An Alpha Torn (Nights Of Lust Book 1) Read online

  An Alpha Torn

  NIGHTS OF LUST SERIES

  Sascha Illyvich

  Contents

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  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  A Look at Road To Seduction

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  More by Sascha Illyvich

  About Sascha Illyvich

  An Alpha Torn

  (Nights of Lust Series)

  Kindle Edition

  Copyright © 2017 by Sascha Illyvich

  City Lights Press

  P.O. Box 620427

  Las Vegas, NV 89162

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  ISBN: 978-1-62918-714-3

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  Join the City Lights Press mailing list for information on new releases, updates, discount offers and a copy of the sexy, sizzling story, A Perfect Fit, FREE!

  Katie, you’re always a part of my heart and the revisions on this MS, you were here for a portion of. I’ll be waiting…

  Acknowledgments

  For starters, I have to acknowledge Seletta still. She was around when I first started writing the Nights of Lust series and I’ll always believe that the support wasn’t a lie. More modern, Katie, Kaitlyn, Christine, Miranda, Lili, Courtney. Elaine Calloway and Nancy S. Reece for your hard work on this I truly am grateful. Cassandra Jean, Kerry Adrienne, Ana D, Listener2, Diane B, you’re my Patreon people. Thank you. Rob, Kobie, Les, anyone who listened to me talk about this book or any others I was working on at the CASHFLOW™ games. Jess, you were around when I was re-editing this book. You already know. Fran, Ben, and puppies, your home meant the world to me. Thank you eternally. Angelia, Cecilia Tan, the encouragement I am ever grateful for. Moriah, Carlos, the Oakland Crew, LaDonna and Bill, thanks for the home. Lastly, Mike Bray and Rachel from City Lights Press for giving my career, not my books, a chance.

  1

  Joséf got out of the car that had brought him to the edge of the forest and slung his pack over his shoulder. He hadn’t even closed the door before the cab took off, raised dust with a fast U-turn, and sped back to town.

  Terrific. He stared at the dark line of trees maybe forty yards away and sighed. Better to get this dog and pony show on the road, so he could go back to his lover. He trudged through the brush toward the trees.

  Livía. He hadn’t wanted to leave her, his vampire lover. She and her companion, Isabella, had saved his life, weaned him off the drugs peddled by the Syndicate, and what had he done? Left her flat.

  It didn’t matter that he had to go. It didn’t matter that she knew, and supported, his reasons for leaving San Francisco for the wilds of Hungary. If he’d stayed, the murderous streak of anger inside him, combined with his lupine heritage, could very well have killed those he loved the most.

  Let’s not forget he was a clinical addict so if it wasn’t the drugs, the cheap shit vodka or sex, it would be violence.

  A rustle and a low growl stopped him in his tracks and pulled him out of his past. Two wolves trotted out of the shelter of the forest and changed to their human shape when they got closer.

  Joséf relaxed slightly as he recognized the pair. “Istvan. Dave.”

  “Hey, Joe. About time you showed up.” Dave grinned.

  Istvan gave his friend a glare before turning to Joséf. “You’re on what we consider to be pack lands. You should know that from here on out, you have no friends. Every one of the pack knows you’re coming, and they’ll all try to erase you.”

  “Including us.” Dave chuckled. “No hard feelings. But yeah, you’ll be fighting.”

  Joséf narrowed his eyes at the two. They weren’t exactly his friends. “I’m here to learn to control my wolf. Not to be anyone’s punching bag.”

  “Oh, it’ll be worse than being a punching bag,” Dave grinned cheerfully. “And you know the basics. You know how to change from your human appearance to your true wolf appearance, and you know how to use the wolf’s natural weapons. Teeth, claws, and speed,” he paused. “The trick is knowing how to change fast, and in a fight, and remember who is in control at all times.”

  Joséf looked to the dim under the trees. He had to do this, had to gain control of the darkness inside him, before he could go back to those he loved. But knowing that didn’t mean he had to walk in, blind and stupid.

  He sighed. “Just what am I getting into? Sapporo told me the pack is poor and scattered.”

  Istvan stopped Dave from speaking. He looked to be sorting through his options. Finally, he shrugged. “The Ancient vampire currently has final control over the pack, since we lack a natural leader. But he rarely shows himself anymore. Poor doesn’t begin to cover what we are. A disease took our elders a few years back. We’ve lost a lot as we have struggled. There’s a lot of anger.”

  Joséf saw that anger in the back of Istvan’s eyes, and knew the other man would be a formidable fighter.

  “Don’t expect anyone to fight fair, either, American.” Dave’s expression darkened. “It’s like this. Learning what you don’t know? It could kill you out here.”

  “Or I could kill them.” Joséf looked from one man to the other. “You both know I don’t have a problem with that.” After all, they had seen him kill another Ancient vampire in San Francisco. A pawn in the Syndicate’s hands, the vampire and his daughter had to die.

  The Syndicate had done enough damage. Taking out a couple of their figureheads had felt good. Caused them to back off.

  But that was then. Now, he had to learn about the heritage his father hadn’t bothered to discuss with his mother before he’d left them both. The bastard.

  “Look, night will be here soon. Can you at least take me to camp and let me get settled?” He really needed a drink. The four vodka tonics he’d had on the plane, plus the whiskey he’d had in the airport bar before finding a cab, had long left his system.

  Istvan shrugged. “Follow, as you can.” The two turned, melted into their wolf form, and headed for the trees.

  Joséf grunted and followed on two feet.

  The cool breeze would have been enjoyable had Joséf not been worried about losing blood or limbs. Hell, he swore he saw two moons at times, because his vision blurred so badly from the constant fighting.

  He hadn't been in Hungary a full forty-eight hours and already bore more cuts, scrapes, scratches and aches in his tired body than when he fought the Syndicate in San Francisco. Fights for dominance and challenges to his ascendency to the position of Alpha, which apparently at one time his father had held, left Joséf weary, and probably gave the other wolves a bad impression of him.

  Fuck 'em. He shifted on the hard ground, darkness around him, and found nothing to take comfort in.

  Joséf decided he didn't like being in a foreign land with people who knew nothing of him other than his name and possible reputation based on family. The humid breeze blew, cooling some of the cuts and scrapes on his forearms, but it faltered as the night lengthened, leaving only the heat.

  Lush forests provided shelter and made for weapons during fights, when Joséf could catch an opponent off guard and slam him into a thick tree.

  A last, rogue breeze brought the distinct smell of sweet chardonnay grapes from nearby vineyards and his mouth watered.

  Damn, what he'd do for a drink, a glass of wine, something.r />
  "The pack is too poor to worry about drink, when we must hunt daily for food and seek shelter from the elements.” Sapporo's words from last night echoed in his mind.

  Bastard. Ancient or not.

  Joséf looked out past the plains and to the horizon. The mountains near Szentendré brought him hazy memories of growing up on the farm. His childhood was barely a faded memory now, the last remnants of the peace of it having been drained by the blur of the past couple of days.

  Stirring, Joséf glanced to the flickering light in front of him. A fire burned low in the center of the circle of sleeping wolves. He lay toward the outer edge of the group, a good six feet away from the nearest ring of wolves. Movement diverted his attention toward his thigh, where a smaller, dark-colored wolf lay, nuzzling him.

  "Go on, get away you damn animal," he growled and waved his hands. The wolf whimpered and snuggled closer.

  "Fucking mongrels.” He muttered in frustration and sat up before struggling to his feet. All this togetherness was making him itchy. He blinked and found himself face to face with a man his size. "We are not animals," the man spoke gruffly.

  "No, you're not. You're fools.” Joséf spat out. "A pack of wolves," Joséf turned, ducking and missing the man's fist by inches while it swept upward toward his jaw. A quick flick of the wrist and a throwing dagger slid into Joséf's hand. Spinning around to drive the knife into his attacker's chest, Joséf forced the dagger upward, only to be distracted by the whimpering of the smaller wolf behind him.

  Please don't, the sweet voice echoed in Joséf's head.

  Hesitating, Joséf blinked and felt the force of a semi-truck slam into his jaw, knocking him several feet back.

  André scowled at Joséf and took a step closer. "What do you think you are, if not an animal?"

  Joséf searched his memory for the man’s name but too much fighting had him unable to think much beyond a base level. "I am a man."

  "Ha. You are no man. Your father made sure to teach you that by your lack of presence when you were old enough.”

  How dare he make assumptions, and based on what? "What would you know of my father?"

  The man laughed and put his fists up to strike again. "The Staganov name is legendary here. You’re considered a deserter. Unlike in your country, foreigner, we have respect for our culture."

  Anger burning white-hot, Joséf rushed his attacker, fist cocked back and ready to strike the man's face. A ball of energy formed at the man’s hands and slammed into Joséf's chest, sending him flying backward against a nearby tree at the edge of the clearing the pack called home.

  Joséf recovered from the blow, wiped sweat off his brow, and blinked again before spotting the oncoming attacker. He shook his head when he saw the tiny brown wolf standing between them, growling fiercely at the large brute.

  Joséf's attacker glared at the small creature, waving a hand in an attempt to get her out of the way. "Kissa, this is none of your business. Step away and let us finish."

  "Looks like she's stopped your dumb ass.” Joséf pushed back from the tree and stalked toward his assailant, knife in hand.

  Please, Kissa begged, both of you, stop! John, you know better…

  John dropped his hands and growled at the young she-wolf, who cowered back toward Joséf. Another man came up behind him and glared at Joséf, hatred churning in his face.

  Joséf gauged the likelihood of John and his buddy continuing to attack, and finally let out a long sigh. Slipping the blade back into his sleeve, he turned and walked into the woods.

  "Be back in the morning," John growled.

  "Fuck off.” Joséf shot the other man the bird.

  "If you’re not here by dawn, don't expect a meal, you worthless foreigner."

  Stopping, Joséf's shoulders tensed, but he let the comment go. More fresh blood dripped from his nose. Stepping through the shrubs and ignoring the scratches they left on his arms, Joséf wandered deeper into the forest, aware of the female wolf following him.

  When he turned to chase her off, her gaze caught his, held it. For a second, he allowed himself to stare at eyes so blue they could suck him in and drown him. He'd probably go willingly, if they'd provide him a brief respite. Then he remembered his anger. "Get lost."

  He turned and walked deeper into the woods, aware of the whimpering female wolf following him.

  When he deemed himself far enough away from the pack, Joséf leaned against the nearest tree, slowly sat down and closed his eyes. The itchy bark irritated his skin, but the tree was no worse than the crappy, thin pallet he used to sleep on, before he met Livía, and ended up at her mansion.

  Sighing heavily, Joséf pictured Livía in his head, her smiling face, full lips and midnight blue eyes. She'd know what to do to ease his pain.

  A paw swiped at the ground.

  Glancing down at Kissa, Joséf sneered. "What do you want?"

  Kissa padded carefully toward Joséf, her head down in subservience, her body trembling when she neared.

  "Well?"

  The wolf changed before his eyes into a small naked girl with curly hair. Her tender face showed little emotion, but Joséf knew the look. He'd seen it many times before. Sadness. Defeat. Hell, she even smelled like it. He’d detected bitter melon and burnt metal, though her lupine smell came through, just not as strong as the other two scents. Emotions possessed scent, as did everything else when your senses were sharper than your average human. Joséf was far from the average human.

  He sighed. "You don't think you belong with them, do you?"

  Standing, Kissa stepped cautiously toward him, stumbling over a rock and falling into Joséf's arms. Her naked body was cold against his warmth. She felt as small in his large arms as she looked.

  "What do you want from me?"

  "I don't know," she muttered. Kissa didn’t look up and her brown hair fell over her eyes. "Just…"

  Brushing tendrils of hair aside, Joséf tilted her chin up and looked deep into her eyes, and understood immediately. "Okay. You can stay, kid."

  "I'm not a kid.” She squared her shoulders firmly. Rounded breasts jutting outward against his chest made him aware of just how much he'd missed sex. Joséf untucked his shirt and pulled it off, a chill racing through him. Kissa's head fell against his chest, her hair thin wisps like many little fingertips across his skin.

  "Whatever.” Handing her the shirt, he turned her around. "Put this on."

  She did as she was told, wrapping the shirt tightly around her lithe frame. "Okay, now what?"

  He raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn’t you be warmer sleeping in wolf form?"

  "I want to feel the comfort of a human."

  Joséf let out a heavy sigh and wiped sweat off his brow with the back of his hand. Pulling her against his chest, he slumped down against the back of the tree behind him. The bark was rough against his bare skin, but Kissa's soft features were a nice contrast. Still, she was tight, tense in his arms. He wondered what had gone on in her life to make such a young girl so tense.

  I'm not a young girl. I'm almost twenty-two.

  Her words whispered in his head and he laughed. The idea of bedding her now became palatable.

  His arousal stirred, hardening, making his pants tight. How enough blood could flow through him for an erection was beyond him, but he shrugged off the want. Isabella hadn't mentioned an overactive sex drive as a side effect of him coming into his newfound strength. Livía hadn’t seemed to know anything about it either.

  He sighed aloud, tightening his hold on Kissa. She snuggled into him, resting her head against his chest. The gentle rise and fall of her breasts let him know she'd fallen asleep.

  Why did everyone find him so comforting?

  Because you are, my beauty, my Farkas.

  The voice echoing in his head was distant, but recognizable.

  Livía. The woman he was going through this training for...so close, and yet so far away.

  Joséf wanted to scream. He couldn't talk to her yet through their mental
pathway, without being in wolf form. That was one of the skills he was supposed to learn while here. Control the beast, control the magic. It extended far past just shape shifting into lupine form.

  His determination to conquer the beast and return home hadn’t wavered, but his energy had. He’d fought for his life since arriving in this shitty part of the world, and the toll on him increased with every passing moment.

  The pain in his skull from John’s punch to his face distracted him from missing Livía and her mate, Isabella. Joséf closed his eyes and sighed. Every muscle screamed in pain from being slammed into the tree and his back was stiff. His muscles would ache in the morning, He needed to figure shit out now, demons in his head be damned. The emotional pain haunting him would fuel the fire in his soul, if just to bury the assholes in this pack and put them in their place. Besides, if nothing else, he loved Livía. His heart knew the comfort she provided, and though it might be temporary, since wolves couldn't live as long as vampires, it was still respite from the despair that had become his life, since he decided to take the world on by himself and go out doing the right thing.

  Where the fuck was a bottle of vodka when he needed one?

  A week later, Joséf sat against the same tree, his face bloodied and his body bruised and exhausted. Even his soul seemed to hurt. Still, he glowed faint silver when Kissa tended to his wounds. She’d explained that his wolf magic would manifest through his aura, and wolves’ auras often were silver. The tints in the aura showed emotion, energy, mind state, things like that.

  Curly, reddish-brown hair fell over her face as she worked, bandaging the cuts on his arms. The sun showed off the silver highlights in her hair. Dark circles beneath her eyes revealed just how fatigued she'd become from hauling him back to this one tree.

  "You almost lost it back there.” She touched his hair, moving it out of his face to lick at the blood trailing down his rugged cheek.