Forbidden Love Complete Series

Chapter 1

The night’s chilly air would’ve made a human shiver, but the breeze didn’t bother Misti Wolventon any. Shoulders back, head high, she hurried down the streets, past the edge of town to her father’s manor.

The door opened before she could knock. Gerald, her father’s second, stood in the doorway, barring her entry. “What is the matter?” she demanded.

“There’s been another attack.”

She sucked in a breath and gnashed her teeth. “How many wounded?”

Gerald crossed his arms. Even in human form, he was a hairy beast of a man. “Two. One on each side.”

“Any killed?”

“No, at least, small favor that that is. Your father is tending to the wounded now. You should go see him.”

“I will. Soon. I need…”

He nodded. “I will tell him to expect you, should he return before you do.”

“Thank you.”

Without waiting for a reply, Misti pivoted on her heel and darted away, slinking into the shadows. The moon rose high above her, playing peekaboo with the clouds, bathing the world with its silvery light or banishing it into complete darkness. She did not head back into town, although she was sorely tempted to. The man who had bought her a few drinks at the bar while she tried to talk to her best friend in between Julie pouring everyone their orders had been rather good looking although he stank of body odor and had been a tad more touchy-feely than Misti cared for.

Instead, she opted toward the forest behind her father’s estate. It would take far too long for her to traverse it to the mountain beyond, the only place she and her pack dared to shift to take on their other form, that of wolves.

But they weren’t the only wolves in town. And this had not been the first fight between them. And it won’t be the last.

Misti clenched and unclenched her fists as she hurried along. She never bothered to follow the paths humans used. No, she always forged her own way. Life was too short for shortcuts.

Soon, she found a slight clearing and a tree stump. It made for a decent enough chair, and she sat on it. Red Nightwalkers, her pack, had lived here in Arizona for centuries. Their bitter foes, the Shadowed Stars, had lived here for just as long.

At the source of their conflict were love, lust, and betrayal.

Blood filled her mouth. Unintentionally, she had shifted her teeth to fangs. She forced them back, stood, and resumed her trek. She hadn’t gotten far when a twig snapped behind her.

Misti jerked around and dashed behind a tree. The moon, unforgiving bitch that she was, chose to hide away at that moment. It made no difference. Misti altered her eyes to her wolf’s and looked around. Still, she saw no one, and she smelled no trace of another’s presence either.

I’m frightened of my own shadow.

The thought displeased her so much she contemplated going to the mountain anyhow. To run free and wild on all four legs would help to expand this fury and thirst for vengeance growing within her. She could hunt anything, an animal or a Shadowed Star, and be much happier for it.

But her father would be so upset with her he just might make good on his threat to name her cousin Xavier his heir instead of her. Jed did have a way with the pack, she hated to admit, but it was hers to rule by the nature of her birth. She would one day rule the Red Nightwalkers.

And she would one day slaughter all of the Shadowed Stars.

But if there had been a battle already this night, it meant the Shadowed Stars were lurking about. Another could be lingering nearby or else they could be crawling all over the mountain. She would find no safe haven there. It prickled her skin that she couldn’t release her inner wolf, but she would not allow her emotions to sway her into making a careless mistake.

Father would not wish for her to see to the wounded. He had made that quite clear after the last battle, only two nights previous. It’s as if he thinks I am still a pup who needs to be coddled.

Some of her anger was geared toward him, so yes, it was best she did not return just yet. No mountain, there didn’t seem to be much game here in the forest at that moment, so Misti opted to return to the bar anyhow.

Smoke and the stench of too many unwashed bodies, greasy food, and alcohol washed over her as she entered. She waved to Julie, but her friend was too busy cracking open beer bottles to notice.

All of the stools at the bar were occupied. For the moment, Misti stood there, near the doorway, scoping out the place. The reek of humans choked her, but she pushed forward, heading toward the only unoccupied table in the entire place.

Before she could reach the chair, a man claimed it.

“Excuse me.”

He grabbed a menu from behind the napkin holder and opened it.

“Excuse me,” she said louder. She tapped the man on the shoulder. “I was going to sit there.”

“I beg your pardon.” He stood.

Good. That was more like it. Misti sat down but stood again when the man brought a chair over and sat across from her.

“I don’t think so.” She crossed her arms.

He stared at her arms before lifting his gaze to her face. His shirt could not be tighter, the sleeve torn off. If they hadn’t been removed, he might not have been able to get his guns through the holes. His biceps were that large even when unflexed. “Don’t think what? That we can share a table? Why not? There’s not another free seat in the place.”

“I want to be alone right now,” she growled.

“Fine. Then we don’t have to talk.” The man opened the menu again and focused on that.

Good. Misti didn’t want to deal with anyone right now.

A waitress approached. “What can I get you two?”

“Oh, we’re not together,” Misti said.

“I’ll have whatever’s on special and your wings. The hottest sauce you got.”

Wow, what a guy. Misti rolled her eyes.

“And for you?” the waitress prompted.

“I’ll have whatever the bartender wants to whip up for me.”

“Anything else?”

Actually, she was hungry, and she did love wings. “Wings too,” she said almost bitterly.

The guy grinned at her as he put the menu back.

“What kind of sauce? We have?—”

“Five alarm.”

“You got it. I’ll be back quick as I can.” She hurried away to take another table’s order.

“Like things hot, do you?” The guy leaned across the table.

“Not talking to you.”

“Why not?”

She drummed her nails on the table. If only someone, anyone left the bar. She could swoop on in and claim the stool and be away from this guy.

“I don’t see a ring.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m available.”

“Not even to talk? Come on. I bet you can tell a good story.”

Oh, she could. She could feed the guy stories all night long until he had nightmares for the rest of his life. The life of a werewolf wasn’t kind. Especially not when you had a rival pack in your backyard.

He cleared his throat. “You look like you need someone to talk to.”

His sudden change in tone—from flirting to seriousness—had her looking at him. His eyes were so dark she could fall into them and never return. He tapped a long finger onto his cheek, drawing attention to his high cheekbones and sharp jawline. The guy could be a model.

“I have nothing to say.”

“Sometimes talking about anything, even something trivial, is enough.”

She considered that. There was so much she couldn’t talk about, what harm could come from a meaningless conversation?

Misti nodded. “Fine. What do you want to talk about?”

“Anything.”

Their waitress brought over a beer for him and a tall, dark glass for Misti. She glanced over at Julie, who threw her a grin and a wink. Uh oh. I hope one’s not enough to knock me onto my ass. Julie could make some wicked drinks.

The first swallow went down smooth, warming every part of her. It didn’t taste strongly of alcohol, but that was where Julie excelled.

“I have yet to meet a guy in a bar that was actually decent,” she finally said to break the silence.

He laughed. “That’s because none of those guys were me.”

“Oh, really? And what makes you so special?”

“I actually listen.”

If that were true, that would make him different. Misti’s father never listened to her. Most of the other male werewolves didn’t either. The females she had no problem rallying to her cause, but the males always thought they knew better, that she couldn’t say or offer anything that might help.

“You actually listen, huh?” she asked.

“I do. And I think I know your story.”

Misti had been about to take another sip. Instead, she took a deep gulp. Just who was this guy, and why did she suddenly feel afraid to be sitting across from him despite being in a public setting?