Black Wolf (Black Wolf Series Book 1) Read online

  Black Wolf

  A Black Wolf Series Novel

  Book One

  J. E. Martin

  Black Wolf

  A Black Wolf Series Novel

  Book One

  J. E. Martin

  All Rights Reserved

  Copyright © 2016 Jane Ellis Martin

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a database retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Under no circumstances may any part of this book be duplicated for resale.

  This is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Cover images: conrado/Bigstock.com & ando6/Bigstock.com

  Cover design by J. E. Martin

  jemartinbooks.com

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  Summary

  Grace Dawes is enjoying a boring, anonymous life in the aftermath of a tumultuous childhood until a call from her estranged parents takes her back to her hometown. When the visit gets derailed by a menacing intruder in her parents’ home and Grace’s life is put on the line, she comes face to face with a man she believed existed only in her dreams.

  Lathan Black has spent fifteen years trying to get over the only woman his heart has ever truly desired. The ambitious young shifter rules himself, his wolf, and his pack with total control. But when Grace crashes unexpectedly back into town and falls into mortal danger, he and his family are the only ones she can turn to for help.

  Plunged into a universe of magic, Grace must choose whether or not to abandon her carefully structured life to fulfill an extraordinary destiny she has never been prepared for. Lathan must grapple with the rigid composure holding him back from becoming the wolf he is meant to be.

  Can they give up control long enough to explore the promise of love?

  Table of Contents

  Summary

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  I’m learning that losing control can be a good thing.

  You should try it sometime.

  Chapter One

  Fifteen years ago

  There had never been a more perfect night for fireflies. The air had cooled as the sun sank below the horizon, and the little lights came out in droves to play. Grace bounded down the stairs and out into the back yard. Across the way, the wood line was dark and dense with trees, but in the brilliance of so many fireflies, she could see every trunk individually silhouetted against the twinkling backdrop. If she were completely still, she could even hear the fluttering of so many tiny wings.

  “Look at them all!” she cried, her excitement echoing into the darkness. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!”

  “You want a jar?” Allison Dawes called from the deck.

  “That’s so mean,” Grace scoffed with as much attitude as a well-behaved thirteen-year-old could muster. “I’ll hold out my hands and see if they come to me!”

  Her mother chuckled and said something Grace couldn’t hear to her father. She didn’t have to look back to know they were holding hands—her mother might even be sitting on her father’s lap. Grace loved to see them that way, and it felt like an eternity since they had all been together.

  She lifted her hand to inspect the source of a whisper-soft tickle on her finger. Blink! A minuscule spotlight illuminated her fingertip before the bug flew off, moving on to bigger and better things. Grace couldn’t blame the little creature—the forest ahead was an enchantment calling to her, too.

  “Don’t go too far, Gracie,” her father warned lightly.

  She slowed her pace, not having realized she was moving to the edge of the trees.

  “I’m good, Dad. Just right here.” She turned to assure him as headlights swept across the darkness in front of her.

  She could barely make out her mother’s frown as her parents shared a look, and Grace couldn’t help the disappointment she felt.

  “You have to leave already?” She sighed, her shoulders sagging as she trudged back towards the deck.

  Her mother rose and shook her head as she crossed to the sliding glass door. “No, this is unexpected.”

  The doorbell rang in the distance.

  “You two stay here,” her mom said, smiling once again, “I’ll go check.”

  The door opened and closed with a whoosh, and her dad stood to stretch.

  “You don’t have to worry, kiddo. I think we’re home for—”

  “Chris?” her mom called from inside.

  “Maybe I spoke too soon.” He flashed her an apologetic grin.

  “Right.” Grace crossed her arms and rubbed her hands up and down them. She wasn’t cold, but sometimes that soothing action helped her contain the frustrated scream she would have preferred to let out.

  Whoosh went the door.

  “Chris, I think you’d better come inside,” her mom said. Grace recognized that tone—it always meant bad news.

  From her spot on the deck, Grace could see a man standing behind her mom in the kitchen. He was tall and handsome with short, silver-blond hair and a dark shadow of a beard, but what Grace noticed most was how tight and serious his face was.

  Yep, as expected. Bad news.

  When her dad spotted the man, he drew in a deep breath and straightened his shoulders.

  “Gracie, why don’t you stay out here a little longer. Don’t wander, though.”

  And off he went. Like always.

  Grace watched the three of them talking and tried to work up a little bit of nerve. She followed the rules like it was her job, even when she didn’t like them. But this man seemed different, and she felt drawn to find out what was happening.

  She was
still mustering the courage to move closer to the house when she noticed: the night had gone quiet. No crickets or birds or noises of any sort. It was like every single thing in her little world was acting out of deference to the fireflies dancing around her, and if she had never experienced the scenario before, that’s exactly what she would have believed. But she knew what was coming and she broke out into a bashful grin.

  In the lull, she heard sticks crackling to the left. Someone was jogging along the footpath that cut through the woods, and Grace sucked in an involuntary breath.

  “Lathan?” she called softly.

  “You always know.” His baritone voice sent up a surge of butterflies in her stomach, but it was nothing compared to the sight of him as he emerged from the trees. He stopped short, and she could see

  a crooked smile spread across his handsome young face in the flickering light.

  “Did you do this?” he asked, motioning around at all the fireflies.

  “Sure, I summoned a swarm just for you,” she said, teasing him. “Did you do this?” She held her hands out to indicate the sudden absence of night sounds.

  “You know it.” He winked as he slipped his hands into his pockets.

  Grace wondered why he wasn’t coming any closer. “Well, don’t hang out by the trees. My parents have one of their visitors. I think this one might be big-time. He’s intense.” She frowned when he didn’t move. “Come on.”

  Lathan’s smile fell away like she’d slapped it off with a dirty dishrag. “No—we should give them some space. Maybe we could go for a walk down to the lake.”

  “Don’t you want to help me figure out what he’s here for?” Grace laughed, but he shook his head firmly.

  “Not now, Grace.” He looked to the house then nodded towards the woods. “Let’s go.”

  “Wait, what’s going on? Why are you so—”

  “We don’t have time for this.” He strode forward and reached out like he was going to grab her arm.

  “Don’t!” She frowned and took a step back.

  He stopped dead in his tracks and dropped his hands.

  “Shit,” he said. “Grace, I’m—I’m so sorry. I’m not trying to scare you.”

  “Then stop acting so weird.” Grace rubbed her arms again.

  “Yeah.” He ran a hand over his hair. “Listen, I need to tell you something. It’s scary and crazy and you’ll never believe me, but—”

  “You can tell me anything.” She followed behind him when he turned to pace away.

  “This is not just anything.” He groaned, letting his head fall back. She could see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, and felt like her stomach was riding the same roller coaster.

  “Okay…”

  “You have no idea how I feel about you.” He reached out, this time gently, to take her hand. “But I want you to know that—”

  Whoosh.

  “Lathan.” A deep, gravelly voice boomed across the yard.

  “Give me a minute, Diesel,” Lathan said, not taking his eyes off Grace.

  The deck boards creaked as the man’s heavy boots clomped closer.

  “In. Private.” Lathan bit out.

  Grace watched the big, scary guy move away without further hesitation, and the hairs on the back of her neck lifted. “What is this?” she asked.

  Lathan didn’t respond and when she looked back to search his face, she cried out. His whole body was shaking and an aura of white-gold light was surrounding his frame.

  “Lathan.” The man, Diesel, growled out what seemed like a warning as he moved forward again.

  The light grew brighter.

  “No!” Grace held her hands up to stop the man from coming any closer. But he was already down the stairs and heading straight for them. Grace knew her body was going to be torn in half—she was certain fear had stapled her feet firmly to the earth beneath them, yet she was flying through the air at the same moment, putting herself in front of Lathan.

  “You need to move, honey.” Diesel slowed as he approached her. “Right now.”

  “No way—”

  Lathan’s words were strained. “Do what he says.”

  “Gracie!” Her dad was rushing across the deck, her mom on his heels.

  Grace could hear the blood pounding in her ears, confusion and fear trapping her, as she turned to face Lathan and shielded her eyes from the glow that was beginning to engulf him.

  “Grace, I’m sorry.” Lathan apologized again, but his words were warped with pain. “No matter what happens, you have to know I lo—”

  Arms grabbed Grace from behind—and damn, they were strong. Her feet were ripped from the ground as the light around Lathan blew out into an enormous fireball.

  “Lathan! No!” Grace screamed, fighting helplessly against those arms as they hauled her to safety.

  He had to be dead, she knew that, but she couldn’t look away. The heat from the fireball was burning her up and she was perfectly fine with the thought of it consuming her, too.

  The light vanished as quickly as it had appeared and Grace sobbed as she anticipated the devastation. His body—how much damage had it sustained? Would there be anything left of him?

  A vicious growl ricocheted through the trees.

  Diesel shoved Grace in the direction of her family. “Get her to the lab and lock up until I come down there.”

  “Gracie—” Her dad hooked his arm around her shoulders and pulled her with him.

  “No! Lathan! What happened to him?!” Grace jerked and moved to see around her parents. Why were they trying to block her view? “Please!”

  Grace gasped.

  An enormous wolf was standing in the space where Lathan had been, head low, muscles rippling under its dark coat, eyes locked on her.

  “Lathan?” Grace whispered. It couldn’t be—it had to be. Why did her heart feel like it was on fire?

  “Come on,” her mom said, sounding too calm. “It’s time to go.”

  “Calm the fuck down and put on the damn pants.” Diesel scrubbed his hands down his face. “Do you know how hard it is for me to keep my own wolf in check while my alpha is losing his shit?”

  Lathan threw the clothes on the red deck chair and paced past the sliding glass door again. “I can’t go in there. I can’t see her. And I sure as hell can’t look her in the eye and send her away. You do it.”

  Diesel snorted and crossed his arms. “Yeah, that’s one order I’m not going to follow.”

  “I couldn’t stop the shift.”

  “I know.”

  “I didn’t mean to attack you.”

  “I know.” Diesel inspected the slash that had cut clean through the sleeve of his favorite leather jacket.

  “Shit.” Lathan crossed back and glared at the jeans and t-shirt Grace’s father had left out. “Even they knew I was going to pop early.”

  “I know.”

  “Really appreciating all the words of wisdom here, brother,” Lathan snarled as he yanked the t-shirt over his head. “Thank Fate I’m not finished filling out. At least I won’t look like a total idiot in front of her.”

  “Nope.” Diesel shrugged. “You’ll look like a magical wolf-man trotting around in her dad’s pants.”

  Lathan cursed under his breath as he dragged the jeans on. They’d be a little short, but short was better than naked in this case. Well…marginally.

  “Cheer up,” Diesel added, sounding anything but cheerful. “At least she won’t remember.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Looks like I missed the show. Again. Either my timing is eternally abysmal or you boys are terribly shy.”

  Lathan and Diesel both whipped around and dropped into defensive positions as they faced the darkest corner of the deck.

  A titter preceded their guest as she stepped out of the shadows. “Well, then. Hello to you, too.”

  “Dammit, Aveleiyn.” Diesel huffed and straightened up. “It’s a rough night. Did you have to creep in the fucking shadows?”

  “Vampire, re
member?” She rose onto the tiptoes of her black, punk rock boots to kiss his cheek, then moved to do the same to Lathan. “I live in the shadows, my pet.”

  “Not anymore, thanks to our friends inside.” Another voice came from the ground below.

  “For Fate’s sake,” Lathan growled. “Did you call the whole of the R & B tonight?”

  “Only the ones we trust the most,” Diesel replied, stepping back as the newcomer took an easy leap—one that carried him from the grass, up and over the deck railing—and landed with a soft thud in front of them all.

  “I never get tired of that.” He flipped his blond hair back with a grin.

  Aveleiyn clicked her tongue. “Show-off.”

  “Thanks for coming, Ren.” Diesel shook the man’s hand.

  “Always.” Ren offered Lathan his hand as well.

  But Lathan glared and clenched his fists. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Diesel. This can’t be the guy.”

  Ren kicked his head back and laughed, while Aveleiyn appeared to be totally calm.

  “He’s the best Protector available.” Diesel frowned.

  “I’d have also accepted the best in the world,” Ren chimed in, dropping into one of the deck chairs and hooking his legs over the side of it.

  “You’re a child,” Lathan snapped.

  “No, you’re a child,” Ren retorted.

  “Mmm, he’s got a point, my pet.” Aveleiyn smiled benignly at Lathan as she fluffed her blond mane back, revealing a hot pink streak of hair behind her left ear. “Ren’s got—what—a century or so on the Black pack, don’t you, dear?”

  “You should know.” Ren snorted. “You were here before me—”

  “Enough!” Lathan bellowed. He grabbed Diesel’s arm and pulled him to the opposite end of the deck. “This is the best we can do? Grace deserves better, you know that.”

  “Grace deserves to be safe, and you know as well as I do that these are the people who can make that happen.”

  “This is all wrong, Diesel. I should be the one going away. There’s still time for me to do it. I could leave her for five years. Hell, I could do it for ten. Nothing would have to change for her—she’d never know the difference.”

  “Great thought. Except now that she’s seen your wolf we have a whole new level of shit to deal with. And you know the Magistrate would never give you permission to go anywhere. You’re needed here.”