Perfect

By Bianca D'Arc

She’s a city girl who’s moved out west, and he’s just the cowboy to teach her to ride...

Successful business woman and former bakery owner, Cassie has sold out and moved to her own slice of heaven—a working ranch, just outside of Big Wolf, Texas, complete with cowboys. She doesn’t know much about ranch life, but she’s a willing student, especially when the new ranch hand catches her eye.

Cody was sent to Cassie’s ranch to investigate some strange goings on. He’s the envoy of the Big Wolf Alpha, and a restless werewolf who does odd jobs for the Pack to keep himself busy. He’s enchanted by Cassie and seducing her soon becomes his top priority.

He charms his way into her life, but she’s a total innocent when it comes to the magical world around her. Will she be able to accept everything about Cody and welcome him into her life? And, when hunters show their ugly faces—and their even uglier poison-filled weapons—will she blame him for bringing danger to her door?

* Please Note: This novella was originally published as a short, contemporary story in 2008, and has been out of print for several years. It has been greatly expanded and rewritten to exist in the Big Wolf Pack world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bianca D'Arc
• Release date: Jul 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781950196326

Bianca D'Arc

Bianca D’Arc lives on Long Island, in New York. She is the daughter of a Dutch immigrant to the U.S. and a materials scientist who worked on America's space program, including such projects as the lunar module, space shuttle and most of the Apollo missions. She earned a university degree in chemistry, and later, graduate degrees in library science and law. Forsaking the corporate world soon after the terrible events of 9/11/01, she began her writing career in earnest in late 2005. She focuses on the paranormal, sci fi and fantasy genres of romance, and loves creating happy-ever-afters for her characters.

Book preview

Tales of the Were ~ Big Wolf

Perfect

by

Bianca D’Arc

2nd Edition

Copyright © 2020 Bianca D’Arc

Hawk Publishing, LLC

New York

1st Edition

Copyright © 2008 Bianca D’Arc

Published by Tease Publishing, LLC

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any or by any means, or stored in a database retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the Author.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold 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 book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

www.biancadarc.com

OFFICIAL BIANCA D’ARC NEWSLETTER

A city girl meets a country boy. She’s drawn to his dominance, and he’s just the Alpha wolf to teach her to ride…

Successful businesswoman and former bakery owner, Cassandra, has sold out and moved to her own slice of heaven—a working ranch, just outside of Big Wolf, Texas, completely with cowboys. She doesn’t know much about ranch life, but she’s a willing student, especially when the new ranch hand catches her eye.

Cody was sent to Cassie’s ranch to investigate some strange goings on. He’s the envoy of the Big Wolf Alpha, and a restless werewolf who does odd jobs for his leader to keep himself busy. He’s enchanted by Cassie and seducing her soon becomes his top priority.

He charms his way into her life, but she’s a total innocent when it comes to the magical world around her. Will she be able to accept everything about Cody and welcome him into her life? And, when hunters show their ugly faces—and their even uglier poison-filled weapons—will she blame him for bringing danger to her door?

Please Note: This novella was originally published as a short, contemporary story in 2008, and has been out of print for several years. It has been greatly expanded and rewritten to exist in the Big Wolf Pack world.

DEDICATION

With many thanks to Peggy McChesney for her helpfulness. Any errors or mistakes left at this point are my own darn fault. LOL.

Thanks also to my editor, Jess, who has been amazing these past years, and to the readers who have stuck by me for so long.

As always, special thanks to my family, for their support of my scribbling. Love you all!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

About the Author

Other Books by Bianca D’Arc

PROLOGUE

Cody Tyler reported to his Alpha’s office, wondering what new adventure Joe Villalobos might send him on this time. Cody had been born and raised in the Big Wolf Pack, but he got the wanderlust from time to time, unlike most other wolves. There was a real possibility he’d go lone wolf one day, but Joe was a good friend, and a good Alpha, and he tried to give Cody assignments that would settle his restlessness while still keeping him firmly connected to the Pack.

Cody liked and respected Joe. He’d done some traveling, getting an education and running a string of businesses, but when it came down to it, he always returned to Big Wolf, Texas, because of Joe. The man had earned Cody’s loyalty and trust, which wasn’t something Cody gave easily.

Morning, Joe greeted him when Cody stuck his head in the open office door. Come in and take a seat.

Morning, Joe, Cody replied as he entered and sat in one of the guest chairs across the big desk from the town’s mayor, who was also the Pack’s beloved Alpha.

How are our investments doing today? Joe asked, as if he didn’t already know. He might’ve turned the investment portfolio over to one of Cody’s companies to run, but Joe knew to the dollar how everything was invested, and Cody knew the Alpha followed the stock market news daily.

Looking up, as usual, though you may want to divest in some of the commodity markets, Cody told him. Talk to Megan at the office and see what she recommends. She’s got her finger on the pulse more than I do these days.

I’ll be calling her once the markets close, Joe said offhandedly. I want to get her take on a bakery business.

Bakery? Cody frowned as Joe sat back in his chair and regarded him steadily.

As you might know, the Weaver place is bordered on one side by a large tract of ranch land that used to be owned by Billy Singleton.

Used to be? Cody asked, feeling a bit like a parrot at the moment.

"Yeah, that’s the problem. Billy died, and his heir was some stockbroker from New York City. He sold the land—at a very large profit—to a city gal who used to own a chain of bakeries. Cassandra’s Cakes. Ever heard of it?"

Cody shook his head. Can’t say that I have.

"Well, apparently, there really is an actual Cassandra. She sold her bakery chain and bought the Singleton ranch with the proceeds. What I need you to do is check her out. Cal Weaver told me he’s seen some strange goings on over there since Billy Singleton died. Cal couldn’t swear to it, but he thought he saw some evidence of ritual sacrifice on the back forty."

Ritual sacrifice? Seriously? Cody frowned.

I’m afraid so, Joe said, sitting back in his chair, frowning. Cal Weaver isn’t the excitable sort. If he says he saw something like that, there’s got to be an explanation. I want you to go over to the ranch and see if you can get hired on as a hand or something. Word in town is she’s hiring. Report back when you have something to tell me. Sooner, if you need backup.

Will do. Cody stood, sensing Joe had said all that needed saying. Joe wasn’t in the habit of micromanaging his people. He was the kind of Alpha who put the right people in the right jobs and let them get on with it.

Hopefully, it’s nothing, Joe said as Cody headed for the door.

Cody paused and looked back at Joe, seeing an expression of doubt on the Alpha’s face that caused Cody some concern.

But you don’t think it is? Cody had to ask.

Joe shook his head and grimaced. I can’t say exactly why, but I’ve got a feeling… He trailed off, then his expression turned to exasperation. Just be careful out there, okay?

Will do, boss. I’ll be in touch if there’s anything you need to know.

Joe nodded, and Cody went on his way. Just like that, he had a new adventure, and this one sounded both intriguing and dangerous. It was the kind of combination his inner wolf liked best.

CHAPTER ONE

Damn, that new cowboy is hot!

Sinewy muscles gleamed in the summer sun as he worked. The new guy, Cody, was quite possibly the most perfect specimen of manhood Cassandra Drake had ever seen. And he was all hers.

Well, he worked for her. Technically. Though, in reality, it was her foreman, Rich Jessup, who’d hired him.

Cassandra had always dreamed of living in the Wild West—or at least its modern equivalent. That dream had become reality when she sold her bakery business. With the windfall, she’d moved out West and bought a big ranch in the middle-of-nowhere, Texas, finding local people to run it for her while she fixed up the house.

A career woman, she’d never married, concentrating instead on building her business from the ground up. She had a few regrets, but overall, she was happy with the way things had turned out…except when she got a look at some of the young studs wandering around her property, taking care of the animals and lands.

The new hand was a perfect example. Cody had chiseled features that put Cary Grant to shame. He was