“I love you, Jacquelyn Pierce, my mate, my love, inima mea, my heart. I want you to be all mine, with no way for anyone to challenge me for you.”

  Fane leaned down and kissed her. Jacque moaned, which made him growl. Before things could go much further, Jacque remembered the bonding ceremony and Blood Rights.

  “Hey, wait,” she said pushing at him.

  “You do remember you thought I was dead, right? Now I’m not, and now you can have your way with me because, you know, I’m not dead,” Fane told her and then began kissing her neck.

  Jacque giggled and pushed him away again. “No really, wait. When are we supposed to do the bond thingy and the whole blood sucking?”

  “Vampires, not werewolves, suck blood, love. It’s tomorrow, which is not right now, and because I am living in the now and not the tomorrow, I want to reconcile with my mate as wolves do,” Fane told her leaning down. Once again, he was stopped by her hand.

  “Oh, we’re reconciled. We’re good to go, no problem,” Jacque rambled on.

  “Jacquelyn?”

  “Yes, Fane?” Jacque said in her most innocent voice.

  “You want me to say it, don’t you?” Fane asked her.

  “Yep, out loud, not in my head,” she told him

  Fane growled but acquiesced. “I don’t mean reconcile as in taking things seriously. I mean through touch.” He laughed when she squeaked at that.

  “I will not touch you anywhere you don’t want to be touched.” And then, mischievously, he said, “However, just name the location, and I will comply.” He pulled out of her reach when she tried to thump him for his last comment. When she simmered down, he leaned down again and kissed her.

  Jacque turned her head, exposing her neck. Fane rumbled in his chest. Jacquelyn called it purring, and he smiled. He kissed her neck, sniffing her skin.

  “My mark will be there after the ceremony,” he said.

  Jacque picked up on his thoughts, seeing how pleased this made him. She added her own creativity to it, and giggled wickedly when she heard Fane whisper in her mind, “Soon.”

  * * *

  Thank you so much for reading Prince of Wolves, continue on to read Blood Rites, Book 2 in the Grey Wolves Series.

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  Blood Rites

  * * *

  The Grey Wolves Series, Book 2

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  Copyright

  © 2011 Quinn Loftis Books LLC

  United States of America

  1st Edition

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book (whether in electronic or physical form) may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please loan it through the appropriate channels or purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it, and purchase your own copy. Copyright infringement is a serious crime punishable by law. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  * * *

  Quinn Loftis Books, LLC

  PO Box 459

  Hackett, AR 72937

  lovetoread@quinnloftisbooks.com

  * * *

  Photography and Cover Design: PreMade Book Cover Design

  Published by Quinn Loftis Books, LLC

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  Acknowledgments

  First, I want to thank God for blessing me with a creative spirit. He has blessed me beyond measure. I also want to thank my husband for all his support, for the teasing that he gives me for writing teen paranormal romance. I like to remind him that at least he’s never bored being married to me. I also want to thank a friend who has been a blessing to me, Melinda Senter, for her help in the creative editing. Her wicked sense of humor and eye for details has truly been a help. I also want to thank her for the beautiful cover art she has created for me. I want to thank Rachel Carr for being a fantabulous editor. I have been so blessed to get to know Rachel and her help has been invaluable. Thank you also to Jennifer Nunez for also editing and encouraging me to keep writing. Thank you to all my beta readers and reviewers. I cannot express my thanks for all your feedback and help. Finally, most important in many ways, thank you to everyone who has taken a chance on an unknown, self-published author and purchased my book. Thank you for the reviews good and bad. Thank you for taking your valuable time and spending it with my characters and their story.

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  Chapter 1

  “You know I will look ridiculous in that, right?” Jacque asked her brunette friend, Sally. The two were staring at a red dress hanging on the back of Jacque’s bedroom door. “I mean, why don’t you just sew a hood on it, put a basket of cookies in my hand, and send me off to see grandma?” Jacque asked sarcastically, if not somewhat dramatically. She didn’t understand why Sally and Jen, her two best friends, insisted she wear a dress for the bonding ceremony. She’d repeatedly reminded them it wasn’t a wedding, but they’d been insistent.

  Since Fane’s defeat of Lucas Steel in the challenge for the right to Jacque’s hand, the girl’s life had been a virtual whirlwind of activity. Preparations were moving so quickly Jacque didn’t have a chance to veto her friends’ decision, and nobody else seemed eager to jump to her defense. So, alas, she stood in her room with her two best friends wreaking havoc on her life, coaxing her into a ridiculous red dress.

  “How did things with Fane go last night?” Jen asked, pulling Jacque out of her own thoughts.

  That simple question reminded Jacque that the deadly challenge had taken place a mere twenty-four hours ago. It felt like it had been ages instead of hours. Last night after the challenge, Fane had come to her to plead forgiveness. He knew making her believe he had died during the fight wasn’t the best way to begin a relationship. He’d underestimated her, anticipating she’d not understood his motives. Jacque would not deny seeing him lying, bleeding on the ground, hadn’t eviscerated her, but now she understood the reasoning behind his actions. His decision had not only kept him alive, but also kept them her. That was all that mattered.

  “It’s all good,” Jacque said nonchalantly.

  The two girls stopped simultaneously and stared at Jacque in disbelief.

  “I chewed Fane up like a piece of meat and spit him out,” Jen said. “Sally about smacked him into next week. And that’s all you have to say to us? Hate to break it to ya, wolf princess, but that ain’t going to cut it.” Jen folded her arms across her chest and began tapping her foot. It was obvious to Jacque she would not be leaving the room until she gave up the goods.

  I guess they deserve to hear the details after all they’ve done for me. I can throw them a bone.

  “Fane came to my room and sat on the side of my bed. I was in a daze, mostly asleep. I awoke to him kissing my cheeks, my nose, my chin, and then my lips. At first, I thought I was dreaming. But then, when I realized the sensations were real, I freaked out. I assumed I’d lost it. After everything I’d been through, I just knew my mind had jumped off the deep end, and now I was seeing my dead mate sitting on my bed.”

  Before Jacque could continue, Jen interrupted. “Ok, that’s all fine and dandy, but I want the main course, not the before-dinner rolls. Main course, Jacque, get to it.”

  Jacque rolled her eyes. “I have to build up to the main course or else it’s not really the main course, it’s just random food. However, for the sake of your sanity, I will speed it up. After I realized I wasn’t hallucinating, he hugged me, and I accidentally groaned in pain.”

  “Oh, hell. He went into possessive, jealous, I-no-longer-have-a-brain mode, didn’t he?” Sally asked sarcastically.

  “Point to you. He saw the bruise on my stomach and almost went all werewolf kung-fu on his pack. I can’t believe ya’ll didn’t hear him screaming. But I got him to pipe down when I pulled out the ‘I’m bruised because you played dead’ card. Works every time.” Jacque winked.

  “Nice,” Jen said, and she and Sally bumped fists.

  “Then we kissed. A lot. Yep, there was a lot of kissing. Oh, and there was also purring. But all clothes stayed on, Jen, sorry to spoil your fantasy.”

  “You are so not sorry to spoil anything, you lucky witch. At least tell me if he’s a good kisser,” Jen whined.

  Jacque narrowed her emerald eyes with a wicked gleam. “My sweet, sweet, Jen, he’s a good everything.”

  “Ok, ladies, both of you back into your corners. Jacque’s getting hitched today so there has to be a ceasefire, at least until tomorrow.” Sally pointed in opposite directions.

  “I am not getting hitched. There is no ring involved.”

  “Says the wolf princess who’s never been bonded to a werewolf before,” Jen pointed out.

  “Details, details,” Jacque replied.

  Despite her nonchalance, Jacque suddenly felt the room was closing in on her. It reminded her of Alice when she eats the cake and grows until the room is so small she is squished into it. Jacque soon found herself short of breath. She walked over to her window and jerked it open, feeling the summer heat hit her face. Even though it was blazing hot outside, the air itself was refreshing. It helped clear her brain from the worries slowly stacking up on shelves in her mind. Each deep breath Jacque took was like pushing a bundle of worry into a trash bag.

  Breathe. She pushed the worry about leaving Coldspring into the bag.

  Breathe. Next was worry for her mom. Would she come to Romania or stay here?

  Breathe. Worry for her friends.

  Breathe. Worry about the bonding ceremony.

  Breathe. Worry about the Blood Rites.

  Breathe.

  Finally, the shelves were clean, and there in her mind amongst the empty spaces, was Fane.

  “Hello, meu inimă, doing some spring cleaning?” Fane asked her, using their bond.

  Jacque couldn’t suppress the smile that followed. She should have known he would be listening, still worried about her because of the previous night’s events.

  “Just needed to put things in their place, how are you?” Jacque felt warmth as he poured his love into her mind. It only increased her desire to be in his arms.

  “Soon, love.”

  “You keep saying that, wolf-man. When does soon become now?” Jacque teased him. “Now, go away. Isn’t it bad luck to see your mate before the bonding thingy?”

  She heard him chuckle.

  “No, meu inimă, you’re thinking of a wedding. The traditions for the Blood Rites are different. I can see you all I want. In fact, I could come rescue you from those two badgers right now.”

  “That’s okay, the girls mean well. They are just a little rough on the execution. What time is this shin-dig starting?” Jacque asked.

  “The Blood Rites ceremony is not a shin-dig. It is the union of two true mates. A ceremony that joins our souls forever, which could be a very long time for a couple of supernatural beings.”

  Jacque blanched. Supernatural? She still couldn’t get over the fact she wasn’t entirely human.

  “Luna?” Fane asked. “Are you still with me?”

  “Yes, sorry, Fane. You’re right. I shouldn’t be so flippant about it, I guess.”

  “You can behave however you like, meu inimă. Just as long as you are there. The ceremony will begin at 1:00 p.m. Don’t keep me waiting, Little Red Riding Hood.” Fane’s voice faded out of her mind and she could feel his humor. Wasn’t he just too cute, picking up on her two best friends’ idea of a sick joke, to turn her into the little girl who almost wound up as the wolf’s dinner?

  “My, what enormous eyes you have, wolf-man,” Jacque said out loud, unable to stop her sarcasm from boiling up.

  “The better to see you with, my love,” Jen chimed in.

  “What big ears you have!” Sally continued.

  “The better to hear you with, my love,” Jen followed.

  “What big teeth you have!” Sally mocked, her hands on either side of her face.

  “The better to eat you with!” Jen cackled, but she wasn’t finished. True to Jen form, she added her own twisted sense of humor. “My, what a big—”

  Sally quickly slapped a hand over the woman’s mouth. “Jen, shut it. Jacque, you don’t need to hear what she was going to say. Someone always takes it a little too far,” Sally told her, sounding every bit the part of June Cleaver.

  “Ok, moving on from our weird impromptu skit,” Jacque said. “I get it, you want to dress me up all pretty for this ceremony, and I can either play along or you two will make the entire day hell for me. That’s what the red dress is about, isn’t it?”

  “You’re smarter than you look, Sherlock.” Jen stood up. “We will give you your actual dress if you promise to play nice. Otherwise, you’re going to be Little Red washed-out Riding Hood, cuz that red does nothing for your skin.”

  “Gee, thanks for that keen observation, Watson. Fine, you win. Bring out the big guns.”

  Jen stepped out of the room and was back before Jacque could ask where she was going. The blonde returned bearing a garment concealed in a zippered clothing protector. Jen hung it on the back of Jacque’s bedroom door, covering the dress that would have made her the living version of a sick fairy tale. Sally took over and unzipped the bag while humming the bridal march song.

  “Cute, Sally, real cute,” Jacque said.

  “Watch it, Red. I’d hate to incorporate more of the famous fairy tale into your ceremony, but I’ll do it if you force my hand.” Sally pulled the dress from the hanging bag.

  Jacque’s breath caught at the sight of the garment. It was so simple, yet elegant. “I’m impressed,” she said finally, begrudgingly admitting her friends had decent taste. The dress was primarily white, with a double flare skirt that ended just above the knees. The waist sported a green sash sewn into the dress, and the green flared out into the skirt amongst floral accents. To finish it off, the girls had added a hunter green puff, short-sleeve bolero jacket made of satin. It bore ruffled edges running up the high-necked collar and down to the sleeves. “It’s perfect.”

  “Hey wolf-man, they even thought of you and provided a cover for my markings.” Jacque sent the thought to Fane.

  “How very thoughtful of them, Luna. Although you can’t honestly think I would have allowed you to come in that dress without the jacket,” Fane answered.

  “You are so lucky you aren’t within my reach right now.” She scolded him.

  His only response was a soft chuckle in her mind. But then she felt his hand caress her face. Geez, he is going to be the death of me.

  “Could you please stop talking to your hunky wolf and tell us what you think of the dress?” Jen snapped Jacque out of her thoughts.

  “How did you know I was talking to him?”

  “You always get this intense look on your face. I figured you were either constipated or talking to Fane. If you aren’t talking to Fane, then you ought to see a doctor because you are constipated a lot,” Jen explained. Sally laughed, and Jacque gave Jen an un-ladylike hand gesture.

  “I have to admit, you guys have outdone yourselves,” Jacque told them. “It truly is beautiful and tasteful, and the jacket was the perfect touch. Thank you so much. Oh, crap, I think I’m going to cry,” Jacque said, much to her chagrin.

  “Don’t start the waterworks, there will be plenty of time for that later,” Sally teased her.

  “Don’t worry, I’m shutting off the faucet. Anyway, I need something to eat before I slide into that—if I might add—much more appropriate dress. Let’s head downstairs so I can get my grub on,” Jacque answered.

  “Please tell me you don’t say ‘get my grub on’ to Fane when you are talking about eating,” Sally pleaded.

  Jacque waved her hands in the air in a whatever gesture. “He can either take me as I am, grub and all, or not.”

  “I’m pretty sure he wants to take you as his grub.” Jen snickered.

  Sally gave Jen their usual fist bump. “What would I do without you and your sexual innuendos, my sweet, nympho friend?”

  “You would be a square.” Jen’s fingers traced the shape in the air.

  “Huh, so I would,” Sally agreed thoughtfully.

  The girls went downstairs and threw together some PB and J sandwiches. They were quiet as they ate. Just as Jacque was finishing up, her mom came into the kitchen. “You ladies need to hurry if we are going to make it on time,” Lilly told them.

  “I’ve just got to fix my hair and throw on my dress. Then I’m ready,” Jacque countered.

  “Correction, I need to fix your hair. There is no telling what kind of mess you would put together on your head,” Sally said.

  “Did you decide to cooperate with your partners in crime, so you wouldn’t be the world’s first real-life Little Red Riding Hood?” her mom asked.

  “They told you about their little plan, huh?” Jacque glared at Sally and Jen, giving them her best ‘I should bite your ass’ stare. “Yea, they won this round, but you know what they say about payback.”

  Jen just laughed as she and Sally trailed Jacque up the stairs to help her get dressed.

  “Sit down, kick back, and chill-out so I can fix this unruly red mess you call a head of hair.”