Red's Wolf Volume 6: Redemption: Red's Wolf, #6

By Amber Kallyn

Who said Red's afraid of the big, bad wolf?

Once upon a time...

Under the full moon of All Hallows Eve, a murderous wolf stalks Sami and Jonah, eager to destroy anything in his path. He won't give up easily, and the odds are daunting against an enemy who doesn't fight fair.

Determined to protect the innocents forced into darkness, Sami refuses to let such evil spread. Or to dare try breaking the bonds of her love for Jonah.

After all, wolves mate for life.

A paranormal romance retelling of the fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood. Each volume is like an episode of your favorite TV show. Settle in and enjoy the ride!

Best ~ Amber Kallyn

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dragon Heart Books
• Release date: Nov 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393810216

Amber Kallyn

One of those rare breeds, Amber Kallyn is an Arizona native who can trace her family’s history through six generations in the state. She lives with her four very active children. Included in the menagerie are four cats (though there’s always room for more) and an adorable baby ball python. Amber loves the paranormal, from dragons to werewolves to vampires. She’s currently at work on her next book, probably running around the house acting out a fight scene with her collection of swords and daggers. Or maybe, wishing she had claws to practice the other fight scenes. A voracious lover of the written word, Amber found at an early age that she could read fast. Really fast. She devours novels by the day, novellas by the hour, and is always looking to get her hands on more. FIND ME: Twitter: http://twitter.com/AmberKallyn Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmberKallyn Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/amberkallyn Sign up for my newsletter for fun & freebies: http://bit.ly/H04jPF

Book preview

Red’s Wolf

Red’s Wolf

Volume 6: Redemption

Amber Kallyn

Dragonheart Books

Red’s Wolf (Shifted Fairy Tales)

Volume 6: Redemption

Copyright © 2019 Amber Kallyn

All rights reserved. All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Cover art by: Amber Kallyn

Copyright © 2012, 2018, 2019

Volume 6: Redemption

Most know of me or at least have heard my tale. Certainly you would recognize my crimson, hooded cloak. You've been regaled by the story of my battle with a wolf.

But as with most stories, that was only a small part of my life. And legends discard certain truths. Forgotten with each retelling was how the wolves I fought could also become men.

My beloved Jonah, too, remains shrouded in the mists of time. Nothing is mentioned of all we meant to one another. Of the family we created and sent out into the world. No one speaks of the bonds we shared, or how he changed my life forever.

Yet, after becoming his, tumultuous times lay ahead. Like my love, I became a wolf, tugged by the call of the moon. I learned the tales Gran told long ago were all too real. That there were others, like Jonah and I, living in the Dark Forest just outside my village.

One of them wished to destroy the bonds of our love. A monster willing to do anything to force me to become his.

Jonah and I refused to let anyone harm the love so precious to us. Yet, neither of us knew just how far he would go...

The wolf within me called Jonah mate. Kaleb our brother.

But there were others, controlled by the monster who wanted to destroy us. Others we had to save. And the evil wolf needed taken down, before he harmed more.

The world believed all of those like us were evil.

Somehow, I knew, for Jonah and I, and our growing family, we could find redemption.

If you are truly curious, then sit for a while.

Join me and discover for yourself the complete tale.

The truth behind the woman with the dark red riding hood.

Once Upon A Time…

The day before All Hallows’ Eve—and the full moon—dawned bright, clear and cold. The snap of winter’s beginnings seeped in through the cottage’s eves, the windows, any crack it could find.

A pensive worry had persisted in Samantha Grant’s stomach all morning.

From the time she cooked breakfast for the three she now called family, to just before noon, when her love took her by the hand and led her to the front door.

Jonah wore a simple, homespun woolen shirt and dark trousers, with his scuffed boots. His longish brown hair was tied back with a bit of leather, revealing the sharp angles of his features. Making him appear deceptively harsh.

The heated emotion in his light golden eyes belayed it a little.

Not that anything could hide the energy, the strength, emanating from his powerfully built body.

Some would instantly be wary of this man.

Never her.

He drew Sami’s long, crimson cloak around her shoulders. The magical warmth of the velvet-soft cloth surrounded her. Jonah gently tugged her long, auburn braid free, then secured the cloak’s ties at her throat.

Are we going somewhere? she asked. The crimson cloak didn't just hold magical warmth. It was protection against the evil lurking out there.

After her.

And her family.

Inside Sami, her wolfy wildness—growing, expanding, merging with her soul—howled viciously, refusing to even consider allowing harm to come to theirs.

Distracting the wild heat twisting Sami’s worries, Nadia slowly approached. The tiny woman held a picnic basket that smelled packed with food.

Still quiet, and sometimes hesitant, Nadia finally dared look up. Like usual, her long black hair was tied in a braid that fell down her back. And, like usual, her blue eyes appeared brighter from the thick, dark kohl decorating them.

It struck Sami that the giant Kaleb was nowhere to be found.

When she asked after him, Jonah said softly, Kaleb's out keeping watch on the area.

She glanced between him and the tiny woman. Why do I feel like I'm being plotted against?

Jonah cracked a brief grin that softened the sharpness of his features. Come, he merely crooned, taking the picnic basket from Nadia with thanks.

He led Sami out the door. Down the porch steps. Out into neat, orderly rows of winter-dormant fruit trees. Quietly, they strode through the orchard.

The peace of this place, along with Jonah's protective, soothing calmness at her side, began to slowly, if only slightly, ease the tensions strumming along Sami’s nerves all morning.

Started to break down the worries and fears constantly on her mind for the past month—though it sometimes felt like eons had passed since this had all begun.

Bright sunshine filtered through bare branches, drawing crooked, spindly patterns across the ground. A slight breeze brought a chill sweeping along Sami's spine. She shivered a little, even with the warmth of her crimson cloak.

Lately, not even Gran's orchard, or Jonah beside her—both of which usually brought her such peace—could completely block out her growing fears.

Tomorrow was All Hallows’ Eve.

And the first full moon of the month.

The murderous wolf out to get them had been suspiciously quiet for a while now—since she and Jonah and Kaleb had nearly killed him.

At least, she hoped they'd been close, between her silver bullet, and the fight with her men.

The ever-growing wildness within Sami also felt the coming of the full moon.

Nearing magic that would completely release her wolf. Force Sami to change from woman to animal.

She felt clearly how eagerly the wolfy wildness awaited tomorrow night.

Not only to be fully free.

But, also, because the evil after them could only be waiting for that time to attack.

And Sami had every intention of ensuring it was them the dark beast came for, not another innocent villager.

She just had to figure out how.

That was the biggest problem.

Jonah squeezed her hand, drawing her attention. This is a worry-free area. Relax, my darling heart. What will come, will come. Enjoy the now.

With him, it wasn't as hard as one would think. Lately, she so desperately needed any peacefulness she could grasp.

They reached the river along the southern edge of Gran's land. Jonah pulled a blanket from the packed basket. Spread it over the ground, then led Sami to sit alongside him.

He rummaged through the basket. Let's see what we have. He drew out thick slices of cooked venison. A soft, still-warm loaf of bread. Hunks of cheese. A container of the last of their red, fruity, watery melon.

Then he cuddled Sami to his side, drawing her close. Managed to, somehow, calm more of her ragged nerves, with the simple soothing warmth of his embrace.

Jonah fed her choice bits of the meat while speaking softly, sharing short anecdotes and simple stories of his many travels around the large world.