{"product_id":"midnight-wolf-isbn-9780425281390","title":"Midnight Wolf","description":"\u003cb\u003ePrimal desire sets the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling Shifters Unbound series ablaze as two fierce Shifters discover how enticing love can be with the thrill of the chase...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eYou can't outrun a hunter like Angus Murray...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe last thing black wolf Shifter Angus Murray wants is to go chasing down some fugitive Shifter woman for Shifter Bureau. But when a Bureau agent threatens Angus's son, Angus will do anything it takes to track down the elusive Shifter and protect his cub.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e...You outfox him...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor twenty years Tasmin Calloway has been on the run, relying on her street smarts and easy charm to sweet-talk her way out of trouble. She knows she should put as much distance as possible between herself and the hot-bodied Angus. But she also longs to let down her guard, to experience a true connection with another person. Yet, with tenuous trust comes a companionship she never expected. And as the fragile link between them turns to something more, Tamsin will have to break all her own rules and believe Angus will keep her secrets--and her heart--safe.\u003cb\u003ePraise for the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling Shifters Unbound novels\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Danger, desire, and sizzling-hot action!… Jennifer Ashley walks the razor’s edge of primal passion.”—Alyssa Day, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Ashley’s Shifter world is exciting, sexy, and magical.”—Yasmine Galenorn, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Will keep readers on their toes and hungry for more.”—\u003ci\u003eRT Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “With her usual gift for creating imaginative plots fueled by scorchingly sensual chemistry, RITA Award–winning Ashley begins a new sexy paranormal series that neatly combines high-adrenaline suspense with humor.”—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"A fast-paced and fun romantic ride.\"—\u003ci\u003eBookpage\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eJennifer Ashley\u003c\/b\u003e is the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of the Shifters Unbound series and the Mackenzies series. A winner of a Romance Writers of America RITA Award, she also writes as national bestselling and award-winning author Allyson James.\u003cb\u003eChapter One\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You Angus?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAngus Murray, black wolf of the New Orleans Shiftertown and      bouncer in this New Orleans bar, made a show of looking around.      Music thumped, the darkness broken by swirling colored strobes and      the small white light above the front door. Angus stood in that      light's shadow.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I don't know,\" he answered. \"Am I?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The man addressing him was a suit-too clean-cut, every hair in      place-but he had the craggy face of a man who used to be a      soldier. He'd traded military for civilian in a big way, and was      polished and slick, way out of place in this Shifter-groupie bar.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm recruiting you for a job,\" the suit said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus looked down on him from his six-foot-five height and rubbed      away a bead of sweat before it could trickle into his      close-cropped beard.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Already have a job.\" Angus gestured to the packed, five-story bar      with a staircase running up the center. Couples snaked around each      other on the dance floors or made out in dark corners. Shifters      and humans mixed-Shifters because they were bored, humans because      they were excited to be around Shifters. \"I make sure partying      humans and Shifters don't hurt one another, and themselves.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Case in point-a human male getting in a female Shifter's face. He      was drunk, waving his beer bottle at her, and the next second, he      hit her with it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Female Shifters could take care of themselves, so Angus didn't      move until the female rose in a snarl of rage and tried to tie the      human into a knot. Her Collar went off in an attempt to dampen her      violence, but it didn't stop her from hanging the man upside down      by his heels.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus waded to her. \"Put him down, love.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The woman, a Feline Shifter, had a bruise on her cheek and fire in      her eyes. \"The dickhead hit me. Because I didn't want to go do      dirty things in the alley with him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I know. I saw. But you have to let him go.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus spoke sternly. He was supposed to keep Shifters from hurting      humans, no matter what the idiot humans did, so Shifters wouldn't      be arrested and executed. No violence against humans. That was the      rule. The Feline was from his Shiftertown, but Angus couldn't cut      her any slack.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Feline gave Angus a sudden smile, her long wildcat teeth      showing. \"Sure thing,\" she said, and dropped the man on his head.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The man howled and scrambled around, trying to get to his feet.      The Feline dusted off her hands and disappeared back into the      crowd, to the cheers of her friends.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus helped the human to stand. \"You should go.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The man jerked from Angus's grasp. \"Don't touch me, freak. I want      that bitch arrested. And I'm suing this place.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus gripped his shoulder. \"Not a suggestion. Go.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He put just enough growl into it. Angus was large and strong, and      usually scowling, which helped. His cub, Ciaran, said it made him      look like a wolf with a toothache.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The man opened his mouth to argue, got a good look at Angus's      eyes, gulped, and spun away. He slouched unhurriedly out of the      bar, muttering that he was tired of this place anyway.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The suit materialized from the shadow where he'd retreated. \"I'm      right. You're exactly who we're looking for.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That didn't sound good. \"To do what?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The man beckoned Angus to follow him and turned away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus didn't like beckoners. The raised, curling finger was      annoying, the gesture saying the beckoner believed himself to be      in charge. This guy was clearly Shifter Bureau, because only one      of them would walk into a Shifter bar and order people around.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus followed the suit for two reasons. One, his shift was almost      over and another bouncer had arrived to take his place. Two, Angus      feared in the back of his mind that if he didn't make a show of      respecting Shifter Bureau agents, they'd use his son as leverage.      Ciaran was all Angus had. Ciaran's mum had gone to the Summerland,      dead and dust, but she'd been dead to Angus years before that. The      one love in Angus's life was the little wolf cub with the      smart-ass mouth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The suit led him to the manager's office. It was empty; the      manager rarely came in here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As the man shut the door, Angus leaned against the desk, folded      his arms, and crossed one booted foot over the other. \u003ci\u003eClosing      yourself off, Dad, Ciaran would say. You have to let other people      in.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Other Shifters, sure. Not assholes who worked for Shifter Bureau.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What's the favor?\" Angus snarled the words. \"You don't mean a job      with pay.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The suit shook his head, unworried about being alone back here      with an irritated Lupine Shifter. His dark hair shone in the      office's light, his eyes sharp and blue. One edge of his suit coat      drifted back to show Angus the butt of a pistol in a holster. The      pistol looked odd-probably a tranquilizer or Taser. Whatever.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No pay,\" the man confirmed. \"But you'll do it. We need you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm touched.\" Angus stood up, wanting his full height advantage      when he told this dickwad what to do with himself. \"I'm also      busy.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It's not a suggestion.\" The man echoed Angus's earlier words,      another mannerism that annoyed him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Okay, look,\" Angus said. \"I know you Bureau shits think you can      come and tell Shifters what to do, but you have rules too. I'm      working a job to keep my cub fed and clothed. I'm allowed to do      that, without interference. I don't have to drop everything to do      favors for Shifter Bureau whenever they want extra muscle.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The suit reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a card and a      small manila envelope. He held out the card to Angus, and when      Angus made no move to take it, he dropped it on the desk.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm Jayson Haider, special operations. We're recruiting you      because you're a tracker, a good one, and we need you to track a      particularly evasive target.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Haider pulled a couple of grainy photos out of the envelope and      slapped them on the desk.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The first photo showed, from a distance, a woman with long hair,      her face half turned from the viewer as though she had no idea she      had a telephoto lens on her. There was just enough resolution to      make out that she had a pointed face, a lot of hair, and a scowl      that could match Angus's for fierceness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The second and third photos were from even farther away, and      showed an animal-no clue what it was from that distance-running      away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"The subject is Tamsin Calloway. She's Collarless, on the run, and      needs to be brought in.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus touched the photos, willing their blurriness to clarify, but      they remained fuzzy and hard to discern.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"By me,\" Angus stated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"By you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Why?\" Angus shoved the photos away. \"If you want to round up a      Collarless Shifter, I'm sure you have plenty of Shifters at your      beck and call to do that dirty work. I don't know this woman.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No?\" Haider actually looked surprised. Did he think all Shifters      were best friends with one another? What a dickbrain. \"She knew      your brother.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e All the air rushed out of Angus's lungs. By the time he inhaled      again, rage seared every inch of his body. \"You shut the fuck up      about my brother.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Gavan, Angus's older brother, was dead, killed years ago when he'd      tried to break Shifters out of captivity. He'd been the leader of      a covert group who'd tried first to negotiate with Shifter Bureau      and the governments of various countries to free Shifters, and      then had turned to violence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Gavan had led marches and attacks against Shifter Bureau offices,      wanting to show the threat Shifters could be if they chose. At      least that's what Shifter Bureau claimed they'd wanted. Angus      hadn't seen Gavan since the night he and Gavan had argued and then      fought with teeth and claws about Angus joining him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus had thought the group was pointless and stupid and would      only get Shifters killed. Gavan had called him a coward and an      ass-licker. They'd parted in fury. The kicker was that Angus's      mate, April, had taken Ciaran and joined Gavan.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The next time Angus had seen Gavan was when he'd been dead, shot      and laid out next to the rest of his followers-including      April-waiting for the Guardian to send them to the Goddess. Angus      and his Shiftertown leader had insisted that Shifter Bureau let      their funeral be in the Shifter way-their souls released and their      bodies rendered to dust when the Guardian thrust his magical sword      through their hearts-rather than having them buried in a mass      grave. Shifters had a horror of burial. If Shifters' bodies      weren't reduced to dust, their souls could float free, easy      pickings for anyone magical, like the Fae, to enslave.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The New Orleans Shiftertown's Guardian had dispatched first Gavan,      then April and the others, while Angus had shielded Ciaran from      the sight.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e If this woman in the photo had been one of Gavan's, why was she      still alive and roaming around when those who'd followed Gavan      were dead and gone? And how close to Gavan had she been?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Or was this all bullshit on the part of Shifter Bureau? Angus      wouldn't put it past them to rile him up over his brother to get      him to find this woman for them for whatever reason. Maybe Angus's      name had come up when they'd drawn the      \u003ci\u003ewho-should-we-be-a-pain-in-the-ass-to-today?\u003c\/i\u003e lottery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm asking again,\" Angus said. \"Why me? Don't you have other      bloodhounds to round up Shifters for you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"She's been seen in the area,\" Haider said without changing      expression. \"If she was close to your brother, she might trust      you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Doubt it. Why do you want her so bad? What can one fairly young      female Shifter do to chafe the hide of Shifter Bureau?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e At last Haider showed some emotion-weariness, frustration, and      anger. \"She stirs up other Shifters, sabotages Shifter Bureau      vehicles, breaks into offices and destroys records, and harasses      agents. It's a possibility that she killed two agents in      Shreveport a month ago. We need to bring her in.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A possibility?\" Angus could sympathize with a Shifter who riled      up the Bureau, but Shifters weren't killers. Fighters, yes, but      not murderers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Two agents were found cut to pieces,\" Haider answered in clipped      tones. \"A Shifter did it, all right.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Let me get this straight. You want me to chase after a woman who      \u003ci\u003emight\u003c\/i\u003e have killed two humans, but you don't know, and all I have      to go on are these blurry photos? And she once upon a time knew my      brother?\" Angus held up his hands. \"Forget it. I'm not in love      with the Bureau enough to help you fix your screwups.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Haider's eyes narrowed. \"You will do it, or we can revisit just      how much you had to do with your brother's revolt.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus only gave him a tired look. \"I was cleared of that years      ago. I'll be cleared of it again. I had nothing to do with it and      everyone knows it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"All right.\" The man straightened up, his mouth tightening in a      grim line. \"I didn't want to do this. I hoped you'd cooperate, but      you're forcing my hand.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No offense, Haider, but piss off. I'm clocking out and going      home.\" Angus moved to the computer on the desk to tap out his code      to finish his hours, but Haider spoke again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Your son. Ciaran.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus stilled, his fingers hovering above the touch screen. \"What      about him?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"He isn't home. My agents have orders to look after him until you      bring in Tamsin Calloway.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus didn't hear anything after the first few words. He launched      himself over the desk and into Haider, slamming the man against      the nearest wall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"First rule,\" he snarled, his face changing to the beast between      his human form and his black wolf's. \"Don't touch the cubs.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"He won't be hurt,\" Haider said, calm for a man with a wolf's      claws around his throat. \"If you cooperate.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Fuck you, dickhead-\" Angus's words cut off in a crackle of      electricity and searing pain as his Collar and the Taser in      Haider's hand went off at the same time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Two hours later, Angus walked into an illegal gaming den down in      the bayous, acting on a tip HaiderÕs agents had received. For the      last week or so, Tamsin Calloway had been seen hanging out in the      area of Houma and smaller towns, coming and going, up to      something-who knew what?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She'd been visiting this old plantation house that held card games      in one of its back rooms-the games were known to local police but      deliberately ignored. Someone along the line was probably getting      a kickback.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus drove from New Orleans in the car Haider had lent him, a      pathetic old station wagon from the last century. Angus had taken      one look at it and objected in disbelief, but Haider said, \"She      won't notice you're Shifter in this. We need a quick capture. Do      everything right, and you and your cub will be going home together      tonight.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus only kept himself from strangling Haider by reminding      himself that Ciaran's life hung in the balance. Shifter Bureau      might not go so far as to kill a cub-such an act would have      repercussions, even for Shifter Bureau-but they could take Ciaran      away from him, foster him with a Shifter family far away, forbid      Angus to see him again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Might as well send him to dust, Angus thought bitterly. He didn't      have much in his life anymore besides Ciaran. His son was his      whole world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus parked the car in a closed-down gas station a little way      from the plantation house and proceeded on foot. He reasoned he      didn't want to come out dragging his quarry to find himself hemmed      in by other vehicles. Or maybe he just didn't want to be laughed      at, a big bad Shifter emerging from a faded, wood-paneled station      wagon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cars and motorcycles were parked haphazardly in the dirt around      the house, showing he'd been right about the possibility of      getting blocked in. Popular place.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Old plantation houses in this area either became tourist      attractions, if there was money to fix them up, or slowly fell      apart in the hands of private owners. This one looked to be in      better repair, its columns ghostly white in the fog, lights      flickering in its windows.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Angus moved stiffly, his nervous system recovering from the      multiple shocks from his Collar and the Taser. Haider hadn't      needed to tase him, but the man was a bastard. Angus had known as      soon as Haider mentioned Ciaran that he'd be chasing down the      Shifter woman. He'd attacked Haider to make him understand what      would happen to him if Ciaran was harmed in any way. There was no      need to subdue Angus to get him to obey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA guard stood inside the door of the plantation house, a human who was almost as large as a Shifter. He gazed at Angus with narrow eyes until Angus gave the password. Haider had known that too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAgain Angus wondered why the hell Haider hadn’t simply sent in a bunch of Bureau commandos with black fatigues and tranq rifles to grab her. The man wasn’t telling Angus everything.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs Angus stepped inside the dimly lit interior, he saw that this place was more than a backwoods casino. To the right of the main hall was a large living room, lit with darkly shaded lamps. People lounged on sofas together— very close together. From the scents Angus caught, they were human and Shifter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHumans and Shifters were upstairs as well, from the scent of things. Interesting. Was someone running a brothel or was this a house where humans and Shifters could mingle without anyone getting in a twist about it?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA black-skinned Shifter came down the stairs, the man almost as tall as Angus but not as big, his muscles more ropy. Angus placed himself in front of him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“What are you doing here?” Angus asked in a quiet voice. He didn’t say the Shifter’s name, though he’d known it for years—Reginald McKee, currently second in command in his Shiftertown. Names and ranks might not be a good thing to throw around here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReg halted on the bottom step, looking, if anything, embarrassed. “Just hanging out. You?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Looking for someone.” Angus kept his voice soft as a breath. Reg, being Shifter, could hear him, but anything louder and every other Shifter here would too. “Shifter female.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReg huffed a laugh. “Can you be more specific?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAngus leaned forward and whispered the name into Reg’s ear. Reg looked thoughtful, then shook his head. “No idea, my friend. Sorry.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Help me look?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReg’s amusement died. “Why? Her mate pissed off at her or something?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAngus rubbed his hand over his uncombed hair. “It’s complicated.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReg’s wildcat was mostly serval, a small creature, but wickedly fierce. His lack of bulk made him quick, canny, and cautious.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe knew Angus was being evasive, but Angus couldn’t explain. Not when Ciaran’s safety depended on it.“I’ll scout around,” Reg said. “What does she look like?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Red hair, young—” Angus broke off in frustration. That was all he knew, and Haider hadn’t even told him what kind of Shifter she was. Maybe Haider didn’t know.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReg raised his brows. “Right. If I see her, I’ll tell you. I won’t grab her myself.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Probably for the best,” Angus agreed. “Where’s the card room?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Back there.” Reg gave Angus another skeptical eye. “We’ll have to talk, my friend.”“Yep, we will.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReg had taken over being second in command to the Shiftertown leader when Angus had been forced to step down from the position because of Gavan. Reg had felt bad about it, but Angus had never blamed him . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Good luck.” Reg nodded and skimmed back up the stairs to start searching, the litheness of his wildcat evident.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAngus took his plodding wolf self down the hall where Reg had pointed, finding the card room after peeking intotwo other chambers. No guards stood at the door— it seemed that anyone could walk in and throw his money away on a poker game if he wanted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis room, like the others, was dim except for lights directly over the card tables. Smoky too— no one had decided to ban cigarettes and cigars here. Ashtrays on and next to the tables overflowed, the stench of used cigarettes cloying.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough the haze, Angus saw her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTamsin Calloway looked younger than in her photo. She had a wave of bright red hair flowing back from a broad forehead, her face narrowing to a somewhat pointed chin. He couldn’t tell the color of her eyes from this distance, but her skin was the pale hue of a true redhead, one from the northern climes of Scotland. Angus had seen Fae inside Faerie with hair that color.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe sat at a table that held seven other men, all human. Her cards hung negligently in her hands while she leaned forward with a little smile, as though eager for the next bet. They were playing Texas Hold ’em. The cards showing on the table were two queens, a jack, and a ten. Plenty of money sat in a pile in the middle. No chips, just cash.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs Angus paused, trying to decide on his approach, one of the men at the table glared at Tamsin. “I’ll raise you a hundred.” He shoved in a stack of twenties.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I’ll see that,” Tamsin said without losing her smile.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFour of the other men groaned and tossed down their cards. “Fold,” they each said, with one saying, “I’m toast.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThree men and Tamsin left. Two put in their money, leaving it to the man who’d raised the last time. He plucked up two more twenties and a ten and let them drop into the pile. “Another fifty.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTamsin shrugged and added her money. Another man threw his cards down in disgust. “I’m out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e”Now it was Tamsin and the other two. One man looked at his cards, the ones on the table, and the pot. He sighed and pushed his chair back. “Damn it.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe remaining man watched Tamsin. He hunched forward, anger in every line of his body. If he didn’t win, things might go badly for Tamsin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Call,” the man snarled.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTamsin laid down her cards. “Two little ladies make four of a kind.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA string of foul words came out of the man’s mouth. His cards fell from his hand, nowhere near anything to win.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You cheating bitch!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTamsin raked the money to her and rose. Ignoring the raging man and his friends, who were telling him to suck it up, she looked across the room and straight at Angus.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAngus froze in place, doing his best to be just another Shifter looking to relieve boredom in this backwoods casino.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTamsin wasn’t fooled. The eyes that met Angus’s told him she’d already seen him, recognized him for Shifter, and knew why he was here. Her eyes were a hazel shade, the light over the table showed him, almost golden, the color of whisky. Her faint scent came to him over the stench of humans and smoke— warm, like nutmeg.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTamsin stuffed double handfuls of cash into her pockets, at the same time moving back from the table on quick feet.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Gotta go, boys. Thanks for the game.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo more strides, a flash of a grin over her shoulder, and she faded into the shadows.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAngus charged across the room after her. A heavy curtain hid the wall she’d run toward, and Angus jerked it back to find a window, wide- open and letting in the fog.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAngus scrambled through the window, jerking his bulk through the tight fit, and landed on the veranda that surrounded the house.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMists flowed between him and the trees beyond, and there was no sound. Tamsin, her flame hair and nutmeg scent, had vanished.","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302739824869,"sku":"NP9780425281390","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780425281390.jpg?v=1767732655","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/midnight-wolf-isbn-9780425281390","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}