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Published: March 2, 2015
Length: Short Story
Lions in the City #1
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance
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A werelion prowled the library shelves, pacing amongst the rows. The werelion aspect wasn’t a huge surprise considering the town was filled with them. From the sheriff to the school principal, members of Penelope Little’s pride held many positions. Including Penny herself as the town librarian.

So, a furball roaming the stacks was a familiar occurrence. Especially on Wednesday after the kindergarten reading circle rampaged through the space.

The only problem was this particular lion was quite a bit bigger than the beasts that usually visited. Bigger as in, an actual full grown male. Big. Really, really big.

He released a ground-shaking roar and Penelope steadied the stack of books that trembled on the corner of her desk. Dammit.

She heard him breathing heavily as he paced the length of the room. Air huffed in and out of his lungs, and she imagined his moist pink nose hovering over the ground as he sniffed the area. He was obviously hunting something—chasing his prey—she just wasn’t sure what. Hell, she wasn’t even sure why he bothered. The library was frequented by so many people day in and day out, lions and humans both, she didn’t think he could actually find what he sought. But, whatever. Let him waste his time. She just wished he’d find it and leave already. There was a group of second graders due any moment and she hadn’t had a chance to straighten the children’s area.

Another roar, and this time the other pile wavered and actually did fall. Dammit. For real this time.

Enough was enough. She wasn’t sure when Mr. Growly snuck in, but he needed to get gone. Thankfully, Penny knew just the lion to handle the job.

Her alpha, Justin Palmer.

Penny snatched up the phone and quickly dialed her alpha. There was only one ring before her call was answered, and the voice that reached her sounded panicked and harried.

“Hello?” She recognized the alpha’s mate, Dana.

Since Penelope was outside the clan’s den, even if no customers were in the building, she used the woman’s true name rather than her title. “Hi, Dana, this is Penny down at the library. I, uh, was wondering if Justin was missing a friend from out of town.”

Friend. Right.

“A friend?” The woman cleared her throat. “What kind of friend?”

“Our kind of friend.” Stress on the our.

“Oh, thank God. Yes, yes he is, actually.”

“And…” And what the hell should I do with him? Of course, she couldn’t actually say that without sounding all disrespectful and whatnot.

“And…” She could practically hear the woman thinking. “I guess just make sure he’s comfortable. At least until Justin gets there.”

“Comfortable?” The woman had to be crazy. How the hell could a lion be comfortable in a freaking library? Hell, half the time Penelope wasn’t comfortable. It was just that… She really enjoyed books. Well, reading books. Filing them after ankle biters got their hands on them was a different story. “You don’t want to—I don’t know—come get him?”

“It’s not like I can actually force him to take direction, can I?” Dana snapped.

Penelope was tempted to say yes, you really could since you’re the Alpha Mate, but refrained. She liked her hide just where it was, attached. “Okay,” she swallowed past the new nervousness that attacked her, “what should I do with him then?”

The “him” in question, rounded yet another row of shelves and stopped. He swung his golden-eyed gaze to her, and it was the first time she’d actually met his stare. From the moment he’d entered the building, she’d only caught glimpses of his luxurious coat. Only seen snatches of his fluffy mane and flicking tail. Now she was trembling beneath the full weight of his gaze.

Oh, my. He was… Wow. That was all she had. Just wow.

Penelope’s inner lion purred and padded forward. The cat wanted to rub and slide against the larger male. That single look made her crave him. She licked her lips, mouth suddenly dry, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he’d look like on two feet rather than four. Oh, she knew he’d be tall and muscular, all male shifters were. While the females could vary in size and shape, the males—the protectors in their species—were always strong and dominant. Some more than others. This lion looked like he’d be massive in human form. Large and fierce and oh so delicious…

Yum.

No, not yum. Bad, very bad. This male wandered around like he owned the place and disrupted her entire day. Inconsiderate, that’s what he was. Not yummy in any way. Except maybe in the very bad, very good way.

She was so lost. She didn’t even know what he looked like, but his aggression and dominance reached out and beckoned her. Penny’s cat wanted him like there was no tomorrow, and she found that her human body couldn’t wait to see him once he shifted. Everything about him called to her, and she would happily pick up the phone and answer.

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Published: March 9, 2015
Length: Short Story
Lions in the City #2
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance
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Jennifer Palmer growled into her phone at her best friend, Penelope Little. No, wait, her BFF was now Penelope Tolson—mate to the North American Alpha. She should probably be all respectful and shit. Too bad Jennifer’s respectful bone was broken.

“Look, Pen, I get what you’re saying, but I’m fine.” She raised her hand and waved, hoping to catch the attention of the passing cabbie. She was due in court in fifteen minutes, and she still had to get across town. Between waking up late, taking forever to get dressed, and arguing with Penny on the phone, Jen was super late.

“Yeah,” Penelope snapped. “Everyone is fine until they’re dead.”

Dead. Everyone was so worried about her life. Or rather, her remaining alive. One high profile case, and suddenly Jennifer was on everyone’s mind. Her brother, alpha of her and Penelope’s old pride seem to be calling every ten minutes. And if he wasn’t calling her, Penelope was on the phone. Then there was Pen’s mate, Marcus, checking on her constantly.

Each of them had the same concern—finding Jennifer dead in a ditch.

They also had the same answer—giving Jennifer a bodyguard.

She was a werelion, for goodness sake! She could protect herself. God gave her fangs and claws, didn’t he? Of course that thought had her remembering Marcus’ last words… “What good are fangs and claws against a bullet?”

Maybe they couldn’t do a damn thing, but that didn’t change the fact she was still a werelion with the ability to heal much faster than a human.

“Are you listening to me?” Penelope shrieked.

“Uh, sure. Totally.” Jennifer was so not listening.

“So you agree with me?”

A bright yellow cab screeched to a stop beside Jennifer, and she snared the handle to the door. She yanked it open, and quickly slid into the backseat, nearly dropping her phone. “Oh, I totally agree with you.”

She hoped they were talking about paint colors for Penelope and Marcus’ apartment. Or rather sky high palace. Penelope had moved up from the tiny old apartment she had in their hometown to the penthouse of the tallest building in the city. The two had offered Jen a place in the same building, but she’d refused. She left Ryland on her own, and she’d make a home for herself in the big city on her own.

Penelope released a high-pitched squeal. “Oh, I knew you’d see sense! I told Marcus you would, but he wouldn’t listen. I totally won that bet.”

The cab jolted to a stop outside the courthouse, and Jennifer shoved cash toward the driver before she climbed from the interior. Her heels clicked and clacked as she rapidly raced up the stairs. “Yeah, you won? So happy for you.” She distractedly replied. “What was the bet?”

Her shoes slipped on the polished floor of the lobby as she dashed around the corner. The metal detectors were just ahead, and she sighed in relief that the lines weren’t too long. A glance at her watch showed she had three minutes to get to the courtroom and she couldn’t be late. The judge was fair but a hard ass, and she’d worked so hard on this case that the last thing she wanted was to fuck it up. Or give the opposing counsel a reason to request a mistrial.

“Penelope?” Her friend still hadn’t answered her question. “What was the bet?”

Jennifer’s destination was in sight, and she groaned when she saw the news vultures surrounding the entry to the room. Everyone’s gaze swung to her as she ran toward them, the flash of light and cameras confirming they’d spotted her.

Dammit.

“Look, Pen, honey… I need to cut this short. Court is starting any second now, and I gotta make it past the media jackals.” A couple of those jackals moved toward her, microphones extended and cameras intent on her. “I’ll call you as soon as I’m done for the day and we can talk about that bet, huh?”

“No! Wait! You have to—”

Jennifer was no longer listening because one of the reporters wasn’t a reporter. He wasn’t holding a microphone or a tape recorder. No, he was holding a gun. Black and compact, it blended in with everything the others waved around and she didn’t spy it until it was almost too late.

She immediately dropped her cell phone and stumbled back a step, fingers flashing to claws without thought and her fangs descended in an instant. Right about that moment, she realized Marcus may have been right. Fangs and claws might not be a good defense against a speeding bullet.

The bright flash that came with the pulling of the trigger and release of a round was immediately followed by the loud boom of the gun firing. It echoed off the marble walls, and the reporters—the real reporters—ducked. Jennifer tensed to do the same, but she shouldn’t have bothered. Because at that moment a large body plowed into her. The stranger took her to the ground, his weight forcing her against the floor, and they both grunted with the impact. Another echoing pop reached her, which was immediately followed by another grunt from the person atop her.

The person atop her…

Snarls and roars bounced around the hallway and those were followed by shouts from courthouse security. It was obvious the gunman was either captured or being pursued by others.

Which left her with the person atop her. Jennifer breathed deeply, and the scent of the dry plains struck her—the aroma particular to a specific species. So, not a human or warlock. Definitely not a vamp—he scented very much alive—nor a werewolf. (None of that wet dog smell.) No, she’d been tackled by a lion. Not just any lion, but one particular lion. Her mate.

Her mate who was… a coppery tang filled her nose… bleeding?

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Published: March 15, 2015
Length: Short Story
Lions in the City #3
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance
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Addy couldn’t let them catch her. Not now, not ever. That single thought in mind, she clutched the small bundle in her arms tighter and forced herself to run faster. Her inner lioness attempted to help, adding what strength and speed she could, but it wasn’t enough. They were larger, stronger, quicker, and fueled by both rage and fear. She’d managed to avoid them for the last two weeks, but the more time that passed, the closer they came and this was the closest yet.

She still wasn’t sure what clued her in to their arrival, but something alerted her lioness danger was near. She’d peeked out the front window of the moldy hotel room, spied the two hulking males, and then escaped out the back with nothing more than the clothes on her back, a diaper bag, and what those two men hunted… the baby.

She ducked and weaved through the busy crowd, fighting the natural flow of foot traffic. She took advantage of the fact she was much smaller than the two males. At over six feet tall and two hundred-plus pounds, they had to struggle against the gathered bodies.

Growls chased her, their sounds making it seem they were within inches of her, but that couldn’t be. She’d had a decent lead when she fled the hotel, hadn’t she? Now snarls reached her, the men foisting their anger at her actions. The humans’ fear stung her nose as they seemed to finally realize they had furious non-human somethings in their midst.

They were livid with her, but they couldn’t have known why she’d run. Then again, maybe they did and didn’t give a damn. They worked for Tony Davis, didn’t they?

And Tony wanted his baby back.

Not while she had breath in her body.

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Published: March 23, 2015
Length: Short Story
Lions in the City #4
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance
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Hillary really wished she had some sort of superpower. It didn’t even have to be one of the more known abilities. She’d be happy with something small and insignificant, such as being able to turn her finger into a metal key instead of a lion claw. Mainly because as she stared at a locked door, a key would be really helpful. A lion claw… Not so much.

She just wished…

Nothing. She wished for nothing. After sitting behind a locked door for over twenty years, she’d finally accepted that hoping and praying got her nothing. And yet… She’d heard the whispers and low growls, snatched a look at a newspaper blowing in the wind drifting across the street, and she the recognized the scent of fear that hovered in the air. Something had changed. And if she played her cards right, and waited for just the right moment, she might escape.

Or rather, she might have escaped had she played her cards right the first time around. But she hadn’t and so now she sat alone in her room staring at a locked door.

Which… brought her back around to wishing she had a superpower.

Hillary sighed and flopped onto her bed. It was one of the nicer ones she’d had over the years even if the location left much to be desired. The mattress was plush and soft with just the right amount of give without being too squishy. And bonus, the whole room was hers alone. Considering the first fifteen years of her imprisonment had been spent sharing a room with one half-mad werelion or another, this was heaven.

Mostly. It wasn’t quite so heavenly when the activities outside her room, and the sounds that came through the thick door, insinuated there was some heavy-duty movement going on. Not super surprising. She couldn’t count the number of times they’d changed location, but the situation seemed so very, very different than all the others.