From Ferret With Love

By Astrid Cooper

Fabian, a ferret-shifter with wolven blood, takes a walk on the wild side and is rescued by Ashley, a cop who would rather go home alone to his cat, than play nursemaid to a runaway. Soul-mate recognition intervenes. When Fabian’s alpha, together with the pack enforcer, arrive to drag Fabian home, a deadly battle ensues – one that leaves Fabian soul-wounded and Ashley destroyed.

Three years later, Fabian Ferret, private investigator for the blood-kin, is summoned to Monsters inK to work a cold case.

Left for dead by unknown assailants, Ashley has slowly recovered, but has no memory of the events leading up to his bashing. He has found a new life as a member of Monsters inK.

When Fabian and Ash are re-united, Ashley doesn’t remember his mate, and Fabian knows that to reveal the truth will set Ash free, but damn Fabian and their love forever. Ash decides that the little shifter is too much trouble, but Fabe has ingenious ways to ferret out the truth. So begins a teasing and dangerous game of seduction – one that may see them united or divided by love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Jan 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781487409951

Book preview

Love will find a way. Star-crossed mates, torn apart by enemies, find that the cost of love may be too high.

Fabian, a ferret shifter with wolven blood, takes a walk on the wild side and is rescued by Ashley, a cop who would rather go home alone to his cat, than play nursemaid to a runaway. Soul-mate recognition intervenes. When Fabian’s alpha, together with the pack enforcer, arrive to drag Fabian home, a deadly battle ensues—one that leaves Fabian soul-wounded and Ashley destroyed.

Three years later, Fabian Ferret, private investigator for the blood-kin, is summoned to Monsters inK to work a cold case.

Left for dead by unknown assailants, Ashley has slowly recovered, but has no memory of the events leading up to his bashing. He has found a new life as a member of Monsters inK.

When Fabian and Ash are re-united, Ashley doesn’t remember his mate, and Fabian knows that to reveal the truth will set Ash free, but damn Fabian and their love forever. Ash decides that the little shifter is too much trouble, but Fabe has ingenious ways to ferret out the truth. So begins a teasing and dangerous game of seduction—one that may see them united or divided by love.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

From Ferret with Love

Copyright © 2017 Astrid Cooper

ISBN: 978-1-4874-0995-1

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books Inc or

Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc

Look for us online at:

www.eXtasybooks.com or www.devinedestinies.com

Smashwords Edition

From Ferret With Love

Monsters inK Book Nine

By

Astrid Cooper

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your on-going support of my Monsters inK series.

I’m an Australian writer, so you’ll notice that I use Aussie spelling and grammar.

This series has grown in the telling and while I have tried to make each story ‘stand alone’, the later books have some plot overlap, and characters from previous stories often make cameo appearances.

For your assistance I have listed the characters in the series, as well as the books.

If you need more information, I am happy to answer queries.

Please email me. [e-mail] or join me on Facebook

Best wishes,

Astrid Cooper

Chapter One

Ashley Stanton had the mother of all headaches, thanks to a futile twenty-four hour stake out. His Detective Sergeant wasn’t happy with the lack of an arrest for the burglaries, and his reprimands were still ringing in his ears as Ashley drove his ute home through the deserted backstreets of Adelaide.

Christ, his skull pounded, and his neck burned, as if acupuncture needles were piercing every nerve, except the needles were the size of chisels. He so needed to sleep...

A flash of white in the park diverted his thoughts.

What the hell... ?

He saw men in the middle of the tennis court, their shadows indistinct and writhing. The park was a popular drinking hole during the summer. A small shape raced between the men and climbed a leg. A man screamed.

The white thing catapulted into the air, landed on someone’s boot to be kicked away. Were these guys playing footy with a kitten?

Ashley slammed on the brakes and skidded the ute to a halt against the kerb. He flung open the door, then paused, as caution overcame instinct. Think. Can’t go rushing headlong into this. There were three guys. He could outfight those odds if he had to. And if someone was abusing an animal—he was gonna kick butt.

His gut cramped as he saw the object was again kicked-launched into the air, followed by a high pitched squeal and the raucous laughter of the men.

Ash ran, keeping to the cover of the trees. He heard a smack-thump, followed by a cry. Two men were holding a youth by the arms, while another gut-punched him.

Bastards.

He edged forward, body tensed. Hey, guys, it’s about over for the night, don’t you think?

Fuck off.

Can’t do that. I’m a cop. Ashley flicked open his wallet. If any of the men cared to look closer, they’d see a photo of his cat on the ID. Just walk away and you’ll be okay.

We’re doing your job for you then, copper, fixing another gay-boy, so our kids are safe to walk the streets. The drunk lurched towards Ash, fist raised. Ash sent him flying backwards with a well-aimed jab.

The other men dropped the victim, and he lay in an untidy tangle of arms and legs. The bashers circled Ashley and he chilled, ready for the onslaught. He deflected, ducked, manoeuvred, and in seconds they were groaning face first in the grass.

Ashley stepped over and around them and dropped to his knees beside the vic. His white shirt was ripped. His face was mottled with bruises, and his spiked silver hair was streaked with blood. Can ya hear me, mate? He touched the guy’s shoulder, hearing a feeble groan. I’m calling an ambulance.

A slender hand grasped Ashley’s wrist with surprising strength. Please, no... doctors.

You need medical help.

No. A shallow breath, followed by a wince of pain.

Ashley sat back on his heels. It wasn’t unusual for a gay to refuse treatment. They’d rather suffer silently, in isolation, than have the ambos or cops become involved. There’s a shelter nearby, I’ll take you there. They don’t ask questions.

No. Not safe.

Ash frowned. He couldn’t leave the guy in the park. Okay, where do you live? I’ll take you home. He psyched himself up for the task, but what he really wanted was to sleep for days, not play nursemaid to some guy naive enough to walk alone across the park at four a.m.

I can’t go home. They’ll... Just go away.

No can do, mate. The men would be meaner than cut snakes once they came to and if blondie was anywhere nearby, he’d be done over again. Ash had seen too many vics of gay bashing—in hospital and in the morgue. I can take you to my place then, it’s not far. Jesus, Ash, you’re really crazy, taking some dumb kid home. He looked around. Where’s the kitten I saw the men kicking around?

It was a ferret. And he’s safe... now.

Where the hell is it then? I can’t leave—

The ferret’s safe. Trust me. The guy managed a weak smile, then groaned and spat blood.

Behind Ashley he heard the