Shadow Wolf, page 1
SHADOW WOLF
PROTECTOR WOLF SHIFTER SERIES
BOOK ONE
LILLIANA ROSE
Shadow Wolf
Lilliana Rose
Copyright 2023 Lilliana Rose
All Rights Reserved
ISBN (ebook): 978-0-6454402-5-6
ISBN (Print): 978-0-6454402-6-3
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
For my dogs,
Kimba and Sprinkles
for waiting patiently.
CONTENTS
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
About the Author
Acknowledgments
BLURB
Can a wolf shifter who hates humans and a human who is afraid of dogs work together to save both their asses?
If Tamaska wants to advance her career, she must sell the Blood Opal to the highest bidder. But when the precious gem is stolen in front of everyone, her future ends up in jeopardy.
The prime suspect?
Zodiak, a security guard from Shadow Protection—assigned as a last minute change—and someone Tamaska isn’t keen to trust.
Zodiak is adamant about his innocence and believes the culprit is a vampire. He claims he wants to help, but Tamaska isn’t having it…until an effort to recover the stone from a dangerous visit to a nightclub leaves her life hanging in the balance.
Now, if she wants to escape she’ll have to accept the shifter’s help…and hope he doesn’t end up killing her chances of getting out alive.
CHAPTER 1
Tamaska
Tamaska Lane scanned the growing crowd behind the roped-off doorway to the ballroom. She tapped her foot, the sound of her shoe on the polished floor a steady rhythm. Time slipped away quicker than she’d like.
Nerves knotted in her stomach, tight enough for her to want to double over, yet she remained upright, head high, abundantly confident.
The security she’d employed at the last minute hadn’t arrived.
The Blood Opal was too valuable to have on display without protection, and she was beginning to think this might be the event that would break her career instead of making it.
“Where the fuck is he?” she grumbled, standing by the tall, rectangular glass cabinet positioned on the stage at the back of the ballroom.
Both the cabinet and the stage showcased her skills as a highly sought-after event manager.
Fairy lights strung between the high walls connected to the chandelier in the center, adding a touch of magic to the room. Oversized flower arrangements on pedestals along the walls, framed with white material, softened the space. It was inviting, and she hoped it would persuade potential buyers to open their wallets and spend big money. This was the event to be at on Friday night in Sydney, Australia, at the reputable Shangri-La.
She clutched her phone in one hand, trying to maintain control in a situation that was about to push her over the edge and into the mother of all meltdowns. One last thing needed to be sorted out before the event started, and time was fast running out.
The soft rainbow of colors around the opal’s deep red center reassured her. The priceless Blood Opal sat proudly on a cushion of black velvet, surrounded by tiny LED lights which had been positioned to ensure the gem’s beauty reflected from all angles.
And it was beautiful. Almost otherworldly. The glow of the opal drew the eye, even without the lights.
With them, it was beyond spectacular.
Just like she’d envisaged.
Of course, security actually being at the Shangri-La would help with the gem placed so front and center.
Tamaska stepped off the stage as nervous energy hummed in her veins. The evening needed to be perfect.
Through the far window, she caught sight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge that lit up as the sky darkened.
In the window’s reflection, she returned a strand of wayward brown hair to the long, straight ponytail that fell down her back, perfectly aligned. She took in the rest of herself: the gym-toned body, emphasized by leather pants and a loose, see-through shirt that covered the scars on her arms and legs and gave her a chicness. A boldness. An edge. She could blend or stand out, depending on her mood and needs.
It gave her a confident edge that she fast wasn’t feeling.
Tonight’s reveal was the biggest in the company’s history, with the exclusive Blood Opal going up for sale. As the event manager for OzOpals, responsibility for the event fell entirely on her.
Even though she had five team members to help, including her assistant Cory, she needed to push harder than usual to ensure OzOpals received the best price for this rare treasure.
So, no pressure.
She kept her face smooth and emotionless. Her boss, Carlene, would be watching.
Carlene, ready to scrutinize every detail of the night. Carlene, ready to pick every tiny move apart.
The boss from hell had given her enough motivation to start her own event management firm. Soon, her reputation would have clients lining up to book her, which was why tonight had to be perfect in every way.
At least Carlene wasn't there yet. That was a small miracle because no way Tamaska could explain why there was no security protecting the gem. Acid rose up from her stomach, and she swallowed hard.
If the security guard couldn't show up on time, how could he be qualified to guard the gem?
“You have to let me in,” a male voice shouted from the entrance doors towards the front of the cavernous room.
A tall, broad-shouldered man in a suit pushed his way past the crowd, ignoring their dark stares.
What the fuck is going on now?
She was used to event management problems. She was also used to clients demanding special treatment, but there would be none of that tonight. She needed to remain impartial, especially in front of the gathering crowd.
Her heels clicked on the smooth ballroom floor as she marched over to the commotion at the entrance. This wouldn’t be a good first impression for potential buyers. Everyone coming tonight had been strictly vetted before the invites went out. All their names were written on the list at the door—no exceptions, no special allowances.
“You’re not on the list, sir,” Cory said, standing at the entrance trying to block the muscular man from entering. Under no circumstances would he let anyone inside unless they were on the guest list. A guest list was the most basic form of security they needed to protect the Blood Opal.
“I’m the bloody security,” the man snapped.
Is he the security guard?
Tamaska had to admit that the man, standing with a sharp suit, crisp tie, and waxed hair, was everything she’d hoped for in a guard from Shadow Protection.
He was also hot: tall, well built, with a chiseled face and dark eyes. Not to mention his mouth, wide and sensuous.
Yeah, he was definitely hot.
Her pulse increased, fluttering before she could get control of herself.
The man radiated heat and strength. Not just from the muscles; no, this came from a deeper place within. One that whispered power.
“What’s going on here?” she asked.
The two men faced off much more fiercely than necessary, considering the only thing at stake was simple access to the event. They looked like they might tear each other apart. Although Cory was slight in build, a scary side radiated from him as he stood his ground.
“I’m Kodiak Day, your security for the evening.” The man turned to her, and his dark eyes locked with hers, flickering with a hint of gold.
Her pulse leaped, and she tried to calm her breathing. There was something like steel in those dark depths. He looked like someone who meant business, a man who could more than take care of things.
The man, Kodiak, stepped a little closer, and that connection reached down into her. He could calm or destroy. He had the kind of power that could command anyone or anything. Sexual energy hummed around them, and she inexplicably wanted to touch him.
As he looked at her, she went still. His eyes reflected darkness, a deep well full of secrets and promises, wildness and calming seas. If she closed that gap, he could transport her—
“Or,” he said softly, those low, rich tones rippling over her skin, “do you want me to go?”
That connection deepened.
He knew exactly the effect he had on her.
That made him dangerous.
Tamaska snapped out of her trance. She’d slipped into another world just by looking into his eyes. He was so damned hot, but she didn’t fuck the hired help, not even for a one-night stand—especially not during an upscale market event.
She eyed him with as much animosity as she could muster, and his mouth curved so slightly she might have imagined it.
“You’re late,” she snapped, reconnecting sharply to her confidence.
“I’m not. I’m right on time.”
She resisted the urge to check her phone. “You’re not.”
That almost-smile turned mocking. “I am.”
He might not be late, but there wasn’t time to explain why she’d expected him to be early.
She had expectations that went beyond the event that were proving hard to reign in.
“You’re late to me.”
She stood firm while she looked him up and down, inspecting the man she’d hired. She wouldn’t relax her standards, even if the event was about to start.
Her pulse fluttered. Kodiak was well-groomed from head to toe, with a clean-shaven face, polished shoes, and even cuff links on his perfectly pressed shirt covered by his jacket. Her fingers tingled with the desire to explore the unusually toned muscles under his shirt.
The stress of the night is getting to me. I’m losing it over a security guard.
She inhaled slowly.
“Do you want me to be here or not?” he asked, smooth and cool.
“You’ll have to do,” she said, trying to hide her brewing thoughts. “How many came with you?”
“Six.” He subtly moved his hand, and six men and women came forward, all dressed to blend in with the night’s clientele, as per her request to Olcan, the head of Shadow Protection.
"Good. I want security positioned around the ballroom, there and there.” Tamaska pointed to the entrance, then to the table where bidders would register. She prepared to point to the glass cabinet.
He looked at her, brow slightly raised. “Don’t tell me how to do my job.”
“You’ll do the job I’m paying you for.” Heat rose inside of her as her blood pressure soared.
How dare he? She was running the show, not him.
“I will.” He waited a beat. “The Blood Opal will be safe with us here. You’ll have a successful night, but I’ll run the security.”
Her hands coiled together. "You'll do what I tell you."
“Then I’ll walk.”
He stared down at her, a dark chill overtaking the earlier warmth in his eyes.
She wanted that heat back. Between the loss of that connection and the steel and slight insolence in his tone, hot anger coursed through her blood. She couldn't afford to lose the security now, but she wasn't one to back down from an argument.
“That’s not the arrangement I had with Olcan.” Her breath came in a hard intake as she struggled to find her equilibrium. “I’ll be informing him of your indiscretion.”
“See you later, then.” Kodiak turned away, and the others followed his lead.
Fuck.
She breathed out. “Stop.”
He paused and then slowly turned back to her. She almost wished she could afford to let him go. His expression hadn't changed, but the mocking stung the air.
“You’re going to let us do our job, then?”
“On one condition.” She wasn’t about to let a man like Kodiak railroad her, especially when she was in charge.
He frowned, a stormy expression shadowing his face.
But Tamaska had enough determination to sink a battleship. “I want you standing by the Blood Opal.”
Kodiak’s perfect mix of danger and confidence would add to the atmosphere surrounding the gem, enticing the buyers and deterring any would-be thieves. Despite the unfortunate start, he actually seemed perfect for the job.
She squared her shoulders and kept her chin high as Kodiak stared down at her. A shiver slid down her back. This time, she didn't succumb to his allure and kept her balance.
Did he just smirk at me?
“Fine.” He nodded slightly. “But I’ll have you know that I like to stand where I can see everything, so I would have been in that position anyway.”
"Good," she said. "Let's get this sorted, now. The guests want to see the Blood Opal."
Cory unclipped the end of the red rope and let the security team into the ballroom before rushing to stop the guests by raising his hands and calling out for them to wait.
As Kodiak strode past her, he met her gaze, and her breath stuttered. It seemed as if a part of him reached for her as she reached for him. The resulting sparks mixed with attraction and warning. Bells of all kinds rang. Inside her, a low beat of need started up, coiling with heat that could combust with a touch.
She liked a man in a suit and couldn't turn away from him. He was like a magnet just for her.
From the center of the ballroom floor, he gestured to the others. They silently moved in six different directions, leaving Kodiak alone to stand by the Blood Opal cabinet.
He turned sharply, his expression daring her to fault his actions. She couldn’t deny the thrill coursing through her.
“That was stressful,” Cory said from behind her, before breathing out slowly with a soft whistle.
Oddly, she wanted to know more about Kodiak, even though he'd dared to question her. Clearly, he didn't understand his position. She admired how efficiently Kodiak set up his security team, even though they had only been hired a few hours ago.
“Do you still think they were the right choice, Cory?” she asked, full of mixed emotions.
“I do. They came highly recommended.”
“I hope so.”
She kept her eyes fixed on Kodiak, wishing for more of that intensity. Did he bring that with him everywhere he went? Or was it aimed at her? Where exactly could that intensity lead her?
Nowhere good, that’s for fucking sure.
“I’ll not have anyone ruin this night, not even an overconfident security guard,” she said under her breath.
Her entire being trembled with conflicting emotions.
“We’ve planned for success,” Cory said. “It’ll happen.”
“Make sure you stick to the plan,” she said. “I won’t tolerate even the slightest deviation from our program.”
He nodded, opened his iPad cover, and started to register the first guests in line.
Finally, the event was getting under way. Tamaska had spent hours planning the perfect night, and this wasn't the ideal start.
Her gut twisted with doubt, warning her that, instead of a huge success, the event could turn into her worst nightmare.
CHAPTER 2
Kodiak
Kodiak simmered with anger as he stood by the glass cabinet, flexing his hands into fists and wishing there was something he could hit. This wasn’t the time or place for him to lose his temper.
Who the fuck does she think she is?
He needed to calm down and get his control back. Tamaska had slid right under the skin in a way no one had in a long time.
The ballroom filled with people minutes after he took his position. Automatically, he switched into security mode, scanning the growing crowd for any possible thieves. All he noticed was a big whiff of human stench, reminding him how much he detested the species.
How dare she question me. No one ever questioned him. As Beta of the Shadow Pack, he was as close to Alpha as he could get for now. It would be his turn one day. But until he knew the time was right, that it was a fight he could win, he wouldn’t challenge the position. There was winning, and then there was winning. He wanted to win in all the ways that mattered.
On every level.
But this woman… What gave her the audacity to make demands of him? Women didn’t treat him like that.
No one treated him like that.
Even worse, he couldn't get her out of his mind. She was there, hooked in, living rent free. She drew his attention, too. He didn't give in to it, but he was as aware of her as she stood in front of him.
