Annabelle Jacobs - Bitten By Mistake

Bitten By Mistake

By

Annabelle Jacobs

Copyright

Cover artist: Natasha Snow

Editor: Sue Adams

Bitten By Mistake 2016 Annabelle Jacobs

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.

This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events or locales is coincidental.

The Licensed Art Material is being used for illustrative purposes only.

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WARNING

This book contains material that maybe offensive to some and is intended for a mature, adult audience. It contains graphic language, violent scenes, explicit sexual content and adult situations.

Acknowledgements

A huge thank you to these wonderful people: alpha reader Jay Northcote, beta reader N.R. Walker, cover artist Natasha Snow, editor Sue Adams, and proof readers Jay Northcote, Kirsty Bicknell, Celia Ottaway and Dawn Mayhew.

You all rock.

Table of Contents

Prologue

London, 2010

The rising numbers of shifters had reached an all-time high. Rival packs throughout the city swelled their ranks with both willing and forced bitings, causing widespread panic amongst the population. In a move to combat growing crime in the city and to alleviate public concerns, the government introduced Karels Law.

Karels Law.

All existing shifters will be required to submit to DNA registering. Failure to do so will be considered a criminal act and render the perpetrator liable to prosecution. Furthermore, any and all new bitings must first be proposed and submitted to the Department of Shifter Relations for consideration, with a signed agreement from both the hosting pack and the human proposer. Failure to do so will result in the change being classed as non-consensual. Verbal agreement will no longer be considered binding. All acts of non-consensual change will be subject to prosecution under the Right to Choose Act (1995).

Right to Choose Act.

If a human is bitten without consent, regardless of whether the change takes and holds, the punishment of the accused shifter will be decided at the discretion of the injured partyup to and including the death penalty. If the injured party is unable to make the decision themselves, it will be decided by the courts.

CHAPTER ONE

Jared leaned against the bar and scanned the Friday night crowd. Ten oclock was relatively early for that part of the city but the club was already three-quarters full. None of the occupants caught his eye tonight, and with an unimpressed sigh, he knocked back the rest of his drink and turned to the bartender.

After serving the couple next to him, the bartender paused in front of Jared and tapped his fingers on the counter. Same again?

The guy was tall and lean, with an air of superiority that screamed shifter . He might be hot, but Jared had no interest in going down that route again. No. Jared shook his head and leaned forward to get a better look at the fridge full of bottled beer. Im in the mood for something different.

As expected, the barman grinned and winked at him. Is that so?

Ignoring the obvious flirting, Jared pointed at the beer fridge. Yep. Ill have a Heineken, please.

Plenty of men and women in the club would jump at the chance to fuck a shifter, but Jared wasnt one of them.

The guy raised an eyebrow at his lack of interest, but his smile never dimmed as he handed him the beer. Let me know if theres anything else you want.

Jared paid him and lifted his bottle in a sort of goodbye salute. Will do.

Arrogant arsehole.

As he fought his way through the crowd, he felt the bartenders eyes on him the whole way. He hated the fact it sent a shiver of delight through his body.

Attraction wasnt the issue.

The dance floor backed onto a small area with tall tables and chairs, and Jared eased his way through the crowd to an unoccupied table at the back. The space was cramped, and he knocked his shoulder against the wall while squeezing onto one of the chairs. Fuck.

Occasionally it still ached even after three years, especially in the winter, and banging it like that didnt help. Setting his beer on the table, Jared slipped a hand under his shirt and absently rubbed his palm over the tender spot, shutting his eyes on a groan.

This seat taken?

The smooth, husky voice startled Jared into jarring his shoulder again. He snapped his eyes open.

The guy in front of him was tall, maybe three inches taller than Jareds six foot one, and he stood way too close, invading Jareds personal space. It set him instantly on edge. Leaning back in his seat to get some distance between them, Jared gave him a wary look. No, but Im not eager to fill it either.

Feisty. I like that in my men. The tall guy put his hand on the back of Jareds chair, and ever so subtly scented the air.

A few more drinks in and Jared would have missed it, but the alcohol had yet to hit his system, and he recognised the move for what it was.

Fucking shifters.

Piss off.

Im Nathan. The guy grinned at him, oozing confidence.

Jared rolled his eyes and took a deliberately slow drink of his beer. And Im not interested. So kindly fuck off and go bother someone else.

As usual, their arrogance made Jared want to punch something. Surely there must be shifters somewhere who didnt act that way? As though humans were powerless to resist their charms and should think themselves lucky to have garnered the attention of a shifter. If there were, then Jared hadnt met them. Glancing around the dark smoky inside of the club, with its questionable clientele, he reasoned his choice of hangouts hadnt improved his chances.

Nathan ignored Jareds words and eased himself into the chair opposite. The move looked far smoother than when Jared had done it, those lupine genes affording Nathan a strength and fluidity that Jared lacked. Jared watched him settle on the seat, unable to look away when Nathan turned the chair sideways to get more room, then stretched out his long legs in front of him and parted his thighs. Black denim clung to the thick muscles of Nathans quads and pulled taut over his groin, giving Jared a pretty good idea of how well endowed he was.

Despite knowing hed done it on purpose as a calculated, and probably well-practised, move to draw Jareds attention, Jareds gaze lingered on the outline of Nathans cock. Heat pooled in his gut as his traitorous body reacted, and he gripped his beer bottle tight, taking another swig to try to cool himself down. Maybe Nathan hadnt noticed.

Jared swallowed and glanced up to find Nathan watching him, his expression cocky and knowing.

Bollocks.

You know your mouth says one thing, but your body tells an entirely different story. How about we cut all the crap and go back to my place? Nathan sat up straighter and reached down to openly adjust the bulge in his jeans as he did so.

Jared managed to keep eye contact this time, laughing inside at the flash of annoyance in Nathans eyes.

Thats right. Im not as easy as you think.

Jared grinned back as his confidence returned. No way was a fucking shifter getting the upper hand. Not again. Just because I looked at your dick doesnt mean I want to fuck you. In fact He waved his bottle at the swelling crowd around them. The dance floor had filled considerably, and from where Jared sat, he could point out at least three guys he wouldnt mind taking home. I can see a few options that are definitely more my type.