An Alpha's Trust

By Shannon Duane

Shana Dunn has been on the run for five long years trying to keep herself, and her son, safe. She decides to move to a small town right outside Napa Valley, hiding from her ex-boyfriend who's in jail for stalking and rape. Of course, that didn’t prevent him from sending his jail mates to ‘warn’ her he was coming.

No longer willing to run, Shana renews her restraining order, and sets up an advance security system. She didn’t expect to meet the sexy-as-sin owner, Jake Calhoun. She feels an instant, and unyielding, attraction to him, yet still pushes him away. Everything about him screams safety, but she wouldn't fall for a great body and the lies of love again. She’d learned her lesson the first time.

With the threat of her returning ex, Shana agrees to entrust her son's safety to Jake, and his Pack. She fights for her independence. Yet, she can't deny the protective, sexy wolf in her bed...and in her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shannon Duane
• Release date: May 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476381428

Shannon Duane

Shannon Duane is married, with three beautiful children, living right outside Napa Valley. She works, full time, in a busy emergency room as a registered nurse.

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An Alpha’s Trust

Fated Mate: book 1

Shannon Duane

Smashwords Edition

An Alpha’s Trust

Copyright 2012 © Shannon Duane

Cover Art Copyright © 2012 Laura Shinn Designs

{Revised version 2014}

Smashwords Licensing Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with other people, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this ebook without purchasing it and it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

An Alpha’s Trust is a work of fiction.

Though actual locations may be mentioned, they are used in a fictitious manner and the events and occurrences were invented in the mind and imagination of the author. Similarities of characters or names used within to any person – past, present, or future – are coincidental except where actual historical characters are purposely interwoven.

To view more of Shannon’s writing, please visit:

http://shannonduane.yolasite.com.

https://www.facebook.com/shannon.duane.98

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to my loving mother, Diana. Thank you first, for not killing me when I was a teenager and second, for being the woman I will always grow and aspire to be. Thanks also to my father who has given me the, sometimes, wonderful gift of insomnia without it I would have never created. I love you both more than you could ever know.

Shanzo (your favorite)

Don’t worry, I won’t tell.

Special Note from the Author:

Sixty percent of all rapes in the United States go unreported leading it to being called the most under-reported violent crime. The most common reason for not reporting a rape is because it is a private or personal matter and fear of their assailant. Most police departments around the world have picked up on this and keep female rape victims assigned to female officers to make them feel more comfortable and to lessen their psychological trauma. Education and prevention are very important. If you feel like you have been sexually assaulted you should immediately go to the closest Emergency Room. Do not wash or change your clothes, try not to pee. Once in the ER the staff will place you in a room and notify the appropriate police officials and they will contact SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner). The police are there for your protection and will instruct you on how to proceed. An exam will be done and evidence collected so the suspect can be prosecuted. Keep yourself safe and protected.

Education is a big part of prevention. You should take basic self-defense classes as well as be aware of your surroundings. If you are going on a first date make sure you give contact information to a friend or family member and try to stay in a group. Walk in well-lit and well-traveled areas, in pairs if possible. A tip that I always use is carrying mace. I walk alone to my car every night and before I leave the hospital I take out my keys and my mace. I would never hesitate to use it. Please, if you feel like you need more education on the matter I urge you to contact your local police department or go online.

My personal favorite website for rape prevention and tips is: http://cityofdavis.org/police/investigations/rapeprev.cfm.

Prologue

Oh, hell no, he didn’t!

Shana’s best friend Samantha ‘Sam’ became angry on her behalf, with good reason. Ohh, her friend’s face got red and the vein in her forehead started to bulge.

Oh, yes he did. He called me up a couple days ago and told me I gave him an STD. Shana could feel her anger begin to surface with every admission. Me! He knows damn well I was a virgin. It wasn’t too hard to miss my vaginal blood and groans of agony. She thought dating an older guy with life experience would make for a gentle first time, but boy, was she wrong.

Did you kick his ass, Shana, or were you waiting for me to lend a hand?

See, that’s why everyone needs a best friend. They always know what to say to make you feel better. Instead of lecturing me on ‘violence not being a resolution’ Sam jumped right in as an accomplice. Gotta love a friend!

Nah, but I did break up with him. I told him I was too busy with working on weekends, graduating this year and cheerleading finals. I might have mentioned how he sucked in bed too. Oops. It wasn’t a lie. Shana stayed very busy, but more important—he was an ass.

He didn’t take it well and told me I’d be sorry because ‘he’s a catch’. Apparently he’s someone else’s catch, what with the STD and all. He also said we belong together and he’s not gonna let me go that easily. That I belong to him.

Can you believe it? The nerve of some men. ‘Hey honey, I know I gave you an STD, but I’m sorry. What? You’re breakin’ up with me? Why?’ Uh, duh.

I hope he doesn’t get his hopes too high or become one of those stalkers. Worry became evident in her tone.

You’ve got to be kidding me. He’ll get over it in a heartbeat. Especially since we know he’s entertaining other...girls. He doesn’t need me. I’m still in high school and he’s taking college courses. I think I just stung his pride a bit by breakin’ up with him.

Shana wasn’t ugly, but if she were honest with herself, she wasn’t eye-catching either. Brown eyes, long brown hair that has blond streaks from competitive swimming and the sun. She stood at average height and build, maybe a bit on the muscular side because of the cheerleading and swimming. Many people didn’t consider cheer a real sport, but it takes a lot of practice and heavy lifting of the smaller girls on the squad.

Sam, however, was tall and lean with blue, almond-shaped eyes and long, naturally blond hair. Just what every girl dreams of. Bitch!

Want me to pick you up for practice? Sam’s question jerked Shana out of her silent thoughts.

No, I have to leave right after if I want to make it to work tomorrow morning. The drive is killin’ me. She drove an hour out of town for work.

Why don’t you just quit and you’d have a lot more time to hang out and practice? We’ll be getting ready for Nationals soon.

Because I need to make money for gas and anything else I may want or need. It’ll be fine. In six months we’ll graduate and be off to college. See you at practice.

Shana waved over her shoulder and went home to change.

* * * * *

Hey, Shana, Sam said. Isn’t that Ryan in the bleachers? What’s he doing here? I thought you broke it off. Did somethin’ change in the last couple hours?

Hell yeah, I broke it off and I have no idea why he would show up, at cheer practice of all places. Shana wasn’t worried, just plain ol’ irritated.

It’s kinda creepy, him showin’ up and all. Why is he smiling and waving? Is he slow or somethin’? Maybe you didn’t make yourself clear. Want me to go tell him to get lost?

Sam’s wicked smile made her giggle.

No, I’m a big girl and will handle this after practice. Maybe he just wants his CD’s back. Lord knows I don’t have anything else for him. Shana planned to make him wait the whole hour ’til practice was over. She was still angry about the Chlamydia scare. Just ignore him. Maybe he’ll go away.

Whatever you say, girlfriend. Just so we’re clear, I’m available after practice if you want some help with a whoopin’.

Once again, gotta love my bloodthirsty friend.

No reason to bloody up our uniforms, but thanks all the same for the offer.

* * * * *

After practice, Shana walked to her car, stopping when she heard someone yell.

Hey, wait for me. I’ll walk you to your car. I wanna talk a minute.

The voice that once made her smile now made her want to vomit. I guess, Ryan, but there really isn’t much left to say. We’re over. Mind you, Shana really tried to keep her cool because this guy was really starting to piss her off. Jerk! She felt like they were beating a dead horse, over is over. Sure, he was cute and they would have made pretty prom pictures, but she’d rather not remember her prom as the day she actually got an STD. Some things were just not worth it for a pretty face.

I told you I was sorry. What more do you want from me, Shana?

She’d never seen him this way, almost desperate.

As I told you before, Ryan, I don’t want anything from you. I just want to focus on school right now. They were almost to her car. I have your CD’s in my car and I’ll give ‘em back, okay?

No, Shana, it is not okay. He grabbed her arm hard enough to bruise. "We are not over and we will never be. You are mine and you best try really hard to remember that before I lose my temper." His arms were wrapped tightly around Shana and she could feel him shaking.

Well, shit! He looked crazed! Shana never saw him without his cool and confident mask. He made her more and more uncomfortable, and scared. She softened her voice in a last ditch effort to bail. Ryan, I need you to let go so I can go to work. If there’s something more I can do for you, we’ll have to talk about it later.

Are you cheatin’ on me? Venom dripped from every word. ‘Cuz if I find out you’re cheating, I’ll kill him.

It would be extremely hard to cheat on you when we’ve broken up, Ryan. Now Shana’s anger was getting the best of her. She was preparing for the inevitable fight. Let me go! She tried to yank her arm away.

Ryan suddenly got a burst of speed and strength, spinning Shana as he moved forward. He pushed her against the car and pinned her with his body, his front to her back.

We are not through, Shana. I told you once and I’ll tell you again. You are mine! You belong to me. And after today, I will ensure that you never forget it.