Doyle: The Colbana Files

By J.C. Daniels

This is a short story. It is only a short story.

Doyle Channing. Human. Tiger. Aneiri. Alone.

 

Always on the outside, even in a clan. Now, as his dominance grows and threatens to spill out in a wave of violence, he might have to choose between staying with the only family he's ever known, striking out to lead a solitary life or spill blood of those loyal to the clan...and the few he calls family.

 

This story follows the events of Haunted Blade and Haunted Magic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shiloh Walker
• Release date: Aug 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201004545

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Mmmm...

Her husky moan had interest stirring in me all over again.

After the past two hours, I wouldn’t have thought it possible to want her again already. Except, well, I was twenty-one years old and a male feline shapeshifter—with a little human DNA thrown in there. From everything society and science says, guys like me—on both sides of the species divide, were perpetually ready to fuck.

Some shapeshifters are even more sexually aggressive than others. Tigers aren’t number one in that arena. Wolves can be pretty high on the list—one of the reasons they’re so damn anal about control.

Hyenas and lions were at the top, though. There’s one lion shifter in Damon’s clan and if he’s not sleeping, fighting or eating, he’s in bed with one or more lovers.

I’m nowhere near that sex-crazed. But since I’m trying to control certain other...aggressive tendencies, that energy has to come out somehow.

And Char’s my weakness.

Yeah, lately, the tiger’s aggressive, dominant nature was riding me hard, but even if that wasn’t the case, I’d want her. I’d want her no matter what.

Not that I give in too often. I couldn’t afford to let anybody know I had weaknesses.

If she’d been on duty when I’d broken my arm in a fight earlier, I wouldn’t have gone to see her. Most of the time, I went to a Healer not affiliated with the Clan.

It wasn’t a violation of Clan rules, but it wasn’t really considered acceptable, either.

Shapeshifters much preferred everybody keep their problems to inside the clan, or pack, or herd, or what the fuck ever. But I wasn’t 100% shapeshifter, so they could shove their rules sideways. None of them had stood up for me when I needed them except for Damon and Chang. They were the only ones who had the right and authority to order me not to seek healing outside the clan, and they’d never do it.

The woman who usually took care of my injuries was trusted by the Alpha, so even though it pissed my direct superior off, it wasn’t much of an issue.

Char had been off duty and the compound fracture of my forearm was fucking painful. I didn’t want to drive to Colleen’s place outside of East O just to have her heal me up when Char could do it, too.

Plus, Char liked to kiss everything and make it all better. And damn, had she ever.

Now, lying on my side, stroking my hand up the soft skin of her back, down to the plump curve of her ass, I tugged her closer and pressed my face into her hair. She smelled like honeysuckle, sex, sweat and the herbs she used for all the teas and tonics she pushed on the dumb cats who came to her broken and bleeding.

I loved the way she smelled. I really loved the way she smelled after we’d been twisting up the sheets, which was far less often than I’d like.

I wished I didn’t have to worry about being careful.

But I did. Relationships with any woman in the Clan, even a Healer like Char, were...complicated.

You’re thinking too loud, baby. She rolled over and studied me, her head pillowed on my arm, her cheeks still flushed and her crazy, kinky curls springing into her face the second she pushed them back. That mind of yours doesn’t ever go quiet.

It quiets down some when I’m with you. I pressed my thumb to her soft lower lip, smiled. Especially when I’m inside you and you’re begging me to go harder. All I can hear is you.

She smiled, dark brown eyes lightening to gold-spiked green as her cougar peered out at me. Keep saying things like that and I’m going to climb on top of you for another round—I’m not sure I can take another without food and water, but it’s one hell of a way to die, fucked to death by the prettiest boy in the Clan.

I rolled my eyes, then went to my back and pulled her with me. You love those robbing the cradle jokes, Char.

Sure as hell do. She rubbed her nose against mine. Whoever would have thought that the best sex I’ve ever had would come from a kid ten years younger than me?

I bit her lower lip. She squealed and I took advantage, pushing my tongue into her mouth and fisting my hand in the soft, sexy curls that fascinated my tiger.

She moaned and twined her arms around my neck.

And just like that, I was ready again.

Rolling her back under me, I pushed inside her and swallowed her breathy gasp of arousal.

Stylized Tiger Graphic

WHO WAS THE FIGHT WITH this time?

Sitting at the kitchen island, I gave her a flat look across the food spread out between us. Don’t start, okay?

I’m not on duty, she said, lips compressed tight together. I just want to know—

Don’t. A thread of a growl worked into my voice.

Her light brown skin lost a bit of color but she wasn’t one of the best Healers in the Clan for nothing. She wasn’t dominant—Healers rarely were, but neither was she submissive. She understood Clan hierarchy well and respected the chain of authority, better than me when it came down to it.

I was stronger than she’d ever be and I still hadn’t hit full maturity.

But for now, she still outranked me and when it came right down to it, there were certain protocols that almost always had to be followed. If she pulled full Healer privileges, I’d be breaking Clan law if I didn’t answer her.

She’d healed me and had a right to know if there were Clan issues that needed to be addressed. She was bound by Healer protocol, akin to doctor/patient confidentiality that meant she would keep any secrets that had no affect Clan safety, but she