Red's Wolf Volume 7: Hunter: Red's Wolf, #7

By Amber Kallyn

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

Once upon a time...

As the full moon nears, another danger shadows Sami's new life. Her pack. A huntsman, a man who knows how to hunt, and kill, wolves like them. With more people she loves in ever growing danger, tensions are on the rise.

It doesn't help to find there may be a traitor in their midsts. One who is helping the huntsman track down and destroy Sami's new family.

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: 9781393931096

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 7: Hunter

Amber Kallyn

Dragonheart Books

Red’s Wolf (Shifted Fairy Tales)

Volume 7: Hunter

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 7: Hunter

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.

With Jonah and our new family, we defeated the evil stalking us. Hurting the innocent. And we hoped for nothing more than to settle into peace.

But my village remained on edge, bringing in a new danger and breaking the tranquility we all longed for.

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…

Deep in the heart of the Dark Forest—past twisted, gnarled trees glistening wetly, beyond shadows hiding dangerous, sometimes deadly, flora and fauna, past screeches and calls and cries of animals as they lived... or died—came the ring of laughter.

The sounds of joy filled a wide clearing where Sami Grant stood, alongside some of her new family.

They watched a group of men, including her love, raise the last wall of a newly erected barn. It matched the huge, communal cabin, and a small one bedroom shack at its side, that this large group of people had built after arriving here months, seasons, ago.

Jonah and a few men held up the barn wall. Others scurried about to secure it tightly.

To Sami, the view was delectable. Even in the mid-November chill, Jonah had taken off his shirt while working.

The muscles of his wide, darkly tanned back bunched. Slicked with sweat.

Sami licked her lips lightly.

Shocks of heat burst through her. The wildness within, now fully a part of her soul, whispered with silent happiness, mate.

The wind blew a bit harder, whistling through the surrounding trees. Though most here didn’t seem bothered, Sami shivered at the bite in the air. She missed the magical warmth of her hooded, crimson cloak.

But with the evil beast behind the recent troubles now dealt with—permanently—she no longer needed the protection it brought.

Besides, with the murderous George dead, Sami hoped the tensions in her village would soon finally ease.

Her next step to assuring that, she’d decided, was to be as inconspicuous as possible. Such as ensuring there was no chance of any locals seeing a woman, still walking around in such an eye-catching cloak.

She shivered again.

Sighed.

Even if it was for the best, Sami greatly missed the cloak’s warmth in this icy winter weather.

At least she could be grateful they hadn’t been plagued by snowstorms recently.

Even if such luck couldn’t hold much longer.

So this large group, along with Sami and Jonah, had spent the better part of the past couple of weeks building.

Growing their home in the dark, hidden depths of the forest.

Even some of the men who’d been turned out—fighters who’d helped their previous evil leader, though he had been controlling them—had stuck around to help.

Taking the offer to prove themselves worthy, not evil or crazed as George had been. Those who hoped to rejoin the family.

The silent voice in Sami’s soul whispered, family, pack.

Hers now.

Every last one of the people here.

She glanced around the clearing, taking everyone, and everything in.

The changes weren’t just new buildings, like this barn. A large smokehouse had also been built, on the opposite side of the communal cabin. Big enough to hold all the meat this immense group needed.

Especially with the pains of hunger brought by their inner wildness. The magic of their wolves.

Sami’s stomach currently rumbled softly each time the chilly, snapping breeze brought the scent of a whole deer, currently roasting on its spit. Central to the clearing, a large ring of rocks held a blazing bonfire for warmth, and, on one side, the group’s dinner feast, soon to come.

Beyond the fire, laughter again rang out, echoing in the crystal clear air.

Her new family was a large, and diverse group, ranging from a few children to the elderly. Three of the inseparable youths, Ellie, Becca and Mattie, played chase.

Continued to fill the area with the simple joy of their laughter.

The very youngest of the group, they all appeared around eight or so. Of course, for people like those here, looks could be deceiving.

The wild magic within tended to... stretch lives.

Of course, though the three were much older than they appeared, it didn’t change their outlook on the world—they still saw things through a childlike wonder.

They’d been found wandering, just the three of them, in a distant, wild wilderness. None knew just how long they’d been out there, alone. So it was no surprise their spirits remained youthful. Bright.

Sami supposed, perhaps some of it could be a result of the blending of souls with their inner wolves. The wildness within saw things differently than their human side.

Simpler.

More pleasurable.

Less worrisome.

Well, in some ways. Unfortunately, not others.

The youths continued to race around the clearing, their ringing joy a balm to Sami’s heart.

Much needed after all that had happened these past couple months.

The other large change that had come to this place a few weeks ago. Everyone here showed more joy, an ease none had felt for far too long.

Only...

Disposing this groups’ previous, horrible leader should have brought each and every one of them a full and true peace all wanted.

Craved.

Instead, tense undercurrents continued to rise and fall on the whispers of the adults.

Talk of the coming huntsman called in by the frightened, traumatized, villagers.

A wolf hunter.

Jonah had spoken of them before, while telling Sami some of the many stories from his long and amazing past.

Huntsman were normal people—not changed, like she’d recently become. Like those around her, Sami’s new family, all were.

Still, these hunters tended to know much about shifters.

Including how to kill them.

So tensions and worries continued to rise around here.

Nerves remained on edge.

The next full moon was just under a week away, after all. And the huntsman was due to arrive in Sami’s village at any time now.

There seemed to be another strange, and tense, undercurrent. A disturbance between some of the people here.

One Sami could just barely feel. One she was determined to get to the bottom of.

This was her family now, after all.

And her job was not just to protect, but to care for. To ease as much as possible.

The wolfy wildness in her soul assured her of these truths.

On the brisk wind came the scent of musk and wolf. It brought a prickling in the air, over her skin.

One not due to the cold.

From a cluster of tightly twined and twisted trees emerged two large shadows, close to the ground. Reaching pools of sunlight, both stood to full height—enormous, shaggy wolves. Eyes of crimson fire swept over the clearing, and everyone there.

Sami watched the wolves, much larger than any normal canid.

Shaking themselves, they headed toward the cabin and slipped inside.

Even with the distance—and walls—between them, Sami could feel a pulsing, tingling magic from the two, as they changed back from their animal forms. A sharp scent, that of a coming storm, rent the air. Magic pulsed along her senses.

One day, with time, would come the strength needed for Sami to also shift at will.

Until then, the magic within only allowed her to change during the three nights of the full moon.

Those nights, the magic was so strong, all like them were forced to shift from person to their wolves.

Grunts and groans near the barn drew Sami’s attention back to the mouth watering sight of Jonah’s damp, dark skin.

Love and lust twined within her.

Flared.

Hot and fiery desires that never fully cooled stirred.

The intensity of all she felt for this man was so encompassing, it could sometimes also be overwhelming. But it was always, always welcome.

She held such warmth close and tight.

Jonah was her love. Her life. Another new part of her soul.

And yet, Sami grumpily mused, even after all they’d accomplished together, she wasn’t able to relax.

To sit back and enjoy her life.

The joys of this family.

Alice, a plump, elderly woman, and self-appointed caretaker of the three youngest, tapped Sami’s elbow. Some of the men manning the spit for tonight’s dinner are spreading the word. ‘Tis almost done. I’m taking all the young ones to the water, to wash up.

All right. Do you want some company? Sami smiled lightly. Or help?

Alice chuckled, a husky sound. Nah, I think I’ll be fine, even if they are rascals. She moseyed over to the three youths, gathered the few older children as well, then led them all away from the main site.

And had Sami pondering yet another issue which