A Wolf Awakens (Black Hills Wolves Book 18) Read online




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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  A Wolf Awakens

  Copyright © 2015 by Cam Cassidy

  ISBN: 978-1-61333-832-2

  Cover art by Fiona Jayde

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

  Look for us online at:

  www.decadentpublishing.com

  Black Hills Wolves Stories

  Wolf’s Return

  What a Wolf Wants

  Black Hills Desperado

  Wolf’s Song

  Claiming His Mate

  When Hell Freezes

  Portrait of a Lone Wolf

  Alpha in Disguise

  A Wolf’s Promise

  Reluctant Mate

  Diamond Moon

  Wolf on a Leash

  Tempting the Wolf

  Naming His Mate

  A Wolf Awakens

  Coming Soon

  Worth Fighting For

  The Wolf and the Butterfly

  Promiscuous Wolf

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my family for their support. To Rebecca Royce for having faith in me and my crazy ass friends who keep me sane.

  A Wolf Awakens

  Black Hills Wolves

  By

  Cam Cassidy

  Chapter One

  Sleep is highly overrated. Who needs it? What is it they say, I’ll get plenty of sleep when I’m dead? Angeni Sweet sat at a small table in her hotel suite, drinking her third cup of coffee. Pen in hand, she wrote what she could remember of the previous night’s dream. It wasn’t because dreams were anything new. God knew she had her share. But this one was different. When she’d awakened, a sense of foreboding had overwhelmed her, encouraging her to stay inside. Inside or out, it didn’t make a difference. The visions still came.

  She had always attributed her dreams to lost spirits trying to get a message to her while her shields were lowered during sleep. She could block them out during the day…well, most of the time. The strong ones sometimes managed to get through her mental shield. She was always so embarrassed to walk down the street and freeze whenever her visions took hold. Sometimes they seemed urgent in their requests, but nothing compared to the latest she suffered. They had grown in intensity, to an almost violent need.

  What started as a gentle nudge had become a full-out push. The visions began—a darkness, a shadowy figure that felt male. Although she could never make out the features of his face, the one thing she could see were his eyes. Blue eyes with flecks of green seemed to glow, emanating what she could only describe as malice. The visions slowly cleared. While he looked young, there was something hidden in those eyes…knowledge. An old soul. He might have been handsome if he were to smile. Of course, something didn’t seem to fit the aura he exuded. During his life, she had no doubt he’d been a force to be reckoned with.

  Being born a spiritual medium definitely had its drawbacks. The dreams were only part of it. Born to gypsies, she could talk to people who weren’t there at a young age. Her parents had laughed, believing she followed in their footsteps. It wasn’t until she began to tell them things of their own past that they realized she was the real deal—unlike them, who’d faked readings and made their living performing.

  Dollar signs must have flashed before their eyes. They were soon on the road, and she’d traveled from place to place. Her gift of visions and being able to communicate with those from the spirit realm were used and sold to the highest bidder. Though only twenty-three years old, she was tired. Exhaustion—hers specifically—didn’t change anything. The spirits still came, and her parents still pushed for more. The small fortune they’d amassed over the years didn’t seem to satisfy them. They always wanted more.

  Will it be enough when I fall over dead?

  Her father walked into the kitchen, glancing down at the page in front of her. “Who’s the man?”

  She looked at the paper. Oh my God. It’s the man from my dreams. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t realized that, instead of writing, she’d drawn him. “Got me. Some man comes to me in my dreams and, no, not in a good way. This whole thing started weeks ago. Now we’re here, it’s getting worse. He must have something to do with this area. I think I need to take some time off. Get away for a bit and chill. Let’s say the Bad Lands are giving me a bad vibe.”

  “Ange, it just isn’t possible. Do you realize everything I have done to put this together? We’re all set here in Sturgis for the next week with the biker crowd. You know what kind of cash we’re gonna bring in? Over seven hundred thousand bikes come through this town, this week alone. We can drop your price to twenty bucks for a half hour and still make a year’s worth of our normal take. Not to mention, we have you booked solid for the next three months.”

  Angeni studied the page in front of her, the face. A shiver ran down her spine. How many times could she tell her father the money meant nothing to her? She would gladly give up her so-called gift to be able to live a normal life, to settle down in one town and have real friends. She knew the carneys and gypsies who followed the same route; it wasn’t the same. No matter how many times she told him she wanted out, the answer was always the same.

  Guilt was always thrown in her face, her duty to the family, to the people who sought out her special talents. She had run in the past, only to end up back where she started. She swore this time would be the last. “Get it in your head, this is it. I have to go. I can’t do this anymore! I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. The more you make me go to the other side, the more I let them in, the worse it is. The spirits won’t leave.”

  Her father only shook his head, not bothering to cover his exasperation. “Save the drama for the customers who pay us. When we leave here, we can clear you one week with nothing scheduled. Afterward, we get back to business.”

  “You think what I do is drama? You’re not the one who has to live with the consequences of always being open to the other side. It’s me. I’ll tell you what, you have one week. You said Sturgis will make you a year’s income. One week is what you get. After this week, I’m done.” Grabbing her purse off the counter, she could sense his gaze following her.

  “You go out, Ange, have a nice walk and take in the sights, have a few drinks and cut loose. Have some fun. Tomorrow, we get to work.”

  Frustration surged through her, and she went out the door. When the darkness tried to seep into her soul, the feeling of unease grew even stronger, nearly choking her. Reminding herself she was strong, tough as hell, she forced herself to move forward despite everything inside her telling her to turn around, run back home, and lock herself inside. She would never admit she was afraid of anything. She wasn’t afraid of the man in her dreams…she was terrified.

  She didn’t want to walk away from the life. She wanted to run like hell.

  Chapter Two

  Jaxon Boone was overdue for some time off and had the perfect plan in mind. The only way in or out of town was by pickup. He had already loaded his Harley in the back, drove into tow
n, and parked the truck outside of Gee’s Bar. His plan was to leave the truck at the storage unit then ride the rest of the way. Gee’s was the final pit stop before he hit the road. A quick check in and he would be gone. “I’m outta here boys and girls. Try not to miss me too much while I’m gone.”

  Drew, the Alpha of the Los Lobos pack, and his Enforcer, Ryker, had their heads together over at a corner table. If anything was going on, Jax didn’t want to know. Hell, who was he kidding? He would have to know, and his plans would get pushed aside. He would hate it, but then again, if the Pack needed him, he would stay. Loyalty and duty sucked…big time. He tensed, waiting for the news.

  Drew glanced up. “Stay out of trouble and don’t make us have to come get you.”

  Jax grinned in relief. “Who me? My damn halo disappear again? We’re talkin’ Sturgis man. Bikes, beer, and babes. A little trip to heaven and only a short drive from home.”

  Drew shook his head. “Drunk and disorderly come to mind. Ryker and I picked your dumb ass up last year.”

  Jax cringed a bit at the memory. “Hey, I still plead innocent. Damn female never told me she was married, and if you would have seen the rack she stuck in my face, you would have had to touch ’em, too.”

  “We all don’t have your lack of control. You were two days late and one day before the full moon if memory serves me right. So, let me repeat, stay outta trouble. Happens again and we may leave your drunk ass sitting in jail until the full moon and let them shoot you. Be back in a week and ready to work,” Drew said.

  “No problem there.” Jax chuckled. “You fuckers threw me in the back of the truck and bounced my ass all the way home. I had a goddamn hangover from hell and probably a damn concussion.”

  With a two finger salute, he went back out the door. He climbed up in his truck, the hearty rumble of the engine and the scent of the diesel filled the air after he turned the key. He looked around the town then slipped on his shades. It was a damn sight better now than it had been when Magnum ruled. The place had been a shit hole to put it mildly. It wasn’t only the buildings that had been falling apart; the entire pack had. After Drew returned and challenged his father, everything changed.

  After Drew had won, things began to change. The dilapidated buildings were slowly being repaired and slapped with a coat of paint. Los Lobos wasn’t a town, not a dot on the map, which was how it was meant to be. Completely isolated from the outside world. The town was located deep in the Black Hills, so not even a random hiker made it back in that far. Drew was their Alpha, and his strong will and determination had brought not just the town back to life, but the Tao pack, too.

  The members of the pack returned one by one. A thousand times he asked himself why he hadn’t left with the rest, why he stayed and put up with Magnum’s bullshit. Every time he had the same answer—Los Lobos was home.

  Putting the truck in gear, he headed down the dirt road, the small town disappearing in his rearview mirror.

  Chapter Three

  Ange walked the main street lined with bikes and bikers of all shapes and sizes. It was a welcome distraction to the same old arguments she’d left back at the hotel. She didn’t want to think about her father, the fights, the clients, or the visions. This is where she wanted to be, lost in the crowd.

  She walked for over an hour. The ground seemed to tremble from the roar of the bikes that rumbled though. It was odd…the laughter, even the occasional brawl made her feel more at ease than she had in days.

  Maybe, when this week was over, she would get a bike and ride. She didn’t want to put herself out there any longer on display for the dead to find her. Not really sure how, but she would find a way to block them out. Instead, she would let the wind blow through her hair and live. How would it feel to be so carefree and reckless?

  Music and laughter drew her into the small and way-too-crowded bar. Not exactly the place she’d intended. Bikers were mean, gruff bad asses, right? But what she had found so far was the complete opposite. So much for stereotypes. Bypassing the throngs of people, she made her way to the bar and ordered a beer.

  She raised her glass to her lips, turned away from the bar…and bounced off a hard chest. The icy brew spilled down the front of her shirt. “Ah! Shit! That’s cold.”

  Strong hands grasped her shoulders and kept her from tumbling backward as she gasped. She looked up into a pair of dark-chocolate-colored eyes and was stunned stupid, only able to stare. The man who held her was gorgeous. His almost-pure-black hair cascaded over his wide shoulders. A black tee shirt and black leather vest stretched tight across his chest revealed the corded muscles beneath. Black leather pants fit tight. Not much imagination was needed to know what was hidden. Fingers strummed across her shoulder, sending tendrils of excitement to race beneath her skin. The sensation was enough to stop her from ogling and return her gaze to his face. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she hoped he didn’t catch her eyeing him. The man was a total T-bone, and she felt suddenly starved. His crooked grin told her he had seen it all.

  “In my defense, the sign does say cold beer on tap.” His deep voice sent shivers through her. At least she could blame it on the beer.

  All of the sudden, her mind clouded. A dark haze filled her vision which passed before she had a chance to think of the cause. Instead, she only looked up into eyes which seemed to sparkle with mischief. “I’m sorry. Case of brain freeze, I guess. Did you say something?”

  “My bad. Guess I owe ya a beer. Why don’t I get it for ya while you lose the shirt? Strictly for your health, you understand. Wouldn’t want ya to catch a cold.”

  She pulled on the front of her shirt, the icy-cold wet material clinging to her breasts, making her very aware of her painfully hard nipples pointing at him as if he were her true north. She wasn’t sure whether it was a reaction to the cold beer or the man who stood in front of her. The little voice in her head nagged at her to remember her wish from earlier…carefree and reckless.

  “Tell me, do those lines usually work? I would hate to be the first one to disappoint you. Stripping off all my clothes for someone I’ve just met isn’t highly likely. You are right on the beer. I’ll have a Coors on tap.”

  When he leaned in, her breath caught, and she found herself surrounded by both his heat and his exotic scent. It was completely unfair how any man could smell that good.

  “No one said anything about all your clothes, darling,” he whispered in her ear. “I only suggested the shirt.” He stood up, the devilish glint in his eyes causing her heart to race. “I learned a long time ago, the lady is always right. Who am I to argue? Now, let’s get these pesky introductions outta the way. You can call me Jax. Your beautiful name would be?”

  She was first caught checking out his goods, then she’d offered to strip herself naked; she was playing really hard to get. Her normal response would have been to smile sweetly and walk away. But there was something about him. Her feet wouldn’t move and her mouth went dry with thoughts of licking him like a lollipop. All she could do was laugh at herself. “Okay, Jax. You can call me Ange. You realize you’re laying it on pretty thick. I’m curious though. Have any of those lines actually worked?”

  “I don’t know. Guess I have to wait to find out. Are they working?”

  “Not yet. Got any more?”

  “Guess I better keep tryin’. Gimme a minute, I’ll come up with something. I got plenty of time while we drink a beer.”

  His smile was killer. It radiated a sexy confidence which had her stomach doing flips.

  She’d intended to just think the thoughts in her mind, but it didn’t quite end up that way. Her lips had moved, and the words came out. “How about we get those to go?”

  “Best idea you’ve had so far tonight. In case you wanted to know, when you suggested taking all your clothes off, that one is running a close second. Only seein’ it is gonna top it.”

  He motioned to the waitress and ordered a six-pack to go. When she came back, he paid, took the brown paper sack in one hand
, and placed his other on the small of her back, nudging her toward the door. Tiny sparks seemed to travel down her spine at his touch. When he leaned down, her heart raced. His hot breath flowed over her neck. There was a sharp inhale as he hesitated against her skin. She shivered at the low rumble from his chest.

  He grinned. “Guess they worked after all.”

  Chapter Four

  The moment Ange walked into the bar, Jax had been aware of her. He’d barely finished his first beer when he caught sight of her. Long blonde hair hung in ringlets down her back. His immediate thought was wet it would hang down to her ass.

  Each step she’d taken when she twisted and turned to make her way through the crowd to the bar had showed him a little more. She was dressed in a pair of skintight jeans, with long legs which seemed to go on forever. Her spiked black heels added to the illusion. A baby-blue tee shirt covered an absolutely perfect set of tits, and he’d caught himself licking his lips in anticipation. His Wolf had risen to the front of his mind, and a tremble raced under his skin, a definite sign that his Wolf gave his approval. Jax had to tamp down on the urge to shift and howl. What the fuck? No female had ever affected both the man and the beast. He didn’t know who the hell she was. Didn’t matter, he was damn sure going to find out.

  Bumping into her so she’d dump her beer had been a dickhead move. At least it had worked. Her smile may have been leery, but the sparkle in her eyes told him a different story. It didn’t take him long to realize the bar, the bikers, weren’t really her thing. His senses caught her emotions which swirled…nervous, excited, a dash of fear. The scent of her arousal, however, had been a punch in the gut. He’d pulled out all the stops and used every stupid line he could think of, and it’d worked.