Excerpt:
The animal stayed in the bushes, following along slowly and silently as it tracked its prey. He could smell it. Taste it. And it attracted him like nothing ever had before.
Do wolves think in the same way that humans do? Or do they rely only on instinct, hunting mindlessly?
Whether intellectual reasoning or animal instinct, the wolf knew it had to watch this woman. It wanted her. It needed her.
Ana breathed in the early autumn air as she headed away from the university and onto the darker streets of the neighboring suburb. It was an older neighborhood, built in the 1920s when the town of Rivelou had begun to spread from its central location on the river, south across the railroad tracks. This particular section of town had been built for the railroad workers: tiny shotgun houses lined up on even tinier lawns.
As Ana crossed Roosevelt Avenue, the streetlights ended, and the sidewalk was illuminated only by occasional porch or walk lights. She loved sauntering home from her evening classes this time of the year. The air, while it could not yet be called crisp, had lost its summer sultriness, a welcome change from the blistering heat of a Kentucky summer.
As she strolled down Harlan Street, farther from the more heavily trafficked avenue, the road became even darker. It was too soon for most of the leaves to have fallen; they were just beginning to turn red on this last week in September and were so thick on the trees that they hid the full moon. Part of the charm of the old neighborhood was the beautiful, large, old maples and oaks, but their roots also tore up the sidewalks. Ana tripped on one of those cracks. Papers, a lipstick, her wallet, and a few other necessary items spilled out of her purse, and she shook her head in disgust. How could she always trip in the same spot, night after night? It wasn’t as if she hadn’t memorized the uneven areas in the sidewalk after years of walking this way.
The young woman bent down to gather her various belongings and froze. Was that something growling? Somewhat spooked, Ana shoved everything back in her bag and hurried down the street. After a moment she slowed, listening carefully to the night noises around her.
Nothing unusual.
She shook her head. It must have been her imagination. She had slowed her pace and continued on when she heard the sound again. A low growl nearby. A dog? No one on this block had an animal big enough to make that sort of sound. That growl had definitely come from something larger than Mrs. Ahearn’s yappy little Pomeranian. She picked up her pace again.
Only a half block until she turned onto Sycamore, then another half block until she arrived at her own home.
The growl came again. She settled her purse more securely on her left shoulder, her computer bag on her right, and doubled her pace. There were no lights on any of the houses on this part of the block, and of course, the moon took that moment to hide behind a cloud. She took a deep breath and tried to walk at a steady pace. She wouldn’t run even though she could now hear the animal behind her as she rounded the corner. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her own porch light on as well as that of her neighbors, Joe and Linsdey. Only a few more steps to safety.
She was almost in front of her own door when she heard the rush of paws with nails clicking behind her on her sidewalk. With a howl, the animal knocked her down. Holding her computer case in front of her face, she yelled and pushed it at the animal’s huge, dark head. “Take a bite of that, you nasty beast!” It was all teeth and glowing eyes as it loomed over her, growling.
“What do you want?” she shouted. Though it had her on the ground, it didn’t make a move, just stood gazing at her. If she did move, it would strike. She had to do something. She drew a deep breath and prepared to scream when someone came running up behind her.
“Hey, you, get back! Get back!”
She turned her head and saw a man running toward her and the slobbering animal. The man grabbed a stick from the ground as he rushed forward, waving it at the animal.
“Back! Get back, you ugly beast!” he shouted again, striking the creature who turned, snarling at him. They stared intently at each other for a moment before the canine finally dodged the stick and lunged to take a bite out of the man.
The man got in a couple of good blows before the dog suddenly grabbed the stick, tugged at it, and knocked him to the ground. Fumbling in her purse, Ana took action just as the dog leaned back on its haunches preparing to strike. Just before he lunged on the fallen man, Ana found her can of mace and hit the dog in the face with the noxious spray. With a howl of pain, it ran into the darkness.
Several more porch lights suddenly popped on to light the night, and the street was filled with neighbors coming to check on the unusual commotion.
“Are you alright?” her rescuer, still gasping and out of breath, asked. “It didn’t bite you, did it?
What Makes The Hunter's Moon Special?
The Hunter’s Moon is different from many of the paranormal romances because it blends a murder mystery with romance—and all within a world populated by shapeshifters, witches, and other paranormal creatures living hidden in plain sight amongst the “N.P.’s” or “non-paras” in the small southern town of Rivelou, Ky. This unique combination of suspense, passion, and supernatural intrigue adds layers to the story that readers of urban fantasy, romance, and mystery will love.
A Love Triangle with a Dangerous
Twist
At the heart of the story is a compelling love triangle between the heroine, an alpha werewolf, and a hunter sworn to destroy her kind. But this isn't just a romance about choosing between two lovers. It’s a story about identity, loyalty, and trust. The heroine must decide where her heart lies, but also where her safety and future belong. Each choice is fraught with risk—what she desires could cost her everything.
A Murder Mystery Woven into the
Romance
Unlike many paranormal romances that focus primarily on relationships, The Hunter’s Moon incorporates a dark murder mystery. As the heroine navigates her tangled emotions, she must also solve a deadly crime tied to the very heart of the supernatural community. The stakes are high—not just for love, but for survival.
First in Series
The book is the first in The Unleashed Series and introduces us to the many characters in the sleepy little town, where unknown to many of the “non-para’s” much of the social and political life is actually run by the werewolves, witches, vampires, and other paranormals in the community. The heroine isn’t a damsel in distress. She’s fierce and independent, as she navigates the world of working single mom, a family who thinks they know what is best for her, and the strange world of the paranormal that her two would-be lovers are involved in. Her journey of self-discovery makes her relatable, even as she deals with extraordinary circumstances.
This mix of mystery, danger, and supernatural romance with a heroine facing the same problems many of us face today, makes The Hunter’s Moon more than a typical love story. It’s an intense, emotionally charged journey where desire collides with danger—and nothing is ever what it seems. If you love stories with high stakes, gripping mysteries, and characters who walk the line between love and ruin, then this book is for you!
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment