In the seductive follow-up to A Pack of Blood and Lies, Ness Clark's heart and legitimacy are again put to the test. She thought the fight was over, but it was only just beginning. At the end of the trials, Ness Clark has earned her spot in her all-male pack and has won over her new Alpha, Liam Kolane. But her place amongst the Boulders and at Liam's side is compromised. First when her cousin, who's become enemy number one, claims Ness helped him elude his death sentence. And then, when August Watt, Ness's childhood friend and confidant, comes home to Boulder, Colorado. Although August's plan was to pledge himself and return to active duty, he finds himself incapable of leaving. This becomes problematic for Liam and Ness, because a mating link has clicked into place between Ness and the ex-marine. If not consumed, the link will fade, but that'll take months. How long and hard can two people fight a physical attraction that renders their bodies unreceptive to anyone's but their mates? Ness is tired of fighting, tired of having to prove herself worthy of her pack's trust and of her Alpha's affection. But when an enemy pack arrives and threatens the Boulders, she has two choices: step aside and let the wolves who have pushed her away fend for themselves, or step up and help them fight the newcomers. Ness has never stepped aside...not for anyone. Why would she start now?
T
he first time I shifted,
I was eleven. I still remember the matching looks of shock on my parents' faces. Where my mother's gaze had remained wide, my father's had crinkled with a smile. He'd crouched with his arms wide open to corral me. Disoriented and unsteady, catching me had been a swift affair. Dad had pinned me against his chest until my wolf quieted, until I morphed back into a naked child made of flesh and tears instead of fur and claws. And then he'd wrapped me up in a fleece blanket, whispering, "It's okay, Ness. Everything will be okay."
He was wrong.
After that day, nothing had ever been okay.
What are you thinking about, babe? Liam's voice resonated inside my skull, making me jump. I could morph into a furry beast, yet communication without sound was still bewildering.
I wasn't sure I would ever get used to hearing my Alpha speak to me through the pack's mind link.
My Alpha . . .
With blood pledges, Liam had been sworn in mere minutes ago as the Boulder Pack's new Alpha. His dream had come true. And mine along with it, because I'd gotten to swear my allegiance to him. I was now part of the pack who'd shunned me because of my gender. Take that, Heath Kolane.
How Heath had birthed a son as fair and good as Liam was almost as mystifying as an Alpha's ability to speak into minds.
Smiling up at Liam, I threaded my fingers through the soft, black swoop of hair that fell into his reddish-brown eyes and pushed it off his forehead. "Nothing. Nothing's on my mind, besides how proud I am of you."
Tonight was his night. I wouldn't spoil it with my glum thoughts.
His gaze hunted my expression. Although Alphas could speak into minds, they couldn't read what crowded them. "Ten more minutes, and we'll head out."
I looked around the large stone-walled room of Headquarters where the pledging ceremony had taken place. Outside, the world was going to sleep. Inside, the party was just beginning. The animated chatter and the tinny scent of blood drying on the pledges' wrists made my head spin.
"We can stay longer, Liam. I'm not in any rush." It wasn't as though I had anywhere to go . . . anyone to see.
No, that wasn't completely true. I'd made a friend in Colorado: Sarah Matz. She was a deejay on Thursdays and Saturdays at a place called The Den, and a Pine wolf the rest of the time. Technically, she should've been my enemy-the Boulders and the Pines despised each other-but since we'd met at her brother's engagement party, she'd been nothing but friendly. Actually, Sarah was only pleasant after her first cup of coffee. Before that, she was a major grouch.
Still, her personality beat the fake pertness of the Boulder wolves' girlfriends who all seemed to resent me because I possessed something they didn't-the werewolf gene-and because I'd defied Liam Kolane, the boy reared to become Alpha.
As I watched Liam talk animatedly with the pack, my stomach throbbed. Hunger, I supposed-I'd had a sandwich, but that was hours ago. Unless the throbbing was emanating from my nervousness. Liam had asked me to go home with him once the evening concluded. I'd never gone home with a man before.
I pressed my palm against my abdomen that was hardening by the second and walked toward one of the walls where drinks, cold cuts, and energy bars had been laid out on a long wooden table. I fished out a peanut butter bar from a glass salad bowl and was about to peel off the wrapper when headlights flashed over the window, blinding me in the process.
My first thoughts were that my traitorous cousin, Everest, had come to right the wrongs he'd caused by blackmailing me into believing I'd killed Liam's father.
But then the driver got out.
The energy bar slid from my fingers and toppled back into the bowl.
I could almost feel the earth shake as his boots hit the ground.
After pledging himself to Liam, August Watt had stalked out of Headquarters. And yet, here he was again, minutes later. I hoped he'd returned to apologize for his odd behavior, but his rough stride and narrowed eyes told me that was most definitely not his intent.
THE PRIMAL RULE OF WINNING: DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CONTENDER. Three months shy of her eighteenth birthday, Ness is forced to return to Colorado. Even though it’s been six years, and the wolves of her all-male pack don’t recognize her, she recognizes them. People who shun others because of their gender are hard to forget. Especially Liam Kolane — son of Heath, the crudest and cruelest Alpha to have ruled the Boulder Pack. Liam is as handsome as he is infuriating, as kind as he is punishing, and he makes Ness’s traitorous heart race, which isn’t good. After all, he’s a Kolane. Like father like son, right? When Heath dies, Liam vies to become the new Alpha and no one dares challenge him. Except Ness. Thus begins a treacherous game. The rules: winner takes all… including loser’s life.
ONLY ONE CAN WIN. Volunteering to duel alongside Liam Kolane against the ruthless Creek Alpha could get Ness killed, but the alternative, leaving her hot-headed Alpha to die alone in the dueling ring isn’t an option. Not even when he places ridiculous conditions on her, like not spending time alone with August, her intended mate. Ness didn’t want a mate, but that was before August stepped back into her life, before he picked up the scattered pieces of her heart. Between their shared history and the magical tether that binds them, Ness finds herself falling dangerously hard for the sexy shifter. But Liam’s heart is on the line. A heart that still beats for Ness. Only one man can win her love, the same way only one Alpha can rise from the duel. Let the fight begin...
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...
P-please, I beg you. Come let's go tell Christian I had no hand in whatever happened, p-please." I clutched the lapel of his jacket desperately. "Let's go. You need to tell my husband you were paid." "Young lady, you're harassing me." His tone was cold and his stare granite. But I could care less. "You harassed me first! You had sex with me without my consent, my husband knows and now I'm pregnant with this child he doesn't want. You ruined my marriage! I-I hate you!" ************************************ Caught by her husband with another man on their matrimonial bed the morning after her birthday, Hailey Codza could not defend herself. As though it's not enough, she gets pregnant. Her enraged husband decides to pay her back for her infidelity by having an affair with his ex-girlfriend - Denise Kellers, the family Hailey never knew she had. Losing her family's wealth and company to her husband and his ex (now girlfriend), she is devastated, homeless and penniless as all her credit cards are blocked by her husband. She sees the man who is responsible for her pregnancy. The man she has no idea how he'd found his way to her matrimonial bed - Jared Johnson. Jared is annoyed when this strange woman disrupts his meeting and accuses him of ruining her life, marriage and impregnating her. It affects his business deals and having no choice, he marries her to calm the public whilst engaged to someone else. But he loathes her and allows his family treats her badly. Hailey who has fallen in love with Jared is broken when she can no longer take the humiliation. She signs the divorce papers and leaves, only to arrive six years later to the country as a self-made, secret billionaire and a mother of twins. Now her two ex-husbands are begging to have her back...
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."