Year of the Cat free on #kindleunlimited by Janice Seagraves

I seem to write cats into my stories a lot here lately.

This is one of my favorites.

Jared is one of my favorite characters. He was fun to write, and I enjoyed the interaction between him and Morgan.

Jared's story started off in three segments and remained that way for years. I had Jared and Morgan very firmly in my mind. I just had to connect the pieces and I did.

The original story was only five thousand words or so long and published as Werecat Love. I enjoyed writing the story so much that I added a bigger section to their story and changed the title to Year of the Cat.

  

I just had to write a longer story about their love.

Photo by Janice Seagraves

Egyptian godess Bast or Bastet as she was later called.

In Year of the Cat, I tell a story about a werecat, Jarred. When things get rough, and they do, he prays to Bast. 

 Blurb: Morgan isn’t expecting romance when she accompanies her friend for a week of skiing, but when she meets Jared all bets are off.
Haunted by the loss of his parents, werecat Jared Catterick earns his keep working for the Catclaw Clan. Jared has secrets that he doesn’t mind sharing with a special lady, and he hopes Morgan is that special someone. When his past and present collide it’s worse than he imagined, and he’s forced to fight for his life.

Excerpt: 

A hard-feline shape landed on his back with claws digging in.

Jared rolled and got it off. Facing Tiger, he knew he confronted a hardened warrior with a big round face full of scars from former battles. “Ouch, you bastard.”

With his lip curled in scorn, Tiger snarled. “Time to die, kitty, and join your extinct clan.”

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell ya.”

Tiger paused. “Go on, then. Say your last words.”

“Everyone has a right to be ugly, but you’re abusing the privilege.” Jared rushed him. If he got him mad enough the brute would get sloppy. His only thought was living to see Morgan again.

Meeting in the middle, they slashed with their claws. They broke apart and circled each other, tails twitching, clashing again and again.

“I never liked you,” Tiger spat. “Even as a wee lad you had a smart mouth. I only withheld my claws ‘cos of Auntie.” He howled and dashed toward him.

“Come ahead, ye auld bastard!” Jared fell on his back and shoved him with his feet, an un-catlike maneuver, but he wanted this to end.

A thunk indicated the unorthodox tactic had landed Tiger on something hard under the snow. Tiger didn’t move.

Eerily glowing eyes in the forest surrounded him. He wasn’t alone. The rest of the glaring had arrived unnoticed during the fight. Thankfully they didn’t charge him, but with their champion lying at his feet, it might have given them pause.

He arched his back. “Come and have a go if you think you’re tough enough.”

Nothing. No sound or movement.

He didn’t want to turn his back on the glaring, but he had to leave. He had to be out of the territory by sunrise or they’d chase him down and kill him no matter where he went. There was less snow under the thick tree branches. It made sprinting easier for him, but also for those who gave chase. He hooked his claws into the roots of the trees adding more speed to his flight. Great Goddess, Bast, give me strength to live another day.

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 https://www.amazon.com/Year-Cat-Janice-Seagraves-ebook/dp/B0748CP9JH/

Still free on #kindleunlimited