Launching Craving Winter

Y’all, my 14-part series just launched book thirteen, and it’s time for you to meet Newt! He’s Winter’s best friend, so she can’t run from him easily. How will she react when she discovers his best-kept secret. One that makes them admit things to each other that will change their relationship forever.

I’m launching a new book in the series every 28 days in 2022, and the series will be complete on December 31st.

To celebrate cycle thirteen, stay with me because the three chapters of the book is below for you to read!

Read the First Three Chapters Below!

CHAPTER ONE

Winter walked circles around the first floor of the house for the hour before her next—and last—visitor arrived. Not an alpha. Couldn’t be one. But who was it? The suspense drove her mad. 

Rather, she focused on what her father had shared with her about his job instead of the anticipation. She’d have people in each clan report to her; she’d have to make difficult decisions when local mediation and rulings on disputes didn’t work: something she already figured from looking through his notes.

Amarok reminded her that being reactive was only part of the job. She needed to be proactive, too, like her lingering thoughts for arming the people with basic self-defense skills. 

She shrunk her circle of pacing as it neared noon, but instead of a knock, the door swung open, and the broad shoulders and loose hair were backlit before Newt stepped inside with a dark duffle bag over his shoulder.

Shock stuck her in place when her best friend stepped close, bent, and planted a chaste kiss on her mouth—over before she could process it, but the taste of honeysuckle lingered.

“You have changed,” he said as he continued on to the kitchen where he dropped his bag. Opening the cupboard, he pulled out a glass and poured himself some of her tequila.

Winter followed, grabbing the edge of the island counter. “What are you doing here?”

Newt smiled, those mismatching eyes sparkling with his natural humor. “What? You didn’t think anyone else would spend a cycle alone with you, did you?”

She’d known it would be him, felt it in her gut the moment she found out about number thirteen coming from her clan. But this caused so many problems. This meant her longest lasting—and only—friendship was over. How could it survive this?

He threw back another few fingers of tequila, and she wanted to reach for it. The desire turned her around, and again, before she grabbed her own glass and slammed it down for him to fill, which he did. The burn didn’t ease as much as she’d hoped for.

Winter walked around the counter’s end and peered out the front kitchen window at the drive.

Was this really happening?

“Did you want to be here or is this simply a duty?” She cut her gaze to him, practically spitting the next words. “An honor?”

Newt’s nostrils flared, but there was no pummeling attraction or heat. It signaled his disagreement with her. They could read each other too easily already. He closed the gap between them, abandoning the tequila and his glass and picking up his room key from its spot.

His sweet scent hovered in front of her when he bent again. “I’m here for you.”

Hauling up the bag, he stepped around her and clomped to his room. He knew where it was after all. He’d spent as much time in this house as she had.

Panic filled Winter’s chest, and she scrambled with the emotion. She couldn’t do this. How could any of them expect her to do this?

Out the back door, she changed into her wolf form and scampered up the mountain. Run. Run. Just run.

She did, so hard that she had to think about her steps and her breath. The agony of the exertion erased everything from her thoughts. As long as she was getting away. Away from Newt. Away from her father’s expectations. Away from her responsibilities. Away from what would happen over the next twenty-eight days.

Magic surrounded her, feeling her torment and trying to soothe her. But it didn’t work. She was too worked up to let it in.

She just ran.

CHAPTER TWO

Newt took the room beside Winter’s—the one he stayed in when he spent the night. The one that let him hear Amarok when he was in pain when the chief most often refused to say anything. 

He showered off the morning’s work: the sword he had to sharpen before he took an extended vacation and the therapy he did with Amarok this morning to keep him moving. The hot water eased off the hostility of Winter’s reaction to his arrival. One he expected.

Winter was very much the same but not. Sharp as ever but less lethal. No, that wasn’t right. Less likely to be lethal without provocation. Her blunt tongue also smoothed.

I suppose spending a full year without being able to avoid people and conversation might do that to her. Give her some practice for civility.

Not that Newt much minded the way she’d talked to him before, but he had always wanted more openness from her. More emotion. Guess he was in for it now. 

He closed his eyes under the hot water. The same warring thoughts pummeled him in that silence. What did he want out of this? Did he want Winter? Newt hadn’t let himself think about the possibility for decades, and it hadn’t seemed real until he came here…knowing they’d be alone, that he’d be here for her heat, that he’d get to play out a few of his teenage fantasies.

He had no answers. No more than before, but this was happening. He needed to figure it out. They could survive this if they both wanted to.

She’d been a part of his life for so long; he couldn’t imagine it without her. The past year had been hard enough, coming here to deliver packages and not being able to talk to her. To see her, although he did once by accident.

The memory burned through him, and Newt shook away the glimpse of alpha number ten taking her at the kitchen table. It both made him jealous and turned him on.

Not the right response.

Shutting off the water, he dressed and went looking for Winter. He wanted to know how she was doing. No matter the reassurances his mother and her father gave him, Newt needed to hear it from Winter.

She hadn’t wanted to do this. And she survived it—almost. But was she okay?

The scent of her faded in the kitchen and trailed out back. Clothes left by the door. 

Winter’d run off.

She didn’t want him here.

Part of what he’d said was true: none of the other clansmen would have survived a cycle alone with Winter, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t want to try. She was a beautiful female after all. No one could ever deny her that.

Should he go after her? It’s what he would normally do.

If she ran because of him, she didn’t want him following.

Why did everything with Winter have to make him war with himself?

He’d go because he couldn’t help it. Newt always chased after Winter. Shifting into a wolf, he tracked her by scent, coming upon her after a few minutes. They were only allowed so many places. He caught her on her usual trail and tackled her, tumbling them both into the brush.

Winter wiggled out from beneath him and ran off again without even a playful yip.

Newt bounded after her, nipping at her heels and tunneling into her again.

She rolled and sprang toward home, faster. He couldn’t keep up.

By the time he reached the backyard, she’d already changed and was disappearing into the house. Newt yapped at her, but she slipped away instead of turning back.

Human again, he redressed and scooped up her discarded clothes for the wash. Disappointment weighed on him. Winter was really upset about his being here.

Newt didn’t want her to be, spreading fear and hope that he could change her mind.

CHAPTER THREE

Hiding in her room with some filched food, tequila, and research, Winter went back to Cobalt’s problem, sussing it out even though Amarok confirmed his help. She compiled a new list of notes, of ingredients and spells that remotely linked to his problem or suggested it might benefit him.

Winter’s hunger finally defeated her. When did she start thinking of Newt as dangerous?

The moment he stepped into your home as a potential mate.

This was stupid, right? Just go get food and tell him off. Not as if he’s unused to it. Although he might be after a year. It seemed like an eternity and no time at all now that it was nearly over.

Winter pushed away the rebounding panic and brought her dishes downstairs, putting dinner in the oven and draining a beer in the time it took to cook. Newt sat on the couch—in her spot—but he hadn’t said anything. She worked not to acknowledge him, the anger and betrayal burning her up inside.

The oven beeped; she plated her food and grabbed two fresh beers, placing them on the coffee table before pinning Newt with her glare. He blinked at her, his gaze saying, Oh, am I not invisible now?

“That’s my spot.”

“I don’t see your name written on it.” Mirth tainted his attempt at seriousness.

Winter sighed. Usually, this would bait her, and they’d argue, and she’d hit him, and she’d wrestle him out of the spot to take it. But she didn’t feel like it today. “It’s been mine for the last twelve cycles, and it will be mine after this one, so don’t fight with me about it.”

Newt’s small smile dimmed, and he looked away. “Only if you share.”

Rolling her eyes, she extended a beer to him. “Fine. Move over.”

He took it and did as she said, taking his own cushion so that he didn’t crowd her but didn’t sit too far away. A show was queued up, and he did know her well because it was a movie she’d been eyeing for the last week.

They ate and watched and talked and teased, and it almost felt normal.

But it wasn’t. Panic spiked when parts of their bodies brushed each other in some way, and Winter had to force herself not to jerk from it. She couldn’t pretend this was the same as it’d always been, standing and stomping off. She needed a long bath to be by herself again.

Newt grabbed her by the elbow before she was out of the room. “Are you okay?”

Sarcasm laced her laugh. “Peachy.”

“Seriously.”

“Does it really matter?”

Worry and pain pinched his brows. “Why wouldn’t it?”

“Because all I am is a prize—a beautiful woman, a devoted wife and mother, a means to ruling our land.” She was other things, too, none of them better than the renewal of objectivity banging in her skull.

Newt’s laugh slapped her. “If anyone expects you to be a means to an end or give up what you love, they’re fools.”

Winter wanted to correct him. “And why are you here, again? I can’t help but feel like my father decided to reward you for all you do by sending you here.”

“Why is that bad? If anything, I’m the only one that doesn’t see you that way.”

“No? Because he seems to be paying a family debt with my body.” Heat built with her anger. How could her father do this?

“That’s not what this is.” Newt’s hand lifted as if he wanted to touch her again, but he dropped it.

“Did you even consider turning him down? Or did you just thank him for the guaranteed sex?” Her limbs wouldn’t still, and if this didn’t end soon, she’d start a real fight.

“Of course, I considered it, but sex never seemed to bother you before.”

“Not when I got to choose.” Could he really compare this to her past? She’d never shown any romantic inclinations. She had simply wanted the physical release after slaughtering the opposing armies. Not this.

“Some undeserving male you see across a fire?” His tone offered judgment of her choices.

“What? And I suppose you’re more deserving.” This, right here, was going to end their friendship.

“No, but that’s what this whole thing is meant to offer you.”

Hot, hot anger and grief and shame closed her fist. Winter was going to hit him. She ground the next words between her teeth. “If you think that every male who’s come here deserved to fuck me, you’re wrong.”

Something more delicate flitted through his gaze. The only thing that saved him from her immediate violence. “I suppose you wish someone else from our clan was here instead of me.”

Winter took a deep breath. “I don’t, and that bothers me, too.”

His exasperation was clear, knowing he could find no ground for further argument, but a small triumph flashed in his eyes.

She couldn’t stand it.

​Thirteen Clans. Thirteen Males. One prize.

Winter Jarl is the most notorious female warrior of her species. Her father is chief, and he’s dying, so he’s cashed in on a promise she made long ago: he’s setting her up with an alpha from each of the thirteen clans before she takes over his position.

Sentenced to a year of isolation, she will spend twenty-eight-days alone with each man. By the end of it, Winter must choose one to stand beside her. 

The challenge? She must be in love to produce an heir. 

Cycle Thirteen: Craving Winter

Winter has been dreading this day for three long months. Her thirteenth guest is no alpha, and her worst fears are confirmed when her best friend shows up. How could her father take the last piece of her old life from her like this?

Newt is worried about what’s happened to Winter over the last year. He promises her that nothing will change between them, but once the heat hits and he gets a taste of her, he’s not so sure he can keep his word.

Jump into this intense paranormal erotica now and see who you want to win Winter’s heart.