A Stranger in Paradise: Paradise Reborn

By Tianna Xander

The Paradise Shifter clan is facing extinction. Can their new leaders rebuild their hidden town?

 

Once a stronghold of leopard shifters on another plane, Paradise has grown stronger under its new Alpha's control. By welcoming shifters of all kinds, and drawing on their strengths and skills, he's made his small army close to invincible.

 

Desperate to find missing clan members, and hoping to diversify their genetics, Alpha Adam, with his best friend and enforcer, Nick, embark on their first mission to locate and bring home a missing man who they hope will finally help them set the Leoparo Clan on the road to survival. The only problem is, he's dead.

 

Instead, they find his spunky foster daughter, Nina, a plethora of half-completed novels, and a shadowy, paramilitary force hot on her trail. Intent on honoring her foster dad's memory, she is determined to complete his work, but mysterious accidents follow her every move. Someone is trying to prevent her from continuing with her father's work, even if it means ending her.

 

Forced together in impossible circumstances, the trio finds themselves falling for each other. But, even though she's attracted to the two gorgeous males, Nina can't bring herself to give them her complete trust.

 

Will they come together in time to discover all the clues hidden deep in Nina's history in time to save their clan?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tianna Xander
• Release date: Mar 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215516638

Book preview

Chapter One

Several years ago. ..

WE’LL HIT THEM TWO hours after sunset.

Adam glanced at the men sitting before him in the hidden cave just outside the veil protecting their town. They’d called the inhospitable hole in the mountain home for nearly a year.

Including himself, there were thirty of them. He hoped thirty men would be enough because it was all he had.

He couldn’t risk approaching any of Camulus Alsen’s elite guard for help when he was trying to overthrow the perverted bastard.

No one knew how much the other men had trained, or what Camulus had done to brainwash them. Hell, maybe they enjoyed following their dictator’s orders. He’d been around long enough to know some men could be sick sons-of-bitches.

Either way, he couldn’t risk approaching any of them. It was too risky. If they wanted to defect, they could do so during the battle, if they didn’t get themselves killed first.

Tonight’s the night. He refused to cancel another battle plan. He didn’t want to risk his men unnecessarily, but they’d trained and trained for this over the last several months. They couldn’t wait any longer.

Eventually, Cam’s men would find his defectors and they wouldn’t be prepared for the battle. Surprise was on their side for this one.

Half of the elite guard were hundreds of miles to the south, searching human towns for Adam and his men, not realizing they were all staying in the Council’s backyard.

We’ll hit them hard and fast two hours after sunset.

The men sat silently, their attention solely on him, awaiting his instructions.

Nick, his best friend and second in command, stepped forward, Darren Colby at his side.

You all know Darren, Nick said, gesturing to the other man. He’s just accepted the Chief of Security position for when this is all over. We’ll be following his battle plan tonight.

It made sense. Colby had just recently returned from serving ten years in the human Army in a war zone. With any luck at all, the other man’s Army-acquired expertise would come in handy against the Council leader’s men.

Also, Nick added, starting today, all security forces will answer to Chief Colby. He gestured to Darren and stepped back. It’s your floor, Chief.

Men. Darren nodded to the assemblage. As our Alpha said, we’ll strike two hours after sunset. Our intelligence suggests by that time, the Council will have gathered in the Townhall building. We’ll surround it and take out the illegal Council and Camulus’s elite guard.

It won’t be easy. They’re his elite guard for a reason.

Yes, they are. Adam stepped forward and scowled at the man who’d spoken. They’re his elite guard because they’re willing to die for him, the Council, and their perverted way of life. He glanced at Colby and nodded.

Maybe we aren’t as ready as you think we are. The other man curled his lip.

They’re also willing to utilize subterfuge to undermine Cam’s enemies, such as inciting fear or dissent in Adam’s men. Nick scowled at the man who had spoken.

Darren moved, grabbed the other man, and put him in a headlock.

When did he get to you, or have you always backed that deviant, Orson?

I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. The other man squirmed and fought to get free. I’ve always followed Adam and his family.

You’re one of Cam’s men, aren’t you? That’s why you’re here trying to spread fear amongst the men. Nick moved closer, his eyes narrowed. He sent you to get information, to tell him our plans. Tell me, do the rest of his men know where we are, or just you?

It doesn’t matter now. We’ll all go to our respective homes and wait until two hours after sunset when we’ll meet outside the town hall. Cam’s rule ends tonight. Adam glanced at Darren. Take him to a secure holding area and keep him from reporting to his people.

I’m not one of Cam’s men! Orson fought those holding him. Let me go, damn it! His expression changed from fear to one of anger. You’ll fail, you know. You’ll never get past his guard. They’ll die for him.

Then they will die. Adam’s eyes were hard as he stared at the other man. I am the rightful heir, not Cam. He was supposed to be my guardian after my parents died. He wasn’t supposed to take over and twist things in Paradise until he’d killed everyone who refused to follow his dictates. Haven’t you ever wondered why everyone slipped away in the dead of night?

They left because they couldn’t live under Cam’s thumb. Hell, I’d have left if it weren’t for Adam. Nick gestured to his friend.

Adam Stone is dead, just like his parents. The spy spat the words, his alliance with Camulus clear. All the Stones and the McWertys are dead.

"Adam Stone lives, thanks to the amnesia that saved his life. He now remembers who he is and stands here before you. I know. His father chose me to be his protector and enforcer the day he was born. His father might have selected me to be his bodyguard, but I chose to be his best friend. You’re too young to know the truth. I am not. He waved his right arm in a wide arc. Most of the men here are old enough to know the truth. Why do you think the men in Cam’s elite guard are so young? It’s because the young, such as yourself, have known no other leader. He turned his attention to Darren. Lock up this misguided fool. We have plans to make."

Meet us in the conference room when you’re done securing that asshole, Nick said, and waved to Darren. We’ll go over your plan again before we have lunch and relax for the afternoon.

Adam didn’t know how any of them would relax. In less than eight hours, they’d be fighting for their lives. And now they were down a man thanks to Orson’s perfidy.

In just a few short hours, they’d be battling for everyone in Paradise, including those who had run away. Everyone deserved a safe place to call home.

NINE P.M. LATER THAT night...

SURROUND THE BUILDING. Use the forest in the back as cover. You can bet Cam has men watching. Keep quiet until you hear the attack order.

Adam and Nick moved closer to the building, listening to Darren’s step-by-step instructions. Colby’s actions only cemented their conviction that he was the best man for their security position. His experiences with the human Army had given him the jump on every man here, including Adam.

He might be the leader, their alpha, but his own life experiences didn’t include hand to hand combat in a war zone.

Colby was the only man speaking over their radios. They were all telepathic and normally wouldn’t need such technology, but they couldn’t risk Cam’s men tuning into their mental communication on the common link. Each of them wore specially designed headsets, which automatically altered shape when they shifted, staying on the heads of their other self, regardless of which shape they took. The only exception being Dracen Giacomo, whose hearing was exceptional enough to listen in without the aid of a headset.

When everyone was in place, Darren whispered. Goddess, please help us in our hour of need. Then, after a momentary silence, he muttered, Move out.

Adam’s men moved forward, each of them reaching for their other half, embracing the animal part of them that would help keep them safe from the bullets fired from the guns Cam’s men carried.

They were stronger and healed more quickly and efficiently while in their animal forms. The line of big cats crept steadily through the snow. Only a few of their pelts were light enough to use the drifts as cover.

Are you two ready? Darren glanced at Griffin and Drace.

The two men had partnered with each other before they had come to Paradise. It was apparent they’d known each other for a long time. The friends bickered as though they were an old married couple. They shared everything, including their women.

We’re ready. Drace nodded.

Then go see who’s inside.

Dracen Giacomo, an all shifter, nodded before shifting his shape into that of a mouse.

Don’t get yourself killed now, you, Griffin said gruffly before his friend chattered something at him, then scurried toward the town hall.

A few minutes later, a mouse ran from the building, burrowing beneath the snow, when an owl swooped low.

Once the owl had passed, the mouse ran over to them and Drace shifted back into a man.

Hey, how does that work? Alex, Darren’s right-hand man, moved in closer. How can you shift into something so small? What happens to all that mass when you become a mouse? He gestured to Drace’s body.

It’s not the time for such questions, Alex.

Why not? It’s easily answered, isn’t it?

It is, Drace said with a grin. Think of your high school physics. Remember when your instructor said everything is ninety-nine point nine, nine, nine, percent empty space? Technically, according to that, I should be able to reduce myself to the size of a grain of sand.

Great. Now, I have to worry about spies in my house masquerading as rodents or insects. Alex glanced at Darren. Did you know about this shit?

I didn’t know about the physics angle, but yeah. I knew Drace could turn into just about anything he wants. Darren scowled at his friend. Now shut the hell up and let’s hear what Drace has to report.

The Councilmen are all in attendance. Cam is at the head of the table, as per usual. There are four guards on each wall inside. And the same outside.

Thirty-two guards and twelve Council members.

Yeah, that makes it forty-four to thirty-two in their favor. Nick glanced toward the building.

And those are just the ones Drace could see. There’s no telling how many are out wandering around. Just because we can’t see or smell them doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Adam inhaled deeply and sighed. Poor odds or not, we have to move in. This is the only time they’ll be together until the meeting next month and I refuse to wait another month to do this. The rest of Cam’s guard will be back soon enough, and we have no way of knowing if so many of them will ever be out of town together again. The people of Paradise have waited long enough for us to free them.

Plus, if he kept putting it off, someone was bound to think Adam was a coward. He wasn’t. He merely hated the thought of jeopardizing anyone’s life.

Several of the men gathered here, including himself and Nick, were the last of their lines. No one should have to go to war knowing their family could die out with them.

At least Adam had sisters out there somewhere. Their bloodline would survive, if not their family name.

Adam tapped the mic on his headset. Let’s go. Our enemies are in attendance. Let’s hit this building before any of them get away.

The men moved out, converging on the Townhall. The headbands they used for the headsets sat precariously on the heads of the big cats as they moved forward.

Only those in charge needed their voices. Darren, Nick and Adam had waited until the last moment to shift and move forward.

You should have stayed behind, Nick said through their private link. Everyone here is expendable except you."

None of us are expendable, Nick. Even if you forget everything else we’ve learned over the years, remember that. Every life counts. If we start believing otherwise, we’re no better than Camulus and his perverted cronies on the Council.

He hated putting his men’s lives in danger, but he hated Cam and his twisted Council more.

Darren shifted slightly, tapped his mic and said, Now!

As one, they all converged on the Townhall. The big cats jumped the outside guard while others leaped through the windows, shattering glass, and pouncing on the nearest target.

Adam searched the chaos for Camulus, intending to take out the other man himself. But he couldn’t find the Council leader anywhere.

Damn it, Nick. That bastard has escaped!

Don’t worry about him. Help us take out the guards and the rest of the Council. Cam isn’t shit without his backup. Nick pounced on a man, his claws bared.

The other man shifted quickly and spun around, giving Nick his back instead of his vulnerable underbelly.

A guard hopped on Nick, raking his claws down his back. Adam jumped, knocking the second cat away from Nick, taking him to the floor.

Snarling, Adam grabbed the other cat by the neck, raking his claws down his chest to his stomach, disemboweling him on the bloody wood beneath them.

Thumps and growls came through the walls, telling Adam the war still raged outside as well as in. He tried not to think of how many men he’d lose in this bid for his people’s freedom.

Freedom is never free, son. His father’s words echoed through his memories. Freedom usually comes at a horrible price. It comes at the loss of life and limb as those who are brave enough, fight those who would take your freedoms from you. Promise me you’ll keep fighting, Adam.

His father had taken his last breath after Adam made that vow.

Now, he was doing what he’d sworn to his father he’d do. He was fighting for his people’s freedom, possibly at the cost of his own life. Yet, he knew it was nothing more than what his father would have done in his stead.

The battle hadn’t taken long. Perhaps an hour. But probably less. Yet, the lives lost were many. Mostly Camulus’s men, but the cost of their freedom had been high.

Five of Adam’s men had lost their lives, and another fifteen more were wounded severely enough they’d needed to call in the clan doctors. It hadn’t taken long for the father and son team to arrive.

He’d already given Nick his blood. Doing so was easy. They had already exchanged blood after several battles with other shifters. They’d done so while following Cam’s dictates when Adam still had amnesia.

Nick sat leaning against a tree in the clearing, his head back and eyes closed.

The Townhall building had burned to the ground during the battle. One of Cam’s men had set it ablaze, thinking the fire would distract them from their end goal. All it really had done was help with the clean-up.

Cam and two other Council members had escaped, but they hadn’t returned to their homes. Adam had sent a few men after them when he’d noticed the cowards missing.

Still, the fight had given them the hoped-for results.

They’d driven Cam and his men out of Paradise, and Adam had retaken his rightful position of clan leader—for all the good it would do him as long as Camulus Alsen lived.

Adam didn’t doubt Cam would do his best to wrest control away from him again. Though, if he did, it would behoove the perverted bastard to remember he wasn’t up against a ten-year-old child, as he was the last time he’d taken over.

Alsen and his men still held some of their women against their will. How many, Adam didn’t know, but he’d guess they held at least those the Council and their men had debased or forced into marriage.

I guess we can call this a success. Darren stepped up beside him and surveyed the carnage.

I’d never call so much loss of life a success, Colby. Adam growled, his throat aching when it nearly closed off.

What the hell? Was he really about to lose his shit because they’d killed their enemies, or was he merely overcome with emotion because he’d finally fulfilled his promise to his dad?

Whatever it was, he didn’t like it. It made him look weak and right now, showing vulnerability was the last thing he needed to do. His men deserved a powerful leader, not a babbling babe who should hide behind his mother’s apron.

It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? Colby looked up at him. The other man was only a few inches shorter than Adam, but at least he had that one advantage over him.

After waiting twenty years to set things right? Adam nodded. Yes. But this has been a long time in coming and it’s past the time we all went home.

Home. Did it really exist anymore?

After so many years,