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Animal Magnetism
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Currently available for FREE to mailing list subscribers
Their union will join two rival packs in a new era of peace. But Ewan doesn’t give a damn about the politics. He just wants Delia for himself. She’s held his heart since he first laid eyes on her, and now he’s one night away from finally making her his. For Delia, the ceremonial run through the forest with the whole pack watching is less romantic. Sure, Ewan is a powerful, seductive force of nature, but he’s also frightening. His big, brawny body and reputation as a fighter make him seem wild, untamed in a way that terrifies her—and turns her on. Sexual attraction is one thing, but she needs more…she needs everything he has to give. ANIMAL MAGNETISM is a bbw werewolf romance written especially for mailing list subscribers. It’s the beginning of a new, exclusive series where werewolf politics are complicated, danger resides around every corner, and alpha males meet their matches. Click here to receive your free copy. |
Excerpt
Chapter One
They came on four feet, running as a pack over miles of forest until they reached Winterhail territory. Ewan led the procession, trying to savor his last run as a Sloane River wolf. Once he married Delia Rios, he’d officially become a Winterhail and leave behind everything and everyone he knew.
Technically, this marriage was nothing more than an alliance between two rival packs—a union designed to smooth over old hurts and ensure another decade or so of peace. The Winterhails would gain access to the river and get a new male packmate—something much needed, given the ratio of men to women in their territory—and the Sloane River wolves would gain acres of prime land for hunting. Marcus, the Sloane River alpha, would also be rid of Ewan, his biggest rival.
But none of that truly mattered. He’d happily give up everything for Delia. He thought only of her—her long dark hair, the curve of her hips and the roundness of her thighs…
The way she glowed with an inner radiance, as if the moonlight itself filled her from the inside out. He’d known from the first time they met, twenty years ago in Mrs. Fiskel’s kindergarten class, that Delia was the girl for him. The other children had been frightened of him because of his size—he’d towered over his peers. He hadn’t known how to act around humans, and they mostly avoided him.
Delia, though, she’d been different. Every day, she’d said hello, and though he’d never known how to reply, she’d always smiled with a sweetness that made him feel special, made him feel whole.
He’d loved her since, without reason or ceasing.
He gripped tight to his hope that she loved him too, or that she’d grow to. Whatever it took, and however long, he’d do his best to make that happen.
***
Delia wrapped her arms around her middle and stood as still as possible, wishing she were invisible. Every instinct she had urged her to pace around the clearing, to rid herself of pent-up energy and soothe her jagged nerves. But the entire pack waited with her, watching her, wondering if she’d crack.
This night was too important to screw up. The wolves in the Winterhail territory needed her to be strong. Bigger, more vicious packs surrounded them on all sides, making each trip off their territory dangerous. Access to the river would allow them to travel and ensure their survival. This marriage would ensure that access. Since they’d given her and her brother shelter at great cost to themselves, she owed the Winterhails that much.
“Just breathe. It will all be okay.” Talisa Winterhail placed her hands on Delia’s shoulders.
Instead of a comfort, her adoptive mother’s hands felt heavy, a reminder to Delia that her future no longer belonged to her. It belonged to the man who, any minute now, would lead the Sloane River pack through the forest and claim her.
She shivered. The January night sparkled with a sheen of frost, but it wasn’t the weather sending chills up and down her spine. Ewan O’Bryan, even in his human form, seemed more beast than man. His big, brawny body screamed of power and dominance. He rarely spoke, and when he did, his gruff voice always held a wolf’s growl.
Not that they’d spoken in years. In high school, she’d thought maybe he liked her—“like” liked her. Sometimes she’d caught him watching her with his black-brown eyes, and he’d always stepped in when the other kids picked on her, his big size intimidating her most persistent tormenters into silence.
After graduation, though, she’d gone to college and lost track of Ewan. The man he’d become in those years…she barely recognized him at all. If he’d been scary as a teenager, as an adult, he was downright terrifying. It was as if darkness had grabbed hold of him and wouldn’t let go. And after tonight, that darkness would own her, body and soul.
Beside Delia, her brother shifted from one foot to the other and let out a string of expletives. Anger rolled off him in waves.
“Samuel,” Talisa said, the warning in her tone clear as she glared at him. “Enough.”
“The bastard’s late,” Sam said. “This is bullshit. Are you really going to let this happen?” He glared back at Talisa. Sam had opposed the marriage to Ewan, had petitioned their alpha to nix the deal, but Deacon wouldn’t grant him an audience, let alone reconsider. “My sister is not a possession to be traded or bargained for.”
“It’s already done,” she said. “I couldn’t stop it if I wanted to.”
“If you wanted to? If? You want Delia to marry that monster? He’s a sociopath, for god sake.”
And they were off, flinging barbs at each other, and at Ewan, without bothering to ask her what she thought. How she felt.
She stayed quiet. It didn’t matter anyway. By human law, she and Ewan were already husband and wife. They’d married in a small ceremony at city hall three weeks earlier, with both their alphas as witnesses. Tonight, the real ceremony, the pack bonding, would take place under the full moon. Like Talisa had said, it was too late to call things off. But did Delia want to?
Ewan terrified her, true. He also triggered something deep within her, a feeling, a desire she couldn’t explain. Something so primal and hungry, she couldn’t bear to think about it for long before backing away.
They came on four feet, running as a pack over miles of forest until they reached Winterhail territory. Ewan led the procession, trying to savor his last run as a Sloane River wolf. Once he married Delia Rios, he’d officially become a Winterhail and leave behind everything and everyone he knew.
Technically, this marriage was nothing more than an alliance between two rival packs—a union designed to smooth over old hurts and ensure another decade or so of peace. The Winterhails would gain access to the river and get a new male packmate—something much needed, given the ratio of men to women in their territory—and the Sloane River wolves would gain acres of prime land for hunting. Marcus, the Sloane River alpha, would also be rid of Ewan, his biggest rival.
But none of that truly mattered. He’d happily give up everything for Delia. He thought only of her—her long dark hair, the curve of her hips and the roundness of her thighs…
The way she glowed with an inner radiance, as if the moonlight itself filled her from the inside out. He’d known from the first time they met, twenty years ago in Mrs. Fiskel’s kindergarten class, that Delia was the girl for him. The other children had been frightened of him because of his size—he’d towered over his peers. He hadn’t known how to act around humans, and they mostly avoided him.
Delia, though, she’d been different. Every day, she’d said hello, and though he’d never known how to reply, she’d always smiled with a sweetness that made him feel special, made him feel whole.
He’d loved her since, without reason or ceasing.
He gripped tight to his hope that she loved him too, or that she’d grow to. Whatever it took, and however long, he’d do his best to make that happen.
***
Delia wrapped her arms around her middle and stood as still as possible, wishing she were invisible. Every instinct she had urged her to pace around the clearing, to rid herself of pent-up energy and soothe her jagged nerves. But the entire pack waited with her, watching her, wondering if she’d crack.
This night was too important to screw up. The wolves in the Winterhail territory needed her to be strong. Bigger, more vicious packs surrounded them on all sides, making each trip off their territory dangerous. Access to the river would allow them to travel and ensure their survival. This marriage would ensure that access. Since they’d given her and her brother shelter at great cost to themselves, she owed the Winterhails that much.
“Just breathe. It will all be okay.” Talisa Winterhail placed her hands on Delia’s shoulders.
Instead of a comfort, her adoptive mother’s hands felt heavy, a reminder to Delia that her future no longer belonged to her. It belonged to the man who, any minute now, would lead the Sloane River pack through the forest and claim her.
She shivered. The January night sparkled with a sheen of frost, but it wasn’t the weather sending chills up and down her spine. Ewan O’Bryan, even in his human form, seemed more beast than man. His big, brawny body screamed of power and dominance. He rarely spoke, and when he did, his gruff voice always held a wolf’s growl.
Not that they’d spoken in years. In high school, she’d thought maybe he liked her—“like” liked her. Sometimes she’d caught him watching her with his black-brown eyes, and he’d always stepped in when the other kids picked on her, his big size intimidating her most persistent tormenters into silence.
After graduation, though, she’d gone to college and lost track of Ewan. The man he’d become in those years…she barely recognized him at all. If he’d been scary as a teenager, as an adult, he was downright terrifying. It was as if darkness had grabbed hold of him and wouldn’t let go. And after tonight, that darkness would own her, body and soul.
Beside Delia, her brother shifted from one foot to the other and let out a string of expletives. Anger rolled off him in waves.
“Samuel,” Talisa said, the warning in her tone clear as she glared at him. “Enough.”
“The bastard’s late,” Sam said. “This is bullshit. Are you really going to let this happen?” He glared back at Talisa. Sam had opposed the marriage to Ewan, had petitioned their alpha to nix the deal, but Deacon wouldn’t grant him an audience, let alone reconsider. “My sister is not a possession to be traded or bargained for.”
“It’s already done,” she said. “I couldn’t stop it if I wanted to.”
“If you wanted to? If? You want Delia to marry that monster? He’s a sociopath, for god sake.”
And they were off, flinging barbs at each other, and at Ewan, without bothering to ask her what she thought. How she felt.
She stayed quiet. It didn’t matter anyway. By human law, she and Ewan were already husband and wife. They’d married in a small ceremony at city hall three weeks earlier, with both their alphas as witnesses. Tonight, the real ceremony, the pack bonding, would take place under the full moon. Like Talisa had said, it was too late to call things off. But did Delia want to?
Ewan terrified her, true. He also triggered something deep within her, a feeling, a desire she couldn’t explain. Something so primal and hungry, she couldn’t bear to think about it for long before backing away.