To Protect and Love (Omegaverse shifter Romance) (Shifter Fever Book 1) Read online

  To Protect and Love

  By: Cashmire Hart

  © Cashmire Hart 2020

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  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons living, or dead events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the author or publisher.

  Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers.

  To Protect and Love

  A Shifter Fever Novella

  Braun has been a lone wolf for years. Building an empire from hard work and dedication, he’s never needed anything else—or anyone for that matter. But when an old and dear friend sends his only son to him for protection, Braun knows nothing will ever be the same again.

  After Kole’s pack is threatened by a dangerous enemy, his father sends him to live with a stranger. Angry that he’s been denied the chance to fight for his family, and terrified of losing another parent, all he can do is take out his frustrations on Braun. What he didn’t account for was that his father’s friend is a sexy, intimidating alpha that provokes his omega nature like none other.

  To Protect and Love contains all that good omegaverse action one could want. Knotting, domination, and bonding are just some of the things contained within.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  About the author

  Prologue

  Kole gaped at his father, sure he’d heard incorrectly.

  “You’re going to Chicago,” Dad said again, hunched over his desk. He’d always liked writing longhand with an old-fashioned fountain pen and parchment paper. “I have a friend there. You will stay with him until this mess is cleaned up.”

  Frowning, Kole ran his hand through his hair. “You said it was no big deal.”

  “It wasn’t until I learned who the challenger is,” he said and folded the paper neatly. “This alpha is dangerous. His pack is large because he absorbs the members of the previous packs he’s overthrown and doesn’t stop once he’s inherited them. They’re scared of him and follow out of fear.”

  “Which means they won’t fight very hard,” Kole reasoned. Besides, larger packs could lead to instability with its members all vying for the top positions.

  “They triple our numbers. If I’m defeated, I won’t let you fall into their hands. Into his hands. If protecting you means sending you away, that is what I will do.” His father slid the paper into an envelope and sealed it. Kole knew there was no changing his mind and with all the you-wills, it was an order, not a request. He wished his omega-father was still here. He’d reason that Kole should stay with the pack. “You’ll be fine. I trust Braun.”

  Kole sputtered a laugh because it was all he could do to make light of the situation. “Is he a lumberjack too?”

  The joke fell flat. His father rose from his seat and came to stand in front of him. He took Kole’s shoulders with strong hands, the alpha’s grip solid, like stone. No way would the challenger beat him. No fucking way. “No matter what happens to me, you’ll be safe.”

  “You said that already,” Kole muttered, his throat suddenly tight. His father was worried. He’d never seen the leader of their pack in such a state… Except the day omega-father had gotten sick when Kole was just a pup. “I’m strong. I’m not a pup anymore. I can fight.”

  “I know you’re not,” Dad said. “But you’ll do this for me.”

  He sighed in resignation. That guilt trip was hard to beat. “I don’t want to go.”

  “But you will. You’ll be safe with Braun. I won’t lose you too.”

  Braun read the letter over and over. He read it some more, absorbing each word. Then he read it again until the words bled into one another. He let the paper flutter to his polished cherry-wood desk. He pinched his eyes.

  What the hell, Nykus?

  He hadn’t spoken to the wolf-shifter in months, and Nykus hadn’t mentioned any problems. It wasn’t so much that his oldest friend was being challenged by a rival alpha but Nykus seemed sure his only son would be safer with Braun than the pack.

  Eying the letter warily, Braun considered his options. He could make up an excuse, but he cared about Nykus and would never leave him hanging. Besides, he owed the male a favor and it looked like he was about to collect.

  Braun picked up the paper. It was weightless, but he had no doubt that the words contained within would change his life. He was a lone wolf. He liked his privacy and cherished his work time. Nyk’s son was an omega—a shifter capable of carrying pups and would likely command Braun’s time. What do I know about caring for an omega? He was dubious, but if Nykus entrusted him above all others, then he’d honor Nyk’s request.

  With a heavy breath, he collapsed in his leather office chair and slouched. Honestly, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Nykus’s son was in his twenties and would be able to entertain himself. All Braun had to do was make sure he was fed and protected.

  Easy peasy.

  You don’t really believe that, do you?

  Chapter 1

  Kole blinked at the skyscrapers, their tops crowned in fog. Not even trees grew so tall. He’d been in human establishments before, but never a metropolis such as Chicago. There were so many people fluttering back and forth with purpose and the streets were packed with cars and cyclists. It was claustrophobic. He missed the open skies and lush forests of his Montana home. In early April, the trees would be budding, and the grasses greening. The bee farm his pack had owned and operated for centuries would be buzzing. If he concentrated hard enough, he could hear the beat of their wings.

  Home. He might never see it again.

  “We will be there shortly,” the driver said.

  Muttering an acknowledgement, Kole rolled the window up and sighed. He wished he’d argued with his father more, reasoned that they were stronger together and that if the rival pack was as large as he’d said, his father would need him. He wasn’t a wimp. He could fight. I’ll be a liability. As much as he hated to admit it, he was a weakness. If the challenger discovered that he was an omega, it could be used against his father to force submission.

  Still, Kole was bitter about being left out. And fucking terrified for his father. He’d already lost one parent, he couldn’t survive the death of another.

  The limo rolled up along the curb and came to a stop. The driver killed the engine and stepped out. Guess this is it. As Kole exited the ridiculously lavish vehicle, he craned his head back to get a good look at his new home. He was surprised to find that the building wasn’t as tall as the others. It was at least a dozen stories high and of old architecture with carved stone and old-fashioned brass
lamps lining the entrance. A large plaque declared this property as the Stone Building.

  The driver retrieved Kole’s single bag of luggage and headed into the building. Kole followed, passing through a set of heavy doors. The lobby opened to him, the ceiling painted with clouds and heavenly figures. The walls were adorned with trimmings and works of art, and the floor was marble that was so shiny he could see his reflection. He felt like he’d just walked onto the set of a black-and-white movie. The thick, cloying fragrance of chemicals and lemons made him want to sneeze.

  “Kole Redspire?” A woman called from a giant marble desk, her voice echoing through the lobby.

  “Hey,” he muttered.

  “I was told to expect you. Mr. Stone instructed me to send you right on up. Please take the private elevator to the top floor. When you’re prompted for a code, use this.” She slid a slip of paper across the countertop.

  “Uh, okay, thanks.” He found his way to the correct elevator and stepped in, the driver right behind him. He hit the button to the top floor and entered the passcode he’d been given. The rise to the top seemed to take forever, complete with cheesy jazz music. The bell dinged and the doors slid open. He said to the driver, “Thanks. I can take it from here.”

  He took his bag and entered another lobby of sorts. The elevator door closed behind him and Kole looked around. It wasn’t as large as the one on the first floor, but equally as lavish. Old, gilded paintings covered every empty space, roman columns supported carved statues and fresh flowers set in artful vases perfumed the area. In the center of the lobby was a set of thick wooden doors, trimmed with brass. He yanked on the polished bars. His jaw fell slack as a huge space opened to him like the gates of heaven. He stepped in and closed the doors behind him, the heavy sound making him jump.

  “Hello?”

  His voice bounced through the silent place. Surprised to find that the space was modern, he ran his eyes over the open-room concept. The kitchen was to his left, outfitted with industrial appliances and a long black marble island with bar stools. To his right was a library of sorts, thick, darkly burnished shelves overflowing with books. A comfy looking set of chairs were in the middle. What really caught his attention though was the living room. The pillowy couches looked so comfortable and the giant flatscreen television called to him. It was bigger than he’d ever seen and curved. He wished he’d brought a gaming system to pass the time.

  “Halloooo?” When all he was met with was silence, he assumed his father’s friend wasn’t home. Braun. What kind of a name is that, anyway? It was likely Old Word or a miss-mash of Magical languages. He hadn’t paid much attention to his parents’ schooling regarding ancient dialects.

  He toed his All-stars off and approached the living area, feeling like an interloper. The place was bigger than he’d thought. To the side was an alcove of empty floor space, covered by a colorful Persian rug, and leading to several sets of doors. Biting his lip, he mosied over to the doors and chose the middle one. He peaked in, finding a gigantic bathroom. More marble, more gold and silver trimmings, more luxury. A spacy hot tub served as the bathing area, complete with high-end soaps and shampoos lined up on a shelf.

  Kole abandoned the bathroom and opened the door to his left. A bedroom the size of a house greeted him. Thick carpet absorbed his footfalls as he looked around. The bed was king sized and covered in black silk. A large television occupied one wall while another was nothing but glass, giving him a bird’s eye view of the city. Holy shit. That was one hell of a drop. He craned his head around, looking up into the milky ceiling of fog. Sighing, he inhaled the scent of money. He’d never seen such comfort and opulence except on television and websites. This was insane.

  Is this all for me? He hadn’t considered that these might be his quarters. What the hell was he supposed to do with all this space? His pack didn’t live in the middle of nowhere, but all the marble and paintings and top-of-the-line furnishings made him feel out of place. Give him a cot and microwave and he was good.

  A set of sliding doors to the side caught his attention and he stole a peek. It was a huge walk-in closet, filled with suits and polished shoes—Gucci, Prada, Allen Edmund, Robert Graham. The scent of money made him want to puke. There was something else, though, something that had been here since he’d come up to the top floor. It was thin, but in the bedroom, it thickened like cream. Spicy, like evergreens. He pulled the air deep into his lungs and broke out in goosebumps. His wolf really liked that smell.

  Fur brushed across the back of his skin, his beast approving. He reached out and touched the sleeve of a silky gray shirt. There was no way this was for him. It was too big, too… alpha sized.

  A thump sounded followed by the fall of heavy feet. Kole quietly closed the closet doors and ducked down between a pair of suits.

  “I told you that I’d take care of it. Isn’t that what you pay me for?” The voice was deep, gravelly. “I’m glad you understand. Now, if there isn’t anything else, I’ll be off the grid for a few days. If you need anything call the desk. They’ll get the message to me.”

  Kole looked through the gap in the doors. A large figure dressed in black came to stand in front of a dresser. That scent thickened, making Kole’s head swim. This man had to be Braun. He smelled like a shifter—an alpha. He smelled damned good.

  “Linda,” the man said gruffly into his phone. “I came in through the back. Can you let me know when my guest arrives—What? When?”

  The shifter turned on his feet and Kole huddled against the rack of suits. He tried to calm his breathing, sure that he’d be heard.

  “I knew I’d scented something. I can hear you too. Come on out.”

  Letting out the breath he’d been holding, Kole inched out of the closet. He wanted to say he was just looking around. His words got caught in his throat as he blinked at the guy, taking in every inch of his bulk. He had to be at least seven feet of pure muscle, the dark dress shirt stretching over his body like wet tissue paper. The shifter was the perfect example of what an alpha should be. His eyes were intense, the color of emeralds. His dark hair was slicked back into a long ponytail and his neatly styled beard made him look dangerous.

  “Kole. I’m glad you made it. I’m Braun.”

  He’d wanted to say something that resembled a greeting, but all that left his lips was laughter that he couldn’t stop.

  Chapter 2

  Braun frowned as he stared at the door to the guest bedroom. Kole was asleep and if he concentrated hard enough, he could hear the male’s steady heartbeat and the gentleness of his breath.

  He grumbled to himself. He was of mind to wake Kole up. Nykus’s son was a night owl. He’d awoken Braun several times during the night with his music, moving around the house and knocking shit over. Not to mention, he’d left a mess of dirty dishes in the sink. This was exactly the kind of aggravation that he didn’t need. Especially when he was trying to sleep after a long workday.

  And what the hell is so funny? Braun had wanted to demand an answer after Kole had taken one look at him and cackled like a drunkard. Stroking his beard, he considered his options. The best thing to do was leave Kole alone, but he’d scheduled several days off work so that he could help the omega settle in. His wolf suddenly agitated, Braun marched for the guest bedroom. This was his territory, after all.

  As he burst in, Kole shot up, his eyes wide, his pale hair a tangle. He was shirtless, the rise and fall of his muscles curiously enticing.

  “It’s after nine. Time to get up. We have things to do.”

  Kole gaped for a moment and quickly pulled the sheets over the woody tenting his boxers. “Christ, can’t you knock first?”

  “This is my house.” Realizing he sounded like an asshole, Braun forced himself to calm. “Take a shower, come have breakfast and we will talk. I’m sure you have questions and I might have some answers.”

  He closed the door, figuring he should have laid down the ground rules yesterday, but thought it would be best if he gave Kole sp
ace. That and they’d gotten off to a rough start. Never laugh at an alpha. It’s not good for their egos. He reminded himself that they came from two different worlds. Braun had adapted to life in the city, while Nykus had raised his son in the wilderness of Montana. They were likely to do some toe-stepping here and there.

  He rustled up an omelet as the shower came on, adding a dash of seasoning and a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese. While the eggs cooked, he popped some whole-wheat bread in the toaster and fished out fresh, organic strawberry jam. He squeezed some oranges into two glasses and set everything on the kitchen island along with place settings. It was little more than a snack, but the protein would get him through the next few hours. He straightened the plate, surprised to find that he had enjoyed cooking for someone beside himself. He stashed the thought away for later.

  Kole entered the kitchen on bare feet, leaving wet prints on the floor. He was dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and a rock band T-shirt. His hair was damp, the locks made darker by the water. His expression read distrust, his pale blue eyes matching Nykus’s own. He yawned widely. “It’s too early.”

  “Please, sit.” Braun motioned to the stool. When Kole took his seat, Braun got down to business. “I should have brought this up yesterday, but I thought you might be tired from your trip. Montana is a way’s off from Chicago.”

  Kole made a sound of acknowledgement and sipped at his juice. The way he smacked his glossy lips sent a little thrill through Braun. He was worried there might be an attraction to Kole. He was nice to look at, but Braun reminded his animal about all the frustration he’d experience having another shifter invading his territory—even if Kole was an omega. He’s Nykus’s son. Then there was that.

  “I don’t want you to worry about anything. You’re safe here. Especially from me,” he quickly added.