A CITY AT WAR... AND I'M THE As it were ONE WHO CAN Conclusion IT I developed up the girl of the Alphas of All. A Ruby Wolf, predetermined to take over checking Alpha werewolves all over the world. The problem?Ruby wolves can as it were mate with other rubies...and there wasn't one.Until I lurched upon Shifter City. Now I've got half a dozen ruby shifters on my tail, and as it were a week to choose which one I'll mate with. The one I select will decide which shifters take control of the city.
"I'm fine, Mom," I said, balancing my phone between my shoulder and ear as I slid off my cherry-red Ducati. After hanging my helmet on the handlebars, I tucked my key into my bra and headed toward the run-down bar.
The neon sign above read "OM'S." The letters were too faded for me to make out, even under the full moon, so I shifted into my wolf form. It was second nature at this point. My body remained human as I read the full name: Tommy's.
"Get back to New York and bite Noah," my mom snapped. "The trials start next week. You know he can save your life, and-"
"And probably die trying," I cut her off, smoothing the frizz in my hot pink hair.
I wasn't sure what city I was in, but I knew it was somewhere in Maine. Thick forests stretched for miles, soothing the wolf in me.
After checking into a sketchy motel, I was told the bar down the street had the best food, so I made my way over to satisfy my growling stomach.
I was nauseous-not from the food, but because my hot pink hair marked me as an unmated ruby wolf. Being one of the rare, natural Alphas wasn't exactly a blessing. There were supposed to be two ruby wolves per generation, but somehow, I was the only one.
Magical trials could make a normal wolf a ruby, but they were deadly. Most who tried didn't survive. My friend Noah was all in, but I wasn't ready to risk his life.
"What do you want me to do, Hazel?" My mom's voice was tired, and I felt it too. We had all been worn out for years. "There's no other option."
"I don't know," I admitted. "Maybe start planning my funeral? I could head to South America, find a rickety zipline, and hope my claws snap it while I'm having fun."
She growled. "No."
Classic Mom-always blunt. She was the most honest person I knew, and though we clashed when I was a teenager, we had grown into more of a friendship as I got older.
I sat at the bar, dropping my arms onto the counter. "I'll call you if I do something stupid. Love you." I hung up just as the bartender came over. He was around my age-rugged, with that undeniable charm that made him a hit with every girl, whether they admitted it or not.
"Your best whiskey, on the rocks," I said, pulling my ID and cash from my bra and placing them on the counter. The bartender took a quick look at my pink hair, then my chest. While I wasn't exactly blessed in that department, a good push-up bra worked wonders.
"Coming right up," he said and walked off. I leaned back to survey the surprisingly busy bar.
It was probably a Friday evening, but it could've been any day. The bar was clearly the town's go-to hangout. It was a bit run-down but had a cozy, welcoming feel that I liked.
My phone lit up. Dad. I picked it up.
"Hey, pops." I accepted my drink and took a sip. My dad was always protective, and I could tell from his tone that Mom had probably filled him in on my wild idea.
"Where are you?" he asked, his voice strained.
"I'm fine." I ignored the question, intentionally avoiding the topic of me leaving.
"Noah is ready," he began.
"I'm not," I interrupted, knowing he wouldn't like that answer. He'd understand, though. I was my mother's daughter, and she was his best friend.
"Come home," he said, his tone firm.
"Dad, I need time. This is my choice, and I expect you to respect that."
"I'm worried about you."
"I know, but I need space right now. I'll come back when I'm ready." I hung up, dropping my phone on the counter and sipping my whiskey. I hated making them worry, but if Noah tried the trials and didn't make it, I'd never forgive myself.
As I mulled over the situation, I felt eyes on me-nothing new. People stared at my pink hair, but I didn't mind. I leaned into it, dressing in clothes that highlighted my tattoos and showed a little skin-short tops, tight skirts, fishnets-always with my motorcycle boots, just in case.
When I finished my drink, I debated leaving and heading back to my motel room to avoid its musty smell. But then the bartender brought me another drink, and I spotted a text from Olivia.
LIV: Finally snuck away, heading toward you now.
I knew Liv's parents were likely grilling her about my disappearance. She was the only one who had access to track my phone.
I tapped my fingers on the counter, weighing my options. None of them felt right.
The door slammed behind me, but I didn't turn. I'd lived twenty-two years without meeting anyone who was a real threat. If I ever did, I'd look forward to the challenge.
A giant of a man slid onto the barstool beside me. I glanced over at him. He was massive-easily over six and a half feet, with shoulders like a linebacker and arms covered in tattoos. His presence was almost overwhelming, and I couldn't help but glance down at his thighs, impressed by the sheer size.
His scent was a mix of sweat and pine trees, and I found myself wanting to lean in closer for another whiff. But there was too much going on for me to indulge in that kind of distraction, especially when I was still considering my options for mating.
The guy leaned toward the bartender, practically growling his order for a bacon nacho bowl, chili fries, and a beer. As he paid, I caught a glimpse of his ID-Merrick Blake. The card moved too quickly for me to get a good look at his picture.
He downed the beer in one go, his eyes locked on the bartender as if daring anyone to interrupt his meal.
Cassie Burch, tall school vice-principal and as of late single woman, has met the man of her dreams. Tragically, her heart isn't prepared for another relationship after at long last dumping her useless ex. When she concurs to a casual connect, she has no thought what she's getting herself into. Sentiment is almost to hit her harder than she ever anticipated. Alpha wolf shifter, Claw Ruiz, is anxious and can't figure out why. He fair opened a high-end shifter club, and the novelty has as of now worn off. When his mate lurches into him, he's more than prepared to keep her until the end of time. And he'll do anything he needs to demonstrate to her he's worth her cherish. The issue is Cassie doesn't need a genuine bond. And everything he does to attempt to sentiment her comes up short. He was kind of a twitch, but he's changed. If he doesn't figure out what he's doing off-base, Cassie will take off him in the clean. And by pack law, if the alpha doesn't mate, he must battle to the passing to keep his status. His heart and his life lay in Cassie's hands. Can she cherish a man who turns into a wolf?
Run, little faerie. Run. I've got all sorts of plans for when I finally catch you. Brock Hume is a lone wolf on the hunt, and right now, he's after the most irresistible prey he's ever encountered. He can't help himself. Her scent, sweet like the heather blossoms from his homeland, calls to him. And those curves... he can't wait to get his hands on them. And she's running from him-a werewolf. Heather Knight might just be the most clueless faerie ever, but then again, she was raised as a human, so that probably shouldn't be a surprise. She can't even tell when a man is something more than he seems. And she should've known-no mortal could be that hot. To protect her heart and her secret, she runs. But fate has other plans. Somehow, Brock and Heather are both pulled into the shadowy realm of the fae. To win this dangerous game and save the girl, Brock will have to uncover the truth about his mate. But the secrets she's hiding might be the very thing that could tear them apart.
One is her father's commerce accomplice. The other is her brother's enemy...Before Sawyer Religious administrator, I was guiltless. He was my coach and my father's trade accomplice. He was never implied to be my lover.The to begin with time Sawyer touched me, I was twenty-three. It felt great to do something taboo and off-base. I needed to be wrathful for a change.Between us lived a billion privileged insights, a billion stolen looks, and a billion lies.I was a trick. Sawyer was as heartless as the rest of them. I never implied to drop in adore with him, however he had this exceptional control over me. I would have given him anything. He was my to begin with cherish, my to begin with foe, and the to begin with man to break my heart.But he might not break me. And presently that somebody else has come along, he's changing the rules of the diversion.
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"