Blood Origin: A Tabula Rasa Book 2

By Janelle Peel

Mina is a half-breed. Her Wolf has been beaten into submission by the Pack who turned her. Desperate to escape the abuse and save herself, Mina runs. Death is preferable to what will happen if she’s caught. A Wolf in heat is no match for the Alpha who wants to claim her as his.
Sora and Blaze have requested the retrieval of the Rune Gate.
Mason, Lead Protector of Tabula Rasa, volunteers for the task.
Ruby has taken the Pacifian throne by force. Sora’s refusal to give Riva up will not be ignored. Bex’s display of power has become an obsession.
Vengeance will be had.
The city must pay.

This series changes POV's.

Tabula Rasa
Tidal Magic
Blood Origin
Rune Gate

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janelle Peel
• Release date: Jun 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463752043

Janelle Peel

Janelle is a Military Spouse and mother of two gorgeous girls. She loves to read and loves to write. Want to become a member of the Clutch and get the official newsletter? Signup here! http://eepurl.com/cYZlBf Not a fan of emails? Follow her on facebook! https://m.facebook.com/clutchmistress/

Book preview

Blood Origin

A Tabula Rasa Book

Janelle Peel

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2018 Janelle Peel

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All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission in writing from the author, except for brief quotations used for promotion or in reviews.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, businesses, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

On to the next adventure!

Table of Contents

Summary

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Glossary

Dear reader,

This is the second installment of the Tabula Rasa Series. It is recommended that you read Tidal Magic first. Important events have been skimmed over, but not detailed. I have included a Glossary at the end of the book for your convenience.

Happy reading,

Janelle

Summary

Mina is a half-breed. Her Wolf has been beaten into submission by the Pack who turned her. Desperate to escape the abuse and save herself, Mina runs. Death is preferable to what will happen if she’s caught. A Wolf in heat is no match for the Alpha who wants to claim her as his.

Sora and Blaze have requested the retrieval of the Rune Gate.

Mason, Lead Protector of Tabula Rasa, volunteers for the task.

Ruby has taken the Pacifian throne by force. Sora’s refusal to give Riva up will not be ignored. Bex’s display of power has become an obsession.

Vengeance will be had.

The city must pay.

Chapter 1

Mina

The howl pierced my heart as it split the night. Fear followed fast on its heels.

They were coming.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed past the pain jolting through my legs with every strike of my paws. Goddess knew I was only leaving a trail of blood for them to follow. My Wolf mewled at the back of our mind but refused to help in any way. I couldn’t blame her, not really. Multiple years of abuse had taken away her will to fight.

The sound of rushing water penetrated my labored pants.

Almost there.

Blades of long grass slashed at the sensitive tip of my nose, but I couldn’t stop. The river was my only chance.

A series of excited barks rang out.

They were close.

Desperate to escape, I dug my nails into the embankment and began to climb. Small rocks embedded themselves inside my torn pads, but it was nothing compared to what I would face if the Pack caught me.

Hauling myself over the cement railing, I thundered across the bridge. My ruff rose at the three sets of amber eyes reflecting from the other side.

A whimper escaped my throat before I could catch it. I cringed at the sound, and my belly hit the pocked asphalt with a soft thump.

Damion shifted in a blur. At six foot four he towered over his Packmates. The muscles lining his chest rippled in tandem with his deep laugh. Mina, Mina, Mina. You know you can’t leave us. Where would you go? A little half-breed doesn’t stand a chance in this world.

Despair dropped my muzzle. He was right, but I couldn’t go back. Death was preferable to his tender mercy.

He nodded in approval as if he’d already won. There’s a good bitch. Come on now, come to me.

Shakily, I stood.

Damion was our Alpha’s son. Next in line to rule, and he reaped the rewards of his position.

An image flashed through my mind of our meeting.

I’d been wandering for two days when Damion found me. His bite graced me with my halfling status. My calf still held the scars from his teeth.

Christ, Mina. I can smell your heat from here.

It was true. A shifter in season drove the Pack mad. I knew when I awoke that morning what would happen. My only friend, Tish, had been ripped apart by Damion two winters ago. Her screams still haunted my dreams.

Bracing his fists on his hips, he rumbled, Now, Mina!

Rage churned through my stomach. Baring my teeth, I growled in refusal.

He froze at my blatant disrespect. Overcoming the slip, he stroked his hardened member. You’ll learn your place. One way or the other.

Bile burned the back of my throat at his perverted display. The Pack chuffed in agreement. They would watch. If I still lived when Damion was finished, they would take their turns.

Decision made, I backed up to the crumbling rail.

Damion tsked. If the fall doesn’t kill you, we will. Come now, Mina. I’ll try to be gentle.

Yeah, right. With my last ounce of strength, I jumped.

Rowe

Alec laughed. Stop it, Rowe. You know I have to help Mason and the others. Sora wants the Gate back in Tabula Rasa as soon as possible. As it is, we’ve been away for too long.

I pouted. Fine, go. Leave me.

Gently, he lifted my chin. Emerald rings lined his pupils as Inari peered through their shared gaze.

My Fox rushed to the front of our mind with an appreciative purr. Mate.

Alec pressed a kiss to my forehead, and his voice deepened. Go explore. Bex said Ireland is beautiful. Just try to stay out of trouble.

I grinned. Trouble? Me?

Shaking his head, he snorted. You heard me. I’ll see you at dinner.

Heaving a sigh, I drank in his lithe frame as he left.

Explore… Hmm.

Squishing along the bank of the River Shannon, I mused at the multitudes of green. Nat definitely outdid herself on this one. How her Elemental magic could coax life back after utter destruction was beyond me.

A flash of movement brought my steps to a standstill. Inhaling in quick pants, I parsed the air for any sign of danger.

The scent of copper tickled the back of my throat.

Stay or go? Curiosity killed the cat, right?

My Fox flicked her tail at the bad pun.

Rolling my eyes at her sour mood, I decided to investigate.

Gingerly, I picked my way down the embankment to the water’s edge. Tangled in the weeds a shape slowly began to form. Matted fur stuck up in odd intervals from the creature’s filthy body.

Poor thing. Leaning down I tugged at the clumps of grass for a closer look.

A soft whimper sounded, and I froze.

Hey. It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.

The answering growl raised the small hairs on the back of my neck. Lifting a brow, I grunted. Well if you don’t want my help just say so. You don’t have to be rude about it.

Silence.

That’s what I thought. Hold still and I’ll have you out in a jiffy. Shifting a particularly stubborn piece of algae, I received the second shock of my day.

Crystal clear, her blue eyes formed tiny slits on either side of her lupine face. She lifted her lips into a snarl, and I barely had enough time to move my hand before she snapped at me.

On instinct I thumped the tip of her black nose. No.

She cringed, and I immediately regretted my reaction.

Sorry about that. What the hell are you doing out here all alone? Where’s your Pack?

Her spine stiffened.

Hey, shh, I soothed. Let’s get you untangled and you can shift.

It took the better part of an hour, but I eventually freed her. At one point she passed out. Gently, I hauled her body from the water. Though I couldn’t tell the color of her fur due to all the muck, the abuse she sustained sent my Fox into a frenzy. Every bone in her battered body was highlighted by her soaked state. Blood trickled from the pads of her paws as if she’d run herself ragged.

Unsure of what to do I hesitantly rubbed her ears. Wolf. Can you hear me?

No response.

Alec’s words repeated inside my mind.

Stay out of trouble. Right.

Loading her into the small boat I’d taken ashore, I debated whether to wake her. She was obviously exhausted. Shrugging off my jacket, I carefully laid it over her. What I’d failed to notice due to all the muck became clear.

She was in heat. And I was about to take her to a barge full of Shifters…

Trouble indeed.

Grabbing the oars, I pushed off from the bank.

The grind of heavy machinery echoed across the sea as a boom extended from the side of the barge.

Riva bobbed in the waves a short distance away with her eyes closed tightly in concentration.

Holding back the ocean to retrieve the Gate was hard work.

Skye popped up beside her. He tilted his head in my direction, his brow furrowed. Effortlessly, he swished toward me. His iridescent scales lit the ocean’s surface in a shimmering display. Back so soon, Rowe?

Biting my lip, I sighed. Yeah, about that. Do you think you can give me a hand?

He took in my tiny vessel with a smirk. You can row your own boat, Rowe.

Heaving a sigh, I grumbled, I mean with her.

Gripping the weathered wood, he glanced at the small bundle near my feet. Is your coat a she now?

I slowly peeled back the collar. Thankfully the unknown Wolf was still fast asleep.

Skye paled. What happened?

Rubbing my chin, I covered her once more. I don’t know, but she’s in bad shape. You going to help me or not?

Manipulating the wind, Skye deposited the tiny dingy on the barge’s deck. Fortunately no one was around to see our arrival.

Clutching her slender body to mine, I made my way below deck.

Mason

The low hum of the crane vibrated through the thick tread of his combat boots. Wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, he mused they’d be heading back to Tabula Rasa by nightfall.

A cable secured to one side of the stone Gate squealed, then snapped with a twang.

Or not.

Thinning his lips, the hair on the nape of his neck prickled.

Every Shifter froze in unison on the damp seafloor below.

A low hiss began near his side. Syn’s thick tail lashed the air in agitation as her sharp nails screeched against the metal hull.

Wondering what had pissed off the large Panther this time, Mason looked to Jonas for clarification.

Jonas was Mel’s beta. How the Bear had managed to Mate with Syn was downright unfathomable, but if anyone could figure out the big kitty’s mood swings it would be him.

Tensing his shoulders, Jonas’ gaze flashed gold. NO!

His sharp bark unfroze the Packmates closest to him. By some unspoken command, they bowed their heads in submission.

Pack hierarchy left Mason feeling out of his depth. As lead Protector for the Clutch it grated on his nerves. Gritting his teeth, he projected his voice over the churning waves. Report!

Jonas shook his head as if to clear it. Can’t you smell it?

Unimpressed, Mason ground out, Smell what?

Syn shifted back to two legs. Flaring her nostrils, she murmured, Rowe’s back and she’s brought a fuckload of trouble with her.

Turning on his heel, Mason took in the small vacant boat tucked against the railing.

Christ, he didn’t have time for this shit.

Skye touched down beside Mason on a welcome breeze. I brought her back a few minutes ago. She had a small Wolf with her. What’s going on?

Mason didn’t know, but he sure as hell was going to find out. Striding toward the stairs, he growled over one shoulder. Take over. The Gate is our first priority.

Pausing outside Rowe’s quarters, Mason strained to hear any sounds within. A delicate scent carried to his nose. Floral almost, but sweeter. Roses… no. Lilies? Was that what Jonas had been talking about?

Rolling his shoulders, he knocked. Rowe?

Silence.

He tried again. Rowe? Who have you brought aboard the barge?

The handle turned. Rowe stepped out. Palming his chest, she pushed him back and closed the door before he could glimpse her room’s contents.

Clenching her fists, she attempted to look imposing as she peered up and down the corridor. It was rather comical. Rowe stood at least five inches shorter than his six-foot height.

Rowe?

Finished with her inspection, relief colored her tone. You’re alone.

His brow furrowed. Yes. I believe I can handle you and your Fox on my own. Now answer me. Who did you bring back?

Sorrow flitted across her face. I don’t know.

Mina

I awoke with a start. A rusted ceiling greeted my gaze.

Where was I?

Gripping the soft jacket tucked carefully around me, I took stock of my body. Nothing seemed to be broken, but the gnawing ache of hunger nearly bowled me over. Goddess, I was starving.

Sitting up, I noted a plastic lawn chair tucked in one corner. Clothes were scattered around the floor in haphazard clumps.

The last thing I remembered was my fall… and the unpleasant smack as my body hit the water.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to separate the confusing scents swirling through the air. Two Shifter signatures registered. A Mated pair, to be precise.

How did I get here?

A deep voice filtered to my ears and sent my pulse skyrocketing. Shoving my arms into the jacket, I scrambled under the small cot as the door swung open.

Huddling against the wall, I watched a pair of large boots thump across the floor. My stomach revolted in fear, and bile burned the back of my throat. Not again.

The steps paused. She seems to be awake, Rowe. I believe she’s hiding under your bed.

A female answered, You probably scared the shit out of her, Mason. Come back to the hall and I’ll see if I can talk to her.

Close the door, Rowe.

Mason, no. Come on—

His reply brooked no argument. That’s an order.

She snorted. Fat chance. You can boss the others around, but don’t think you can pull that shit with me. I’m staying right here.

Heaving an annoyed sigh, the male lowered to his knees. The dark fatigues adorning his thighs strained at the seams but held. Flattening his palms on the