Marked By The Alpha (Blood Moon Book 1) Read online

  MARKED BY THE ALPHA

  Natalie Aejaz

  Copyright 2019 Natalie Aejaz

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  BOOKS BY NATALIE AEJAZ

  PREVIEW—DEMON’S SOUL

  CHAPTER ONE

  * * *

  FIRE HAD BURNED THROUGH SHAUN’S veins since the sun set over an hour ago, making his beast howl with the need for release. The full moon sent the mating urge through his blood, and it was one hell of a day to be dealing with urgent business, but he couldn’t leave his office without sorting this deal out. His wolf would have to wait.

  “Spit it out, Jack,” he told the suited thug who sat on the other side of the desk. “Will I get anything out of this partnership, or is the mob boss trying to pull a fast one over me?”

  Jack leaned forward and placed his elbows on Shaun’s desk, his rolled jacket sleeves exposing those barbed wire tattoos. “I’ve checked it out. That little antique shop is the real deal. Bars and restaurants and designer shops have been shooting up in the area. Give it a few years, and it’ll be prime estate. Long-term investment, but at the rate Will’s arranged? A bargain.”

  The building this meeting took place in was part of Shaun’s property investment firm and used for the less savory practices. He’d sat in this same office—a spacious room decorated in a neutral color scheme of crème and brown—and brokered countless deals before this antique shop reared its head. This little gem came to him through Drake, high up in the mob. Shaun had no qualms about dealing with guys such as him, but the deal had one damn caveat. He would have to convert it into an upmarket lounge bar, and if those mob members had discreet business and needed to use any of the private rooms, he would feign ignorance. No qualms about that, either. When Drake said discreet, he meant it. He knew better than to disturb the exclusive clientele such a venue would pull in and even planned to take care of the initial construction work.

  It was a prospect any other entrepreneur in the industry would salivate waterfalls over, if the deal stopped at being associated with Drake…but as if anything in this business could be so straightforward. The caveat meant a partnership with James, the mobster Drake answered to—a man as unstable as they came and so egotistical, he would see this offer as a great honor. If Shaun turned it down, the mob boss might take it as a matter of high offence, and he was someone who, when slighted, did not give up until he got even. Few people in this business did.

  The thought of James should have been enough to keep Shaun’s focus firmly on this meeting, but because of tonight’s full moon, his damn shifter blood pumped urgency through his system until he ached to sate his beast’s appetite. Not long to go now…he’d already arranged a date, and the female he was about to meet was of a similar mindset, only wanting to get laid with no interest in useless commitments. Nobody would harness his wolf…that’s what it meant, being attached to another, didn’t it? Losing at least some control over your own life. It was a mystery why anyone would want to go that way, when there were countless casual encounters to be had. And when such encounters took place during the full moon, they were particularly satisfying…as heat stirred his insides, he forced his attention back to the meeting. The sooner he got out of here, the sooner he could get down to what he’d anticipated all day.

  “Any legal issues?” he asked. If anything would dampen the urge building inside him, it was talk of legalities.

  “The owner died last year, leaving an outstanding loan that James purchased.”

  “And I reckon the loan shark had put in a hell of a clause, one the debtor was too desperate to dispute?”

  “You got it. The owner agreed to a deal that would enable the creditor to take possession of the shop at any time.”

  “And nobody’s contesting it?”

  “The dead owner’s kid has been in touch with a lawyer for a while. One persistent broad. She wouldn’t back off even when James sent his thugs.” Not even when faced with those guys? A woman with a death wish. “Drake’s filled the right pockets, so all’s nearly sorted.”

  “Nearly sorted?”

  “She’s a feisty one, I admit—you know how heavy James’ men are. But as I said, Drake’s been dealing with it through the legal route.” And unlike the scenario of a few years ago, taking the legal route now worked in the favor of the mob. When supernaturals were first exposed as living among mortals, criminal organizations took advantage of the fear that spread like a contagious disease. They promised to protect humans in return for advantages sanctioned by the government. It was why the authorities ignored activities—such as loans with illegal caveats that enabled loan sharks to rob debtors of their properties. “Shaun. The legal issues aren’t anything you haven’t dealt with before. If you go through with this, you’ve nothing to worry about.”

  Apart from James. Otherwise it was one hell of an opportunity. As Shaun leaned back in his leather chair, he should have been buzzing with the satisfaction that came after investing in a property that only guaranteed profit. Because he would invest in this deal, if only to keep James sweet, but his brain cells were already at work, anticipating how to manage the mob boss. “Great job, Jack. You’ll be well compensated.”

  The other man winked as he stood, a gesture out of place on his hard face. “I’ve no doubt about that.”

  When the door shut behind Jack, Shaun leaned forward to rest his head in his hands and then closed his eyes for a few seconds. Let’s get out of here. “Shut the fuck up, beast.”

  He opened his eyes and then picked up his mobile, a struggle because the agitation brought on by the full moon had spread through his body, forcing his fingernails into claws—if he had the damn time to look in a mirror, there’d be flashes of amber in his gray eyes. Just as well the humans he employed weren’t easily scared by shifters or other supernaturals—in fact, for staff like Jack, it was an honor working under one.

  Damn, it was after 9 pm. Shaun would never dream of contacting his more legit associates this late, but the broker Will was far from that. The cunning human had turned up yesterday, carrying that briefcase he loved so much, and inside it were the details of his latest acquisitions, as he liked to call the deals he spent his miserable life hunting out. And then he informed him that James had personally chosen Shaun to take over an antique shop and convert it into an enterprise that would also benefit the mob. One hell of a dubious honor. But it was obvious why James honed in on him. After
years in Manhattan, Shaun had learned to negotiate the mob and the legal authorities. And it didn’t hurt that he’d already launched a couple of successful lounge bars. He brought up the broker’s number on his mobile and then hit the call key.

  After a few seconds, the grating voice came over the phone. “Shaun?”

  “Will. About that antique shop? I want to go ahead with the deal.”

  He could just imagine the weasel rubbing his hands together in glee. “I knew you would—it’s not every day that James makes such an offer, is it?” Which was why Shaun knew better than to refuse it. “But you understand the caveat?”

  Did he understand the caveat? He’d spent most of last night considering the potential repercussions. “Yes.”

  “And you’ll deal with the outstanding legal issues on the place?”

  “Piece of cake, Will.”

  “Great. I’ll speak to Drake and arrange for the loan to be sold on to you. You’re ready to go ahead?”

  “Yes. In fact, tell Drake to go ahead and plan the construction.” Shaun would deal with the legal stuff later. Wouldn’t be the first time.

  “You’re a wise man, Shaun. This is one hell of a deal, and a good relationship with someone like James works wonders in this business.”

  After ending that call, a shot of impatience hit him. Wanting to get his ass out of here as fast as he could, he took a quick shower in the attached bathroom. He’d just dressed in smart jeans, a blue shirt and black leather jacket when a message arrived on his smartphone: from the sexy cat shifter he’d arranged to meet tonight, all dark sleek hair and green eyes. Sorry, Shaun, but I’m done. It’s rude to keep a lady waiting, especially during the full bloody moon.

  Fucking great. Any other night, not a big deal, but it had been one hell of a job controlling his wolf since darkness fell over Manhattan this evening, and the only thing that kept him going was knowing he’d get laid later. The cat shifter had even arranged a nice place for them, but damn it, she’d be sharing that haven with someone else tonight.

  Eclipse? Probably the only other option. The luxury venue sat on a private island, with dance clubs, bars, VIP areas and its own upmarket hotel. Its pleasure zones were areas where the more heated activities took place, and he opened the club app to reserve a spot in one, only to be reminded that because of the time of the month, those areas had been booked out by last week. He was friends with a few of Eclipse’s owners, but he didn’t fancy calling in a favor for something like this. He could head to Oasis instead, a dance zone in the club which he frequented a few times a month, usually to catch up with friends. But by the time he reached the venue, it would be close to midnight, and with it being a full moon, any supernatural worth picking up would have been taken. Hell, he wouldn’t find anyone of the feline’s standard, but right now, anyone would do. After logging onto the club’s hotel app, he secured a room for the night, because who knew how long it might take to hook up with someone?

  He drove his Porsche out of the underground car park and into the crowded roads of Manhattan. The closer he got to the river crossing, the more congested the traffic was. Finally, he was on the bridge that led to the club.

  Who would he end up with tonight?

  Shaun couldn’t be bothered with anything other than casual fucking, unlike some of his shifter friends, who swore by finding a mate and marking them as their own—through a bite on the neck that left a scent behind and served as a warning for other shifters to stay away. Relationships were too much damn trouble. As for marking someone, even spending a full night with another being was more than he could manage. Eclipse club, where supernaturals and humans met for sex and all sorts of debauchery, was the perfect place for him.

  THE OASIS CLUB WAS SO imposing that Angie had almost made a run for it when she saw it.

  The multi-story building loomed over her, as if warning her to keep away. It was her first time at the venue, and part of her still wanted to escape while she had a chance. She’d stood in the queue for nearly an hour with Shaz, her best friend. Not long before they entered the club now, and the closer they got, the harder her heart thumped. This place…it wasn’t for her. She was always the sensible one, and the people in this queue, high on drugs and anticipation, were anything but.

  She pulled her jacket closer around her, but it wasn’t to keep out the cold. Just as she’d feared, she’d made a stupid choice when it came to her clothing. A red blouse and black pants? She should have picked up that sexy dress that Shaz pointed out in the mall that day. She hadn’t done anything with her dark curls, either, running a comb through her hair after washing it. What the hell was she thinking, coming to a place like this after making little more effort than she usually did for the office? And by now, she was scared to look at anyone in the queue. The women around her were in designer dresses and shiny heels, most of them looking as if they’d accidentally fallen off the covers of fashion magazines. A few of them had even thrown pitying glances at her.

  On the way here, Angie had toyed with the idea of doing something that she’d never even considered before, and going for a one-night stand. It might be what she needed to get over a recent break-up. But as soon as she’d seen the other women in the queue, the idea of competing with them for attention drove that idea straight from her mind. She had never stood out, always blending in with the background, whether she was at school, college or at work. At a place like this, she wouldn’t even be part of the background. She would be invisible.

  “Shaz,” she mumbled. “You go ahead. Maybe I could come another time—”

  “No fucking way.” Her red-haired friend shook a freshly manicured finger in her face. Unlike Angie, she’d gone for a short black dress, strapless. But with her striking looks, she could make heads turn in her direction no matter what she wore. “It’s taken me ages to get you here, and you’re not getting out of it that easy.”

  “But do we have to go to Oasis? What about one of those lounges you mentioned—” The ones where nothing more exciting than dinner and drinks happened. That sounded grand right about now. Drinks and a chat. And no chance of humiliation when nobody noticed her. Perfect, because she had to get to work tomorrow and would be better off not having a late night.

  “Aaw, come on, girl.” Shaz had brought a group of colleagues with her, and the blond one rolled her eyes, pouting her glossy lips as she spoke. “We’ve been looking forward to this for ages. It’s going to be crazy in there tonight…if we ever get in. And hooking up is not compulsory or something, you know. Just sit in a corner while we have our fun.”

  The full moon was the reason the group had cast aside worries about work and come here during the week. Angie didn’t want to be the one who spoiled the night for everyone else. Not a good look. “I suppose it’ll be all right,” she murmured. There was no reason why she couldn’t get away early, was there? She’d check out the club, see what the fuss was about, and then make her excuses. With any luck, the rest of the group would be otherwise occupied by then—none of them would have problems getting laid—and would be relieved to see her go.

  Shaz gave her a reassuring smile as she threaded her arm through hers. “Once you’re in there, you’ll relax, babe. Promise.”

  At least the experience was not so daunting with her best friend by her side. And like Shaz’s colleague had just mentioned, nobody was going to force Angie into a hookup. In fact, she could pretend she’d never even considered the idea and sat on the sidelines out of choice. And she had always been a bit curious about Oasis, hadn’t she? She’d heard of the club plenty of times, because since Shaz discovered it two years ago, she was obsessed with it. She’d often tried to convince Angie to give it a go—trying to tempt her with one of those lounge areas. Perfect for beginners to the venue, apparently. But Angie had never agreed…because until a few weeks ago, she’d been with Bill…

  Damn, adjusting to the single life was not easy, especially when she’d thought that Bill was the one. Their relationship had dragged on for years but
fell apart in an instant. After living with him for over a year, she’d expected him to pop the big question soon, but instead, he announced he’d met someone else. It felt as if this someone else came out of nowhere, but of course, it had been going on for a while, and Angie was too much of an idiot to realize it. That was two months ago and since then, she’d sweltered in self-pity, escaping for drinks with Shaz and other friends…long evenings where they spent most of the time analyzing the signs she missed or trying to guess why Bill went off with another woman. Sometimes, the conversation switched to what the woman might be like. Angie harbored no misconceptions about her own looks, and it hurt to think he might have dumped her for a looker.

  “Cheer up, Anj. We’re supposed to be partying.” Shaz leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “Look. If we go in there and you don’t like it, we’ll both go to one of those lounges instead. Promise. The girls can enjoy their night how they want.”

  And this was why Shaz was her best friend. She’d proven it plenty of times by being there for her when Bill left. Through the heartbreak, Angie had known she could call her friend at any time. “Thanks, Shaz. And you’re right. I need to get over Bill and live it up a little.” It was the reason she’d agreed to come out tonight.

  Shaz gave her hand a squeeze. “That’s more like it. I’m proud of you, Anj.”

  Despite Angie’s bravado, as they got closer to the entrance, the idea of going inside was still unnerving. Bill had been as sensible as her, and the most adventurous they’d ever got was going to themed restaurants. How long was it since she’d even been inside a club? Too long to remember. And this was a venue where humans and supernaturals got together for sexual encounters…

  Coming here was a mistake. Oasis was the perfect venue for the vibrant, red-haired Shaz, whose striking looks and confidence meant she was often mistaken for a supernatural by other humans, but for someone like Angie? Even if she did meet someone in there who by some miracle noticed her among these gorgeous women, she could not expect an above average experience…she never had.