’d been attacked and knocked unconscious. That thought made her steps falter and she slowed, realizing the rogue they’d been following could be nearby. She lifted her snout and scented the air, trying to move beyond the delectable scent of the man she was working with to find the killer. A tinge of something wild and musky tickled the edges of her senses, leaving her with the impression of distance. Whatever they were tracking it wasn’t nearby. She moved forward again, calling out to Kidren in her mind. Her calls were met with silence. But his scent moved ever nearer. She loped around a turn in the passageway and saw a pile of rocks blocking her way. Taking slow, careful steps toward the fallen rocks, she lowered her snout and sniffed. Her nostrils flared with alarm as she realized Kidren’s scent was strong there. But it had changed and was no longer wolf. She dug in the rocks with her paws, listening carefully for sounds of impending avalanche as she worked. Below a thick layer of dirt and rock dust, mixed with blood, she uncovered a human hand. As she lowered her muzzle and snuffled them, the long, thick fingers twitched slightly, inspiring her to dig faster. She soon realized she’d need to change form in order to pull the bigger rocks off of him.

Lanna shifted quickly and went to work hauling rocks from the big Lupire. Five minutes later she uncovered his head and saw that it was bleeding from a cut on his temple and his cheek was dark with a massive bruise. It looked like his cheekbone had been crushed. She worked steadily, slowly uncovering his long, naked body until she could drag him free from the debris. He groaned as she hooked her forearms under his arms and pulled him as far away from the debris as she could, into a sheltered corner. Lanna studiously ignored the ripped, sexy lines of his body as she lifted his eyelids and checked his pulse. Swearing softly, she realized he was in a bad way. That was before she spotted the torn and bloody area on his shin that showed a jagged shard of broken bone. “Shit!” In desperation, she called out to her pack mates with her mind, utilizing the communal pathway her pack had always used. At first there was no response. But then a voice throbbed through her head and Lanna jumped in shock. Hello, Regulator. Sorry about your pack. The rogue! She had been kneeling next to Kidren but the strange voice and its ominous message brought her surging to her feet. Who the hell are you and what do you want?” I want you. I want your pack. I am your future alpha. She scowled. Not if I can help it! Her mind filled with a husky chuckle. I’ll enjoy defeating you, sexy wolf. Your submission will go far toward sealing my position in the pack. Go fuck yourself. Ahh, but I’d rather fuck you. I’ll see you soon, she-wolf. I look forward to it. Lanna listened a moment longer but he was gone. Kidren groaned and her gaze jerked in his direction, her thoughts spinning. She couldn’t defeat the rogue wolf alone, his aura was very powerful. Just the fact that he was able to intersect her pack’s communications was terrifying. She would need Kidren’s help. But, physically, he was useless to her. Unless… ~~*~~ Kidren felt soft hands sliding over his body, testing and tending. The tantalizing scent of woman teased his senses, for a moment overriding the immense pain of multiple injuries. He fought to burrow out from under the thick blanket of fogginess clouding his brain, struggling to drag his eyelids upward. His eyes were gritty and his lids felt as if they were glued down. Pain wracked his body and, after taking a quick inventory, he realized his usually acute healing powers weren’t kicking in. With a start he recognized the problem. He hadn’t fed for days.

He’d eaten, but not fed. Human food could sustain him for several days under normal circumstances, but only blood could nourish the magical properties inherent in the Lupire makeup. He finally forced his eyes open and blinked. The she-wolf’s face was mere inches from his. Her breath bathed his face in moist, fresh heat. The beautiful, golden-brown gaze speared him with worry. “Can you sit up?” Kidren considered telling her no, but then his alpha reared up and bitch slapped him and he nodded. Even so, he figured he was too weak to do it himself. “With some help.” She moved around behind him and grabbed him under the arms, pulling as hard as she could while he planted a hand in the dusty rock floor and pushed himself upright. Kidren swallowed a groan as agony knifed through him from the effort. A moment later, while Kidren panted against the dusty rock wall, she kneeled down beside him and offered him her neck. “Drink. We need you strong.” That was when Kidren realized she was naked. That was also when he realized how bad off he was…since it had taken him a full minute and a half to realize the beautiful woman next to him was nude. He shook his head. “No.” A tiny flash of relief strobed through her gaze before it was replaced by fear. “You have to!” He forced his gaze to stay on her face, though his body appeared to be envisioning her lower attributes without him. He crossed his legs to hide his embarrassing reaction to her creamy, brown flesh. “I made a vow to myself a long time ago that I would only feed from willing partners, and that I would make the experience as pleasant as possible.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure I could manage a strong enough glamour right now.” She blew out a frustrated breath and pounded his thigh with a small fist. The movement made her perfect, round breasts undulate and Kidren nearly growled. Her tantalizing scent filled the alcove where they sat, winding him in a net of lust, and making it nearly impossible to resist what she offered. “I need this, Kidren. I need…you” The declaration seemed wrung from her and he watched the play of regrets dance across her face as she said the words. He knew she wasn’t referring to her lust for his body, though her small hand still rested on his thigh, branding him with her heat. “What’s happened, Lanna? What’s wrong?” Her slanted gold gaze slid away. That was when he noticed she was shivering. Without thinking, he reached out and touched her arm. The skin felt like silk beneath his fingers. “Tell me!” The command came out on a growl. His worry for her suddenly overcame his weakness and his pulse pounded through his veins. She shook her head, a single tear sliding down her creamy cheek.

Kidren grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. She gasped as she tumbled into his lap and found his lips a mere breath from hers. He cocooned her in his arms. “Tell me, she-wolf!” “When I saw how injured you were, I knew we’d need help so I tried to call my pack…” “Tried?” His sexy mouth firmed to granite and color flooded his face, taking away some of the unhealthy ash color that had stained his skin since she’d pulled him from the rocks. Lanna’s pussy clenched from the way he looked at her…with a hunger that had nothing to do with sustenance, and everything to do with pure, animal lust. “He…he intercepted the pack’s telepathic channel.” He frowned. “He stopped you from communicating with your pack?” “Yes.” The jolt of horror that swept his features tightened the knot of fear in her belly. She watched him carefully as he appeared to be considering his options. She could almost pinpoint the moment he came to the same realization she had. He needed to heal. Fast. When his sea blue gaze rested on her again, it was filled with heat. She shivered under its power. “So I see we’re in agreement? You’ll take blood from me?” His chest heaved against her side, compressing her breasts with every surge. Her nipples hardened and started to ache at his touch. His hand, which covered her hip possessively, began to slide along the curve of her thigh, sending frissons of awareness spiraling through her. Her pussy clenched with sudden need. “I will try to make it as pleasurable an experience as I can. I fear my abilities are severely depleted at the moment.” Lanna’s lungs clenched, her breath stalling in her throat. She licked her suddenly dry lips and stilled, like a deer under the gaze of a lion. He lowered his head and waited, his full, soft lips hovering over hers. His warm breath touched her face and her nipples ached. His nostrils flared as he scented her. Her thighs tightened on a wave of expectation. His hands skimmed upward, to scrape across the tender skin beneath her breast. He spread his fingers and weighed her breast in one hand. A low growl throbbed low in his throat. “You are a delectable morsel, she-wolf.” She swallowed hard, her lips parting hopefully. Tension throbbed between them. Sexual tension. Mating heat. As he continued to hesitate, his big, warm hand skimming over the sensitized flesh of her breasts and tweaking her tender nipples, Lanna whimpered, helpless against the need throbbing through her. The sound of her whimpers spurred him to action. Kidren lowered his mouth to cover hers and sensation exploded through her.

Her pussy throbbed and warm cream ran from it, bathing thighs that were taut with sensual awareness. His hand moved upward to cup her face and she sighed against his lips as warmth flowed through her body, turning her muscles liquid with acceptance. Every cell in her body wanted his touch. Every quivering inch of her skin waited for his heat. Lanna didn’t know if this was the result of his glamour or just her body’s natural reaction to his touch. Either way, she could give herself over to it forever. And let it consume her every waking moment.

CHAPTER FOUR

Kidren’s dick hardened as soon as he touched her. It throbbed painfully as he tasted her lips. The sensual shock of her skin beneath his fingers was almost too much for him to bear. Her soft buttocks enfolded his throbbing shaft in sensuality, making it hard to remember he was engaged in a medical mission rather than a sexual one. His body seemed determined to take them on a different journey entirely. And hers was in apparent agreement. The scent of her excitement filled the air between them, forming a musky enticement he could hardly ignore. Reluctantly, he pulled his lips from hers and trailed them along her jawline, down her throat, to the place where her blood pulsed rich and nourishing for his taking. Her earthy scent folded over him, enveloping him in a web of surreal inevitability. His body recognized her as if they’d known each other before…in another time, another place. His fangs surged from his jaw, aching with the need to plunge into that pulsing abundance and drink deep. He knew before tasting her that her blood would be magic. It would be liquid fire coursing through his veins, giving him life and making him strong. He couldn’t wait to taste her. His tongue came out and swept the tender skin over her vein. Lanna shivered beneath the touch, arching toward him as if she welcomed his bite. Kidren prayed his glamour would save her from pain. Or that her lust would overwhelm it with need. He hesitated a moment longer, something holding him back. “Do it!” She nearly growled. But her muscles had stiffened and she seemed tense. Kidren lifted his head and captured her soft lips in a hungry kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, sliding his hands over the firm, warm flesh of her delectable behind. She moaned against his mouth and opened for him, allowing his tongue to slide between her lips to tangle with hers. Kidren’s hands framed her hips, skimming upward along the softly padded contours to her narrow waist and higher. As one hand closed over the soft globe of her breast, she sighed against his lips and melted into him. Kidren’s mouth left hers and traveled downward, to the tender column of her neck. Without giving her time to think or worry, he plunged his fangs deep. Her cry was soft, a sensual note on the dusty air. Her hands slid up his back to tangle in his hair, holding him against her flesh as he drew deep of the ambrosia flowing from her veins. Power surged through him like electricity, expanding his cells and senses so that the feel of her skin beneath his touch was impossibly fine, incredibly soft. Her scent, already an invigorating inducement for him, became almost too much to bear, a painful call for his overcharged body.

Kidren growled low and tucked her into his arms, settling in for a long drink from her sweet vein. His mind filled with thoughts of covering her with his body and plunging his shaft deep within her impossible heat. He struggled against the thoughts, and the need to take all the pleasure she could offer him. He would take just what he needed to heal. Not a drop more. But he quickly forgot his good intentions as his mind succumbed to the drug that was her blood. He lost himself in the sheer bliss of her taste, her aura, and her exquisite sexuality. Moments later, a tiny whimper throbbed in her throat and he realized with a start that he’d gone too far. He yanked his fangs from her neck, surging upward and settling her on her feet. He licked the wounds so they would heal and stepped away, dragging the back of his hand across his mouth to remove the warm, sweet remnants of her blood. She wobbled dangerously on her feet and he reached out to support her, easing her down to the ground. “Sit for a minute. I’m so sorry. I took too much. I was weak and I’m afraid I gave in to my baser instincts for a while.” She shook her head and placed a hand on his arm. “I’m okay. I just need a minute.” Kidren watched her carefully, worried he’d have to give her blood to strengthen her. They had a killer to chase down and subdue. And he’d weakened her. Endangered her. He was a flippin’ idiot. But she was strong and resilient. After a moment the glow returned to her skin and she stood, looking much stronger. “Better?” She grinned. “Yes. That actually wasn’t half bad.” He chuckled. “I’m glad. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” “Oh. I’m not hurt, Lupire.” Her golden gaze pulsed with promise and heat. “In fact, when this is over, I want to finish what we’ve started here. I need to finish it.” He took a step toward her and touched her face. “You’re not getting rid of me without a fight, she-wolf.” She laughed, shaking her head. “Shall we find a way out of here and track a rogue?” He looked around. “Yeah. About that. There are several passageways back there. Did you see anything on the way in?” “No passageways. No spots where the sky showed through. Just the entrance. And it’s caved in pretty good.” “Okay, then we go deeper into the cave. The central cavern has a pool and several passageways. We’ll need to try them all to find a way out.” They shifted back to wolf form and started off, using their enhanced sense of smell to search for other life within the cave as they moved. They quickly negotiated the main passageway and soon entered a cavern with a sparkling pool along one side. Hundreds of feet above their heads, water ran from the wall, pouring steadily into the pool. The rock wall behind the fall of water was stained in a range of colors from mineral deposits. Mist hung in the air like fog and the roar of the water deadened all other sounds in the cavern.

Lanna’s nostrils flared, assessing the thick mineral scents of the water. If he’s in here we most likely won’t hear or smell him. She told Kidren. I know. That’s a problem. Hopefully he’s moved on, through that passage over there. Once we’re out of this cavern I think we’ll be able to track him again. On the far side of the pool was another shadowed nook, which appeared to be a passageway. Two more darkened crevasses broke the unrelenting rock to either side of them. A quick search proved the two passages to the right and left to be dead ends. They padded across the cavern and headed into the last passageway, Kidren going first. Stay back several feet in case I get into trouble. I don’t need you to protect me like some weak female, Lupire. Deal with it. I need you safe…for more than one reason. A low growl escaped her throat as she did what he’d asked. Despite her anger at his coddling, she knew he was right. If he were attacked, she’d have a few seconds to assess and react in an intelligent way if she wasn’t engaged in the immediate battle. That didn’t mean she had to like it. He could be the one to hang back. The passageway grew increasingly dark, narrow, and moist as they moved into it. They were almost crawling by the time they started hearing the water. Shit! Kidren swore. I hope there’s a second waterfall in this place, or we just travelled in a circle. A moment later the passage opened up and they found themselves in a smaller cavern. Highlighted by a weak ray of light from high above, puddles of water glistened on the floor and mist filled the cavern. One side of the tiny space had a narrow opening high in the rock wall. Kidren shifted quickly and walked over to peer through. He looked out on a thick curtain of water and not much else. “Well, we’re behind a waterfall, but I can’t tell if it’s the same one.” He sensed her sudden fear and turned around. What he saw made him stop breathing. Lanna had changed back to human form, just as he had. Her golden brown form looked soft and inviting in the dim light. Despite her tough attitude, the rich curves of her form reminded him how feminine she was and as such, how vulnerable she could be. Especially when engulfed in the beefy arms of a massive, ruddy skinned man with claws where his fingers should have been. Lanna’s expressive golden eyes flashed with temper. When he’d first seen her in the rogue’s grip, his spine had turned to water as fear swamped him, almost shutting down his thought processes. But her bravery in the face of her captivity shamed him and he struggled to move beyond his fear for her. He had to act or she would die. He could see it in the rogue’s dark eyes. The massive, ruddy skinned man grinned at him, his teeth too long for human teeth, but too human to be wolf. His eyes were a predator’s eyes, the light yellow orange of a wolf’s, with a

thin sliver of pupil in the center. The eyes were almond shaped and slanted upward, more animal than human. He stood before them half human and half animal. Impossible. Kidren had heard of such creatures, but knew they were very rare. Occasionally, when a shifter spent too much time in his wolf form, or if he had no control over his change, he became increasingly more wolf than man, until he became a permanent hybrid of the two. A monster in both worlds. “Lupire. It’s too bad the Vampire Commission has involved itself in Lupa business.” Kidren forced himself to smile, deliberately exhibiting his massive Lupire canines. “You just made it my business when you grabbed this particular female.” The rogue’s impossibly white smile widened, the feral gaze narrowing as he grinned. “You have no claim on this wolf. She is mine. My pack, my mate.” Lanna’s fear tore through him like lightening, taking his breath and forcing a growl from his throat. “I don’t know how things work in the land of monster, rogue, but in my world the woman chooses her mate.” “And I choose the Lupire.” Lanna said in a firm, clear voice. Kidren blinked. He didn’t know who was more surprised by her declaration, him or the rogue. Despite her apparent bravado, her fear throbbed against his temples, making it hard to think. He looked into her eyes, trying to discern the meaning behind her words, but wasn’t able to tell if she’d meant the words, or had just said them to try to frighten the rogue. Either way, he intended to go along. “If you harm my mate you will die, rogue. Make no mistake.” The massive wolf-man frowned, his feral gaze narrowing with anger. “You have no right intruding in pack business, Lupire. You can tell the Commission that for me. I know they like to believe themselves omnipotent, but they overreach and must learn humility.” Kidren snorted, “And you will teach them that lesson, monster?” The huge man growled, the claws he held at Lanna’s throat dug deep, causing her to yelp in pain. “Mind your manners, Lupire. You have just sealed your own fate.” He glanced skyward, “And hers.” He bent his knees and sprang, flying upward with seemingly effortless grace. Taking Lanna with him.

CHAPTER FIVE

Lanna clawed at dirt and rock, her heart pounding hard in her chest. She was trying not to panic, but being basically buried alive in a tiny cavern was definitely not one of her favorite things. She tried once more to reach Kidren or her pack. The telepathic channel was silent, which terrified her even more than being buried in the cavern. She was so afraid the rogue was going after her pack and she wouldn’t be able to protect them. And then there was Kidren. When she thought of him, her wolf rippled under her skin, craving his contact, desperate for his touch. A low, keening sound filled the tiny space and Lanna realized with a start that it came from her. She could admit to herself, in that place, alone and scared, that she’d recognized him as her mate from the moment he’d stepped out of the trees beside the pack’s headquarters building. She’d suffered through years of mating heat, determined not to suffuse the simple act of sex with mating magic. It would mean too much. She would only succumb to the mating heat with the one male she’d be with for life. Her life mate. She’d waited so long. Now she’d finally found him. Only to have lost him again within hours. She clamped her lips shut and shook her head, determined not to fall apart. Tears flowed down her cheeks and dropped onto her arms, forming trails through the pale dust that filled the cavern and coated her skin. She looked down and saw the fresh, bloody tracks across her breast from the rogue’s claws and she shuddered. The deep scratches ached when she thought of them, so she’d tried not to think, only act. But the rogue wasn’t easily pushed from her mind. He was more powerful than any wolf she’d ever known. Possibly more powerful even than Kidren. He seemed to have abandoned his humanity and was lost in an in-between hell as a wolf-man. She’d feel sorry for him if she hadn’t read the oily evil within his mind and seen his deep black aura. He was lost to darkness. As much as any full-fledged vampire ever was. But he had the strength and abilities of both wolf and Lupire. He’d flown them out of the cavern behind the waterfall, through a small hole in the rocky ridge, and stuffed her into the cavern where she was currently imprisoned, rolling a massive rock over the small entrance. His last words to her still twisted her gut, chilling her to the point where her teeth chattered and her legs wanted to wobble out from under her. He’d promised the total subjugation of her pack and had described Kidren’s bloody death to her in brutal detail. Refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing he frightened her, she’d forced her spine straight and stuck her chin determinedly out, daring him with her glare. But deep inside, where he couldn’t see, her heart pounded in fear and her bowels turned to water at his words.

The last thing he’d said…as he’d dragged her up against his hard, repulsive body and breathed putrid breath into her face…was that she’d be his alpha female when he took over the pack. That was when he’d raked his claws down her breast. Marking her before turning away and shutting her in that horrible place. Lanna sniffed and started digging again. She’d be damned if she’d let that creature win. She’d get out of that bloody hole and kill him herself before he laid a single bloody claw on Kidren or her pack. Then they’d see who would be mating with whom. ~~*~~ Kidren’s mind boiled with rage. He’d let his wolf take him over so he could move more quickly and release some of his pent up fury in aggressive pursuit. By the time he’d found the small opening high above the cavern floor, which had been hidden from view by a rocky outcropping in the wall, and had followed them out, the wolf-man and Lanna were nowhere to be seen. It had been seconds. Just a few frantic heart beats before he’d found his way outside. But they were already gone. Kidren told himself that meant they hadn’t gone far and he’d been stalking all over the face of the rock looking for another cavern where they could be hiding. Several moments later, in desperation, Kidren climbed to the highest point in the rock and threw back his head, lifting his muzzle to howl across the entire 1200 acres of wildlife preserve. The rich tones of his song lifted and throbbed on the air, calling to the Lupa Guardians and flowing through every nook and cranny in that wide space in search of his mate. The mournful notes slipped across rock, spun through trees, and rose above physical barriers as Kidren sent his message to all wolves within hearing distance. One by one, near and far, other voices lifted to the sky and joined with his, creating a magical blanket that encompassed the entire 1200 acres of the protected park and bound all supernatural creatures within hearing under its power. Having sent his message, Kidren let the song die in his throat and waited. The answering howls told him the story of an intruder in their midst and pinpointed the location of all of the Lupa pack. As the other wolves’ songs died out, Kidren’s ears perked at the sound of a lone female, whose voice still throbbed with sad hope in the near distance. He’d recognize her song anywhere. Kidren leapt from the ledge where he’d been perched and followed Lanna’s voice to the other end of the dense ridge. He spotted the huge rock that he suspected was the only thing keeping them apart. Shifting back to human form, Kidren put his back to the massive rock and rolled it away. She fell into his arms with a ragged cry of relief. He covered her face with kisses and nearly crushed her in his arms. “I thought I’d lost you.” He told her, his voice thick and husky with emotion. She couldn’t respond. She just expelled a jagged breath and held him tighter. When she pulled back a moment later his gaze fell to the claw marks on her breast. He swore, his rage gaining fire. “I’ll rip his fuckin’ head off!” Lanna touched his bristled chin. “You’ll have to stand in line.”

He nodded. His mate wasn’t the kind to hide behind him and let him do her dirty work. But damned if he’d let her confront the wolf-man on her own. “Come on.” He grabbed her hand. “Where are we going?” “To meet your pack. We need to form a plan. This son of a bitch is going down.”

CHAPTER SIX

The rogue stood in a bright beam of moonlight and listened carefully to the messages being sent around the wildlife park. He’d used his speed and cunning to spread the wolves thin, sending them scurrying across the preserve in search of phantoms. He’d created a perfect scenario for taking out the Lupire and claiming the pack as his own. Once he’d taken the woman on the pack’s altar, his fate would be sealed. The place where he stood was a hallowed spot for the Lupa Guardian pack. On the following night, All Hallows Eve, the pack would gather to share their magics in supplication of the special night and a uniquely powerful moon. He’d be alpha by then. And he’d be the recipient of all that wonderful power. Once the event was complete, he’d be invincible. Not even the Vampire Commission and the elite protectors would be able to stop him. But first things first. He’d woven a trap around the clearing, which would entrap the Lupire when he returned with the sexy she-wolf. The rogue would be ready for them. He lifted his feral gaze toward the sky. The moon’s rays pulsed in a blue halo, throbbing with the enhanced power of All Hallows Eve. It was the second full moon of the month, a rare occurrence, especially on Halloween, and it held special magics. The rogue planned to use the special magics to his own purpose. Only the most powerful creature could bend and weave Blue Moon magics to his own ends. Created under the cruel experiment of a long dead wizard, the rogue had lived long between his two worlds. Friend of neither and outcast to both. He’d had centuries to hone his hate and loneliness into razor sharp focus. For decades, he’d lived high in the Rocky Mountains of the United States, alone and hunted by those who thought he was some kind of urban legend that needed discovery. For many of those years he was covered in dense fur but stood upright like a man. Over time, he’d perfected his magic and learned to manage his appearance. Now he could almost pass for human if he wished. Though his black aura repelled kindness and companionship like poison. He’d told himself he didn’t care. But he’d suffered under the ostracism and languished as a result of the fear. Then he’d found the Lupa Guardians. That was when he realized he could be part of a pack. Though he knew even they, uniquely powerful in their own right, would resist him becoming one of them. He would have to force their acceptance. He needed to become alpha.

And because of his strangeness he would need a show of force that they could not ignore. So he’d formed his plan. First, fling a challenge before them. Then take their strongest female for his own. Then kill their alpha. He glanced toward the bloodied and unconscious shifter lying on the altar, trapped beneath a magic web. The small, dark haired man with bright green eyes had put up quite a fight. But he’d had no chance against the rogue’s power. His plan was well underway. His trap was set. All he had to do was wait. ~~*~~ “Darius has been taken.” Lanna’s voice was husky with fear. The sound of it brought Kidren’s head up sharply. “I know.” She paced the rich, green grass beside the lake with nervous energy, her long fingers twining together as she moved. “You don’t know Darius, but he’s very powerful. Especially since he found his mate a few months ago. All of the guardians who’d been hunting with him are dead, Kidren.” She stopped to look at him, fear throbbing behind her golden gaze. “They were the best of our warriors. What is this thing?” “From what I can read of its aura, the wolf-man isn’t a natural phenomenon. If I had to guess, I’d say he was something created by a wizard, or a sorcerer. He started out very powerful, probably more than the wizard who made him could handle, and when he killed his maker, as I’m sure he did, his power was only enhanced.” She frowned. “What do you mean? This thing steals power?” “I think it might. Did you notice how pale the dead female’s aura was?” “Almost translucent. I figured it was because she was dead.” “No. Sups hold their auras long after they die. Her aura was faint because it had been harvested. Through the claw marks on her body I’m guessing.” Lanna placed her hand over the marks on her breast, which had been aching badly and hadn’t even begun to heal. With her enhanced healing powers, she should have pretty much repaired the wounds already. “Do you think he took something from me?” “No.” He shook his head and then looked away, not wanting her to read the doubt in his gaze. It was exactly what he’d been worried about. “Your pack should be arriving soon.” She lifted her chin, engaging her inner tracking ability. “Yes. There are several at the edge of the woods.” Almost as soon as the words left her lips, the edge of the woods boiled and several long, low shapes emerged, loping toward them in silence. There were five of them, all large and dark, with light markings. Their golden eyes glowed in the bright light of the fat moon.

They stopped about thirty feet away and a low growl throbbed on the night. The lead wolf was massive and had a long, pink scar that dissected its ear and ran down its muzzle to the corner of its mouth. Lanna stepped between the wolves and Kidren. Stop, Wraith! This is my mate. The growl grew deeper. You would mate with a blood sucker? No. I’d mate with a Lupire. The full power of his wolf lies dormant but it is there. He awaits only our bonding. He’s our brethren, Wraith. More importantly, he’s willing to fight this thing with us. We can’t turn him away now. We need his strength. Have you seen what we’re preparing to fight? Rather than respond, the big, dark chocolate colored wolf shuddered violently and unfolded into an enormous, ebony skinned man. With the magic of his aggression pulsing behind them, the man’s golden eyes still appeared to glow in the moonlight, and his scar looked even more pink against his night dark skin. “Our Alpha has been taken, Lupire. Several of our strongest guardians killed. And one of our most precious pups murdered. We’re more than ready for this war. What do you propose?” Is this man an asset in this fight? Or a liability? Lanna slid a look toward Kidren, thinking. He’s hot headed and sometimes hard to control. But he’s also one of our strongest guardians. And the other wolves will listen to him. He’ll be a definite asset. If you can win him over. Kidren stared hard at Wraith for a long moment and then inclined his head. “I propose we kick this thing’s ass back to Hell, where it belongs.” Wraith’s eyes widened slightly. He glanced from side to side, to the other Lupa guardians, who’d shifted back to human form around him. Then his full lips widened into a grin and he chuckled. “Not exactly what I expected you to say, but count me in. Now, how do you figure we’re gonna do that?” Kidren smiled too, and the sight was enough to bring the hackles up on the waiting Lupa Guardians. “It’s very simple. Were gonna give him exactly what he wants. Power. Lots of it. Enough to choke the son of a bitch.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

The rogue stood atop the altar, his feet planted on either side of the badly wounded Alpha. He looked toward the woods, waiting for the wolves that he knew were approaching. His yellow, wolf’s eyes pulsed with power as a blue-white beam of light filtered down on him from the engorged moon. The web he’d built upon the clearing sizzled and spit in anticipation of company and the wolf-man smiled, anxious to engage the night’s events. He would savor his new place as part of a pack. He would especially enjoy tasting the woman. She was a delectable morsel. The shadows at the edge of the wood roiled and a massive, charcoal gray wolf stepped forward. Beside him, the smaller, more delicate cream and black female settled to her haunches, her expressive, golden gaze fixed intently on him. The rogue puffed his chest and lifted his arms. “Welcome to my Halloween party.” He growled, turning his head to encompass several dozen Lupa guardians, who had padded silently from the woods to surround his web. He knew they could feel the power he’d built, and taste its sizzle on their tongues. It would dance in their mouths like bubbles in a soft drink, tangy and sharp. The wolves would resist entering the web, knowing they would be trapped and helpless. But in order to save their alpha they would have no choice. The massive gray wolf with the sea-blue eyes stepped forward, its powerful chest flexing with each movement of its thick legs. The wolf looked to be close to five feet tall on all fours. A considerable opponent. Not for the first time, the rogue wished he could assume wolf form. It was such an elegant creature. Release the alpha, wolf-man, and we will discuss finding a place for you on the Commission. I’m sure such a powerful creature as yourself would come in handy against the forces of Hell we often need to battle. The rogue laughed, throwing his glistening, red head back in merriment. “And you’ll just overlook the wolves I murdered? You shouldn’t assume I am stupid, Lupire.” Kidren inclined his head and swept his tail three times. The wolves around the clearing stepped closer to the edge…silent and watchful. I would never assume that, wolf-man. Your plan tonight has been masterful. It seems foolproof. “Seems foolproof? I believe that it is, Lupire. You are here and the Lupa alpha is trapped beneath me on this altar is he not?”

Kidren’s tail took another sweep and the wolves advanced another step. The web covering the clearing throbbed just inches from Kidren’s muzzle, spitting hungrily as he approached. I’ll admit you have us at a disadvantage. Kidren caught the alpha’s eye and Darius gave him a single nod. Darius didn’t know the specifics of their plan, but he knew he had to trust them. And his nod indicated he was willing to offer that trust. He’d watch for an opportunity to help. The rogue laughed heartily again, certain of his purpose and the outcome. “I’m glad we agree, Lupire. Now just send the pretty she-wolf into the clearing and let me finish my business. No one else need die. Well…except for the current alpha. Tonight the Lupa Guardian pack will have a new leader.” A lone, female wolf yipped in horror at his words. Kidren forced himself not to look at Darius’ petite mate, Sashee. He could feel her pain vibrating across the pack’s emotional aura and wished he could reassure her. But anything he projected was in danger of being interpreted by the rogue. And you will have a new mate? Kidren couldn’t quite keep the rage from his voice as he recited his lines. The idea of the creature that stood on that altar touching Lanna was enough to turn him forever to his cold and violent vampire side. He quivered with the attempt to keep his rage leashed. A sensation of love swept through his mind, urging calm. Lanna couldn’t speak to him for fear the rogue would hear. But she sent soothing emotions in a wave across their telepathic pathway. It was enough to remind him of everything he had to lose if he let his dark side cloud his judgment. With superhuman will, he returned to his lines. She can’t come to you, the barrier would kill her before she got through. “Ahh. Again you underestimate me. Why do you think she bears my mark, Lupire? It protects her, and only her, against the magic. And don’t think you can touch her and gain entrance. The spell is tied to specific markers in her blood. It begins the process of our mating.” Very intelligent. I bow to your ingenuity. Unfortunately I can’t let her come to you. She is my mate. I won’t let you touch her. “Then watch her alpha die!” The wolf-man lifted a massive claw into the air and dropped to his knees over Darius. As his hand started to swing downward, toward Darius’ exposed throat, Sashee howled, Lanna yelped, and both females headed straight for the barrier. Kidren roared, No! and leapt after her. As she leapt into the barrier, Kidren growled, Now! and several other wolves followed them through the spitting circle of magic. Immediately, the rest of the wolves encircling the clearing lifted their muzzles in song, their throats throbbing as they sent the mournful lupine chorus skyward, in supplication to a bulging blue moon.

The rogue’s claw stopped its downward arc and he turned, his expression clearly showing his surprise as a dozen wolves cleared the barrier and landed on soft paws, stalking toward him unharmed. He stood and faced them as they threw back their heads and joined in the song the other wolves sang. Beneath him, unnoticed, Darius began to struggle with his bonds. “It’s not possible!” Kidren yelped a laugh. Don’t underestimate our intelligence wolf-man. There’s a drop of Lanna’s blood in each of these twelve warriors’ systems. I’m afraid you might have more mates than you’d anticipated! The rogue threw back his head and howled as the clearing started to fill with fog from the pack’s conjuring song. But the howl turned to one of bright pleasure as the beam of light from the moon thickened and shot downward, to focus on the altar where he stood. The beam of power throbbed from the blue-white orb hanging high above them in the sky, reaching toward the ground in a dense column that washed over the wolf-man. The moon’s power filled the clearing with a heavy drone, resembling the sound thousands of volts of electricity made as they hummed through thick power lines. Darius struggled with his bonds as the blue-white power drenched the altar, its energy so dense it burned the rock beneath the two supernaturals, sending smoke in spirals into the air. Darius howled in pain and started to shudder, his pain wracked body trying repeatedly to engage the change. Over and over again, the alpha’s wolf form began its appearance, only to be beaten back through gritted teeth as many times as it appeared. He knew instinctively that, in his wolf form he would be a magnet to the overwhelming power, pulling it into his body and trying to assimilate it as the wolf-man was doing. He’d be dead within seconds. His only hope was to retain his human form. The rogue didn’t have that option. He had no off switch for his wolf side. Kidren and Lanna loped to the altar and began ripping at the silvery threads of the rogue’s spell with their teeth, helping Darius as best they could. Wraith, Sashee, and two other guardians joined them and, after a few more seconds of skin melting pain, Darius was freed at last. They dragged him from the altar and stood back, watching as the rogue’s euphoric smile turned slowly to a look of horror, as awareness of his plight started to sink in. He was locked in the beam of nuclear-strength power showering down from the Blue Moon. Once its power was unlocked it was nearly impossible to shut off. Which was why its power had never before been harnessed. For good or evil. The rogue began to howl in pain, his skin bubbling and turning black as the moon beam covered him in blue fire. Moments later, as the moon’s power continued its unrelenting assault on his unprotected body, the massive creature fell to his knees, no longer resembling even the tortured half human creature he once was. He was reduced to a dense column of ash that held

together until the moon finally stopped recognizing him as a conduit and relinquished its deadly hold on him. The entire Lupa Guardian pack watched as the column of ash slowly settled onto the altar and blew away on a soft breeze. As the night settled into silence, Darius pushed himself to his feet and stood, leaning heavily on his mate’s shoulder. Kidren and Lanna shed their wolves and accepted Darius’ handshake and his pretty mate’s hug. Darius gave Kidren a weary smile. “I believe you and my Regulator have earned a little time off.” Kidren and Lanna shared a look. Then Lanna said, “We do have something we need to finish.” Darius kissed his petite, blonde haired mate on the top of her head and sighed. “Go, Regulator. Take your time. I’m familiar with the need burning in your chest.” He and Sashee shared a smile. “But I’ll see you when you return. And you’d better be wearing a mate mark when I see you next!” Lanna saluted her Alpha and turned to Kidren. “You heard the man. You have a job to do, Lupire.” Kidren laughed. “I guess I’m gonna take one for the team?” The pack yipped happily in response. Lanna smacked him on the chest and it actually hurt. Kidren winked at Darius’ mate and grabbed Lanna’s hand. “Come on, she-wolf. I know just the place to put things right.” They leapt into the air and came down as wolves, loping quickly and silently into the night.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Lanna unfolded from her wolf and looked around, her nose twitching. “I can’t believe you brought me back here.” Grinning, Kidren wrapped a muscular arm around her waist and tugged her close. “What? We had our first date here.” She lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t think my giving you blood when you were broken and weak as a kitten can be called a date.” He lowered his head, running his hands over her hips and down the lean, firm length of her thighs. “You’re right. It was much more powerful than a date.” His nostrils flared as he scented her. “As I recall, you did this to me then too.” His hands wrapped around her buttocks and he dragged her up tight against his massive erection. Lanna gasped, seeing his point. And feeling it too. “It was a little…” “Amazing? Incredible? Addictive?” “I was gonna say intense but yeah, all those things too.” He layered his lips over hers and groaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck, sliding her long fingers through his hair. Their kiss started soft and escalated rapidly, turning frantic as their bodies recognized the mating heat and blossomed with it. Under the mating magic, their already sensitive skin turned hypersensitive. Their senses exploded, allowing them to recognize the distinct tang of the other’s blood from a mile away. Their hearing sharpened to the point that they could discern the fast rush of blood through veins, or the soft wash of air through passion constricted airways. Under the mating heat, a mated pair sensed each movement, read every touch, and anticipated each thought before it became real. It was the process of become a unit. One heart, one soul, one physical entity that cried out with need, wept with hunger, and fumbled frantically for release. As the heat took them over, they fell to their knees in the warm soft earth beside the pond, deep in the cavern where they’d first shared blood and lust. Lifting her into his arms, Kidren lay her down beside the pool and climbed her body, suckling her heaving breasts and pressing his enormous shaft against her thigh. She cried out, wrapping her legs around his hips so she could press her moist pussy against him, begging him with her body to take what she offered—to capture the moist heat of her pussy and claim it for his own. Kidren pressed the long, hard length of his shaft against that hungry spot and rose up onto his elbows, framing her face in his hands and kissing her softly, hungrily, as his hard cock rested against her entrance. “I take you for my mate, always and forever.”

Lanna arched her body as he plunged deep and cried out. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed as pleasure rolled through her. “I accept you as my mate, always and forever.” Kidren gasped at the exquisite feeling of her body enfolding him, milking him, urging him toward release. He kept his strokes slow and even, clenching his jaw against the need to drive deep, plunge hard and fast. He savored each delicious scrape of hungry flesh as he pulled nearly free of her pussy and then plunged deep again, reveling in the warm cream that bathed his dick and flowed down her slim thighs. His muscles clenched with the need to thrust and ravage. His hands shook with the intensity of his need. But he gritted his teeth and forced his mind to cool, his body to enjoy the long, slow ride. Beneath him, Lanna cried out with delight, her head thrashing from side to side. Her wide, golden eyes were closed, and her fingers climbed his pecs, tweaking his rigid nipples and sliding up to encircle the back of his neck. As he gave up trying to hold himself back and allowed his pace to quicken, driving deep inside her heated channel with every stroke, Lanna opened her eyes and pulled him down into a ravenous kiss, gasping against his lips. “Oh god, Kidren. I’ve waited so long. For years my skin has burned under the mating heat, my pussy wept and throbbed. I didn’t want to soothe the heat with anyone else.” Her head went back and she cried out as her pussy clamped down on him, dragging at the fire-touched flesh, almost daring him to hold out against the pressure of her body on his. “I’ve never known life, she-wolf. Never felt love. You’ve given me both.” Her channel throbbed and convulsed around him, her rigid, brown nipples peaking against his chest. Kidren’s nostrils flared under the incredible ambrosia of her sexual scent, his cells opened to pull it in, to make it one with his, and his cock jumped hungrily in the encompassing heat of her channel. His balls rose up under his shaft and grew so tight they hurt as his seed nearly boiled within them, creating intense pressure and tightening his thighs with restraint. His fangs snapped from his gums and his vampire rose screaming for its due. Kidren took a deep breath, suddenly terrified he would hurt her. That he wouldn’t be able to stop once he buried his fangs deep within her flesh. He lowered his head and scraped the razor sharp points across her throat, gauging the scent and pulse of her blood through the tender vein at the side of her throat. “Do it, Kidren,” she whispered huskily. “Drink from me. Please!” Her words snapped the restraint he’d been barely able to maintain. With a groan of inevitability, he grabbed her shoulders, lifting her toward his painfully throbbing fangs, and plunged them deep. She whimpered in ecstasy and her pussy clamped down hard on his cock as the rich, earthy offering of her body pulsed down his throat, expanding his cells and giving new strength to his limbs. Her legs tightened around him, and she rolled

screaming into another orgasm, this one rocking her hard. Her hands convulsed, her claws raking down his back. He reveled in the feeling of pain. The warm scent of his blood filled the air, making her wolf growl in her breast. As if they shared her skin, he was aware of her wolf clawing to get free. He sensed the frustration of the beast she barely held in check as her body gave up its pleasure beneath him. The beast wanted to stretch its legs and run, fast and hard through the woods surrounding them. From instinct, Kidren fought to hold his own beast. He’d been holding it back for decades. But her love gave him the opportunity to finally let the beast go. He gave up trying to hold himself back and let release find him. Arching his back, he drove deep, feeling Lanna’s body pull him in and suck the last of his restraint away. He cried out, his body stilling as he held on to that last, sharp stab of pleasure, and then let himself relax, buried deep within her and…just…release. As Kidren slid his tongue over the wounds to close them, Lanna’s body went limp with satiated pleasure and he laid her back onto the soft earth. She sank down from that eager high, sliding into gentle aftershocks that tugged on his still hard flesh. The pleasure seemed to roll through her forever…rippling through her body in warm waves of gentle bliss. Her toes curled and her skin warmed as the flush of eager blood swirled through her. Kidren’s hard cock continued to stroke slow and deep inside her channel, his massive pecs straining with the effort to hold himself upright under the shock of his release. He lowered his head and kissed her lips, his touch reverent and tender. “I thought I’d never know this feeling of warmth…of life. I embrace my wolf because of you, mate. I will cherish it…and you…always.” Lanna wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a tender kiss. “You aren’t quite done yet, Lupire.” At his look of confusion, Lanna laughed and pushed the glossy strands of his hair off his neck. “We aren’t truly mated, in the ways of the Lupa Guardian pack, until I taste you too.” She opened her mouth to show him her elongated canines. He made a sound of delight deep in his throat. Lanna licked his throat twice, tested the skin with a gentle bite, and then plunged her fangs deep. Kidren cried out and his body tightened into a second orgasm, his cock pulsing hard as she sucked on the delightfully tender wounds and brought him fully, crashing hard, into the world of his wolf. Lanna joined him in another wave of pleasure. Her body pulsing and throbbing from the joy of his blood coursing through her veins and the feel of his cock jumping within her. She swiped her tongue over the wounds and lifted her head, licking her lips with delight. “We are mated.”

Kidren took one look at the smug look on her face and knew what he had to do. “You look very pleased with yourself, she-wolf.” “I am, Lupire. I’m very pleased.” She grinned. He nodded and stood, crossing his massive arms and staring off across the large cavern, his handsome face a study in seriousness. “I see. I’m afraid I don’t like seeing my mate so cocky.” “Oh yeah?” She laughed, stretching in pleasure. “What are you gonna do about it?” Before she even knew that he’d moved, much faster than she could react in her current, pleasantly numb state, Kidren had scooped her into his arms and carried her to the edge of the pond. He kissed her quickly and then, laughing, flung her out over the water. Lanna sailed through the air above the deep, clear pool, kicking her legs in anticipation of the plunge. She gave one short, sharp shriek of delighted surprise and then hit the cool surface of the water and slid out of sight. Kidren wasted no time leaping into the pool after her. There were still some very important lessons his sexy mate needed to learn. And he couldn’t wait to teach them to her.

The End

The books in the Halloween Love Series: Bound by Blood, Book 1 Moon Burn, Book 2 Blue Moon, Book 3 Available on Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and Smashwords: Please enjoy the following sample of Book 1 in the Halloween Love Series, Bound by Blood.

CHAPTER ONE

Phelan Donald stood in the center of a clearing and lifted his nose into the air. The night was deeply, densely dark, filled with the sounds of movement from unseen creatures. Their warm scent roiled around him, making his stomach growl hopefully. A sharp crack split the night, followed by a soft curse, as someone stepped on a twig. Phelan’s keen, dark gold gaze swung in that direction. His skin quivered and his canines elongated. He scented the air and caught the sensual tang of a female shifter, infused with a power cocktail of anger, excitement, and aggression. He grinned. It was an interesting mix for a female. Phelan melted into the shadows beneath the trees and waited, listening to the soft footfall of the woman as she approached the clearing. When she pushed through the trees and stood just a few feet away, his senses exploded. Her scent rolled over him, making his body clench with need. His mouth watered and his fangs ached, but more importantly, his groin tightened at her musky female scent. She was moderately tall for a woman, broad shouldered and narrow hipped, with long legs and lean, muscular arms. Her skin was a creamy brown, and her hair was midnight black, cut short and spiky. The moonlight glazed the spiky silk with silver highlights. Her face was a small oval in the dusky light, with high, pronounced cheekbones and slanted golden-brown eyes. He swallowed hard and fought the urge to grab her. To taste her lips and stroke her body. Phelan frowned. No female had reached his sensual core for a long time. He wasn’t sure why this one had. She was definitely attractive. But so were a lot of the women he dealt with on a daily basis. It must just be because he was hungry. He was hungrier, in fact, than he could ever remember being. He definitely should have fed before coming to work. Suddenly the female stiffened, her nostrils flared as if she were scenting the air, and her head swiveled in his direction. She turned her body toward him, widening her legs in battle stance, her hands fisted at her sides. “Show yourself.” Phelan’s shock nearly made him gasp. She’d scented him. How was that possible? When they wanted to be, his kind was nearly invisible to other paranormals. They could be invisible, scentless, and soundless, blending perfectly into their surroundings at will. But this lean, beautiful she-wolf had known he was there. It wasn’t possible. Unless. Phelan immediately shook off the thought. His kind didn’t mate either. Or rather…it was extremely rare for them to find their perfect mate. There were too many damn rules and restrictions. Most of his kind had stopped trying, contenting themselves with quick tumbles and short, intense affairs instead. He’d been better than most at pretending he didn’t care how empty these events left him. But whatever the reason, as he separated himself from the shadows and stepped into the clearing, a single thought slid through his mind.

This was no ordinary female. Cassidy Rai sucked air into her lungs, her long, narrow eyes widening. He was magnificent. Standing somewhere well over six feet, with close cropped, burnished gold hair, densely muscled arms and chest, and long, massive legs, the man standing at the edge of the clearing was like something from a Greek myth. His square jaw tightened as he watched her, and his pretty gold eyes narrowed slightly. Outwardly he appeared relaxed, but she could almost see the waves of tension vibrating off him. His aura was a deep, pulsing purple and his scent…good lord his scent made her knees wobble. “Who are you and what are you doing here?” He laughed. Cassidy jerked in surprise and glared at him. She took a step closer, allowing her claws to extend and her canines to elongate. Whatever he was, he was gonna have a hundred and twenty pounds of pissed off she-wolf in his lap in about three seconds if he didn’t start cooperating. Realizing that she wouldn’t mind at all being in his lap, which even now pushed against the worn denim restraint of his jeans invitingly, Cassidy felt heat flooding her face. She gave him a soft growl of warning to cover her discomfort. “I have business here. The better question would be, what are you doing here? It’s a dangerous night for lovely young women to be wandering around in the woods alone.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I can protect myself. And you have no business here.” He peaked an eyebrow. “Is that so?” He took a step toward her, every line of his massive body taut with aggression. For the first time since confronting the gorgeous creature, Cassidy started to worry that she’d bitten off more than she could chew. She sent a warning to her pack mates, knowing full well they were spread out all over the huge woods. If things went badly, it was unlikely any of them would reach her in time. “Stay where you are.” Incredibly, he stopped. Cocking his head at her he grinned. “Why?” She frowned. “Because I told you to.” He shrugged, “And you are?” Cassidy fought the urge to step backward, putting much needed space between them. His scent was calling to her, making her nipples harden into rigid peaks. She could sense the wildness of his spirit from ten feet away. “I’m a guardian.” Her pulse shot upward as her eyes widened. Why had she told him that? He went completely, perfectly still. The aggression she’d been feeling from him increased several-fold. Cassidy tensed too, waiting for the attack. As a member of the Guardian Lupa Tribe, Cassidy was supernaturally fast and strong. No mere human male was a match for her. She could outrun, outfight, and outthink humans without even straining. But this man. This…creature…standing before her was an unknown quantity. He covered the distance between them in the blink of an eye and grabbed her arms before she could move. Cassidy looked up into the deep gold of his eyes and gasped. She recognized the power pulsing there. “You’re pack?”

He shook his head and grinned, showing his teeth. Such very large teeth. Cassidy gasped. His fangs were very long and very white. Much too long to be wolf. He was vampire. But not entirely, he had the eyes of a wolf. She blinked, her mind struggling with knowledge she didn’t want to accept. Then he pulled her close and buried his face in her neck and Cassidy started to struggle. “Don’t fight me.” She stopped wriggling immediately and held very still, her muscles twitching with the urge to fight. He didn’t seem to notice. His lips touched the base of her neck, settling a tender kiss there and drawing her scent in through parted lips before moving on. His scenting kisses trailed up her throat, leaving a heated trail that tingled wherever they touched. Gooseflesh popped out on her arms and she fought the urge to shiver. He stopped just above the spot where her pulse quickened and beat against her skin, sending her scent into the air. She knew she was shedding her scent, but she didn’t seem able to stop herself. Incredibly, he groaned when he pulled her scent deep into his lungs. “Where have you been…” Cassidy snorted, “…all your life? Are you kidding me?” He pulled back and grinned. “I was going to ask where in the woods you’d been tonight, but the other question is a good one too.” The smug smile on his face brought her blood up and she felt her wolf struggling to escape. She told herself her wolf wanted to tear at his throat and swallow his warm blood, reveling in his painful death. But she could sense her wolf laughing at her when she tried to form the visual. What her wolf really wanted was to climb his body and taste his hot lips. He reached a hand toward her throat, placing a super-heated palm under her chin and wrapping his long fingers around her neck. “I’m strangely attracted to you, wolf. Despite my better judgment. When my work is done here, I suggest you come home with me and help me shred my sheets.” Her sexual core tightened with need at the thought. Cassidy caught a moan before it escaped her throat. Instead, she kicked out with her legs and wriggled violently, using all her strength in a futile attempt to break away. “As tempting as that is I’ll have to pass. You’re not my type.” “Really?” He cocked his head. “And what is your type, pretty wolf?” Her smile was mean. “I like my prey alive, vampire. So I get the fun of killing it myself.” His face darkened and the eyes hardened to gold glass. Brought on by rage, flecks of red and black danced in the depths of his beautiful eyes. He leaned close and growled at her. Cassidy forced her mind to calm and sent her fear energy into her wolf, feeling the warrior-like creature in her breast unfurl and begin to pace with anger. When she needed to defend herself the wolf would come. Because, if this creature before her was what she thought he was, she was going to die. But nothing said she had to make it easy for him.

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Award winning author Sam Cheever mixes in a little fun, a little adventure, and a little real-life spice to create her sexy fantasy and romantic suspense stories. Sam’s fictional peeps fight their way through a dizzying array of dangerous challenges without letting little things like mean tempered ex girlfriends, dangerous villains, or angry, manipulative gods dampen their zest for life and hot love! To find out more about Sam and her work, please pay her a visit at any one of the following online hot spots. Sam always loves to chat with readers. Website (www.samcheever.com) Fan page on Facebook (Sam Cheever Author) MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/samcheever ) Blog (http://tweenyouandme.blogspot.com)