Fearing Fate

By C.C. Dado

A Series of Fates: Book Three

He is a fearless protector by nature and in his heart. But nothing’s ever simple with love… or fate. 

At nearly seven feet tall, Zeus’s role had always been to protect the pack—but his newest charges need him more than most. Kimber and Kron are transplants from another pack, and they have a dangerous stranger on their tails. Zeus is determined to do his duty and drive the human out of town. But when he confronts Toren, his wolf has other ideas…. 

Something isn’t right, but should a huge, tattooed wolf with a secret soft heart fear his fate—to love a man with secrets of his own?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Dec 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781640807310

Book preview

Table of Contents

Blurb

Epigraph

Chapter 1: Another Move

Chapter 2: Strangers in the Night

Chapter 3: Someone Stole My Hammer

Chapter 4: Tracker

Chapter 5: The Catch

Chapter 6: Mine

Chapter 7: Welcome to Easter Valley

Chapter 8: Life in Easter Valley

Epilogue

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By C.C. Dado

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Copyright

Fearing Fate

By C.C. Dado

A Series of Fates: Book Three

He is a fearless protector by nature and in his heart. But nothing’s ever simple with love… or fate.

At nearly seven feet tall, Zeus’s role had always been to protect the pack—but his newest charges need him more than most. Kimber and Kron are transplants from another pack, and they have a dangerous stranger on their tails. Zeus is determined to do his duty and drive the human out of town. But when he confronts Toren, his wolf has other ideas….

Something isn’t right, but should a huge, tattooed wolf with a secret soft heart fear his fate—to love a man with secrets of his own?

Never let your fear decide your fate.

—AWOLNATION

Chapter 1: Another Move

ZEUS STOOD against the wall with his arms crossed, watching Max and Seth pack. It was like déjà vu, listening to them banter back and forth like a pair of irritating younger brothers.

Is he still making you shift for him? Max asked Seth, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

Zeus shook his head in exasperation.

He doesn’t ‘make’ me shift. Seth glared across the bed at Max before glancing up at Zeus. He’s just intrigued by it all still.

Zeus respected the way Jack, despite the fact he was human, had embraced their pack. He was sure it had to be a lot to take in, but Jack was an environmentalist and animal lover, so Zeus wasn’t all that surprised he was fascinated with their culture. And since they were the first human-shifter mates in their pack, everyone was fascinated with him as well. They were dependent on legends passed down from the elders on how a mating like theirs worked. Jack’s life-span was now interwoven with Seth’s—his natural human aging would slow. The impact Jack had on Seth’s self-confidence was the best side effect as far as Zeus was concerned. It was like night and day. It was a good thing that Seth was moving into Jack’s place next door.

What are we going to do about you now? Max said, closing up a box and handing it to Zeus.

Me? Zeus asked, even knowing he shouldn’t ask.

Yes, you. You’re mateless.

Max! Seth scolded, looking like he was going to slap Max upside the head.

What? I didn’t say he was unmateable. I mean, look at that big hunk of shifter. I just don’t want him to be alone. We need to work harder to find him the perfect mate.

He’s not alone; he has us, and now he has Rosetta too.

Zeus thought about the rabid shih tzu that was probably chewing holes in his couch at home. I do not want or need your help, he assured them, opening up another box and placing it on the bed for them to fill.

Harrumph, Max grunted his disbelief and threw Seth’s books into the box.

Are you sure it’s okay to leave the apartment empty? Seth asked Zeus for the third time since they’d started packing.

Yes. I told you I have surveillance cameras on the bakery. Nothing’s going to happen to it. Now, they’re on their way back, so you might want to do less talking and more packing.

Christian and Jack had taken a few boxes next door. Zeus could hear them heading up the stairs. Christian came in first, walking up behind Max and wrapping his arms around his waist. Zeus was happy for his friend, his alpha. Max made Christian lighter. Zeus hadn’t been sure if he would ever see that side of him again after the loss of his parents.

Did you tell them yet? Christian asked.

No, Max said, sounding a little nervous.

Tell us what? Zeus and Seth asked in unison.

Umm… we’re having a baby, Max said.

Zeus waited with bated breath for the joke. The same skeptical look crossed Seth’s face.

Congratulations, Jack said, reaching his arm around Seth’s shoulder, completely oblivious to Max’s previous made-up pregnancy.

Well we’re not literally ‘having’ a baby. Sorry, Zeus, Max said, apologizing yet again for the aforementioned fake baby.

Zeus grunted in response, still not ready to completely forgive Max.

We’re going to adopt.

Well, technically more like foster, Christian corrected.

That’s kind of sudden, isn’t it? Seth asked.

Zeus totally agreed in his head.

We didn’t plan it this way, Christian admitted. But there are special circumstances. There’s a three-year-old little girl named Kimber and her six-month-old baby brother, Kron. They’re children of an alpha and omega who recently died. The elders of their pack are concerned for the kids’ safety. There is a lot of strife in the pack, and the new alpha hasn’t been decided yet. The circumstances surrounding their parents’ deaths make the elders believe they may have been murdered.

Zeus was a little annoyed that he was just now hearing about this, in a group. As the beta, he was head of security and had always been the first person Christian informed of new people coming into their town. He guessed he needed to accept that Christian’s inner circle had grown.

Oh wow, Seth said, sitting down on the bed.

I’ve agreed to accept them into the pack and keep them safe. No one will be told they’re coming here, and there are no plans of them ever going back until they reach the age of maturity and can decide on their own whether to return and take their rightful places in their pack or to stay as part of ours.

I still can’t believe this is real life, Jack said in awe, shaking his head, his thick, wavy hair brushing his shoulder.

Yep, it’s all real. Better start planning those baby showers, Max said, tossing more of Seth’s things into a box.

As much as he tried, Zeus couldn’t hold back his grin. Life was definitely about to change for all of them.

Chapter 2: Strangers in the Night

ROSETTA CHEWED away at the bottom edge of Zeus’s jeans as he watched the video replay of the stranger sneaking out from the shadows behind the building. It was hard to tell his age from the video, but Zeus guessed maybe nineteen, twenty tops.