Authors: Loribelle Hunt
Tags: #Paranormal Romance, #Paranormal Erotic Romance
The Secret
Table of Contents
~ Acclaim for Loribelle Hunt ~
~ Look for these titles from Loribelle Hunt ~
More Paranormal Romance from Etopia Press
~ Acclaim for Loribelle Hunt ~
Under Cover of the Moon
“The author has created likable and believable characters in a vivid setting. The story is entertaining and moves quickly, leaving the reader wanting more.”
The Romance Studio
“Hunt’s tale is a fresh take on a familiar theme.”
RT Book Reviews
Bad Moon Rising
“If you’re looking for some scrumptious erotic romance then Bad Moon Rising is the one book with just the right seasoning of romance, hot intense heat, a bit of danger and intrigue, along with a hot werewolf all in one remarkable read.”
The Romance Studio
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen sparks fly like the ones between Tara and Trey. From the very first touch, their chemistry exploded into such raw sensuality that I had to stop reading a couple times just to check my pulse!”
Two Lips Reviews
Chasing the Moon
“The third book in the Lunar Mates series is well written, with a fast-paced storyline and engaging characters. The intense passion and growing love between the protagonists is enthralling, as is the mystery subplot. Hunt delivers a sensual, action-packed romance that is sure to satisfy.”
RT Book Reviews
“I just can’t get enough of this series.”
The Romance Studio
“The chemistry between Jackson and Summer is strong from the very beginning… [R]eaders will get a wonderfully blended couple."
Fallen Angel Reviews
~ Look for these titles from Loribelle Hunt ~
Now Available
Lunar Mates
Lunar Mates 1: Under Cover of the Moon
Lunar Mates 2: Bad Moon Rising
Lunar Mates 3: Chasing the Moon
Lunar Mates 4: Call of the Moon
Lunar Mates 5: Christmas Moon
Lunar Mates 6: Captured Moon
Lunar Mates 7: Claiming the Moon
Lunar Mates 8: Hunter’s Moon
Coming Soon
The Return
Pride Law Book 2
In Print
Lunar Mates Volume One
Lunar Mates Volume Two
Lunar Mates Volume Three
The Secret
Pride Law Book 1
Loribelle Hunt
Copyright Warning
EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (
http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/
).
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Published By
Etopia Press
1643 Warwick Ave., #124
Warwick, RI 02889
The Secret
Copyright © 2012 by Loribelle Hunt
ISBN: 978-1-939194-32-9
Edited by Nancy Cassidy
Cover by Valerie Tibbs
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Etopia Press electronic publication: December 2012
Chapter One
Carlos Rivera studied the woman in silence, certain she was unaware of his scrutiny. She’d been introduced to him two months ago as Sunny. No last name, and it’d taken weeks before she’d confessed it was Nolan. He could have just asked Julian, her boss and head of the group of human hunters currently working with the werewolves to take out rogue shifters. Julian’s group had only recently made themselves known, and many of them still seemed to be deciding if they trusted the wolves and lions, including Sunny. He couldn’t blame any of them, but he wanted her to open up to him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew her.
Her name was the only information she’d willingly given up, but even with that, his background check on her had come up completely empty. It was like she didn’t exist. She was a mystery, and his lion side had never been able to resist a puzzle.
He called her the Ice Queen in his head, not entirely comfortable with his rising obsession. But after just a few weeks in her silent company, he realized his first assessment was wrong and abandoned the nickname. It wasn’t that she was cold. She was just very reserved, especially with shifters.
That shouldn’t have surprised him. She was a tracker in an unnamed secretive human group that hunted feral werefelines and rogue werewolves, and probably any other were species that got out of line. They felt humans were inferior and preyed on them, killing indiscriminately. Worse, if left to their own devices they’d expose the rest of the shifter species to humanity. It was obvious most of the human hunters were a part of the organization because they’d experienced tragedy at the hands of one species or the other. His lion wanted to demand she tell him her story, but he was pretty damned sure it was too soon to get it out of her.
A sign indicating restaurants at the next exit flashed by, and he slowed to enter the off-ramp.
“Why are we stopping?”
The first words she’d spoken since they’d left North Carolina were soft, almost drowsy, and they hit him hard, intensifying the arousal he already felt into painful need. He glanced down, shifting a little in his seat, and hoped she didn’t notice his cock had grown hard in his jeans.
“We need to refuel.”
She turned to look at him, right as he looked up, and he swore he saw a flash of amusement in her eyes.
“You did that an hour ago.”
“I meant food,” he said, turning into a fast-food place.
“Oh.”
She exited the vehicle, a sleek hybrid SUV, without another word and waited on the sidewalk outside until Asa and Declan, who were following in their own vehicle, joined them. The two werewolves were Hunters. Carlos had been working with them to track down Arthur Roberts, a werewolf they expected to lead them straight to Tim Burns, ruler of the rogue Society.
The three entered as a group with Carlos bringing up the rear. She relaxed as she ordered, took the wolves’ gentle teasing in stride and didn’t argue—too much—when they insisted on paying for her meal.
The genial atmosphere continued at the table. Between the three of them, at least. Carlos was finding it increasingly hard to control his cat, the wild side of him clawing to break free. Each time she smiled at one of the wolves, each time she laughed at a joke, it grew worse. And it wasn’t just
her
smiles or her laughter winding him up. Carlos enjoyed men just as much as women.
There was something about the wolf, Declan, that called to him too. A call he was finding harder and harder to resist. He wanted a taste of the man, and then some. His lion considered the other male, Asa, an interloper, and it wasn’t pleased Sunny and Declan gave him so much attention. Carlos struggled to contain a low snarl and knew he hadn’t succeeded when Sunny turned to watch him with somber eyes.
What the fuck was wrong with him? Jealousy? Possessiveness? He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone territorial over a woman, much less a man. He just wasn’t built that way. What was it about Sunny that made him want to roll her in bubble wrap and hide her away? What was it about Declan that made him want to roar his dominance?
“If you’re done, we should get a move on,” he snapped.
Of course, she didn’t reply. It was almost like she figured if she didn’t respond to him, he was no threat. She was wrong about that. She’d tempted the cat and was now its prey whether she liked it or not. Once she’d thrown out her trash, she stalked to the SUV, the three of them following. Declan stopped him before he could get into the driver’s seat.
“Careful, cat,” he said with an expectant grin. “That one scratches back.”
As far as warnings went, it was a lousy one. He craved this mysterious warrior woman, not a domesticated kitten. He could get plenty of that at home.
“And so do I,” Declan murmured, and there was no mistaking the heat in the werewolf’s eyes.
Carlos’s nostrils flared to take in the growing scent of his arousal. Fucking ambrosia. Oh yeah. His interest was reciprocated. It was only a matter of time before he had the wolf exactly where he wanted him. Declan flicked his gaze to Sunny, who watched with apparent interest from inside the vehicle. He gave her a tight smile before getting in the other SUV.
Carlos continued south, turning seduction scenes over in his mind as he drove. His lion insisted he take her first. Declan wanted her too, but the lion would never accept less than supreme dominance. It wasn’t until they crossed the Georgia state line into Florida that Sunny spoke, startling him from his thoughts.
“Do you think we’ll find him this time?”
He glanced over and let his gaze sweep over her regal profile, moving down her lean torso and the sweater covering her generous breasts, before forcing his gaze back to the road.
“I don’t know.”
This was their third trip to south Florida looking for Arthur Roberts. The werewolf was excellent at hiding when he wanted to. Carlos was pretty sure if they found Arthur, and the man had succeeded in his mission, he’d take his own life before he let himself get captured by the Hunters. That was why Declan was along. Arthur was his older brother, and he was determined to see him safe. But Carlos knew that wasn’t likely to happen. Arthur’s mate had been murdered by a rogue werewolf years ago, and the only thing he lived for now was revenge. To make matters even more difficult, on each trip south, Carlos had the nagging feeling that Sunny was there for another mission entirely.
