New Book Release From the Amazing Bryce Evans
Cravings
Alpha City, Book 2
By Bryce Evans
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Blurb:
Zoey Malone has it all. Her bestfriend is now her sister in law, and her partner in a new and thrivingbusiness, she’s treated like a princess by the members of her pack, and she’sfound the man she wants to give her heart to in Kayden Lynn, Alpha of thePanther Pride. When business takes her to sunny Las Vegas and puts her in thepath of Alpha wolf Johnny Ringo; she has to make a decision between theguaranteed security Johnny offers, and a deep soul-stealing love with Kayden.
Forced back to her hometown, andhurt by the man who’s held her heart for years, she and the rest of the MalonePack are threatened by outside forces. Will Kayden be the man she knows he canbe, and come to her rescue, or will his pride put an end to their future beforeit starts?
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Warning: Adult Themes-For Mature Audiences. Contains language and actions some may deem offensive. Sexually explicit content. M/F, graphic language, consensual sex, publicsex. Approx.
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Excerpt
Zoey pulled her dress down for thehundredth time. She loved the dress, but it showed more leg than she wanted itto. Damn Donnie! He had talked her into buying the dress saying that all themen would be looking at her, and she would have plenty of dates after tonight.Still, uncertainty crept up inside her. She lacked the most important skill awoman could have when it came to men, and that’s self-esteem.
Tonight was the night. She had promisedLondon that she would flirt and have some fun by putting herself out there andallowing everyone to know she is on the market.
Zoey slowly opened the door to the RustyNail Pub. She had been here hundreds of times, but tonight was different.Tonight she was a new woman with a new dress and a new attitude. Only thirtyseconds in the door, and she wanted to throw up. Everyone seemed to turn andgawk at her when she finally entered.
Donnie ran up to her grabbing her hand.“Now, don’t you look slutty?” Stopping mid stride, Zoey looked up at Donniepanicked.
“What? You told me to wear it. You saidit looked good on me.” Zoey couldn’t help the hysteria coming out of her mouth.Her eyes widened, and her body went into flight mode, but before she could runout, Donnie got into her face whispering. Even over the music, she could hearwhat he was saying to her.
“You look great, Zoey. That dress isfantastic and makes your legs look like they could wrap around a man’s body fordays. So stop and listen to what I’m saying. Yes, people are looking at you.They are checking you out and liking what they see. If I weren’t gay, I wouldtake you outside and fuck you on the hood of my car. That is what I’m trying tosay.” Zoey stared up at her friend and couldn’t stop the giggles as Donnie’scomment sunk in. Then Donnie started laughing with her.
“You whore.” Zoey snorted out.
“You slut.” Donnie responded, as he brokeout in a fit of giggles with Zoey.
“What are you two laughing about?” Londonasked as she walked up to her two best friends.
“Nothing. Just getting our little girlhere in the right frame of mind.” Donnie looked down at Zoey. “Now, think likea wolf looking for their prey, and walk like you own this damn place. Let’shead for the table and get this evening started. Capiche, my little wolf?”
Zoey nodded and pushed her shoulders backwith confidence. As she walked toward the Alpha’s table, she swayed her hipsprovocatively. She could see people had stopped talking and watched her walkpast, especially the men. The only attention she wanted tonight was not even atthe table. He wasn’t even here tonight.
She hated that about herself. She heaveda sigh and scanned the pub a little more looking for Kayden.
“He isn’t here yet,” London whispered inher ear. Zoey shrugged trying to act as if it didn’t bother her as Nolan Bankspulled a chair out for her.
“Now, now, what do we have here?” Nolanteased. “I don’t believe we have met yet, Miss?” Zoey smiled as Nolan acted asthough she was a stranger.
“My name is Zoey Malone, and what isyours, big boy?” Zoey teased, and then winked at him. Nolan was the best,and he made a tense situation into abearable one.
“Well Ms. Malone, how about we dance?With a dress like that, I think you need to be center of attention tonight.Well?”
“Shut up, Nolan. That is my sister you’retalking to. I know you are going to say something, and it’s only going to pissme off.” Ryder interjected.
Ignoring her brother, Zoey extended herhand to Nolan. “Well, kind sir, I would love to dance with you.” She did feelspecial as Nolan escorted her out to the dance floor when a fast song came on.The stars must have been in line because Kayden walked through the door withnone other than Jena Carnes. He hadn’t seen her yet, but she saw him. Puttingon a show, Zoey did things with her body that she didn’t know she had in her.Dancing at home in front of the mirror doesn’t count. Tonight was her night toshine, and make Kayden Lynn jealous as hell.
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Zoey watched as Kayden and Jena sat atthe Alpha’s table. She could see Kayden look at everyone, but nobody wastalking. All eyes were watching Nolan and her on the dance floor, except herbrother, that is. He had his face in his hands. Kayden’s eyes followed theirgaze, and she knew the moment he saw her. His eyes turned bright green, and shecould actually see steam come out of the man’s head. She laughed to herselfbecause this was exactly what she wanted. His expression was worth every damndime she spent on her dress.
She continued to watch Kayden, eventhough he didn’t know she was watching him. He stood up mad as hell andthundered over to Ryder’s side. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but hewas pointing a lot at her and Nolan.
Giggling to herself, Zoey felt powerfulfor the second time in her life. The first time was when she beat the shit outof Penny Sanders. This was the second best.
Slowing down, the song turned into a slowone. Nolan pulled her body into him holding her close. “Did he notice?” Nolanwhispered in her ear.
Zoey acted as if she didn’t know whom hewas talking about. “Who?”
“Come on, Zoey. I have known you yourwhole life, and as soon as Kayden Lynn saw you grow your hair out in the tenthgrade, he was smitten with you. He doesn’t talk about it, but we all know. Didhe see your dance moves?”
She was hesitant to answer him, but thelook on Nolan’s face told her he wouldn’t let it go until she did. “Yes.” Zoeyanswered. “Is he pissed off?”
Nolan twirled her around and glanced backat the table.
“Oh yeah, he is good and pissed off now.Let’s see what we can do to make him even more pissed.” Nolan replied, and thenflipped her backwards kissing up her neck.
The growl could be heard over the musicas Kayden stomped over to her and jerked her away from Nolan. “What in hell doyou have on?” Kayden’s expression was angry, but instead of yelling at him, shejust smiled and looked down at her dress.
“You mean this old thing?” Zoey’s handsstroked down the short dress then looked around at all the men in the room. “Ithink it is doing exactly what I want it to do.” Zoey winked at the table ofbears that were eagerly watching her.
Nolan laughed as he took her hand andescorted her back to the table leaving Kayden on the dance floor fuming. Zoeydidn’t look back at Kayden. She couldn’t. If he wanted her, then he would haveto fight for her. He couldn’t act as if he liked her one minute, then act asthough she wasn’t there the next by bringing a women she hated the most totheir table. How his mind worked made no sense to her.
Kayden approached the table and sat downhard beside Jena. The look on the woman’s face was priceless. Apparently, Jenaknew something was going on between Zoey and Kayden, so she made her move.
Leaning over, Jena whispered in Kayden’sear then licked it. Everyone at the table was watching the interaction betweenKayden and Jena. Zoey kept telling herself to look away, but she couldn’t stopstaring.
“Zoey, you look great tonight,sweetheart,” Brody King suggested, bringing everyone’s attention away fromJena’s show.
“Why thank you, Brody,” Zoey smiled backat the grizzly bear. Brody King was forever surprising her. He would take heron rides around the forest on his back and show her things in the forest shewould have never seen even in wolf form. He had a kindness that none of theothers had. Even though he was the biggest and scariest of all the Alphas, hewas by far the most gentle and sweetest of them all. Brody was the one wholooked after her the most, and she loved him like a big brother.
Pulling her out of her memories, Brodystood up, went to her side, and held out his hand. “Let’s dance, sweetheart.”Zoey smiled, reached out to curl her fingers around his, and followed Brody tothe floor.
“What’s going through that head of yours,sweetheart?” Brody asked. She felt so little in his arms. His hands weremassive as he held on to her. She could always talk to Brody. He never judgedher even when she was wrong.
A moment of silence followed before shespoke. “Everything, I guess.”
“Kayden?” Brody answered.
Zoey’s eyes widened in surprise.“Why...do you think that?”
“We all see how he looks at you. Healways has. Now he looks at you in a different way. You’re the person he wantsthe most, but he thinks he doesn’t deserve you.” Zoey gasped not believing whatshe was hearing.
Sputtering her words trying to form asentence, Zoey asked, “Why…why would he think that, Brody? I’m just a wolf.Nobody special. He’s an Alpha and needs a strong mate, one who can give himwhatever he needs. I...” Self-doubt surged forward as she spoke. Here she wasagain letting all the stuff Jena said about her get into her head. It was hardto shake the years of bullying that made her feel so small. It was such a hardhabit to break.
“You remember the day I took you toPier’s Point?” Zoey nodded, thinking back about those fun days. “That day meanta lot to me. I finally talked you in to jumping off that cliff into the water.It was wonderful to finally see the smile that came on your face when you cameup out of that water. You looked like you were on top of the world. You wentfor it even when you thought you might get hurt. That is the Zoey Malone Iknow. The one who needs to see just how important she is to her family andfriends. If Kayden can’t see that and if he thinks you’re not good enough, thenhe isn’t the man I thought he was, and you’re not the girl I know you are ifyou allow him to get away with it.” Tears ran down her face as she listened tothe giant tell her how important she was. Brody knew how to touch her heart.
“I just…” Zoey tried to talk but couldn’tcome up with anything logical.
“Now, let’s have some fun tonight, andwhen a man asks you to dance, don’t think about it; just go for it. She isn’timportant to him. We all know that, and what is amazing, she knows it too. Now,the playing field is even because Jena knows how important you are to him, andyou have an advantage there. Have fun, Zoey. Stop looking at him for once, andlet him chase you,” Brody explained, then twirled her around until she couldn’tstop the laugh that came out of her mouth.
She could feel the tension ease from hershoulders. For the first time in her life, someone told her how it really was,and she finally got it. Brody was a man of few words, but when he spoke, youpaid attention. He was a freaking genius, and she was going to follow hisdirections to a T. She felt happy and relaxed when she looked up at Brody. Itlooked like he was nodding to someone then quickly glanced around the room. Shemade sure she didn’t look back at the Alpha’s table when Lex Crenshaw walked upto her.
“Can I have the next dance, Zoey?” Lexasked. Zoey liked Lex. He was kindhearted too, until you pissed him off. Itmust have been something about the bears because most of them were sweet andgentle unless you were their prey or made them angry.
“Sure Lex, if Brody doesn’t mind.” Lexand Zoey both looked up at the Alpha.
“As long as you take care of my girlhere. You know I think of her as my sister, right?” Brody’s voice was higher ashe said the last part.
“Yes sir, Alpha.” Lex replied and heldhis hand out for her. Kissing her on top of the head, Brody walked off leavingher with Lex.
Zoey did what Brody suggested and dancedwith almost every bear in the room and a few wolves. She laughed at how thebears joked with the other wolves when they tried to dance with her before thesong ended. It was all in fun, but she enjoyed the attention.
Finally, near the end of the night, Zoeyinformed Lex that she needed a break, and he escorted her back to the Alpha’stable. Pulling her chair out for her, Lex kissed her hand and walked away.
It was hard, but Zoey never looked overat Kayden. She sat and made conversation with London and Donnie the rest of thenight.
Leaning over, Zoey whispered in Donnie’sear, “I need to go to the bathroom. I will be back in a few minutes.”
“Do you need me to go with you?” Donnieasked.
“Nope. I think I can handle that on myown.” Zoey got up and slowly walked to the bathroom talking to friends as shepassed their table. She walked into the stall and did her business. She feltfree for the first time and was actually having fun. She righted her dress andopened the stall door. Figures, it couldn’t last long as she stared at JenaCarnes and one of her friends standing by the sink, waiting for her no doubt.Zoey walked over to the sink and started washing her hands.
“Do you really think a man like KaydenLynn would want someone like you?” Jena remarked. Instead of immediatelyresponding, Zoey took her time washing her hands. When she finished, she couldsee Jena struggling to react but didn’t touch her. She knew if she did, shewould be disciplined by the Alpha.
Without looking at her, Zoey spoke withself-confidence. “You know, Jena, this isn’t high school anymore and whatKayden does isn’t my concern, but don’t worry, Sugar, I’m positive he wants youfor one thing and one thing only.” Zoey leaned closer and commented, “TheAlphas talk about you when they are together.” Zoey continued to walk towardJena who had never seen her do this and apparently, it was unnerving her, soshe backed up a step. “They talk about the ‘sure thing’. They say you’re onlyuseful for a fuck and not a good fuck at that. They also say you’re not themating kind, just the fucking kind.” Zoey tossed the paper towel in the trashcan and started to walk out.
Finally, she had enough of Jena tellingher what a low life she was. Tonight was the last night she would ever takeshit from Jena Carnes again. She heard Jena make her move and was prepared forher. Zoey turned around and blocked the punch Jena was throwing. Jena thoughtthat she could hit her with her back turned, but Zoey had continued hertraining and flipped Jena, launching her against the door, knocking it down inthe process. The noise was loud as Jena and the door flung against the outsidewall.
Zoey could hear people running toward thebathrooms. Apparently, the noise was louder than she thought. Looking back,Jena’s friend was wide-eyed and stepped back away from her.
“Oops.” Zoey showed the wolf her teeththen walked out.
Stepping over the moaning Jena, Zoeywalked down the hallway with a half smile on her face. London, Ryder, and theentire table of Alphas were looking down the hallway as she walked toward them.Kayden’s eyes were wild-looking as she approached him.
“Kayden, your date is lying on the floor.You might want to go and pick her up.” With that statement said, she continuedto walk back to the table where Brody was still sitting with his hands crossedover his chest. She could see the smile widened as she sat down.
“You know Brody, I think we need to goback to Pier’s Point soon and go swimming. Would you be up for that?” Brodylaughed and stood up from the table.
“I think that is a wonderful idea,sweetheart. Let’s blow this joint and go get breakfast somewhere. I think youdid all the damage you can do tonight,” Brody suggested. Donnie ran back to thetable as Zoey picked up her purse.
“I’m coming with you guys. I think theparty is over here,” Donnie muttered, then turned and looked down the hallway snickering.
“Let’s go eat. I’m starving,” Zoey sangin a giddy voice as she took Brody’s arm and walked out of the bar.
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Links: Pre-order links only
Cravings (Alpha City) Book 2 –
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About the Author
Bryce Evans is a mother, wife, and author who loves toescape to the world she has built in the Ashland Pack. She burst onto thepublishing scene with a hit in The Trinity. As an active police officer, Bryce needed another outlet from the painsof others. Writing filled thatvoid.
She loves talking to people who have the same tastes as shedoes and enjoys storytelling about vampires, werewolves, witches, andfairies.
She loves to read books and write about places that cometogether in her head. She tries to write about what she knows and usually youwill find some aspect of law enforcement in her writing.
Travel with her to a world filled with vampires, werewolves,witches, and fairies were the paranormal run wild and romance blooms.
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Find out more about her current projects at www.bryceevans.webs.com or follow heron:
