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Bitten: N.I.T.E, Book 1
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Xander Cole isn’t looking forward to returning to his birth pack, even if it’s only for a few days. When human women start disappearing near the small town of Broken Ridge, however, the Justice Council wants answers. As part of an elite group of paranormal soldiers known at N.I.T.E, it’s Xander’s job to get them.
Sasha Pierson set out in search of a new life but getting kidnapped by monsters and forced into a fight to the death isn’t exactly what she had in mind. Mating a werewolf wasn’t supposed to happen, either, but she can’t deny the instant attraction that burns between her and Xander. They’re destined to be together, but when a rogue pack wants them both dead, is fate enough to ensure their happily-ever-after? Warning: This is an insta-love story featuring a dangerously sexy alpha hero, his fated mate, and enough heat to set your e-reader on fire. If that’s not your jam, this probably isn’t the book for you. |
Excerpt
“You’re free to go whenever you want, son,” he continued, stretching one arm out in the direction of the open field beyond the bonfire. “I can’t let you take the girl, though. She’s pack property.” His grin grew a little wider, more predatory. “You understand.”
“She’s coming with me, Father,” Xander growled, tightening his arms to hold her more securely against his chest.
“You have no claim on her,” the other man insisted. “This doesn’t have to be a big deal.”
It sounded like a pretty big damn deal to Sasha. Considering Xander’s tense posture, and the mostly inhuman sounds pouring from his lips, she didn’t doubt that he’d do whatever it took to protect her. Even if he had to fight every person that stood between them and escape to do it.
She just didn’t think she could let him. Whatever invisible bond was growing between them had taken all the fear and desperation she felt for herself and shifted its focus to her new hero. It didn’t matter that she knew nothing about him except his name, not when every cell of her being was screaming for her to do whatever it took to keep him safe. Keep him alive.
If that meant participating in some barbaric gladiator competition to the death, then so be it.
“It’s okay,” she whispered, laying her hand against the side of his neck.
“Quiet, sweetheart.” Lowering her to the ground, Xander helped her stand upright, then curled his arm around her waist to urge her behind him. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, either.” Twisting her fingers into the back of his sodden shirt, she held on tightly as if that little bit of contact would stop him. “That’s your dad?”
Xander snorted. “Not by choice.”
“It doesn’t have to end this way,” the elder Cole called, stopping several feet away from them. “Give me the girl, and we can all walk away.”
Xander lunged forward, dragging her with him as he snarled viciously. “She’s mine!”
The vehement declaration should have at least given her pause, but the very idea of belonging to him filled Sasha with a deep, intense ache that robbed her of breath.
His.
Yes. She wanted that. She wanted to be his, and not just for the night. Not just until they reached safety.
Standing taller, she straightened her spine, drawing strength from the undeniable certainty that flowed through her. A slow, resolute smile stretched across her lips, and her heart swelled with a profound joy that had no place in her current situation.
She couldn’t make sense of it. There were no words to describe it. Probably, she was going to need a lot of therapy if she made it out of this alive. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she and Xander had been meant to find each other.
Xander’s father arched a dark eyebrow in challenge. “You don’t expect me to believe you’d take a human as a mate just to defy me. Even you aren’t that stupid, boy.”
Human. Mate. Alpha. Pack.
In the reality she lived in, those terms only existed in movies and books. At the same time, it explained so much—the glowing eyes, the fangs, the claws. No one would believe her. Hell, she barely believed it herself, and she was witnessing it with her own eyes.
Xander tensed, reaching back to grab her hip in a bruising hold. “Whatever happens,” he said low enough for only her to hear him, “don’t leave my side.”
“Xander…” Sasha trailed off and sighed. What could she say? She had no choice but to trust him. “I promise.”
“She’s coming with me, Father,” Xander growled, tightening his arms to hold her more securely against his chest.
“You have no claim on her,” the other man insisted. “This doesn’t have to be a big deal.”
It sounded like a pretty big damn deal to Sasha. Considering Xander’s tense posture, and the mostly inhuman sounds pouring from his lips, she didn’t doubt that he’d do whatever it took to protect her. Even if he had to fight every person that stood between them and escape to do it.
She just didn’t think she could let him. Whatever invisible bond was growing between them had taken all the fear and desperation she felt for herself and shifted its focus to her new hero. It didn’t matter that she knew nothing about him except his name, not when every cell of her being was screaming for her to do whatever it took to keep him safe. Keep him alive.
If that meant participating in some barbaric gladiator competition to the death, then so be it.
“It’s okay,” she whispered, laying her hand against the side of his neck.
“Quiet, sweetheart.” Lowering her to the ground, Xander helped her stand upright, then curled his arm around her waist to urge her behind him. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, either.” Twisting her fingers into the back of his sodden shirt, she held on tightly as if that little bit of contact would stop him. “That’s your dad?”
Xander snorted. “Not by choice.”
“It doesn’t have to end this way,” the elder Cole called, stopping several feet away from them. “Give me the girl, and we can all walk away.”
Xander lunged forward, dragging her with him as he snarled viciously. “She’s mine!”
The vehement declaration should have at least given her pause, but the very idea of belonging to him filled Sasha with a deep, intense ache that robbed her of breath.
His.
Yes. She wanted that. She wanted to be his, and not just for the night. Not just until they reached safety.
Standing taller, she straightened her spine, drawing strength from the undeniable certainty that flowed through her. A slow, resolute smile stretched across her lips, and her heart swelled with a profound joy that had no place in her current situation.
She couldn’t make sense of it. There were no words to describe it. Probably, she was going to need a lot of therapy if she made it out of this alive. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she and Xander had been meant to find each other.
Xander’s father arched a dark eyebrow in challenge. “You don’t expect me to believe you’d take a human as a mate just to defy me. Even you aren’t that stupid, boy.”
Human. Mate. Alpha. Pack.
In the reality she lived in, those terms only existed in movies and books. At the same time, it explained so much—the glowing eyes, the fangs, the claws. No one would believe her. Hell, she barely believed it herself, and she was witnessing it with her own eyes.
Xander tensed, reaching back to grab her hip in a bruising hold. “Whatever happens,” he said low enough for only her to hear him, “don’t leave my side.”
“Xander…” Sasha trailed off and sighed. What could she say? She had no choice but to trust him. “I promise.”