Chocolate Damsel Read online

  Back Cover Copy

  Will her love break through his armor so he can be whole again?

  In June of 1940, Nazis march into Paris, France. Brutality haunts the streets. Engel VanWolf, the Alpha of a Shunu pack--immortals, who shift into wolf-spirit--has a painful past and the patch on his eyes serves as a reminder of human cruelty. No stranger to injustice, he poses as a Nazi officer to smuggle Jewish orphans from the city. Drawn to a seductive fragrance, chocolate skin, and velvet voice, VanWolf comes upon a human beauty, Alexia, in danger. A hunger long forgotten burns anew inside him. Alexia Pane is taken in by the Shunu pack, and finds communal living isn’t the only thing they share. When danger comes knocking, she’s sent to warn VanWolf, who has been discovered but she needs rescuing of her own. As he whisks her to safety, he awakens her dormant passion. It’s not the flames of the city she fears, but the fire he invokes inside her. The closer she gets, the more he pushes her away. And then, she falls into enemy hands. Can VanWolf save the woman he loves from a ruthless enemy and mend the pain he has caused?

  Content Warning: This book contains a hot Alpha with an eye patch. A chocolate damsel in need of saving. A pack that shares more than communal living. F/M/F/M. A pack with no lack of hot betas to follow.

  Highlight

  Hadn’t he just rescued her?

  “You’re a monster.” Stepping on uneven stone, Alexia flopped to one side.

  “How true your words are.” VanWolf lifted her. “So don’t make this anymore difficult on yourself.”

  Where had the werewolf vanished to? Did he pick up the scent of another predator and go for reinforcements, or was it only his job to watch?

  A whiff of General Straks forced VanWolf into the small cobblestone alley.

  The man’s reputation left a lot to be desired. A sadistic fellow who was into hurting the young pretty ones.

  “Don’t struggle, or you’ll find yourself in much worse hands than mine, doll.”

  Her dilated pupils searched through the dark corner he backed her into. He hoisted her up between him and the gray brick wall, then hiked her navy and white polka dot dress to her hips. Garter attachments held her stockings to her beige girdle. Her legs spread to a v-shape, leading to her thin matching panties. The feminine fragrance went straight to his crotch, and he pressed himself to the satiny inside of her thigh.

  “I’m going to kiss you. Play along.” Her warmth radiated past him.

  She met his gaze with her pretty green eyes. “Haven’t I been?” Her sweet mint breath filled his nostrils, enticing him.

  Had she known her part? Beneath his mouth her soft petal lips surrendered.

  Chocolate Damsel

  9781616502683

  Copyright © 2011, a.c. Mason

  Edited by Mary A. Murray

  Book design by Lyrical Press, Inc.

  Cover Art by Valerie Tibbs

  First Lyrical Press, Inc. electronic publication: May, 2011

  Lyrical Press, Incorporated

  17 Ludlow Street

  Staten Island, New York 10312

  http://www.lyricalpress.com

  eBooks are not transferable. All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission.

  PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  Published in the United States of America by Lyrical Press, Incorporated

  Dedication

  To my supporting and gracious critique partner, whom I am blessed to have, Anastasia Massiah.

  Acknowledgements

  My fabulous and talented editor, Mary Murray makes my strange worlds glimmer and shine. Without you my commas would run amok. Your hard work and belief in my stories radiates through the final product.

  Author’s Forward

  I stumbled across the Shunu, one of three sons of a God known by some of the Turkic peoples, while doing research. Shunu is a lupine--relating to a wolf or wolves--deity and my shifters are his descendants. From that grew the mythology of the Shunu race ancestry. In Chocolate Damsel and Chocolate Temptation, we journey back to the 1940s, as Nazi Germany invades the European Nations. Given my own family survived the occupation of Belgium and my growing up hearing stories of those frightening times, I wanted to expand the reach of their voices.

  Chapter 1

  VanWolf stared up at the waxing gibbous moon. Energy buzzed in the hot night air. The near full orb’s phase denoted the period when the ritual of the Alpha’s alternate could be performed. The only choice he had was picking someone to lead the pack after his death.

  “Why won’t you put me in play?” Cathen, the strongest of the betas and rightful heir of the pack, scuffed dirt beneath his boot. Only recently had he agreed to take the role of Epsilon-Beta, bearer of the eclipse and holder of Shunu limitations.

  “I need you here protecting the pack females and young. I can’t be worried about their safety too.” No other option made sense. The pack’s future must be kept safe. Better they get used to Cathen being in charge since soon he’d be Alpha.

  “All this talk of your death is upsetting everyone.” He rubbed his forehead.

  VanWolf’s sister had made the point exhaustingly clear. But the events to come could not be changed. “I’ve seen your wife.”

  “You’re changing the subject.” The chateau loomed behind his broad shoulders.

  “I am.” Lectures from his sister were enough. “Shoot me.” It would get the dying part over with. What was with everyone, wanting to hand-wring over every decision? He wouldn’t leave things in the air just to give them a false sense of safety. That was part of his role as Alpha.

  “Go on, was this one of your foretelling dreams?” Cathen grinned. Long ago, he’d stated he’d be a lone wolf, but lately, he chased less and less tail. Finally he sought his louve--female counterpart.

  “Yes, last night.” Though much of foretelling dreams were fuzzy, VanWolf was always left with strong feelings, impressions and sensations.

  “Human?” A glint shone in his amber eyes.

  “I can’t be sure.” Uniqueness surrounded the woman’s aura. “She’s different, but not like us. Copper.”

  “That’s vague even for you.”

  Fire lit the night sky in a blaze. Nazi troops approached. Soon Paris would be taken. What nonsense and terror to inflict on others. War was upon them.

  “It’s not going to be easy. There is another male who will find room in her heart, but once she accepts her fate you’ll both find joy.”

  “Sounds like more trouble than I need.” Cathen exhaled. “You know how I feel about males fighting over a female.”

  “I wish I had more answers for you. You’re going to have to let her go to truly win her heart.”

  Cathen’s jaw tensed. “How will I know when I meet her?”

  VanWolf smiled. When he’d met his beloved, something inside him had changed. “You’ll know.”

  “Are we going to talk women or get on with this?” Cathen cocked his eyebrow.

  VanWolf shook his head. With the invasion looming over Paris, aggr
ession over a woman seemed sadly misplaced. However, once a Shunu decided on a mate nothing could change their heart or mind. He removed his shirt, as did Cathen, and withdrew the knife from his boot, then sliced open his palm. Blood pooled in his hand. He pressed the blade above his heart and cut. A red stream dripped down.

  The ritual would relieve some of the pressure on VanWolf’s shoulders. It seemed only fitting after Cathen had turned on his own brother, the previous Alpha, that he take on the role of the Epsilon-Beta.

  “Are you ready?” VanWolf took a deep breath.

  Cathen held out his hand.

  The tip of the blade met with Cathen’s flesh, piercing the tissue. Dark liquid gathered behind the movement of the point.

  “I carve your vessel to receive part of me.” He retracted the knife, then wedged the tip into Cathen’s pec above his heart.

  “I take onto me the thread that binds our pack through the link I share with you.” Cathen pressed his hand over the opening above VanWolf’s heart.

  Light burst forth from the cells of their beings when VanWolf forced his bloody palm onto the gash in Cathen’s chest.

  “Upon my death all that is my charge shall be yours to protect.” VanWolf floated into the air as divine energy shot through him into Cathen, lifting him.

  “Upon your death, I accept all that is yours as mine to defend.” White and blue mist traveled through the ghost-like matter of Cathen’s form.

  It was done. Energy drained from VanWolf as he landed, crouched in the grass. The role of Alpha was either taken by ending the life of the current one in a challenge to the death, or by the ritual and passed on. Death was the key to becoming Alpha. Not that he feared the afterlife. He looked forward to joining his beloved. His head pounded.

  “I feel as though you just knocked me in the head with the butt of a rifle.” Cathen buttoned his shirt.

  “Welcome to the amazing world of responsibility. Where no matter what you do someone is angry with you. The pack’s emotional state is giving you that horrid pain.” All of them were on edge because they sensed what was coming.

  Cathen stepped to the river’s edge and stared at Paris. “It won’t be the same.”

  “It never is.” VanWolf headed back up to the chateau. He sensed his sister, Griselda, waiting impatiently.

  The air held the toxic odor of oil and gunpowder. He entered with dread.

  “You did it. Didn’t you?” Griselda slipped in front of him, the long white braids framing her face looking even paler against the cobalt blue dress she wore.

  “Why you insist on asking questions you know the answer to eludes me.” He continued down the hall to his room. The scent of mating filled the hall with alluring propositions. Henna opened the mated pack members’ door and slipped in front of him. Inside Kirsa lay naked, sandwiched between Berend and Deiderich. Both pumped into her. Kirsa’s head rested on Deiderich’s shoulder as she cried out in ecstasy. Their bliss reminded him of how long he’d gone without. Communal living and loving wasn’t for everyone, but once paired, most Shunu shared amongst each other.

  Henna’s satin nightgown gaped open, revealing the hard tips of her breasts. “Join us, VanWolf.”

  Kirsa cried out in elation as the males growled in release.

  He leaned in, kissing Henna’s cheek. “Not tonight. But I will watch, if it pleases you?” The answer was always the same.

  As she nodded, her face lit up.

  “VanWolf.” Griselda tapped his arm. “I’m not done talking to you.”

  “Yes, you are.” He slipped into the room. “The mated require my attention. Good night.” Then he shut and locked the door.

  At the far end of the room, Sascha lay on top of Eline with her face buried between the folds of her legs. Heavy blond curls framed her face. Eline’s elegant fingers slid in and out of Sasha’s wet opening, her head rested on the floor beneath. Pleasure flushed the females’ skin and their eyes gleamed with passion. Eugen stroked his cock, coating the shaft behind Sascha’s plump bottom, his lean body tensed with need. Then he pressed the head to the dark opening above Eline’s fingers. Sascha gasped, throwing her head back.

  VanWolf’s length grew stiff at her display. Once, he too had taken part in such nightly pleasure, but just as wine lost it flavor, the dullness in his heart had muted the bliss of physical exchanges.

  Veltin dipped the tip of his penis into his wife Eline’s labia, then brought it up to her nub.

  Sharp grunts escaped Sascha’s parted lips as Veltin brought the tip of his cock to her lips. The length vanished inside her mouth, and with a slow motion, he pumped into her.

  Pleasure and joy filled the air as he slipped from the room, leaving them drowning in their own ecstasy.

  * * * *

  VanWolf stared at Emmiline’s smiling face. He hated these dreams, tormented by the memory of his lost beloved--Treiama. The link between his heart and soul had severed when she died. Only the damned were haunted by such horror.

  He lay stretched out, his head resting on her lap as she gazed down at him. Everything else around them appeared veiled in mist. It didn’t really matter where they were, just that they were together.

  “My sweet.” Her voice sent agony through his heart, for how he longed to be with her once more.

  Why had he been condemned to live on when his mate and child did not?

  “Because you were meant to love again--a lesson in living with no regrets. I chose you even though I knew I would die. You too will have to risk loving her or she will die.”

  Who was this woman she spoke of? No one could touch his heart. Long ago he’d lost the one it belonged to. He missed how she’d gentled him.

  “The copper beauty.” Those bright blue eyes of hers beamed with love at him.

  No, this couldn’t be. The woman was meant for Cathen. VanWolf couldn’t possibly get between Cathen and the woman meant to be his--Treiama.

  “You are the other male her heart will belong to.” She traced the patch over his eye.

  “I could never.” He took hold of her delicate fingers.

  “She is meant to be your mate. To mend the broken link between your heart and soul. She will remind you of what living without fear despite loss is like, and you will give your life for hers. Otherwise she will die. Cathen will be lost forever.”

  “He’ll never forgive me for coming between him and his love.” VanWolf caressed her cheek, wanting to remember her softness.

  “He will one day, but you do not need his absolution.” She kissed his forehead. “For you will love her.”

  Impossible.

  Chapter 2

  Tension filled Alexia Pane as she and her fellow dancers, Monique and Jill, peered out the window as they waited for Annette to return with news. Waves of fear pounded her body from all directions. The citizens of Paris radiated dismay. Her vision blurred, and she gripped the table next to her. Swaying slowly, she inhaled then exhaled. She hadn’t felt this disoriented since the night her brother drowned. Would she survive the night? Being an empath had its advantages, but right now, her senses fried on overload.

  “Nazi soldiers are marching toward us.” Annette rushed backstage. “Alexia, hide, and no matter what you hear don’t come out.” The sharp edge of her maple stare sent a shiver through her. She pushed Alexia toward the inner wall.

  As word got around that Paris would fall, the women she had danced alongside for the past year had devised a plan to keep her out of sight. Being an American and a woman of color put her in grave danger.

  Behind Monique’s dressing station an opening gaped in the wall. Monique and Jill pushed aside the dresser covering it.

  The weary gazes from the women worried her. Alexia sighed and climbed into the crawlspace. The hole in the wall was sealed with the dresser. Hot, muggy air hung in the small enclosure. Not a smidgen of light entered. She lay flat on blankets and pillows they’d been gathering for this purpose. Rations were kept in a tin at the far side. None of them had wanted to believe this day
would come, but war was at the doorstep.

  Hard boots pounded on stone. Then stillness. Door by door, the soldiers knocked. Systematically, they identified Jewish residents. Time passed in silence, then an occasional shot came followed by a dreadful cry. She covered her ears, not wanting to hear the terror. Deafening bangs accompanied stomping on the road.

  Wound tight with the fear around her, she lay unable to sing or chase away the horrid feelings bombarding her. Her stomach churned. What wretched pain shocked the once lively city.

  Heavy footsteps drew near.

  Alexia sat up and brought her legs to her chest. Breathing became impossible. Sweat slid down her collarbone and her chest heaved. She covered her mouth with her hand and pressed to the wall to listen.

  “The city is under curfew. What are you doing here?” a man said, his harsh pronunciation making him difficult to understand.

  “We work here, sir,” Annette said with pride.

  A loud smack sounded. Jill and Monique squealed. Three beautiful women without a male or family to protect them were left terribly vulnerable.

  “Not anymore. The only work you’ll be doing is for me and my men.” Disgusting, depraved sensations of arousal moved through her from a number of males in the room. Five, if she had to guess, based on the energy and footsteps.

  “I’d rather die.” Annette’s words were brazen, but inside a glimmer of hope remained that today would not claim her life.

  A hard slam hit the wall. Annette cried out. Dust showered Alexia in the small space. She pinched her nose not to cough.

  “That can be arranged after we’ve broken you.” He laughed.

  Alexia buried her face between her knees. What terrible men.

  “Where are the rest of the dancers?”

  “Most of them left days ago out of fear of you.” Annette’s voice sounded forced. Distress radiated from her.

  Arousal levels rose from the males. Her friends were so panicked Alexia felt their fear throbbing through her veins. Annette whimpered and pain ruptured from her.