Into the Unknown
Author, Bethany Shaw
Book 2
Werewolf Wars Series
I
Expected Release date – January 2014
*Cover Design Creator: Sarah Foster atSprinkles in Top Studios
*Hosted by: Reading Writing and Book Reviews
Synopsis:
Gene has taken on the role of alpha after the devastating loss of his father. A war is on the horizon and Gene is determined not to fail his pack. He makes an unlikely alliance with Natalia, the woman his enemy is hunting. The more time they spend together, the more Gene finds himself drawn to the sexy, mysterious, she-wolf.
Natalia has lost faith in her kind. After being rescued from her captors by Gene’s pack, she wants to take her son and run far away from everyone. But, she knows she wouldn’t get far with her psychotic family chasing her. She agrees to team up with Gene in an attempt to end her family’s tyranny. As they attempt to work together, she finds herself wondering if she can truly trust him, or will his betrayal be the greatest yet?
Excerpt: Into the Unknown *Unedited*
“Wow,” Natalia breathed as they reached the top of the peak. She closed her eyes as the cool breeze ghosted against her face. Pine and oak fragranced the air, causing a smile to slide across her face. Opening her eyes, she surveyed the landscape.
Trees spread out for as far as the eye could see. The sun hung low, filling the sky with an orange pink hue. She spun around relishing in the fresh scent and the complete seclusion the trees offered. Crickets chirped and she could hear wildlife scuttling about. “This is amazing,” she said, focusing her gaze on Gene.
Trees spread out for as far as the eye could see. The sun hung low, filling the sky with an orange pink hue. She spun around relishing in the fresh scent and the complete seclusion the trees offered. Crickets chirped and she could hear wildlife scuttling about. “This is amazing,” she said, focusing her gaze on Gene.
“My father worked hard on the landscape back home, but I don’t think it will ever be this secluded.”
“It is nice at your ranch,” Natalia commented. “I grew up in the city anything outside the city limits is rustic to me.”
“And you weren’t around any other wolves?” Gene questioned.
“No. My mother taught me what she knew. Which was not much. Her only experience was with my father, Luis.”
“I meant what I told you. I want to help you – teach you are ways.”
Natalia moved to the edge of the hill and stared down over the edge. Taking the chance and trusting him was about as appealing as jumping to the rocks and brush below. Still, she wanted to believe him.
“How do you do it?”
Swallowing she held her breath as he came to stand next to her. “What?”
“It is nice at your ranch,” Natalia commented. “I grew up in the city anything outside the city limits is rustic to me.”
“And you weren’t around any other wolves?” Gene questioned.
“No. My mother taught me what she knew. Which was not much. Her only experience was with my father, Luis.”
“I meant what I told you. I want to help you – teach you are ways.”
Natalia moved to the edge of the hill and stared down over the edge. Taking the chance and trusting him was about as appealing as jumping to the rocks and brush below. Still, she wanted to believe him.
“How do you do it?”
Swallowing she held her breath as he came to stand next to her. “What?”
“The partial shift. How do you do it?”
Natalia turned to look at him quirking her brow up as he came to stand in front of her. His heels touched the edge of the cliff and she blinked surprised how vulnerable he was allowing himself to be.
Her breath caught in her throat as he placed his hands on her shoulders, his chocolate eyes meeting hers. Her pulse spiked and a shiver ran up her spine as anticipation rolled through her.
“Close your eyes,” he said quietly.
Her eyes widened, heart accelerated and she fought the urge to lean into him. The innocent touch seemed anything but to her.
“You need to focus, close your eyes,” he urged, seemingly oblivious to her discomfort and arousal.
Clearing her throat, she closed her eyes, needing to escape his gaze.
“Now, think about your wolf. Your sight specifically. Imagine you are running. The wildlife and trees are whirling by you as you survey your surroundings. Everything is clearer, sharper. Inhale the pine and oak, the dirt and leaves.”
Natalia forced her breathing to even out, letting his voice guide her as she imagined what he was saying. Warm puffs of air hit her face as he spoke. She let his voice soothe her until she found herself lost in his words.
“Open your eyes, Talia,” Gene said softly.
Fingers grazed her cheeks and gently cupped her face. Startled, she opened her eyes, gasping at their close proximity.
Blinking, she stepped back taking him in. His face appeared clearer, stubble poked out from his pores. Gene’s brown eyes stared at her allowing her to see hergoldish eyes reflecting off of them. Turning away from him, she took in the leaves noticing the fine lines of each of them and the tiny insects that gathered on the trunk of a tree.
“All you have to do is focus. How do you feel?” Gene asked.
“Good,” Natalia beamed. In fact, she felt better than she had in weeks.
“If you follow the same mindset when you transition I think it will help. The important thing to remember is you are still in control even if you are the wolf. Embrace who you are don’t fear it.”
“I’m not afraid of-“
“Yes, you are. You’re afraid of what we are because you don’t want to be like Juarez. You can be the wolf and still be yourself,” Gene said. He took a step to the side. “The wolf doesn’t make us do anything we wouldn’t already do. It’s just like with humans there are humans that are just evil. The same rule applies to wolves. There are wolves that are just bad too. On the flip side, there are good humans and wolves. It’s what we do that defines us not what we are.”
Gene sighed as he looked over the edge of the cliff. “I’m heading back. The house is a quarter of a mile that way,” Gene said pointing as he turned in the direction they’d come. “You should try shifting.”
Natalia nodded waiting until she heard the dirt and gravel crunching beneath his feet to turn around. He’d helped her. Swallowing, she watched as he disappeared into the trees. Satisfied she was alone, she undressed and prepared to transition.
Natalia turned to look at him quirking her brow up as he came to stand in front of her. His heels touched the edge of the cliff and she blinked surprised how vulnerable he was allowing himself to be.
Her breath caught in her throat as he placed his hands on her shoulders, his chocolate eyes meeting hers. Her pulse spiked and a shiver ran up her spine as anticipation rolled through her.
“Close your eyes,” he said quietly.
Her eyes widened, heart accelerated and she fought the urge to lean into him. The innocent touch seemed anything but to her.
“You need to focus, close your eyes,” he urged, seemingly oblivious to her discomfort and arousal.
Clearing her throat, she closed her eyes, needing to escape his gaze.
“Now, think about your wolf. Your sight specifically. Imagine you are running. The wildlife and trees are whirling by you as you survey your surroundings. Everything is clearer, sharper. Inhale the pine and oak, the dirt and leaves.”
Natalia forced her breathing to even out, letting his voice guide her as she imagined what he was saying. Warm puffs of air hit her face as he spoke. She let his voice soothe her until she found herself lost in his words.
“Open your eyes, Talia,” Gene said softly.
Fingers grazed her cheeks and gently cupped her face. Startled, she opened her eyes, gasping at their close proximity.
Blinking, she stepped back taking him in. His face appeared clearer, stubble poked out from his pores. Gene’s brown eyes stared at her allowing her to see hergoldish eyes reflecting off of them. Turning away from him, she took in the leaves noticing the fine lines of each of them and the tiny insects that gathered on the trunk of a tree.
“All you have to do is focus. How do you feel?” Gene asked.
“Good,” Natalia beamed. In fact, she felt better than she had in weeks.
“If you follow the same mindset when you transition I think it will help. The important thing to remember is you are still in control even if you are the wolf. Embrace who you are don’t fear it.”
“I’m not afraid of-“
“Yes, you are. You’re afraid of what we are because you don’t want to be like Juarez. You can be the wolf and still be yourself,” Gene said. He took a step to the side. “The wolf doesn’t make us do anything we wouldn’t already do. It’s just like with humans there are humans that are just evil. The same rule applies to wolves. There are wolves that are just bad too. On the flip side, there are good humans and wolves. It’s what we do that defines us not what we are.”
Gene sighed as he looked over the edge of the cliff. “I’m heading back. The house is a quarter of a mile that way,” Gene said pointing as he turned in the direction they’d come. “You should try shifting.”
Natalia nodded waiting until she heard the dirt and gravel crunching beneath his feet to turn around. He’d helped her. Swallowing, she watched as he disappeared into the trees. Satisfied she was alone, she undressed and prepared to transition.
Other books in the series, Werewolf Wars:
Book 1
Out of the Shadows
Synopsis:
In an attempt to save his sister, Emily, from becoming a breeder, Devon Harris defies his alpha and flees his home with his sister. They seek refuge at his Uncle Rick's ranch, unintentionally laying the foundation fora war between the packs. There he meets the fiery human Lark. In the midst of a war, does he dare let himself fall for her?
Rick Harris has been like a second father to Lark Davies since her parents died
in an accident three years ago. As the sole guardian of her younger sister and
the owner of her own bakery, Lark doesn't have time for a social life. When
Rick's nephew comes to town, sparks immediately begin to fly as Lark finds
herself drawn even further into the werewolf world.
Rick Harris has been like a second father to Lark Davies since her parents died
in an accident three years ago. As the sole guardian of her younger sister and
the owner of her own bakery, Lark doesn't have time for a social life. When
Rick's nephew comes to town, sparks immediately begin to fly as Lark finds
herself drawn even further into the werewolf world.
Buy Links for Out of the Shadows:
https://www.createspace.com/4544602 (not currently available for sale as of yet)
Author Bio:
Bethany Shaw is happily married to her husband of nine years. She has two children ages five and two and enjoys being able to stay home with them and pursue a writing career. Writing has always been a passion of hers and she has been writing for as long as she can remember. Mornings are usually when she gets her muse and she enjoys listening to music while her dog curls up at her feet. Paranormal romance and dystopian romance are the genres she prefers to write but she loves to read and reads just about everything.
Author Links:
http://www.twitter.com/Bethany17801501
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