Embracing His Roar: Sanctuary, #11

By Megan Slayer

A bobcat who doesn't think he belongs and a lion who believes he is unlovable…can they make a relationship work?

Avan has made his share of mistakes, but those are in the past. Moving forward means forgiving himself and having a life at the Sanctuary. He wants just one shifter—Oscar. The bobcat shifter soothes his soul and seems to see the best in Avan. But will he want to be with Avan, even after everything Avan's done?

Oscar's lusted after Avan since he first saw him. He doesn't care what Avan's done because he believes everyone deserves a second chance. But Oscar's got a past, too. He'd never felt like he belongs, even at the Sanctuary. The one place he feels safe is with Avan.

The odds a bobcat and lion should be together are low, but the passion between them sizzles. Can they find common ground and embrace their roar or will their differences destroy the blossoming relationship?

 

This book has been re-edited for this re-issue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Slayer
• Release date: Jun 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393303091

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Embracing His Roar

A Sanctuary Story, book 11

by

Megan Slayer

Copyright © 2020 by Megan Slayer

Embracing His Roar

Editing by Michele Paulin, Liza Green

Cover Art by WZDesigns

Published by: Megan Slayer Publishing

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

A bobcat who doesn’t think he belongs and a lion who believes he is unlovable...can they make a relationship work?

Avan has made his share of mistakes, but those are in the past. Moving forward means forgiving himself and having a life at the Sanctuary. He wants just one shifter—Oscar. The bobcat shifter soothes his soul and seems to see the best in Avan. But will he want to be with Avan, even after everything Avan’s done?

Oscar’s lusted after Avan since he first saw him. He doesn’t care what Avan’s done because he believes everyone deserves a second chance. But Oscar’s got a past, too. He’d never felt like he belongs, even at the Sanctuary. The one place he feels safe is with Avan.

The odds a bobcat and lion should be together are low, but the passion between them sizzles. Can they find common ground and embrace their roar or will their differences destroy the blossoming relationship?

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

About the Author

More of the Sanctuary

For Renee, Heather and Dawn

who are dying for the next

Sanctuary book. This one is for you.

Enjoy!

For JPZ – you’ve got my favorite roar.

Chapter One

OSCAR STARED AT THE ceiling and counted the swirls—again. He already knew how many of the funny designs were up there: two hundred seventy-eight. For the thousandth time since he’d left the main compound, he wondered if he’d made the right decision. His bobcat hated to be alone. The cat wanted to run and make friends. Most of all, the cat and the man wanted to be loved. He needed to feel the wind on his face and damn it, he wanted to fuck.

He groaned. He’d have to rub off another one. Did the other shifters masturbate this much? Were they as fucking horny but kept the desire quiet? How’d they do it? Masturbating wasn’t horrible, but he’d rather have someone there. He preferred sex rather than his hand. There weren’t many shifters or humans at the Sanctuary who caught his attention.

One man turned his head every time—Avan. He missed his friend. Yes, the guy could be crude and disgusting, but Oscar had met plenty of people who weren’t exactly saints. Avan wasn’t bad all the time. He’d been rather sweet and nice to Oscar. He hadn’t laughed when he’d found out Oscar wasn’t a lion or tiger. He’d petted Oscar’s bobcat the last time they’d run together. When the other shifters teased him for being quiet, Avan stayed beside Oscar.

But Avan wasn’t allowed in the general shifter population. Oscar knew why—Avan had made gross comments to another shifter then attacked him. He’d spread lies about the shifter and posted sex videos with the wolf shifter involved. Most people—shifters or not—wouldn’t see the chance for Avan’s redemption. They’d run the other way and never look back. Everyone excerpt Oscar.

He believed everyone deserved a second chance. He tried to see the good in others, mostly when they didn’t see the best in themselves. Avan wasn’t bad—but something had made him bitter. Oscar wanted to find answers, but he also wanted to see his friend.

He sagged on the bed. Fuckety fuck. Getting his own place had helped him become more independent, yes. He’d even gone with the group into town and hadn’t felt scared. He’d bought a scooter. Now, he didn’t have to go with Markas or the others if he wanted to leave for an hour or two. But the things he had in his life—the apartment and scooter—didn’t make up for his lack of a partner.

Oscar? Someone knocked at the door. Are you in there?

He left the bed and made sure he had his dick back in his jeans. He zipped. Hold on. He scrambled over to the door. It’s unlocked. Christ. That had been a mistake. What if the visitor had barged in on him? He opened the door. Ryder.

Hey. Ryder bounded into the room.

What brings you by? Did you get lonely? He forced a smile. The only reason Ryder ever came over was to have someone to talk to. He never invited Oscar out or over to his place, but he made sure he told Oscar every one of his complaints.

Me? Ryder laughed and plopped onto the armchair. The tiger wanted to run, and he brought me over this way.

I’m glad. Liar. I don’t miss sharing the bathroom over in the main house, but I miss our little gang. Mostly Avan. How is Dustin? Every cell in his body screamed to ask about Avan, but he kept that question to himself. He still couldn’t believe their Dustin had been attacked the day before. He’d thought going into town, in public, was safe. So much for safe.

Dustin’s recovering. The gunshot wound is closed, and Doc says he’ll be able to walk without the crutches soon. Ryder bowed his head. After Dustin got shot, Markas suggested we stop leaving the property unaccompanied. What kind of bullshit is that? We’re adults.

Kind of, Oscar said. Most of us started shifting less than a year ago. We might look adult, but we have a lot of growing up to do. He shrugged. But I kind of don’t get Markas’ reasoning. He thinks he’s keeping us safe, but there are shifters everywhere. If we don’t bring attention to us, then we should be okay. We should be on our guard, but not afraid. Not that he could talk. He’d gone out on his own, but still worried about his past catching up to him.

Do you think someone aimed for Dustin? Ryder frowned. Why?

I didn’t say that, and you can’t be sure they did. Whoever shot him could’ve been aiming for anyone, he said. I don’t think Dustin brought it on himself, but whatever happened to him before he came here could also be catching up to him. You never know. If the people from his former life found him, he could be up to his eyeballs in trouble. They’d want him back.

You aren’t blaming Dustin, are you? Ryder’s eyes widened. Seriously?

Oscar massaged his temples. He needed to stop thinking about others through the lens of his own life. No, I meant we don’t know what Dustin did before he arrived here. Maybe, someone did target him. Maybe, the person aiming for Dustin was rotten. Dustin probably wasn’t bad or anything, and it’s a horrible accident. He hadn’t explained that well, at all.

I bet Markas knows. Ryder nodded then stood. He knows everything.

Then let him handle it. I’m guessing someone saw Dustin and thought he looked like someone else...and there was a mix-up. He scrubbed his hands over his face. The bobcat wanted Ryder to leave. He wasn’t in the mood to discuss the shooting. I’m guessing it was a wrong place, wrong time thing, and Dustin was unintentionally shot.

"You’re usually the one who sees the good in people. You sure don’t seem to see it