The Crimsons: Hood River Chronicles, #2

By E.L. Jones

Jason is the Alpha-in-training, being of royal blood. He is inexplicably drawn to Alberta, the sharp-tongued new girl in Hood River. Things are slowly progressing between them much to the disgust and anger of his childhood friend, Rayn.

Vengeance is best served cold and Rayn plans to do just that with Alberta. However, Jason and his friends have something more terrifying to worry about. An ancient pack of werewolves have emerged into town. And incidentally, where is Alberta?

If you like Werewolves and shifters romance, mystery thriller and suspense, paranormal romance and fantasy, download this second book in the Hood River Chronicles series by Best selling author E.L. Jones

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.L. Jones
• Release date: Sep 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201656249

E.L. Jones

Elizabeth Lauren (E.L.) Jones is a mother to one little terror who keeps her on her toes. She's always loved books and have a soft spot for paranormal romance and fantasy genre. She is an introverted soul and on her spare time, loves to read various books, go on adventures with her little terror and her much taller husband, such as horse riding, snorkelling, kayaking and rock climbing, as well as watching different genre movies. She loves her coffee with no sugar and sitting by her deck taking in the soft breeze and fresh air.

Book preview

Chapter One

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Jason

I’ve never shown anyone this spot in the woods. Not a single soul. And by its near untouched trail, I can tell that not many people have wandered through either. This place is special. It reminds me of being beautiful and gentle, yet having danger as a significant feature on the other side of the coin. There’s something about Alberta – something that I think I’ve figured out, yet at the same time, haven’t – that makes me want to bring her into my life.

The kind of anger I felt when the biker guy was on her I’d never felt before. It was like every part of me was covered in a white-hot fury. Anything and everything was the object of that fury save Alberta, who was still recovering on the ground. The exchange between the guy and me wasn’t even much of a fight. One toss and he was sailing through the air and hurtling towards a tree like a lacrosse ball. He should be lucky I was only concerned with taking him off Alberta. I would have gone back to him where he lay unconscious and tossed him again against a tree until his back snapped. But there was a beautiful girl who I was trying very hard to show that I wasn’t a bad guy. I’m pretty sure snapping someone’s spine would be going too far, and would raise her hackles.

More than anything, I felt content when she agreed to follow me to this spot. I felt happy that she was happy; that she felt the same kind of love I felt for the place. At least we had one thing in common, we could start from there. It was gearing up to be an astounding night: both of us gazing into the lake, admiring the flora around us, and gazing at the stars in the sky. But a sharp scent cut everything short.

Shh, I tell Alberta.

She’s confused, and she’s right to be. I know what’s lurking in the trees behind us. She doesn’t, and I’d like to keep it that way if I can. But the universe, my universe, doesn’t work like that. One moment I’m making headway with a beautiful babe, and the next thing I know, the truth of my existence is about to crash over her. I could have used some more time. I’m not sure I can keep my nature as a werewolf away from her for long, but I needed her to, at least, trust me first. Now, the chances of that ever happening are whitling down by the second.

I open up my mind and I connect with the wolf lurking between the trees. It’s Rayn.

Rayn, what’re you doing? Are you out of your mind! Get out of here, now!

It feels like I’m speaking to a brick wall made entirely out of fury. It’s all rage in Rayn’s head. And if I wasn’t scared before, I’m more concerned now because Alberta is the focus of all her rage.

Rayn, I try to reach out to her again. I can hear her thoughts, but she’s not saying a word to me.

All right, fuck it. Any way you want to play this, Rayn, you’re not going anywhere near her.

I move forward, making sure that Alberta is behind me. She may hate me after tonight, or she may not. What matters is that she gets home unscathed, and remains unhurt for as long as I can protect her. But I can’t go straight into battle. I still have to allow Rayn to back down. I don’t want to turn into my wolf form unless it’s absolutely necessary.

It’s like I can see every word I say to Rayn fly over her head. She’s just not getting it. I want to tell Alberta to run. But if she runs, Rayn will give chase. It’ll make it difficult for me to keep her in check. Besides, Rayn has a better command of the terrain here than Alberta does and will be on her in no time.

Rayn lurches forward with one deep menacing growl, but with the speed of light I step into her path. That’s the only kind of speed that’s going to keep Alberta from becoming the main dish of a vengeful wolf. I grab Rayn by the neck, spin around and toss her towards the trees she’d come from. Instead of crashing and tumbling across the ground, Rayn lands on four legs like she’s superman or something.

Oh for fuck’s sake. Of all