Pure Beast: Hood River Chronicles, #4

By E.L. Jones

With Alberta gone Jason has to figure out what is going on with the packs and who, besides his father, he can trust. A betrayal is at hand. As is Jason's transformation to Alpha. Will he live to learn to use his new abilities or will an ambush end it before he can even begin?

Alberta, meanwhile is learning her own lessons. How to use her powers, and it isn't going well. Will she learn in time to help Jason and his pack, or will she be too late?

This is the fourth book in the Hood River Chronicles Series. If you love paranormal romance, mystery and suspense, then download this latest short story from E.L. Jones!

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.L. Jones
• Release date: Sep 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201453169

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

The sky’s raining a whole lot more than just cats and dogs. It rains like it’s getting back at the ground for something it’d done. I’m on my knees with my shoulders drooping and my heads bowed. I feel cold—colder than the rain will ever make me. My eyes go to where I’d seen her last. Alberta was gone. She was truly gone. I had this feeling in my heart that I wasn’t going to happen upon her coming out of the woods like I did the last time. Whoever that woman was—the one she was with—her aura was powerful. It was part of her scent. Her aura came from effortless power and a lot of mystery. If she wants Alberta gone, I’m not sure any amount of searching would let me find her.

I’ve never felt this empty my whole life. It’s like my heart’s been pulled out. My chest resonates with an inexplicable emptiness. I fold my arms over my chest, place my forehead on the ground and scream. My scream is filled with all my pain. Alberta’s loss. The massacre of my friends. The bloodshed and death to be expected from the impending battle. I scream so hard until I start to howl into the night. I don’t hold back on anything, not even an iota of who I am. I let it all out.

Suddenly, all that pain turns into anger so pristine, it’s like new blood flowing through my veins. I’ve never felt this before. It takes over every cell of my body, every single inhibition. It’s like I’ve become something entirely different. Without warning, my bones start to break, shift and realign. I’m changing. It’s not supposed to be happening. Not when I didn’t initiate it. This seems to be happening all on its own, and it’s not the full moon yet. Something’s off.

My spine shifts violently. I yell as the pain throws me to the ground. No sooner have I hit the ground than my ears pick up the sound of werewolves running towards me. They’re still about half a mile out. But I can pick out the bloodlust in their scent. And they’re not alone. There’s someone else with them—someone not as old or vicious. A familiar scent.

The pain of my body shifting becomes too much to bear. I lie on the ground and yell into the sky. Lightning cracks across, illuminating skies packed full with rolls of clouds. Thunder claps in immediate response, threatening to shred the entire world into pieces.

They’re here now. I can hear the patter of their feet and the fall of their breath. My transformation isn’t done yet. With all the pain I’m in, I’d make an easy kill.

What’s happening to him, one of them growls.

I don’t know, a familiar voice replies. Looks like he’s transforming, but he’s also in a lot of pain. And that’s unusual. We’re used to the pain of transformation by now.

It doesn’t matter. He’s right there in front of us, let’s make mincemeat out of him.

My whole body is replete with pain. My mind is splintered—divided between trying to keep myself from falling apart under this much pain, and pulling myself out of this precarious situation.

Suddenly, there are new footsteps into the mix. Two werewolves stand in front of me growling.

Oh, he’s got friends, the voice growls.

Part of his pack, the familiar voice replies.

Jason, someone calls me. Jason. What’s wrong with him?

I don’t know. It looks like he’s changing or something.

But he shouldn’t be in this kind of—

The voice breaks off. Oh my God.

I start getting up. That angry part of me is starting to take shape. It’s solidifying, becoming a concrete form, rather than waves of feelings crashing all over the place. I’m turning into something I’ve never felt before. Something that's pure anger. Pure beast. Pure monster.

I’m not just transforming. I’m growing as well. And not on four legs. I’m on two legs.

What the fuck!

I shut my eyes tightly as the rest of the transformation goes into effect. Then I open them. I’m towering above everyone else. I’m a werewolf, but a different kind. A rare kind. I thrust my muzzle into the air and howl. The sound is deep and traveling. I can feel the earth underneath me vibrate as well. The werewolves beside me transform and howl in unison.

Then I look at the small pack of Crimsons in front of me and the person at the head of the unit. Abel. The fool dared step