Loftis Blood Rites, Book 2 The Grey Wolves Series

1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4660-9443-7
Verlag: Distributed via Smashwords
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 328 Seiten

With the challenge complete and the corrupt Alpha of Coldspring defeated Fane is now free to complete the mate bond with Jacque and perform the Blood Rites. Although the challenge is done, the effects are far-reaching. Once it is known that Vasile one of the strongest Alphas in the world is in America, specifically Coldspring, TX, there is one Alpha who cannot overlook the significance of this. An Alpha who happens to share Jacque's DNA, but is this the one she needs to fear? With her mom driving and her two best friends, Jen and Sally in tow, Jacque set off for her happily ever after. She will soon realize a plan has been put in motion that will change her course and possibly tear her from Fane's grasp forever. It will take a wolf pack, her mother's love, her two best friend's unrelenting determination, her own will to survive and the undying love of her mate to bring her home. The question remains, if she fights, if she endures, who will she be, what will be left once she is back in her mate's arms?

Autoren/Hrsg.

Loftis, Quinn

Leseproben

Chapter 1

“You know I will look ridiculous in that, right?” Jacque asked her brunette friend, Sally. The two were staring at a red dress hanging on the back of Jacque’s bedroom door. “I mean, why don’t you just sew a hood on it, put a basket of cookies in my hand, and send me off to see grandma?” Jacque asked sarcastically, if not somewhat dramatically. She didn’t understand why Sally and Jen, her two best friends, insisted she wear a dress for the bonding ceremony. She’d repeatedly reminded them it wasn’t a wedding, but they’d been insistent.

Since Fane’s defeat of Lucas Steel in the challenge for the right to Jacque’s hand, the girl’s life had been a virtual whirlwind. Preparations were moving so quickly Jacque didn’t have a chance to veto her friends’ decision and nobody else seemed eager to jump to her defense. So, alas, she stood in her room with her two best friends wreaking havoc on her life, coaxing her into a ridiculous red dress.

“How did things with Fane go last night?” Jen asked, pulling Jacque out of her own thoughts.

That simple question reminded Jacque the deadly challenge had taken place a mere twenty-four ago. It felt like it had been ages instead of hours. Last night after the challenge, Fane had come to her to plead forgiveness. He knew making her believe he had died during the challenge wasn’t the best way to begin a relationship. But he’d underestimated her, anticipating she’d not understood his motives. Jacque wasn’t going to deny seeing him lying, bleeding on the ground, hadn’t eviscerated her, but now she understood the reasoning behind his actions. His decision had kept him alive and with her. That was all that mattered.

“It’s all good,” Jacque said nonchalantly.

The two girls stopped simultaneously and stared at Jacque in disbelief.

“I chewed Fane up like a piece of meat and spit him out,” said Jen. “Sally about smacked him into next week. And that's all you have to say to us? Hate to break it to ya, wolf princess, but that ain’t going to cut it.” Jen folded her arms across her chest and began tapping her foot. It was obvious to Jacque she would not be leaving the room until she gave up the goods.

I guess they deserve to hear the details after all they’ve done for me. I can throw them a bone.

“Fane came to my room and sat on the side of my bed. I was in a daze, mostly asleep. I awoke to him kissing my cheeks, my nose, my chin, and then my lips. At first, I thought I was dreaming. But then, when I realized the sensations were real, I freaked out. I assumed I’d lost it. After everything I’d been through, I just knew my mind had jumped off the deep end and I was seeing my dead mate sitting on my bed.”

Before Jacque could continue, Jen interrupted. “Ok, that’s all fine and dandy, but I want the main course, not the before-dinner rolls. Main course, Jacque, get to it.”

Jacque rolled her eyes. “I have to build up to the main course or else it’s not really the main course, it’s just random food. However, for the sake of your sanity, I will speed it up. After I realized I wasn’t hallucinating, he hugged me, and I accidentally groaned in pain.”

“Oh, hell. He went into possessive, jealous, I-no-longer-have-a-brain mode, didn’t he?” Sally asked sarcastically.

“Point to you. He saw the bruise on my stomach and almost went all werewolf kung-fu on his pack. I can’t believe ya’ll didn’t hear him screaming. But I got him to pipe down when I pulled out the 'I’m bruised because you played dead' card. Works every time.” Jacque winked.

“Nice,” Jen and Sally said, bumping fists.

“Then we kissed. A lot. Yep, there was a lot of kissing. Oh, and there was purring. But all clothes stayed on, Jen, sorry to spoil your fantasy.”

“You are so not sorry to spoil anything. At least tell me if he’s a good kisser,” Jen whined.

Jacque looked at her, emerald eyes narrowed with a wicked gleam. “My sweet, sweet, Jen, he’s a good everything.”

“Ok, ladies, both of you back into your corners. Jacque's getting hitched today so there has to be a cease fire, at least until tomorrow.” Sally pointed in opposite directions.

“I am not getting hitched, there is no ring involved.”

“Says the wolf princess who’s never been bonded to a werewolf before,” Jen pointed out.

“Details, details,” Jacque said.

Despite her nonchalance, Jacque suddenly felt the room was closing in on her. It reminded her of Alice when she eats the cake and begins to grow until the room is so small, she is squished into it. Jacque soon found herself short of breath. She walked over to her window and jerked it open, feeling the summer heat hit her face. Even though it was blazing hot outside, the air itself was refreshing. It helped clear her brain from the worries slowly stacking up on shelves in her mind. Each deep breath Jacque was like pushing a bundle of worry into a trash bag. Breathe. She pushed the worry about leaving Coldspring into the bag. Breathe. Next was worry for her mom, will she come to Romania or stay here? Breathe. Worry for her friends. Breathe. Worry about the bonding ceremony. Breathe. Worry about the blood rites. Breathe. Finally, the shelves were clean, and there in her mind amongst the empty spaces, was Fane.

“Hello meu inima, doing some spring cleaning?” Fane asked her, using their bond.

Jacque couldn’t suppress the smile that followed. She should have known he would be listening, still worried about the her because of the previous night’s events.

“Just needed to put things in their place, how are you?” Jacque felt warmth as he poured his love into her mind. It only increased her desire to be in his arms.

“Soon, love.”

“You keep saying that, wolf man. When does soon become now?” Jacque teased him. “Now, go away. Isn’t it bad luck to see your mate before the bonding thingy?”

She heard him chuckle.

“No meu inima, you’re thinking of a wedding. The traditions for the Blood Rites are different. I can see you all I want. In fact, I could come rescue you from those two badgers if you want.”

“That’s okay, the girls mean well. They are just a little rough on the execution. What time is this shin-dig starting?” Jacque asked.

“The Blood Rites ceremony is not a shin-dig. It is the union of two true mates. A ceremony that joins our souls forever, which could be a very long time for a couple of supernatural beings.”

Jacque blanched. Supernatural? She still couldn’t get over the fact she wasn’t entirely human.

“Luna?” Fane asked. “Are you still with me?”

“Yes, sorry, Fane. You’re right. I shouldn’t be so flippant about it, I guess.”

“You can be however you want, meu inima. Just as long as you are there. The ceremony will begin at 1:00 p.m. Don’t keep me waiting, Little Red Riding Hood.” Fane’s voice faded out of her mind and she could feel his humor. Wasn’t he just too cute, picking up on her two best friends’ idea of a sick joke, to turn her into the little girl who almost wound up as the wolf’s dinner.

“My, what big eyes you have, wolf-man,” Jacque said out loud, unable to stop her sarcasm from boiling up.

“The better to see you with, my love,” Jen chimed in.

“What big ears you have!” Sally continued.

“The better to hear you with, my love,” Jen followed.

“What big teeth you have!” Sally mocked, her hands on either side of her face.

“The better to eat you with!” Jen cackled, but she wasn’t finished. True to Jen form, she added her own twisted sense of humor. “My, what a big—”

Sally slapped a hand over her mouth, quickly realizing where Jen was going. “Jen, shut it. Jacque, you don’t need to hear what she was going to say. Someone always takes it a little too far,” Sally told her, sounding everything but the part of June Cleaver.

“Ok, moving on from our weird impromptu skit,” said Jacque. “I get it, you want to dress me up all pretty for this ceremony and I can either play along or you two will make the entire day hell for me. That’s what the red dress is about, isn’t it?”

“You’re smarter than you look, Sherlock,” Jen said as she stood up. “We will give you your real dress if you promise to play nice. Otherwise, you’re going to be Little Red washed out Riding Hood, cuz that red does nothing for your skin.”

“Gee, thanks for that keen observation, Watson. Fine, you win, bring out the big guns.”

Jen stepped out of the room and was back before Jacque could ask where she was going. The blonde came back bearing a garment concealed in a zippered clothing protector. As Jen hung it on the back of Jacque’s bedroom door, effectively covering the dress that would have made her the living version of a sick fairy tale, Sally began to unzip the bag while humming the bridal march song.

“Cute, Sally, real cute,” Jacque said.

“Watch it, Red. I’d hate to have to incorporate more of the famous fairy tale into your ceremony, but I’ll do it if you force my hand,” Sally threatened as she pulled the dress from the hanging bag.

Jacque’s breath caught at the sight of the garment, so simple, yet elegant. Begrudgingly, she had to admit she was impressed with her friends' taste. The dress was primarily white, with a double flare skirt that ended just above the knees. The waist sported a green sash sewn into the dress and the green flared out into the skirt amongst floral accents. To finish...