Sedona Surrender

By Lisa Kessler

Cole Vega never expected to find his mate. He didn’t figure he deserved one anyway. But during a ranch call to assist a mare with a difficult delivery, he meets the newest employee at the farm. She also happens to be the sister of one of his packmates, and she’s off-limits.

Madison Williams moved to Sedona to be closer to her brother. Taking a marketing position at a large cattle ranch in Sedona, she expects she’ll have plenty of time to spend with her brother and his fiance, but nothing is as it seems, and everyone in town has secrets including her new employer, Deidra Harlow. When she bumps into the sexy veterinarian, sparks fly, but there’s something he’s not telling her.

One touch makes keeping his distance from her impossible, but one mate for life means putting Madison’s needs above his own. He can’t tell her he’s a werewolf, or that her brother was bitten and now shifts into a jaguar, and if she discovers she’s working at a ranch owned by a top secret defense contractor her life will be in danger. Surrendering to his feelings is not an option...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: Jan 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094452081

Lisa Kessler

Stay up-to-date on new releases and giveaways by subscribing to Lisa's newsletter here: https://goo.gl/56lDla Lisa Kessler is a Best Selling author of dark paranormal fiction. She's a two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance. Her books have also won the PRISM award, the Award of Excellence, the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, the Award of Merit from the Holt Medallion, and an International Digital Award for Best Paranormal. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award. When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, and has performed with San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego. You can learn more at http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Cole

I pulled up to the new wrought iron gates that read SERENITY FARMS and entered the gate code. Someone was pouring money into this enterprise lately. I could count on one hand how many ranch calls I’d made to this property before the current owners had taken over, and now there was a new name, a renovated and expanded main house, and a new entry gate.

I parked on the north side of the barn. Today was going to kick my ass. This was the first of five calls on my schedule, and I had four artificial inseminations to perform at this stop before I even started for Bar S on the other side of the valley. I’d been overscheduling myself lately, welcoming exhaustion at the end of the day. It gave me less time to think.

Hey, Cole. Jorge, the barn manager, came around the corner as I lifted the cover on the back of my truck.

The screech of the cover’s hydraulics tormented my heightened werewolf senses. At least I wouldn’t have to deal with the squeaks much longer. Last week I’d started shopping for a new utility truck. I’d been a veterinarian for ten years now, and I always measured time by my trucks. This was year five on my second truck; it was time for a change.

Hi, Jorge. I took out my stainless steel bucket and set it on the ground before retrieving the sterilized tools I’d need for the cattle. Kelly told you I was coming, right?

Not exactly. Kelly’s not here anymore.

I frowned, looking over my shoulder at him. Did she quit?

Jorge was in his fifties, with more salt than pepper in his hair and lines around his dark eyes that were a testament to many years of wide smiles. I’d worked with him on this ranch since I’d first opened the large-animal clinic at my vet hospital.

I don’t know. He lowered his voice. They hired a new office manager. Some kind of marketing lady.

I raised a brow and leaned against the bumper of the truck. Wow. I hadn’t heard. I glanced at the barn. Should I come back another day?

No. Jorge shook his head, a smile brightening his face. I can tell Madison you’re here. Who are you here to see?

I took out my phone to check the notes for the ranch visit. I have Hazel, Gloria, Betty, and Georgia on the ovulation list.

Artificial insemination was more expensive than traditional husbandry, but it was also safer for the bulls and the cows, and using the frozen semen meant more cows could be inseminated in one day. For a working ranch looking to expand their herd, it was worth the extra cost.

I prepared the syringes and tubing as footsteps approached from the main building. The breeze carried a human scent. Definitely female. There was a trace of soap and shampoo, but it blended into something bright, like sunshine in the morning.

Peering back over my shoulder, a blond woman headed my way. Her hair was in a ponytail, and while her jeans weren’t tight, they were form-fitting enough to reveal her curves. She had on a black T-shirt, and her smile told me she had no idea why I was there.

She shielded her eyes from the sun and peered from my truck, back to me. You must be the vet.

I nodded, straightening up with my hands full of gear. I’m Dr. Vega. And you are?

I’m Madison. I’m the new ranch-slash-marketing manager.

I cocked a brow at her title. Do cattle need a marketing manager?

The ranch does. She chuckled. They’re expanding their business. That’s where I come in.

Her bright-blue eyes sparkled. She probably thought she was keeping it light, but for a werewolf like me, emotions carried a scent all their own, and judging by the spicy musk of determination coming off her, this was a driven woman who had mastered the ability to project a carefree smile all while plotting new ways to expand her reach. Interesting.

I tipped my head toward the barn. I’ve got to get ready while Jorge is collecting the cows. You’re welcome to come with me.

She didn’t hesitate to follow me. I wanted to check with you about your usual farm visits. I’ve got a new scheduling system set up on the cloud so I’ll get you a login and then we can all access the calendar and see your appointments and itinerary for the visits.

I laid everything on the concrete slab beside the squeeze chute, which protected both me and the cows during the insemination process. When I turned around, she was close enough for me to see the light dusting of freckles across her nose. A strand of her hair had fallen loose of the ponytail, draping down her neck and resting on her chest.

I forced my eyes back up, hoping she hadn’t noticed the slip. That’ll work. Just email me the link and I’ll have my office manager sync our calendars.

She peered around the barn as a gust of wind blew in their direction. Her nose crinkled at the scent of manure. Rookie.

I smirked. Your first ranch job?

Yes. She wiped her hands on her jeans. Does it show?

She didn’t deny it. Refreshing to meet someone willing to be honest. I grinned. Just a little. I grabbed my stainless-steel bucket and carried it over to the hose to fill it. I turned on the water and looked back at her. Where did you work before?

Up in Lake Tahoe, just outside Reno. I was the marketing manager for a real estate broker.

I turned off the spigot. Why the big change to a cattle ranch in Sedona?

My brother is going to be a dad soon. I took the first job I could find in the area and moved down here. I’m probably way too eager to be an aunt.

Her bright expression warmed me more than I wanted to admit as I set the bucket next to the chute and prepared the tubing. Do your parents live around here, too? They must be excited.

Her smile faltered. They’re up in San Francisco. My brother’s not really close to them. What about you? Are you from Sedona?

She changed the subject so smoothly I almost didn’t notice. Almost.

Yep. I nodded. Born and raised.

Lucky. It’s so pretty. She looked up as Jorge brought up the first cow to the chute. Hi, Jorge.

He grinned. Ahh so you’ve met Cole?

Yes. She raised a brow in my direction. I hadn’t told her my first name. Dr. Vega and I met.

You can call me Cole, I said with a tilt of my head. I liked her. She was sharp. I guess I better get to work.

She nodded and slipped her hands into her pockets. Good to meet you, Cole. I’ll send you an email with the scheduling link.

Thanks, Madison.

I couldn’t help but steal a peek as she walked back up to the small outbuilding behind the main house. The way her hips swayed made it tough to look away. Besides, looking couldn’t get me into too much trouble.

Hazel mooed, breaking my fixation with the new ranch manager’s ass. I shook my head and pulled on my latex gloves. She seems…nice.

Jorge grinned as he walked Hazel into the squeeze chute. He stroked the cow’s wide face as I closed the chute at the back. She’s also single and new in town. She might want a tour sometime.

I laughed. I’m too busy to date, you know that.

Well, someday you won’t be busy and you’ll be alone. He met my eyes, stone-cold serious. Make the time.

Jorge had lost his wife to cancer so he knew about being alone. It was kind that he wanted me to find a love like he’d had, but he didn’t understand how complicated it would be for me. Werewolves had one mate for life, one person in the entire world that was destined for them. For a while, I tried to search for her. My parents had told me stories about how my father’s wolf had recognized my mom the moment they had touched skin to skin.

Over the years, I’d held hands, kissed, and I’d even had committed relationships, but none of them had made the wolf inside me howl—no recognition of my one true mate. And now that I’d witnessed some members of my pack finding their other halves, it made settling for less seem…meaningless.

Our previous Alpha, Allen Caldwell, had taken fate out of the equation. He’d been on a mission to expand our pack rapidly. Caldwell assigned pack members to a female, dubbing them mates in the hopes of bringing more werewolves into the world. I hadn’t participated in the forced coupling, drawing a line in the sand, but I had turned a blind eye to the humans Caldwell had been changing into werewolves against their will. I had chosen not to notice the bitten men and women Caldwell had kept locked in an abandoned storage facility, breeding them.

Like cattle.

I clenched my jaw, fighting the guilt that constantly dogged me. Maybe it always would. So even though the new ranch manager was beautiful and intelligent, I didn’t see any point in spending more time with her.

I’ll see what I can do, I lied.

Jorge nodded and let it go.

I focused on my work. Work was all I needed.

* * *

It was after seven o’clock by the time I finished my final ranch call and pulled into the veterinary hospital.

Piper, the newest vet at my clinic, met me at the back door. Jackie left you a note about Serenity Farms. The new manager wants you to call her.

Madison.

Okay. I nodded, wincing at the screech as I lifted the lid on the bed of the utility truck.

Piper covered her ears and shook her head. How can you stand that? It’s like an ice pick to my brain. She lowered her hands and chuckled. Shane told me I’d have heightened senses after I became a werewolf, but I was only imagining the good parts, not squeaky hydraulics and having to give up my ear buds because it’s too loud no matter how low I set the volume.

Piper was Shane’s mate. He’d come from Kentucky all the way to Sedona as a lone wolf looking for revenge as the last surviving member of his pack, and instead had found the other half of his soul in Piper. She’d been here on the other side of the country.

My head hurt just trying to calculate the chances of that.

Regardless, it had happened.

I was older than Shane by a few years. Hell, I was turning forty later this year. I was the eldest of my pack brothers. For all I knew, my mate was already married with kids and living a blissful life.

Humans didn’t have the one-mate-for-life instinct. She’d never know I was searching for her.

This was fucked up. I could either accept my fate and be alone, or settle for a relationship that would always feel empty.

I glanced over at Piper. I’ll give her a call. How did everything go today? I carried my used equipment inside to be sterilized. You’re here late.

Actually, I was waiting for you.

I looked back over my shoulder. Something wrong?

No. She shook her head. But we’re planning a baby shower for Wendy on Saturday afternoon, and we want the whole pack to be there.

I groaned as I washed out the equipment. Single guys don’t go to baby showers. I turned off the water. Plus, I’m Wendy’s doctor. I should get a pass.

I wasn’t technically a doctor per se, but as werewolves, we couldn’t risk going to a hospital when we were sick or injured. If a lab tech got a sample of our DNA under a microscope, our secret existence wouldn’t be so secret anymore. Shifters would become lab rats, or worse yet, they’d be hunted. So, as a vet, I was the closest thing our pack had to a doctor.

Piper crossed her arms. There’s more to it than that. Maybe you should sit.

Shit. She had my full attention now. I sat down on a padded stool and barely bit back a moan of relief. It had been a very long day today, even with my added werewolf strength. Okay, why is it so important that I attend a baby shower?

Chandler’s sister is going to be there.

I frowned. And that’s a problem because…?

She’s human. Piper groaned and took the chair across from me. We need an excuse to cover why Wendy is already the size of a house. Werewolf gestation time is only four months instead of nine, and Wendy is having twins. How are we going to explain to his human sister that even though she and Chandler only met a few months ago she’s about to give birth?

Oh shit. Piper was right. I leaned forward on the stool, pulling my hair back from my face. She doesn’t know he’s a shifter.

Right. She has no idea werewolves and jaguar shifters exist, let alone that her brother is a jaguar shifter and her new sister-in-law is a werewolf. Chandler doesn’t want her to find out, either.

No baby shower. I shrugged. Problem solved.

She rolled her eyes. It’s not that simple. Once the babies are born, they’re not going to look premature. What are we going to do?

I blew out a frustrated breath. Chandler’s going to have to either tell his sister the truth, or keep her away from the babies for a few months.

Piper crossed her arms. He’s afraid it’ll put her in danger if he tells her the truth. Our pack enemies will see her as a weak spot.

Damn it. Our enemies did seem to be expanding lately. Between the jaguar assassins up in Flagstaff, the Transparency Collective determined to expose our existence to the world, and the biochemists at Evolution Defense trying to power up super soldiers with werewolf DNA, Chandler’s sister would definitely be in danger if they found out she was related to one of our pack members.

He’s probably right. I mulled over the options. Okay, so we tell her Wendy has gestational diabetes. I’m monitoring her closely, but the babies will be large and might be premature. A doctor would know they’re not months premature, but… I lifted my gaze to her face. Shit. Please tell me his sister isn’t a doctor.

Nah. Piper laughed. She’s not a doctor. I think he said she’s in sales and marketing.

Good. I forced myself back to my feet to work on sterilizing the equipment. That should get me a pass on the baby shower, right?

Wrong. She came over to stand beside him. We’ll see you Saturday at two o’clock at the pack ranch.

Fine. I smirked.

She crossed to the lockers and took out her purse and keys. ’Night, Cole. Don’t forget to return that call to Serenity Farms.

I won’t.

I waited for the door to close and then started scrubbing. Part of me still couldn’t believe I was going to a baby shower. Maybe I’d get an emergency ranch call and have to miss the afternoon get-together. Or…

I glanced over at the message from Serenity Farms on my desk.

If Madison needed help getting up to speed on the breeding program, I could schedule it for Saturday afternoon. It would give me an excuse to leave the shower early. Then I could just stop by and wouldn’t have to play games or whatever the hell you did at a baby shower.

Yeah, that could work. I wouldn’t be an asshole for not showing up, and I could help one of our long-time clients at the same time. It had nothing to do with seeing Madison again.

I dried my hands and headed for my desk.

CHAPTER 2

Madison

My cell rang, interrupting me as I was scrolling through Twitter. The number wasn’t in my contacts, but I recognized it anyway. I’d called the vet clinic earlier today, but it was almost eight o’clock. I hadn’t expected a call back this late.

This is Madison, I answered.

Cole cleared his throat on the other end of the line. It’s Dr. Vega. I was returning your call. His deep voice had a rough edge to it that made it instantly recognizable.

Working late?

He paused before responding. Yeah. Long day. Am I interrupting? We can talk in the morning if that’s best.

No, this is good. I’m just having a glass of wine and thinking about heating up some leftovers. I picked up my glass and swirled the pink Moscato.

Was I oversharing with a near stranger? Probably. Wine without food made me an open book. It didn’t matter. Even though he was good-looking and hadn’t been wearing a wedding ring, I’d decided long ago that dating was overrated. If love was in the cards for me, I’d stumble into it without trying. Otherwise, what was the point?

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