Ngyong's Tiger

By Melissa Bell

Ngyong's Tiger ~ Written as part of the Alpha Shifter Seductions Anthology. 

Ngyong is a secret part of Japanese Folk Law - He is the last of his line, and his family's tales of the 'Legend of the Fox' will die along with him. He is resolved in his decision to never take a mate.
Savannah is Ngyong's new neighbor, she's beautiful, curvy in all the right places and she likes what she sees on the other side of the fence. She has her own secrets, ones that could get them both killed.
It's impossible to outrun your fate, especially when it's all claws and Legend.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Bell & Jordin Thiele Inc.
• Release date: Mar 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224955565

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Ngyong was fourteen and a half, the first, and only time he ever heard the tales of his ancestors. Everyone had gathered to say their final goodbyes to his grandmother as she became weaker and frailer every day. He’d wanted to run outside and climb the cherry blossom trees from his childhood, but instead, he was left alone with his grandmother, at her insistence.

My handsome grandson, come sit by my side. I have a magnificent story I must tell you, before I go, she began, as Ngyong sat on the edge of the bed. This is the story that was told to me by your grandfather, before he too, left for the other side. On his death day, he made me promise to tell you this story, as when he passed, you were still inside your mother’s belly. She took a couple of shallow breaths before continuing. Are you listening carefully, Yong?

Yes, Ngyong replied, as he fidgeted to get comfortable.

Wonderful. We will start at the beginning then. Many, many years ago... she paused to recollect the details as they were told to her. She could not remember all the names as there were too many, and it had been a while since she’d heard the story herself.

Legend of the fox.

There once was a very handsome man. He was the son of the Emperor of the North, and he was destined to marry the daughter of the Emperor of the South, to join the houses of the two most powerful dynasties as one. When the Emperor of the West heard of the pending arrangement, he became enraged. He had seen Asami’s amazing beauty and wanted her for himself.

The Emperor of the West went to war with the Emperor of the North. After many days of battle, and many lost lives, they were at an impasse, until one night, when Tamotsu, the son of the North Emperor, entered his tent. Inside, he found the most breathtakingly beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on sitting in wait. Mae had been sent to serve Tamotsu, she explained from her submissive position on her knees, with her eyes lowered to the floor. At the sound of her soft voice alone, Tamotsu became bewitched.

Tamotsu was so enchanted with Mae, that for the following three nights, he did not leave his tent. He slept through the day and spent every night in the company of Mae. On the fourth day, as he was drifting off to sleep, he felt Mae move from beside him. He slyly watched her get dressed and leave the tent quietly without making a sound. Thinking her behaviour was strange, he asked one of his guards to follow her and report back to him. He wanted to know where she was going and what she was doing.

Tamotsu had rapidly fallen in love with Mae and was both a warrior and very jealous man. He understood that if word of his beloved Mae reached the ears of his enemies, that they would try to harm her or take her from him, to end the war.

It was only then that he realised that the warring had ceased altogether. This made him even more wary of why his enemy had simply retreated. He ordered the remains of the Emperor’s Guard to return to the Northern Palace, keeping with him only his own personal guards. He would need to notify his father that his heart was no longer available to wed Asami as he now wished to take Mae as his wife.

Word from Tamotsu’s father swiftly returned to him, denying Mae as Tamotsu’s future wife. His father told him if he wished to keep Mae as his mistress, then something of an arrangement could be made, but he must return to the palace immediately with, or preferably without, Mae. As the Emperor’s only living son, he had no alternative but to follow his father’s