Wolf's Desire: Caedmon Wolves, #4

By Amber Ella Monroe

A troubled heiress who won't give up without a fight…

After the murder of her husband, Keira is vulnerable to threats and tangled in a web of greed. As she gets closer to finding a killer, her determination takes her deeper into the world of the Caedmon wolves. Not being a stranger to the magical world, Keira knows her life is in danger. She's overcome with both desire and longing when the bodyguard she hires turns out to be a dark and dangerous beast. How can she embrace the darkness when she's trying to fight it?

She'll turn his world upside down…

Guardian wolf shifter Aiden has never failed at fulfilling his duties. When he is hired to protect the heir of a vast estate, he doesn't plan on her being the only woman to bring both challenge and purpose into his life. Without hesitation, he vows to keep the grieving Keira safe—even from himself.

Keira trusts Aiden unconditionally and finds joy whenever they are together, but does love transcend tragedy? Aiden's urge to protect her is just as great as his desire to claim her. Once the passion is unleashed, the wolf will accept nothing less than his true mate.

In the shifter world, enemies are lining up. Feuds are ignited. When, if ever, will the Caedmon know peace?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amber Ella Books
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224929030

Book preview

Chapter One

Keira

"The man who killed your husband was found dead last week."

Keira lifted her gaze to meet the solemn stare of the two lawyers before her. She knew the moment they showed up at her estate at this late hour, there were some serious developments in the murder case. Mr. Echols, the one with a mass of curly gray hair and large bifocals, presented the memo to her with the words CLOSED CASE stamped across it. The other lawyer, a younger man who was likely Mr. Echols’ apprentice, sat rigid in his chair with a blank stare. His hair was brown and slicked back with loads of gel. He’d barely said a word since arriving, but both of the men eyed her in anticipation.

Mr. Echols cleared his throat loudly and pushed the thin stack of papers closer to her. Did you hear me? The investigators are closing his case, he said, more sternly this time.

She heard him loud and clear, but the news only caused her heart to tighten in anguish, leaving her speechless.

Jamison, her late husband, had hired these lawyers several months before his death. She could recall him having a huge disagreement with the previous ones he hired. The details that led up to the end of that business relationship were not made known to her. Shortly before he fired them, he’d run into a world of problems—financial and otherwise. He’d been in a terrible rut, trying to fix the mess, and unexpectedly ran out of time.

In such a short period, the new lawyers couldn’t have known Jamison all that well. Jamison died before Mr. Echols and his apprentice had earned their third retainer fee.

She swallowed. How do they know they’ve found his killer?

They have DNA and solid physical evidence linking this man to the crime. Mr. Echols nudged the open portfolio toward her. The first document was a mug shot of a man with a grisly beard. He also fits the description you gave to the cops that night.

Keira should’ve recognized him at first glance, but she didn’t. If this man was Jamison’s killer, shouldn’t she have had some type of instant reaction to seeing his picture? A year had passed since that unfortunate night and even back then when the events were still fresh in her memory, she couldn’t paint a clear enough picture of anything. Plus, reliving the tragedy caused her grief. Pushing the memories away by passing the time with other matters helped to control her anxiety.

People make mistakes. Everything happened so quickly. I could have missed something important about the man’s description, she said.

Mr. Echols shook his head. We can’t rule out the incriminating evidence found at the scene of the crime. Jamison Ellis’s family has accepted his passing. His brother Jonathan has agreed it’s about time the case is officially closed.

What? She pounded a fist on the table. That man is only concerned with liquidating all assets as quickly as possible. He made it absolutely clear they no longer want me to handle any aspects of the family business.

That’s another matter. A business matter…and none of our concern, he said carefully.

She lifted an eyebrow. But don’t you think it’s a little suspicious they want me out of the picture all of a sudden?

A corner of Mr. Echols mouth lifted, and his apprentice sat up in his chair. Are you accusing them of something, Ms. Ellis? When she didn’t say anything, Mr. Echols continued, We see this all the time, ma’am. Husband dies tragically and then the family business everyone once relied on is in shambles. The widow is paid a healthy sum of money on top of her inheritance to get the hell out of dodge. Nothing new there. The Ellises just want to start with a clean slate.

They can have the business. I want nothing to do with it. Her fingers tingled and her blood pressure seemed to sky rocket, but she shoved the folder back across the table toward Mr. Echols. I’m not getting the hell out of anywhere until I find out why Jamison was murdered.

Mr. Echols’ back stiffened and he frowned. You’re young, Ms. Ellis. Don’t be a fool. Move on with your life—while you still have it.

The room was dead silent as Keira contemplated his warning.

Did she dare to head his advice? She knew something wasn’t right about the way Jamison died. Everyone, including Jamison’s father and brother, wanted to sweep all evidence under the rug and be done with it.

It would have been easier, safer for her to pack her bags and start a new life elsewhere. And she would. Someday soon she hoped she would but not without finding closure.

I’m not crazy, but everyone seems to think I am. Keira’s voice trembled with irritation as she spoke. More than one man was responsible for Jamison’s death. Closed case does not mean solved case.

Mr. Echols looked over the rim of his bifocals Ms. Ellis, these investigators are highly trained and work murder cases like this day in and day out. From the beginning, no one could corroborate your story about an animal mauling him to death.

So, it’s been decided? She balled her hands into fists and heat flashed across her chest. One of Jamison’s killers remains free because the investigators failed to do their jobs.

You expect them to prosecute a wild animal? He choked on his laughter.

Her chest tightened and her temples pulsed erratically. I expect them to do their job and perform a thorough investigation.

Even if they found the animal responsible for killing Jamison Ellis as you claim, what can they do? Put it in the pound? His thick eyebrows drew closer together. For goodness sake, the prime suspect is dead. Why are you so hell-bent on pinning someone else with the crime? Why do you want to poke your nose where it does not belong? Do⁠—

I was married to Jamison for three years. Her voice rose high to match her rising anger. I hardly consider that poking my nose where it doesn’t belong. This wasn’t a random crime. I⁠—

It is to your advantage this case is closed. His lips thinned and his face held a grim expression. "Don’t you want to move on with your life? For the longest time you were a suspect."

In the beginning, they’d accused her of plotting to have Jamison murdered and assisting with the attack. That claim had been shot down quickly after she hired a lawyer. The media claimed her money had bought one of the best defense attorneys in the country. Despite her innocence, the local newspapers said it was the money that cleared her as a suspect.

I was cleared of all charges!

Mr. Echols raised his eyebrow. Then do you really want them to reopen this?

What are you saying, Mr. Echols? Do you still believe I murdered him?

I’m advising you to leave this be.

Jamison’s family doesn’t believe me either. I’ll hire a private investigator of my own. One that will do the job. She pushed her chair back from the table. Thank you for your time. Good night.

Their expressions showed only the smallest hint of surprise. Did they think she would give in so easily? She knew what she saw that night, but no matter how many times she recounted the events to the lawyers and investigators alike, no one appreciated her two cents.

Keira, listen to yourself. Jamison is dead. No one can help him now. No one will help you.

Very well. Mr. Echols tucked the portfolio and memo back into his briefcase and rolled up his sleeves. If you need assistance finding an investigator, we can refer you to someone. I hope you rethink this before it’s too late.

At this point, she didn’t know who she could trust. I don’t need the assistance, thank you, she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Keira was tempted to fire the lawyers on the spot, but Jamison’s family had signed papers behind her back to retain them. Obviously, they never had her Jamison’s best interests in mind. She was beginning to understand very few did. His death had thrown everyone for a loop, and now she was left alone to tie the loose ends back together. Only no one seemed to want her to.

Suddenly a wave of nausea flooded over her, and she gripped the edges of the table as her knees turned to putty.

She reached for the glass and took a sip of water before glaring at the lawyers. It’s time for you two to leave. She turned to address the butler standing nearby. Please see them out.

Before either of them could object, she turned, tightened her night-robe around her torso, and left the room. Her stomach grumbled in protest, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since early afternoon. There was no use when everything tasted of cardboard.

Her head ached more than her belly did, and instead of her warm bed, she curled up under the cozy blankets on the daybed in the library. Today had been the one-year anniversary of Jamison’s death, and she still found herself clueless and alone.

As Keira began to drift off to sleep, she contemplated whether she should push to solve Jamison’s murder or heed Mr. Echols’ warning.

Chapter Two

Keira

Keira woke up to scratching noises against the outside of the window. She lifted her head and peered at the darkened shadows on the walls. Something scraped across the glass again, but this time she only caught sight of tree branches brushing against the window. A tingle prickled up her spine, even though she was under the warm comforts of her blanket. She glanced around the room to make sure there was nothing out of place.

She made a mental note to call the gardeners to come out and trim back the trees and hedges. She couldn’t remember the last time they had come. With everything going on in her life, she couldn’t remember much of anything.

There was a loud bang against the outside of the house and she jolted upright. As the glass shattered and fell to the floor, her lips trembled and she covered her mouth to keep from screaming. A sharp breeze whipped against her face as she realized something was thrown at the window to break through the glass.

The burglar alarm should have sounded, but it didn’t. Had someone turned it off? She’d had it inspected last week. There was no way it could have broken down so soon.

Keira held her breath and slid her hands under the mattress for the weapon she kept there. She made contact with the hilt of the .9 millimeter handgun, gripped the handle, and pulled it out. Someone jerked at the window frame, and her palms grew slippery.

She propped up in bed, holding the gun level in both hands.

She was scared shitless. She could feel it with every jolt of her heart. The phone was located three feet away on the desk. If she made a run for it now, she’d bring attention to herself. The full-time maid and butler slept on the floor above her, but did they hear the break-in?

Blood raced through her veins like a freight train. Despite the tremors shooting through her fingertips, she held steady and focused as the top of a head came into view. Judging by the width of the person’s shoulders and large build, she guessed that it was a grown man.

Keira lowered herself where she could still focus, aim, and shoot.

A hand emerged through the crack in the window. Most of the sound was muffled as he expertly used a thick towel in the act. The window frame shifted and creaked as he reached inside and turned the lock. She cocked the gun, cringing at the sound of each tick of metal.

Adorned in black clothing and carrying a duffle bag, he lifted himself inside not even making a sound. His face was hidden by a dark scarf. From afar she watched as he examined the room. His center of attention fell on the row of bookcases. It became evident the intruder had no idea she was at the other end of the room, lying motionless on the daybed in the dark shadows.

With all the self-defense and firearms training classes she’d taken after Jamison’s murder, Keira knew she could take him out with one shot, but she was just as curious to find out what the intruder wanted.

As he stood in front of the tallest bookcase with his back to her, she noticed he was slimmer in build than she’d originally thought. The moonlight allowed full view of the intruder. Had his face not been concealed, she would have been able to make that out, too. His head moved from side to side as he took in everything in front of him. He slid the bulky duffel bag off his shoulder, held it by his side, and then moved closer to the bookcase.

In her silent observation, Keira became curious about the intruder’s motivations, and her fingers went lax on the gun. After catching herself, she immediately tightened her grip again.

The hooded intruder glided his gloved fingers along the middle row of books, his movements quiet and graceful.

She had perfect aim. Hours and hours of gun practice for this very purpose, and she had yet to act.

Suddenly, he stopped.

Keira bit her lip and held her eyes wide, careful not to blink.

He plucked a book from the shelf, set it aside, and fumbled with something behind the other leather-bound hardcovers. He pulled one of the larger books off the shelf and then shoved it inside his jacket.

Keira craned her neck to get a better look, but the angle of the moonlight was all