Wolf's Haven: Caedmon Wolves, #1

By Amber Ella Monroe

He'll give up everything to save his pack.
Everything but his fated mate.

Wolf shifter Devin Caedmon is running out of time to untangle his pack from the mess they've fallen into. Becoming alpha was never in his plans, but letting his people fall prey to the destructive lure of black magic is out of the question. The last leader is dead, and Devin's birthright speaks for itself. Is he destined to lead or destined to be alone?

The obligation Devin's been avoiding all these years leads him back to his home—and straight into the path of the woman who captures his heart. But she is only a human who knows nothing about his world. It's forbidden to expose his wolf side to an outsider, but how much she means to him has already been revealed.

She learns to trust the wolf but has yet to trust the man.

Tamara has very few options left when it comes to dealing with her abusive ex, but she has made a choice. For a taste of freedom, she'll risk her life. The moment she thinks her plan will work, everything backfires. While at rock bottom, she stumbles across a wolf and the man to who the wolf belongs. Tamara knows she is safe with the wolf, but will her destructive past dissuade her from being bound to the man?

Scroll up and start reading this action-packed, unputdownable wolf shifter paranormal romance series today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amber Ella Books
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224551828

Book preview

Prologue

Devin

Sulfuric exhaust fumes hovered in the air as a garbage truck sped off from the curb, rattling noisily down the road. The vehicle sputtered along, protesting under the weight of the heavy load.

Mentally, Devin calculated the truck had a few hundred miles left before someone needed to do something about the maintenance to prevent a breakdown. The driver stopped for a kid crossing the street on a bicycle but tore off once again, leaving a plume of black smoke in the aftermath.

The urge at that moment to fix what was broken was strong, but Devin reminded himself that he couldn’t possibly fix every little broken thing in his lifetime.

Just as he’d done for the past few weeks, the kid zooming around on the bike waved at Devin from across the street.

Good afternoon, Mr. Tomas, he called out. The kid must’ve been in a rush; he didn’t stop by today to ask a million questions. He was happy for the boy’s company and would miss him when the job here was done.

Be safe, Zachary. Devin waved back.

After the kid was out of sight, he dug into the cargo box in the truck bed and pulled out a thermos filled with ice-cold water. While sipping the water, he surveyed his work. His construction crewmen were right on target to finish the house expansion and backyard gazebo for his client. Just two more days and everything would be complete, and then he could move on to the next project.

Devin looked up in time to see the curtains of the next-door neighbor closing swiftly. He held down a chuckle. He certainly wouldn’t miss the suspicious Mrs. Pottier spying on him all day. The walls of her home were thin, and he had heard several angry conversations with Mrs. Pottier and the police, who she had called on him more than once for making too much noise in the afternoon. She’d probably be the happiest to see him leave.

He loved his work, even with minor nuisances such as nitpicking strangers. Construction was in his blood and no matter what fate sent his way, he’d probably be building things or planning to build things until his last breath.

Out of nowhere, a long white limousine pulled up behind Devin’s truck. The front bumper came so close to the rear bumper that he thought the driver was about to make a grave mistake. The driver, without any shame, leaned forward with a camera and snapped a photo of his license tag.

What the hell? Devin mumbled, and pushed off from the truck, watching in disbelief as a young male in a black suit got out from the passenger side.

Suddenly, a sense of foreboding overcame Devin. Something was wrong. Something had happened.

Devin held his breath as the male approached.

Are you Devin Tomas Caedmon?

For years, Devin had only used his middle name, dropping the surname altogether when introducing himself. That’s when he knew—the man in the suit came on important business.

The man squared off his shoulders, trying to look tall. He cleared his throat. Well, are you?

Who are you? Devin demanded.

The man held out a white envelope and Devin looked down at it without accepting it.

I’m only the messenger. Zeiss the Messenger. The man grinned and urged Devin to take the envelope, shoving it forward.

Reluctantly, Devin took it. Who is this from?

It’s confidential. Family matters, I presume.

Family matters. Although, Devin already knew this much. It wasn’t magic. It wasn’t unordinary. It was instinct.

Zeiss turned around and started heading back to the limousine, where the picture-taking driver waited with the engine on.

Hey! Devin called out.

Zeiss stopped and looked over his shoulder. Yes? Do you have a message for me to transmit back?

How did you know where to find me?

The most sought-after general contractor in Montana, he laughed. Who wouldn’t be able to find you?

Clutching the envelope, Devin watched as the limo driver—a young woman—sped off.

The limo had drawn a couple of neighbors outside, including the nosy Mrs. Pottier.

Devin jumped in his truck, chucked the message in the glove compartment, and then grabbed his keys from his pocket to start the engine.

He knew things would take a turn for the worse once he read the note and wondered if he needed a drink before even attempting to read it.

Devin eyed the glove compartment, exhaled sharply, and fished the envelope out. He tore into it and took out the note.

Immediately, he recognized the style of writing. The message was short. His eyes were immediately drawn to the reason for it—to one word.

Come now, Devin. You must come now.

There was an accident. Your brother, Damon, is dead.

We are broken. Don’t abandon us. We all need you.

Devin crushed the note in his palm and looked out through the windshield. He gripped the steering wheel hard, willing his inner wolf to settle down.

This couldn’t be. How could someone as strong and smart as Damon be dead?

And an accident?

Devin told himself years ago that he’d never return to his pack. But over and over again, he only lied to himself. Something always called him back.

Devin’s cell phone rang, and he looked down at the caller ID. It was Nick, his best friend, and co-owner of the construction business.

Yeah, he answered.

Devin? Are you okay?

Yeah. I put the truck in drive and slowly pulled off.

I hope you’re still not at that construction site. There’s a thunderstorm coming, Nick exclaimed.

I know.

Nick inhaled heavily on the phone. Devin…there’s something I need to tell you.

Don’t. I already know.

Yeah. I figured you got the note, too.

Devin grabbed a purchase order from the dashboard, took a glance at it, and then threw it on the passenger seat. Listen, Nick, we’re supposed to be getting a shipment of flooring in a couple of days.

Devin, don’t do this. I know you’re hurting, but we have to at least respond to the pack.

It’s a little too late for them to want my response now, isn’t it?

You said all was forgiven, Nick said. His tone was grim and edgy.

I am still a bastard. There is nothing I can do for them, Devin countered, and then he disconnected the call.

The ride back to his ranch was long. Even when he got there, he didn’t go inside. He veered off on foot into the fields, seeking the forest to hide in—seeking solitude.

Chapter One

Tamara

"Are you in…or are you out?"

Tamara glared at her fiancé. The demanding expression on Brad’s face was the same exact look he gave her when he wanted something. Only this time, no physical force followed. After all, they were surrounded by his partners in crime. He wouldn’t dare lift a hand to strike her around other people. Brad wanted no one to know how much of a coward he was.

Swallowing, she bit the corners of her lips. She’d waited for this opportunity for months. The chance to be free of the conniving bastard and the controlling dangerous life that he’d tricked her to lead.

Her plans were already in place. All she had to do was make one call and her contact would be waiting. She would be free from this life.

Yes, I’m in. Her voice came out on a hoarse whisper.

A ride or die chick. One of Brad’s friends chuckled. What does a guy have to do to get one of those nowadays?

Brad grabbed the duffel bag at his feet and grinned. It’s an acquired skill.

If they only knew. Brad Thatcher wasn’t the man he portrayed himself to be. Over the last ten months, he’d turned to heavy drinking each night. Then the verbal abuse turned into something much worse. She had something to show for being so vulnerable, the bruises on her skin. Now, she feared for her life. This situation had gone too far.

Tamara had never envisioned being with a man who seemed to thrive off of her pain. He was never going to get better. Her counselor had warned her of this. She’d even ticked off the list of warning signs to watch for in his behavior. Throwing jealous tantrums if she so much as looked at another man. Trying to control her every move and keeping her under lock and key. Verbal insults escalating into gripping her in the fit of rebellious rages. One after the other, the signs became clearer. Brad was an abuser. Of women, drugs, and alcohol. Yet she stayed.

Her heart pounded uncontrollably as she contemplated the consequences. If she failed this escape, there would be hell to pay and she might lose her life. The last time she threatened to leave him, he freaked out. She still had the marks on her neck to show for it.

I need to use the bathroom before we leave. Tamara looked to Brad for his approval.

Ah man. We don’t have time for this. Brad’s second sidekick yelled from the driver’s side of the vehicle. We have to be at the museum during the shift change-over.

Brad and his crew made their living as thieves. It was fast, easy money. They were bandits who ran from the law and walked on the edge. Her fiancé had hidden his shady side job from her while they dated. He’d painted himself to be the picture perfect husband-to-be, but he was a fake. Her normal boring life had been turned upside down.

It all started when he lost his job for money laundering. She stood by her man back then. Had even persuaded him to pursue other careers, but Brad had alternative motives. Things got out of hand, and soon, her husband-to-be turned out to be the fiancé from hell. By the time she caught on, she was in too deep.

I need to go, she repeated in a harsher tone. She’d pay for acting out like this later.

You better hurry. Brad’s lips formed a taut line. He turned his attention back to his crew. "We need her there. She’s the only one who can fit through