A Mate to Howl For

Growing up We were told stories of strong werewolf packs up and down the East Coast. We were told about the legendary alphas who led those packs in the Were War. We were told scary stories of what those alphas would do to us if we got out of line. No one in the small pack where we are from grew up ever doubting the validity of Cullen Steiner the alpha of the Good Ole Boys Pack in SouthWest Georgia. He was known for his deed name Baptized by Fire.The campfire stories told of how he had taken down Alpha Joel Handcock by himself in the Were War. Alpha Handcock had gone insane when his wife and daughter were killed in a fire. No one person can explain how it started, but at some point he turned on the females in his pack and surrounding packs, making them prisoners. He abused, raped, and tortured all he could find. He encouraged other wolves to follow his example. Numerous packs across the United States came under attack and their young daughters and wives were hunted.It didn't take long

Cullen again brushed his thumb over her lower lip. His gaze was molten, not with anger but with desire. "This is not what you think, Ivory." He said, releasing the grip on her hair. His body stayed pressed to hers as his hand cupped her cheek breathing in her scent.Cullen continued to keep her eyes with his as he spoke to Edgar. "Tell Miss Moller that I am unavailable and that I will call her at my earliest convenience." He watched Ivory as she looked away. He moved his head and eyes to keep her looking at him. "Ivory."Ivory's eyes narrowed, searching his face for clues. Had she honestly spent the morning with him? Was this some cruel game he was playing? She tried to look to pull away, but he seemed to outmaneuver her. "If you will forgive me, I think I should go." She laid her hand on his chest, confused. "Yes. I should go." She patted him twice."No, no, look at me." He said, cupping his hand over hers. "Let me explain, please.""Cullen! You heard your little friend. She wants to

"Edgar, when I sent you out of the room, I meant for you to follow Ivory." Cullen sounded angry at his new Theta. Edgar had been his personal assistant for a little over a month. "Do you know where she is?" He asked in a calm voice."Alpha Cullen," Edgar said, quickly. "I did follow her. She was headed to her cabin. I didn't know she was going to run. And no, no one has seen her. I contacted Kyle, and he was checking the cameras around the compound." He took a breath. "And Aaron and Dominic are already tracking her."Although Edgar had said all the right responses, Cullen was still angry that he handled this so poorly. Ivory was a young unpacked wolf with no bond to track her. And to make matters worse, if his wolf was correct, she was his mate. He needed to find her and bring her here. She needed to be in the circle and accepted into his pack before another pack got ahold of her. At least his best tracker Dominic was after her.Cullen was pacing the length of his office, pinching the

Cullen had called Colin Andrews, the ancient vampire who lived just east of the pack's border. Colin had been semi-friendly to Cullen for the last two hundred years and had played a part in keeping the peace in the region. Colin was the oldest vampire in the United States, and nearly all others feared or respected him. Cullen had explained about scenting a youngling at the hotel. And that there was a rogue wolf pack prowling their lands.Colin who didn't normally take a side in the Weres politics found himself oddly attached to this pack and agreed he would have a few friends patrol the area to see if there were other vampires as well. Both men agreed the last thing they needed was a vampire-were war. Things were volatile enough the way it was with the Alpha Council and Vampire Council getting involved."Colin, let me know if you come across any wolves. Earlier today someone I care about was hurt by them, and Dominic was nearly killed." He told the vampire. Cul

Seventeen-year-old Marley Thornton was sitting in the small kitchen area of the hotel. She had her homework on the table and was trying to figure out a chemistry problem. Although her family worked, they insisted she finish school via online courses. Her twin brother Tomas James otherwise known as TJ was doing the same school assignments after work. Marley, now frustrated, stood blowing out a breath of air. There was no way she was going to figure out ‘How many moles of glucose were present in 320 mL of 5.0 M of glucose solution,’ at that moment. So she decided to go get some snacks.The hotel was a quarter-mile from a corner gas station. Marley’s brothers and cousins told her to not leave the room in the evening, but she often grabbed food mid-afternoon for all of them. Today it was a quart of Milo’s sweet tea, half of Hunts Brothers gas station pizza, as well as a bag of mixed chocolates. She wanted to get a bag of chips but William promised they could go to the local Wally World ak