His to Protect

                                         Happy Holidays!

Whatever holiday you celebrate this month, I wish you joy and peace. Home and family have always meant the world to me but somehow at this time of year, I seem to make a concerted effort to visit with folks I don't manage to see on a daily basis. This year, I've lost family members but I've also gained a few and I'm looking forward to catching a familiar smile or hearing a laugh that brings back a wonderful memory.

Yes, I get sappy around Christmas. You should see me watching "It's a Wonderful Life" or "A Christmas Carol". I'm a blubbery mess and I don't care who sees or hears me. Remember the old saying, "Let it all hang out"? I do and it isn't pretty, lol:)

When I was younger, I enjoyed shopping but the past couple of years, Amazon and I have developed a very close relationship. I'm in a much better mood if I don't need to look for a parking place and hike five miles before I spend any money. Of course figuring out just the right gift can be exhausting, so after I've clicked my last purchase button, I still put my feet up and have a nosh and a cup of coffee or glass of wine. There are some traditions that will never change:)

Adding to the excitement that the holidays always bring, I have a sparkly new novella that will be available for pre-order on December 9! If you like your wolf shifters sexy and  protective, you just might enjoy my newest novella, HIS TO PROTECT, part of the Black Hills Wolves series from Decadent Publishing.

Blurb:

A resentful pack, a suspicious alpha and a looming threat…

After ten long years, desperation has forced Luna Sinclair back to Los Lobos but nothing in her experience has prepared her for the heat that Pack Protector, Gunnar Redmond unleashes. Her wolf is clawing to break free and run straight for the hulking beast but what wolf in their right mind would want to be tied to her family tree?

Not everyone is happy about welcoming the daughter of one of the old alpha’s henchmen, home. Old wounds and secrets are exposed and to make matters worse, Drew Tao, the new alpha has reason to suspect that she might have revealed the packs most closely guarded secret when she escaped the crazed survivalist that had been keeping her prisoner.

None of that matters to Gunnar. He’s known Luna was his mate since finding her naked and shivering on pack land and he’ll do anything to keep her. With their wolves clawing to mate and danger closing in, anyone who wants to hurt her will have to go through him first. 

Excerpt/Pg13:

Gunnar Redmond’s blood still raced from his morning run, and the female’s musky scent hit him doubly hard. The haggard white wolf had been running in a straight line since she’d hit the perimeter a few minutes ago. Nothing ran that hard unless something chased it, and he didn’t see or smell anything following her. Too soon to call a warning for something he could probably handle himself, the pack protector kept well behind his quarry. The third time she stumbled, his wolf reached for her, nearly stopping him in his tracks.

The urge to catch her before she fell surprised him. He breathed in her scent once more, finding her human nature had become much stronger and stank of a fear so fierce it permeated the crisp autumn air. She’d transformed. The scent grew stronger. His quarry had stopped, perhaps to get her bearings.

Every wolf in Los Lobos knew the location of the pack land boundaries.

She was obviously lost and confused.

Downwind and hidden by a small stand of trees, Gunnar crouched on the crest of a small hill. Naked and filthy, twigs and leaves riddled her tangled mess of dark hair that reached past her shoulders. Mud streaked her bare arms and legs. Her thin flanks trembled as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms and looked around. She might not be very tall, but her obvious curves left no doubt she was all woman.

His wolf whined.

 If he waited any longer, his wolf was going to behave inappropriately. Knocking her down so he could clean her and show his obvious interest probably wouldn’t win him any points. He stood and unbuttoned his shirt as he walked down the short incline.

The wind shifted, and she lifted her nose, turned, and froze. Her dark eyes widened, and he scented the fear she tried to hide. His size intimidated most, but her gaze had locked on his fingers, still working his shirt buttons free, and it occurred to him what the situation must look like.

Nice going, dumbass.

He let his arms drop and sighed. “Did you know you were trespassing?”

Her shoulders slumped. She stared at him a moment, and her mouth worked in a silent effort that seemed to frustrate her. Finally, her words tumbled like so much static from a radio. “Am I in Los Lobos?”

Gunnar nodded, and a shaky smile quirked one corner of her mouth.

“My name is Luna Sinclair, and I beg sanctuary.”

He stripped off his shirt with a little more force than necessary and handed it to her before turning to give her some privacy. And so she couldn’t see his face. “Are you Ed Sinclair’s daughter?” He hadn’t meant to snap.

“Yes.” She delivered the one succinct word in the same brusque tone he’d used. She didn’t sound happy about relaying the information.

“The alpha will want to see you.” He turned around. Why did he and his wolf always choose the most difficult path to reach any desired destination?

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt. Have a wonderful holiday!

Hugs,

Paris Brandon

http://parisbrandon.com

http://twitter.com/#!/ParisBrandon