Furious Face-off Night Under The Mating Moon

By Nikki Henley

A lover and a fighter.
Two alphas of the same pack, one irresistible female between them.

Family loyalty runs deep between Lycan brothers Darko and Goran. The two werewolves co-own the establishment hidden deep under Eubanks, called Darko’s Underground Bar. It’s a place of refuge for local paranormal residents. But when a mating moon rises over their bar and their hearts, the claws come out.
Shewolf, Jazmin is drawn by instincts to find love when Valentine’s Day coincides with the mating moon. Her fated pheromones are overwhelming to both brothers. They’re howling for Jazmin before they even lay eyes on her perfect form and violet eyes.
The lover, Darko serenades from the stage with a special song. The fighter, Goran shows his brute strength by laying down the challenge. Jazmin is caught in the middle. She must choose one mate.
Love is curious and unpredictable. When it calls, the shewolf answers with the heart, brotherly love survives and they all live happily ever after.

Furious Face-off, is a behind the Lore short and part of Nikki Henley’s, Curious in Eubanks Paranormal Cozy Mysteries series. Set in a small town of curiously quirky paranormal residents this short story can be read as a standalone. It is written to give you the reader an extended experience of the characters of Eubanks.
After this short, don’t miss the included bonus chapters of Murder at Minter’s, the first case amateur sleuth, Nicole Scott solves in Eubanks. Her Aunt is suspected of murder and Nicole has to use her unique talent to prove otherwise.
Always, no cliffhangers. No swearing. No graphic scenes.
Thank you for reading.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pace Bend Press
• Release date: Feb 12, 2019

Nikki Henley

When a Legend is remembered, it lives.Once it’s forgotten it fades away.All I ever wanted to do was tell stories. I told so many to my children at bedtime they evolved into a whole world.The series, Curious in Eubanks is set in a small town of ghosts, witches, trolls, and other paranormals with quirky talents. It’s full of mysteries and characters you’ll never want to forget.Dedicated to family, I’ll only publish family friendly stories on this pen name. There is no swearing or graphic details on the pages of Nikki Henley books.Looking for a mystery with a not-so-happily ever after. Check out the other Henley sister to find psychological thrillers that are not so cozy.I want to hear from you!Join my newsletter and receive exclusive content, available only to my subscribers.

Book preview

FURIOUS FACE-OFF

NIGHT UNDER THE MATING MOON

A CURIOUS IN EUBANKS BEHIND THE LORE SHORT

NIKKI HENLEY

First Edition, Ebook Edition.

© 2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

According to Legends,

On the year that Valentine’s Day coincided with the mating moon rising a sibling rivalry of great proportions erupted over a lover.

Deep under the town of Eubanks, in Darko’s Underground Bar Lycan brothers had their family loyalty challenged.

Love’s prophecy was indecipherable. It touched many hearts, grabbed at multiple souls, and mirrored desires to bring fated mates together under a challenging mating moon.

Chapter One

Walk to the post office, pick up the package, don’t talk to strangers, Iam chanted to himself. The servitude troll was on a errand given to him by his employer, Darko, the owner of the underground bar for paranormals in Eubanks.

Iam walked through the woods without fail, but once he stepped onto Main Street it was considerably harder to obey his third command. He kept to himself on the sidewalk, staring down at his feet. Walk to the post office, pick up the package, don’t talk to strangers, he repeated his mission.

Over here, I found one, a tourist in a game day jersey called to his four friends while he flung his arm over Iam’s shoulders. What’s your name buddy?

Freezing in place, Iam violently shook his head. With Darko’s voice in his ear, Iam knew the consequences of talking to tourists. They don’t understand the nuances of the residents of his town of Eubanks. It was home to paranormals such as warlocks and witches, giants, trolls, ghosts, humans with unique abilities, and a few werewolves.

Iam’s boss, Darko was a werewolf and forbade him from talking to tourists. If an outsider found the location of the bar, locals couldn’t be themselves, the place would be compromised, and like in the past, forced out of business. In a sense, Iam keeping his mouth shut kept the underground bar open.

The group of tourists insisted on taking photos with Iam. He was a troll on the larger side and since he was more serving in personality his posture was hunched over. There was no mistaking that he was different than most.

Iam has to go, he grunted to the relentless tourists. He shoved away, plodding forward down the sidewalk. Behind him the group laughed at the pics they’d snapped. Still Iam kept to his mission.

Past the downtown section and just North of Main Street on Blackwelder was where the Post Office was located. Iam stepped in and turned to the left. The counters on that side were reserved for locals needs. A huge sign posted on the door stopped tourists from entering. It simply read, Locals Only. Tourists Mail and Stamps Available in the Store to the Right.

Three locals stood in the line in front of Iam. He was relieved to see he knew each and every one. Gerald G, a Lycan who ran the local arts festival, town historian, Annah, and Nicole, estate liquidator and amateur sleuth.

Hi, Iam. What brings you out of the woods? Nicole turned and asked.

Iam walks to town, picks up a package, and will not talk to strangers, he answered.

Good for you, Nicole said to the troll and then continued her conversation with Annah. Lavinia is still thinking about ending her time here. She's tired of being immortal. Her sisters can’t convince her to change her mind.

I hope she does. A millennial witch will be a loss to the town. We already have two as spirits, Annah answered her friend.

Next, Sarah said, looking down the line. Hi Iam, we’ll get to you soon. Don’t go anywhere.

It’s already starting, Gerald G gave the troll a slug as he passed to leave. Will be seeing you tonight, at Darko’s, I hope. I’d never miss a mating moon performance at the bar.

Gerald G was a Lycan in his retiring age. He had long ago found his mate, raised his cubs, and mourned the loss of his lover. His venture out under the mating moon was more nostalgic for him rather than following instincts. Younger more virility potent werewolves around town crowded the bar to find love. The largest pack settled in the woods that surrounded the outskirts of Eubanks. Wild tendencies kept most of them away from civilization, full moon nights at Darko’s being one of the exceptions.

Thank you, come again, Sally said to Annah. At the same time, Sarah finished up with Nicole.

Iam was left facing the twin witch sisters and a decision. Unique in their own way, each one claimed a piece of Iam’s heart. He had a crush on them both, but would never dare to let them know. How could he pick just one? They were equally attractive in every way to the servitude troll.

Come on up, Sally said with a friendly smile.

Come to my window, Sarah urged harsher. Her smile, a little devilish.

With no one in line behind him, Iam kept his distance. He was understandably unsure of which direction to go. On one hand with Sally she’d be pleasant and efficient. He’d get his package, a pat on the hand, and his heart would flutter when she’d giggle goodbye.

On the other hand, Sarah was flirtatious, she’d have him state his business to which he’d repeat what he’d already said to Nicole. She’d eventually get his package, but not without suggesting he’d take her out to dinner, without Sally.

The two were inseparable. At birth they were conjoined. Even in childhood they remained one. It wasn’t until their teens when Sarah needed her space that she went to a Millennial witch to cast a powerful spell. It broke their physical bonds, but not their instinctual ones. They were never not in the same room for very long. A date alone with one and not the other was out of the question.

I need a package. Addressed to Darko. Please retrieve it, he asked them both at the same time.

The sisters stared at each other. Neither wanting to leave the counter. Each wanting to stay and talk to Iam on their own.

I saw that package on your side, sister dear, Sarah said.

You’re mistaken. It’s closer to you, Sally said.

Get the package, Sally. What are you scared of? Sarah demanded. She flipped her long black braided hair off her shoulder, crossed her arms, and waited for Sally to back down. "Afraid I might have a decent conversation