You could be an angel.” She chuckled, pulling out.
Amish swallowed hard. An angel?
When their shift was over, Amish called Liam. Usually, he’d leave a message. Liam was generally too busy to answer, but this time he picked up right away. “Amish?”
“Hey,” he said, dragging a hand through his hair. “You just start your shift?”
“You saved him,” Liam said.
“Ah, who, that guy on the roof? Who is he? I know him. I know them both, and why were they on the roof? Liam?”
Silence.
“Liam? You’ve told me so little. Why don’t I remember the past? My memories begin with you on that road.”
“You told me you didn’t want to know.”
“Maybe it’s time,” Amish said. “I think I might be ready now.”
“We’ll talk about it when I get home. Just know this. Everything is how it should be for us, and now for them. All the good you do in this world comes back to you, baby. I love you, Amish.”
Amish smiled. “I love you too, my angel.”
About Suede Delray
Suede Delray is an award-winning, bestselling author. She has written many academic articles on delinquency, racism, and homophobia, as well as numerous romantic, mystery and fantasy novels. Recently she took an early retirement from her job in law enforcement where she worked with juveniles, to devote herself to her first love, writing. Suede lives with her loving partner of many years and their pets. She enjoys traveling, reading about current events, debating, and walking.
Beta’s Choice
By
Liza Kay
A past flame threatens to turn Hazel Woods into a blazing inferno...
Phoenix Jones wants more than anything to receive Juri Vasiliev’s mating bite. But when it comes to Juri, Phoenix is a big softy and never demands or complains.
As Phoenix’s beta, Juri takes on more and more of Phoenix’s responsibilities. But his desire to help his lover is being seen as a sign of weakness in Phoenix. The clan is starting to question Phoenix’s alpha status.
Fires begun in a nearby clan have spread to Hazel Woods. With an arsonist on their hands, Juri and Phoenix have to balance their personal lives with what is best for the clan... and hope their relationship can survive the pressure.
Dedication
Love can no more continue without a constant motion than fire can; and when once you take hope and fear away, you take from it its very life and being.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Chapter One
This blasted heat is killing me.
Phoenix Jones, alpha of the Hazel Woods bear clan, grabbed one of the pamphlets that littered his desk and started to fan himself. Groaning and closing his eyes, he leaned back in his office chair and heaved his feet onto the desk, one after the other. Although he detested underwear, he’d opted for boxer briefs today. A persistent heat wave had been tormenting the area for two weeks now, and the weather forecast hadn’t promised relief anytime soon.
Bear shifters didn’t enjoy heat. Well, not when they were forced to sit in an office as hot as Lucifer’s, pondering over endless paperwork. Phoenix would rather spend the day in his bear form, splashing and playing in the creek not far from the house. The icing on top would be if he could play in the water with his mate.
No, make that my boyfriend.
For eighteen months, he and Juri had been a couple. And still Juri refused to exchange mating bites. When Phoenix opened his eyes, his gaze fell on the sideboard displaying a ton of family pictures. Viktor and Shea with their ever-growing triplets. Andrei and Kirill, proudly showing off little Viktoria. And Stefan and Devin, who had recently added a fourth cub to their brood.
Bears loved big families. For whatever reason, Juri didn’t want to discuss cubs. And he kept placating Phoenix whenever the topic of mating arose. Phoenix had realized this might not be the right time to bring a cub into their relationship, since Juri didn’t seem inclined to tie the knot. But he didn’t know a single shifter who’d waited more than a year to officially claim a mate.
He started and almost fell out of his chair when his cell rang. Phoenix frowned when he checked the name on the display. He swiped his finger over the glass and lifted the cell to his ear. “Fire Chief of Paw’s Cove. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Phoenix grinned.
Desmond Wilkins chuckled through the line. “Alpha Jones. How’s it hanging?”
“Meh.” Phoenix scratched his belly. “Same old. How are you and your adorable man?” Desmond had met Louis, beta of the Paw’s Cove clan, shortly