Winter of the Beast
Dio of the Puma clan is a skilled warrior and hunter. What he doesn’t feel prepared for is his new role as ruler of a clan with few women. Does he have the necessary leadership and compassion or will his need for sex dominate? Only the massive, mysterious Beast knows.
When her cruel husband casts her out, Tawia can no longer call herself a Falcon. Her future a frightening unknown, she heads into the wilderness as winter approaches. The Beast watches.
Captured by the enemy warrior, Tawia fights her body’s demands. Trust is as incomprehensible to her as the relationship between Dio and the great puma. But neither man nor beast are willing to set her free.
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Excerpt
Movement at the base of a tree in the middle of the grove drew Dio’s attention there. It was so slight it might have been caused by the wind playing with some leaves or maybe a rodent. Knowing better than to dismiss it, he continued to focus on the tree trunk.
The movement came again. He compared it with everything he knew about what took place in nature, but nothing came to mind. More interested than ever, he slid around the trunk that had been sheltering him. As he did, he gave silent thanks to the Beast for what he’d learned about being a hunter.
A familiar presence stirred his senses. He didn’t try to make out the Beast because if the great creature wanted to remain hidden, it would. Reminding himself to be patient, he waited for the Beast to communicate with him. After a few seconds, a deep voice resonated inside him.
An intruder.
“What is he doing here?” Dio whispered.
I don’t know. And it’s a female, not a man.
“A woman? From which clan?”
Falcon.
“You want me to grab her?”
Yes.
“Why?”
She may provide the answers you are seeking. And if she doesn’t, at least her body might quiet yours.
“I’m a warrior, not a fighter of women.”
The Pumas’ future is in your hands. Everything you experience adds to your wisdom.
* * * * *
An owl had been hooting, each call interspersed with long periods of silence. Now it struck Tawia that it had fallen silent. At least the bats still flitted through the darkening sky. Clouds were moving in from the south, which made her wonder if a storm was on its way. If that happened, maybe she should watch where the bats went when they’d finished hunting and join them in their shelter.
A shudder rocked her at the thought of having to share a small, dark space with the creatures. Better to stay near the trees.
She was about to sit down again when the hairs on the back of her neck lifted. Confused and alarmed, she looked all around. Although she saw nothing, she continued to feel uneasy. Picking up her knife made her feel a little better, but how was she ever going to fall asleep if she—
A sound no louder than bird wings spun her around. She caught a glimpse of something rushing at her. Then it slammed into her and knocked her back and to the ground. Her elbow struck something hard, and her arm went numb, causing her to drop her knife. Despite the hot weight on top of her, she reached for what might be the only thing to stand between her and death.
As she closed her still-numb fingers around the hilt, she acknowledged that a human and not a puma was on top of her. It had to be a man. No woman’s muscles were that hard, no woman so large.
“No!”
“Yes,” came the decidedly male response.
Driven by terror, she bent her knees in preparation for getting to her feet. At the same time, she twisted her upper body away from the weight. She was now on her side with her legs tucked under her and her head lifted.
No matter how much she fought to buck her attacker off, the all-consuming form held her fast to the ground. Turned the way she was, she couldn’t see who it was. At least the hand holding her knife wasn’t trapped under her, but even with fear lending strength to her muscles, she didn’t try to stab her attacker. Instead, wondering if she had it in her to kill another human being, she forced herself to stop struggling. For now.
“You don’t belong here,” the man said.
“Let me go. I mean no—”
“Where are your warriors?”
Her first instinct was to tell him the truth, that she was alone. That way, maybe, he wouldn’t see her as the enemy. But if she did, he’d know how vulnerable she was. “Nearby. They’ll be here any minute.”
When he laughed, the deep sound rumbled through her. For no longer than the amount of time it took her to draw a breath, his laughter mesmerized her. Then memories of her husband taking her when and how he wanted washed over her. It wasn’t ever going to happen again, it wasn’t!
More furious and determined than afraid, she swiped her knife at the stranger, grunting as she did. The blade struck something soft.
“Damnation!”
Even before his oath fully registered, her attacker grabbed her wrist so tightly that she lost feeling in it. She struggled to strike him again, but her weapon slid out of her numb fingers. Breathing raggedly, he released her arm, picked up her knife, and flung it away.
“No!”
She again bucked under the heavier weight and somehow managed to turn toward him. In the shadows, he was massive, huge, the largest living creature she’d ever seen. Even as she acknowledged her impression, she knew fear was responsible. He was a human, not a monster. Her arms were free. She didn’t dare ask herself where his were as she called upon every bit of strength she possessed.
Planting her elbows on the ground, she fought to sit up. “Let me go!” She tried to strike him with her head, tried to knee him in the groin.
Instead of giving way, her attacker settled a broad hand over her breasts and pressed down until her back ground against rocks and dirt. Ignoring what was poking into her spine, she closed her hands around his forearm, digging in with her nails. Survival. Her world revolved around the single word.
“Damn you!”
Powerful fingers tightened around both of her wrists. She fought to lift her head so she could bite him somewhere, anywhere. But before she could, he forced her arms over her head.
“No!”
“Yes.”