Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Emily Nightsom is a wolf shifter born to lead. Strong, fierce, and fiercely loyal, her pack has always assumed she’ll rise as their next alpha, even though she has repeatedly said otherwise. But Emily harbors a secret—a weakness buried so deeply she’s sworn no one will ever discover it. If it comes to light, it could shatter her pack’s trust and destroy the one thing she’s fought to her family. She’s willing to shoulder the burden of leadership if she has to—but not until every other option is gone.
Then there’s Jackson Tryne, Alpha of the Slate Pack. Enemy. Annoyance. Predator. The wolf shifter who kissed her years ago on a reckless dare—and left her wanting more even as she swore she’d never forgive his arrogance. Jackson has wanted Emily ever since that moment, but her rejection only fueled his desire to prove himself worthy of the untouchable, untamable wolf who refuses to be claimed. Now, with a deadly assassin closing in on her, Jackson doesn’t he takes her, hides her, and vows to protect her—even if it means breaking every law of the packs.
Emily’s fury is matched only by the fire between them. She’s spent years fighting her feelings for Jackson, but he’s done waiting. As the danger around them grows, her carefully guarded walls start to crumble, exposing not just her heart but the secret that could ruin her. Jackson is determined to have her, no matter the cost, but when the truth comes out, will he still see her as the fierce warrior he’s always loved? Or will it tear them—and their packs—apart?
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter 1
Her nerves jangling like a skeleton caught in a tumble dryer on high spin, Emily Nightsom clasped her hands in her lap and rocked on the rear veranda of the mansion, her chin up and no expression on her face. Anybody looking at her would see perfect composure and dignity. But anyone who truly sensed her energy would feel an eerie, skin-crawling unease. Thank goodness nobody had ever been on her wavelength.
Well, mostly nobody. Jackson Tryne didn’t count. Ever.
Gentle lights shone down from chandeliers, edging out the darkness of night. The moon had risen, though only at half strength—which somewhat explained the weakness in her knees.
A storm edged closer, with thunder rolling across the sky. Lightning struck nearby with a crackle, and the smell of ozone filled the air. Then the skies opened, instantly releasing rain in sheets, filling the night with the scents of pine and fresh earth.
Sitting safely beneath the veranda’s solid roof, Emily heard vehicles pull up in front of the home and looked toward the table laden with cold cuts, rolls, and cookies. Lovely etched glasses surrounded a full water pitcher, while wine bottles breathed to the side, stemmed glasses nearby. Swallowing, she stood and turned toward the double glass door, her mouth parchment-dry.
Her father emerged first, his gaze on the table and approval tilting his lips.
Well, at least she’d done something right. “Father.”
“Hi, Honey.” Philip Nightsom’s smile and eyes were too wide. Shock?
“Where is she?” Emily angled her neck to see beyond him.
He straightened, and she took in his dashing gray suit and striped, green tie. For as long as she could remember, he’d always kept a three-piece suit in his town car in case he needed clothing. “She wouldn’t, ah, ride with me.”
Amusement surprised Emily as the sensation ran through her. “That’s interesting.”
He frowned and moved toward the table, pouring a glass of cabernet. “You might want to steel yourself.”
“Why?”
The door opened again, and Miliki, her father’s top Enforcer, strode out. At over a hundred years old, he had silver hair and sharp, brown eyes. “Miss Nightsom? I’d like for you to meet Nadia Hodge. Your, ah, half-sister.” He stepped to the side, revealing a female.
Emily swallowed a gasp.
A female walked forward, her eyes a lighter black than Emily’s. They both had platinum-blond hair and fine features.
“Hi.” The female spoke first, her gaze on the wild storm beyond the veranda.
“Welcome to our home.” Emily searched her sister’s face for something. Anything. Man, they looked alike.
Nadia glanced at Emily’s boot-covered feet and then her head. “Well. Guess you got all the height.”
Amusement took over again. “Guess so.” While Em was around six feet tall, Nadia had to be…what? Five-foot-six, tops? “And you have a dimple in your left cheek. I don’t.”
Her father took a deep gulp of wine. “You both look just like my mother. It’s fascinating, really.”
The poor guy sounded like he was still in shock. Probably was, considering he’d discovered he had another daughter just a few hours ago.
Nadia slowly grinned. “You’re truly beautiful, Emily.”
Emily chuckled. “That’s funny, considering we could be twins—minus the height difference.”
“No.” Nadia shook her head, her focus intense. “It’s more than that. There’s something about you. Beyond the bone structure and all of that. Real beauty.”
“What a kind thing to say,” Emily said smoothly.
Nadia snorted. “Kind isn’t exactly one of my character traits. Telling the truth…is.”
Likable. Her newly found sister was eminently likable. This might work out, after all.
A male strode through the door, his dark gaze taking in the entire veranda before he moved to the side, posting himself near Nadia in a position that ensured he could intercept anybody before they reached her. He stood to well over six feet tall and appeared muscled and strong.
Both Miliki and her father bristled.
“You brought your own Enforcer?” Emily asked. Or was there more to it?
Nadia nodded. “This is Caidrik. Our new, um, Alpha assigned him to my protection detail while I visited your territory.”
Emily’s eyebrow rose. Caidrik had some power. She could feel it. Was he an Alpha? Something was off here. “Your new Alpha? You mean Erik Volk?”
Nadia shifted her weight. She looked adorable in jeans and a pink sweater, with her blond hair up in a ponytail. “Yes. Erik Volk. Our co-op joined the Copper Pack earlier today. We need farming land, and they need wolves. It worked out.” She scrunched up her nose. “Although I’m not sure about having an Alpha, you know? My people have stayed out of wolf pack business.”
Caidrik looked from Nadia to Emily and back, promised death with a hint of intrigue in his eyes. “Which is why we were almost taken out by a rogue pack. We’ll be safer as members of the Copper Pack.” He focused on Emily. “It’s my understanding that you were engaged to Erik Volk, who is now mated to somebody else. Has that created bad blood?”