Two hundred years ago, Angela Lavigne and Alpha werewolf Knox had a shared a passion neither could control. Then Angela was turned into a vampire and disappeared.
The last thing Knox expects is for Angela to show up on his doorstep centuries later on a rescue mission, as sexy and irresistible as ever. And he can sense how much she still wants him, too. Sheâs gone against both their speciesâ rules and trespassed on his land. By law he can keep her as long as he wantsâand Knox doesnât intend to let her go ever again.
As their desire explodes once again, Knox is more sure than ever that heâs must claim her forever. But as vampire and werewolf, they are natural born enemies. Can she truly be his destined mate?
Angela inhaled the various forest scents and tried to steady her breathing. She knew she was insane to sneak onto the land of the most powerful werewolf in the United States. But she had no choice.
Her best friend had been taken by these animals and she planned to get her back. She didnât care what her tribe leader, Titus, said. Sheâd been stuck living with his coven for the past fifty years and while she normally didnât mind his Draconian rules, sheâd gladly suffer the consequences to get Natalia back. If she was still alive. Who knew what those animals had done to her by now? Natalia had only been gone about a week but the animosity between vampires and werewolves went back thousands of years. It didnât matter that in a few months their two species would be signing a peace treaty. Right now nothing had been signed and her friend was fair game.
The icy wind whistled through the leaves of the giant red oak trees. Even though it was January, a lot of the foliage was still thick and would help block her scent.
She peered around the giant tree sheâd been using as cover. Her eyes narrowed when she spotted the outline of a huge male by another tree about forty yards away. Even though he was in human form, she knew he was a shifter. Of the wolf variety if she scented right.
Luck was on her side since she was downwind of him. Withdrawing her gun, she glanced around the rest of the forest but didnât see or smell anything else unusual. Since his back was to her, she darted twenty yards closer until she hid behind another large tree.
She wasnât sure if she could take on a trained, warrior wolf by herself so she knew she couldnât miss this first shot. Raising her weapon, she held her breath and aimed directly for the spot below his skull.
The small puff of noise the tranquilizer dart made as it shot through her suppresser was enough for him to notice.
He stiffened but it was too late.
By the time he turned toward her, the tranq was already embedded deep in his skin. The giant shifter stumbled once, twisted in her direction then narrowed his gaze at her before he fell face-first in the dirt and grass.
Her friend Mick had been right. Those sedatives did their job fast. Unfortunately it wouldnât last long on a shifter his size. She quickly secured his hands behind his back with silver bindings, took his weapons and his radio.
If others found out about her presence, sheâd know about it soon enough. She hooked the radio on her belt and tossed his guns and blades behind a nearby tree before continuing north. Sheâd been traveling on foot for miles so she knew it wouldnât be long until she reached her destination.
The sound of nearby male voices made her freeze in her tracks. Instead of trying to hide, she crouched down where she was. Until she figured out where the voices were coming from, she didnât want to make any sudden movements or risk anyone scenting her.
âIâve been trying to get King on his radio but he wonât pick up,â one of them said.
Another male chuckled. âHeâs probably getting a piece of tail⦠Hey, what theâ¦â
Crap. Theyâd spotted her. With her heightened night vision she could finally see the two outlines of male figures near a tree line. Judging by their stiff and alert posture, theyâd seen her, too. It didnât matter that she wore all dark camouflage, blended in with her surroundings and had a much lower heat signature than they did. All theyâd have to do was see something about her that didnât blend in with nature. Like her eyes. They likely looked like freaking Christmas lights to them.
She had two options. One was running. Even if she escaped it wouldnât matter. Her friend would still be captive.
Sheâd have to take the other optionâgo on the offensive.
Wordlessly she jumped from her position and sprinted at them. From what she could scent, there were only two of them and they hadnât made a move to notify anyone of her presence. Probably because they thought they could take her on their own. And maybe they could.
As she ran, they silently spread out to her right and left. Despite her keen awareness she couldnât read their expressions in the dark. Knowing sheâd only be able to bring one of them down at a time, she raised her gun and fired at the one on her right.