Shiloh knew the moment he laid eyes on Lahni that she was his. She'd always been his and now that the threat to their people and humans alike was over for now; it was time for him to claim her. He'd waited long enough and his inner animal wasn't going to be denied any longer.
Lahni Wahpeton is the family wild child and she's a force to be reckoned with both on and off the stage. As a child, Shiloh Red Cloud was her best friend that became her first love but when he went away and never looked back, she looked forward. No one is putting a claim on her; let alone a big silver wolf who thinks he's got her all figured out.
Excerpt
Lahni felt as if she could breathe as she entered
the loud smoky bar called Razor Wire. It had been her home away from home. A metal
band was already tearing it up on the small stage towards the back. Dakota
winced as he adjusted to the loud music. Lahni led him to the opposite end of
the bar. The bar was not a pretty kind of place. It looked like the place Mad Max would have went after Thunderdome. The floor was concrete with
metal tables and beaten up bar chairs. Rumor had it that it had once been an
old steel mill that went belly up but the liquor was cheap, the beer was bad,
but she loved it. Behind the bar was an old friend; Sully. Sully was about six
feet and two inches tall, weighed almost 270, bald and tattooed, and to
everyone but her he was a mean son of a bitch. Sully had given Lahni her first
start in the music business at the rough neck club. He’d often told her that
she was the daughter he never had.
Sully
came around the bar and shoved one of the patrons out of the way. The only
place that wasn’t tattooed on Sully was his face. He was burly and had a few of
his front teeth missing, but there was no denying that he didn’t love Lahni. He
opened his arms wide and Lahni threw herself into those big strong arms.
“Hey
girl, where have you been you little hellcat?”
Lahni
looked up at him and grinned, “Everywhere and anywhere Sully.” She playfully
squeezed him, “Hey there, you feel like you’ve lost a little around the middle.
You take my advice and find some devil woman to curl up around and hold on to?”
Sully
gave a big belly laugh and shook his head, “Hell no! I’m too young for all that
nonsense.” He looked over her shoulder to see Dakota standing behind her. Sully
put on his best scowl but kept his arm draped around Lahni’s shoulders.
“I
take it that this piece of road kill came with you?”
Dakota
shrugged, “Yeah I am with her which explains me, but exactly who are you?”
In
a split second Sully had Dakota around the neck. He wasn’t really trying to
hurt him but he always had fun with the “new blood”. Lahni rolled her eyes,
“Careful old man, I have to take him home in one piece with all his important
bodily functions working.”
Sully
leaned in and took a sniff of Dakota. Dakota looked at his sister just a little
alarmed. Lahni winked at him.
“Just
remember here pup, don’t start no shit and there won’t be no shit and if you
get too annoying, I’ll use you for target practice.” And with that he let
Dakota go and walked back to Lahni.
“So,
are you going to play tonight? I got an open slot just as soon as Steele and
his boys are done.” He asked as he
leaned back and grabbed two beers and sent them sliding down the bar.
Lahni
looked around, “Hell yeah man. I would love to but you might want to see if
Steele wants a follow up act.”
Sully
sucked in his lip a little and managed to whistle loud enough over the
Industrial Metal and crowd and pointed at Lahni when the lead singer popped his
head up. Steele nodded and pointed at Lahni. She nodded back and headed up
towards the stage.
Dakota
was left standing when a big hand clapped him on the shoulder. He turned around
and Sully gave him a half smile, “C’mon kid, cop a squat at the bar and I’ll
get ya a can of pop.”
Dakota
wasn’t going to argue that he was past the age of twenty-one. He sat down and
watched as his sister took to the stage. He smiled at a lady in a Harley
Davidson t-shirt and she pointed at his can of Coke with her longneck and
laughed before turning her head. Dakota turned to look at Sully who just winked
at him as he poured himself a shot. Lahni,
you owe me! He projected at his sister.
***
Lahni
was having a ball playing with Steele and his band. She’d shed her jacket and
was sweaty but she didn’t mind; she was lost to the music. When Steele cued up The Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson the crowd went wild and
Lahni fed off their excitement and it fueled her playing.
Shiloh
walked through the door of the bar with Cinjin and Khloe. Khloe hadn’t been
comfortable telling Shiloh where Lahni had gone and it had put Cinjin in a bad
mood but Shiloh was through playing games with Lahni. When she had pulled out
he had tried to not let it affect him until he’d heard her sisters laughing
about Lahni getting “a piece of strange”. He’d asked Cinjin what that meant and
when Cinjin had told him, he’d nearly gone insane. Lahni was his and she’d
always been his. When her father had reached out to his clan, he’d agreed to
come and fight their ancient foe, but he’d also had a second agenda; claiming
his mate.
Over
the years, Shiloh had kept tabs on Lahni. He’d even gone to some of her shows
in area bars and festivals. Every time he’d hung back in the shadows. Five
years ago, he’d caught her show in Tulsa and that wasn’t all he’d caught. After
the show he’d made his way to the back to find Lahni draped over some mere
human male with a stripe of neon green and purple hair and tattoos. Pain had
struck him hard in the chest at the sight of her with someone else. Before he
could reign in his emotions to speak to her, she’d left with the bastard on the
back of motorcycle. He’d returned to his people thinking he could get over her.
He’d been wrong but this time he wouldn’t be going anywhere with her. The past,
he’d make up to her but right now he had to give her a reason for a future with
him.
“Shiloh,
do you want to grab a table or are you just going to stand there planning how
best to grab Lahni?” Cinjin barked.
Khloe
elbowed Cinjin in his side, “You are sleeping on the couch.” She looked up at
Shiloh, “Listen Shi, if you go all Tarzan Lahni will only push you further
away. I know my sister and believe me, you will lose her.”
Cinjin
leaned down to his mate’s ear and nuzzled as he whispered, “You love it when I
go all Tarzan Khlobear.”
Shiloh
arched an eyebrow at the two of them. “Maybe we should find you two a room.” He
grumbled.
Cinjin
put an arm over Khloe’s shoulders and nodded at Dakota, who he’d just spotted.
They headed to the bar while Shiloh made his way towards the back where the
band was playing. He watched Lahni play and saw the crowd’s response to her and
the group of musicians. The lead singer was too close to his mate and the
animal inside the man snarled and growled.
Lahni
ddidn'thave to look into the crowd to know that she was being watched and who
it was. She’d bet her life that he was scowling. Using her kind’s common means
of communication, she flexed her telepathic muscles.
I know you are there and you can leave the
same way you got here. I don’t need a baby sitter and even if I did, it isn't your place.
Shiloh narrowed
his eyes, at her demands. You wouldn’t
need a baby sitter if you would stay put. We have a lot to discuss Lahni.
Hmm, let me pencil that into my
schedule….sometime NEVER! I have nothing to discuss with you other than a wave
or a semi-fond farewell when you leave. Go. Shoo; be gone.
Lahni raised her
head and smirked as she leaned her back into the side of the Steele who was
more than happy to wrap an arm around her shoulders as he sung the chorus to the song.
Shiloh was
keeping his control by threads. You will
move away from that man or you can watch me tear him to pieces! His mind
snarled.
Lahni
kept on playing and kept giving the crowd a show. I am a grown woman and have been for quite some time you lame ass
chauvinistic pig. I don’t take orders from anyone except from my daddy and baby
you ain't him. Leave Shiloh, you’re a buzzkill.
Shiloh
immediately sent mental images of him bending her over his knee and spanking
her. Lahni sent him mental images of her with a pair of garden shears pointed
at his crotch.
Just wait Little Bird, when this is over
you’re going to regret that.
Don’t call me that. You lost that
privilege a long time ago. Who says this is going to be over? I might just join
Steele back at his motel room. Go back to the valley Shiloh and get a life.
Shiloh felt rage
tear into him. Lahni was his and he’d claimed her long ago. There was much he
had to atone for but he’d be damned if he let her keep running from him. What
did she mean he was a buzz kill? He wondered.
Lahni
played well past last call. Every time she looked up, she saw him glaring at
her through thick black lashes and eyes that reminded her of mercury and gold.
When they were teenagers, Shiloh had been tall but he was built like a body
builder only a hair leaner than Cinjin, her sister’s mate. She looked towards
the bar and found her brother, sister, and Cinjin talking with Sully. When
she’d seen Shiloh years ago, long after he’d left her and broke her heart, she
had paid a guy to take her to her hotel after making quite a scene in front of
Shiloh of being all over the guy. She had hated leading the guy on but seeing
him at one of the clubs her band had played was too much. In truth, Lahni
hadn’t been interested in a guy since Shiloh had destroyed the naïve love sick
calf she’d been. When Steele finally
called it quits he leaned over and invited her to hang out at the motel they
were staying at. It was tempting, but she knew Shiloh wasn’t just going to let
her simply leave. No, he’d make a scene and there would be bloodshed. Steele
didn’t deserve that and neither did Sully. Those were child games and she was a
grown woman. She’d show him who the alpha female was and that she could kick
some ass.
Shiloh
waited until the band had packed up for the most part and had restrained the
urge to kill when he heard the lead singer’s invitation to her. Lahni had
smiled as she’d given him a hug and shook her head. It was that dismissal that
kept that man from being torn to shreds. He watched as she returned her guitar
to its case and grabbed her jacket before stepping off the stage. A few patrons
that had stuck around had complimented her and moved towards the guys in the
band. Some of the women who had been close to him, had tried to come on to him
or press their numbers into his hand but he had eyes for only one female and
right now he couldn’t wait to get her alone. Cinjin and Dakota moved to stand
by him while Khloe took a bottle of beer to her sister. He watched as the two
girls embraced.
“So,
are we killing anyone tonight?” Cinjin mused.
“Man,
have I missed my hearing. How does she put up with that loud ass shit?” Dakota
whined.
Shiloh
would have grinned if he wasn’t so pissed off. Cinjin rolled his eyes and
elbowed Dakota.
“Listen
pup, I know you lead a sheltered life, but that was some good music. When
you’re grown, you’ll appreciate it.”
“Listen?
Who could listen to that? My ears are going to be ringing for a week.”
Cinjin
looked over at Shiloh, “Do you think Khloe would miss a brother? I could make
it almost painless.”
Dakota
moved over a few spaces from Cinjin and narrowed his eyes. Khloe, you’re mate is making death threats. Tell him I’m not a pup.
Cinjin
looked at Dakota and snarled, flashing his canines, “Snitch”.
Shiloh
ignored their banter and watched as Khloe looked over her shoulder and scowled
at her mate who only snorted.
Lahni
ignored the three of them and laughed it up with her sister.
Lahni, don’t push Shiloh too far. You’re in
the frying pan sister getting ready to be thrown into the fire if you don’t
watch yourself.
He’s the one who sshouldn't push
Khlo. I don’t want anything to do with him and he needs to get it through his
thick head. That ship sailed a long time ago.
He’s in love with you, you know that
right? He’s not going to just walk away. He’s every bit as stubborn as Cinjin.
So what’s your plan because we can’t stand here all morning laughing like crazy
old women? They’re going to get suspicious.
I’m driving my Jeep with Dakota or
Dakota and Shiloh can take your ride and you and Cin can ride with me.
Khloe raised an
eyebrow at her sister’s plan. She had a funny feeling that Lahni’s plan was
going to go down the crapper.
Lahni
waved at Sully who was wiping down the bar and walked right between the two
hulking giants who were standing like guard dogs at the entrance. Khloe
snickered behind her sister. Without looking behind her she called out to her
brother Dakota, “C’mon Koda, we’re leaving.”
The
moment she stepped out into the cool night air, an arm grabbed her around her
waist and lifted her off the ground. Her temper snapped as she tried to wiggle
free.
“Let
me go you prick!” she hissed and fought against his hold.
Shiloh
tightened his grip around her waist, “Cinjin, take Dakota with you and Khloe
back. Tell Dyami and Mai that I have Lahni.”
“Oh
fuck no you don’t! Khloe don’t you dare leave and Shiloh put me down or you’ll
regret it!”
Shiloh
grabbed the guitar case before she could maneuver it to hit him, and tossed it
into the back of his pick-up truck. He then set her back on her feet but turned
her while still keeping hold of her. If looks could kill, he’d already be
skinned and his head mounted on her wall. Determination set into his jaw.
“You’re
coming with me and that’s final. Fight or better yet, run Lahni because when I
catch you, and I will catch you, it will make it sweeter; but either way you’re
coming with me.”
Lahni
was tempted to shift and give him a run for his money but there was too much
open ground and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to out run him. She could
scream for help, but she wouldn’t risk Sully being hurt or anyone else.
Besides, those were coward things and she damn sure was no coward. Lahni glared
up at Shiloh and squared her shoulders.
“I.HATE.YOU.”
she snarled through clenched teeth as she enunciated each word.
He
leaned into her face, “Good, right now I’m not too thrilled with you either.”
He pulled her over to the truck door and opened it. She leaped up into the seat
crossing her arms over her huffing chest looking straight out of the
windshield. When she got home, there was going to be hell to pay.
****
They
had driven in silence. Shiloh had slowed the truck down to let Cinjin go on
ahead. Lahni refused to look at him.
“Lahni,
we need to talk.” His voice was tense but he tried to keep his tone soft.
She
looked out the window, “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Fine.
I’ll talk.” He started to open his mouth again, but she turned on the radio,
and turned it up loud.
He
growled as he shut it off. When he started to speak again, she pulled out an
iPod and placed the buds in her ears. He pulled the truck over and pulled them
out of her ears and grabbed the iPod and clutched it in his hand with the urge to throw it out the window.
“Give
me that back. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”she hissed as her eyes flashed in warning.
Shiloh
smirked, “You’re going to listen to me if we have to sit her all night.”
Lahni
flexed her hand and looked at her nails, “Fine. Speak.”
“Lahni,
this has gone on for far too long. You’re my mate and I won’t allow you to keep
running circles around me.”
She
turned to him and covered her mouth with mock emotion, “Oh Shiloh, yes
darling, I’ve been waiting all these years just to hear those words fall out of
your mouth. My life has meaning now! I bet we can finally cure cancer since you've finally decided that I’m your mate.” Her syrupy sweet tone in her voice didn't match the murderous glare in her eyes.
She
“tsk’d” him, “Gimme a break. You are delusional if you think for a moment that
I would tie myself to someone like you.” Her disgust was palatable. His control finally snapped. She was his and he'd had enough of this. Shiloh hadn't expected her to forgive all the years lost to them but he did expect her to be reasonable. At least that was the thought until she spoke to him as if he hadn't meant anything to her.
He
grabbed the back of her head, and bared his canines at her, “You’re mine Lahni,
whether you want to admit it or not. We were tied to one another long ago.”
Lahni
jerked out of his hold, “I belong to no one but myself and my family. We were
children long ago. Get a life and get a new dream.”
Those
mercury gold eyes burned a hole into her all the way to her soul. He had broken
her once, and she wasn't going back for seconds.
“Shiloh,
this is the 21st Century and Stepford was just a movie. You can’t just
demand and declare shit of me. I won’t be anyone’s prize, especially by force.”
Shiloh
heard the venom she spat, and sure she was pissed off but there was a sadness
and longing in those bi-colored eyes of hers. He wanted to take her into his
arms and soothe her and mend the heart of the only woman he’d ever loved in his
entire life. Shiloh knew though if he eased up now, she’d only run again and
he’d go insane chasing her down.
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