$3.99
Special Anniversary Extended Edition
Including Two Nonfiction Articles
"Why Siberia?" and "Love at First Sight, Believe in the Possibility"
Book One of the Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Series
A trip to Moscow brings Siberian lycanthrope, Dmitry Volkov, and his pack members out of hiding. He’s looking for answers to the pack’s breeding problems. But he never expected to find them in the delectable Violet Anderson. With rogue lycans causing problems in the pack, can he bring a fragile human woman home as his mate?
Wildlife photographer Violet Anderson is stopping in Moscow, before she goes on assignment to shoot the elusive Russian Gray Wolf. When she meets Dmitry at a local hotspot, the sparks fly. The animal magnetism tells her she might have just met the man of her dreams. But Violet has a couple of secrets of her own, and following a wounded animal to its lair has never been a safe thing to do.
Putting
a Russian drug lord behind bars wasn’t part of lycan Dmitry
Volkov’s to-do list on this trip to Moscow. But here he sat, with a
concealed digital microphone hidden in his shirt, waiting for the
drug lord Petrov and his men to show up. Ivan, a childhood friend of
Dmitry and now a lieutenant with the Moscow Police Department,
remained outside in an unmarked vehicle, hoping to catch Petrov in
the act of selling drugs.
The
nightclub was busy this evening. People laughed and glasses clinked,
the loud music and noise, hard on Dmitry’s sensitive ears. He
glanced across the table at his brother, Anton, and his best friend,
Kolya. Anton had similar coloring to Dmitry, except the younger man
had inherited their mother’s gray eyes. Kolya had lighter colored
hair, having blond highlights, and his eyes were a usual amber-gold
color. They each held a glass of vodka they wouldn’t drink so they
could blend in with the crowd. Alcohol had no effect on lycans, and
most avoided drinking the foul-smelling stuff, though a few enjoyed
its smoky flavor.
“So
the trick is not to get shot tonight,” Dmitry said, looking
specifically at his younger brother. Anton was only eighteen, an
adolescent in the eyes of the pack, and this was his first trip to
the big city.
“Right,
and why are we doing this?” Anton asked looking furtively around
the room.
“You’re
the one who overheard the drug deal last week,” Kolya pointed out,
as he swirled ice in his glass. “You’re the one who wanted to
make a difference.”
“That
was before you talked about us getting shot,” Anton said as he
raked his hand through his dark hair. “I know it’s hard to kill
us, but I don’t want to come face-to-face with a bullet.”
“Look,
Ivan is waiting outside with his officers,” Dmitry said. “I’m
wired for sound. It’s too late to back out now.” Was it a good
idea to have Anton with them? A nervous lycan was a dangerous lycan.
Anton was young, but his wolf could tear through a human quicker than
a knife through paper. They wanted to catch the drug lord, not kill
him.
“Okay,
I know you’re right,” Anton said, looking nervously at the front
door. “Let’s hope this works.”
Dmitry
checked again to see where the exits were located and the most direct
route to each. Police officers were in position outside. Their
sources assured them Petrov would put in an appearance tonight.
Dmitry hoped to lure Petrov and his men out back before the police
arrested them. He didn’t want innocents getting hurt during the
bust.
The
air moved as the front door opened. The energy in the room shifted,
became lighter. Dmitry glanced at the woman silhouetted against the
door who entered the nightclub. She brought his primal senses
screaming to life. His breath caught, and heart lurched. She was
small, her body slim, breasts full and tempting in a pink camisole
top and matching skirt. Long mahogany hair fell to her waist. He
drank in the sight of her, wanting nothing more than to look forever.
His
blood heated and body ached with arousal. He wanted her.
Emotions—hunger, lust, joy, confusion—crashed over him like a
giant wave. His wolf spirit surged to the surface and wanted to hunt,
capture, mate.
A
fine sheen of sweat broke out on his body. Pulling air into his
lungs, he tried to catch the fragrance that belonged to her alone.
Instead, the smell of cigarette smoke, alcohol, sweat and the cologne
humans used to hide it filled his lungs. He coughed as his body
began to tremble. With a flash of light, the pain of claws ripped
through the tips of his fingers. Thank goodness his hands were hidden
under the table. The strobe lights and noise of the crowd obscured
his growl. It was crucial his wolf spirit stay hidden while humans
surrounded him. The shift had never come over him before without his
knowledge.
Weaving
between tables, the woman made her way to the edge of the dance
floor. Unable to touch her physically, Dmitry’s mind reached for
her. She stiffened in surprise. How did a mere human feel his
telepathic touch? He pushed against the walls in her mind that kept
him from her thoughts. Her defenses were strong and well built. There
was no way past them unless she allowed it. She searched the crowd,
trying to find who touched her this way. Dmitry stayed concealed in
the shadows. For the first time in his life, unsure of his actions.
He
had a job to do. Everything was set. Petrov and his men could arrive
any minute. The need to possess and protect ate away at Dmitry’s
control. His wolf spirit howled in challenge, demanding its mate.
Could she be the one? Was she a lycan? Somehow, he must convince her
to leave the club. Things could get dangerous, people could get hurt.
The drug bust required his complete focus and a distraction could be
deadly. Even with a lycan’s superior healing abilities they could
be killed if injured severely and unable to shift. When this business
with the police department was over, he’d find her. But first, he
needed to touch her. He pushed his wolf spirit deep inside, and his
claws retracted as his fingers became normal again.
His
chair scraped across the floor when he stood, the sound drowned out
by the loud music. Startled, Anton looked up and started to rise.
Dmitry shook his head and motioned him down. Then Dmitry moved into
the crowd, hunting her.
His
body screamed at him with need, his pants so tight they hurt. All
that became secondary as he stalked his prey. The bass thumped in the
room like a heartbeat. The lights were low, and the strobe flashed.
Moving through the crowd, his wolf spirit drove him. Without touching
anyone, he drew closer and closer.
She
sat at a table, sipping a soda with two other women. It was a good
thing there wasn’t a man with her. Dmitry feared what his reaction
would be if a male accompanied her. With surprise, he realized he was
jealous. Nobody touched what was his and this woman was meant to be
his, the attraction too hard to resist.
Moving
to her table, he smiled his most charming smile, the one no female
could resist. Her soft brown eyes sent a jolt of awareness through
him. Her scent, lavender on a warm summer’s day, filled his
nostrils. She was human. No trace of lycan wildness permeated her
scent. As her aroma engulfed him, his body grew harder with need. He
suppressed a groan and hoped his voice wouldn’t sound like a growl.
“Splyashetye
co mnoy
… dance with me.”
Wariness
clouded her eyes. Could she sense he wasn’t human? Her friends,
laughing and joking, encouraged her. She looked puzzled, her mouth
turned into a frown. Was she going to refuse him? Something must have
warned her, she must answer yes.
“It’s
just a dance. I won’t bite. Are you afraid?”
Her
friends laughed uneasily. Would his dare work? He held out his hand,
and she allowed him to draw her from her chair. How small her hand
looked in his. Electricity sparked between them. A sudden pain
slammed into his chest and stole his breath. He looked down to see
the golden cord of light that signified the lycan mating bond. Its
circumference merely a thread, but it was there.
Leading
her onto the dance floor, he pulled her into his embrace. She seemed
confident, but reserved, as he drew her in. The music tempo was fast.
But now with his arms around her, he needed to keep her close. He
loved the feel of her skin, so soft beneath his hands. The silkiness
of her hair as it brushed his face felt like a caress. He breathed in
deeply, taking in her scent, memorizing its sweetness. Other dancing
couples surrounded them, but no one was allowed to touch her. Moving
together, they complemented each other. She was made for him. This
human woman was the
one, his mate. The lycan mating bond proved it.
“What
is your name, milaya
moya?”
he asked as his lips brushed her temple.
“Violet.”
She gave the information, her tone reluctant.
“I
am Dmitry,” he said, executing a turn, then returning her to his
arms. “Your mate.”
She
looked up in surprise. Anger, then defiance flashed in her eyes.
She’d run from him, her intent was plain to see. His arms tightened
around her in warning.
“I
will never hurt you, Violet. Don’t consider running from me. You
are mine.”
“No
one owns me,” she answered, her eyes flashing with annoyance.
Dmitry
held her carefully, not wanting to upset her further. The music
changed, becoming a slow melody. She stayed relaxed in his arms,
their bodies moving as one. He lifted her arms around his neck and
pulled her closer. Her breasts lay flush against him. A wave of
pleasure washed over him. Needing to taste her, he licked her ear
lobe and nibbled her neck. She stiffened and started to pull away,
but he held her tight. He rubbed his cheek against her hair, wanting
his scent on her. She began to relax, the mating heat starting to
affect her. Even if she wasn’t already drawn to him, she soon would
be, with the mating bond working to be cemented into place.
Dmitry’s
wolf spirit demanded her, and his canines lengthened. He wanted to
claim her, bite her, so everyone knew she was his, but couldn’t do
it here or now. This wasn’t the proper place to claim a mate. The
process called for silken sheets and a comfortable mattress.
“I
want you to go home after this dance. I’ll come to you tomorrow,”
he whispered in her ear.
She
stayed quiet. Would she obey him? Was the mating heat strong enough
that she wanted to please him? He must force himself to let her go.
What would happen if another man approached her, could his wolf be
contained? A snarl came to his lips and he pushed it down. He’d
stay in control and not frighten her.
When
the music ended, he reluctantly released her. Forcing his wolf down
again, his canines shifted back to normal. Thankfully, the strobe hid
the change. He guided her through the crowd. Sheltering her from the
throng, he took her back to the table and her friends. He hated to
leave her. All his instincts screamed to keep her close. This woman
was his. He’d have her. But danger would arrive soon, and her
safety was more important than his need.
“Remember
what I said. You must leave now,” Dmitry whispered in her ear, as
he pulled her chair out for her.
He
wanted to give her a telepathic push to obey him, but with her
defenses up, all that was left was hope. So forcing himself, he
turned and walked away. If she didn’t leave, he’d still find a
way to protect her.
Dmitry
returned to the table in the shadows where his brother and best
friend waited. Conflicted at leaving her, he frowned, but his honor
demanded that he help the police catch this man who preyed on the
innocent and weak. Claiming his mate would have to wait until
tomorrow when he could give his full attention. No matter how
distasteful the notion of waiting was at the moment.
“Anton,
follow the women home and make sure they arrive safely. If they split
up, stay with the one I danced with. Make note of her address. Keep
her safe.”
“What
is this about, Dmitry? You know Ivan is waiting outside to make the
bust,” Anton said, reluctantly getting up.
“Go
quickly, they’re leaving,” Dmitry directed as Violet and her two
friends moved toward the exit. It was a relief to know she followed
his orders to leave. She’d be safe from harm when Petrov arrived
and the drug deal transpired. Sending Anton to watch out for her
would alleviate Dmitry’s worry about his brother losing control as
well.
“I
hope you know what you’re doing.” Anton moved out of the shadows
to follow the women.
Kolya
shoved his chair closer to Dmitry, waiting for an explanation.
Dmitry’s Beta, Kolya was his second in command. They had grown up
together and were as close as brothers.
“Govno,
Kolya, why does my timing always have to stink? Why tonight? We’ve
been staking this place out for a week. But tonight, the one night
I’m locked into doing something, she walks in the door.” Dmitry
picked up his glass and stared into its depths.
“She?”
“Violet
… my mate.” The one meant for him alone. His soul mate. He looked
up at his friend to gauge Kolya’s reaction to this news.
“You
think the skinny little thing with the long corkscrew hair is your
mate?” Kolya asked, looking puzzled.
“I
don’t think, Kolya, I know,” Dmitry said, glaring and a growl in
his tone. “If you speak of her with disrespect again, I’ll rip
you apart. Do you understand?”
“Yes,
Alpha, I understand,” Kolya said, grinning like a fool.
Dmitry
glared at him, but Kolya kept smiling, even knowing his Alpha was
displeased. Dmitry felt his lips twitch in amusement at his friend.
Joy broke free, and Dmitry laughed. He’d found his mate. A human
female was a bit of a surprise, and she was a strong telepath.
Everyone
in the pack assumed the Alpha would choose someone with a wolf
spirit. Since there were few women in the pack, Violet could be a
good thing. Dmitry had thought he’d have to return home without any
hope for his people and their breeding problems. But now, there was
Violet.
Petrov
and his two bodyguards walked into the room. Dmitry abandoned
thoughts of his future. It was time to go to work. The three
criminals were dressed in expensive black suits. The people near them
edged away as if sensing danger. They reeked of the oily metallic
scent of the guns hidden under their jackets. The smell was so
strong, it was noticeable in the crowd. The men scanned the room,
looking for their contact. Dmitry flipped the switch to signal it was
time to turn on the recorder. Everything said would be caught on tape
during the drug deal. Leaning forward, he turned to Kolya. “Here
they are. The hunt begins.”
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