War of Wolves Series

In an instant, Zora Agreeva’s world shattered. When the wolves came for her village, she fled into the night, watching everything she ever knew or loved burn behind her. Lost and frightened, she stumbled through the forest, sure she would die, until a chance encounter changed her life... Torvin is a man with few equals. Strong and steady, he is a son of the forest, his past shrouded in mystery. When he shelters Zora from the danger that follows her, he is drawn to a treacherous path, where old enemies lie in wait, and destiny calls... Approximate length: 10,200 words (a novella) Part one of a series Excerpt: Zora finally relented slightly, pulling back the staff so she could lean heavily upon it, the tension of his sudden arrival dissipating. She nodded slowly. 'Both. My village was attacked two days ago.' He kept his distance, respectfully, but nodded back at her, understanding in his eyes. 'I though that I saw smoke in the distance. That explains it.' He removed a wineskin from his belt, and offered it to her. Seeing her regard it warily, he explained that it carried water. Approaching cautiously, he held it outstretched, and she took it from him. Zora hadn't had anything to drink since the day before when she'd found the stream; the cool drops on her tongue felt like heaven. She finished the whole thing quickly, handing it back with an apology and a chastised look. The stranger assured her it was no problem. His eyes took in her ample frame once more. 'My name is Torvin.' She introduced herself in turn. He inclined his head towards her in a gesture of greeting, and turned to replace the wineskin on his belt. 'So Zora, who attacked your village?' She shook her head. 'I do not know what they were. Great black skinned beasts, like men but...' His head whipped around, his long locks dancing in the air. His eyes focused upon her, and one word passed his lips. 'Wolfkind?' Zora stared at him uncomprehendingly, unfamiliar with the word. His mannerisms had changed in an instant; he paid her little attention, his eyes scanning the forest around them for any threat. His hands were suddenly upon the hilt of his sword, and he spoke without looking at her. 'Were you followed?'

Her home destroyed, Zora Agreeva has little left. As the city of Koldergard falls under attack by the armies of the wolf, her task becomes clear: vengeance upon the creatures who stole her old life. Yet before the battle can be joined, the secrets of the forest beckon. As Zora and her lover, the warrior Torvin, find themselves forging new alliances, they are drawn into an ever more complex web of questionable loyalties; for in the hour of the wolf, nothing is quite what it seems. Approximate length: 9,820 words (a novella) Part two of a series Excerpt: Another sound reached their ears; footsteps on the floor above. Torvin paused at his work and Zora held their breath as the heavy footfalls sounded over their heads. Without thinking, she ran to the bars, and passing her arm through, reached for one of the torches set into the wall. On her third attempt, she managed to grasp hold of it. Removing it from the socket in which it lay, Zora pulled it through the bars just as the sound of impact announced their visitor at the top of the stairs. As the door opened, a chill wind invaded the corridor, blowing out several of the torches. Aside from the one that Zora had claimed, only one other flamed poorly, plunging the subterranean jail into near darkness. A fetid, animal smell reached their nostrils as Torvin soundlessly slid back from the bars. Holding a finger to his lips, he retreated to the far side of the bed, pulling Zora with him. Nervous eyes played over the torch she held; for several painful seconds, she wondered if they should put it out. Racked with indecision, she felt another wave of fear pass over her as the sound of movement caught her ears. Something heavy moved down the flight of stone stairs, the sound of footfalls accompanied by the rapping of something hard against the slate. It hesitated at the bottom, the smell washing through the hall. Zora could hear it breathing deeply, though from her position crouched at the back of the cell, she could not see it. Her body shook with unbridled fear as the beast sniffed the air. It hesitated, and like any trapped prey animal, she knew that they had been discovered. The moment of silence that followed was enough to unnerve the steadiest of warriors. The air seemed electric as Zora's sixth sense came alive, overwhelming her other senses. She nearly cried out when she felt Torvin's hand upon hers, silently wresting the torch from her white knuckled grasp. In the glow of its flickering light, she could see his eyes intently concentrating on the bars.