BLACK RIDGE WOLF PACK SERIES
by Lili Carlisle
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Omega’s
Choice
Black
Ridge Wolf Pack, #1
Date of Publication: May 25, 2017
BLURB
In a realm of elves, ogres and
white witches, where danger is ever-present, Princess Helena Lichtenberg lost
her parents at a young age. Raised by her uncle and aunt, Helena values family
above all else. Now, as decreed by tradition, it is time to select a mate.
HER ALPHA
Enormous, scarred and scary,
Black Ridge Wolf Pack leader Aldric Forst has never drawn the eye of any Omega.
Why would he? But, on this, the night of what he swears is his last selection
celebration, everything is different. One of those most beautiful, magical and
powerful women, the niece of the king and queen themselves, wants him. And
Aldric has never wanted anything more in return. No force—no matter how dark,
no matter how powerful—will take Helena from him.
Excerpt
Omega’s Choice
Chapter
One
“I’m not
planning on attending this year.” Aldric crumpled the piece of paper and threw
it into the trashcan beside his desk. “I refuse to parade around in hope of
being chosen when we all know that’s not going to happen.” He stopped pacing
long enough to point out the large scar that ran from his left temple across
his cheek to his chin and down his neck before disappearing into his shirt.
“Brother, you’re the alpha of our pack and it’s your duty to go to this
gathering. Not only is it a decree by King Leonidas, but who is to say an omega
won’t choose you? You’re a respected and strong alpha, our pack is large, and
we have our own town with over five hundred acres of wooded lands to let our
wolves run free without fear. There are a lot of benefits to becoming the omega
to our people.” Godric stood and retrieved the invitation from the garbage,
flattening it out on the desk as best he could and handing it back to Aldric.
“Your brother is right, son. You must attend. We have a strong relationship
with the king and queen, which has been fortuitous since our lands touch on
their northern borders. To refuse an invitation to the yearly Omegas’
Celebration by any unmated alpha would be an insult.” Aldric’s father, Karl,
stood and placed his hand on his eldest son’s back. “I know it has been hard
for you, son, since Senorfra. That battle claimed far too many of our brave
men, but bless the gods you survived, protected our king, and came back to us.”
Admittedly, it was odd in this modern age of convenience and technology that
most supernatural beings lived by the old code of fealty, honor, and loyalty.
Considering most lived to be well over one thousand years old, having steadfast
rules to live by and a king to follow ensured the safety and health of all
werewolves. “True, we fought bravely and many men never returned from that
damned forest, but the rest of us came back scarred in one way or another. My
scars cover my body, and there’s no omega out there that will choose me. When
will any of you see this? Omegas are rare and wield powerful magic. They can
pick any alpha and any pack they wish and be given anything they desire because
of the blessings they will bring to that pack. I’m not saying that an omega doesn’t
deserve such things, but none would want a battle-scarred alpha, no matter how
wealthy or strong our pack is. Perhaps if Godric went, he—” “No, don’t even
finish that sentence. I am no alpha, brother. I couldn’t even dream of taking
your place. This pack—hell, the entire town looks to you for leadership. You
have given all of them a safe place to live and thrive with their families. I
respect you, brother. You will always be my alpha.” Aldric stared at his
reflection in the window. He knew he was a scary-looking man, and his wolf was
even more imposing. His human form stood at 6’7” and he weighed over 280 pounds
of mostly muscle, which had been hard-earned through his years as a general in
King Leonidas’s army. Aldric’s black hair was braided halfway down his back,
just as his father’s and brother’s, but his dark blue eyes came from his
mother.
Tattoos covered
his right arm, wrist to shoulder blade, depicting his family lineage and his
position as alpha. They revealed themselves after the war ended, when Aldric
had settled with his family and pack on these lands, and he had assumed his
position as alpha. Should he ever be chosen as a mate, his blank left arm would
reveal his mating tattoo, indicating the lineage of his mate, their joining,
and any future offspring. The tattoos his kind wore could not be placed on
their skin by their own hands or magic. They were given by the gods, either at
birth or upon claiming their birthright. Aldric knew in his heart that his left
arm would always remain bare. His great size alone would be a deterrent to most
omegas, who typically feared a larger predator, but the scars from the many
battles that littered his body were guaranteed to keep all would-be mates away.
Normally, a werewolf could self-heal most injuries without leaving so much as a
scratch, but the ogres had coated their blades with dark witches’ blood, which
was poisonous to all werewolves, and created a toxic brew that made injuries
more difficult to heal, leaving many warriors with scars. He just couldn’t figure
out why his family chose to ignore these facts and continued to make him attend
these celebrations, which allowed omegas of age that had come into their powers
to choose an alpha as mate. Over the course of the weeklong event, omegas had
the opportunity to approach unmated alphas to spend time with them, under
chaperone escort, in hopes that the omega might find a mate. No alpha was
allowed to approach an omega or the alpha would be dealt with harshly. The
rules were strict and had been passed down over the last six hundred years.
Omegas were to be protected and cherished. A knock on his office door brought
Aldric back from his thoughts. “Come.” His mood changed when his young sister,
Cassandra, and his mother, Hilda, walked through the door. His heart lightened
when Cassandra’s walk broke into a run. She barreled across the room and leapt
into his arms. He let out an oomph but held her tight to his chest. “Glad to
see you too.” “Aldric, Mommy says I have to go to bed, but it’s Tuesday, and on
Tuesdays you have to read the story, but Mommy said you were busy and I would
have to wait until tomorrow, but I won’t sleep if you don’t read and my book is
due back at the library, so now you have to read it and—” “Easy, cupcake.
Breathe. You’re seven years old now, sprite. Which means you are able to
understand that sometimes I will be in meetings or away and will be unable to
read to you. If I am, don’t think for one minute I forgot about our bedtime
story and that I won’t miss it too. However, you’re in luck today, little
sister, because I am suddenly free to read to you.” Aldric smiled before
kissing Cassandra on her forehead. “But, Aldric, we need to discuss the Omegas’
Celebration,” Karl reminded him. His father looked a bit sad. “You can’t just
give up, son. There’s an omega out there for you.” Aldric knew his family loved
him dearly and he hated to disappoint them in any way, but he’d had enough of
attending the celebration year after year and coming home unchosen. “I’ll make
you a deal. I will attend this year’s celebration, but it will be my last. I’ll
take Godric, two advisors, and my Warrior Captain, Lothar.” A compromise seemed
an acceptable option, and he hoped it would be enough to appease his family.
“But what if you’re chosen? You will require your family, staff, and warriors
to protect your omega.” His father wasn’t easily swayed by Aldric’s attempt at
dodging this issue.
“If by the gods
I’m favored by an omega, I’ll make those arrangements. We’re only a fourhour
drive away from the palace.” “I’ll make certain a sufficient amount of staff
and warriors are prepared to travel on a moment’s notice,” Godric assured
Aldric. “Though I appreciate your optimism, brother, we both know that will not
be necessary.” “You do what you feel you need to do, and I will do as I see
fit, agreed?” Godric shot back. Aldric clapped Godric on the shoulder. “I love
you, brother. Agreed.” Aldric loved his family and would do anything to make
them happy, but this one thing—perhaps the most important thing—he could not
provide: an omega. “You can’t be serious this will be your last year to attend.
You’re a young man. You’re only one hundred and thirty-one. You have many more
years to find a mate.” Hilda appeared to be on the verge of tears. Aldric’s
heart was heavy and he felt horrible for making his mother cry. “Mother, you
have to understand, I’ll not be chosen no matter how many times I attend. I’m
sorry and wish it were different, but it isn’t, and it will not change no
matter how many times I’m forced to go.” Aldric had been trying to make them
see reason for years. “It will be okay, Mommy. Aldric’s omega will be at this
one,” Cassandra announced with every bit of confidence she had in her little
body. Most people would simply brush the assurance of a seven-year-old girl
aside, but not when that little girl was Cassandra. His little sister had
proven on more than one occasion that to ignore her insights was foolish
indeed. The elders had confirmed Cassandra had the gift of sight, and even at
her young age, she could pick up on future events. “Did you see something,
cupcake, anything about the celebration?” Aldric asked cautiously, not wanting
to get his hopes up again. “Just a feeling—you will be very, very happy,” she
assured in between yawns. “Come on, time for bed.” Aldric carried his little
sister up to her princess-themed room. She was obsessed with princesses.
Carefully, he tucked her into her canopy bed and sat in a nearby chair with her
Beauty and the Beast storybook. Bad messaging and definitely a work of fiction—
there was not a beautiful omega out there willing to take on this beast. “So
you promise you’ll go to the celebration?” she asked softly as she tucked her
blankets closer to her chin, a slight pout pushed out her bottom lip. “Yes,
cupcake, I’ll go. But this will be the last time.” “Do you know that Princess
Helena will be there this year?” she asked, batting her lashes. Of course she
would know that King Leonidas and Queen Alexandra’s niece would be attending
this year’s celebration; after all, she was an omega and a princess. “Yes, I’m
aware.” He smiled at his crafty little sister. “Maybe you will get to meet
her.” Her eyes were bright with curiosity, undoubtedly her imagination taking
flight yet again. “I’m sure Princess Helena will be far too busy with her many hopeful
suitors for me to have the opportunity to meet her.” “Aldric, I know you’ll
find your mate, but you’re gonna have to fight for her. Now start with the
reading already before I fall asleep.” She giggled as she snuggled down into
her pillows. “I love you too, kid.” He began reading about a fantasy world
where a beast could be truly loved by a beauty.
Ceva’s
Chance
Black
Ridge Wolf Pack, #2
Date of Publication: August 23rd 2017
BLURB
SHROUDED IN DARKNESS...
If it hadn't been for King
Leonidas, white witch Ceva would have roamed the earth alone and ostracized.
She was a biological accident, and her heritage was a curse she'd carry around
for all her days. Now she fights for her king and kingdom, a fierce warrior on
a mission to prove she is worthy of the trust and friendship the king has
afforded. When she meets Lothar, captain of the Black Ridge Wolf Pack guard,
she glimpses a future she never thought possible. But once he knows her truths,
he will surely reject her.
ONLY HE CAN SET HER FREE
Lothar had never met anyone like
Ceva. Beautiful, fierce, protective and loyal, she would make the perfect mate
for any man. Lothar wants to be that man, but Ceva remains elusive. Sure, she
flirts, and they dance around each other, but Lothar wants more. When his team
joins hers on a dangerous mission, he learns her secrets, which makes her more
extraordinary, not the pariah she believes she is. But her past is about to catch
up with her, and only his love can save them from certain death.
Excerpt
Ceva’s Chance
Chapter
One
Another flaming
piece of tree flew past Ceva’s wings, almost singeing her feathers. Now she was
pissed. They were trying to knock her out of the sky. The sun was setting, and
she’d been at this since sunup. Where are they all coming from? The sky was
aflame with the yellows and deep oranges of the sunset. Adding to the display
were the fireballs being slung into the sky by large catapults. Old technology
but effective nonetheless. Ceva had been given the task of ferreting out the
remaining bands of ogres scattered throughout King Leonidas’s kingdom, which
was a great deal of area to cover. She dodged another fireball and dove at the
first beast she saw. They were large creatures filled with hate and rage. They
had small heads that sat on top of overly large necks and shoulders. Their
long, muscular arms caused their knuckles to drag on the ground, and weapons
filled each hand. Thick fur covered them from their short, stubby legs to their
chests. They stood at over eight feet tall. And, at the moment, their singular
focus was destroying the small town they’d surrounded. By all rights, there
shouldn’t have been this many ogres left after the war they had started, and
had ended long ago. For some unknown reason, groups of them had been appearing
along the countryside, attacking and destroying every small town they came
upon. Ceva hadn’t been able to uncover who was responsible for their renewed
numbers. She’d already dealt with the dark wizard who had sent them to attack
the Omegas at their yearly celebration, but obviously there was someone else
pulling the ogres’ strings now. Ceva landed and began slicing her way through
the creatures, her swords flying as fast as she could swing them as she moved.
No matter how much damage the ogres received, they just kept on coming, unless
you cut off their heads. Wave after wave of wolf shifters arrived, and she
fought side by side with them. She spun on her left leg and kicked one
particularly hairy ogre in his stomach, causing the creature to lean forward,
making it easier for her to finish him by relieving him of his head. A second
and third ogre took his place and ended up on the ground with the first. Her
primary purpose was to push them back away from the town and the innocent
people who lived there. The town had already sent out many shifted wolves to
fight, but mostly untrained, they were no match for the beasts. Several lives
were lost with many more wolves injured. Ceva swore that, as long as she took
breath, the creatures wouldn’t reach the small farming town. She heard a
familiar howl long before she saw the wolves coming up over the rise and
ramming into the line of ogres. In the lead was a large, dark gray wolf with
green eyes. He moved with precision, darting in and out of the fray, always one
step ahead of attack until an opening appeared and he did away with yet another
ogre. He was breathtaking to watch, his gray coat reflecting the oranges from
the sunset. There was only one wolf that could hold this white witch’s
attention. Lothar.
The sight of him
caused Ceva’s heart to race and every nerve ending to come to life,
exhilarating and dangerous emotions colliding in her heart at the same time.
She couldn’t afford to be distracted from her mission, and he was one hell of a
distraction. As if to prove that point, a particularly large ogre came up
behind Ceva and grabbed her around the waist, squeezing her like a tube of
toothpaste. With a precise blow to the ogre’s other arm, the appendage fell to
the ground. The creature lifted her high into the air, readying to crush her
against the hard ground. Ceva extended her sharp and powerful wings and easily
sliced through the beast’s neck. Its demise sent her to the ground, followed by
the ogre’s headless body. Landing on the grass of the clearing wasn’t so bad,
but having the five-hundred-pound oaf fall on top of her was another matter
entirely. She was pinned and about to free herself when Lothar appeared in his
human form and rolled the beast off her. Of course, he was naked because he’d
shifted. Nudity among shifters was commonplace and generally people didn’t even
raise an eyebrow. But seeing Lothar in all his naked, muscled glory made her
pulse race, her mouth dry out, and she felt a little dizzy. She’d been in the
presence of shifters for as far back as she could remember—considering she was
immortal, that was a long time—and never once did she have this type of
reaction. She was woman enough to admit she wanted Lothar, but with another war
looming, if anything were to happen, it would have to wait. “What were you
thinking? You know better than to lose your concentration during a battle. You
could have gotten yourself killed,” Lothar yelled, bringing forth a whole new
emotion. “Back off, Wolfie. I’ve been at this since dawn,” Ceva growled. “And
what the hell are you doing here?” “King Leonidas sent us to help you in your
mission, and I volunteered to lead the team,” Lothar said while scanning the
battlefield. “Of course you did. Just couldn’t stay away, huh?” She winked and
stood on wobbly legs. It had been a long day of constant fighting; she needed
it to be over soon or she was going down either way. She was in the process of
dusting herself off when another ogre came from the right. Ceva went on guard,
raising her sword as Lothar shifted into his wolf. They had guns, but that only
slowed the creatures down and pissed them off. Lothar went on the offensive and
attacked, sinking his impressive teeth in the side of the beast’s neck as Ceva
buried her sword to the hilt in its bulging belly. The ogre ripped Lothar from
his neck and threw him all the way across the clearing. While its attention was
still on Lothar, she leapt in the air and easily removed its head before
landing and spreading her wings wide. She dug her fingers into the earth and
began an incantation. As a white witch she had a lot of weapons in her arsenal
and would use them to their advantage. She’d gained a few abilities from her
near-death experience a few months ago, and she intended to break them out. The
only drawback: it was going to leave her weakened. But at this point she didn’t
care. Too many wolves had been hurt or killed already. With one last look at
Lothar’s breathing but still figure, her heart sank. She crouched lower and dug
her fingers farther into the dirt and continued chanting. The sounds of
fighting drifted away as she molded the earth to doing her bidding. The ground
underneath each ogre began to tremble and shift. Ceva pushed more power into
her incantation and felt it spike as the ground opened under each ogre and
became quicksand, sucking each one down, until only the wolves remained. Ceva
felt her powers waning and went to her hands and knees to draw breath into her
shaking body. “Swear to the heavens, you’re going to be the death of me, Ceva,”
Lothar growled as he knelt beside her. “You will surely give me a heart attack
before this is over.”
“Wouldn’t want
to interrupt your rambling,” she moaned, “but do you think you can help me
stand?” Ceva retracted her wings, absorbing them back into her body through the
slits in her shirt. “I can do better than that.” He lifted her from the ground
and held her to his muscled chest. Don’t get used to this. No distractions,
remember? “My savior,” she joked. “You just wanted to get your hands on me.”
“Savior, damn right.” She noted he didn’t respond to her other comment. “How
long will you be here?” She half hoped it was for a while. “Until the job is
done, we’re at your disposal,” Lothar replied. “Then we can go back to our
pack.” “Lucky me.” Ceva laughed. “Try not to get yourself killed.” Please be
safe. “You know you want me here,” he whispered into her ear, his warm breath
sending shivers throughout her body. Instead of answering, she crossed her
arms, making him smile wider.
Karli’s Resolve
Black
Ridge Wolf Pack, #3
Date of Publication: December 14th 2017
BLURB
The Power of Unity
Twenty-five years ago Karli's
parents ripped her away from her home and the men she loved. An omega with
gifts worthy of only the most special man, her parents refused to allow her to
mate with anyone less than a powerful, wealthy alpha. But at a young age Karli
had found her forever in Joseph and Rowl's arms, and she knew she could never
love anyone else. After a vicious ogre attack decimated the village where her
parent's had hidden her, warriors came to save the wounded pack members.
Warriors led by Joseph and Rowl.
Although she had seemed to
disappear into thin air, Joseph and Rowl never stopped searching for the woman
they loved. When Karli was discovered among the ruins of a small village, the
fierce warrior captains couldn't believe their eyes. And once they had found
her, they were never going to let her go. But dark forces were at work to
separate the triad once again, and this time all their lives were on the line.
Excerpt
Karli’s Resolve
Chapter
One
Karli walked
down the forest trail with her chaperone, Laura, one of the omegas that had
come with Princess Helena from the palace after the Omega Celebration. Laura’s
home had been destroyed in the recent ogre attacks, and she now lived with the
Black Ridge Pack. Laura had been chaperoning Karli for weeks, and in that time
they had become close, displaced sisters of sorts. They would remain attached
at the hip until Karli made her choice—an elaborate show concocted to keep her
parents at bay. She had made her choice long ago. Her intended mates were
Joseph and Rowl. They had always been, and would always be hers. The uproar
wasn’t that she wanted to mate two men; in their realm such a choice was fairly
common. What had thrown her parents out of whack was that she, an omega wolf
who, by tradition, should mate an alpha, had instead chosen to mate two
warriors. Two strong, loving men she’d known since childhood who she would be
choosing as her mates once her promise to the king was satisfied. The law of
the realm was absolute; all omegas who had come of age must attend at least one
Omega Celebration before mating. The celebration was held over a week’s time at
the royal palace, and provided the opportunity for alphas and omegas to meet,
and perhaps find a match. Since Karli hadn’t attended a celebration, the king
had decreed that she must meet three alphas before she chose whom she mated.
This was no more than a formality because she had already found her mates.
Nothing and no one would change her mind. The forest was beautiful with its
canopy of green through which the sun spiked in brilliant beams that dotted the
forest floor. Creatures big and small came and went as the women walked in the
welcome shade on this hot August day; they were strolling through a little
piece of heaven. Laura nudged Karli’s arm. “So, are you ready to meet your
alpha suitors?” “No.” Karli rolled her eyes at the question Laura had asked
once a week. “But if this is the only way to keep my promise to the king and
get my parents off my back, I’ll go through the motions.” “Still planning to
choose Joseph and Rowl?” “Absolutely. With every fiber of my being.” Laura
stopped and touched Karli’s shoulder. “What if one of the Alphas sweeps you off
your feet and wins your heart?” Karli laughed. “So not happening. My heart
belongs to Joseph and Rowl.” Laura smiled wide. “I’m happy for you. Finding the
men you want to spend the rest of your life with is special. Knowing we may
live up to one thousand years, you’d want to make the right choice. I’ve been
to the Omega Celebration and didn’t find a soul I was interested in. Highly
disappointing.”
Before Karli had
a chance to respond, Alpha Dedric walked past, waving hello to them before
heading in the opposite direction. Karli watched as Laura perked up, her gaze
following Dedric until he was out of sight. Karli poked Laura in the ribs. “I
thought you said you met all the eligible alphas and none appealed to you?” “He
wasn’t at last year’s celebration. Who is he?” Laura had not turned her head
away from where the alpha had been. “Alpha Dedric. He has a small pack west of
here. He helped us fight the ogres, but part of his town was destroyed during
one of the battles. He and his people are staying here until construction crews
can get back to set the town to rights.” Laura’s omega jewel situated in the
center of her forehead glowed with excitement; a good sign. Lots of omegas
steered clear of alphas with smaller packs. It meant less money, prestige, and
power. Maybe Karli could do a little matchmaking of her own. Her heart
lightened a little with that thought, but when she turned around, it fell just
as quickly. Her parents were heading her way, which was never a good thing.
Laura must have seen them and edged in front of Karli, but it was too late;
they knew she was there. “Incoming,” Laura warned. “Yep, see ‘em.”
“Karli…Karli. We’ve been looking for you everywhere, young lady,” Atilia
yelled, even though they weren’t that far away. “Here we go again,” Karli
whispered to Laura. “What was that, Karli?” Atilia asked. “Hello once again,
Mother. How may we help you?” Karli wished it could be different between her
and her parents. Every day, she’d wake up hoping they’d realize what they were
doing. But that never happened. “You don’t use that tone with me,” Atilia
demanded. “You should be getting ready for the first alpha to arrive.” “I’m as
ready as I’m going to be, Mother.” “You look like a pauper in jeans.” “If he doesn’t
like my jeans, then I guess it will have to be a deal breaker.” “Don’t be
childish, Karli. You will put on a dress at least. Show some respect. He’s an
alpha of a large pack.” “In other words, money. He has money, right?” “There’s
nothing wrong with having money,” Atilia stated with a smug grin. “Is that the
only reason you chose him?” “I’m sure he’s completely acceptable as a mate.”
“Wow, you two can’t seem to get it through your heads. This is a formality.
I’ve already chosen my mates, and they are Joseph and Rowl.” “You will choose
an alpha for a mate, not two lowly warriors.” “What bugs you more? That they
don’t have money, or is it the prestige of being the parents of a pack’s omega
you’ll miss more?” Karli fumed then turned to walk away. “Oh, we won’t be
missing anything. You’ll see!” Atilia shouted. “You’ll see.” As soon as they
were far enough, Laura squeezed Karli’s arm. “Don’t worry. You’ll be free to be
with your men soon. There’s nothing your parents can do about it.” “What
worries me is the time they have to cause problems for me, Joseph, and Rowl.
They won’t leave this alone.” Karli knew her parents well. If there was an
underhanded way of making
what they want
happen, they’d do it. Nothing was off limits. She didn’t think anyone
understood that fully. “Well, I’m here to watch out for you. So we’re all good.
I won’t let anything happen,” Laura assured. “You won’t be able to control my
parents. They’ll do anything for power, and they see me as their ticket into
that world.” The weight of her sadness made her tired. Exhausted, actually.
She’d passed “enough” a long time ago. “I’m sorry. You should be loved by your
parents, not used.” Karli could see the compassion in her friend’s eyes. She
let out a deep sigh. This wasn’t going to ruin her day. She was off to see
Joseph and Rowl, and nothing or no one was going to get in her way. She
followed the path to their ranchstyle house with her chaperone at her side.
Laura’s
Legacy
Black
Ridge Wolf Pack, #4
Date of Publication: June 28th 2018
BLURB
A GIFT BOUND BY LOVE
While Laura was attending the
annual omega celebration, a ruthless ogre attack destroyed her village and
wiped out her family. Heartbroken, lonely, and adrift, she was forced to rely
on the kindness of the Black Ridge wolf pack alpha for a home. And so were many
others, including members of the small Newton pack, and their handsome, strong
alpha, Dedric. One brief interlude was all it took for Laura to know she would
choose him as her mate.
Alpha Dedric Newton couldn’t
believe his good fortune. Beautiful and powerful, Laura was the omega of his
dreams. Worried he had so little to offer, he insists she spend time with his
small pack as they rebuild their village and homes. Laura and Dedric’s time in
Newton strengthens their bond while evil works to undo all of Laura’s gifts,
especially her legacy. After finding the greatest love an alpha could dream of,
Dedric will do anything and everything to keep Laura safe from harm.
Excerpt
Laura’s Legacy:
Chapter
One
The tall grass
sprouted around Laura, and the Huxum flowers reached for her with their long,
purple blossoms. Green blades cushioned her head as she lay watching the clouds
float by. Their soft, cotton-candy look changed, and they reshaped themselves
from white blobs to a howling wolf. Cute little giggles erupted around her. The
next one was bigger; this time Laura molded the winds blowing in from the north
and turned them east, then west. Soon the image began to take shape as her
hands performed an intricate dance above her head. Then she took water
particles out of the clouds and mixed them with the sunlight to make a rainbow.
When she was satisfied, she released the winds and let her creation float away:
six pups playing in a rainbow. The six real children began cheering and jumping
around her. Laura could see their joy floating through the air and she was
happy.
“What do you say
to Omega Laura, boys and girls?” their teacher asked. A chorus of
eight-year-old voices rose up and made Laura smile.
“Thank you,
Laura.”
“You’re welcome,
sweethearts,” she responded as she pushed herself up off the ground, and that’s
when Laura saw him. His dark eyes shone in the sunlight while his gorgeous body
made her think of things she shouldn’t while in the company of children.
Gabrielle, her
chaperone and friend, walked up beside her. “Your suitor seems to want to talk
to you.”
She laughed.
“The man can’t
take his eyes off you. I’m damn well jealous.”
“We’ll find
someone for you, don’t worry,” Laura assured while trying to pull her out of control
hair back into a ponytail.
“Not going to
happen.”
“We’ll see about
that,” Laura replied, never taking her eyes off of the dark-haired god striding
her way. She loved Alpha Dedric, even though he still wasn’t a hundred percent
sure of her yet. Normally a woman would be offended to learn the man she loved
wasn’t sure, but this case was a little different. They’d met when they had
come to Black Ridge after the kingdom had suffered a series of ogre attacks.
Laura had lost her family and Dedric had lost pack members and half of his town
to those nasty creatures. She’d been chaperone to her friend and fellow Omega
Karli when Laura first laid eyes on Alpha Dedric Newton. In that instant, she
had decided he was an alpha she wanted to get to know, even if he did have a
small pack and half his town was in ruin. After they’d been introduced, she
realized how amazing Dedric was and she’d made up her mind. Dedric would be her
mate.
“Where are your
warriors?” Dedric asked as he reached Laura and took her hand. “They’re
supposed to be protecting you at all times.”
“And how many
times have I told you that I’m safe here in Black Ridge,” she answered before
standing on her tiptoes and kissing him—and poof! His growly face was gone.
Worked for her, considering she ditched her warriors about an hour ago.
“Sweetheart,
you’re going to be the death of me if you keep vanishing like that. Logically I
believe you are safe, but my heart hasn’t come up to speed with that. So for my
sake, please don’t be without them again,” Dedric requested.
Laura could see
the fear in his dark brown eyes. She’d put that there, and she suddenly felt
horrible. “I’m sorry. It’s selfish to make you worry.”
“You mean so
much to me. I can’t lose you,” Dedric admitted before pulling her into his
arms. “I love you.” “
And I love you.
Let’s get this mating ceremony on the road.”
“You know I can’t allow that in all good
conscience, not until you’ve spent time in Newton and confirm you wish to live
in a small pack.” Alpha Dedric’s pack had only a little more than one hundred
members, and their town hadn’t been large even before ogres destroyed half of
it in the most recent attacks.
“Okay, I won’t bring it up again, but if after
visiting for one week I decide to stay in Newton, then we mate,” Laura said,
bargaining.
“Deal, my love,”
he agreed quickly. “If after seven days you decide of your own free will to
stay then you won’t be able to keep me away.”
Lily’s Trust
Black
Ridge Wolf Pack, #5
Date of Publication: February 6th 2019
BLURB
LOVE AND SACRIFICE
Omegas choose their mates, and
Lily had been certain Jensgar would be happy she had chosen him. Instead, the
former general of the king's army refused her, forcing her to the leave the
pack she'd adopted. Humiliated and heartbroken, she returns to the Black Ridge
Pack, only to find the pitying glances and hushed comments too much to bear.
She has no home, and no one to call her own. Convinced she has no other choice,
she flees to the forest to live as a wolf. She is shocked when Jensgar, in wolf
form, comes for her, and slowly convinces her to trust him again. But the woods
hold secrets, and danger. When Jensgar's life is threatened, Lily gives up
everything to save the man she loves, and once again puts her chance for
happiness in peril.
Excerpt
Lily’s Trust:
The wind
swirling around her began to slow until Lily felt solid ground under her feet
once more. How Ceva could teleport on a regular basis without getting ill was a
mystery. Lily’s vision cleared after several blinks and the familiar Black
Ridge pack house came into focus. She was back right where she’d started. The
sympathy reflecting in Helena’s eyes was almost tangible and only served to add
to the weight of rejection Lily carried around her neck like a yoke. Helena
knew. Surely, everyone was already aware of Lily’s shame. Her wolf growled deep
inside her. Angry, confused, and heartbroken, her wolf didn’t understand the
complexities of laws and traditions, or even the workings of the male mind. Her
wolf understood only that her mate had rejected her, nothing more. As the days
had passed at the Newton pack while Lily had supported her friend Laura through
her pregnancy, Lily had begun to lose herself to her thoughts, which led to a
rapid downward spiral. It felt as if reality was slowly pulling away as she
sank deeper into the safety of her omega wolf.
Case in point:
“Lily…Lily, are you all right?” Helena asked, bringing Lily’s attention back to
the here and now. Again.
“Yes. I’m fine.
Sorry. I was lost in thought. What did you say?” It took all of her energy to
concentrate on the people around her. Even Amalia and Marcus, the adult
children of General Jensgar—the man who had rejected her—stood looking upon her
with sympathy. Lily hated pity. Helena, a princess and omega of the Black Ridge
pack bent her tall body to wrap her arms around the more petite Lily.
“It will be
okay, my friend. You always have a home here with us.” Lily understood that her
friend had meant to reassure her and make her feel welcome. But, unfortunately,
Helena’s concern had the opposite effect. It felt like a knife twisting in
Lily’s stomach. The reason for the gentle care and worry further highlighted
Lily’s heartbreak.
She drew in a
deep breath, more for patience than courage, and told her friends, “I’m going
to go for a walk by myself. Clear my thoughts.” And get away from the pity
swirling around me. Is this going to be my existence from now on? Both Helena and
Ceva looked concerned, but nodded.
Helena said,
“Yes, if that’s what you need. Your room is ready. Your belongings that Ceva
had sent earlier have been put away. When you come back let me know, okay?”
Lily dipped her
head. She remembered how well Helena had taken care of all the omegas when she
had lived here over sixteen months ago. It gave her some measure of warmth and
security. This pack had saved her twice. Once from the ogres that had destroyed
her home and killed her family, and now, when the man she’d chosen and had lost
her heart to, had thrown their potential future away. She took Helena’s hand
and shared her thanks and love, through her omega gifts, to everyone.
The jewel in the
center of her forehead denoted her as an omega, and she possessed gods-given
gifts such as having the ability to amplify powers and mimic others’ abilities,
as well as telekinesis and fertility. She could make a dead piece of land bloom
with foliage and flowers, and magnify everyone else’s gifts. Without anything
further to say, she turned and walked off down the wooded lane toward the
gardens. Alone. She might as well get used to it. Her wolf had chosen Jensgar
as her mate and would accept no other. That would be her prison. Her human side
had chosen him as well, and all others paled in comparison. Yep, her new
personal hell. The sun shined through the tall trees leaving dappled spots of
light dancing across the ground every time the wind blew. Normally, she’d be
soaking up the beautiful weather, light with joy, with a need to spread flowers
far and wide to share with everyone. But that wasn’t her normal now. Not
anymore. And she didn’t think it would be ever again. Lily shook herself out of
her malaise, rounded the corner and walked straight into a pair of mates, lying
wrapped in each other’s arms on a blanket in the shade of an old maple tree.
Quickly, she
changed direction before either noticed her presence. Once Lily felt she was
far enough away she collapsed onto the ground, finding it hard to breathe.
Visions of Jensgar flashed unbidden through her mind. Lily had felt his
interest; the soft looks and gentle touches he gave were not a figment of her
imagination. The way he threw his body over hers, protecting her from a lunatic
with a gun, and was never far away from her after that horrible incident. When
she’d forget to eat while working in the gardens he’d bring her food and sit to
eat with her under a tree. His eyes didn’t lie. Jensgar held affection for her.
She couldn’t understand why he had rejected her choice. Omegas chose their
mates, with whom they would share their power. Until recently, it was tradition
for them to choose an alpha with a pack to strengthen. Now, omegas that had
been to the Omega Celebration and not found a suitable alpha could choose
another wolf from the packs.
The only problem
was the absence of a guarantee the mate would say yes. Although it was rare,
rejections did occur. She was living proof. Desperate longing made her head
pound, but anger made her wolf howl and fight for dominance. The pain of loss
burned bright, and she felt her jewel warming on her forehead. Her wolf wanted
its freedom, away from this confusing world, and to run in the forest where
life was simpler among the earth and trees. Free from the ache, free from the
pity, free of Jensgar. Lily didn’t fight her shift; when it came she embraced
it fully, and welcomed the baser of her instincts. She heard her clothes tear
as her body stretched, reshaped, and sprouted her brilliant white fur. The cry
of loss that tore from her throat quickly turned into an anguished howl as she
stood on four sturdy legs. Legs that would carry her far away from this reality
to a place where she felt safe, and where she belonged. Sharp claws dug into
the soft soil. The scent of water some distance away called to her and Lily
answered. She ran fast and hard, weaving in and out of the trees, causing birds
to take flight as smaller animals scampered back into their burrows. The
freedom, the visceral feeling of being part of nature gave her wolf a bit of joy.
The only joy she’d felt for some time, and the search for more drew her deeper
into the forest. She didn’t bother looking back or have any thought of turning
around as she vanished from main pack lands. She didn’t plan on returning.
Katrina’s
Destiny
Black
Ridge Wolf Pack, #6
Date of Publication: June 27th 2019
BLURB
A TANGLED WEB
Marcus loves Katrina, but can't
mate her. Katrina loves Marcus, but won't abide him keeping his distance any
longer. Bain loves Katrina, and she falls for him. Marcus is willing to step
aside so Katrina can have a happy life with Bain. Katrina wants a triad mating,
especially since her young son, Thorn, has become attached to both men. But...
Marcus made a blood oath that keeps him from mating Katrina, and will kill him
if he breaks it. Having Bain as part of a triad mating might be a way around
the oath, if only Bain can shake his ex, who still loves him. Add in Gods
wiping memories, centuries old secrets, and a resurrected lunatic - getting to
happily-ever-after has never been this complicated.
Excerpt
Katrina’s Destiny
Bain watched as
the Goddess Net, his former mate, vanished, followed by Alphas Jensgar and
Lily, laughing as they ran back into the pack house. Their joy was inescapable
and drove the spike deeper into Bain’s chest. It wasn’t that he didn’t want the
alphas to be happy—quite the opposite, he’d fought to ensure that happened—but
Bain was now worse off than he’d been before. At least then, he hadn’t known
his past; now he couldn’t even dream of a family out there searching for him.
He was stuck with the fact that this was not his first life, but second. After
Net’s brother had almost killed him for the sin of being a wolf shifter, Bain
had been killed and reborn by the grace of the god of shifters, Fenrir. The
process wiped his memories and dissolved his and Net’s mating, leaving him
alive, but empty. No past upon which to build. No family he knew about, and an
uncertain future since he felt like a shell of a person. He wondered if he’d
ever feel whole again. He grabbed the push rings on his wheelchair and turned
away from the gathered pack. He didn’t feel like celebrating with anyone.
Instead, he rolled his chair toward his new house the alphas had given to him.
Before this gift of a new home, he’d been living in a room in the main pack
house. In this version of his life, thinking that he had to have a family
seemed a fruitless pursuit. He didn’t feel like he had anything to contribute.
Who would want to build a future with a man who had no memories to share, and
family to enrich a household? While the rest of the pack had families and a
lifetime of memories to see them through hard times and special occasions, Bain
had neither. “Where are you going?” a familiar voice asked from behind him.
“Home, Marcus,” Bain answered without even stopping to look at his friend.
“I’ll walk with you,” Marcus stated as if it weren’t up for discussion. “Suit
yourself,” Bain mumbled, knowing what was on Marcus’s mind, and it didn’t take
long for him to dive right in. “Why the hell are you doing this?” Marcus asked.
“Doing what?” That’s it, play dumb—he was only moments away from his house.
“Seriously, you’re hurting an amazing woman and you think now is a good time
for games?” Marcus looked down at him in shock. “Leave it alone, Marcus,” Bain
warned. “I can’t,” his friend growled before standing in front of Bain’s path.
“Because I love her too.” “Then why don’t you mate with Katrina?” “You know
damn well we’re a triad. That’s all we talked about since meeting each other.
We’re incomplete without you.” “Incomplete…shit, I’m the one who isn’t
complete. I thought the two of you could see that’s abundantly clear. I’m no
one from nowhere.”
“So you’re going
to allow that bastard Vengier to destroy what the three of us were building
together? What about Thorn? Don’t you care how your absence is affecting her
and the boy?” At the mention of Katrina’s five-year-old son, Bain finally
looked up into Marcus’s angry eyes. “Don’t for one second think that I don’t care
about Katrina, Thorn, and even you. I’ve had a lot of crazy shit dropped on me
recently, and I need time to work it out.” Marcus’s eyes softened. “We want to
help you through this. You don’t have to do it alone.” Bain reached up and took
Marcus’s hand, needing the comfort of another person. “Just give me some time.”
Wolves were pack animals and found security and strength through touch and
companionship. Going solo, even to resolve difficult problems, was not in their
natures. Marcus let out a heavy breath before saying, “If time is what you
need, then you shall have it. But don’t take too long.” Marcus released Bain’s
hand and walked back toward the pack house. He and Marcus had become close
friends while they courted Katrina. The three had decided to form a triad
family. Both men would love and care for Katrina and Thorn, but they wouldn’t
be romantically involved with each other, only Katrina. That didn’t mean the
pain he’d seen in Marcus’s eyes didn’t hurt him. Bain cared a great deal for
Marcus, as a brother would. A triad relationship was not uncommon among wolf
shifters—they became their own small pack. Did I have a brother or sister?
Parents? He had to have had parents at one point in his first life, but he had
no idea who they were. Hell, it could be someone still in the Evergreen Pack
and he wouldn’t know. When the wolf god, Fenrir, saved his life by allowing him
to be reborn, all knowledge of his prior existence was wiped away. Meaning if
his parents or siblings were here, they wouldn’t know him either. Everything
was so screwed up. Bain had been living with a constant headache for days. He
rolled up the ramp to his front door, pushed the automatic door button on the
railing, and let himself in. The space was set up with lots of room so that he could
navigate his chair around without issue. The kitchen counters were low, with
easy access to all the appliances. A spot was vacant at his kitchen table so he
could simply roll up to it. The other three chairs had been set out for
Katrina, Thorn, and Marcus. At least until Bain found out the truth, that he
was truly no one. In this life, he had no past. What could he possibly offer
anyone for a future?
Author Info
Lilli Carlisle lives in the country near Toronto, Canada. She is the mother of two wonderful girls, wife to an amazing man, and servant to the pets in her life, and she’s a member of Toronto Romance Writers. Lilli writes paranormal/fantasy romance, and believes love should be celebrated and shared. After all, everybody needs a little romance, excitement, intrigue, and passion in their lives
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