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Territory
Territory
Territory
Ebook275 pages3 hours

Territory

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Kya Hubbard never pictured herself caught up in a world of shape-shifters and enemy packs. After all, she was just a small town girl trying to work her way through college. However, when she’s attacked walking home after a long night working at the diner, the assault leaves her transformed and an unwilling member to a pack of voracious shape-shifters.

Kya bides her time and after years of torture and abuse, she finally escapes her pack and runs as fast and as hard as she can to find solace with her only friend in Montana’s breathtaking Glacier National Park.

Once in Montana, Kya’s hopes of a peaceful existence are dashed when her so-called friend turns her over to the Alpha of the great North West Territory pack. To make matters worse the Alpha’s larger and more ominous brother, Briggs, is reduced to a heap of gorgeous writhing agony upon locking eyes with Kya. Delighted by Briggs’ physical inhibition that is triggered by proximity to Kya, the Alpha informs the pack that Kya is Briggs’ mate.

But before Kya and Briggs can fight free of the mating bonds threatening to join them indefinitely and against their wishes, Kya’s insatiable pack tracks her down determined to drag her kicking and screaming back to their Colorado den.

As Briggs struggles to fight the wolf within that demands he bind Kya to him, Briggs cannot fight his instincts to protect what is his. With the help of his pack, Briggs prepares to defend his unwanted mate while discovering that while Kya is not what he wants, she is what he needs.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 9, 2014
ISBN9781310552250
Territory
Author

Susan A Bliler

My pack territory is in Central Montana, between Stone Crow estates and the North Fortress. Born and raised in an untamed location that bridges the gap between rolling prairies and majestic mountain peaks, I am born to a family that also bridges the gap between cultures. My father’s people boast a fiercely proud Scottish ancestry while my mother’s tribes descend from two savagely beautiful and unique nations that inspire my Skin Walkers series. I'm a huge fan of MMA, boxing, hockey, 30 Seconds to Mars, Linkin Park, DMX, the Killers, and 21 Pilots (“sometimes quiet is violent”). I also love to read because it encourages me to write. (I hate it when authors add that they love coffee and chocolate. Really? Who doesn't love coffee and chocolate?) Anyway, I love beer...kidding. I don't love beer but we are engaged in a very serious relationship. (Mom, please don't call me when you read this.) Check me out at www.susanbliler.com Please leave feedback. Believe it or not I actually read your opinions/suggestions and try to adapt my work accordingly. A’hau.

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Reviews for Territory

Rating: 3.4545454484848483 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

33 ratings4 reviews

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This story was just Ok to me. The whole alpha as wanna be asshat doesn't really do it for me. There was really no reason for Chloe to go after him and want him. He was kind of a jerk and she was a whiny beeeach. So, the characters just didn't do it for me. To say nothing of the whole premise that he can practically attack her and she is just supposed to deal with it because they are fated mates. Takes life isn't fair to a while new level. Along with despotism. Sort of de facto d/s due to premise.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Paranormal Romance. Kya is turned and abducted by a shifter pack. She escapes and ends up with a larger pack/ meeting her mate. She gets abducted again. OK 
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Enjoyed very much. Recommended.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    easy to read.

Book preview

Territory - Susan A Bliler

Chapter 1

Kya woke to find herself chained by the ankle to a towering tree in the middle of the forest. Pine needles crunched under her slight weight as she pulled at her ankle, frantically struggling to free herself. She shoved long wavy sheets of glossy brown hair from her flawless features as she glanced up at the sky with large brown eyes and saw the burnished-red indicating the sun was setting.

Oh God no! Kya quickly stripped her trapped foot of its canvas shoe and ankle sock.

She tried again to free her leg, straining against the chains that held her captive. The fine hairs on the back of her neck rose as Kya suddenly realized she wasn’t alone.

She spun to find a large man stepping out from behind a tree. She only caught the briefest glimpse before she dropped her eyes. The man was much taller than she was and broad in the chest. His hair was short and deep-black, and angular dark eyes were deep-set in a handsome tan face.

My name is Dell. Dell Blackbird. I am the Alpha of this territory. His smooth voice was neither threatening nor welcoming.

I-I apologize for being here. I was only passing through. If you release me, I will be gone from your territory before sunset. I swear it. Kya’s hands clenched into tight fists at her side. She refused to meet his gaze as she stood with her whole body trembling. Josephine! That deceitful bitch. If I survive this…

Dell stood motionless staring at Kya. I doubt you’d be able to clear my territory by sunset. My domain covers the entire state of Montana and into Wyoming, the Dakotas, Washington, and Canada.

Kya’s stomach dropped. I-if you grant me pardon I will pass directly through. I will not stop, I swear.

"We frequently have…visitors pass through our territory. It is of no consequence to me so long as their intentions are good. Nonetheless, it is nearly night, and as you must know, it will be a full moon. I invite you to hunt with us as our guest."

Us? Kya questioned breathlessly.

Yes. My pack is quite large compared to most. Twenty-two of us in all. Dell raised an arm, and a second man stepped up to Dell’s side.

Kya kept her head down but peeked up quickly, her eyes darting to the second man’s broad chest then back down. He was much taller and had wider shoulders than Dell. The tight-fitting black sweater he wore clung to his massive frame like a second skin. Kya could see the muscles of his chest, abdomen and thick arms outlined with perfect detail.

This is my brother, Briggs.

Kya fought to keep herself from visibly shaking, ignoring the introduction. Thank you for your offer, but I do not wish to intrude. I’d prefer to leave your territory. She drew in a shaky breath.

How old are you?

Twenty-six.

Where are you from? Dell asked. Which pack?

Her head still down, Kya twitched nervously. I…have no pack. I am a nomad.

"Everyone has a pack!" Dell’s brother bit out angrily, stepping closer to Kya.

In her fear, Kya backed up and raised her hands in a gesture of self-defense, her eyes locking with the brother’s.

It didn’t seem fair for a man to be that handsome. His aquiline nose perched over full lips, his square jaw clenched in impatience. Jet-black hair perfectly matched elegant brows contorted in pain over angry, honey-colored eyes. His deep-bronze skin seemed even darker as Kya caught a glimpse of even, white teeth as Briggs winced, sucking in a deep breath.

The moment their eyes met, Kya felt instantly queasy, and Briggs fell to his knees. He moaned deep and hard as he clutched his stomach.

What the… Kya looked from Briggs to Dell; shock etched in every line of her face. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but knew with all certainty that, whatever it was, she was the cause.

To Kya’s astonishment, instead of dropping to his brother’s aid, Dell threw back his head and howled with laughter.

Briggs’s moan turned into a low, deep growl as he rested on his hands and knees, panting in an attempt to catch his breath.

Kya backed as far from the brothers as the chain locked around her ankle allowed.

Dell smiled at her, a wicked gleam in his eye. "Delightful. You’re going to be more fun than I ever could have possibly hoped for."

Terrified, Kya held up her hands, palms out. I-I’m s-sorry. I don’t know what… Kya retrieved a large branch from the forest floor, drawing both men’s attention to her. She crossed to stand halfway between herself and the brothers before placing the branch on the ground and retreating to the end of her chain. Alpha, I don’t know what I’ve done. Kya swallowed hard. But I will accept the punishment, and then leave.

Kya jumped as Briggs loosed a feral growl, her knees nearly giving out.

Briggs was still trying to regain his composure as Dell glanced down at the branch then back up at Kya, concern etching his face. What have they done to you?

Kya didn’t respond as she stood with her head dropped and eyes down. Submissive.

Chloe, Briggs gritted out between clenched teeth, one hand still clutched his stomach while the other curled deeply into the earth. Get Chloe.

Kya’s belly dropped. She knew Briggs must be summoning his mate, and for all her years of torture and beatings, the one thing Kya refused to do was submit to another female. Never again.

Dell didn’t leave the clearing but closed his eyes. Kya knew he was calling the female through the pack ties that allowed each pack to communicate with one another, no matter where they were.

Kya had never truly been part of her former pack, so she’d never experienced the pack ties, but she knew they existed.

A few moments passed with Briggs panting on the ground before a woman stepped through the trees, joining the trio in the clearing. The woman was a petite, beautiful native woman. Her satiny, straight black hair hung to her waist. Her almond eyes held none of the hatred or contempt Kya had expected.

Without dropping her eyes from the woman’s, Kya offered, I’m sorry to have…for whatever is happening to your mate. I don’t know what I did, but…

The woman shook her head in disbelief as she turned to look up at Dell, startled. She doesn’t know?

Dell placed his hand possessively on the woman’s shoulder. "This is Chloe, and she is my mate."

Kya dropped her eyes. I’m sorry. I-I assumed I would be fighting his mate. She inclined her head slightly in Brigg’s general direction.

Chloe stepped from under Dell’s hand and approached Kya.

Expecting an attack, Kya offset her feet, raised her head, and squared her shoulders before drawing in a ragged breath and tensing.

Chloe shook her head as she slowly approached Kya. She smiled warmly at the trembling woman as she extended her hand.

Behind Chloe, Briggs growled as he struggled to his feet.

Chloe stopped and dropped her hand, peering over her shoulder at him. I’m not going to hurt her, you idiot!

Kya glanced from Chloe to Briggs. He appeared to restrain himself with a barely checked rage.

With the dark burn of anger singeing his high cheekbones, he took a single step towards the women before Dell placed a restraining hand on his chest, holding him in place.

Jesus, he’s going to kill me!

Chloe turned her eyes back to Kya and smiled at her once more. Men are so dumb. Chloe held out her hand, brushing Kya’s cheek with the backs of her curled fingers as Kya tensed. Did you feel anything when you looked at Briggs before he fell?

Kya looked over Chloe’s shoulder to Briggs. S-something...sorta. I don’t know. No.

What did it feel like? Chloe prompted.

Kya tore her eyes from Briggs to frown at Chloe. I don’t know. Kya half expected to receive a clout for her ignorance, but no blow came.

Chloe gently took Kya by the shoulders and peered closely at her. The two women stood about the same height, making looking directly into her eyes simple. Did it feel like an overwhelming sensation of safety, protection? Did it feel like you belong? Like being home?

Kya licked her lips before swallowing, shaking her head. I don’t…wh-what does that feel like?

Briggs growled behind Chloe, and Kya instinctively backed up a step. She wasn’t trying to be difficult; she just didn’t know what Chloe was trying to say.

Chloe’s expression turned sad. Which one? How does it feel to be safe, or to feel like you belong?

Kya’s eyes darted from side to side, as she fidgeted nervously. Both.

Chloe’s hand went to her mouth as she turned to stare at Dell, tears filling her eyes. At Chloe’s reaction, Kya pulled back from the woman, tripping as her shackled leg prevented her from going any further. She was falling backwards when she saw Briggs lunge towards her. Kya gasped, landing with a hard thud as Dell and Chloe restrained Briggs.

Not now Briggs, it’s too soon. Chloe shoved her brother-in-law, motioning with her chin for him to reclaim his position next to Dell.

Kya’s heart thundered in her chest. He can’t wait to tear me apart. Oh God! Kya tilted her head up toward the sky. It was mere minutes from sunset, and she had to get free before then.

"Please let me go," she pleaded as she pulled at the chain. Briggs stood scowling down at her while Chloe looked up to Dell and slowly shook her head.

I’m afraid it is too late in the day for that, Dell informed her smoothly. The moon will rise soon, and we’d like you to stay with us, at least for the night. I’d feel better keeping an eye on you rather than sending you off into unfamiliar territory on the night of a full moon. Dell squeezed Chloe’s shoulder reassuringly.

Panic flooded Kya as she felt the sun bury itself on the horizon. "Oh, please let me go! I-I’m sorry I entered your territory. I’m so sorry. If you’d just let me go. I’ll..."

Chloe stepped away from Dell and Briggs, cutting Kya off as she knelt before her. If it’s the change you’re worried about, I can guarantee you privacy. Chloe looked back over her shoulder and Dell turned to leave, but Briggs remained, frowning down at Kya.

They stared at each other intently for several moments, Kya’s belly dancing with that same strange sensation she felt when they first locked eyes. She looked away first, glancing up to see Dell grab Briggs by the front of his shirt and pull him away.

Chloe smiled at Kya before she too turned to leave.

Kya followed to the end of her chain before she cautiously asked, W-what are they going to do to me?

Nothing. Chloe shook her head, turning back to Kya. She crossed the small space between them and clasped Kya’s hands reassuringly. Kya, no one here is going to hurt you. I swear it.

Unsure if Chloe could be trusted, Kya peered over Chloe’s shoulder in the direction Dell and Briggs had gone. What about the big one? Briggs? He seems really furious.

A smile cracked Chloe’s soft features. "Oh, I promise you he is angry, but not with you. As a matter of fact, I’m betting that, at this very second, the only thing he’s angry with is his own behavior. Chloe leaned in and kissed Kya’s cheek gently before Kya pulled away, uncomfortable with the touch. I’d better go, the moon’s about to rise. Don’t worry. No one will come into the clearing until you’ve fully shifted. Tonight, we’ll hunt together. Tomorrow, we’ll talk." Without waiting for a response, Chloe turned and ran off through the trees.

Chapter 2

Alone in the forest, Kya tried frantically for several moments to free her leg. If she shifted the chains would slide off her foot, but there’d be no hope of escape with so many wolves near. Her only hope was going to be at a great cost to her.

Kya dropped to her knees as the moon crested the skyline. Close by she heard wolves howling as they completed the shift.

On all fours, Kya panted and gasped, clutching her stomach as she fought her body’s natural urge to shift. Only once before had she successfully fought the change. It was how she’d succeeded in finally breaking away from the pack that once possessed her. She would never refer to them as her pack, or ever pretend they considered her a part of it. She was a lowly Omega in Theron’s pack, and they’d treated her horrifically. She’d been beaten and brutalized for four long, painful years. The punishments she’d endured would never be forgotten, and the scars on her body wouldn’t allow her to forget, even if her mind could grant her peace.

After her first year with Theron’s pack, Kya began trying to fight the shift each month, on the night of the full moon. She’d heard that it could be done, but had never met anyone who had actually done it, or seen it done. After four miserable years of agony, trying to fight the shift, Kya finally succeeded.

Theron’s arrogance kept his pack close to the city. On nights of the full moon, his pack traveled to the woods nearest town where they’d shift then terrorize the nearby farms, stalking livestock, men, women, even children. Theron was a merciless cutthroat, who never ceased to revolt Kya.

On her last night with the pack all seven members shifted quickly, except for Kya. She fought the change, knowing she could turn it to her advantage. During the full moon was the one time each month that shifters couldn’t control their form. Any other night a shifter could transform at will, from human to wolf and back. But under the full moon a wolf had no choice but to shift, and once the shift to wolf-form occurred, there was no shifting back until the moon disappeared and the sun rose.

On that night, Theron and his pack members shifted, but Kya did not. She struggled through the shift, heart-rending screams from the agony caused by fighting her body’s natural instincts tearing the air. So close to town, a local farmer and his three sons thought she was being attacked. When they found her in the woods, writhing in pain and surrounded by wolves, they assumed she’d been attacked and opened fire on the pack.

Seven wolves to three shotguns didn’t stand a chance, and when the smoke cleared three members of the pack had perished.

The farmer and his sons carried Kya back to their farm. It took every ounce of her strength to convince the father to send his sons to fetch the local doctor. She pleaded with the farmer to send all three sons, so that they might protect each other. With the sons gone, Kya easily outwitted the farmer and stole his truck. She never looked back.

Now, writhing in pain on the forest floor, Kya hoped she had the strength to fight the change once again. With any luck, nearby hunters, farmers, joggers, somebody, anybody, would hear her screams and come to her rescue. She was an unknown, an outsider, and she knew Dell wouldn’t want to risk the lives of any of his pack for a stranger. He’d have to let her go.

Kya let out a blood-curdling scream as she rolled onto her back, desperately clutching her belly. She heard a crashing passage through the nearby trees and looked up to see a large, gray wolf with blazing, honey-colored eyes. Somehow, she knew it was Briggs.

Kya stared up at him, gritting her teeth as several wolves broke through the trees to join him. Two wolves joined Briggs, one a similar-sized gray wolf, the other a much smaller brown wolf. Dell and Chloe.

More and more wolves entered the clearing, until Kya was surrounded by nearly twenty wolves. They all stared down at her with the same look. Slack-jawed and wide-eyed, each wolf stared in shock and disbelief as they witnessed her agony.

Kya rolled to her side, away from Briggs, sweat beading on her forehead and slicking down her back. She sat up only long enough to pull her sweater and shirt over her head before flopping back to the ground. Her back still to the wolves, she heard a deep growl as she used the shirt to wipe the sweat from her face. Her back and arms were covered in whip and bite marks, while yellowish spots dotted her arms, chest, and ribs where old bruises were just now beginning to heal. All the television shows she’d watched, and stories she’d read as a child, weren’t true. Wolves didn’t heal any faster than the average person. When she had her bones broken—which happened often in Theron’s pack—it took just as long to heal as it took any normal woman.

With pine needles and leaves snarling her soft, brown hair into a tangly mess Kya gulped deep breaths of air as she rolled to her back. Her feet dug into the earth, pushing her to the end of the chain, until finally she looked over at Briggs with a tear rolling down her cheek. She extended her hand towards him without lifting it off the ground. She pleaded with her eyes, unable to speak as she curled her fingers into the soft ground, turning her head to the side and exposing her satiny throat.

She was inviting Briggs to kill her, and he knew it. Kya heard a deep rumble and looked back to see Briggs moving his head from side-to-side as if saying no. Briggs then turned and snorted towards Dell. The twenty or so wolves surrounding them disappeared into the forest, leaving Kya convulsing in agony on the forest floor with only Briggs left standing watch nearby.

Moments passed like hours as Kya fought the agony of trying to control her true nature. Sharp spikes of pain seared her internally, while externally she was feverish even in the chill of the cold Montana night. Her body writhed and convulsed, while her nails clawed at the earth. Fighting the change was excruciating, more painful than the worst physical torture she’d suffered at the hands of Theron and his pack.

After several hours of suffering, when Kya had finally gained some semblance of control and was able to speak, she took a deep breath and screamed. "HEEELP!"

Briggs stopped his pacing and pricked his ears toward her, then turned his head to sniff the air. She had no doubt he knew what she was doing. She also had no doubt that, if she didn’t pull this off, he would kill her once he shifted back to his human form. Of course, if he didn’t kill her now, just to shut her up. She didn’t care. The pain was so intense she prayed he’d kill her now.

HEEELP! She screamed and screamed, until her voice was hoarse and she was weak with exhaustion. She knew she couldn’t allow the exhaustion to claim her. If she fell asleep, or blacked out for even a second, her natural instincts would kick in and she’d shift instantly.

Kya whimpered as she clutched her chest, fighting to keep her eyes open. Near dawn, Briggs disappeared from his post where he stood vigil through the night. Rolling to her side, Kya reached shakily into her back pocket and retrieved a small pocketknife she kept tucked away. She quickly scanned the area before using her arms to pull herself to the nearest tree. Resting her back against the tree, she pulled her shackled ankle closer and rolled up her pant leg.

Oh God! Oh God! Pressing the knife to her ankle, just above the shackle, Kya took several deep breathes. She shook her head and closed her eyes as a fresh wave of tears streamed down her face. Leaning her head back against the tree, she fought to gain the courage she needed.

I can’t do this. Fuck! I can’t do this! She leaned back into the tree and screamed up at the quickly fading stars. She swiped at her tears absent-mindedly with the back of one hand as she looked down at the knife she held in the other. Quickly, she scanned the area

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