QSFer Karenna Colcroft has a new MM paranormal romance out: Ebb and Flow.
The heart of the wolf yearns for his mate.
Only weeks after the massacre of half his pack, Quinn Boucher is finding his footing as a guard of the U.S. Anax, the ruler of all werewolves in the country. But something is missing: His mate Malachi. Despite whatever fate drew them together, Malachi won’t accept Quinn—and that hurts like hell.
Decades after losing his human lovers, lone wolf Malachi Powers still grieves. The last thing he needs is a mate, especially one over a century younger. But when Quinn returns to Nova Scotia to assist the Canadian Anax, they reconnect and Malachi can no longer deny their bond.
Together, Quinn and Malachi build their relationship. But there are those who want the Anax dead—and Quinn and Malachi are caught in the crossfire. Will they be torn apart before their life together can begin?
This book includes discussions of past sexual assault and depictions of grief and mourning. It also includes consensual commanding of a character and an adult character being called “boy.” This book is set in the Real Werewolves Don’t Eat Meat universe but is not a direct part of that series.
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Excerpt
I heard a click but couldn’t bring myself to look for the source of the sound. When someone put their hand on my shoulder, I jumped.
“I’m here.” Malachi’s voice, though quiet, cut through the noise and memories in my brain. “Quinn, boy, I am here. I have you.”
Without meaning to, I turned and clutched at him. Instantly, he wrapped his arms around me, strong and comforting. So strong. Someone I could cling to when the storm grew too wild. He was here, even though only moments before, he’d walked away. He’d come back.
“Let it out,” he murmured. “Hold onto me and just let it out.”
“I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what I was sorry for, but once I said it, I couldn’t stop. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!”
“Easy, boy.” He pulled me closer. The rough flannel of his shirt against my cheek anchored me. Why was he wearing flannel on a hot July day? The question had nothing to do with anything, but it pulled me further back from the abyss of emotions that threatened to drag me in.
“His room’s at the top of the stairs,” Silas said. “Second door to the left. He should rest.”
“No.” Frantically, I shook my head. In that room, I would be alone. That was when the memories came. When I was alone. “No. I’m sorry. No.”
“Listen to me.” Malachi’s breath tickled my ear as he bent over me. Protecting me. “It isn’t a punishment. Just taking care of you. Rest is good. I’ll stay with you.”
“You…” Again I shook my head. “I’m sorry.”
“For the love of all that’s damned or holy, would you stop saying that?” A note of amusement colored his tone. He wasn’t mad. I had to keep telling myself that. “Let me bring you upstairs. You can lie down. I’ll stay until you tell me to go.”
“You will?” It was a child’s voice, not my own. He was going to think I was weak. Too weak for him.
Weak. That was what Saingre and Belot had called me after they took me. All the times they used me. Weak. Even Kinney had said I was too weak to rise in the pack, though at least he’d treated me like I was worth something.
I couldn’t be weak for my mate. But right now, I couldn’t be anything but.
“I will,” he said firmly. “Now, I’m going to help you up. We’re going up to that room. Silas, someone can bring him some water, yes?”
“Absolutely.” A chair scraped across the floor. “I’ll do it myself. Quinn, however much you’re hearing right now, I hope you hear that no one is thinking less of you. We know some of what you’ve been through the past few months. Can’t say I would handle it any better.”
“Stop talking and let me get him upstairs.” Malachi moved his hands under my elbows. “Ready, boy? You’re going to open your eyes and stand up, and we’re going upstairs.”
“O—okay.” His voice was a thick bronze chain. Like the chain on an anchor. And I used it like one to pull me to my feet.
I was afraid to open my eyes, but he had told me to, so I obeyed. His face, skin pocked and stubbly, was close to mine, his sea-colored eyes filled with kindness.
Mine. My mate.
I didn’t know whether the thought was mine or his, but it eclipsed everything else. Even the memories of Kinney dulled under the knowledge that I was in my mate’s arms.
“Let’s go.” His voice was hoarse. “Upstairs.”
“Yeah.” I tried to pull away from him. I could walk.
But he didn’t let go of me. Arms around me, he guided me to the front hall and up the stairs to the second floor. I barely noticed us moving. Every bit of my attention was focused on the man holding me. How his arms felt. His body against mine. I wanted him, but I didn’t know if I wanted him fucking me or just holding me. Or both. Or if it mattered.
When he pushed open the door to the room Silas had assigned me, I caught my breath. It was huge, with a king-sized bed close to a picture window that looked out over the water. Off to one side, through an open door, was a bathroom. It was a room that would have suited Tobias, or even an Arkhon or Alpha, but not me. Not a low-ranked wolf who was here to see a doctor and do some work.
Before I could protest, Malachi kicked the door shut, lifted me like I weighed nothing, and carried me over to the bed. He dropped me gently and stood, hands on hips, staring down at me.
He didn’t speak. Chest tight, lying propped up on my elbows, I could only stare up at him. Orange and purple flared around him. Was he hard? I was eye level with his crotch, but looking at his cock didn’t seem right.
The silence was uncomfortable as hell. I wanted to say something, anything, just so there would be sound. But I had nothing to say. No words in my head.
I was alone with my mate. And all I could do was sit there like an idiot.
“I want you,” he growled finally. “I won’t take you. Not yet. But I want you.”
Author Bio
Karenna Colcroft lives just north of Boston, Massachusetts, and has been in love with the city since childhood. To the best of her knowledge, she has yet to encounter any werewolves or other paranormal beings here.
Karenna is a polyamorous, nonbinary human. She lives with her husband and has two adult children and three “bonus” kids, four grandchildren, and three cats, who aren’t at all pleased that Karenna writes about werewolves.
| Author Website | https://karennacolcroft.com |
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| Author Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/karennacolcroft |