{"id":1496,"date":"2016-11-25T01:05:22","date_gmt":"2016-11-25T06:05:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kate-hill.com\/compellingbeastsblog\/?p=1496"},"modified":"2016-10-26T14:01:13","modified_gmt":"2016-10-26T18:01:13","slug":"story-sample-paws-and-claws-by-ma-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kate-hill.com\/compellingbeastsblog\/2016\/11\/25\/story-sample-paws-and-claws-by-ma-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Story Sample: Paws and Claws by M.A. Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"macpawsandclaws\"Title:<\/strong> Paws and Claws<\/p>\n

Author:<\/strong> M.A. Church<\/p>\n

Blurb:<\/strong><\/p>\n

When neither choice is acceptable, then what?<\/em><\/p>\n

To save his jamboree from obliteration, Omega Cade Decker is forced into a match with the powerful but merciless Grady Williams. While he may be attracted to the big, bad Alpha, and Grady will protect him from a corrupt Alpha jaguar, Cade won\u2019t settle for anything less than the love of his life.<\/p>\n

As Alpha of one of the most powerful jaguar jamborees around, Grady\u2019s reputation for bloodthirst is more of a help than a hindrance. When Alpha Decker approaches him with a proposal, Grady jumps at the chance to mate with Decker\u2019s Omega brother. Grady doesn\u2019t believe in love but craves having a beautiful, talented partner, so this arrangement is perfect.<\/p>\n

When Cade is kidnapped, Grady realizes his love equals his fear that he\u2019ll never get his mate back\u2026<\/p>\n

Excerpt: <\/strong><\/p>\n

The door slammed open, the sound as loud as a gunshot. Cade stormed into his brother\u2019s home office. \u201cI won\u2019t!<\/em> You hear me, Wayne? I refuse!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bonnie yelped. She spun on the desk toward the door, claws unsheathed.<\/p>\n

Wayne stood so fast his chair crashed into the wall behind him. \u201cDammit, Cade, the door was closed for a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? And what reason was that?\u201d Cade shot his sister-in-law a glance as he prowled into the office. He planted his hands on Wayne\u2019s desk and glared at his brother. \u201cOh, oh, that\u2019s right. It\u2019s closed because you and Bonnie are in here talking about mating me off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wayne swore again. \u201cDammit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you think\u2014oh, I don\u2019t know\u2014that maybe I<\/em> should be included in that conversation? Me. The person who this conversation is about,\u201d Cade demanded.<\/p>\n

Wayne stormed out from behind the desk and hurried across his office. He eased the door shut and turned back to Cade. \u201cIt isn\u2019t just<\/em> about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the one being traded for protection, so yeah, I\u2019d have to say it\u2019s all about me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you lower your voice?\u201d Wayne snapped.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? Don\u2019t want anyone else to know you\u2019re offering up my ass? That you\u2019re selling me? That I\u2019m given no choice in what\u2019s to become of me?\u201d Cade waved his hands in the air. \u201cThis is my<\/em> life. Mine. You have no right\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not<\/em> just about you.\u201d Wayne stalked across the office until he was nose-to-nose with Cade. \u201cEvery time the White Peak jamboree attacks, we end up with damage to our homes and our lands. Hogan isn\u2019t going to just go away, at least not until he either absorbs us or I form ties with another jamboree strong enough to protect us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand that, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you do. Most of my warriors are not at their best. They haven\u2019t had time to heal fully from their wounds before another attack is launched. We simply do not<\/em> have the manpower to keep fending off attacks from Hogan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen maybe we need more\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? More members? Who wants to join a jamboree that\u2019s constantly under attack?\u201d Wayne collapsed at his desk, his shoulders slumped. \u201cThere are women and children here. They\u2019re defenseless. In the last attack, a kit was hurt. A kit, Cade. This can\u2019t continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! No \u2018buts.\u2019\u201d Wayne straightened. \u201cDo you remember when you turned twenty-five and passed the last test proving you were an Omega? I had to register you and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Cade scowled at Wayne. \u201cOf course I remember you registering me. I was there<\/em>, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you know that, by our laws, I had to register you with the Shifter Council. That information became public, and Hogan started sniffing around shortly thereafter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou act like I don\u2019t know this. Considering it was me<\/em> he was sniffing around, again, I\u2019m aware.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m <\/em>aware you\u2019re being a smartass, and I\u2019m fixing to swat you. Fuck, Cade, things are only getting worse. I have to stop this before I end up being challenged.\u201d<\/p>\n

Purchase Link(s): <\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.omnilit.com\/product-pawsandclaws-2095283-145.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Author Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/machurch00.blogspot.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Author Facebook page:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/MA-Church\/173797619379487<\/a><\/p>\n

Author Twitter:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/twitter.com\/nomoretears00<\/a><\/p>\n

Author Goodreads Profile page: https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/author\/show\/5141393.M_A_Church<\/a><\/p>\n

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