Laying Claim to the Original: The Equipoise Solar System Series, #3

By Amanda Kimberley

Love is an absolute.

Keme only had one love in his life, and she died centuries ago, but when he discovers that the love of his life has reincarnated, will he be able to save her from a shifter hell-bent on becoming alpha over every shifter? 

After returning to Earth, Verena and Ciro only had one plan: to get married! But will they have to put yet another pin in their already postponed wedding?

Or will Jaxson, who is up for his parole hearing, ruin everything on Earth and Effeminate for them all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Kimberley
• Release date: Sep 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215210697

Amanda Kimberley

USA Today Best Selling and award-winning author Amanda Kimberley has written in various genres in the course of almost four decades. Her nonfiction blog, which focuses on the chronic disease fibromyalgia, has garnered recognition from various organizations, including Health Magazine. Naming her blog, Fibro and Fabulous, a top blog for fibro sufferers. Amanda has also written for medical magazines and sites like FM Aware, The National Fibromyalgia Association’s magazine, and ProHealth. When Kimberley is not writing nonfiction, she enjoys penning romance. Her first Furry United Coalition story, The Turtle and the Hare, earned the 2020 Summer Splash Book Awards of Ink and Scratches for Best Romance. Her Forever Series Books, Forever Friends, and Forever Bound were featured in 2015 and 2016 on the BookCountry website, a division of Penguin/Random House as editor’s picks. She has also been featured as a USA Today Happy Ever After Hot List Indie Author with Claiming My Valentine, a Best Poet of the 90’s ranking for an anthology, and has had a #1 PNR ranking with Immortal Hunger and Hearts Unleashed. Amanda Kimberley is a Connecticut native that now lives in the warmth of Northern Texas with her zoo consisting of her husky, tuxedo cat, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, a tank of fish, two daughters, and a husband. When she is not writing you can find her cooking whole foods for her pack. She also enjoys reading, hiking, and gaming. Amanda Kimberley is a Connecticut native that now lives in the warmth of Northern Texas with her zoo consisting of her husky and cocker spaniel dogs, her tuxedo cat, two hamsters, a rabbit, a tank of fish, two daughters, and a husband. When she is not writing you can find her cooking whole foods for her pack. She also enjoys reading, hiking, and gaming.

Book preview

CHAPTER

ONE

I ’m telling you that the boss wants this! Rena said as she stomped out a cigarette. Go get that bitch now!

Well, it would help if we had a name to go on for this lifetime. I mean, it’s not like she’ll go by the name Chepi again.

I don’t care how you research the lineage to find her, Kip, but you will find her if it is the last thing you do for Jove. I swear it!

Is that a threat, Rena?

No. It’s a challenge!

Simmer down, you two. Said Jagger. Our numbers are minimal at best, thanks to Ciro. No one mentioned the motherfucker had ninja-like skills. So, I can’t have you two killing each other off. Especially you, Rena. Since you are the boss’s girl and all, you can’t die. Jove would kill us if anything happened to you.

Kip let out a low growl and glared at Jagger. Jagger shrugged, knowing full well that Rena deserved to be put in her place.

Enough, Kip! Jagger snapped at him. Even though he agreed the bitch was a bitch, he couldn’t afford to have his alpha mad at him. I’ve done some digging on Ancestry, and from what I can gather, Chepi goes by the name of Arizona Locklear now. She’s apparently still of Native American descent in the Sauk tribe. Who would have thunk it would be that easy to find her? Jagger said with a shit grin on his face.

How can you be so sure it’s really her?

Because she is the great, great, great, great, great, great, great, granddaughter of Chepi, and there’re pictures. See the uncanny resemblance, Rena?

Yeah, she’s the spitting image, alright. It’s usually a good sign because she is most likely the reincarnated soul. But, we can’t be too careful because we won’t know for sure until we perform the spell—right?

Yes, Kip, but given my research, it’s safe to say that we tracked her down. Now it’s only a matter of going to New Hampshire and kidnapping the bitch. Has Jove contacted you, Rena?

Not since Valhalla, and that was two days ago. Rena lowered her head. I’m getting worried.

He’ll break free, Rena. He’s been in worse spots.

But this is Keme we are talking about, Jagger. He’s practically a god rather than a shifter. In fact, I’m surprised his gods didn’t make him a demi yet. The guy is constantly on a dutiful kick. You’d figure that alone would get him into their good graces.

Keme isn’t as loyal as you peg him to be. He’s out for himself, just like all the rest of us. Besides, everyone has got to sleep sometime. And my guess is Jove is simply waiting for the right time to escape. 

Honestly, I hope you are right, Jagger.

Well, when you know—we will. That inner monologue is kinda hard to miss.

Yeah, I get how the whole pack thing works. I wish I didn’t have to share Jove with you all so much.

"Do you think we want to hear any of the X-rated stuff in his beanie regarding you? Sometimes I wish I could break the bond, so I didn’t have to listen to all the drama, but I wouldn’t want to lose Jove in the process. The dude is family to me."

Yeah, yeah, Jagger. I get it, and let’s hope the reunion is sooner rather than later.

Rena looked out the window of the cottage she was staying in to wait for Jove. She hoped her gaze at the stars would help her get her mind off the danger Jove was in. A pang hit her stomach, and she felt the bottom of it drop when she pictured Jove being struck by Keme. More pictures of Jove being struck flooded her mind.

Damned psychic connection! I feel everything he does! Oh, gods, keep Jove safe! 

Something made her look at the front door to the right of the picture window she was staring out into, and suddenly Jove walked through the threshold.

Jove! You’re here! She said as she jumped up and leaped into his arms.

Jove let out a whimper, causing Rena to pull back from her embrace. She started to look him over for bruises and contusions, inspecting each rippled muscle. 

I’m okay, Rena, just a little sore from Keme’s questioning.

Want me to kiss every inch of you to make it feel better? She said with a wink.

Jove smirked at her. 

Later, babe. I need to plan some stuff with the guys right now. He said to her as he smacked her behind. Put on something sexy, and I’ll be there in a few. 

He motioned over to the bedroom.

And just when I thought I was going to get a good night’s sleep! Jagger said with a sigh.

Aw! I promise not to make her scream too loudly, Jove said with a sheepish grin. 

Groans came from the rest of the pack.

Good thing we all waited to make our rounds around the perimeter. We can do that while you two get it on. But do us a favor and keep your thoughts to yourselves. I know that’s hard for you guys, especially you, Jove. But the squeaky bed and the moaning are all I can handle tonight. Jagger said with another groan.

Both Rena and Jove laughed.

Seriously, sugar, I’ll make up for lost time with you soon. Let me go over a few things with the boys. He winked and cupped her backside. 

Jove watched Rena saunter to the bedroom. She placed her hand on the jamb and unbuttoned three buttons on her blouse, revealing an emerald green bra barely holding her girls in place. Before she got to button number four, she mouthed, Don’t be long. And shut the door. 

Jagger let out a sigh.

She is a handful, boss. And for the love of God, don’t you ever make me babysit her again!

Sorry, Jagger, but in order for my plan to have worked, I had to be captured. It was the easiest way to get a true layout of Keme’s compound without raising suspicion.

"Why do you want to go storming the castle? I thought the plan was to kidnap that Chepi girl—which, by the way—I think we figured out her name in this lifetime. It’s Arizona Locklear."

Good! That is half the battle. Rena and I will head out to New Hampshire first thing tomorrow morning. Do you have the herbs we need to perform the past life revelation spell?

Yes, that’s all set, and I found a red velvet pouch for all the herbs, too. We need to get one of Lenox’s tribal members to perform the spell, and they are in Connecticut, I believe.

Good. Take Kip with you to Connecticut and meet us back here so we can get that spell done. By that point, I will have a detailed map of their compound so we can all plan our attack and entrances. I will lead it off through the front door. I’ll have Arizona with me and need a backup for the two side doors. Jove said as he pointed to the entrances on a map he’d roughly sketched as the three talked.

Sounds like a good plan so far, boss. I’ll head out around dawn with Kip. He’s an early riser like me. Jagger said. 

Perfect! I’ll leave you all to your night. There’s obviously someone else I need to, uh, debrief. Jove said with a wry smile. 

Yeah, boss, that’s disgusting! I am going to bed with earplugs. Hopefully, those will drown out your sorry asses!

Whatever, Jove said as he laughed before ducking into the bedroom.

God, they better not be extra tonight because I need my sleep.

Jagger sighed and headed out into the woods so he could find an animal to kill. Hunting usually put him in a good mood, and he needed to work on his emotions that were clearly heightened the minute Jove returned. 

God Damn it! He’s only been in there two minutes, and he’s already fucking her! Ugh, this will be a long-ass night!

"H ey!" Jove said as he opened the door. 

Oh! Hi! I didn’t expect you yet!

Okay. You have five more minutes. After then, you are mine! I’ve had two days without you, love. And that was long enough!

Jove’s voice was a low growl as he pulled her close to him. His pants grew tighter once her inner thigh brushed up against his cock. He smiled and stroked her cheek with his thumb.

I’ve missed you, love. He brushed her lips with his tactile digit.

She grasped his hand, opened her mouth enough to draw his finger into her mouth, and sucked on it. Blood instantly rushed to his dick, almost piercing through the zipper of his pants as if to show its allegiance to her electrifying touch. 

I’ve missed you too. Come here so I can show your other member just how much. She sat on the edge of the bed and patted it.

He sat beside her, brushed her hair off her shoulders, and claimed her lips. His hand took hold of her long pin-straight ebony locks into a ponytail, giving it a tug just enough to give him better access to her neck. 

He had already laid claim to her long ago, but he honestly couldn’t resist another nibble as the first bruise came into his full view. It was his deep longing to renew his love for her right here and now. He traced a line from her cheekbone to the middle of her neck. He stopped for a moment to kiss there, but he knew not to leave a mark. If he did, she would forever show a brand from him to not only any potential mate that inquired but also any potential employer, and he could not do that to her. He couldn’t take all of her like that. She needed a bit of herself to be the one thing that attracted him to her in the first place. A self-sufficient, independent woman that loves on her own terms. He lightly bit the bits near her upper chest to let her know where his head was.

Jove! I will need to expose that area one day with a bikini! Don’t make an enormous mark, or I’ll make one that the ladies and your boss will surely notice on you! We haven’t completed our marks yet with a second bite. All you are doing now is teasing me, and that’s not fair!

I’m sorry, Rena. It’s just that you are so beautiful, and I cannot help myself. He said as he traced a line from her neck to her cleavage. His finger slid over to her right nipple and circled it. You are so beautiful. So, so beautiful. I am a lucky man to have you.

She palmed his cheek while he cupped her backside to grind her sex onto his dick.

I’m lucky to have you, too. Now without sounding too British because I was only there for a summer—fuck me proper, Jove.

With pleasure, m’lady.

CHAPTER

TWO

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