Preface & Prologue
This is Book 3 of a series that begins with “Into the Wild: A Werewolf Love/Need Story”; however, the first book is not required for the continued story. Note that Book 1 is only available on the Inkitt app. Book 2 is called "Into the Fire".
“Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
-Albert Einstein
Preface
Jodi’s life had been turned upside down when werewolves attacked the small town where she was living and working. The world ended “normalcy” and there began the war against the werewolves. They are massive creatures, wolflike in most ways, but smart, able, since they began as men. They can stand on two legs and walk as humans, but they have opposable thumbs on their massive paws. The war went decidedly badly for the humans. Now, most humans are on the run, finding shelter and protection where they can. Jodi had been captured by a powerful werewolf named Alexis who ran the “Estate” where he kept and bred human women to make more loyal werewolves as his minions.
She had escaped because Alexis’s second in command, Franklin, had noticed her and arranged to impregnate her instead of Alexis and then escape with their child after it was born. Instead, Jodi had suffered a miscarriage, but saved her friend’s baby and ran away with Franklin.
Terrified, Jodi had finally confessed that the baby was not theirs and in a desperate attempt to keep the baby alive and have Franklin’s protection, had given herself to him as his slave, promising to stay with him.
She had kept her promise and Franklin grew to love the child, Benjamin, who eventually turned into a werewolf and ran off with a pack of free wolves they encountered along their travels.
Saddled with Jodi and chased relentlessly by Alexis and his crew, they were nearly captured. With their pursuers getting close, Jodi insisted he go on without her to save himself. She had witnessed Alexis’ cruelty to those who betrayed him and didn’t want to see Franklin fall into his clutches. But Franklin confessed his love for her and they forged a psychic, emotional bond between them. Fueled with new energy, they made their way to a human settlement where Franklin turned back to a man and passed as human while he recovered from a gunshot wound.
Despite the comfort Jodi had found in the human settlement of Charleston, there was also grave danger there to her family. These humans were unaware that werewolves could be in human form, so Franklin had passed among them unknown. Jodi had given birth to a daughter.
Having a girl child was a surprise to them since all werewolf babies they had known of were male. They didn’t have much time to ponder their surprising situation since they had to leave Charleston before the humans figured out that Franklin was a werewolf or went hunting for the growing wolf pack that Franklin had befriended living on the other side of the river from the human fortification.
Soon they would have to leave and find safety for their new family.
Prologue
The lieutenant paced his tiny office. The problems of command loomed over him and settled like a heavy burden on his shoulders. Scouts were constantly finding groups of werewolves prowling. It was almost worst when they didn’t find anything. He was convinced they had to be out there. Seeing them, at least, they could plan; they could count their numbers, plan their defense or offense and have some chance.
Supplies were in constant demand. Fuel, ammo, and food were harder and harder to come by. They were starting to have to hunt and raise chickens to have enough food for everyone.
“What!” he snapped when someone came through the door. He looked into the startled face of Jennifer Jones, his assistant and head of operations. She was pretty and efficient, but he had no heart left to deal with any sort of relationship. Sure, he’d love to plow some pussy for the evening just to relax and feel something, but there was no one. He wouldn’t use his staff that way and refugees were just too pitiful. He wasn’t that desperate, nor cruel. “Sorry, Jones. What is it?”
“Just more scouting reports. Can I bring them in?” she asked in a small voice.
“Of course. Don’t mind me. I’m on edge. It’s been too quiet. I just feel like something is brewing but I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll keep my eyes open, sir.”
“You do that. Dismissed.” She turned and he watched her backside as she walked out of his office. She was curvy and strong. He sighed heavily. A distraction would be nice. But there was no time, they had to prepare to move out again soon…
