Blood of the Whirlwind (The Shifter Chronicles 16)
Blood Book 4
The bull shifter, Ryan, and his human mate, Caleb, have made a good life together. Alongside Caleb’s mother, Mandy, they run an animal rehabilitation center on their ranch. Ryan has become the honorary uncle to two young bull shifters, and Caleb is proud at how well his mate has acclimated to the human world. For Ryan, he’s found the family and the peace he’s long craved, and he’s determined to keep it by whatever means necessary.
But their quiet lives are disrupted when Caleb’s aunt—Chief Hera of the US Agency—visits. And she brings a dire warning: the Knights of the Dawn want Ryan’s blood.
After losing someone precious to them during a skirmish with the knights, Caleb spirals into grief, and Ryan must work through his guilt and sorrow to care for his mate. A task made easier when Hera stays with her nephews, sharing their heartache.
After they retreat to Haven, Montana, they begin the long process of healing. Unfortunately, Haven is in a state of unrest, and they are sucked into shifter politics that threaten the safety of the community as a whole. Meanwhile, the knights still need Ryan’s blood, and he can’t hide forever.
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EXCERPT
Caleb propped his chin on his fist and vividly remembered the moment he realized there was more to Whirlwind than met the eye. The moment he realized shapeshifters existed. Whirlwind was also Ryan, and he was just as beautiful in his human form as he was as his bull. His skin was a couple of shades lighter than the chestnut but his eyes were still rich brown. He was sturdy and solid, his primal spirit evident no matter what form he took. Most people gave him a wide berth or the side-eye because they could sense his strength and aggression. He was getting better at controlling himself, though.
They’d been friends for a long time before Caleb realized he’d fallen in love… and it turned out that Ryan had felt the same. But they’d almost lost their chance when some psycho bastard had kidnapped Ryan, knowing he was a shifter, and wanted to destroy him.
Caleb wished he could shake the terrifying memories. It was due to their experience with Richard, and meeting members of the Agency, that they’d decided to transform their ranch into a place of healing. One other thing Caleb had learned—his mother’s sister, Louise, was also an agent for the Agency. In fact, she was the chief of US operations. His brain had almost broken upon hearing that little tidbit.
Whirlwind nuzzled the calves before leading them back to their mother. It warmed Caleb’s heart when Lorie nosed him, and he returned the affection. Whether he liked it or not, Ryan had become an honorary uncle to her sons, William and Brandon.
Whirlwind turned and trotted back to the house. His eyes lit up when he spotted Caleb. Caleb grinned and waved. Ryan had awoken early—as always—and had started the coffee before heading out to tend to their residents.
Whirlwind slowed as he approached the gate and closed his eyes. Caleb never looked away, always enjoying the sight of his favorite bull morphing into his best friend and mate. The air shimmered and heated, and the sight of Whirlwind fractured. Despite the distance, Caleb felt the buzz along his skin. After a moment and without a sound, Ryan knelt next to the gate, his smooth skin glistening in the sunlight.
Caleb licked his lips.
Ryan stood and stretched, putting on a show. He had a thick waist with a broad chest and shoulders. His muscled arms and thighs rippled and bunched as he worked out the morning kinks. Caleb snickered, enjoying all that beauty on display. It woke him up quicker than the coffee. Ryan grinned and winked as he unlatched the gate and approached the house, comfortable in his nudity. At least Mandy had taken to sleeping late now she’d passed on the running of their business to her son.
As he came closer, Caleb took in Ryan’s beloved face in the soft morning light. He had a broad nose, a strong chin, and a wide mouth. A small scar bisected his right eyebrow. Ryan would only tell him that he’d earned it while practicing shifting with his father. Since his father was a bitter subject, Caleb never pried. Ryan was the product of a shifter father and a cow mother, and his father preferred a life in his primal form. He’d stuck around long enough to train Ryan how to be a shifter, and how to maintain secrecy. Then he’d vanished from Ryan’s life. Caleb knew it still hurt him, and he did everything he could to let Ryan know they were his family.
Ryan hopped up the short steps onto the deck and captured Caleb in his arms. Caleb laughed as Ryan stole a heated kiss. Caleb managed to set the coffee cup on the railing before letting his mate maul him. He pushed into the kiss and cupped Ryan’s face, loving his musky scent and slick skin.
“I love you,” Ryan murmured against his lips. He had a deep, rough voice, always with a bit of rust to it. He hadn’t used it much during the early years before he revealed himself.
Caleb sighed and stroked his bald head. “I love you, too.”
Ryan pulled back and kept an arm around his waist as he stole Caleb’s coffee and downed it in one swallow.
Caleb scowled. “You could have gotten your own.”
“I made it. It’s all mine.”
Caleb slapped his naked ass, hard.
Ryan jerked and burst out laughing, his eyes starting to glow. “You wanna be like that? You don’t need coffee when I’m here to wake you up.”
He set down the empty cup and pressed his hand on the bulge between Caleb’s legs. Ryan’s eyes glowed a bit as muscles in his face jumped and slithered. Something shifters did when their emotions ran high.
Caleb failed to bite down on his moan. “You idiot.”
“I’m your idiot.”
It was Caleb’s turn to laugh. “Yes. Yes, you are.”
Ryan bent and hefted Caleb over his shoulder before heading back into the house. Caleb squirmed, both aroused and annoyed. He slapped Ryan’s ass even harder several times.
“Put me down!” He kept his voice low so he didn’t wake his mother.
“You keep teasing me like that, I’ll do worse to you.”
