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  Hunters of the Gods 2: Protecting Their Heir

  Alyssa Morgan is learning who she is and what her powers are. She waits for her mate, Galvan Keuric's, return so he can meet his son Brock for the first time. But that isn't what the gods have planned for her. She is also the mate to others and unaware of the battle on the horizon.

  While watching her son play and pretend to be human, she catches the scent of another wolf. When she turns and locks gazes with him, she realizes he is her mate and tries to ignore the pull. She misses Galvan and believes he is the only one for her. But that isn't the case, and soon her destiny with his brothers, Puello, Ross and Stark, is revealed to her.

  She can only resist the power of the mating musk for so long, but once she submits, more is revealed to her. The powers to heal, the ability to rule, the strength to fight to protect her son, the only heir to the Keuric pack, as well as to protect her mates. It is one small battle but a significant one to ensure the sanctity of Keuric pack, and build a larger army for when the ultimate war will challenge them, and the true enemy to all wolf packs across the US is revealed.

  Genre: Fantasy, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Shape-shifter, Vampires/Werewolves

  Length: 33,253 words

  HUNTERS OF THE GODS 2:

  PROTECTING THEIR HEIR

  Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  HUNTERS OF THE GODS 2: PROTECTING THEIR HEIR

  Copyright © 2018 by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-913-1

  First Publication: January 2018

  Cover design by Les Byerley

  All art and logo copyright © 2018 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book or print book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  Dear readers, thank you for purchasing this legal copy of Protecting Their Heir.

  Alyssa is struggling with a broken heart. It has been nearly five years since she saw brock’s father Galvan, got to touch him, kiss him, and love him. The only reason she lives on is for her son. Their son, and the future leader of Galvan’s pack.

  Frustrated, cautious, and untrusting, she remains protecting her son from any dangers, but also tries to make him fit in with the human society. Every day is a struggle of heartache and sometimes anger at the gods. Her sister, Alex, and her grandmother tell her she has powers and abilities, too, but she feels none of them. Her loss, her sadness from losing her lover, dominates her every thought.

  When another wolf appears, and suddenly she can sense he is a wolf not just by his actions, but actually with abilities she read only wolves had, things take a turn. Sensations form, visions arise, but that loss, that heartache is so deep, she resists the signs, the power of her abilities. Is that a strength in itself, or a test by the gods to figure out if she is ready for her destiny and for the powers she has had all this time, but wasn’t ready to receive fully?

  May you enjoy her journey.

  Happy reading.

  HUGS!

  Dixie

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  People seem to be more interested in my name than where I get my ideas for my stories from. So I might as well share the story behind my name with all my readers.

  My momma was born and raised in New Orleans. At the age of twenty, she met and fell in love with an Irishman named Patrick Riley Dwyer. Needless to say, the family was a bit taken aback by this as they hoped she would marry a family friend. It was a modern day arranged marriage kind of thing and my momma downright refused.

  Being that my momma’s families were descendants of the original English speaking Southerners, they wanted the family blood line to stay pure. They were wealthy and my father’s family was poor.

  Despite attempts by my grandpapa to make Patrick leave and destroy the love between them, my parents married. They recently celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary.

  I am one of six children born to Patrick and Lynn Dwyer. I am a combination of both Irish and a true Southern belle. With a name like Dixie Lynn Dwyer it’s no wonder why people are curious about my name.

  Just as my parents had a love story of their own, I grew up intrigued by the lifestyles of others. My imagination as well as my need to stray from the straight and narrow made me into the woman I am today.

  Enjoy Protecting Their Heir and allow your imagination to soar freely.

  For all titles by Dixie Lynn Dwyer, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/dixie-lynn-dwyer

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Epilogue

  Landmarks

  Cover

  HUNTERS OF THE GODS 2:

  PROTECTING THEIR HEIR

  DIXIE LYNN DWYER

  Copyright © 2018

  Prologue

  “Grab him! Grab him, Ross!” Puello yelled to his brother.

  “By the orders of the gods, stop or die!” Ross yelled, giving the rogue wolf one more chance before he pounced and took him out. Puello was at his wit’s end. Tired, angry, beyond burnt out after hunting down these rogues. They’d seen crazy, despicable acts of violence against all kinds of species including humans.

  He heard the roar, saw his brother grab the rogue by his neck, and now he was on top of him in half shift form, which was difficult but effective.

  “Where are the women? Where are you holding the women?” Ross demanded to know as their other brother Stark took out two other wolves. They stunk, like mixed breeds, and evil. They were beyond any typical human criminal, and Puello had such deep hatred for these rogues.

  “I die before giving you anything,” the rogue said through clenched teeth as Ross gripped his throat tighter and pressed a sharp nail into his neck.

  “Talk, tell us where they are,” Ross demanded.

  “Tell us now. We will not stop until this is over and the rules of this realm are respected.”

  “I die. The cause is greater.” The rogue wolf snarled, and Ross growled deeply.

  “It doesn’t need to be your destiny. We won’t give up either. Your leader will eventually be found and brought before the gods to trial or killed by one of us. Where are the women being held prisoner?” Ross demanded to know, his muscles flexed, his incisors sharp and intimidating. The rogue wolf chuckled.

  “They are more powerful than the gods. You are too late.” The rogue slashed upward with his claw, striking Ross, and Ross lost it. He tore at the rogue wolf’s throat and yanked out whatever he gripped. He jumped up and grunt
ed and roared as he paced, pissed about his injuries. He shifted full form to heal those injuries as Puello looked at Stark. “We’re done. This is it for now. We aren’t getting anywhere, and we have been gone for years. We have to do as our father’s asked and help Saint pack back home. They’re family, and I’ve had enough of all this death, this violence, and just killing and getting nothing done. Those women have been sold off or are prisoners to the one responsible. We can meet up with our cousins. Lodge and Corporal have been searching for their brother Toby now for months. We’re done. Let’s go,” Puello said, head pounding, heart heavy with disgust and a bit of defeat.

  “Whoever is responsible for this chaos, the massacres of innocent women and children, is more like a ghost. More than four years have passed. We don’t know where Galvin is, and once again the tip we got sent us elsewhere,” Stark added.

  “He’s out there. I can feel him. We’re close, Puello. Galvin is close. Let’s continue on a little further,” Ross said.

  “No. The decision is made. We head back to Texas. To the estate and our families to recoup. Maybe they will have more to go by than what we have,” Puello said and they headed out of the area and to their SUV. Home. It wasn’t something they allowed themselves to think about much. Not when their families, relatives, ancestors were in danger. Things were happening there, and they could be of great use.

  His cell phone rang, and he glanced down to look at the caller ID, squinted, and then smirked. “Hello?” he answered and looked at Stark who was getting into the driver’s side while Ross shifted back to human form.

  “Ahhh, finally answering your fucking phone. Where the hell have you been?” their cousin Lodge asked.

  “Busy being Alphas instead of fucking around with women,” he countered.

  Lodge chuckled. “Yeah, right. Bullshit fucking around with women. We’ve been busy, but the shit is hitting the fan at home. Got word from Saint’s pack. Preston and his brothers found their mate.”

  “No way,” he said and then looked at his brothers. Their faces went somber, almost appearing jealous. Some wolves went through their entire lives before finding their mate—some never did. They didn’t focus on such things, but they loved their cousins and were happy for them.

  “That’s something else. Anyone we know?”

  “No, but she’s got some secrets. Couldn’t get a straight answer out of anyone. Hear she’s hot, and maybe not of the wolf.”

  “A human?”

  “More than that from what little I was told. My curiosity is getting the better of me. Corporal and I are heading back. We have one more location to check out, then we’ll head to Texas and the estate.”

  “You need backup?”

  “You volunteering to back us up?” Lodge asked.

  Puello laughed.

  “Fuck yeah. More than likely you’ll need it. We heard about some of the shit messes you two left behind.” Lodge laughed.

  “Shit show we leave behind? You make it so the responders can’t clean up the fucking messes before humans get involved.”

  Puello laughed.

  “Where you headed? We can meet up.”

  “Louisiana.”

  “Well, look at that. We aren’t far at all. Send me the address and we’ll get there in a few hours.”

  “Can’t wait to see you guys.”

  “Same here, Lodge. Same here. Oh, and what are we hunting?” he asked.

  “Ten men, a small rogue pack that were the last ones to be seen with our brother Toby. We’ve been hunting them for months.”

  “Well then, we’ll be there.”

  “Thanks, and see you soon.”

  Puello looked at his brothers as Stark drove the SUV.

  “You heard?” he asked, and they nodded.

  “Maybe we’ll get lucky and can at least bring their brother home,” he said, and they mumbled in agreement. Puello’s heart pounded inside of his chest. Where was Galvin, and would they ever see him again, or were they too late, and maybe he was dead already?

  Chapter One

  “You are not going anywhere alone ever again, Alexandra. You know the rules. I’m pretty sure that we all explained them thoroughly,” Preston stated firmly. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, and his eyes squinted as he stared down at her.

  She was calm in her response, but he sensed her uneasiness, the intimidation she tried fighting. She was stubborn, strong, powerful in more ways than they even knew, but she was his mate, and she needed to be respectful to his authority.

  “I am respectful to your authority, Preston. This is a delicate situation though.”

  She replied smoothed her hands along the slim-fitting black dress pants she wore before adjusting the blue sweater that accentuated her large breasts.

  “Don’t do that. Don’t read my mind and try to throw my own words back at me. You will honor my rules,” Preston commanded.

  “Our rules,” Heracio added. She turned to look at him and then at Saunder who had yet to respond. When she turned around, Preston took in the sight of her. She looked gorgeous, stunning, and that overprotective sensation began to pound against his chest and his gut.

  “No, you aren’t going anywhere alone.”

  She sighed.

  “Preston, there are things going on. Changes coming, and my role, my part is—”

  “Being the mate to the three Saint Alphas and a powerful, well-known vampire. When word gets out about that, the shit is going to hit the fan. Our loyalties will be questioned. You could become the brunt of a lot of ridicule, gossip, and be analyzed by the higher-ups you meet,” Preston added.

  She placed her hands on her hips, the move causing the V in her sweater to gap and reveal more of her full, deep cleavage.

  “Preston, I have faced death in the eyes, have fought evil head-on, and have gone through more obstacles in my life than most ever experience in one lifetime. Surely I can handle a bunch of gossiping elders, or whomever else dares to question my loyalty or my commitment to my mates. Vampire included. If these elders or whomever are smart, then they would be better off making friends with me than starting off as enemies.”

  Heracio pressed up against her back and squeezed her shoulders.

  “We don’t want anyone showing any disrespect to you or even trying to figure out who and what you are.”

  She covered Heracio’s hand with hers. “They can try, but I am stronger and smarter than them. There is a reason I am here, that you are my mates, and that trouble is surrounding all the packs. Visiting my grandmother is going to be a regular occurrence, and those visits sometimes entail me being alone with her.”

  “I don’t like it,” Saunder stated and approached. She reached her hand out to him, and he took it, brought it to his lips, and kissed the top.

  “You’re still recovering from your injuries,” he added.

  “Only because I am trying to keep my capabilities hidden,” she replied.

  “I don’t like this,” Preston said again.

  “Then come with me. Cab will, too, and leave the guards here,” she said to Preston. He could sense that she was blocking him from her thoughts. She learned to do that just as they did, but she was instantly superb at it. What was she hiding? It made him feel uneasy.

  “Preston, I love you so very much. I don’t want to hold things back, but as I have explained, sometimes the gods determine when things are to be revealed. If you are insistent, then it is out of my control, and perhaps this is the way it is supposed to be after all.”

  He eyed her over and then pointed and curled his finger for her to come to him. Heracio released her, then Saunder, and she went to him, bowed her head, and he pulled her into his arms, smacked her ass, then kissed her. She clung to him. When he released her lips and trailed his mouth along her neck and then into the V of her sweater, she tilted her head back and panted.

  “We’ll never get out of this bedroom.”

  “I’m fine with that,” he whispered.

  “Us, too,” Hera
cio added.

  Preston stared down into her eyes as she held on to his shoulders.

  “I know you are special, and more powerful than an Alpha, and any leader, and I don’t want you bowing down to me, or feeling like I am trying to control you. I adore you, Alexandra. I would give my life for you. The fears I have are still so raw. You were taken from us, and nearly forced to mate another. It will take a long time to get over that fear, perhaps forever.”

  She cupped his cheek.

  “You are my Alpha and I respect you, love you, and will abide by your rules, but if and when I don’t, it’s for good reason,” she said to him.

  “That’s my concern,” he said, and she smiled and then pressed her lips to his.

  When he released her to Heracio to kiss her next, he felt his anxiety ease, and he was less concerned as he watched her kiss his brothers and then smile at him. “Better?” she asked, and he knew she was using her powers to ease his fears, his uncertainty, and his concerns.

  “Alexandra,” he reprimanded.

  She widened her eyes and then pressed away from his brothers.

  “Shall we go?” she asked and then grabbed her bag and hurried toward the doorway. Heracio and Saunder exhaled.

  “Trouble. Our mate is more than a handful,” Saunder said.

  “I’m starting to understand why the gods granted her four mates, and one of them a powerful vampire,” Preston said. They exited the room and headed out along with her, shaking their heads, and Preston was wondering how long before the next adventure hit close to home, and with their mate.

  * * * *

  Alyssa Morgan watched her son, Brock, as he played with a few kids in the park. This area she lived in was mostly human. No weres, no shifters, at least none she came across, and it was safe. At least she hoped it was. She sighed, and as always, like she had been doing every day since Galvan left her, she thought of him. Of his dark brown eyes, his wavy light brown hair, and racked her brain as to why he had to disappear on her. Especially learning who his family was. Now that was a shocker. The Keuric family were one of four superior packs with multiple Alpha were leaders, with a strong, solid bloodline of warriors.