Unlock a thrilling world of supernatural romance with "Brightest Shadow"! This werewolf novel is the first in a series, perfect for risk-takers looking for a captivating read. Step into the shadows and journey with our brave heroes towards true love and danger!
Werewolf Alpha. She's not interested.
Book 1 in the Mythical Knights Series
Still, that’s exactly where David Drigan finds himself--lost and rudderless after the death of his father. Nonetheless, the final transformation to turn David into the leader has yet to happen, leaving his family wondering if he will ever be strong enough to lead his pack.
Trying to step into his place in society, David meets Kelsey.
Blonde. Curvy. Attitude.
There’s just something about her that makes David’s beastly desires surface unlike ever before. The need to take her and protect her, if only from herself, overwhelms him.
Not that Kelsey would let him. She doesn’t need anyone to take care of her. Her premonitions and low-key psychic skills do that for her. She trusts her gut, like, for everything.
But this David guy? He's not her usual bad boy.
He’s, like, a suit.
Crazy.
Then things get crazier.
One night at her favorite decrepit amusement park, she learns there’s a lot more to David—and the world—than she ever expected.
Can Kelsey step into this darker world and truly stand by her alpha? Or will she cut and run? Get away from this crazy, before it makes her crazier?
Series Order
Mythical Knights Reading Order:
Excerpt
Kelsey Blaine straightened her dress while balancing her phone to her ear.
“No, I snuck upstairs to the executive floor so I wouldn’t have to listen to Forrester’s panic attacks,” she said as she pulled and tucked the front of the black dress, frowning at how the dress clung to her curves. “That man’s going to have a heart attack. He can’t find the guest of honor, I guess, and he’s freaking out about it.”
“I can tell you care,” her best friend Marissa said.
“I don’t. I’d be out of here in a minute if I could get away.”
Marissa laughed. “Well, there are worse things. Fancy dinner, cocktails. Shrimp.” She smacked her lips. “I love shrimp.”
“I’ll sneak some out in my purse.”
“Oh God, don’t. That would be so nasty. I’ve seen the inside of your purse.”
“Hey, what are you saying?” Kelsey asked, but she laughed when she did because she knew what her friend meant--her purse was disorganized chaos on a good day.
“What are you wearing?”
“My little black dress.” However, she thought it looked like shit. She’d probably gained ten pounds since Christmas. The winter weather hadn’t let her go running like she’d been used to, and it was starting to show.
“Hope you’ve got some bling for it.”
Kelsey studied the simple, knee-length dress in the mirror and then eyed the bar she could see in the reflection behind her. Maybe she’d sneak a drink before going back downstairs… “Well, it’s not like I had time to run out and buy a dress. Forrester’s been on my ass about everything lately, and I didn’t realize attendance was mandatory for this dinner.”
“Of course, it is. You need to meet the people you’re setting this up for.”
“And that’s the kicker, right there,” Kelsey said. “I’ll be doing all the work. Forrester will be taking all the credit again. I’d much rather be over at your place watching a movie than hob-knobbing with a bunch of the city’s self-important.” When she started working at Jackstone Foundation, she thought she’d enjoy meeting some of Liverly’s wealthy and influential. That appeal wore off very, very quickly.
Now it was just dull. Conservative men and women in power suits were so not her thing. She’d much rather have a guy on a motorcycle with a big, gnarly tattoo than these stuffy people.
Marissa jarred her out of her thoughts. “And tonight, we’re going with a classic stupid one--Clueless, from 1995.”
Kelsey sighed. “You pick the most awesome movies.”
“Felt like some Paul Rudd before he became Ant-Man.”
“Nice. I met him once at a convention,” Kelsey said.
“You meet everyone at a convention.”
“What can I say? It’s my only vice.”
“Aside from sex and movies,” Marissa answered.
“Not at the same time.” Both women laughed--funny because it was true. “Okay, not always at the same time.” She adjusted her hold on the phone. “Look, I have to go. I can’t touch up my makeup or get this zipper all the way up on the phone. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“We still on for pedicures this weekend?” Marissa asked.
“Sure, as far as I know.” Kelsey didn’t plan to cancel, but work sometimes got the better of her, and her social life got put on hold. “I desperately need a pedicure, so I should be there.”
“Good, I’ll save the Chris Pine movie for you.”
“Which one?”
“You pick.”
Kelsey grinned as she hung up the phone. Her mind ran through different movies with Chris Pine and decided what would be good to watch with her girlfriends. They didn’t go out and get pedicures and manicures but did their own--none of them could afford to go to a salon to get them done regularly.
The joys of being young and single and living outside your means… Besides, it was good girl time. And girl time was necessary. She and her friends were single, and there was only so much time that could be spent in a bar.
And sometimes, after they were pretty, they did go out to the bar.
Probably won’t this time--it was too cold to wear open-toe shoes.
After finishing her touchup, she started fighting with the dress’s zipper again.
“I swear, I’m never eating chocolate-covered anything again,” she muttered as she tried to reach behind herself and pull the zipper up the last few inches in the back. The darn dress didn’t quite fit as well as it used to.
“May I help you?”
She screamed and jumped. When she spun around, her back against the edge of the mirror, she was faced with a gorgeous man in a navy-blue suit.
Complete with the blue and gray striped tie.
Uber conservative.
So not her type.
His short, dark hair was combed back, emphasizing the sharp widow’s peak on his brow, only adding to the conservative look--like he’d walked out of the nineteen fifties.
But damn, it worked.
In all the ways.
“What are you doing up here?” she asked, staying against the mirror.
“Avoiding the party. What are you doing up here?”
She shrugged and forced a smile. While she was still a bit on edge at being surprised, she didn’t feel threatened.
Probably because he remained across the room from her, and her purse was closer--where a can of pepper spray remained. If she could find it, that was another story, but hey, it was there.
“Getting ready to go down to the party like a good little employee.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You work here?”
She nodded. “Five years. You’re here for the benefit?”
He nodded. “Not a huge fan of crowds.”
“I feel you. I’d much rather be home watching a movie. Or out for a run.”
His eyes lit up for a moment. “Where do you like to run?”
“Outside. Whenever the weather cooperates, anyway.” She gestured outside to the snow-covered building tops visible out the overly large windows and tried not to think of how her black dress was tighter than usual. “I hate running on a treadmill. It makes me feel like a hamster in a cage.”
“Me too. Gotta feel the earth under my feet,” he said as he crossed the room to the long windows. “It sure is a beautiful view up here.”
The Jackstone building was one of the tallest in the downtown area. Outside, the city was lit up with dots of light illuminating buildings and the cars on the ground. A bit of snow swirled around, making the downtown area look like a newly shaken snow globe.
She didn’t get any closer to him--she could see the view just fine. And maybe it had something to do with her dress not being completely zipped up in the back.
“It’s beautiful,” she replied.
He glanced at her. “Come see.”
“I’ll be fine here.”
“I won’t bite,” he said with a smirk.
“Maybe I like bites,” she said and wanted to smack herself upside the head. What was she thinking, flirting like that? He wasn’t even her type. She pulled at the pendant on her necklace--a stone with Black Widow’s logo from the Avengers on it. It was subtle, like a code--those who knew what it was, recognized her as a fellow comic book fan. Those who didn’t? It was just a necklace.
His gaze darted to the necklace. At least, she hoped it was the necklace and not her rack-o-boobs that were trying to pop out of the dress.
“A gentleman doesn’t bite on the first meeting.”
She let go of the necklace and took a couple of steps toward him. “Are you a gentleman?”
“Most of the time.”
When she reached his side, she turned her gaze to the scene outside. Both quietly watched the world outside. It was so peaceful to see, like watching a movie in an empty theater. What was out there wouldn’t touch her in here.
It felt warm.
Safe. Comfortable.
She would have stayed like that all night, watching the snow, but his cell phone chirped in his pocket, jerking her out of the quiet moment.
He sighed and pulled it out. “It seems I’m missed downstairs. Will you walk down with me?”
“Sure, I--” she twisted and remembered her dress. “As soon as I get this stupid dress zipped up.”
“Let me help you.”
Figuring she didn’t have many options, she turned, looking over her shoulder at him. “It can be stubborn.” Not to mention tight, she thought.
“So can I,” he said. He put one hand on her waist, and she bit her lip because the intimate gesture zinged her in all the right ways. As he zipped the dress, his finger grazed the back of her neck.
She tried not to shiver as he finished.
“That should do it,” he said, his breath grazing her neck. For a second, she wished she hadn’t cut off her hair last week.
Maybe.
Okay, not really.
“Thank you,” she said as she stepped away. “Let me grab my purse.” The heat from being near him was a bit overwhelming, and she needed a moment to center herself. Since when was it so sensual for a guy to zip up a dress?
Taking it off, that’s another thing entirely.
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and noticed that even though his face was somber, his eyes met hers, and she felt another zing all the way to her toes.
What the hell?
Who was this guy?
Facing the mess she’d left on the tabletop, she stuffed her makeup back in her purse and slipped the strap over her shoulder. Though before she turned, she heard his steps getting closer. This time she heard him, anyway. Why she was so suddenly attuned to him, she didn’t know.
So, she spun around with a smile. That’s what polite ladies did. They smiled, right?
Right.
“Are you ready?”
“If we must.” He held out his arm.
“I guess we must.” She put her hand in the crook of his elbow. “Let’s go wade through the sharks.”
He smirked. “Think it’s more wolves than sharks.”
She laughed. “Most likely.”
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