How can wolf shifter Erik Masters form a relationship with his mate, Clark Perry, when Clark’s trust issues are even more deeply rooted than Erik’s?
Wolf shifter Erik Masters has had a lot of sleepless nights since he visited the illegal compound in New Mexico that houses scores of newly made wolves. The atrocities he witnessed on site have been weighing heavily on his mind. When he learns that another convoy of these shifters will shortly be arriving at the sanctuary, his anger and sense of hopelessness increases. Worse still is the news of a recent discovery?some of the shifters have come from a different compound, but its location is as yet unknown.
When special ops leader Jace Bryson commands Erik to befriend one of the new shifters so that they may discover the new compound’s whereabouts, Erik’s reaction is one of disbelief. Horrific events in his past have left him feeling bitter and jaded. He doesn’t trust strangers and is far more at ease in his own company. When he discovers that Clark, the shifter he’s been assigned to, is his mate, Erik’s problems have only just begun. Clark Perry is far from an average shifter, made or otherwise. It appears his trust issues are more deeply rooted than Erik’s and Clark might just have an agenda of his own.
Reader Advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
General Release Date: 25th April 2014
Erik leant back against the wall and closed his eyes, wishing, not for the first time, that he could scrub his brain clean from the images that had haunted him since they’d found the compound in New Mexico. He’d had to fight with his gag reflex when he’d entered most of the rooms. The conditions of some of the ‘subjects’ were too terrible to want to remember. If he hadn’t seen it all with his own eyes he never would have believed it. Even though he’d had firsthand experience of how shitty people could be, that place had surprised the hell out of him. He lit a cigarette then took a long drag, sucking the smoke deep into his lungs before blowing it out around a sigh.
Three weeks had passed since he’d arrived home from New Mexico, but he still couldn’t sleep worth a damn. And on the odd occasion that he had managed to fall asleep, images of twisted bodies and eyes without even the smallest spark of hope had plagued his dreams, turning them into the worst kind of nightmares. He could still hear the screaming, the crying and the desperate pleas from men who wanted to be put out of their misery. It had hurt his heart to listen to them and stirred up too many terrible memories from his own miserable past which he’d fought hard to bury.
“Hey Erik!”
When he opened his eyes, Erik saw Danny loping towards him, a big, cheesy-ass grin lighting up his face. The kid was way too happy. Erik couldn’t deal with his enthusiasm at the best of times, but he especially didn’t want to deal with it after yet another sleepless night. Why couldn’t everyone get the message and leave him the hell alone? He took another drag of his cigarette and met Danny’s bright, innocent gaze.
“What’s up, kid?”
“Have you heard the news?” Danny was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. The excitement which seeped out of his pores hung heavily in the air between them, making Erik feel claustrophobic. He took another drag, hoping the smoke would block out the strong aroma. It didn’t.
“Depends on the news.”
Danny’s grin widened and his excitement intensified. “I just talked to Jace and he said we’re getting more shifters in this afternoon. Six of them.”
“Where are they coming in from?” Erik pushed away from the wall and furrowed his brow. It was the first he’d heard of it.
“New Mexico. They’re all changed wolves. Isn’t it exciting?”
Straightening his shoulders, Erik tossed the cigarette and crushed it under his boot. “No. It’s a fucking travesty is what it is.”
When Danny shrank back, all but cowering from him, Erik sighed and ran a hand through his thick, brown hair.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have snapped at you. But you need to understand that these made wolves are not a good thing. If you saw some of the shit that was done to them in the compound…” Erik couldn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t want to think about the things he’d seen. If he didn’t talk about them he could convince himself they weren’t true—almost.
“No, I’m sorry.” Danny hung his head. “I didn’t think. I just meant it’s a good thing we’re getting some new people come to live here is all. I was hoping I’d make some new friends.”
Erik let go of the last of his anger. Everyone knew he had a short fuse, but his temper had become worse after the time he’d spent at the compound―far worse. He wanted to find the fuckers responsible for creating the changed wolves and rip out their goddamn throats. Besides, it was impossible to stay mad at Danny. The kid didn’t have a bad bone in his body. He was young and naive, but harmless.
“Sure kid and I don’t suppose you were thinking that one of them might be your mate now, were you?”
When Danny’s face filled with colour, Erik couldn’t contain the roll of his eyes. “I thought as much. You know you shouldn’t be so impatient. Some wolves never meet their mate.”
Danny’s eyes widened and the acrid stench of fear reached Erik’s nose. Aw crap. Why the hell had he gone and said that? He was forever putting his foot in his mouth. “Uh yeah, I mean, I’m not saying that’s going to happen to you, but it’s better to be prepared for the eventuality, right?”
Well, that didn’t help. Danny’s scent changed from fear to sorrow. Shit. What was the kid doing talking to him for anyway? Most people just stayed away from him, but the kid was a persistent SOB.
“I suppose,” Danny mumbled. “I’ve got to get to class. I guess I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah, later kid.” Erik watched Danny make his way towards the main buildings and lit another cigarette. Christ, he couldn’t deal with this crap today. He felt like a caged animal. He was about to do another couple of circuits of the yard when he heard someone calling his name.
“Erik.” When he looked up, Jace, the special ops leader, was striding purposefully in his direction. “I need a favour.”
“What’s it worth?” Erik tried to hide his grin. Jace was the closest thing he had to a friend and they got off on yanking each other’s chains. Okay so Erik did most of the yanking, Jace just put up with it. But he never seemed to mind the banter and most days he gave as good as he got.
A devious grin spread across Jace’s lips. “How ‘bout I let you win next time we play poker?”
Erik snorted. “I always win.”
“Yeah, because I always let you.”
The wicked glint in Jace’s eyes made Erik grin openly. “You wish. You can’t stand that I’m the better player. Go on then, say your piece. What have you come to annoy me about this time?”
When all trace of humour left Jace’s face, Erik knew he wasn’t going to like what he was about to hear. “We’ve got some new wolves coming in today.”
Erik pulled in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Yeah, I just heard from Danny. They from the compound in New Mexico?”
Jace nodded in reply.
“How come they weren’t there when we found the others?”
Lavinia discovered reading at an early age and could always be found with her nose in a book. She loved getting lost in a fantasy world even then. When her parents bought her a typewriter for Christmas at aged eleven, her fate was sealed. She spent hours dreaming up characters and creating stories. Not a lot has changed. Now when she is not writing you can find her enjoying a new release e-book.
Lavinia has lived all over the UK but currently resides in London, England. She has travelled extensively to places including Africa, Asia, Australia, America and most of Europe. Although some of her books are set in Texas she has never visited the state but plans to spend time there in the near future.
She is an avid reader and her favourite authors include J L Langley, Carol Lynne, Chris Owen and Andrew Grey. Lavinia particularly loves supernatural fiction and her favourite authors in this genre include Kelly Armstrong, Keri Arthur and Charlaine Harris.
Although Lavinia is a huge fan of the romance genre, she will admit to reading anything and everything. She loves horror, a good thriller and if a book has the capacity to make her cry, well, all the better. One thing she does insist on in a book however, regardless of genre is a happy ending, so you will always find one in the books she writes.