A hyena with alpha issues meets an elf who is barely alive, and together, they find a future.

Lima enjoys her life as a hunter for the shifter guild and council, but she has no idea that this routine retrieval and rescue will flip her fate into high gear.

Lyros knew that the dog-headed creature that came in to rescue him was a shifter and a woman. He admired her fighting skills but was unable to shake the feeling that he she was important to his life.

The seers confirm that he is fated to be matched to a hyena, but there is just one problem... she has already gone to the Crossroads and she has no idea about Lyros looking for her.

She might find a match before he arrives and then what will he do?

Excerpt:

When the obligatory dancing was finished, Lima eased out of the spotlight and moved toward her mother.

“Mother, you look lovely this evening.” Lima stood on ceremony.

“And you look ridiculous.” Her expression softened for a moment, “But you wear it well.”

Lima inclined her head. Since she had been confirmed as an alpha, her relationship to her mother had become strained. Her mother was nervous that Lima would make a move to take over her territory. Lima had no interest in her mother’s business or property, but her mother had taken them from her grandmother, so she was a little paranoid.

Lima smiled. “You wished to speak with me?”

“I did. As one female to another, you are reaching that delicate age where you need to settle down and open your own territory.”

“I have my own territory. I enjoy my job and working to help others of our kind.”

Her mother snorted. “There haven’t been any hyenas abducted.”

“I mean shifters, Mother. We rescue shifters.”

Her mother waved that away. “If they are not our people, they don’t matter.”

Lima went cold, grabbed her mother by the arm and led her to the back room as casually as she could. She locked the door and rounded on her mother. “If I hear of you even whispering something like that with Tammy in the vicinity again, I will rip your throat out, destroy your territory and scatter the rest of the family. Is that clear?”

Lucinda Pellin backed away. “You can’t speak to me like that.”

“I will not humiliate you in front of the gathering, but you will show respect and gratitude to your new daughter. She is a coyote, and she is much beloved by her people for her wit and wisdom. You will respect that.”

Her mother flinched. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

Lima flexed her hands and noted that she was keeping herself in control. Bravo. Today was not the day to lose control.

“Don’t let the pink dress fool you. I am far more serious than I ever was under your roof. I can and would snap you in half and rip your tail off without having a second thought. Behave, Mother, and greet your new daughter fully into the family. I will be listening.”

Lima patted her hair and checked the drape of her dress. She still looked like a pastel virgin sacrifice. She had taken two steps when the rustle of taffeta made her turn. She caught her mother in a steely grip and wrenched her extended arm up behind her back with an easy movement.

“Attacking from behind is your signature move, Mom. I know all of your moves. Just remember that.”

Her mother’s face was flushed and pale at the same time. “Your father will hear about this.”

“He is just going to commiserate to your face and laugh in private like he always does. I can take everything you have the moment you disrespect your other daughter. I won’t do it for my sake, but I will do it for her and her children.” She kept her voice low. “Do we understand each other?”

Lucinda nodded slowly. “I understand. I will treat her as I would any woman who married my son.”

Lima torqued Lucinda’s arm upward. “You will treat her as an honoured guest at all times. She will be the honoured daughter in your home when they visit. Are we clear?”

A slow nod and Lima let her stagger free.