British Alpha wolf Jake Marsden spends
his days among humans, pursuing a lucrative music career and avoiding his
pack’s politics. When his current DJ tour takes him to the US, he stops in Los
Lobos to visit family, and runs into the one Wolf he never wants to see
again—the mate who rejected his claim.
While visiting her brother in Los Lobos,
free-spirited Lexi Luparell is shocked to encounter the Wolf she’d denied when
they were teens. Now she must face her guilt for the cruel way she spurned him
all those years ago, make amends, and admit the truth. Jake was right all
along—they’re meant to mate.
Lexi would love to explore the mate
concept and her overwhelming attraction to virile, alpha Wolf Jake, but he
wants nothing to do with her. How can she break down his defenses when she’s
the reason he built them in the first place?
Jake dates only human women now. Lexi had
her shot at being his mate, and she threw it away. But when her life is
threatened, he may have to rethink his position and do whatever it takes to
claim his one true mate.
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Excerpt:
A
billion butterflies battered Lexi's stomach. She shifted her attention from
Ross to the piano. Sure enough, the music had stopped, and Jake faced her from
his seat on the bench. Man oh man, the heavy stare from those sky blue eyes
sent shivers skittering down her spine. His gaze held the same intensity she
remembered from him as a kid, as if he saw into the heart of people, exposing
their deepest secrets. It had driven her crazy back then, and she'd spent much
time teasing him, pulling his hair, trying to distract him from being so serious
all of the damn time. They were teenagers—partying was supposed to be their
sole focus.
With
his ice-blue stare locked on her, Jake rose to his feet, all taut muscle and
predatory power. His energy swept over her like a tsunami, forcing all of the
moisture to abandon her mouth while parts much lower wept with want. Her inner
Wolf howled, answering the call of this Alpha, the first Dominant male ever to
make her sit up and take notice. Holy crap. Her muscles shook with the need to
bound over to him, jump in his arms, wrap her legs around his torso and writhe
against his hard, hot, tattooed body.
Jake
said something to his uncle then stalked straight at her, cutting a path right
through the middle of the tables and the many, too-curious patrons.
A
whimper escaped her throat.
Surprise
sparked in her brother’s brown eyes. "You're kidding me. Him?" He
burst out laughing. "Wow, sis, that's some major, big-time irony right
there."
Darci’s
expression conveyed her bewilderment. "Now what are you two talking
about?"
Her
annoying brother grinned. "See that angry Alpha headed our way? My sister
here rejected him when they were teens and he's apparently her—"
Lexi
socked her brother in the ribs. "Shut it, Ross."
"Ouch."
Ross rubbed his side and chuckled at her plight. The jerk. "Come on, Lexi,
you have to admit the hilarity of the situation."
No,
she did not. Nor did she have to admit that J-Bird was right all those years
ago. He was her mate. O to the M to the G…. They were mates.
Even
so, he didn't look happy to see her at all. In fact, he looked positively
enraged. Shit, shit and triple shit. What a mess she'd made eight years ago.
Well, she was woman enough to pull on her big-girl panties and fix it. She
straightened her spine and lifted her chin in challenge, meeting Jake's stormy
stare. He halted before her.
I
can do this. "Hey J-Bird. Nice to see you." Lovely. Her voice sounded
like she'd eaten the gravel from the lot in front of Gee's bar. Embarrassment
heated her cheeks.
One
breath, two breaths, three…. J-Bird glared. Tension coiled between them in the
silence. Lexi bit the inside of her cheek to avoid babbling at him. She'd said
hello. It was his turn. Damn it, J-Bird, say something. He wasn't making this
easy.
"Alexina." His arctic tone dismissed her and slapped her
in the face at the same time, leaving her disappointed and confused. No one
called her by her full name. No one except her parents when she'd done
something wrong as a kid. He might as well have said, "Screw you,"
while slamming a door in her face.
His
focus shifted to her brother. "Hello, Ross. Been a while." His hand
shot out to grasp her brother's in a cordial shake.
"Good
to see you, Jake. Join us for lunch? My treat. We can catch up on old
times."
"No,
thank you. I'm done. Nice to see you again, Ross." Jake nodded at Darci.
"Miss." He brushed past them and out the door.
"What.
Just. Happened?" The, “I'm done,” he uttered in his delicious British
accent seemed aimed more at her than at her brother's offer. And the fact he
hadn't even looked at her before stalking out all sexy in his gloom and doom?
Yeah, that hurt.
"I
think you know, sis." The amusement left her brother's face and sympathy
glimmered in his gaze. "Question is, what are you going to do about
it?"
She'd
never run from a fight in her life. She wouldn't start now. "Grab a table.
I'll be back in a second. Or not." She ignored her brother's knowing grin
and hurried out the door.
About the
Author:
Celia lives in California with her
husband, daughter, and two feisty cats. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal
romance, and has a particular fondness for werewolves, vampires, and the Fae.
When not writing, you’ll find Celia exercising, reading a good book, hanging
with her family, or indulging her addiction to Joss Whedon’s TV shows and
movies.
It sounds like it will be hot between Jake and Lexi!
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