Kennedy An Everlasting Bite

1. Auflage 2018
ISBN: 978-1-988992-02-0
Verlag: Stacey Kennedy
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 200 Seiten

Love is born between strangers, yet built upon a bond soul deep-one Alpha's vow to protect his mate from looming danger, all the while, mending her soul and stirring her wolfish desires.
Rynn Murphy thought she knew what she wanted until a vicious attack leaves her bitten...and changed. But she doesn't have to face this transformation alone-she has her mate by her side. And the charming Briggs is eager to ease her into this new life and mend her battered soul.
With only weeks to adjust to her new fur, Rynn begins to understand what it truly means to be mated to the Beta of the wolves when they're forced to hunt for an enemy who has abducted an innocent. 
But this mission is not without danger. And soon, they discover the ones who have taken this young wolf do not want her found and will stop at nothing to keep her hidden. Rynn and Briggs will have to lean on each other as they hunt and learn that the bite was only the beginning.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kennedy, Stacey

Leseproben

Chapter One
The damp ground parted under Rynn’s sharp claws and the wind breezed steadily across her fur. Sounds of the world came sharp through alert ears. Quiet noises hidden to human ears sounded crystal-clear with these new senses of hers—brushes of air against the trees, bugs crawling along the earth, even a deer nibbling on grass a mile away. She scanned her surroundings, her acute vision taking in everything around her. The sharp colors, shapes, everything was just so powerful as a wolf. It made everything brighter—more vivid. Her four legs trembled as the force of magic swept through her in pure need to find her human form. She reminded herself of her small framed curvy body, long brown hair, deep silver eyes, and cheeks she always thought were a little too chubby. This was the most difficult part about being a werewolf and the control over the wolf within her was a struggle. Of course, it would be since she’d been thrust into this life only a few days ago. She shouldn’t be so hard on herself. Still, it came with frustration that the shift came as a challenge. It didn’t help much that Rynn’s focus was off—still reeling from a conversation she had only an hour ago with new friends, Nexi and Kyden. To the supernatural world, they were Guardians. Well, Nexi was part Witch too. They’re also part of the Council’s Guard—the leaders of the Otherworld. As Guardians, they policed the supernatural races that live within the Earthworld. The memory of the shocking conversation replayed in her mind. Nothing about Nexi was normal. Sure, her to-die-for body, dirty blonde locks, country home girl features were all the same, but it was her hazel eyes that sank Rynn’s heart. The spunkiness that lived within them was gone—darkness and despair was all to be seen. Something wasn’t right. “Nexi?” Rynn questioned, as she examined her further. What was going on here? This wasn’t how she remembered Nexi. The Nexi she met was full of zest, happiness, and extremely strong in confidence, not the anguished woman before her. Sure, she didn’t know her all that well—they’d only met a few nights ago after the brutal attack in her hometown of Plymouth, Minnesota, that now allowed her to stand on all fours. After she first experienced herself in fluffy form, she was too frightened to shift back to her human form, too terrified to accept that this was now her life. Then came Nexi who shared her story, which in turn, showed they had very similar paths. Both were normal young women who came from rural cities in the United States who had awakened to the world of the supernatural. The connection with Nexi was instant. The bond of friendship allowed the fear to settle in Rynn and kept her to calm enough for the magic to release her back to human form, which was an entirely desperate situation. If she hadn’t been able to shift back, the wolf within her would have taken over, which would have caused her to go mad. Crazed by the animal inside her that would need to seek out blood and kill. If that happened, Valor would have to destroy her. Needless to say, Nexi was a Godsend. Rynn was happy to note that Valor had no intention of harming her. As the Patriarch, ruler over the Alphas of the United States it would have fallen on him to take care of her. He fit the part of Alpha too. He was big and powerful with strong shoulders, thick dark hair and dark eyes that demanded you kneel at his feet. Rynn often wondered if that was the power he held over her as a wolf, or if that was just his thing. She still hadn’t figured it out. Rynn knew enough about Nexi to know something was off. She searched deeper into Nexi’s eyes for any sign of the woman she had met. Finding none, she glanced at Briggs, bewildered. “Something is terribly wrong. What’s happened?” Kyden cleared his throat, drawing Rynn’s gaze to his. Kyden was always serious but calm. He wore his warrior look well. It wasn’t just his sculpted body and strong cut features—it was his aura. Tonight however, he seemed weakened—distraught. “It has become known that Nexi is the destined to Magnus.” Briggs interjected before Rynn could comprehend Valor’s words, his brows raised in surprise. “Magnus, as in The Lord of the Underworld?” Kyden gave a firm nod, his jaw clenched tight. Rynn didn’t understand any of this. “But I thought…” she hesitated, remembering the past few days. The last she heard, Nexi had accepted Kyden as her mate. They were to be bonded soon—a marriage of non-supernaturals. She cleared her mind and asked, “Aren’t you being bonded soon?” Kyden nodded again. “Indeed we are.” Rynn glanced at Briggs who looked desolate. “What does that mean?” She couldn’t comprehend any of this. Nothing made sense. “Destined bonds overrule the bonds of the heart,” Briggs replied, his eyes sad. That was all that needed to be said for Rynn to understand. Nexi’s time with Kyden would soon to be over. She could see the heartbreak in every pair of eyes around her. No matter how much Nexi loved Kyden, wanted him, her soul wouldn’t allow it. Rynn wanted to know more, but it wasn’t her place to interrogate them. A sense of dread filled her as something else bothered her. Rynn glanced at Briggs, needing clarification. “There is an Underworld? Like demons and scary things like that?” Briggs nodded hesitantly. She suspected he never told her because she was just coming around to the idea of there being an Otherworld. Home to Werewolves, Vampires, Guardians and Witches. Even though, the only ones allowed to live there worked for the Council directly, all others, including the werewolves, lived in the Earthworld. The Otherworld was nothing to be afraid of and she’d seen for herself that what existed there was good. But she knew enough to know anything that lived within the Underworld couldn’t be good. Even if she didn’t know for sure, the horrified expressions around her would have told her as much. Still, she couldn’t wrap her head around it all. She needed more answers. “And you are going to be mated to their leader?” As Nexi gave a soft nod, Rynn’s mystification turned into disparity. She had enough common sense to understand that this is about as bad as it gets. “We have to do something to help you.” Nexi had been nothing but kind to Rynn, she saved her life, and Rynn felt compelled to do the same. She glanced at Briggs. “What can we do to help her?” Briggs sighed, and the simple sound said it all. Nexi didn’t stand a chance at overcoming this. Rynn breathed deep, tears filled her eyes. Instead of comforting her, Briggs stepped toward Nexi, reached down and embraced her. He hugged tight and looked at Rynn, “Nothing I’m afraid, darlin’.” Just as his grip tightened, Nexi stiffened immensely and Kyden ripped Nexi from his arms, latched onto her. Kyden glanced over Nexi’s head. “She needs the connection.” “He can’t let me go,” Nexi whispered. Rynn’s stomach clenched in horror. It was already that lost. The full reality of the situation hit. Nexi was losing herself without Kyden’s contact. Her mind drifted from the love they shared. Rynn would have thought it strange, if she’d hadn’t felt it for herself. The mate bond was powerful. Her own connection with Briggs showed her that. She understood what was happening—it wouldn’t be long before Nexi’s heart belonged to another. After a moment of silence, Kyden said, “We have some news of the attack on Rynn.” Briggs gave Kyden a curious look. “The attack on Rynn?” Rynn was equally confused. She assumed the wolf had attacked her, bit her, then left her there when he was finished. She wasn’t expecting there to be more. Before she could ask, Nexi whispered, “It was the beginning.” “The beginning of what?” Rynn exclaimed. Kyden looked at Briggs. “A revolution in the Underworld.” “Against Magnus?” Briggs inquired. Kyden nodded. “You know of the Warlock, Pye?” “Aye,” Briggs replied, then looked at Rynn. “He’s a powerful Warlock who wants to rule the Underworld, but has never succeeded to gain control.” Kyden continued, “To dethrone Magnus, Pye needed to further his strength. His followers bewitched wolves to kill women of a pure nature.” Rynn blushed. It was true that the night of the attack, the man had stolen the one thing that would forever scar her soul. He stole her virginity—her purity. “So…” she said hesitantly, reminded of the horror of that night, and also trying to piece together this new information. “If they needed their virginity, why did they…” she paused again and gulped deeply. “Take it away.” “It was the process. By taking the woman’s virginity, they were draining the purity of the soul. It’s how they gained power from it.” Nexi replied. Rynn placed her hands on her heart, confused. “But I still have my soul.” She glanced at Briggs. “Don’t I?” Briggs wrapped his arm around her. “Of course you do, darlin’.” Then, he looked at Kyden. “Why did they go to such measures as to overtaking these wolves, and not just do it themselves?” Kyden embraced Nexi tighter, and she melted into him. “If the Witches were not killing...