When The Fur Flies
When The Fur Flies
Kelliea Ashley
Breathless Press
Calgary, Alberta
www.breathlesspress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
When The Fur Flies
Copyright © 2013 Kelliea Ashley
ISBN: 978-1-77101-985-9
Cover Artist: Victoria Miller
Editor: Sally Mander
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations
embodied in reviews.
Breathless Press
www.breathlesspress.com
I was fortunate to find my soul mate in a man who didn’t run away when he found out I’m a creative writing bookworm who is addicted to chocolate, and gets too talkative when I drink red wine. He supports my writing and gave me a gentle shove when I would have given up. He is a good man with a true heart, and I count myself a very lucky woman. Thank you, Joshua. All my love, always.
Chapter One
The world was going to hell in a handbasket! At least that was the familiar phrase that came to mind as Allison Carver sat behind the filthy trash cans, watching the chaos unfold before her. The Vampires were on a rampage and they were facing off with the local Wolves. Apparently, the Vamps thought a Wolf took off with their favorite pet. They had no clue that the delicate-looking tabby cat huddled behind the garbage cans had snatched their little blonde toy right out from under their noses. A feeling of pride swelled deep in her chest to fill the gaping hole of loss she constantly carried with her. It was a small victory, but if she could get the two factions to break their Treaty, then perhaps they would wipe each other out and rid the world of both their evils. She could hope.
The Vamps stood twenty strong. Their Enforcers were carefully chosen and trained in all forms of fighting. They were strong, determined, and formidable foes in their black leather clothing. She knew that beneath the long black jackets were more sharp blades than she could ever hope to carry on her small body. She had never fought a vamp Enforcer, nor did she want to...
ever.
Her feline eyes focused in on the ten Wolves standing in their human forms on the other side of her. She knew the Alpha Wolven, Reginald Leclair. The Registry of Paranormal Species had him pegged at over a century old, yet he looked young and vital enough for thirty at the most. Jet-black hair curled over his ears and forehead in silky strands of temptation that framed a face perpetually shadowed with scruff on his firm jaws. Though she knew he shaved every morning, unlike the men of her Coven, who couldn’t grow a decent beard without using magical lotions. Reginald’s most attractive features were his deep blue eyes that flashed with a sapphire fire in their depths. A girl could get lost in those eyes. Her tail arced and waved as a shiver of longing traversed her entire body.
Damn, if only her attraction for him made any kind of sense. Dogs and cats were supposed to hate each other, for crying out loud! Witches were the enemy of the Wolves. She wasn’t supposed to want his filthy paws on her body, but she did. Taking a deep breath, she shook her head and concentrated on the tense discussion her two enemies were having.
Warren Montgomery stepped forward, his black overcoat swinging out from his hard body as he moved without making a sound. His spiked blond hair and angular features were attractive, but his narrowed brown eyes held a warning as he watched Reginald approach him.
“Leclair, you are on the wrong side of the tracks.” Montgomery’s silky voice broke the tense silence. He was an arrogant bastard, but nowhere near as confident as Reginald, who folded his arms over a broad chest. Her mouth dried as corded muscles rippled in the huge arms left bare by the black cotton T-shirt that clung to his hard body like a lover’s embrace. Damn, but she envied the hell out of that shirt!
Allison quietly slipped from the center of the smelly garbage cans to find a better angle to watch all the fun. Her body froze as the Alpha’s dark head moved in her direction. It was a brief look, but one that had her heart beating faster than a drum solo. Her small body trembled as she sank down on her belly to watch the confrontation. All she needed was for the sexy Wolf to come take a bite out of her. Oh...but what a way to go.
“As I recall this is the cusp of the full moon, which means you and your faction are supposed to be fasting, Montgomery.” In the darkened alley, Allison’s cat eyes easily discerned one dark brow rising over an icy blue eye. His deep voice sent a shiver of excitement through her fur as she almost closed her eyes to savor the sensation. Biting back the purr humming in the back of her throat, Allison pulled her eyes off the Alpha’s big, yummy body to stare at the Enforcer, who did very little for her, thank the Goddess! Lusting after a Wolf was one thing, lusting after the undead was disgusting, no matter how gorgeous they were designed or how heavenly they smelled.
“You are correct, but circumstances warrant a hunt this night.”
***
Reginald Leclair hadn’t lived a long life by being foolish. He knew Montgomery’s reputation for making decisive moves based on logic and reason. This Vampire was a cold, calculating enemy. One he didn’t want to fight, but would if it became necessary. Wolvens were not known for backing down from a fight.
“Is that so?” Reginald’s dark head turned only a fraction of an inch toward the stinking garbage cans to his left. He could smell her there among the filthy remains of food and refuse. What the hell did she have to do with this confrontation? He focused back on Montgomery. It wasn’t wise to take one’s eyes off a Vampire Enforcer, not even to catch a glimpse of a pesky little Witch in fur. “Mind if you fill us in on your reasons for stepping over the bounds of the Treaty?”
“I do mind.” Montgomery stepped closer, trying to use the move to intimidate him into backing down. It wasn’t going to happen. “I don’t answer to dogs, Leclair.”
Reginald grabbed the Vampire’s pale neck and squeezed. Satisfaction filled him as he easily lifted Montgomery off his feet. A deep growl emanated from deep within his massive chest as Reginald gritted his teeth in rage. He felt both groups step forward, readying themselves for a battle. One word and the small alley would be an instant battlefield, one that would no doubt nullify the Treaty and endanger his pack.
“I could snap your head right off your shoulders, Montgomery. Answers are the only things that may prevent that.” His growls turned to a chuckle as the Vampire hissed, showing lethal fangs. “Put the sharpies away, pal. I’m not scared of those when I have a full set of my own.” He heard the chuckles behind him and felt the animosity of the Enforcers rise to the bait.
“I’d tell you, but I have a feeling you already know why we’ve come out.”
“Is that so?” All manner of jest disappeared as Reginald sensed the importance of Montgomery’s unspoken accusations. His neck was prickling in a warning of trouble to come. “Please, humor me.”
He set Montgomery back on his feet but kept his fingers firmly on the Enforcer’s throat. He would never get a better opportunity to end the creature before him, but taking the dark one’s life would jeopardize their Treaty.
“I wouldn’t do that. Your head will roll faster than you can pull that knife from your sheath.” He grinned as Montgomery pulled his reaching hand from inside his coat. The Vampire wasn’t stupid, just overconfident.
“The Elder’s intended is missing. Know anything about that?”
Reginald didn’t flinch or look toward the trash cans, but he wanted to. The Elder would not take kindly to losing his future bride. How the hell had she pulled that off? Why the hell were these bloodsuckers laying the blame at his door? A growl slipped out as he glared at Montgomery.
“Now, why would we want anything to do with your Elder’s bride? Our tastes run more to the heart beating, warm-blooded type of woman.” Several of his men standing behind him chuckled at his remark.
“Elaina Dunt is human, will be until she’s bound to the Elder.” Montgomery hissed at him. “She was taken at daybreak. Rival bloodlines would have struck at night. There’s no one else who could have done it, not without taking out the entire Hive, that is. She better be returned before the new moon, Leclair.”
“If that is a threat, it falls on deaf ears. We had nothing to do with this. Nor would my pack lower themselves enough to trespass on your territory.” Reginald thrust Montgomery back away from him. The Vampire widened his arms to hold back his men as they stepped forward, hissing.
“Word on the street says different.” Warren Montgomery narrowed his dark eyes in silent accusation. Reginald sensed he was looking for any sign of guilt.
“Whose word?” The malice in the question had Montgomery smiling, his sharp, white teeth gleaming in the dim light from a streetlamp.
“Her word is trustworthy.”
“Who?” Reginald barked out. His big hands clenched into tight fists at his side. He wasn’t known for keeping his temper when time was so short for the full moon. It took all his power of self-restraint to keep himself from attacking the enemy as his inner Wolf was howling to do.
“The Keeper.”
There was a collective gasp from the Wolven males at his back. A feeling of dread had Reginald curling his hands into fists as he fought to keep his animal from surging to the surface and overtaking him. They had been betrayed by the one Witch who was supposed to protect them.
***
Allison could feel the astonished shock of the Alpha, but she couldn’t see any form of surprise on his handsome face. Damn. She wanted to strangle her cousin. Alexa couldn’t keep her pert little nose out of her business. Yes, Alexa knew of Allison’s vow to help Elaina Dunt escape the Elder’s cold chambers, but that was no reason for her to lay the trail of blame at the Wolven’s door. Of course, like most of her kind, her cousin hated both the Wolves and the Vamps in equal measure. They were abominations of nature, outside the realm of the pure, and— in most Witch eyes—must eventually be destroyed. Sooner rather than later!
Allison didn’t completely disagree with the sentiment. Both factions preyed on humans for their own pleasure and existence. The Vamps more so than the Wolves, but both were a danger to her charges. Whether the humans knew of her existence or not, she’d made the pledge to protect and care for them. They were the weaker species, but she believed they were more resilient. They loved and lived with a zest for life she wished she could share in, but she was alone. Destined to be alone to carry out her job. Fight the good fight, and eventually bite the fiery bullet some day when her time to cross over came.
The sound of the deep growls emanating from the Alpha’s chest told her it could be sooner than she hoped. She would have to be ready for him. She was smaller, faster, and smarter. Too bad he was stronger... Advantage Wolf.
“She is mistaken, not surprising for a young female with more power than brains.” Her tail puffed out at his slight toward her older kin, and she barely held back the hiss of displeasure.
“The Keeper is neutral. Her word is unquestionable,” Montgomery argued.
“In this instance, she is wrong. You have my word, and I dare you to refute it.” Behind Reginald, his pack seemed to be readying themselves to defend their leader. She knew they would follow their Alpha through the gates of hell, if he so chose to run through them. The Vampires outnumbered them, but the moon was high in the sky, making the Wolven males stronger and faster. These bloodsuckers should be in their darkened Hive, fasting and out of Wolven sights. Unfortunately, thanks to her cousin, they were out on the hunt and looking in the wrong place for answers.
“You have until the new moon, Leclair. At that time the Treaty is null and void. I would rather not dirty my hands with you and your mutts, but I will if Elaina Dunt is not returned to us unharmed by then. We’ll have a wedding or a massacre. Your choice.”
***
Reginald watched as the Vampires melted into the shadows. He waited several minutes to see if they were coming back. His muscles didn’t relax when they didn’t return. This meant trouble. Trouble he didn’t want or need at the moment, not while his pack was trying to force him to take a mate. He’d remained alone for too long. The pack felt they were weak without a strong alpha pair leading them. They were right to expect him to mate, and he was duty bound to do so—in his own damn time.