Alpha Council Representative Kurt Moore has his hands full with his investigation into the Church for Humanity… And that’s before he meets the woman who throws his world into chaos.
Alpha Council Representative Kurt Moore is settling into the town of Lovington, California and his new position. He’s busy gathering information on the five chapters of the Church for Humanity. Making plans to take down the Church and protect his fellow wolves, he dedicates all his time and energy to his work. He’s content, happy, even if a little lonely. Then he meets Savannah Conley, the new deputy, and everything changes. Savannah is such a perfect match for him that Kurt starts to question himself and his needs.
Savannah Conley accepted the open position for the sheriff’s department and was looking forward to putting down some roots. She’s instantly attracted to the quiet shifter she’s introduced to by her best friend and the more time she spends around Kurt, the more convinced she is that she and Kurt are meant to be. She might only be a human, but she knows deep down that the dark-haired shifter belongs to her. She doesn’t have a lot of time to persuade the stubborn shifter to get him on board, though.
A wolf shifter who had gone undercover with the Church has disappeared and Kurt is on the hunt. Savannah does what she can through legal means but knows Kurt will do whatever he has to, to ensure the wolf’s safety.
Enemies try to tear them apart, and Kurt and Savannah have to understand and show that they are stronger together.
Publisher's Note: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series. This book was previously released by Totally Bound Publishing. It has been revised, expanded and reedited for re-release.
General Release Date: 24th July 2018
Kurt had the latest reports spread out in front of him, covering every inch of his desk. The Council had provided the information he needed, but it was up to him and Clint to sort through what would help them shut down Dan Carter and his churches once and for all.
“Five chapters,” Clint murmured.
Kurt glanced up at him before darting a look over to the map they’d placed on one wall. The five locations of the Church for Humanity were marked with big red Xs.
Kurt was certain the entire Church was still up to no good, and with law enforcement’s hands being tied, Kurt had to watch out for his own people. The police couldn’t go after anyone without proof, but Kurt didn’t have the same restrictions. His entire mission was to end the Church’s threat to the shifters by any means necessary.
“California, Arizona, Texas, Missouri and Louisiana.” Clint stood to pace in front of the map. “Why those states? What are they up to?”
Kurt knew his friend was frustrated. Hell, they all were. He leaned back in his chair. “Those are the states with the biggest public Packs,” he supplied.
Clint shook his head. “Even so… There’s something…”
The shifters around the world had worked with their governments and leaders to announce their existence. The purpose for this was to ensure that even in their animal forms, they were protected. Too many shifters lost their lives each year after being hunted.
No Pack was made to go public. Each Alpha had the choice—become public or stay hidden. About sixty-five percent had chosen to become public.
The Council had known there would be some outside resistance. But Dan Carter and the Church he’d started were more than just the usual threat. They were organized and wanted the shifters gone.
Clint snapped his fingers. “Those five states are the ones that had the most opposition from their state representatives on shifters! I remember watching a special on it with Sara.”
Kurt jerked in his seat and looked back at the map. He thought back to when they’d first come out. Damn, Clint’s right. “You watch stuff like that with Sara?”
“She wants to know everything she can,” Clint said. “She told me it’s now her fight, too.”
Kurt smiled. Clint had chosen the perfect woman for him. “So, what’s this mean? Carter has the backing of some powerful people? That would not be good for us.”
“I don’t know, but I think it’s a possibility. A scary one.”
When the government had gone to the Senate and House about the reveal of the shifters, several members of those five states had opposed shifter protection laws. A few had even wanted the shifters gathered up and imprisoned. Kurt stood beside Clint. “They’re getting help from somewhere, so this makes sense,” he stated in disbelief. “The Church does have more powerful people behind them than we first thought.”
Clint nodded.
“Which means that if word gets out that Colt is there undercover, he could be in even more danger,” Kurt said.
“Shit, I didn’t think about that. We need to look at who knows about Colt’s work.”
“We need to call Tony and set up a meeting with the Council.”
Clint nodded. “You call Alpha Babcock and I’ll try to get hold of Tony.”
Kurt laughed. Clint had the hardest time around the Alpha Council members. Clint’s instincts were in constant battle, having to work for an entire Council full of Alphas. Most shifters only had to answer to the Alpha in charge of their Pack. The instincts that drove them were as different as their personalities. Kurt had a knack for dealing with the Council while Clint was pure hunter. It was what made them such a great team.
He walked over to the phone on his desk and dialed Council Alpha Babcock’s number. Alpha Babcock was Kurt’s immediate boss—a good older Alpha, a man Kurt had really come to respect and admire. Thirty years ago, he’d overseen a Pack in the wide plains of Oklahoma but had given his Pack over to his younger brother in order to join the Council.
“Hello.”
“Alpha Babcock,” Kurt greeted.
“How many times have I told you to call me Tim?” Alpha Babcock asked with a laugh.
“Sorry, sir.” It was ingrained in him to show respect to any Alpha. He just couldn’t help it.
Alpha Babcock just sighed. “Fine. What have you got?”
“I think Clint and I have found something. Is there any way you and Alpha Conrad could swing by my office?”
“We were just breaking for dinner. Give us fifteen minutes and we’ll be there.”
“That would be great,” he responded.
“See you soon.”
The Alpha hung up the phone and Kurt glanced at Clint. “Tony will be here too,” Clint said.
“The Alphas are on their way,” Kurt told his friend.
Clint snorted. “Great.”
“Just Babcock and Conrad. I’m glad Tony is still staying here. I’d hate to have to tell him this over the phone.”
Tony, the face of the Packs, had been instrumental in the shifters coming out. He’d been staying at the Council compound since the issues had come up with the Church. Tony was also the contact between several shifter species and the Council. Kurt, Clint and Tony had become fast friends. It wasn’t well known, either, that the undercover shifter inside Carter’s church was in some sort of relationship with Tony as well.
“Yeah,” Clint said. “You need me to stay?”
“You connected the dots,” Kurt praised. “I think you can handle two Alphas.”
Clint grunted. “Fine.”
“I’ll owe you,” Kurt said.
“After, I want to go into town and see Sara,” Clint demanded. There was a lightness in his eyes when he spoke about Sara. Kurt couldn’t deny him.
“We can do that,” Kurt agreed.
“Great!” Clint said before he smirked. “I think Deputy Conley was going to stop by.”
Kurt flinched. He couldn’t control the action and Clint’s chuckle told him his friend hadn’t missed it. He’d sort of been avoiding Savannah… Okay, he was avoiding her. They’d connected the night they’d met, but afterward he’d been spooked by such an intense link. She’d been receptive. Hell, they’d been ready for more than just the passionate kiss they’d almost shared.
It was only after he’d left that night that his brain had caught up with his hard dick. He’d been feeling sorry for himself.
He’d been the one to cancel the date.
Everyone around him had started to settle down and he’d been panicking. That did not mean he was ready to give up his freedoms as a single man. Sure, every time he thought about the sexy blonde Savannah Conley, his cock filled and his wolf wanted to claim her.
But, damn it, he wasn’t ready! So, he’d been avoiding the woman for several weeks. Clint took way too much pleasure in teasing him. Clint had every reason to mess with him about it, since Kurt had been kind of mean when it came to Clint’s courting of Sara. Or lack of courting….
“I’m not interested in her,” Kurt told his friend.
“That’s not what Sara said she witnessed,” Clint taunted.
“Sara needs a hobby.”
“Oh, I keep her plenty busy,” Clint responded.
“I think I need to assign you more work,” Kurt griped. It was too late to try to get out of going into town. He was going to have to buck up and see Savannah.
“You have to come with me. Sara wants to talk to you about Thanksgiving dinner.” Clint just grinned, rocking back on the heels of his feet.
“Thanksgiving,” Kurt repeated. He’d already promised to not only attend but to bring something. It was the first holiday that Sara was hosting with Clint. She was so excited and he couldn’t let her down.
“I don’t like you anymore.”
Clint laughed. Luckily, a knock on the door interrupted any further taunts Clint had in store for him.
Kurt motioned to Clint. “Get the damn door.”
Clint winked, but he did stroll to the door and pulled it open. Both Alphas stood on the threshold, along with Tony.
“Come in, please,” Kurt called out.
When the Alphas and Tony entered his office, Kurt realized that he should have cleaned up a little. His papers were still scattered around and it looked like a hurricane had come through.
“I see you’ve been busy,” Alpha Babcock commented.
“Yes, and you’re not going to like what we found.”
“That’s what we suspected,” Alpha Conrad said.
“Please sit down.” Kurt motioned toward the small sitting area. “Does anyone want coffee?”
“No, thank you,” Babcock answered.
The small area set to the side had a couch and a couple of chairs. Kurt sat in one chair and Tony took the other. The Alphas settled onto the couch.
“What’s going on?” Tony asked.
Clint leaned against the counter behind Tony’s shoulder. Kurt could see the compassion on his best friend’s face.
“Who knows about Colt?” Kurt asked. It was the question that had the most serious consequences.
“Why?” Tony demanded.
Clint stepped forward and placed his palm on Tony’s shoulder.
“We linked Dan Carter’s churches to the states that had the most opposition on the shifters coming out,” Kurt said. “I think, with a little more digging, we’ll learn that some of government is aiding Carter.”
Tony paled.
“Would anyone know about Colt’s undercover work?” Kurt asked.
“No,” Tony said. “The Council and my Pack. No one in the government.”
“That’s good. We need to keep it that way,” Kurt said.
“Tell us what you know and how we can help,” Babcock said.