A Roar of Her Own: Captured Hearts Series

By S.E. Isaac

Hideaway Falls was the last place that Zara Nez wanted to be. The reservation filled with her loved ones was once beautiful in her eyes. The beauty was no longer there for it was tainted by an ugly beast that she once loved. With each visit, it became harder and harder to hide the pain she felt.  A pain of her never-forgotten past- Rogue Pezi. It was a love that was supposed to last forever. The love shattered in pieces when Rogue high-tailed it from her and never looked back.

 

Now fate has brought them back together through an arranged marriage. Rogue has been chosen by the ancestors to be the next headman of their feline clan. Zara is the only link left to the current headman's bloodline. Marrying Zara is the only way for Rogue to take responsibility for the clan.

 

Zara's desire for Rogue is ignited once more when the two come face to face. After nearly a decade, everything shifts within her. The anger she felt towards him disappears. The coldness melts from her heart. She needs him back in her life. More than ever. However, as usual, Rogue is ready to run from both the responsibilities of being the headman and Zara.

 

Will Zara be able to claim this scaredy cat or will he once again flee?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evanlea Publishing
• Release date: Jan 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386327592

S.E. Isaac

S.E. Isaac is a mother of three boys, an Army Veteran, and writes books to help readers escape reality. Writing has always been an outlet for her, even at the young age of eight, which is when she started writing poetry and short stories. It has always been a dream to have her work published and to have readers connect with her characters. She believes that is every writer's dream--to have their work truly read. ~*Every author needs a starting point. We close our eyes and jump blindly into the world of words in hopes of sharing it with the world. We hope to connect with our readers and take them on a journey through our words- S.E.Isaac*~

Book preview

A Roar of Her Own

by: S.E. Isaac

––––––––

This dreadful moment in time was inevitable. I had seen it coming for years. It started five years ago, when my middle sister, Tora, got married. My parents turned their sights on new targets. These targets happened to be my youngest sister, Leola, and myself. They wanted us to marry. We were of age, and ‘needed to be married.’ Their words, not mine. Time passed and so did their nagging, until Leola did the unthinkable and got married. None of us saw it coming. She was the youngest, most rebellious, and most hellbent on never marrying. She announced her engagement over a spirit celebration in front of the whole clan. Not even a cricket made a sound until the elders stood and gave their blessings. The blessing that would send me to my demise- parental intervention in finding me a husband.

Chapter One

I received a call from my mother telling me to come home. To come back to Hideaway Falls. The one place that I had avoided, except for spiritual celebrations. My mother was never big on using the phone, so when she calmly told me to come home, I knew it was an emergency. Her calm demeanor was just who she was. Her calmness was the glue to our family.

I threw a few outfits in a suitcase, then began my journey home. The journey was a long drive across the country, with it ending down the country dirt roads of the familiar town. As though the land knew I was home, it began to downpour. The rain was the best part of Hideaway Falls.

My parents’ cottage was located on the outskirts of town. As I was throwing my truck in park, my mother opened the front door. Even through the pouring rain, I could see every detail of her. Her facial expression was that of a statue. Her silver hair was braided and hanging down her back. Her curves were beginning to fade with age. Her skin was frailer then I remembered seeing a few months ago. She was getting old.

Grabbing my suitcase from the passenger seat, I made a mad dash for the covered porch. Looking like a drenched rat, I smiled at my mother. Hello, mother.

Hello, daughter of mine. She smiled then held out her hands. I placed my suitcase by my feet and placed my hands in hers. She stroked the top of my hands with a gentle finger. I am glad you came.

Me too.

Grab your suitcase. Come inside. She freed one of my hands to allow me to grab my suitcase. Once I retrieved it, she gave an approving nod and led me inside.

Nothing had changed since I was a child. Pictures of my sisters and me hung above the fireplace. Portraits of our ancestors decorated the walls, along with the family dreamcatcher that had been passed down for generations. The one that I hoped would be passed down to me, since I was the oldest.

A noise coming from the kitchen startled me. It was the sound of a chair scooting across the wood floor. I turned to the kitchen to see my father, Leola, Tora, and both of their husbands.

My gaze was no longer affectionate. Blood was rushing like angry rapids through my veins. I had raced across the country to fall into my mother’s trap.

Do not look at me like that. You brought this upon yourself.

You had me across the country just to have a family meeting? You could have called and put the phone on speaker.

Zara. My father’s voice was in its usual firm, authoritative form. I dropped my suitcase by the couch and made my way to the kitchen.

The situation was worse than I thought. The wall had hidden something much bigger. It had hidden three elders. And Trax and his wife, Marla. I bowed my head respectfully.

Hello, Elders. Father. Sisters. And guests. Everyone nodded their heads. My mother took a seat beside my father and scooted the empty chair out next to her. Biting back a groan, I took a seat.

How was your drive, my father asked. Pointless, I thought.

It was well. How are you, Father?

I am well. He took a puff of his pipe. You are reaching the age of 30, Zara.

That is old, Leola said frowning. I could only roll my eyes at her.

Grabbing her by her two black braids and shaking her was what I really wanted to do. But the Elders were present. If it was just immediate family, then I would have lunged across the table and reminded her who was the oldest.

She was such a hypocrite. It was only a few months ago she was yelling at my parents how she would never marry and that she would die an old maid.

Leola, warned my father. She sat back in her chair. Her black eyes focused on me as though I was her prey.

You will move back home and marry Trax and Marla’s boy, Rogue.

Rogue? This day was even worse than I thought. My heart was pounding in my chest, the room suddenly too hot and too small. I felt myself wanting to shift and bolt out the door. My nails dug into my jeans as I did my best to steady my breathing.

Her cheeks are turning pink, Leola teased, a smug grin plastered on her face.

Mind your tongue, Leola, my mother said softly while waving a finger in Leola’s face. My mother turned to me. Her hand pried my fingers from my jeans. Rogue is a good choice for you.

He will be loyal and protect your family, Trax affirmed. I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I just nodded.

He is of a strong bloodline, so your children will be strong. My father’s words sliced through me.

My dream of being a wife and mother was taken by the very man that they now arranged for me to marry. Rogue and I had grown up together. We’d always had a kindled