Tales of the Winter Wolf, Vol. 1 Read online

  “A stray,” my father muttered, and after dislodging me and setting me down on my feet, he crouched in front of my mother. He reached out, grabbing the dog’s muzzle. Once he secured his grip, my mother let the stray go. My father cradled the puppy in an arm.

  Stray dogs came around our house all of the time; they liked our property—either that, or they felt secure from the wild predators that hunted them. Most predators weren’t stupid enough to come too close to my father and mother. As fast as Father chased the dogs away, another came, though the same one never came back twice.

  It was the first time I’d seen a puppy, though.

  “You’re not going to hurt it, are you?” Lisa whispered.

  He snorted. “Of course not. Let’s go back to the house. The place is going to be crawling with Inquisitors soon enough.”

  Sanders came with several of his pack and a lot of other people I didn’t know.

  I shivered when I saw him, but he hadn’t brought any of the Fenerec who had kidnapped me with him. When Sanders saw my father holding the black puppy, he arched a brow, pulled out his cell, and snapped a photograph. “The infamous Charles Desmond is cuddling a sleeping puppy. No one will believe it if I don’t take a picture.”

  My father surprised me with his chuckle. “Text it to me.”

  “You got it. Where are the bodies?”

  “Littering the back woods. Smith’s on the north border of the property line in the stream.”

  “Think Richard did it?”

  “Almost certainly. Be careful. While I don’t think there aren’t any more out there, I don’t know.”

  “There won’t be. Coulee City had fifteen Fenerec, Smith included.”

  My father sighed. “As if Richard wasn’t already egotistical enough. He’s got good reason to strut around after this stunt.”

  “Desmond?”

  “What?”

  “Are you aware you’re covered in glitter?”

  My father snarled, and Sanders made his escape to the back of the property, laughing. Carrying the puppy inside, another first that left me baffled, my father headed to the kitchen, dumped the animal in the sink, and grabbed the faucet, extending it. My mouth dropped open as he poured a liberal amount of dish soap onto the dog and turned on the water.

  “Dad!” Lisa squealed, as did the puppy.

  “What?” he asked, keeping the squirming animal pinned with one hand while he rubbed in the soap with the other. “He’s filthy. I am not allowing a filthy dog in my house.”

  “You don’t use dish soap on dogs,” she scolded, stomping her foot.

  He paused, arching a brow. “What do you propose I use, then?”

  “Shampoo?” I suggested.

  He glared at me. “Shampoo. And how does that differ from dish soap? It’s soap. If this stuff is good enough for your mom’s hands, it’s good enough for him. Go make yourself useful, Lisa. Go get a towel. Nicolina, put the gun back in the safe where it belongs.”

  When I returned, my father was still scrubbing away at the puppy, who rested his chin on the sink and sighed. While we had a large sink, he barely fit. With his fur wet, the animal looked gaunt, probably weighing far less than I had initially thought.

  “It’s put away,” I announced, depositing my father’s keys on the counter.

  My sister returned with a towel and the hair drier. “Can we keep him?”

  The question earned her a scowl from our father. “No.”

  “So we have to get rid of him?”

  My sister was whining, and nothing good came from my sister whining. I backed up, which caught my father’s attention. “Girls, grab a stool and have a seat.”

  Confused, I obeyed, sitting on the other side of the counter while my father worked at washing away all of the suds. When he finished, he checked his handiwork. “Towel.”

  Lisa tossed it to him, and my father draped it over the puppy. “Shake.”

  My mouth dropped open when the animal obeyed, and instead of spraying water all over the kitchen, kept it contained to the towel. “Is that a Fenerec? That little thing?”

  “Good girl, you’re learning.” My father rubbed the towel over the puppy’s fur.

  The puppy—the Fenerec—was still soaking wet.

  “But he’s a puppy,” Lisa said, her tone as astonished as I felt.

  “Amazing,” my father replied. “Brush and hair drier. And raid the closet for more towels, please.”

  “I have towels,” my mother said, making her appearance. She was in her pajamas, stifling a yawn. “Get the hair dryer from the upstairs guest bathroom, Lisa.”

  My mother spread a towel out on the counter. My father lifted the Fenerec out of the sink and sat him on it. With a yawn that displayed all of his teeth, the Fenerec flopped onto his side.

  When Lisa returned, my father set the dryer aside, taking up one of the towels and rubbing the Fenerec down. I tensed, waiting for him to try to bite, but he lay still and quiet.

  “How can one wolf kill fifteen?” my sister demanded.

  “A wolf can, if he’s smart.”

  “But Richard’s huge. He’s much bigger than those other wolves,” my sister protested.

  My father nodded. “Didn’t look like a big animal had killed them, right?”

  “Right,” my sister replied.

  He pointed at the little black Fenerec. “Here’s your killer.”

  Lisa gawked, as did I. “But that’s not Richard, Dad. He’s… so tiny.”

  “He’s also black,” I pointed out. “Richard’s silver.”

  “Go ahead, Nicolina. Scratch his chin.”

  I hesitated, staring at my mother. She chuckled and nodded.

  The smooth, silky, sinfully soft texture of his fur was my first clue that my father was telling the truth. With a low groan, the Fenerec went completely limp in the same shameless way Richard had when I had first seen him as a wolf.

  “No way,” I blurted, yanking my hand back. “But he’s black.”

  “It’s his summer coat,” my father said, stroking his hand along Richard’s side. The glitter that adhered to the Fenerec’s coat twinkled like stars. “People like calling him the Silvered Wolf, since in winter his coat is silver, and in the spring it starts to tarnish. In late summer and fall, it turns black. When he sheds for winter, it’s back to silver. I didn’t believe it myself until I saw it with my own eyes. To add to his vanity, he can, when the need is sufficient, shift his coat—and his size. Your mother and I can shift our sizes as well, but bigger is usually better and more natural for us. It’s difficult to do, so unless we’re facing off against an entire pack and need speed and stealth, we don’t do it. He had reason. Anyway, black is easier to hide in the trees than metallic silver.”

  “Which is exactly what he needed. He’d never win a fight against so many if he let them gang up on him,” my mother added.

  “So he killed the pack’s Alpha first?” Lisa asked.

  Richard yawned and stretched out his front paws. I poked at his toes, which he splayed.

  “If it were me, I would have hunted down the submissive wolves in the pack first. The death of a pack member hurts the entirety of the pack, and it’s the job of an Alpha to protect their wolves,” my father said, his tone soft and gentle. “The more submissive the wolf killed, the more it hurts the Alpha. He probably saved Smith for last or near to last. With so many of his pack dead, he probably didn’t even put up a fight.”

  My eyes widened.

  I had killed one of Richard’s wolves. Had that hurt him? When I stared into the living room where I had shot the black and white Fenerec, my mother caught my eye and shook her head.

  Unable to leave it alone, I asked, “Is that why he stayed a wolf for so long? Because of his wolf. The one I…”

  My father reached over and pressed his finger to my lips. “He stayed a wolf because he was tired. He is still tired. I expect he’ll stay a wolf for a few more days. This time, however, no one will bother him, not once word spreads tha
t he wiped out the Coulee City Pack entirely on his own. He’s not weak, and he has shown it. Hopefuls are going to think twice now before trying him. You have a flight in the morning. Go get some sleep. I’m expecting perfection on your exams, Miss Nicolina.”

  I sighed, sliding off of the stool. “Yes, sir.”

  “He’ll probably make a nice pillow if you want to take him to bed with you,” my father suggested, smirking at me.

  I clenched my teeth, glaring at my father.

  “You’ve always wanted a puppy,” he continued, watching Richard. “Last chance to have one for a night. He’ll probably even play with you.”

  “Don’t be mean, Charles,” my mother chided.

  “Fine,” I hissed, grabbing Richard and sliding him across the counter to me. He squirmed and wiggled, stretching his paws and head in my father’s direction. When my father didn’t intervene, Richard whined. Grabbing his scruff, I held him down and grabbed a dry towel. Wrapping the Fenerec in it, I picked him up. Richard really didn’t weigh much. “If you bite me, I swear I will have you stuffed. You will forever decorate my room.”

  Richard warbled at my father and was once again ignored. I carried him upstairs. My first act of revenge was to roll him in the pile of glitter in the hallway before taking him to my room. If I had to put up with glitter spread all over the house, at least it would be on my terms.

  I shut and locked the door before raiding my closest for a sundress. It wasn’t pink, but it would do. It was yellow and had plenty of frilly ribbons. I had worn it once more than a year ago, and I hated it almost as much as the Fenerec I planned inflicting it on.

  Richard retreated towards the corner, whining with his tail tucked between his legs as I stalked after him.

  “Playtime,” I announced, and unable to resist the urge, I laughed.

  Index

  Volume One

  Hunted

  Nicolina Desmond should have known that her twin’s overly friendly behavior with the eligible Fenerec males would land her in trouble, but she never expected how far young, single werewolves would go to secure a mate.

  The Scent of Guilt

  When Richard is invited to hunt Nicolina’s kidnappers with her father, he jumps at the chance. With Desmond lusting for blood and violence, Richard is forced to toe the line between mercy, justice, and revenge.

  Firecracker

  No matter how influential Charles Desmond is, it’s not enough to stop those who are determined to take Richard’s rank through force. With Nicolina Desmond out on the hunt to kill him once and for all, he’ll need a lot more than luck to survive his stay with the Desmonds.

  Glitter

  Richard Murphy has many sides, and Nicolina Desmond is dismayed to discover that he truly has the patience of a hunting wolf and his pranks are just as nefarious as hers. When the bodies of Fenerec turn up in her back yard, however, she might have to kill again, and her target is none other than Yellowknife’s injured Alpha.

  Volume Two

  Charmed

  While Nicolina is relieved to have survived her first quarter at Stanford, there are still a few surprises left in store for her, leaving her with a lot more questions than answers… and an extra mouth to feed.

  Crash and Burn

  Richard’s worst fears come to pass when Nicolina’s plane crashes, leaving him to control her parents or witness two of North America’s most dangerous Fenerec rampage through a crowded airport.

  Wild Wolf

  In Richard’s desperation to dominate Desmond and his mate, he has done far more harm to himself than anyone ever suspected. With his human half in trouble and fading fast, it falls to his wolf to find a way to save them both. To make matters worse, it’s Christmas Eve, and Richard’s past once again comes back to haunt him.

  Volume Three

  The Silvered Wolf

  With Richard recovering, there’s some hope of salvaging their normal Christmas rituals, but her father’s plan sweeps Nicolina up into her worst nightmare—one where she’s a bartering chip held by none other than the Silvered Wolf.

  The Games Wolves Play

  Richard and his wolf are delighted to have Nicolina for their own for at least several days, but when his parents show up, their fun and games take a lethal turn.

  Volume Four

  Tangles

  Between her father’s plans to subject her to a trip to Yellowknife and the matted ruins of her hair, Nicolina’s life has become a tangled mess. When help comes from an unexpected source, she’s forced to look at herself and her worst enemy in a different light.

  Witch

  When an Inquisition witch shows up to take Richard into custody, Nicolina once again proves he has a lot to learn about Desmond’s daughter.

  Striking a Deal

  Dealing with the devil has its risks, but when Nicolina strikes a bargain with Richard Murphy, she fears she has bitten off more than she can chew.

  In Hot Water

  What should have been a relaxing side trip to the mountain springs lands Richard in hot water.

  Breaking Point

  Everyone has a breaking point, and Nicolina Desmond is no different. When her father crosses the line one too many times, an impulsive decision results in her teaming up with Richard Murphy for some good old-fashioned payback. The only problem? Their opponents are three of North America’s most dangerous wolves and the entirety of Richard’s pack.

  Volume Five

  The Power of a Word

  Despite all of her efforts and carefully cultivated hatred for Richard Murphy, Nicolina Desmond craves his company—and more. Determined to choose her own fate, she puts Richard to the test, and discovers what sort of man he is.

  Bonds

  Richard prepares himself for a lifetime of hunting Nicolina so he might claim her as his mate. However, Desmond’s daughter has plans of her own, and he has once again become her prey.

  The Value of a Life

  With the full moon on the rise, Nicolina has more than thralled wolves to worry about. Fearing what her father will do if he ever learns she has staked her claim on Yellowknife’s Alpha, she hides her love and affection for Richard in the only way she knows how. To mask their mingling scents, she unleashes a cologne apocalypse in his bedroom.

  With her new mate hunting with his wolves, she takes the opportunity to get to know his brother. But when a jealous wolf bent on destroying what Richard holds dear comes calling, Nicolina must decide for herself the true value of a life—and whether or not she is willing to kill to protect those her mate loves.

  Shattered

  Richard’s worst nightmare has come true. No longer able to feel his brother in the pack bonds and fearing for his mate’s life, he relinquishes control of Yellowknife’s pack to Desmond, hoping he’s not too late to save what little of his family he has left.

  In order to save his brother, Nicolina has killed once again. This time, however, she has shattered under the strain of taking another’s life. Should Richard make a single mistake, he may be left as the lone survivor—or fall victim to her silver bullets.

  Titles by RJ Blain

  Witch & Wolf (Urban Fantasy)

  Inquisitor

  Winter Wolf

  Blood Diamond

  Other titles from the Witch & Wolf World (UF)

  Tales of the Winter Wolf

  Volume One

  Volume Two

  Volume Three

  Volume Four

  Volume Five

  Omnibus - Volumes One-Five

  Beneath a Blood Moon (UF, Standalone, Nov 2015)

  Requiem for the Rift King (Epic Fantasy)

  Storm Without End

  Storm Surge

  The Fall of Erelith (Fantasy)

  The Eye of God

  Dedication

  To Susan and Alysha,

  Thank you so much for all of your help. Without you, these stories never would have found their way out into the world. Writing stories of any length is hard, but because of you tw
o, you not only helped me make the stories better, but you made the entire process fun from start to finish.

  ~RJ

  Winter Wolf

  Witch & Wolf, Book 2

  When Nicole dabbled in the occult, she lost it all: Her voice, her family, and her name. Now on the run from the Inquisition, she must prove to herself—and the world—that not all wizards are too dangerous to let live.