Denying Fate

By C.C. Dado

A Series of Fates: Book One

Fate is a funny thing. Some try to cut its threads, while others wrap themselves in it like a blanket.

Young wolf shifter Max is cocky and crass. Unlike others his age, he has yet to discover a talent that will serve his pack. Since childhood, he’s been convinced the pack alpha is his mate, but Alpha Christian cannot envision unfiltered and directionless Max taking the place of his elegant mother at the head of the pack. As Max begins to build a life with his best friend, he also begins to see that maybe what he thought was inevitable was all in his head, and it’s time to move on.

Or are they both denying fate?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Aug 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9781640807297

Book preview

Table of Contents

Blurb

Dedication

Epigraph

Max

Chapter 1: Homeless

Chapter 2: Sneaking Around at Night

Chapter 3: Their New Home in Easter Valley

Chapter 4: Awaken the Beast

Chapter 5: Confronting the Alpha

Chapter 6: Dating 101

Chapter 7: The Phone Call

Chapter 8: Date Night

Chapter 9: Hidden Treasures

Chapter 10: The Guy Creamery

Chapter 11: The Scent of a Mate

Chapter 12: The Eve of Opening Day

Chapter 13: Opening Day

Chapter 14: The Food Chain

Chapter 15: It’s All a Lie

Chapter 16: Holy Mating

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Denying Fate

By C.C. Dado

A Series of Fates: Book One

Fate is a funny thing. Some try to cut its threads, while others wrap themselves in it like a blanket.

Young wolf shifter Max is cocky and crass. Unlike others his age, he has yet to discover a talent that will serve his pack. Since childhood, he’s been convinced the pack alpha is his mate, but Alpha Christian cannot envision unfiltered and directionless Max taking the place of his elegant mother at the head of the pack. As Max begins to build a life with his best friend, he also begins to see that maybe what he thought was inevitable was all in his head, and it’s time to move on.

Or are they both denying fate?

To Donna, for every plastic grocery bag filled with books you ever gave me, I give you this one in return.

Fate will find a way.

—Virgil

Max

Chapter 1: Homeless

I SAID, get out!

Seth woke to the sound of yelling coming from next door. He got out of bed with a sigh and headed to the window. He didn’t need his enhanced hearing to understand what was being said. There wasn’t a person in their pack who didn’t know what a disappointment his neighbor, Mr. Larsen, thought his son was. As Max’s best friend, Seth didn’t rate much higher.

Seth rubbed his hand through his hair, wiping the long bangs out of his face as he pulled the window curtain back. Seth had purposefully grown his bangs out to stop people from staring at his different-colored eyes, a condition called heterochromia. Seth didn’t like to draw attention to himself, and anything that made you different was fodder for Mr. Larsen.

God, how he hated Max’s dad.

Seth’s attention was drawn back to the window at the sound of something shattering. Max’s room went dark.

Shit…. It was going to be bad if Max’s dad was getting physical. All lycan shifters had a special quality, unique to them. In their culture it was referred to as their gift. Sadly, Mr. Larsen’s gift was his strength, in pure asshole form.

Seth grabbed his phone off the nightstand. Mr. Larsen had already been warned about his treatment of Max, by Alpha Christian. He’d told Seth to call him immediately if anything else happened. Mr. Larsen had been the beta of the pack when the alpha’s father had still been alive.

Seth threw on a T-shirt and ran out of his room, speed-dialing his phone.

What’s wrong, Seth? The alpha’s voice sounded gravelly from sleep.

It’s Max’s dad again. You need to get down here. Seth disconnected the call, running out of his front door.

It must have been past midnight. The moon was still high, but the morning chill had started to descend, the grass already wet under his bare feet. The crisp air bit his nostrils as he ran toward Max’s house. Once he made it around the side of the house, he heard the front door open. Seth’s fear of Max’s dad stopped him in his tracks.

Mr. Larsen growled into Max’s face, pushing him out of the front door before turning back into the house. Max stumbled onto the porch. Seth still stood at the corner of the house, not sure what to do, hoping the alpha would get there fast. Max hadn’t figured out what his special gift was yet, but it definitely wasn’t common sense, so Seth knew he wasn’t just going to walk away. He never did, even though they were both smaller in stature than most of the males in their pack. Seth always tried to avoid conflict, but Max’s mouth was like a magnet for it, especially when it came to his dad. Mr. Larsen was one of the largest shifters in their pack and by far the meanest. Seth was smart enough to know it was safer to be a little afraid of Max’s dad. The only people he feared were the alpha and his beta, Zeus.

Seth was just about to get Max’s attention when Mr. Larsen returned with his arms filled with Max’s clothes, proceeding to throw them all into the yard.

Let me grab the rest of my stuff and I’m gone, Max pleaded with his dad, fear and anger lacing his words with emotion.

You will never enter this house again, his dad responded.

Seth watched as Max tried to push past his dad to get back into the house. Mr. Larsen grabbed him by the throat, raising him up high against the porch post, Max’s feet dangling off the ground like he weighed nothing. Mr. Larsen’s eyes glowed in the darkness. Things had gotten bad before, but Seth wasn’t sure Max’s dad was going to stop this time. Max gasped for breath, trying to tear his dad’s hands off his throat. He could tell Max’s wolf was right at the surface but couldn’t come forward in the face of his dad.

Apparently Seth’s wolf had decided protecting Max was more important than protecting himself. He ran into the losing battle without thinking, shifting midair and aiming straight for Max’s dad. The feeling of a hand reaching into the fur at the scruff of his neck barely registered until his forward motion suddenly stopped, inches from his canines making contact with Mr. Larsen’s shoulder. At the same time, a hand grabbed Max’s dad’s arm, breaking the grasp on Max’s neck. He instantly fell to the ground while holding his throat as he tried to get his breath back.

If you touch him again, you’re the one who’s going to be without a home. The voice of their alpha washed over all of them.

Mr. Larsen growled, reluctantly tilting his head to offer his throat in submission. Even in confrontation he was unable to go against the more dominant wolf.

I have warned you before, the alpha reminded him.

He is not welcome here, Max’s dad said, glaring down at Max, who still sat, leaning against the railing, rubbing his neck.

Seth could see a bruise already rising on Max’s cheek.

The alpha looked down at Max, an angry sound rumbling through his chest. No one spoke, waiting for the alpha to respond. It seemed like he needed a minute to get his wolf under control. You will have no further contact with him. If you come near him, you will be exiled from the pack.

Max’s dad started to protest, but the alpha shut him down with a stern look.

The creak of the screen door