Healing The Fox by Michelle Houston

Scott finished filling out the admittance form for the baby rabbits that had just been brought in, then filed away the pink copy. Picking up the white and yellow copies, he headed back into the treatment room where one of the volunteers was busy working on the babies, trying to re-hydrate them and patch them up from their run-in with a cat, while at the same time not kill them. Baby rabbits were notorious for simply dying in your hands. Unable to handle the shock, their little bodies just gave out.


Shaking his head at the whole mess, Scott clipped the paperwork onto the board for the treatment room and headed down the hallway to Isolation Room 6, where the mammals were kept. He’d been waiting for just such a moment all day. Normally up to their asses in injured animals this time of year, it had been an unusually light day ever since the fox had been brought in, although that could and probably would change at any moment. The injury to the creature came from a run in with a car. The driver had left the fox lying on the side of the road with its leg broken. If the state trooper hadn’t been passing by, and hadn’t attended a lecture Scott gave on rehabbing injured wildlife, the fox might not have made it through the night.

Scott gritted his teeth, irritated by having to wait for a moment alone with the injured animal. As much as he loved his job, being a mentor was frustrating when another shifter came in. He couldn’t risk anyone finding out his secret, or worse, thinking him insane and firing him.

So, he had to be very careful how he handled certain cases.

As he pulled the door closed behind him, he paused a moment to look out the window to make sure no one else had finished up and was heading his way. Satisfied that he was safe for the moment, he crouched down in front of the cage. The fox stared at him, almost listless from dehydration. Already twice today he had had a tube pushed down into his stomach to get water and nutrients back into his system.

“I know you’re probably too out of it to understand me, but I’m going to get you out of here as soon as I can. I leave in a few hours, and since I am set up for rehab at home, I can take you with me. I just need you to hang in there a little bit longer.”

Opening the cage door, Scott curled his fingers around the other shifter’s head and gently scratched, letting the animal get a good whiff of his scent and testing the man’s control over the beast. Shifters were always their most dangerous when injured in animal form. Instinct took center stage, and accidents can and did happen.

The last shifter he had treated was a perfect example. Two days passed before Scott found out about him, and by then the wolf had been too far gone. His human half completely surrendered to its beast after being shot, operated on, then locked in a cage. The wolf had gone insane, and Scott had to contact the nearby council to come and take him.

This time, though, he wasn’t about to let that happen. This creature was one of his kind, and he wasn’t about to lose the man inside to the fox. “Can do you do that for me? Hang in there?”

In response the fox shivered slightly, tipping his head into the scratching. Scott stayed with him longer than he should have, rubbing his hand over slightly bristly fur, knowing the other shifter needed touch to keep him from feeling isolated and drowning in hopelessness.

“I have to go, fella, but I will be back in just a little while. Remember, hang in there.”

With a last scratch, Scott pulled his hand out of the cage and closed the door just in time. Glancing up as a shadow crossed over him, he met the gaze of one of the volunteers. He could hear her voice through the door as she called out, “Scott, I’m all done with the mice cages. Anything else you need me to do?”

Growling softly at the interruption, he spared one last glance at the now sleeping fox and then climbed to his feet to finish out his day.

Almost six hours later, he had completed the paperwork to take the fox home with him. It was frowned upon to take recently admitted animals home so soon, but with the cages quickly filling, the nature center relied on home rehabbers on more and more to juggle the overflow. Given that the fox sustained no internal injuries, and simply suffered dehydration, some bumps and bruises, and a broken leg, he was a lower priority for constant care.

Which was actually more of a blessing than normal. Not only was he not too badly injured, but the sooner Scott could get the other shifter to his place and settled in, the better all around. With space, and the comfort of another of his kind, the fox should heal quickly and be able to shift back within a few days.

With Scott being a staff member and a frequent rehabber, there really wasn’t a big issue made over his taking the poor guy home with him. It also helped that Scott didn’t have to be back in for another four days, thanks to the cutback in funds.

To Tame A Wolf by Wendy Stone

Prologue: Rose’s Beginning

Screams filled the night air. Shrieks of terror mixed with yells of victory in the overrun village. No safe hiding place remained. Women and children, even the tiniest of babes, all were gathered in the center of the conquering horde.

The bedraggled group of women ranged from Grandmother Baia to Gaila, who had only recently left the school room. The children outnumbered the women. They included two babes nestled in the arms of their mothers. These women kept their heads down, hoping that respect would save their infants. Frightened girls huddled together, seeking the comfort of their elders. What males remained were toddlers or very young boys; not yet old enough to carry a sword.

Any boy of that age and strength had shared the fate of his father. Their bodies would slowly decompose into the soil.

“Gather them up,” the leader of the raiders bellowed. “We have a long journey and I want them in good shape for the auction.” He approached one of the women carrying a baby. “Are you nursing?” he asked, lifting her chin with his blood-covered glove.

“Yes, sir,” she murmured, cringing back as the hand dropped to her breasts, pushing the baby out of the way to lift and knead the sensitive flesh.

“Yes, you have milk.” He chuckled, slipping his finger into the front of her threadbare gown. Pulling slightly, he ripped open her bodice, exposing the creamy white, heavy mounds. Her huge nipples sagged slightly. “Beautiful,” he muttered, raising his hand for a man to come and take the child from her.

“My baby!” she screamed.

“The child will be returned to you… if you do as you are bid.” He slipped off his gloves, folding them through the belt that circled his waist.

“What is it you want?” Her body shook with fear as he continued staring at her exposed flesh.

He reached out, lifting one heavy breast in his scarred and calloused hand, his thumb brushing over the engorged nipple. He played with it, surprisingly gently. The woman gasped in surprise as he teased her sensitive flesh. “Stand still,” he ordered, his voice a husky grunt.

She closed her eyes. His warm lips feathered over her nipple, then the heat of his mouth covered her as he suckled her in, drawing hard. There came a heavy sensation, the not-quite pain that triggered the let down of her milk. He hummed his pleasure as the first thin stream filled his mouth with warm sweetness.

His free hand found her other breast, gently pulling at the sensitive nipple, twisting it slowly until she felt an unwelcome wetness of arousal between her slender thighs.

It tore her soul. She’d watched this man plunge his blade into her husband’s chest moments before. He’d killed her Jared, the only man who’d ever touched her in this way, and now he was stealing the succor of her milk.

“No,” she gasped, her feet moving in place as if she’d try to back away from him.

He lifted his head, a stream of milk still spilling from her nipple to spray his chin with watery blue-white liquid. He wiped it with one finger, plunging the glistening digit into his mouth and closing his eyes to savor the taste.

“Does it bring you to heat? Does my mouth on your teat make you long for a plunging cock?” he whispered coarsely. His hand slid to her skirt, lifting it even as she fought him, finding his way between her naked thighs. Forcing her legs apart, he dipped that same finger between her hairy lips. He chuckled as moist heat coated his finger.

Her hands pushed at him, grabbing his wrist in an attempt to pull him away, but he was too strong. He plunged his fingers inside her, fucking her crudely, dropping his head to her breast once more.

“No, stop,” she moaned, though her hips twitched as his tongue flicked over her nipple. He suckled lustily, loudly gulping her sweet milk, his thumb rubbing at the taut nubbin of flesh between her thighs. She came suddenly, her cries a mix of horror and pleasure, her juices flooding his hand. He lifted his head, his green eyes laughing as they gazed into hers.

“You have no shame, rutting away on my hand. The hand that killed your husband. His blood mixes with your come, lady.”

Sobs shook her shoulders and she gathered the torn edging of her bodice together over her breasts. Tears of shame and fear, of mourning and grief stained her face, reddening her cheeks as he watched. It made him laugh and he brushed his palm, still covered in her musky spendings, across her face, lifting her chin to drop a hard kiss on her down-turned mouth. “I shall keep you for myself,” he whispered. “I shall be your master and if you value the life of your babe, you will do as I say.”

He moved away, signaling again to his man, who brought her the babe then took both of them to a small wagon. He leashed her inside, a thick leather collar round her slender throat, the leash chained to a small metal circle in front. “You are a lucky one, lady, for his pleasures are few and usually quickly achieved. The rest will be auctioned off, used as serfs or bedded for the joy found between captured thighs.” The henchman gave a short, cruel laugh.

The woman did not respond. Her eyes remained blank, mirroring the emptiness she felt in her soul. She sat there, her babe laid across her lap, arms wrapped around herself. Only the lusty cries of her hungering infant woke her from her daze. She picked up the small lass, holding her to her naked breast, crooning a low, somber song until the babe had drunk its fill.

She watched as the others were tied together at the ankles, hobbled to prevent escape. They were warned that to fall would simply mean being dragged and she knew a moment of guilt over her own luck at being chosen by the leader. The other young mother screamed as her baby boy was plucked from her grasp and handed to another woman. Two men held her arms, tearing off her blouse, their mouths latching on to her leaking breasts. They drank hungrily until forced away by others, each man eager to drink. Her nipples stretched painfully as men fought for each drop.

The shocking scene filled her with dread. The poor woman wasn’t molested in any other way; the men seemed more eager to nurse from her life-sustaining milk than to sexually abuse her. With a jerk, the wagon began to move. The last of the waiting men wiped his mouth as he moved away from the shivering woman.

She laid down in the wagon, unwilling to watch the village of her birth as it disappeared from sight. The women and children tried to keep up with their captors. Those who fell were dragged as threatened, until one of the men came back and roughly righted them. She closed her eyes, cuddling her daughter, her very own Adaira Rose, to her naked breasts. Eventually, darkness took her.

A huge hand rudely woke her from sleep, pulling her up by her leash. Her captor climbed easily into the wagon. He lifted her babe in one hand, staring at the small bundle with her curly dark hair and huge blue eyes that returned his interested gaze. “Is it a boy?” he asked roughly.

“N…no,” she managed, her voice stuttering badly as she made a grab for her child. “P…please my lord, s…she’s all I have l…left.”

“What will you give me if I let her live?” he asked, gazing down at the comely lass, for she was pretty, even in fear and sorrow. She was too thin, for food was scarce in this season and the babe drained much from her. But her skin was fair and smooth, her eyes large and bright blue like her daughter’s. Blonde hair curled under the rag she wore upon her head. Her teeth were white, straight and even, not black and broken as some of the women’s.

“P…Please, lord. Anything you wish,” she begged, holding out her hands for her baby.

“What is your name, wench?” he asked roughly, eyeing her breasts.

“Madelaine, lord. My h…husband called me Maddie.”

“Maddie, aye it has a sweet ring. I tire of battles and of the travel. I wish to settle on my land, to erect a home worthy of the title and raise sons that will win the day for me. You’ve bred before, and while I’d prefer a woman known to breed sons, I find you a lusty enough wench. You shall become my wife. If you want this girl child to live, you will not fight me in this.”

“Y…you wish to make me your bride?” Maddie’s voice bore the strain of her surprise. She’d expected rape and death at the hands of her captor, not this.

“You find me offensive?” he sat back against his heels, bringing the babe to lie securely in the curve of his arm.

In truth, she found him far from offensive, despite the twisted scar that marked his wide forehead. His face bore the harsh results of a life of war and battle, but his eyes shone bright with intelligence. Dark green, they stared at her from under a heavy brow. He had a long nose, wide at the bridge and slightly crooked from being broken in one fight or another, his mouth too big, teeth white and slightly uneven. He was tall and heavily muscled, built for war, easily filling the opening of the wagon. His upper arms were as wide as her waist, their strength more than apparent.

He smelled good: male sweat mixed with the tang of the horse and the scent of leather. A heady aroma, so different than her husband’s. His speech indicated learning, articulate and well modulated. That held importance for her; before her marriage, she’d been the village teacher.

“No, lord,” she answered truthfully. “I do not find you offensive.”

“Then what is your answer, Maddie, for I do not have all day to waste. We must be to auction before nightfall.”

“My daughter, she will be allowed to stay with me?”

“Aye, this I promised before.”

“Then I agree,” she whispered, despite the tug at her conscience.

He brought his free hand to her face, slowly tracing her slender cheek. “It is good,” he said softly, bending to taste her lips for the first time.

The kiss brought a flush to her face, and not one born from embarrassment. He was talented with that overly wide mouth, teasing her with a gentle swipe of his tongue that promised nights of passionate play. “Now, this foolishness is behind us and we must get back on the trail.” He backed out of the wagon.

“Wait,” she called as she gathered her babe back to her breast.

“What is it, Maddie?” he said, his tone half teasing, half irritated at the extra delay.

“I do not know your name, lord.”

“Aye,” he laughed, mostly at himself. “Would be a sad day when a wench married a man whose name she could not give to the priest when asked. 'Tis Hawkesmoor, Maddie. But most know me as the Black Hawke.” He gave a tug at his inky black locks and threw her a wink before disappearing from sight.

Born To Fly: Landing In Love by Aliyah Burke

Chapter One

Major Erich Stark swore under his breath as a woman shot out from the back of Atlantis and damn near ran over him. As it was, she hit him dead on and he grabbed her arm to not only steady her but also keep her from falling to the ground.

“Easy there,” he drawled.

Her head jerked up and he found himself gazing into a pair of dark brown eyes framed by thick black lashes. Smooth mocha skin covered her lithe body. She had a heart shaped face with a flatter, cute button nose. Full, tempting lips were parted in shock and surprise.

“Con permiso,” she mumbled in a raspy alto voice and stepped out of his hold.

Erich’s gaze skimmed her and he couldn’t stop the flare of desire. She wore a pair of white cotton pants, which sat low on her hips and a gold cutoff shirt that exposed her flat, defined abdominals and the shapely tuck of her waist. Damn! She’s in awesome shape. Still, none of it took away from her femininity. “No problem,” he said, not minding at all how she felt in his arms. “You new here? I don’t ever remember seeing you dance here before.”

Her arched brows snapped together and her chin lifted in haughty arrogance. “Excuse me?” she snapped in English.

He pointed to the building she’d just vacated. “The Atlantis. You just came from the back, like employees do. So I’ll ask again, are you new here?”

Erich fought the urge to shuffle his feet as her gaze seared him. No woman since his mother had ever wielded the power to make him squirm. Until now. She raked her gaze from the top of his head down to his boots and back up again.

“And I suppose you know all of the ladies that work there, don’t you?” she asked in a sharp tone.

Her condescension raised his hackles. “You have a problem with men going to these places and yet you’re coming out of one? How else do you earn money if you don’t have patrons?”

“I’m surprised you would recognize my face at all. I’m sure that’s not what you’re used to paying attention to.”

She’s mighty snippy. Not that it mattered to Erich. He liked his women with fire. The desire to needle her a bit more roared over him with the force of a gale. Dropping his gaze he stared at her open toed sandals and smiled at the metallic green polish on her toes. A gold chain with small bells circled her left ankle. And around her right one was a tattoo he longed to get a closer look at.

“Tonight your first night?” he queried. I’m coming back to see you dance, whoever you are.

“You know, not everyone who leaves an establishment like this…a gentleman’s club…works in one. Some women are capable of and actually enjoy making a living without gyrating around a pole, and having men leer at them.”

She pushed by him and Erich turned and watched her walk to a waiting convertible and jump in over the door. A low growl left him when he saw the handsome younger man at the wheel kiss her cheek and then drive them both away.

“Hey Erich.” The sound of a voice pulled his head back around. It belonged to Donovan “Livewire” Leegen, friend and pilot.

“Donovan, what’s up?” he asked his friend.

“You know Bliss?” his friend asked, peering past him in the direction the car had left.

“Bliss?” Erich’s body hardened as the vixen’s image popped back into his mind. Bliss. That is a damn good name for her. What’s Donovan doing here?

“Yes, Bliss. The dancer.” Donovan frowned at him. “Dude, you were just talking to her. Hot as all get-out. A body made for—”

Narrowing his eyes at his friend, Erich ground out in a tone laced with death, “If you value your life, Captain Leegen, you’ll refrain from completing that sentence.”

His fists were clenched at his sides and he longed to smash one into Donovan. Hell, why not both? It didn’t make sense, but he wanted nothing more than to stop the phrase coming from the other man’s mouth. Preferably with a violent manner. Bliss, if that was her name, was his.

Donovan arched a blond brow at him and crossed his arms. “What does it matter to you what I say about her?”

“She. Is. Mine.”

“Since when?”

The second she walked into my arms. Setting his jaw, Erich lifted a brow of his own and stared at Donovan. He wasn’t backing down from this. Granted he hadn’t known her for longer than about two minutes, and that hadn’t even included a formal introduction. But it didn’t matter.

“Don’t fuck with me on this, Leegen,” he bit off.

Green eyes narrowed. “Jesus, Daredevil, you’re serious.”

“Deadly.” Erich didn’t even flinch at the use of his call name.

“Do you even know her?”

“Not yet.” He paused. “Where do you know her from?”

“Dancing.”

I thought she didn’t work here. Erich relaxed his fists and sighed. “You’ve seen her dancing here?”

“Here? No. Not here.”

That bit of news didn’t sit as well with him as he’d hoped. There were other strip clubs around and he didn’t want to have to go through and find her. But, if that’s what it took, he would. “I have to go. See you, Donovan.”

Donovan smiled. “Yes, I’ll see you around. Hey, Daredevil, about what I said, I didn’t mean anything by it, just that she’s hot, ya know?”

“Aren’t you engaged?”

“Sure am.”

“Then you don’t need to be looking around anyway.”

“I’m engaged, Daredevil, not dead.”

“You will be if you insist on looking at my woman.”

“Did you even know her name before I told you?”

“What I knew or didn’t know ain’t none of your business.” He licked his lips. “I will find out everything about her.”

“Since when are you so possessive over a woman?”

They walked toward his car. Once there, Erich leaned on the hood and hooked his ankles as he stared at his friend. “When did you know about Carissa?”

A purely masculine smile filled Donovan’s face. “The second I laid eyes on her.” Erich merely lifted an eyebrow and waited. Donovan murmured and nodded. “Okay, I get it. Not anything you can explain. You just know.”

“Exactly.” Erich pushed off the hood and scanned the darkening sky. “I’ll catch you around, Donovan.”

“Yes. And…good luck.”

Erich merely waved, not entirely sure Donovan wasn’t being totally sarcastic in his well-wishing. He paused with his hand on the handle of his door. “Bliss,” he muttered. “Well, not much to go on, but it’s more than I had.”

A fleeting thought that Bliss may just be her working name crossed his mind. Sliding across the leather seat of his T-Top Monterey maroon Chevrolet Camaro, Erich started the powerful engine and pulled out of Atlantis’ parking lot. Erich drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and, with a sigh, headed back for the base. Tomorrow he would begin his search for his woman. He had a flight to get ready for.

After a smooth flight Erich headed back across the base toward his room when he heard his name being called. Stopping, he waited for his friend to catch up. “What’s up, Tom?” he asked.

“I need a favor,” the man said, a desperate gleam in his eyes.