Hexed: Curse of the Wolf, #1

By Moni Boyce

A mate will only complicate his life. Too bad he can't stay away.

 

Wolf shifters have been living in hiding, on the fringes of society for the last ten years.

When alpha, Bennett Moseley finds a naked, unconscious woman near his pack's camp he instantly regrets it, when he realizes she's his fated mate.

 

The last thing he needs is a reminder of everything he's lost or could lose; but resisting Ember's allure will prove impossible.

 

The sexy stranger that rescued her is tempting as sin. Ember doesn't want to fight the bond she feels for him, but Bennett's hell-bent on keeping her at arm's length.

Fate may need to intervene and make Bennett see the error of his ways before he loses her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Love Snacks Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Apr 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9781952691072

Moni Boyce

Moni Boyce is a writer, filmmaker, poet and author of the new romance novel Redemption of the Heart. She spent the last fifteen years working in the film industry and now creates characters of her own and brings them to life on the page. Moni has ghostwritten romance novellas and novels for over a year now and decided to put some of her own creations out in the world. She considers herself a bookworm, film buff, foodie, music lover and an avid world traveler having visited 31 countries and counting. She lives a bit of a nomadic life, but considers Los Angeles home. Which is the subject of her first travel book: Greater Than A Tourist – Los Angeles, California: 50 Travel Tips From A Local.

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Hexed: Curse of the Wolf Book 1

Copyright © 2021 by Moni Boyce

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved worldwide.

No part of this book may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any medium, whether electronic, internet or otherwise, without the expressed permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, locations, and names occurring in this book are the product of the author’s imagination or are the property of their respective owners and are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, locations, or persons (living or dead), is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author. All trademarks and trade names are used in a fictitious manner and are in no way endorsed by or an endorsement of their respective owners.

May contain sexual situations, violence, sensitive and offensive language, and mature topics.

Recommended for age 18 years and up.

Cover Design © Fantasia Cover Designs

EPUB ISBN Number: 978-1-952691-07-2

PRINT ISBN Number: 978-1-952691-11-9

Hexed: Curse of the Wolf Book 1

Moni Boyce

Hexed: Curse of the Wolf Book 1 © 2021 Moni Boyce

Example Copyright notice : All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Hexed: Curse of the Wolf Book 1

A mate will only complicate his life. Too bad he can’t stay away.

Wolf shifters have been living in hiding, on the fringes of society for the last ten years.

When alpha, Bennett Moseley finds a naked, unconscious woman near his pack’s camp he instantly regrets it, when he realizes she’s his fated mate.

The last thing he needs is a reminder of everything he’s lost or could lose; but resisting Ember’s allure will prove impossible.

The sexy stranger that rescued her is tempting as sin. Ember doesn’t want to fight the bond she feels for him, but Bennett’s hell-bent on keeping her at arm’s length.

Fate may need to intervene and make Bennett see the error of his ways before he loses her.

CHAPTER 1

Bennett

Crouching and moving closer to his kill, Bennett, was careful not to trample any of the leaves or dead branches. His stealthy moves allowed him to get even closer without being detected. When the deer turned its head in his direction, he paused. Had it sensed his presence?

Seconds later, it went back to eating the leaves.

It was now or never.

Without a second thought, he bounded towards the helpless creature, covering the short distance easily. The moment he was within striking distance, he pressed his front paws hard into the ground and leapt towards the doe. She reacted too late. By the time she was aware of him, he’d sunk his teeth into her neck. She struggled but was no match for his ferocity.

Bennett always tried to provide a quick death. He didn’t want the animal to suffer unnecessarily. While she kicked and bucked in her last breath, he held her slender neck between his teeth and felt her life’s blood drain from her body. Even once she was still, he waited a beat before releasing his hold on her.

With his snout, he nudged her and whimpered. This wasn’t something he enjoyed, but it was necessary. Heading into town to the grocery store offered the same amount of danger as stepping on a bear trap these days. Hunting was vital to their survival.

Bennett raised his head and sniffed the air, checking for any other predators nearby that he might have to contend with to keep his kill. When he was satisfied there were no rivals, he sat back on his haunches.

Slowly, he switched from wolf to human form. Brown fur changed to skin baked a deep tan by the summer sun. Fangs receded and human canines took their place. Eye color shifted from pale yellow to cornflower blue. Pointed ears took on a rounded shape and earlobes formed. Dark brown hair sprouted from his head. His beard grew in within seconds.

Once the transformation was over, Bennett was completely naked. Rising to his full height of six foot two, he stretched his limbs. The stickiness from the blood tickled his nose and mouth. He was sure it saturated his beard.

His gaze drifted to the dead deer that lay at his feet.

Better get washed up and back to camp. He muttered to himself, before he stooped and hoisted the deer over his shoulder.

On the way back to his motorcycle, he constantly checked for danger. In human form his senses weren’t as heightened as when he was a wolf, but they were far better than any regular human.

Bennett had parked his bike near a lake, knowing he’d need to wash off before he went back to camp. Although it was unlikely, this deep in the woods, that anyone would happen by, he’d concealed the bike under heavy branches and foliage. You could never be too careful.

After setting the deer on the ground he removed his bike from its hiding spot and secured the animal on the back, before he walked into the water, immersing his full body. When his head emerged above the surface, he brushed his mop of wet hair away from his face and wiped the water from his eyes.

The cool water felt good against his hot skin. Cupping some of the water in his hands, Bennett splashed it onto his face. With his fingers he scrubbed his mouth and beard, trying to make sure any traces of blood were removed.

There was a part of him that wanted to remain in the lake a while longer, but he knew that was a bad idea. He needed to get back. The solitude of hunting alone was enjoyable, but it made the others anxious when he was gone too long. Bennett got out of the lake and went back to his motorcycle. Water droplets went flying everywhere when he shook his wet hair. He pulled his jeans and his boots from one of the saddlebags. Rarely did he bother with a shirt in the summer.

Something halted his movements right before he finished putting on his left boot. It was a smell. He sniffed the air. Whatever it was, it was rancid. While he glanced around, he slipped his right boot on, and then reached into the bag again, and pulled out a knife. Bennett carried a gun but only used it as a last resort. The loud whip-like crack of gunfire brought attention and sent people to investigate.

Bennett was careful to watch his surroundings as he tiptoed through the woods, where his nose led him to a thicket. When he parted the low-hanging branches he found the large, mangled carcass of a buck. Squatting to get closer, he used his knife to poke and probe the remains. The bloated body had been there for a few days. Maggots now swarmed over much of the flesh. There were only a handful of things in this forest that could take down a buck of that size.

Without taking his eyes off the dead animal, Bennett stood and sighed. This wasn’t good.

RIDING BACK INTO CAMP, he knew the others weren’t going to like it when he told them they needed to pack up and move. They’d been at this spot much longer than the others. Nothing ever felt like home since... he pushed the thought away. None of them said so, but he knew they’d all felt like maybe they could settle down here. The other night, he’d even heard one of the twins catch themselves before they could utter the word... home.

Their makeshift camp consisted of two large campers, a seventies model Volkswagen bus, his 1977 Ford F150 Ranger 460, his Harley and the trailer. They could easily be packed up and ready to go within an hour if necessary.

Even though the campers provided sufficient space for everyone to have a place to sleep, most of them chose to sleep in tents due to the lack of air conditioning and the summer heat.

Why didn’t you tell me you were going hunting? Diego asked as he came over and started untying the deer from the back of Bennett’s bike.

Sorry. Next time. He put the kickstand down on his bike and swung his leg over.

Diego was so impatient, Bennett tried to hunt with him as little as possible.

A screen door slammed open and was followed by rowdy footsteps and an argument.

Ben, do we have to do homework?

Why can’t we take the day off?

The twins were already nagging him, and he’d barely been back a minute. What are you two whining about? He helped Diego untie the rope holding the deer.

The same thing they’re always whining about. Lena’s voice held a playful, yet authoritative tone.

Bennett looked at the older Black woman, and then nodded in the direction of Simon’s trailer.

The smile disappeared from her face and she nodded in acknowledgement.

Noah, Nico, head back inside and finish up the assignment, she commanded.

Do we have to? Nico complained and kicked at the dirt.

I don’t remember asking what you wanted to do. When Lena glanced at the two towheaded teenage siblings and gave them a look that let them know it was no longer up for debate, they huffed, but went inside the camper.

Bennett was already knocking on Simon’s door by the time Lena and Diego flanked him.

On the second knock the older man pushed open the door.

We need to talk. Bennett stared at him.

Without a word, Simon stepped back to give them room to enter. They crowded onto the motorhome and gathered around the table that was littered with maps, coffee mugs and odds and ends.

What’s up? Simon looked at each of them in turn.

All of them anxiously peered at Bennett, waiting to hear what he was going to say.

Bennett wet his lower lip with his tongue before he spoke. It sucked always being the bearer of bad news. There was a werewolf in the woods about thirty miles east of here.

Everyone grew concerned.

You saw it?

How do you know?

Are you sure?

Each of them threw a question at him.

I didn’t see it myself. I found a buck that had been dead for about three days lying under some bushes. From the bite marks, and the way it was tore open, it was clear it was an animal that lacked control that did it... It was a waste of good meat, skin. If it had been a kill by a shifter, especially a traveler, they wouldn’t have wasted the animal like that. They would have used every part they could.

They all grew silent, each of them contemplating what he said.

It’s best we pack up and leave. Thirty miles is too close for comfort. We don’t know if it’s just a rogue werewolf that doesn’t know what they’re doing, or if they’re being used to search for those like us.

Simon and Lena both wore sullen looks but said nothing.

Diego parted his lips to protest, but just as quickly clamped his mouth shut, and crossed his arms over his chest with a huff. When no one else objected, Bennett considered the matter closed.

Good... then it’s decided. In a couple days, we’re out of here. I’m going to go check some of the traps before nightfall. Diego, you want to get started on the deer?

The last remnants of defiance fell away from Diego’s face and he gave a curt nod. Sure.

I’ll tell the twins. Lena sighed.

You’re a saint, Lena. He kissed her on the side of the head before he exited the trailer. Bennett knew how the twins would respond. They were going to be furious. Even though they were fifteen now, they still had tantrums like toddlers.

He’d already started walking off into the woods when he heard yelling from the camper. That was probably Noah. He kept going. If there was anyone that could handle the twins, it was Lena.

Like the others, he’d grown fond of this location, but being sentimental got you killed. Bennett learned early on practicality was what kept you alive. He was already making lists in his head about what all needed to be done before they got on the road. Thankfully, the deer meat could be preserved, dried and stored for use later down the road. Simon would