Thirteen
Two fights down, one to go.
But the guy who faced him nowβAlaskaβthis was not an average, bloodthirsty human hyped up on drugs.
This was a fucking shapeshifter, just like Rex.
The man got closer, and Rex could smell fur. A bear? Some kind of bear. Maybe a grizzly, but with all the scents of old blood, sweat, and rage wafting up from around them, it was hard to tell.
The man looked at him, hard. So he could tell Rex was a shifter, too.
They both wanted that huge, winning payout. The bearβs payout would be cash, likely, but Rexβs payoutβhis payout would be Gemma. Soon after Rex had left the gym, his phone had rung. βOne night in the cage,β Masters had said. βThree fights, and youβre done. You can take your precious woman and go.β
They didnβt know that he was going to rip this whole place apart. One night for him meant nobody would be fighting here ever again.
Because nobody messed with his mate and escaped unscathed.
The grizzly in front of him had white-blond hair and pale gray eyes. The ring name βAlaskaβ was fitting, because the guy looked colder and bigger than a glacier. Rex needed his help. With their combined strength, Rex could maybe even get out of the cage.
His plan up until now was to win, get Gemma, make sure she was safe, send her to his parentsβ house.
Then heβd come back here and tear this place apart.
But maybe there was another way. Rex sized up Alaska. Alaska sized up Rex. How could Rex show him that he wasnβt the enemy?
A scent carried over and through the smells of alcohol and unwashed tired bodies. Something clean and freshβstrawberries. Gemmaβs scent.
Rex looked around, squinting though the harsh lights illuminating the cage.
She was hereβup there, on the stairsβ
WHAP. A huge fist came to Rexβs face and smacked him sideways.
The fight had started. He hadnβt been paying attention.
He turned to the grizzly, dodged quickly. Alaska was already coming with a second hit. Trying to get him down fast? Wanting to end it early? Alaska didnβt look like he was enjoying himself; maybe he just needed the money.
Rex stood, spit out his mouth guard, and the other guy looked at him in puzzlement. His expression said it all: What the hell are you doing?
Rex gestured him closer, but kept his eyes low. Not wanting to challenge. Trying to show he was being submissive, asking for help. Hoping to inspire the protecting nature of a large predator, instead of the raging alpha.
Alaska came forward, but gave Rex a halfhearted swat. A little punch, but one that still rocked Rex sideways.
Rex got in close, wrapped his arms around the bearβs torso. Breathed, βI need your help. They have my mate.β
Alaska pushed back, hit Rex again. Alaskaβs eyes were dancing between amusement in confusion. Probably thinking Rex was trying to do some kind of trick.
Rex gestured the bear over again, hit him lightly. The crowd made a booing sound. Disappointed by the lack of action. Rex hit him again. Got a punch to the kidney for his efforts, and he fell for a second before pushing himself back up.
The bear spit out his mouth guard, too. Got close in, hit Rex, said, βDid you say they got your mate?β
βYeah,β Rex said. He grinned as if he were taunting the bear, even though his heart felt ripped to shreds inside of his chest. βHelp me get out. I want to fucking take this place down.β
The bear nodded. βSounds good to me. I hate those assholes. Beinβ here is a mistake.β
The two of them turned in one swift movement and reached for the bars of the cage. Alone, Rex couldnβt bend them, but with the help of another shifter, he knew theyβd get it done. Especially with the help of a giant grizzly bear.
The crowd started yelling, throwing things at the cage. Rex ignored them. Nothing big or hard would hurt him, and he needed out.
The announcer was telling everyone to step back unless they wanted to be part of a big brawl. Some guys in the audience even came forward, to help open the cage. Their lust for violence was so strong that they were practically begging for it.
Rex would give it to all of them. One by one.
But then Gemmaβs scent caught in his nostrils again. She was out here, somewhere. βGems?β he shouted.
βYour mate?β Alaska asked, breathing heavily with the strain of the bars.
βYeah,β Rex said. βGotta find her.β
βHang on,β Alaska said.
Suddenly, the cage bars popped open. Instead of stretching and bending them, Alaska had pulled one right off. Rex jumped through. Men threw punches toward him, but he blocked them, and when he couldnβt block all of them, he took them. And some he gave back, just to create a path, because he needed to find Gemma.
Now out of the cage, the lights werenβt blinding him so badly. He used his nose, hunting for the scent of strawberries.
Masters came forward. A gun in his hand. Nobody else in the crowd noticed the gun, but it stuck out to Rex. He could fight. He could throw punches. He could kick ass. But he couldnβt survive a bullet. If it hit him in the brain or the heart, shifter healing wouldnβt help him. There was no surviving it.
Masters swung the gun away from Rex, and pointed it up toward a long set of metal stairs. Gemma.
Rexβs breath caught in his chest. No.
Rex rushed forward and tackled Masters.
The gun went off. The man beneath him went still.
Several people screamed and scrambled to get away. Theyβd all been searched for weapons, for phones. They had no defense.
Rex stood up quickly. Masters lay dead on the floor. When Rex had tackled him, the gun had spun around and the bullet had gone through his neck. The bullet had grazed Rexβs arm on the way out.
Alaska stood next to him. βYou get hit?β He looked over Rexβs arm. βYouβll be fine.β
Rex craned his neck, trying to see past Alaska. There she wasβGemma was running down the stairs toward him.
βThe other guy who took me, heβs up there,β she said, pointing. βI knocked him out.β
Rex started forward, thinking heβd go after Corbett, but Gemma put a hand on his arm.
βDonβt,β she said. βLetβs just go.β
Rex looked down at his mate. Her brown eyes, so trusting. Wide with fear.
Besides, Corbett wasnβt a threat anymore. Rex was free.
Nobody stopped him or Gemma or Alaska as they walked out of the club. Into the dark night. Past the parking area and into the forest.
Eventually, Rex knew, someone would call the law enforcement out here. Nothing would be found to tie Rex or Gemma here, or their new friend. Their friend who, Rex realized, wasnβt a grizzly, but some other kind of bear. He didnβt recognize the scent.
βThank youβ¦β Rex said.
βNolan. Nolan Marks,β the bear said.
Rex shook his hand. Shaking, Gemma shook his hand, too.
Nolan continued, βI needed out of there, too. I thought it was helping me, but it hasnβt been. Iβve just been putting off problems.β
βThatβs what I was doing,β Rex answered. βBut not anymore. Thatβs all behind me now.β
Fourteen
Gemma couldnβt catch her breath. Rex helped her by rubbing her back, helping her lean over. βBreathe with me,β he said.
βIβI canβt.β
βYouβre in shock, itβs okay.β
βItβs not okay. Youβre shot, Rex. You need to get medical attention.β
βLook,β he said, pointing to his shoulder.
She looked, feeling squeamish at the sight of blood. The wound wasnβt really as bad as sheβd thought it would be. In fact, as she watched, it seemed to be scabbing over. The blood had already stopped.
βWhatβwhatβs happening?β she asked.
βI told you I was a shapeshifter,β Rex said. βIt comes with a certain benefit. Speedy healing. It probably developed because we fight all the time.β
Nolan, the giant next to them, laughed.
Gemma shook her head. This was so much, so fast. βAnd you couldnβt tell me any of this when we were growing up, but you can tell Nolan, who we just met?β
βIβm a shifter, too,β Nolan said.
Gemma looked up and up. He seemed lethal enough already, with his giant muscles and his bare torso covered in tattoos. If he could change into some kind of predator, that made him even scarier. She scooted closer to Rex.
Nolan flashed her a disarming smile. βYou take care of your mate,β he said. βItβll kill him to be without you.β
βKill him?β Gemma asked.
βWhy do you think he was in the fights in the first place? Grief makes us do crazy things.β
βEnough, Nolan,β Rex said.
Nolan shrugged. βI best be going.β
Gemma watched, open-mouthed, as Nolan stripped out of his loose sweatpants. For a moment, his body shimmered in the darkness, taking on a soft glow. His arms and legs changed, his face changed. Within seconds, white fur sprouted from his skin.
Gemma grabbed Rexβs hand. They were looking at a polar bear.
βHeββ Gemma said. βHeββ She couldnβt finish the thought, not aloud.
The polar bear lowered his head once, then ambled off into the forest.
Gemma still didnβt know what to say. If she hadnβt been prepared by Rex telling her all of this, sheβd never have believed it. But now that she didβ¦well. Now she believed it.
βWow,β she breathed.
βIβve never seen a polar bear shifter before, either,β Rex said. βThat was crazy.β
βCrazy?β Gemma laughed. βThis whole thing was crazy.β
Rex wrapped his arm around her shoulders. βI know we have a lot to talk about. So much to discuss. But Nolanβs already taken off, and we probably should take off, too.β
He held out his hand, and gave her a look like he didnβt know if sheβd take it or not.
But of course she took his hand. It was Rex. Rex who sheβd loved for years and years, ever since she was a girl.
They walked to Rexβs truck, which heβd parked near the rear entrance of the warehouse.
βDo you smell smoke?β Gemma asked.
βYeah. I think someone set the place on fire.β
βGood,β she said.
Sure enough, a couple minutes later, Rex pointed to a figure. It looked suspiciously like Corbett, short and squat, hurrying outside with a gas can in his hand.
βYouβre right, letβs get out of here,β Gemma said. βI donβt want to be a part of the drama.β
βWhat about your article?β Rex asked.
βIβll still write it. If I play my cards right, I bet I can get an exclusive, anonymous interview with one of the fighters.β
Rex laughed. βI bet you could.β
βIβm justβ¦Iβm not going back, though.β
βYouβre not?β
βNo. Remember how I always wanted to travel around in an old camper, and just explore the land?β
βYeah.β He smiled that boyish grin that sheβd always loved.
βWell, I want to do that. I can write from anywhere, you know.β
He leaned down and kissed her. βSounds good to me.β
Fifteen
Rex still couldnβt believe his luck. He and Gemma had bought a camper, driven down to Nevada, and gotten married that very week. Three weeks later, they were back in Idaho. Rex had wanted to pay his respects at Jimβs grave, and Gemma was interested in exploring more of the wooded areas. She seemed to love hiking around while Rex walked at her side as a wolf. Sheβd once even started making jokes of getting him a leash and collar, until heβd shifted back to human and tackled her and tickled her senseless.
One day after a hike, they came back into town to visit a diner. Rex had used to come here with Jim for the occasional lunch. He missed the old manβit wasnβt fair that he was gone.
At the doorway into the diner, Rex paused. Sniffed. There was a shifter here, but it didnβt smell like Nolan.
βWhat?β Gemma asked, immediately on guard. Sheβd learned to read his expressions even better now that she knew the cause.
βAnother shifter,β Rex said. βInside the diner. Heβs looking at us.β
βGuess we better go in then,β Gemma said.
There was a single guy sitting in a booth, close to the door. Muscular, almost as huge as Nolan was. Brown hair, blue eyes. He wore a button-up shirt and slacks. The briefcase at his side made him look like some kind of professor or something.
He nodded to Rex and Gemma. βJoin me.β
Rex bristled at the order, but he slid into the seat across from him, Gemma at his side.
βWhat are you?β Gemma asked.
The man laughed. βGrizzly. Nameβs Jameson.β
βNice to meet you,β Gemma said, holding out her hand.
βMe and my mate Willow, we want to start a new clan,β Jameson said, looking between Rex and Gemma. βItβs small so far, but weβd like to have a community of other rogues who can all hang in the same place. Find themselves and stay, or leave whenever it feels right.β
βWeβre traveling right now,β Rex said.
βBut we might be interested later,β Gemma added.
βWeβll be here when youβre ready,β Jameson said.
βAnd we know someone else who might be interested,β Rex said. βPolar bear by the name of Nolan.β
Jameson smiled. βHeβs already in the Rock Creek Clan. Heβs the one who told me about you.β
—
And that’s it, everyone! Thank you so much for reading The Rose King. I hope you loved it! An edited version is available for sale, but honestly, there’s not much different–just some fixed typos and adjusted wording where my proofreaders thought it sounded awkward. Still, feel free to add it to your e-reader, and as always, I’d love your reviews!
<3
I really enjoyed this story. As a matter of fact, I’ve enjoyed each and every story of yours I’ve read so far. Thank you so much for sharing your work. π
You are so welcome! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed it, and the others. I’ll try to keep ’em coming for you! π
Loved it short and sweet, not full of drama. Thank you
Thank you so much!
That was short but sweet. Really LOVED it. Thanks
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. <3
I enjoyed this story. Thank you for giving it to us. I look forward to reading more from you. π
You’re welcome, Mandy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! <3
Loved the story. Exciting to the end.
Thank you so much, Debra! I’m so glad you loved it! <3
I havent read yet. Just had an heart attack not to long ago and im doing a whole bounce of workshop and physio twice a week. Plus i just stop smoking so i have support group. My daughter is sick too so i have her to take off. But i do promise that i will read it
Thank
Lucie Percival
Wow, Lucie, that’s a lot going on! Take care of you and your family first. <3 Books will always be here.
Thank you
Wow, way too short but leaves you hungry for more xx can’t wait to read whole series soon
Thank you, Claire! It’s my next project once the Spellbound Souls series is all wrapped up, but while you wait, you can see Gemma and Rex as side characters in Savage Heartache. π
Nolan’s next, right? ππ How and why did he get into fighting? Who’s his mate?
I just thought of this… I’d like to know how polar bear shifters drifted so far from the natural habitat of polar bears.
Very nice story! Thank you for sharing it!
I missed your comment while I was on vacation, Jo–sorry! Nolan does indeed get a story, and I’m working on his series now. <3 I'm so glad you enjoyed this story!
I think some of it was a little cut and dry. It could have used some more descriptors and language to get the story across better. Some more dialog. But I like where itβs going!
Thank you for the feedback! I really appreciate it. I’ll definitely make the future books for this series longer, and draw out more of those descriptions and conversations. I’ll start writing them soon, so this is good to know going forward! <3
Thank you, Liza, for The Rose King. A well written, entertaining story, right to the end.
You are very welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it! π
It was an amazing read. Thank you.
You are so very welcome! I’m thrilled you enjoyed it. <3
I really enjoyed the story. Thank you Liza
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you liked it! <3
Thank you Liza, i really enjoyed reading the Rose King, it was perfect to me, i loved it, cannot wait to read more from you.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for commenting and letting me know. <3
I recently discovered you and love your writing style. Looking forward to the series and longer stories. Thank you for being a writer. Now to check out other books by you.
Aw, Jeannette! I don’t know how to put gifs into my blog comments, so just imagine that I’m jumping up and down and clapping with excitement. This makes my day! As far as long vs short books: all of the Sierra Pride books are pretty short. The other series have longer books, though, and you don’t have to start with the Sierra Pride if you want something meatier. π
I only caught the last part but I loved it. I always enjoy your books. Thanks for entertaining us all!
Thank you, Donna! So glad you loved it. Maybe check your spam folder for the other emails with the earlier installments? <3
I’m new to your work. Thank you for sending this story to me! I really enjoyed this story, and plan to read more of your work.
Thank you so much, Val! I’m giddy that you enjoyed this and I hope you like my other books just as much! <3
I loved your story. Would love to leave a review. What sites would you like it left on? I blog on several sites. Twitter, WordPress, Instagram, Bookbub, LinkedIn, Reddit and reviews left on Amazon and Goodreads. I havenβt left many on Wattpad so it takes me a while to figure it out.
Wow, thank you, Kaylee! It’s on Apple Books, B&N, Kobo, Google Play, and Amazon, as well as BookBub and Goodreads, so you can take your pick! π I would so appreciate it! Here’s the Amazon link, to save you from searching, and if you want any others, just let me know! <3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072KBPFDX
Loved the story. Was not ready for it to end. Have loved all your books so far. Please keep them coming.
Thank you, Sheryl! I definitely plan to keep these books coming–I love penning these fierce romances.
Hi Liza,
Thank you for The Rose King! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more of the Rock Creek Clan. Do you have a boxed set for the Rock Creek Clan?
Yes, there is a boxed set, and it’s available on most retailers! This should have all the links for you: https://books2read.com/rock-creek-box-1-3 I’m so glad you enjoyed The Rose King!