Enemies in Love [High-Country Shifters 4] Read online

  High-Country Shifters 4

  Enemies in Love

  Henla, of the lion clan, senses someone she loves has been injured. When Jude Trisk asks the tall, sexy blonde for help, she learns the injured wolf-shifter is Kranor Ryn and risks entering enemy territory for her childhood friend. As she and Jude travel toward danger, they bond and their passions bloom.

  Delirious Kranor poses a challenge, but Henla’s care not only cures the warrior but ignites a deep love that leads to forbidden sex. While the two men want Henla forever, societal taboo prevents their union, and she retreats home.

  Time and time again the men risk their lives to be with her, but to spare her the burden of prejudice by her own clan, they need to let her go. Despondent without her, Kranor and Jude reevaluate their lives. What changes can they make that will enable them to be with her yet keep her safe and happy?

  Genre: BDSM, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Shape-shifters

  Length: 50,143 words

  ENEMIES IN LOVE

  High-Country Shifters 4

  Melody Snow Monroe

  MENAGE EVERLASTING

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

  ENEMIES IN LOVE

  Copyright © 2012 by Melody Snow Monroe

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62241-717-9

  First E-book Publication: December 2012

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2012 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.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

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  DEDICATION

  To my wonderful husband who inspires me every day.

  ENEMIES IN LOVE

  High-Country Shifters 4

  MELODY SNOW MONROE

  Copyright © 2012

  Chapter One

  While the Black Fur bar wasn’t crowded, the roar from the small group was enough to halt the conversation of wolf shifters Kranor Ryn and Jude Trisk. Kranor glanced at the huge screen and let out a groan. Some of the locals had made a wolf movie. It was pure blood and gore, with all of the deaths on the side of the lions. Like that was likely to happen? The credits rolled, and the three tables behind them whooped and hollered.

  One of the viewers pumped his fist. “Serves that stupid idiot lion right. Who was he to think he could take down five wolves?” The men guffawed.

  Another wolf shifter pounded the table. “The best part was when Dakrin shifted back into human form, picked up the machine gun, and killed all ten lions.”

  “You got that right!”

  Kranor polished off his beer and motioned the bartender for another one. There was no way any human with a gun could get a drop on a lion, let alone ten of them. Carrying a gun was asking to be mauled. The lions would have sensed the man and the gun before the guy had a chance to touch the trigger. Talk about dumb and improbable.

  As his mind wandered over the movie’s implications, he couldn’t help but pick up pieces of the obnoxious conversation behind him. The words ripped, cubs, and deserved it all smashed together. Even though he was a wolf, Kranor prided himself on keeping his cool, but after catching too many glimpses of the horrors of the homemade movie, he was fed up. “Stupid barbarians.”

  The scrape of a chair sounded behind him. “You say something, Kranor?”

  Jude jerked. Don’t let him goad you.

  His friend’s warning almost pissed him off as much as that ass’s comment. Maybe it was the fact he’d come to the bar for some downtime and didn’t need anyone’s shit that made him the maddest. He shoved back his chair and faced the jerk.

  Jude yanked back his arm. Don’t.

  I won’t hurt him. Much.

  Two more men from the table stood then immediately shifted, the universal sign that this fight was meant to end in death. Even if he’d wanted to laugh in their faces and walk out, he doubted they’d let him.

  “You sure you boys want to do this?” He always wanted to give his opponent one last chance to save face.

  All three snarled, and saliva dripped from their fangs. Before the first wolf had a chance to charge, Kranor shifted. Everyone else moved back to give them room. Cheers sounded around the room and people were probably taking bets on the outcome. He shot Jude a death glance, hoping his friend wouldn’t enter the fray.

  The challenger sprang forward, but Kranor deftly moved out of the way, not letting the attacker make contact. Before Kranor could regroup, the other two wolves bared their teeth again and charged, digging their fangs into his flank and neck. Pain seared him but only for a moment until the rush of adrenaline pushed down the ache. He twisted his body and shook his head to dislodge those two. They wouldn’t budge. He dipped his head and sank his teeth into one of the wolves’ legs, causing the injured wolf to let out a yelp and stumble backward.

  Encouraged by the odds, he lifted his hind legs and shook off the other one. The surprise move worked. That gave Kranor the chance to go on the offensive. Facing the two remaining wolves, he snarled and growled before launching himself through the air. He landed on the first wolf’s back. As the second wolf came to attack, Kranor moved out the way, but not far enough before teeth lodged in his rear. Only when the sec
ond wolf opened his mouth to take another bite was Kranor able to escape.

  The battle continued with each wolf getting in his share of bites. One fang cut into Kranor’s throat, and while the hole missed his jugular, blood splattered everywhere. He sprang at the other wolf, but his aim was off. His energy was waning, and he wasn’t going to last long. Out of the corner of his eye, Jude charged in.

  Skelak.

  As expected, his friend’s interference caused two more wolves to join in. Now it was two of them against four others. The odds would have been worse, but one of the original wolves remained on the ground. Kranor’s bite must have broken his leg. The wolf who’d just attacked backed off for a second, probably to get a better angle before charging in. That gave Kranor the chance to go for his jugular. Reining in every ounce of willpower, he leaped, aiming for the wolf’s neck. Bull’s-eye. A geyser of blood shot out. That one would be out of commission for a good long while.

  Two more wolves came at him. Using all of his remaining energy, he dodged the first attack, but the other wolf got his sharp claws into his back. Pain sliced through him. Unfortunately for that second wolf, being close exposed the guy’s gut. One bite on Kranor’s part and that wolf was history. Now they were down to two against two. Jude was easily able to take care of the wolf facing him. Both advanced on the last bleeding wolf.

  A flash of light later, the hurt animal shifted back into human form. His face and neck were highly lacerated. Even without the wounds, it would only take about three seconds to kill the human, but that wasn’t Kranor’s style. He wasn’t like the others. He didn’t kill for sport.

  As soon as he and Jude shifted back, Kranor’s vision blurred. He looked down and saw that blood covered most of his body. Large gashes marred much of his skin. Dread slowed him even further, and he grabbed on to the table to keep from falling.

  Jude disappeared from his vision but seconds later returned with several cloths. “Hold these over the wounds.”

  Kranor looked up and tried to smile. “I only have two hands.” It would take ten people to press coverings over his injuries.

  “I need to get you to a hospital.”

  That insult made him stand up straighter. “I’m going home. Pay the bartender.” His voice came out strong, but he knew his time was limited.

  A wave of dizziness nearly made him collapse, but he used some inner strength to straighten up to his six-foot-eight-inch height and head for the door, hoping the other wolves didn’t want to take him on. Given there were five injured wolves, perhaps they were happy just to be rid of him.

  As soon as they got outside, he shifted back into wolf form. Getting home would be easier, or so he thought. His ass hurt, three of his limbs were heavily damaged, and his neck was still dripping blood.

  I should call for help. Jude faced him.

  Like hell. I’m not giving those bastards the satisfaction. I wouldn’t be surprised if the attending doctor tried to finish the job.

  You’re an idiot. You could die.

  Putting one foot in front of the other was enough of a task. He didn’t need to be arguing with his best friend. Perhaps he should amend that. He didn’t need to be arguing with his only friend.

  Since he wanted little to do with most members of his clan, he chose to isolate himself on the edge of town. Rarely did he come to the bar, but tonight, he had the itch. Last time he made that choice.

  Jude smartly said nothing as they slowly walked the few miles toward his home. Halfway there, he had to stop. Give me a moment. Kranor dropped to his haunches and rested his head on the ground. The grass smelled sweet, but the mosquitos buzzing made his head hurt. His breaths turned shallow.

  When his lungs squeezed, he knew wasn’t going to make it. From the tinny smell pooling under him, he realized he’d lost too much blood. The quarter moon wasn’t enough to illuminate the bright red color, despite his acute vision, but he knew it was bad.

  Material ripped, and the next thing he remembered were Jude’s hands wrapping strips of cloth around his legs. As he drifted in and out of consciousness, the feeling of being light alternated with heaviness. His body floated then something hard dug into his belly. His head banged and his wounds oozed.

  When he opened his eyes, he was on the floor of his home and daylight was streaming in from the window. The cool tiles seemed to help revive him, but his whole body was on fire.

  “Welcome to the living.”

  He looked up at Jude. Bandages covered Kranor’s upper arms, but the rest of him looked fairly unscathed.

  Ugh.

  “You up for a soothing bath? I put some healing salts in the water.”

  He knew he had to get clean or the wounds would get infected, and his injuries would turn from annoying to deathly in a hurry. He licked a few of the gashes he could reach, but his energy fizzled quickly. Kranor eased up to a stand, but his legs shook.

  Jude was next to him in a flash. “Shift and I’ll help you.”

  That takes too much energy.

  “Then I’m going to pick you up.”

  Nothing was more embarrassing than being carried by a human. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on changing. The shift took his breath away, but a second later he was standing. One more second, and he was on one knee with his head down. “Fuck me.”

  “You need to stop watching so much American television.”

  He liked learning the Earth phrases. The harsh guttural sounds appealed to him.

  Jude helped him up. That in itself was disturbing. He never had to rely on anyone. The fact his best friend was well versed in the art of healing made his aid more palatable, though only barely.

  Jude led him into the bathroom, where the tub was filled with steaming water and some scent he couldn’t even describe. “Smells dreadful.”

  “It’s good for you.”

  He didn’t bother taking off his bar clothing because most had stuck to his wounds. He tried to wave off Jude’s help, but his friend seemed determined to play nursemaid. “Don’t you have something more manly to do with your time?”

  “No.”

  Nothing seemed to deter him. He stepped into the hot water and sank down. Though his cuts stung like a bitch, the salts also eased some of the ache. He dropped his head back against the tub and closed his eyes, partly because he never did like seeing the water turn red.

  “I’ll leave you to your healing.”

  “You do that.”

  When the door shut, he let out a howl. This stuff stung. The door burst open.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He’d had enough. “What the hell did you put in here?”

  “Has a bite to it, doesn’t it?” Stupid Jude stood there grinning.

  “Go.”

  At least Jude listened this time. When his skin felt like it was about to fall off, he got out but didn’t bother to dry off. He hobbled down the hallway, dripping water in his wake. He passed Jude, who’d come scurrying in from the kitchen. At least his friend had enough sense to say nothing as Kranor headed outside where the warm sunshine immediately soothed his skin. Only now did he take the time to examine his injuries. As he ran a hand up his arm, his gut soured and his pulse raced. Light-headed, he sat in the chair on the porch. He really hadn’t thought the wolves would have done this much damage. Hell, he’d been in hundreds of fights. Most battles he engaged in were with wolves, but occasionally, he’d been pressed into service if a lion entered their territory. He never went looking for trouble.

  After all, his best friends had been lions. He leaned back and closed his eyes. It wasn’t long before a nudge startled him and he jerked awake. Jude was hovering above him with a pained expression.

  What? He’d tried to speak, but nothing came out.

  “Let’s get you inside.”

  Why?

  “You need to eat and you look like shit. You’re white.”

  That wasn’t a good sign. Kranor pushed up on the arms of the chair, but he only managed to lift up a few inches. “Skelak.”
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  This time when Jude wrapped an arm around his midsection, he didn’t balk. However, his legs weren’t cooperating and his knees buckled. He never remembered being this weak.

  Somehow, they made it back to his bedroom where he was actually glad to lie down. When his face hit the sheets, his body went limp.

  * * * *

  Jude was worried. As a healer, he’d treated hundreds of injured wolves, but none had been this bad. At least none who’d lived had been this bad. Kranor hadn’t eaten since yesterday. That worried him. He debated calling an ambulance to come take him, but he understood why Kranor was leery. Not all wolves were trustworthy. Given how both of them had shunned the wolf clan in the last few years, it was a wonder they let them in the bar or work in town.

  Moans came from the bedroom, and Jude rushed in. Kranor was half on, half off the bed, but he was too damned big to lift without reopening his wounds. Jude nudged his shoulder, one of the few spots that hadn’t been damaged in the fight.

  “Kranor. Can you hear me?”

  There was no answer. Kranor. Can you hear me? He wasn’t sure if his telepathed words would get into his brain any better.

  One eye opened. Wha?

  The fact his friend couldn’t even form a word wasn’t a good sign. “I’m going to the lions.” If anything would wake Kranor, that would. Henla was his good friends’ sister. She was an extraordinary healer, according to Kranor. The problem was, if he traveled to her parents’ home, which was underground, his ability to stay alive long enough to explain his reason for being there was slim.