SNOW WOLF by Heather Long
Outlaw Wolves & Defiant Hearts!
War may be coming for the
Yukon, but Diesel’s battle is very personal.
Ranae is the youngest of the Buckleys, and the only girl amongst
three powerful male siblings. Her restlessness and dominant nature has affected
every relationship within Willow Bend, not to mention testing the patience of
her Alpha. Apprenticeship to the Hunters fed her desire for a purpose. When her
Alpha and eldest brother ask her to undertake a mission to the Yukon territory,
she’s thrilled at the opportunity for a real chance to be useful. Clashing with the Alpha was the last thing she
expected on the dangerous assignment.
The oldest Alpha in the U.S. packs, lives a gray existence. The
loss of his mate so many decades before wears away at him, until he doesn’t
give a damn about anything. The problems of the other packs are not his, and he
prefers to be left to his isolation. The arrival of the Chief Enforcer annoys
him, but it is the wolf traveling with him who wakes the predator in Diesel.
The scent of mate clings to her, but she rejects his overtures and challenges
him on every level.
Read an excerpt
from SNOW WOLF:
Riding the high
of her nearness, Diesel leaned into the force of her hand on his chest. “I know
my mate’s scent. I searched for you all over Willow Bend. Why else would Mason
send you?” The moment the words left his lips, he reconsidered the phrasing.
Her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared.
“I’m a Hunter
of Willow Bend. I am here to deliver a message from my Alpha—and I don’t
care what century you were born in old man, but we don’t arrange matings. You
don’t just get to walk in here, thump your chest and say mine.” The
ferocious light in her eyes sent a quiet thrill through his bloodstream. His
wolf roused to the hunt, every color and nuance sharpening under their study.
“No?” He didn’t
want to miss a moment of her reaction. Her dilated pupils constricted even as
her mouth tightened. Anger soured her scent and her nails bit into his muscle
as he pressed into the contact. Despite a faint tremble, she didn’t shift her
grip or attack him. Would she? If he provoked her enough? The idea intrigued
the hell out of him. No Alpha wanted a weak mate.
“No.” She
withdrew the contact then retreated one step. Crowding closer, he refused to
let her abandon him. “Dude…get a grip. I came here to do a job.” A muscle in
her jaw twitched. “Or maybe you are trying to prove you don’t hold the Yukon?”
Challenge wound
through every syllable. Canting his head to the side, he raised one eyebrow and
waited.
“What? Playing
crazy, eccentric keeps the other packs at bay and allows you to dictate the
terms of your interactions. You don’t want to talk; you walk away or slam a
door. You want to shut me down; you declare I’m yours.” Folding her arms, Ranae
raised her chin and, although the gold circle on around her gray-green irises
faded, it didn’t diminish completely. “It won’t work and I’m really not
interested in the games. We have serious issues to discuss with you, Alpha. You
can get on board or be left behind to cope on your own should the Russian packs
turn their gaze on your territory and your pack.”
Amusement
curved through him. Passionate determination etched into her expression. “Our
pack will be fine.”
“My pack
will be, absolutely. Your pack is debatable.” The aggravation in her scent
muted beneath the sting of frustration. “Now you’re baiting me.” Sidestepping
him, she tried to put some distance between them. He allowed her three steps
before intercepting her again. He wanted her gaze on him, nowhere else.
“Seriously, you have a problem.”
“No, I have a
mate, but continue telling me why our pack is in danger.”
Pausing, her
lips tightened and her eyes narrowed. The curl of her fingers into a fist
telegraphed her next move. Would she do it? He pressed into her space, and she
rewarded his effort with fresh contact in the form of a blow. It caught him
square above his heart, and the second with her elbow connected with his jaw.
He accepted both blows, but refused to retreat.
“Your training
is incomplete.” Whatever response she’d been expecting, his comment surprised
her. “Otherwise you’d understand that two hits will not take down an enraged
male, if you want to escape you have to incapacitate or kill.”
“I don’t want
to fight you.”
“Wonderful. I
have no desire to fight you, but if you need to beat on me to make yourself
feel better, go right ahead. I’m very sturdy.”
The corner of
her mouth kicked into an involuntary smile, and his breath lodged in his
throat, the single glimpse of sweetness a better reward than he could have
imagined. “Are you insane?”
“Depends on
your definition of sanity.” The tangle of her hair contrasted with the wool of
her pullover. How soft would the strands be? When she failed to respond, he
reached out to test his theory. She slapped his hand away, and the sting
intrigued him.
“Stop.” Command
reverberated through the single syllable. “I came here as a messenger, nothing
else. Keep your teeth and your hands to yourself. Am I clear?”
In all things,
an Alpha could command. He could take a life. He could grant it. Wolves who
pledged to an Alpha could be sent into the heart of danger and forfeit all that
they owned. The heart, however, could not be commanded nor could he take what
she would not willingly give.
His wolf bucked
at the rejection, but Diesel withdrew three steps to give her space. Clasping
his hands behind his back, he studied the beautiful Hunter before him. She
would not tumble easily, nor would she accept his direct pledge. Very well, if
he had to learn to court, then he would find what enticed her. “Dress,” he
ordered. “Several layers. We will be leaving the guest quarters.”
Expecting
obedience, he turned to the entrance and pressed the code to allow Julian
entry.
“Are you
staying with her or leaving?” Her presence was non-negotiable.
“Since you
asked so nicely…” The Chief Enforcer’s expression barely shifted, yet a smirk
echoed beneath his words. “I’d be happy to stay.”
Uninterested in
the old wolf’s games, Diesel spared his mate another studying look. Ranae gaped
at him, and she hadn’t moved a muscle.
“Trust me when
I say it will be more comfortable if you get dressed, but if you insist on
testing my patience, I’ll happily take care of stripping you first then
dressing you.”
The taunt did
what the order would not. She moved.
His wolf rose, stretching and raking his claws.
Yes, they had the scent of this hunt.
Other Books in the Wolves of Willow Bend Series:
WOLF AT LAW
WOLF BITE
CAGED WOLF
WOLF CLAIM
WOLF NEXT DOOR
ROGUE WOLF
BAYOU WOLF
UNTAMED WOLF
WOLF WITH BENEFITS
RIVER WOLF
SINGLE WICKED WOLF
DESERT WOLF
About Heather Long:
National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.
Connect with Heather: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon
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