ATTENTION Just 2 more days until the release of "Wolf's Beautiful Beast!"

Can it seriously only be two more days until the release of "Wolf's Beautiful Beast?" The excitement is overwhelming!!! Well, just for you, here is today's sneak peek!

            “Out of the way,” hissed the soldier. “This doesn’t concern you.”

            Jumping from the wagon, I called out. “There’s no need for this. Certainly the woman could be let off with a warning.”

            “She’s been warned,” he ground out through clenched teeth. “This old…”

            “Captain!” barked General Drax. “Stand down!”

            The soldier glanced between us and his commanding officer. With a heavy sigh, he mounted his horse and guided it back into line with the wagon.

            The general nodded to Red. “My apologies. My men can get a little overzealous in their duties.”

            “Do their duties include beating on old women?” Red spat, continuing to stand protectively by the woman.

            “Of course not,” Drax insisted, placing a hand to his heart. “A simple misunderstanding, I promise you. Rest assured, I will be addressing it as soon as we reach the castle.”

            I placed a hand on Red’s shoulder. “Let’s go. You have done right by her, now we need to see Rapunzel to the castle. She’ll catch her death in this cold.”

            Reluctantly, Red turned to the old woman. “Please take care of yourself.”

            “Bless you, child,” she replied, taking Red’s hands in her own. They were tanned and wrinkled, showing the years of hard labor and weather.

            Red walked to the wagon. As I turned to follow, the old woman grabbed my arm. The shock of her icy touch against my warm skin felt like a bolt of lightning surging through my body.

            “Danger,” she murmured, her voice but a whisper in the blowing wind. “You must leave before it comes.”

            I furrowed my brow. “What comes?”

            Her cloudy, gray eyes bore into mine. “It comes in the night.”

Just 3 days until Wolf's Beautiful Beast arrives!

I can't believe it is only three more days until the release of "Wolf's Beautiful Beast!" Here is today's sneak peek!

I first pushed against the door, but it was not going to give easily. I tried kicking it, but it barely budged. Running as fast as I could, I slammed my shoulder into the wood. I bounced off, falling to the floor in a heap. I was almost certain the crack I heard was not the wood, but my bones.

            “Gods help me,” I cried out, grabbing my injured shoulder. “What is it made of? Stone?”

            The door clicked and slowly opened. “Actually, I believe white oak,” said Arabella, carrying a silver pitcher, along with a towel. “I thought you might want to clean up.” She stepped past me as though nothing about the situation was out of the ordinary.

            I winced as I stood. “Where were you all night?”

            “Doing the beast’s bidding.” She groaned, setting the pitcher and towel on the small table by the window. “As I’ve done every night for the past… how long has it been?”

            “My understanding is you’ve been missing for five years,” I explained, stepping closer.

            She turned on her heel, eyes wide as she searched my face. “Has it really been only five years?” She stood silently for several moments, staring through me.

            “I… uh… believe so,” I slowly approached her. “That’s just what I was told by the king and queen.”

            Her eyes shot to mine. “My parents? They sent you, didn’t they?” She turned back to the table, pouring the water in a basin. “Well, I’m sorry to say their efforts will be fruitless.”

            “But it doesn’t have to be.” Reaching out, I touched her shoulder. She jerked away, knocking over the basin. Water pooled at her feet as she backed against the wall, staring me down.

            “I’m sorry,” I said, putting my hands up in surrender. “I never meant to scare you.”

            She took deep, slow breaths as her gaze fell between the door and me.

            “Princess, I…”

            “I am not the princess anymore,” she growled, yanking the towel from the table and bending to dry up the mess. 

Only 4 more days until Wolf's Beautiful Beast drops!

Only four more days until the release of "Wolf's Beautiful Beast!" Here is today's sneak peek!

A low rumble emanated from the beast as it turned and moved to all fours. It lowered its head, horns aligning to charge. The beast’s ember red eyes bored into me, the rumble turning into a full-fledged roar. It kicked off the ground, snow and mud flying in its wake.

I growled, willing my body to act when everything in me said flee. I leaped into the air, intent on meeting the beast head on. However, as our paths came to a head, the creature burst into the air, spreading its wings to clear me with ease.

The sound of metal clanged as it landed. I spun, recalculating my attack. It had landed on General Drax. The beast loomed over him, saliva falling in his face from its snarling teeth. I growled, snagging its attention away from the general for a split second. It was enough. Drax grabbed his dagger and pierced the leg of the creature.

Roaring, the beast retreated several paces, allowing Drax to scramble to his feet. He grabbed a long limb from the fire, throwing it at the feet of the creature. Its eyes shown orange in the burning light.

The beast stretched its golden wings, fanning the flames. Hot embers flew toward the general and his men, causing them to turn and shield their faces.

The creature looked at me one last time, releasing a small groan. Then, like a great eagle, it lifted into the air and into the cover of darkness.

For several moments, everyone stood still as the grave. Tension rose as we waited for another attack. I listened and scanned the area for an ambush. When I felt it was safe, I transitioned back into the man, grabbing a nearby cloak to wrap around me.

General Drax scowled at me as he wiped mud and drool from his face.

Clenching my teeth, I grabbed my bag and headed into the darkness to dress. “Still under the impression that the beast doesn’t exist?”

Only 5 more days until the release of Wolf's Beautiful Beast

 

 Just five more days until the release of "Wolf's Beautiful Beast!" Here is today's sneak peek!

Red yelped and jumped back, then burst into a laugh. “Did I scare you?”

“What are you doing out here?” I growled, crossing the distance between us. “Don’t you know it’s dangerous?”

“Obviously.” She giggled, covering her mouth. “The big bad wolf and his wall of flowers might get me.”

I glared at her. “Keep your voice down. Don’t you see what this means?”

She stepped forward, squinting to get a better look. “Well, given the fact that these roses are growing in the dead of winter means this place has magic.” She plucked a nearby red rose from the vine.

“No!” I hissed, reaching for the bloom.

Pulling away, she brought the flower to her nose. “Calm down, Lycus. What harm could come from picking a rose?”

“Remember,” I whispered. “The boy said the beast is attracted to these roses. That is why it attacked the kingdom before. If this place is covered in roses, then…”

“Then we’re standing on the edge of its lair,” Red gulped, glancing around.

“And it means the princess could be here,” I murmured, turning back to the wall. I stretched to look through a gap in the abandoned courtyard.

Suddenly, the air erupted in a bone-chilling roar that cut to the core. Red and I threw our hands over our ears.

Wolf's Beautiful Beast releases in 6 days!

 

 Only six more days until the release of "Wolf's Beautiful Beast!" Here is today's sneak peek!

           Arabella looked up from her reading. “I could have told you; the words won’t magically change to give you the answer, Lycus.” She reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

            “There must be something,” I argued, pulling a different book in front of me and opening it.

            She stood and walked to my side of the table, slowly closing the book. “Lycus, stop.”

            My brows furrowed as I took in her gaze. Her eyes were soft with apology.

            “You have to stop now,” she instructed, pushing the books out of the way and sitting on the table. “You’ve already given me more than I ever could have hoped for. I am no longer terrorized by fear of the beast. I’m… free.”

            I stood abruptly, my chair falling over. “You’re not free! You are a prisoner in this hellhole. You have a life waiting for you back in Bruen. Can’t you see that?”

            She shook her head, looking down at her hands. “That life is lost to me. And I accept that.”

            I grasped her shoulders, standing before her. “I don’t. I will not let you live like this… it’s no life. Just a half-life.”

            She reached up, her fingertips running down my cheek. I drank in her eyes, nose… lips. The sun shone through the dusty window, creating a halo against her dark chocolate hair. My heart skipped.

            “Arabella, I can’t leave you behind,” I said, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. “But you know I can’t stay.”

            She leaned into my hand, cupping it with her own. “I know.”

            My stomach flipped when her eyes met mine. They appeared as deep pools calling me into the depths, and I desperately wanted to drown in them.

            “Lycus,” she murmured, leaning into me and tracing her fingers over the stubble on my chin.

            I swallowed hard, my throat tight. I fought to keep my knees from trembling. Leaning forward, I ran my fingers through her hair as I cupped the back of her head. She leaned in, staring at my lips. 

7 Days until Wolf's Beautiful Beast Releases!

Only seven days until the release of "Wolf's Beautiful Beast!" Here is today's sneak peek!

Water began to seep from under the door. I looked out in the hall and saw a steady stream of water coming up from the stern of the ship.

            “Time to go,” I instructed, crossing the small cabin and scooping up Rapunzel in my arms.
            “We can’t just jump off the ship,” Red hissed, picking up her satchel and bow. “We’ll drown under the weight of the waves.”
            “Not if I shift,” I countered. “As a wolf, I can carry you both to safety.”
            “No!” Red barked. “She’s already so weak. And you don’t even know if you can force it.”
            “I did it once,” I argued.
            “By accident!”
            “Stop arguing,” Rapunzel pleaded.
            “Look, we will all be dead in ten minutes if I don’t try,” I countered. “Honestly, Red, must you always be so pigheaded?”
            Her expression changed to that of a scolded child, and I regretted my tone. I decided I would apologize if we survived. At that moment, I needed her to listen to me.
            We raced up the stairs to the upper deck. There were far fewer men than before. I wasn’t sure if it was because they had retreated below deck or they had been swept out to sea. I carried Rapunzel behind a pile of secured crates and sat her down.
            “Will it work?” Red shouted against the wind, shielding Rapunzel from the onslaught of rain.
            “Only one way to find out,” I said. 

Wolf's Beautiful Beast - Chapter sneak peeks!

It has been four years in the making, but Wolf's Beautiful Beast officially launches a week from tomorrow! The excitement is truly overwhelming for me. I'm excited, nervous, terrified, thrilled, horrified, and more. Of course I'm happy that the book is finally seeing the light of day, but I'm scared what my fans will think. Those who have read it love it, but will my other fans be so receptive? I know you can't make everyone happy, but I want to!!!!

Anyway, I decided that starting tomorrow, Friday, March 11, I will be doing a countdown that includes a daily sneak peek inside the book! Each day, a new section of the book will be released here and on my Facebook and Instragram accounts.

This will be a fun way to get my fans super excited and ready to read when it drops on Friday, March 19. 

Until then, however, I thought this little teasers would be a good way to whet your appetite!