Sterling Secrets: Sterling Chains, #0.5

By Vee R. Paxton

"I'm alone in New York City, an ocean away from my clan in England. This is the price I'm paying for an aged soothsayer naming me the woman to bring forth the most powerful Lycan ever known. Now a ruthless gangster wants me for his bride, and all I want is a life of my own. So I ran away, straight into a random encounter with a former FBI agent turned private investigator named Ashley Sterling. The magic coming off of him is more powerful than I've ever sensed. On top of that, he has premonitions–and he's handsome. I'm attracted, terrified and intrigued at the same time. Can he help me?"

"My best friend is a chick magnet. Me, I'm more of a trouble magnet. Okay, half the time as an investigator I go looking for it, but as soon as I catch her eyes on the subway, all the bells in my head ring. The woman from my premonition is right in front of me. She's in trouble, on the run. Olivia is also beautiful and sensed my magic immediately. How can I not be intrigued? I've stepped in to help her, even though every signal in my brain tells me that by doing so, my life will never be the same."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vee R. Paxton
• Release date: May 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201430924

Book preview

Sterling Secrets

Sterling Chains Prequel

Vee R. Paxton

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WOOW Books

Copyright ©2022 by Vee R. Paxton

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

Trigger Warnings

1. Olivia Reddy

2. Ash Sterling

3. Olivia Reddy

4. Ash Sterling

5. Olivia Reddy

6. Ash Sterling

7. Olivia Reddy

8. Ash Sterling

9. Olivia Reddy

10. Ash Sterling

11. Olivia Reddy

12. Ash Sterling

Epilogue

Unchained Preview

Unchained Preview continued

Also By Vee R. Paxton

Trigger Warnings

Sterling Secrets contains adult language (profanity), and situations and is not suitable for a young audience.

The sex depicted is rough, graphic and consensual. The story contains some violence as well.

This novella is a prequel to the Sterling Chains series.

The epilogue ties in directly to book one but it can be enjoyed on its own.

Chapter one

Olivia Reddy

Where am I?

The loud honk that rang in my ears woke me with a start. A coughing fit sprang from my lungs at the assault of the sudden inhalation of exhaust fumes as a bus rumbled by. After I stopped choking on toxic air, I sat up on the bench. I blinked, attempting to clear the fog from my vision, and checked my surroundings. The small green suitcase with everything left to me in the world remained tucked underneath my head while I slept—no one had disturbed me. I breathed a sigh of relief. Jarring as the new surroundings seemed, at least I’d made it to New York City.

It had taken all of my resources, stamina, and cunning to get on that plane and get here. I applauded my skills that prevented Isaac’s men from finding me and dragging me from the plane before takeoff. It took five days of playing hide and seek with his gang by promising favors for lonely men, but I’d made it out. I was fortunate to be crafty enough to ditch them before I had to fulfill their expectations. Perhaps at least one of those men would learn a lesson about preying on someone’s desperation, but I doubted it. Likely, they were only cursing me for taking off before they got under my skirt.

Isaac Mendez, the reason for my flight, was the man my parents contracted me to marry after my twenty-sixth birthday later this year. Most knew him as a dark and dangerous man that commanded much authority in our community. I’d never been in his presence, but I’d heard enough to know he wasn’t someone I wanted in my life. When I found out about the arrangement my parents had hastily agreed to out of fear their only daughter would remain unwed, I wasted no time being clear. I wanted nothing to do with it.

I confronted my mother and demanded that the arrangement be revoked. After a lengthy argument, she reached out to Isaac and attempted to get out of the contract, only to end up dead for her insolence—my father’s life cut short merely because he stood by her side. I should have just taken off and never demanded that Mother intervene. They may not have been warm and coddling parents, but they were mine. I blinked back tears—no time to mourn or allow guilt to overtake me. None of us suspected his reaction to my rejection would be so violent. Still, it was hard not to feel responsible. The ache inside remained.

Excuse me, Miss. You’ll need to move along.

I looked up from my seat on the bench I’d claimed as a sleeping spot to see a husky police officer with salt and pepper hair peeking out of his uniform hat, standing before me. I nodded and grabbed my suitcase. My stomach growled loudly.

You alright? he asked. Out here isn’t exactly a safe spot to doze off, especially for a young woman such as yourself. If you need help, there are shelters.

Perhaps for most women, that was true. He didn’t know who or what he was conversing with. My people were Lycan. We could shift into wolf form at will. Defending myself wasn’t an issue, not against most humans. Still, I needed to eat and was nearly out of money. Free food would be a good thing to find.

Thank you, officer. I’d love directions, especially if they offer food.

He smiled. British, huh? Didn’t expect that with your looks. Love the accent. There’s a soup kitchen over on Fifty-First, not far from here. I can walk you over there if you’d like.

My looks, indeed—his polite way of saying my long jet-black hair, dark eyes, and brown skin didn’t look English to him.

I smiled politely. Thank you for the information. I’ll make my way there; no need for you to trouble yourself further.

He nodded and went on his way. I stood up, looked around, and sighed. I’d barely started researching different places to run when the need became immediate, and I had to make a quick decision and go. My father had visited this city just last year and spoke of it often. It got bumped to the top of my list when it was the most convenient international flight when I was ready to get on a plane. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t take long for a man of Isaac’s resources to find out I’d gone through customs in New York. Once he did, his wolves would work to sniff me out. Contacting anyone that might have connections to my family was out of the question. I needed to be as ghostlike as possible and keep moving.

With my suitcase pulled behind me, I made my way to the soup kitchen and took my place in line. A few eyes stared at me. I might be homeless and hungry, but I hardly looked the part—not yet, anyway. I shuddered at the thought of what was ahead of me. How long would I have to struggle like this? Sure, I was resourceful and adaptive, but I’d much prefer a clean, warm bed in a high-class hotel. My family may have been Lycan, but camping was never our thing.

Hey, pretty lady, I haven’t seen you around before, said the lanky gentleman standing in line behind me. My stomach lurched. The aroma of garlic, alcohol, and urine was everywhere in this place. This man was no exception. His smell was revolting, but at least there was no wolf or magic about him.

I turned to face him. Probably because I’ve never been here before, I replied curtly.

I thought so. It’d be hard to miss one as pretty as you are, he said, his eyes gliding up and down my form. I shook my head, shoving aside the disgust I felt.

I thank you for your kind compliment, I said, smiling through gritted teeth. Punching him wouldn’t help my need to keep a low profile. Best to be polite.

So, are you new in town? I could show you around if you like, he added as he slid in closer to me, the unmistakable scent of stale beer I’d been attempting to ignore wafting off of him.

Don’t listen to him. Get a real man to show you around, a large man behind him grumbled.

Not another one, geez.

I appreciate both of your offers, gentlemen. I assure you, however, I know where I’m going and can deal on my own, I said with another forced smile as I took the box of food handed to me and walked out of the door, eager to get as far away from them as possible. The last thing I wanted was to make a scene because some men were trying to pick me up.

For my purposes, humans weren’t my major concern. Anyone with Lycan blood, I’d need to look out for; those were the ones Isaac might seek to capture me.

A few sharp turns removed me from my unwanted admirers. I grabbed a section of the sandwich I found inside the box and hurriedly wolfed it down before I stopped and shoved the container into my suitcase. I’d need to ration myself in case opportunities to eat were sparse.

I continued walking, clueless about where I was heading. Perhaps my patterns would be unpredictable if I didn’t know, making me more difficult to locate. I looked to my right and gasped. My feet came to a complete stop, and a smile crossed my face as I noticed sunlight hitting the golden figure of Prometheus, fire in his hand, ready to help humanity at the risk of his demise. His beauty and elegance called to me.

Here I was in New York City. I’d dreamed of visiting for years. Why not take a moment, just a moment, to be a tourist? Dragging my suitcase behind me, I made my way past the shops and around the tables filled with diners, enjoying the beautiful