Zoe Perdita's Blog

And now I'm back! From outer space! You just walked in to find me here....

Wait. I'm not the lover that left.

But I did vanish for a spell. I needed a break for a lot of reasons and kinda disappeared for a bit, but I feel better and I have a new book that I probably should have been pimping out over here but I didn't.

Here it is!

It's on Amazon and in KU. 
You can get it here.
Sorry I took such a long break, but I do plan to put out more books this year!

Hey everyone! I've been a bit MIA recently, and I'll share that news soon.

But first, I hope everyone had a good holiday season and a lovely New Year.

I don't have a new book this time around, but an author friend on mine does, so I thought I'd share.


Get it on Amazon. It's also in KU.

The capture of an arms dealer's spoiled lover should've been a win for the humans struggling to survive their harsh lives in the slums. Powerless and outnumbered, it seems like only a matter of time before Romulus betrays the Butcher. But when Kieran realizes their prisoner is none other than his stepbrother, he has to face the harsh truths he's been avoiding for too long. Torn between loyalty for his new family of humans and the witch he has more than brotherly feelings for, Kieran must make a decision that could leave him with nothing.

Though Spoiled is set in The Fate of the Fallen / Status Quo world, this is a standalone work. These characters do not appear in the FotF/SQ books, and there are no spoilers for the series.  

Note to Readers of the FotF Series: Though this book is dark romance, it does not have the same "feel" as Bought, the (dark erotica) first book of the Fate of the Fallen series. It most closely resembles Ravel in tone and content. 
Also, this book is in the same series and it's free!

Get it on Amazon.
When he agreed to take the fall for his pack leader's failed attempts to help the Rebellion, Jace knew he wouldn't live long enough to regret it. However, instead of the noble end he envisioned for himself, the werewolf finds himself at the mercy of a witch and his depraved games. Though he clings to his conviction that he can withstand anything his new master can dish out, it isn't long before he realizes pride has no place in his life as the pet of the controlling Elias Ivers.

The final Haven City book is here!

Get it on Amazon!*

Also, the entire Haven City series is on sale right now!

Fox Hunt is $2.99 for the next week

Rogue Wolf is free until Friday, Oct. 20th.

Books 2-9 are only 99 cents until Sunday, Oct. 22nd.

Check out the entire series here.



Edward Wilder’s life sucks. At 18, the fox shifter is homeless, trying to care for his baby sister, and since a group of hunter’s maimed him, he can’t even get a normal job. Things can’t get worse—until he witnesses a murder. Now the cops and criminals are on his ass, and he has nowhere to turn. Until Maxwell Strider shows up. Problem is, Max is a hunter, and Edward hates hunters.
Max wouldn’t take in a couple of foxes under normal circumstances. He may only hunt truly dangerous shadow folk, but that doesn’t mean he wants to open his home to a potential enemy. But he owes an old friend a favor, and Edward and the baby, Daisy, need his help. 
Protecting Edward should be easy, but the fox wakes a desire Max never knew he possessed. A lust Edward seems to share—if only at night. But can he mend the hurt Edward faced in the past and earn the one thing he’s denied himself—a chance at a family—before it’s too late?
* Don't have a Kindle? Don't worry!
You can download the Kindle app on most cell phones and tablets. Or, you can purchase the book on Amazon and email me a screenshot of the receipt and I'll send you an ePub or PDF. 

I'm sorry I'm so late with this post, you guys! I was evacuated on Monday due to the fires in Northern CA, and only got home yesterday.

Basically, my week:



Here's a super late sneak peek at the first chapter of Fox Hunt!

Enjoy!

Suck off a random stranger or starve to death?Some decision.A decision Edward Wilder never thought he'd have to make.But here he was, and it wasn't just him who would starve. His stomach felt like it was going to cave in on itself. He hadn't eaten anything since the day before, and it hadn't been much. He had spent what little money he gathered on formula for Daisy because she needed to eat more than he did.And this was for Daisy too.He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and sucked in a deep breath of cool evening air. The only good thing about Haven was the summers, while muggy, weren't particularly hot. And it always cooled down at night. Especially near the river. But he wasn't near the river now. That area wasn't as seedy as it used to be, and there was no way he'd make enough money from the junkies who hung around its fringes. He’d moved downtown where he saw the promise for a bigger payout.Plus, one of the working girls told him about it. Some of the closet cases hung around looking for desperate homeless kids to use for a night of fun. It was easiest to find them on Craigslist, and that’s just what Edward had done. Ha. He wasn't a kid anymore. He hadn't felt like a kid in a long time. But he looked the part. And he’d do anything to take care of Daisy. He had to. He was all she had and vice versa.Ever since—no. He couldn't think about that now. His hands balled into fists, nails biting into his palms, and he glanced at the stroller where Daisy slept peacefully. He’d tucked her as securely as he could next to a pile of empty boxes in the alley, and he wasn't going to leave her side. However, it was hard to solicit sex with a baby on his hip. Who knew what kind of sick shit some of the freaks that hung around there might want to do with her? At that thought, he almost grabbed the stroller and hurried away. That healer, Ari Gold, said he could stay if Edward needed to. Him and Daisy. But—It wasn't the charity that bothered him, but the chance they might take Daisy away. The healer hadn’t done anything yet, but he mentioned in passing some of his friends who might take care of her for a time. Edward scoffed at that. No one was going to take care of Daisy except him. His sister. His responsibility.Daisy wasn't going to end up in a hellhole foster home. Not if Edward could help it. A shadow stalked to the mouth of the alley and stood, bathed in the bright white lights from Burnside Street. Ed couldn't see the man's face, but his suit was slick and too fucking hot for a summer night. Some white-collar asshole who couldn't just pick up a guy at a gay club. Oh no. He had to search Craigslist for someone who wouldn't tell. Someone he could pay. At least, he’d better pay or Edward would gouge the fucker’s eyes out. He gritted his teeth and waited for the man to step closer. "You the kid?” The guy asked. They hadn’t exchanged names, so Edward dubbed him Dickhole. It seemed fitting from the expression on the guy’s face. He wasn’t particularly bad looking, more average than anything else. Short neatly cropped hair of an indistinct brown and dull, disinterested eyes.But Edward didn't care about that. The only thing that mattered was this asshole wasn't shadow folk. Not a shifter or a mage or any other kind of magic user. That meant Edward had the upper hand.Ed nodded stiffly and squared his shoulders. The man was taller than him by at least a head. Strong in the shoulders but dumpy in the middle."And you can't talk? What happened? Had too many cocks shoved down your throat at one time?” the guy said and laughed like it was actually funny.Edward sneered at him and swallowed the lump in his throat. Like hell he'd ever tell someone like this asshole what happened to steal his voice. Like this guy would understand. Or care. No one else ever did.He shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. His fingers flew across the screen as he typed a message. It was his only means of communication beside a pen and pencil, but it took too long. This was easier. "Let's get on with this. Where's the cash?" The robotic voice read for him.The guy laughed again. "You think I'm gonna open my wallet for some trash whore in an alley?"Edward glowered as he typed a new message. "If you don't I'm not gonna touch you, fucker.”This time, the man didn’t laugh. His eyes narrowed, sizing Edward up.Edward smirked, not enough to show off his fangs, but he knew what he looked like. He knew his eyes were an unearthly gold and the irises were just slightly slanted. Enough to put a human on edge—especially one that didn't know he was a fox shifter.Maybe not as big or as strong as a wolf, bear, or tiger, but strong enough to take out some stupid businessman who sat in a cubicle all day looking at gay porn and hitting up Craigslist for someone desperate enough to suck his dick.“What did we agree on? Fifty for a blow job?" Dickhole said and pulled a few bills out of his pocket.Edward nodded and his fingers itched to grab the cash. It wouldn't last long—a couple of days at most—but it was something. That's all he cared about. Dickhole sneered and unzipped his pants. Then yanked out his flaccid cock. "You better suck real good. You only get paid if I’m satisfied," he said and pulled Edward toward him. Shoved Ed’s head down.Edward sunk to his knees, teeth gritted as the man's fingers wound through his hair and pulled. It was long enough for that. Mostly because he hadn't gotten a haircut in ages. Or done it himself. Living on the streets, scissors were low on the priority list.Please, Daisy, don't cry, he silently begged his little sister and swallowed the bile that rose in his throat."Been waiting for this all day. Open up, little slut," Dickhole said and thrust his hips closer to Edward's mouth. It's not like it was the first time he’d sucked someone off, but it's the first time he’d sucked someone off when he didn't particularly want to. Scratch that. More like revolted by.His lips inched open, and he tried to keep from wrinkling his nose at the smell of sweat that greeted him. Sudden movement rustled in the alley next to them.Edward’s heart lodged in his throat. He froze in place. The guy wasn’t a shifter. Didn't have enhanced hearing or any other senses. Maybe he didn't notice. Next, a broken ba-ba, like a lost lamb, came from the hidden stroller—the first broken cry of Daisy waking up. He knew that cry. Dirty diaper. It'd been his life for the last five months, even before Daisy’s mother took off."What the hell? Is that a baby?" the asshole said and took a few steps back. Edward growled in the back of his throat, though it came out as more of a raspy choke. It was one of the only sounds he could make since his vocal cords had been wrecked and never healed properly. Shifter or not, some things couldn't be fixed when it came to silver. Especially when he couldn't afford any magical medicine or advanced human surgery.That was the least of his worries now, because the man shook his head and backed off. "I don't know what the hell is going on, but I'm not gonna get involved in your kidnapping scheme. Trying to get me arrested?” He turned and rushed toward the mouth of the alley.Edward didn't have time to pull out his phone and type an explanation. No matter how fast he was, Dickhole was going to leave and take his money with him. Ed’s body sprang into action, claws sharpening, he leapt into the air and landed on the man's back. Brought him down with a surprised grunt.Dickhole struggled to turn over, but Edward grabbed the back of his head and slammed it into the cement. The man’s struggling slowed, and he said something, voice thick and slurred, before he slipped into unconsciousness.Heart throbbing, Edward ripped through the man's pockets. The cash had to be there somewhere. He needed to get away before someone found him. Especially with Daisy’s wobbly cry picking up in pitch with every passing second.Hold on, little flower. Just a few more minutes and—There! He pulled out the bills and the wallet. Shoved them into his pocket. Headed for the stroller. As his fingers closed around the handle, the overwhelming scent of silver flooded the air.Hunters? In Haven? Again?More importantly, were they after him?Edward’s heart throbbed faster and his mind went into panic mode. He wasn’t about to find out. He shoved the stroller to the opposite end of the alley, legs pumping and heart beating against his ribs like a tribal drum, when something shifted in the shadows.His nose caught the musk a second too late. Another fox. A fox and blood. And with the breeze, it was downwind of him so he’d had no idea. Didn’t even hear a thing because he was too worried about the money and Daisy and . . . Edward ground to a halt. Glad, for once, he couldn't make a sound. Though Daisy made enough for the both of them. Especially because the shadow turned out to be a man crouched over a body. Blood spattered the pale skin of this other fox's chest, and his hands were curled into partially shifted claws. Edward stood frozen, Daisy’s wails ringing in his ears."This is a surprise," the fox said, his accent thick and unfamiliar. Edward took a step back. The body.Whoever it was their heart had stopped.Dead.The darkness kept the man’s coloring in shades of gray, with shining golden eyes, much like Edward’s own. He hoped, distantly, that he was draped in as much darkness as well. The only thing to do was run and hope this other fox didn't catch him.Didn’t catch Daisy.Edward turned, stroller pointed to the face of the alley where Dickhole still laid unconscious, and came face-to-face with a silver crossbow bolt, pointed at his nose."Hold it right there. One move and I'll shoot," a female hunter snarled.Edward blinked. He was trapped. Stuck between a murderous fox shifter and a pair of hunters. And the last time he met hunters it hadn’t ended well. Far from it.His throat felt like he’d swallowed a bucket of sand. Sweat beaded down his back, and the only thought repeating in his mind was Daisy. He had to protect Daisy. How was he supposed to get them both out of this alive?He stood frozen, heart throbbing so hard it felt ready to choke him."It's not him," another hunter said from the mouth of the alley."How do you know? He hasn't said a damn thing." “Well, for one, he has a crying baby with him. That sound like our assassin?" the other hunter said. Another woman, but she sounded younger."He's a master of disguise. A baby would be the perfect cover.”Edward didn't move to pull his phone out and explain. He couldn’t have if he wanted to. His body wouldn’t obey his commands. His mouth tasted of blood, and the faces in front of him blurred to the dark sneers of the last hunters he’d come into contact with. He waited for the blow from behind. If the other fox clawed him in the back, then they’d know the truth.But if he were dead, Daisy would be alone. Edward shook his head, trying to clear the thick layer of fear and panic that draped across him, and pointed behind him. The faint hint of footsteps trotted away, and a sudden wail filled the air, joining Daisy’s cries.A police siren.The hunter in front of him lowered her crossbow. Her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. "Call Max. He’ll need to explain some things. And make sure this one doesn't run away." Edward’s gut filled with lead. There was no reasoning with hunters. If he ran, they’d shoot. Maybe hit Daisy. At least the police wouldn’t kill them both in cold blood. It took five minutes for two squad cars to pull into the entrance of the alley. The cops who climbed out exchanged wary glances at the baby crying in the stroller before they read Edward his rights and slapped him in cuffs. There was no way in hell he could explain when they relieved him of his phone. If he struggled, he’d make it worse, but when the officer picked up Daisy, her eyes wide, and looked at Edward like he was some sort of monster he couldn't help it. He almost shifted right then and gave the entire world of shadow folk away. But the heavy scent of a wolf nearby caught his attention. Well, a wolf and those damn hunters. The precinct was only a few blocks away, but when he got there, Daisy was nowhere to be seen. His fingers twitched in the cuffs, and once they put him in an interrogation room and shut the door, he paced, chewing on his nails, and silently cursed himself for being the worst big brother in the entire world. What the hell was he thinking? The cops found the asshole’s wallet and the cash in Ed’s pants. They knew Edward robbed him. He was going to be thrown in jail. Daisy would end up in foster care—lost to him forever. And he couldn't make it right. How could he ever make it right now?He'd been trying so hard for so many months, but nothing he did was good enough. His disability meant he couldn’t get a normal job, especially since he didn’t even know sign language. And after Trish took off, he couldn't afford the rent at their dingy little apartment either. He couldn't afford anything. Now Daisy . . .He pinched his eyes shut, willing himself not to give in to the stinging behind them. A strangled choke worked its way out of his throat, and he slumped against the wall and hugged himself. When the detective finally stepped inside, Edward nearly charged him because it couldn't get much worse. Instead, he drew a trembling breath and stared. The detective had purple eyes. That meant he was a magic user. A seer. They saw the future. Seemed like a lousy gift, but maybe he'd like to see the future for himself. See if everything turned out okay or not. The way Edward’s luck went, he was guessing not."Edward Wilder, sit please. We don't want to cuff you again if we can help it," the detective said, giving him a wan smile. His silvery blonde hair was pulled into a low ponytail at the base of his neck, and it made Edward feel even more unkempt. His shirt was filthy. His jeans more so, and the scruffy old sneakers he wore had a hole in the sole that got his toes wet in the rain.Maybe if Edward did what they said things would go smoothly. He slipped into the seat, fingers tapping erratically on the metal table."According to our records you’re eighteen, correct?"Edward nodded.The seer watched him for a moment. “This is a lot easier if you answer the questions verbally. A nod and a shake of the head can be confusing."Edward glowered. He tapped his throat and opened his mouth. The only sound that came out was a choked growl.That got the detective’s attention. His eyes widened ever so slightly and he fingered through the files on his desk. "Sorry. I don't seem to have a file indicating any injury. Was it reported or was it . . .” His voice trailed off.Edward knew what he meant. Were you always like that? And no, Edward wasn't, but that wasn't a story for this detective either. Not unless it would get him Daisy back. His fingers twitched, and he pointed at the detective’s pen and paper. The door opened and another detective stepped inside—the alpha wolf Edward noticed in the alley with the rest of the cops. He’d glanced at Daisy and told the officer where to take her, though Edward hadn't heard the specifics. Maybe if he could find out where she was, he could break out and get her back. Skip town. He might have to leave the state but at least they’d be safe. Together. That's all that really mattered."He can't talk,” said the seer, and gave the alpha a brighter smile than he had Edward himself.The alpha nodded and leaned against the table. He pushed the pen and paper toward Edward, a warning in his eye. If Edward tried to use the pen as a weapon, the alpha would probably yank his arm off.Edward snorted and scrawled a message.Give me my phone.The detectives shared a glance like they were reading each other's minds."You can't use the pen and paper to tell us what we need to know?” the seer asked.Easier on my phone. Edward wrote and glared at them."If we bring the phone, we might have to bring some other evidence,” the alpha said. "Like Jim Wilson's wallet. He woke up after you left. Said some kid mugged him in the alley. You know anything about that?"Edward's fingers shook. If he admitted to any wrongdoing, they’d throw him in jail. And it's not like they’d believe Edward. He didn't have anybody on his side—no one who could vouch for him or did he?That sand scratched the back of his throat. It was the only chance he had.He wrote the name of the only person who could save him now.Call Ari Gold.The seer raised his eyebrows and the alpha frowned. "How do you know Ari?"Good. They knew him. Edward figured since he was one of the only healers left in Haven City. He shook his head and wrote:Baby is my sister. I take care of her. Ari knows. "And Jim Wilson just happened to knock himself out in the alley and hand you his wallet before he passed out?" the seer asked, still smiling. Edward wanted to punch the grin off his face, but he held back. Shook his head.Won't talk until you call Ari.With a sigh, the seer stood and left. Hopefully, he could get the healer on the phone and sort this out. Then Edward could find a way to get out of whatever they were charging him with. He hoped it wasn’t kidnapping. It's not like he asked Trish to abandon him and his sister. She just did.With the seer gone, the alpha eased into his seat and crossed his arms over his broad chest. Probably trying to be intimidating. After what Edward had been through, dealing with an alpha wolf was nothing. "You know I've seen Jim Wilson around. We had a few instances of kids with busted up faces and broken bones who claimed he had something to do with it. Though, they refused to press charges against him. Or tell us how they got involved."The alpha’s eyes settled on Edward, and Edward nodded. Though he wasn't exactly certain what he was agreeing to. But if it got him off, he wasn't sure if he cared.Edward scribbled:He asked me to give him blow job and I said no. Tried to force me and I hit him and took money. For Daisy.It wasn't that much of a lie anyway. The alpha read the message, but Edward couldn't tell if he believed it or not. His expression didn't change at all, it remained hard and stoic. Then he flipped through the files on his desk, and his eyes widened.“Are you related to a Trish Wilder? Stepmother it looks like.”Edward nodded and bit the inside of his mouth. Of course. It would all come back to Trish. If they thought he was involved with that—"Looks like somebody questioned you after she skipped town. You said you were going to stay with your grandmother. Didn't work out?" Edward shrugged. Pointed at one of his previous messages: Won't talk until you call Ari.The alpha stared at him for a long moment. Edward stood under it as best he could. The man's dark eyes were like most other wolves, and unlike Edward's own golden ones. He managed not to fidget, though he knew his heart pounded, and he couldn’t help the nervous energy pulsing through him. A wolf would sense that. Hopefully, he’d think it rightfully had something to do with Daisy and not Edward being guilty of anything particularly heinous.“You don't have any priors. And I'm not sure anything what's happened tonight has been your fault. But there's only one way we can help you, and that's if you help us first." Edward wrote a new message in the middle of the page: Need Daisy. She's my family. Then he met the alpha's eyes.
The man nodded slowly. “Good. Then I think we can work something out.”

Thanks to everyone who signed up for my ARC team. It means a lot to me!

I'm currently working on The Blood Scion: Prince of Thorns and Dusk Book One, so I'm knee deep in a stand off between vampires and the Fae. Good times!

It's sort of like this, but without shiny pants.


Or like this: 



Here's another peek at Fox Hunt!

The last thing he expected as he stepped out of the bathroom was Edward staring at him. Max hadn’t heard him open the door of the spare room, which was a massive oversight on his part. 
The fire still burned around Edward’s irises, though it was more of a smolder now. The intensity was different and it was aimed directly at him. 
Max saw it in Edward’s eyes a few times before. Now, it seemed distinctly out of place.
"What did I do wrong this time?" Max crossed his arms and met Edward's gaze.
Edward didn't have his phone, but he put his hands on his hips, as if Max was supposed to guess what he meant.
He probably wanted the bathroom.
Max stepped out, tried to move past him, but Edward blocked his way.
“You want to hit me? Punch me? Fine. Avoid my wounded side. And if you hit me in the eye, my team is going to know you did it. They won’t believe I’m that fucking clumsy.”
Edward balled his hands into fists, and Max planted his feet and waited for the blow.
Then Edward moved forward—shifter quick. He grasped Max's braid and yanked him down to Edward's level. His lips smashed against Max's. The kiss knocked the breath from his lungs, more teeth and pressure and a hot slick tongue that set fireworks off behind his eyes. 
But his cock didn't seem to mind.
Max was too caught off guard to kiss Ed back, and Edward pulled away, chest heaving.
Max licked his lips. 
Sucked in a breath that smelled like the fox. 
“Edward," he said, his voice a low growl. 
A plea. 
Maybe a question too.
Because what was he thinking?
And why the hell wasn't he putting a stop to it?
He could always say, ‘hey, I'm not gay.’ And leave it at that. But it wasn't the whole truth.
Now he knew what keeping the truth from Edward did. It's not like Edward would have given away the spot of the crossbow if Max had told him about it in advance. He was just being stubborn. Like usual. Trying to do things on his own. The way he did before he built his team. How, he’d still do things if he could avoid getting the team involved. Getting them hurt. 
If he got injured, it wasn't as bad as seeing it happen to one of them. Max was the leader. He deserved the pain.
But this was different.
Edward tilted his chin up, his mouth set into a dare. A slight quiver traveled through his shoulders, like he expected Max to shove him aside. To reject him the way who knows how many other people had.
And—shit—Max couldn't.
What did that mean?
Edward leaned forward again, more tentatively this time, and pressed his chest against Max's own. He wore the same thing he had on their walk. T-shirt. Jeans. The socks that always got baggy in the toes after he took off his shoes.
The second kiss wasn't as hard as the first. Edward’s lips burned as they pressed into Max's own and sucked the air from his lungs.
Max kept his hands at his sides but relented to the mouth pressed against his.
As if this was some price he had to pay. 
Or Edward—God no!
"You don't have to do this. You're not paying me back for saving you—" 
Edward cut him off. Teeth snagged at his bottom lip and pulled. A sharp jolt mingled with  lasting pleasure, and Edward's body crashed into his. His hips writhed against Max as his hand snaked over Max’s bare chest, carefully avoiding his wound, but that hand didn't seem to have as much apprehension about his boxers. Edward lifted the band, and Max sucked in a sharp breath as those hot slender fingers groped for his cock.
Found it and squeezed gently.
Fuck! 
How long had it been? Max didn't even want to think about that. Louise kept telling him he needed to get laid, but she probably never imagined it like this. 
He hissed through his teeth and thrust his tongue into Edward's mouth. Not battling for dominance, that wasn't fair since Edward was already at a distinct disadvantage. But Max could give as well as he could take. 
No use fighting his own desire. 
As Max’s cock hardened in Edward’s grip, Edward pulled back from the kiss. His mouth pink and full. Then he tugged Max forward, one hand on the band of his boxers and the other still tangled in Max’s braid. 
Edward pushed him against the wall and stared at Max’s chest for a long moment. As if he were deciding where to take his next battle—the battle for Max's body.
It didn't take long for Edward to make up his mind.
Max’s chest heaved—his brain reminding him this was a terrible idea. It was one thing to let a shifter into his house for protection’s sake. It was a whole other thing to have sex with that shifter. Especially someone so young—

But if this is what Edward wanted . . . 

I'm finally doing what I should have done about 5 years ago. Better late than never, right? I'm starting my own ARC team.

What do you get?

Free books in return for an honest review on Amazon (my first preference) and Goodreads (my second preference)!

Everyone wins!

If interested, sign up here!

ARCs for Fox Hunt go out on Friday. *wink wink nudge nudge*

I'm back! With a snippet from Fox Hunt (Haven City Series #10), and good news. Fox Hunt is with the editor and will be out on October 16th. Yay!!!
Also, here's some Eren/Levi sexiness, b/c Edward and Max have a bit of an age difference. ^_^ 





Here's a look at Max and Edward trying to get along. Mostly unedited. Enjoy!

Edward stiffened again and took an oversized bite of his food, chewing it and swallowing. Staring at his phone as if it held the answer to a question he dared not ask.
Daisy squirmed in his lap, and Max sighed and stood up. He pulled the playpen into the kitchen that they’d brought over the day before. 
He honest to God never thought he'd see one of them in his own house. But here he was.
"Would it be easier to eat if you put her in this?" he asked and pointed at the playpen. 
It was only about a foot and a half high on each side made with soft mesh, and the inside was completely padded. He supposed blankets and pillows and whatever babies needed could be added later. 
She had a few toys in the stroller that they brought over, but they were dirty. The night before, Ari tossed them in the washing machine to clean them up. Max assumed they were still in the dryer right now.
Edward stared at the playpen like it was a dog with three heads. And it was hungry. About to eat Daisy and him and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
“Or keep holding her. Your choice, kid."
Edward gritted his teeth and slowly sat Daisy down in the playpen. It had a few little dangly stuffed toys on the side, and she immediately reached up and batted at them.
“I’M. NOT. A. KID," he typed, though the robotic voice didn't put extra emphasis on it.
Max rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Of course not. Sorry, Edward. I was just trying to be helpful. They brought a lot of stuff over yesterday, I don't even know what most of it is. The duffel bag upstairs is full of clothes for you. There's a smaller one with baby clothes."
Edward shoved another rolled up pancake in his mouth and wiped his fingers on his sweatpants before he typed another message. "Where did they get it?? How much will it cost??!?”
The second question caused Max to blink. “I don't know how much it cost them, but I don't think they’ll charge you.”
"Bullshit. Everything cost something."
Slowly, Max leaned back in his chair and stared at Edward.
For the first time that morning, Edward’s gaze burned into his. Some of the fear from the night before had melted away. Or, more likely, he put up a barrier to keep Max from seeing it. Like a wall or a coat of armor. 
What the hell had Max gotten himself into? 
Well, it was too late to back out now.
“Am I supposed to charge you for staying here if everything costs something?"
Edward typed solemnly, and the phone spoke. "I help you catch killer fox & you let me stay. If I wasn't useful, you wouldn't have me here." His nostrils flared as he stared Max down. 
And. . . He wasn't wrong.
Max looked at his plate and took several slow bites. Sure, he would’ve felt sorry for Edward. Would have wanted him to get some sort of help, but he wouldn’t have opened his own home. It's not like he could take in every stray who happened across his doorstep anyway. 
He had a job to do. A job that didn't give him a hell of a lot of free time, because while the cops tried their hardest, there were some things they just couldn't do. Especially when it came to the shadow folk. That's were hunters like him came in, and other hunters too. The ones that didn’t care what sort of shadow folk they hunted. The ones that left a bitter taste in the back of Max’s mouth because they turned the good shadow folk against the fair hunters like him and his team. 
Max rubbed his freshly shaven cheeks. "Fine. Then consider all of this stuff part of the payment for helping me catch this guy. He's killed more than one person," he said and caught Edward with a steady gaze.
Edward’s cheeks flushed, and he looked sheepish. "How many?"
"In Haven so far? Five. But I'm sure he has a kill list longer than that. Did he say anything to you when you saw him?"
“Said ‘this is a surprise.’ Had weird voice."
Max perked up in his chair. "Weird voice? What do you mean?"
Edward scowled and scratched his head. Yeah. the need to type everything into a damn phone would be annoying as all hell. "Accent weird. Don't know where from."
Max nodded thoughtfully. Yeah. They thought he was affiliated with the Russians. Who were overall bear shifters. The vast majority of them had fallen into line under the Triad’s rule after the gang war, but there were some on the fringes that didn't take to the new leader all that easily. 
Those were the ones his team assumed hired this fox. Then again, they could be wrong. Especially since none of the people the fox had killed were members of the shadow folk. They were all humans, but they had to be connected somehow. 
"We think he's Russian," Max said and bit his tongue. Should he tell this fox everything they knew about the assassin so far? Well, it seemed a bit unfair not to when he was going to help them catch the guy. 
So Max did. 
After he was done, Edward's eyes were wide, and he stared at Daisy in the playpen. She made cooing sounds at him and giggled as she tried to yank a little stuffed cat off the mesh walls. 
The tension returned to his shoulders and when he sucked in a breath, it trembled. "And you think you can protect us from him?" Ed typed.
Max nodded solemnly. "I think I can die trying."
Edward flinched and chewed on his bottom lip as he typed something new. "If you don't and something happens to Daisy I’ll—” the phone read, and he continued typing.
Max reached out and grabbed Edward's hand.
The fox jumped, but Max didn't let go. He squeezed it firmly yet tenderly and ignored the jolt to his groin the contact gave him. He was just lonely. It'd been a long time since he had anyone in his life that wasn't work related. Anyone who hadn’t seen every side of him—especially the worst ones.
It didn't mean anything.
It couldn't. 
“Is she about to go on a murder spree anytime soon?" he asked softly.
Edward started and stared at him. Yanked his hand out of Max's grip and typed furiously. "She's a BABY. She can't hurt anyone." 
Max smiled. "Then I won't let anything happen to her. I'm not a monster, no matter what you think."
"Neither are we,” Edward’s phone said as Max turned his back.
He tried not to flinch at that and failed. “How old is she?”
Edward was silent as he typed. “Five months.”

Max nodded. If every day with Edward was gonna be like this, they couldn't find that assassin soon enough.

I have exciting news! Well, mostly it's a cover and some release dates, but that's exciting enough.

First, Fox Hunt (Haven City Series #10) will be out in early October. I have 6k left to write, and then it's going to go through several rounds of my personal edits, then beta readers and my editor.

Yay!

Next, I'm going to start organizing an ARC team. If you'd like to join, keep it in mind. I'll post a link to sign up next week.

Finally, here's the cover reveal for Fox Hunt! What do you guys think?


Edward Wilder’s life sucks. At 18, the fox shifter is homeless, trying to care for his baby sister, and since a group of hunter’s maimed him, he can’t even get a normal job. Things can’t get worse—until he witnesses a murder. Now the cops and criminals are on his ass, and he has nowhere to turn. Until Maxwell Strider shows up. Problem is, Max is a hunter, and Edward hates hunters.
Max wouldn’t take in a couple of foxes under normal circumstances. He may only hunt truly dangerous shadow folk, but that doesn’t mean he wants to open his home to a potential enemy. But he owes an old friend a favor, and Edward and the baby, Daisy, need his help. 
Protecting Edward should be easy, but the fox wakes a desire Max never knew he possessed. A lust Edward seems to share—if only at night. But can he mend the hurt Edward faced in the past and earn the one thing he’s denied himself—a chance at a family—before it’s too late?

Another summer sale for you guys!

Get the 99 cent boxed set of Lost Wolves Books 4-6 on Amazon today through August 9th!

Also, have you taken the short reader survey yet? If not, check it out here! Your opinion really helps.

And finally, check out the Work in Progress page here. I finally updated it with what I'm working on. I have 4 new books coming out this fall/winter season.




Omega Enslaved (Lost Wolves Book 4)

Felix Underwood is an omega, a con man and a (sometimes) assassin enacting revenge for the wrongs that plague his past. However, all that ends when he's captured by Interpol. Imprisoned for months, his only shot at freedom is a dangerous mission to gather information on the infamous alpha wolf, Lucien the Bloody King of Wallachia. When the mission goes south, Felix ends up as a spy in Lucien's clutches. In order to save himself, Felix needs to bring Lucien to his human handlers, but Felix's heart (and cock) tells him Lucien is his mate. 

His heart sucks. Especially since Felix is straight.

Lucien Mircea fought long and hard to become the ruthless alpha king he is today, but Felix challenges all of that. The mysterious omega wolf riles up Lucien's alpha instincts and sets his blood on fire in more ways than one. Lucien swore he'd never fall for a measly omega, yet the thread of destiny (and lust) intertwines them. 

Hundreds of miles from home and dogged by hunters, Lucien and Felix must work together if they want to survive. Can the alpha and omega overcome betrayal and learn to trust the mate bond that connects them?

Omega Untamed (Lost Wolves Book 5)

Abel Mircea, an alpha wolf, was banished from his kingdom at 16, but now the king who banished him needs Abel's help to save it. As one of the most fearsome assassins in the world, Abel knows he can do it, but he needs something beyond money or power to make it worth his while.

Enter Dagz Thorn-- an omega slave who looks like anything but. He's the only survivor of a vicious attack by hunters working for the warlord Arno, and when Abel saves Dagz, the alpha gets more than he bargained for. Not only does Dagz pledge his life to Abel, he also swears they are mates, bound together by a bond deeper than blood.

However, Dagz is not an ordinary omega-- he's a berserker who can't control his outbursts of violence. And now he's Abel's problem. Good thing they have a shit ton of hunters asking for an ass kicking.

While lust flares between the alpha and omega, can love bloom in the darkest parts of their hearts?

Beta and the Black Prince (Lost Wolves Book Six)

Kamil, a beta wolf, has been nothing but loyal to his alpha, Maxim, from the time they were pups. That loyalty is tested when King Lucien calls in his favor to Maxim. Lucien needs someone to hunt down the Ottoman wolf who has the power to destroy his kingdom, and Maxim sends Kamil on the mission.

Now, the beta wolf who always stood on the sidelines is now thrust into the center of a dangerous political struggle between two warring shifter kingdoms. At its heart is an alluring and dangerous wolf – Aslan, the bastard son of a Sultan, and the very wolf Kamil was sent to bring to King Lucien.

Problem is, that wolf is also Kamil’s mate.

Will Kamil betray his king and his mission for a chance at love?

You heard it right! I want reader opinions! 

I'm starting work on a few new books, but I'd like to hear from you guys first. 

Please fill out this short anonymous survey to help me out. 

Link!

Here's a hot pic of Makoto and Sousuke for your trouble.