Prologue
Cage and Candi wereinvestigating the attack on Calamity, a white wolf, that occurred while she was visiting Alpha Ruiz.He was a ladies’ man and proud of it.His dark, good looks, from his Hispanic heritage, had drawn in many females.They were happy enough when they were with him, but he moved on quickly.He was like a bee flying from flower to flower, enjoying each for a short time but never staying for long.But was Calamity his mate?
Ruiz was tall, broad-shouldered, and well-muscled.His hair was jet black with eyes to match.His skin was bronze, and his face had an angular, masculine look.His lips were sensual and full, his smile warm and inviting.
Cally, her mother named her Calamity, so everyone called her Cally, had visited Ruiz’s pack and was attacked.Now they had dealt with the people who had been attacking white wolves, and she was thinking of coming back to see him.How would this visit go, and would anything lasting develop?
Chapter 1
Calamity Visits
Calamity was even unusualin a family of unusual people.Her name was the first indication that she wasn’t your average person.Cally’s mother had said that her daughter’s birthday had been the worst day of her life until that red-faced, wrinkly, screaming bundle of joy had been dropped into her arms.Candi was sure it was true, especially since she was a single parent.
Marley, Cally’s mom, had told Candi the whole story once when she asked why she had named her daughter Calamity.Candi remembered it well.
She hadn’t been expecting her baby for two months when she made a surprise appearance.The day Cally was born, the water heater broke, so she couldn’t take a shower.The fridge had broken down two days before, and when she opened the door, all she smelled was spoiled food.She closed it back quickly before she hurried out, hoping to stop for a bite of food on the way to work.Why hadn’t she noticed it was raining?It looked like she would get her shower after all.She stepped to the curb, waiting for the bus.A car raced by, sending muddy water from the edge of the road, spraying high into the air and covering the whole group at the bus stop with dirty water.Oh well, the rain would wash her clean as she walked from the bus stop to her office job.
Marley got to the office and stopped by the cafeteria first.They were out of everything she liked, and all that was left was yesterday’s clam chowder.She hated clam chowder, and she felt the baby kick, so she got a carton of milk.It was better than nothing.Marley rounded the corner, going to the elevator, and a young child ran right into her, knocking the milk out of her just-opened hands and onto the floor.Drat!She just left it there since she was running late, and she almost missed the elevator, but a nice man held it for her.She smiled at him in appreciation, thinking she was lucky the man was so well-mannered.It went up two and a half floors, and then it went completely dead.Could it get any worse?That was when she felt the labor pains start.Lesson learned, never ask if it can get worse or if it will.One of her coworkers, who was in the elevator with her, called out on her cell phone.The baby was ready to come by the time the elevator was fixed, and she gave birth in the hallway with the help of the EMTs who were waiting.They got her whole story in between the last labor pains.
One of them handed her the crying baby and said, “Looks like you had one calamity after another today.”
That was the way her life began, and it had been interesting ever since.In time, she had developed into a tall, lithe temptress.Carlos looked to be about six feet two, so Cally’s five feet ten would still be short to him.Cally was long and lean.The two of them together would be a striking couple with his dark and her blonde good looks.
Carlos drew her in, and she needed to discover if he was something special to her.Besides, she was here to help him set up a security company that he would own in partnership with Tyne.It had been off for over a year, and it was time to get it done.They’d not even begun the work yet, and Carlos had only done a little bit of preparation.She would have a four-hour drive from where she lived near Ariel’s to where Carlos lived.Tossing her bags in the back of her SUV, she loaded and took off.About an hour later, she stopped for breakfast, to use the bathroom, and to fill up her gas tank.So far, the trip has been going well.
Once she got on the road, her mind drifted to Alpha Ruiz, and she imagined how it could be between them.They’d kissed a few times but never took things further.She was cautious about relationships, and the attack had prevented anything further from happening.But had it not been for the attacks, would something have developed between them?She couldn’t help but wonder.
No one had spoken about her work for Tyne because, if it were known, it might raise property prices at a time when Ruiz was looking to buy a good, solid older building, or at least a conveniently located place to build a business.
Ruiz would provide the venue and assist in securing personnel, while Tyne would provide the know-how and a handful of capable, already well-trained people.Tyne would oversee things until Ruiz was well-trained in security, something she would help with.Once he was considered fully capable of running things, he would.
Tyne had discovered he liked time off with his mate and pup.He no longer fought as hard to be fully in charge of all his business locations.Who could have seen that coming?Not Moe, who was thrilled to get time on trips she’d never really expected to take, like Mexico just last month.That Tyne had discovered a new business location was just a cherry on top.That was enough thinking of her boss and her cousin.
It was time to move on to this new business; she would have the first chance to run if she chose to.How would running a business with Carlos be?Would it help them develop a relationship, or would it make it impossible?That’s what she would soon see.She’d stopped two more times, and the last stop would be her arrival near Wister, OK, at the Ruiz Pack House.
The house came into sight, and she was glad the trip was over.Two wolves came out right away, showing her Carlos had been expecting her around this time.Both were tall and good-looking, but she would guess they were teenagers.She smiled, thinking he didn’t want any competition.The smile left her face as she thought about what he’d probably been up to while she’d been gone.No one had such a big reputation without cause.
