Michaels - Winter Blues: Pryde Ranch Shifters, #5

A Pryde Ranch Shifter Novella

by

T.J. Michaels

Winter Blues: Kotara Pryde (A Pryde Ranch Shifter Novel)

Copyright 2015, T.J. Michaels

First Electronic Printing ~ November 2015

Second Electronic Printing ~February 2016

Edited by Chelly Hoyle-Peeler

Cover art ~ Brandy Walker

ISBN 978-0-9905699-7-8

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Published by Bent West Books

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This novel is a work of fiction. Any and all characters, events, and places are of the authors imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or events or places is merely coincidence.

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K otara paused outside of her cousins suite. Derria Sozi-Pryde and her two mates were like bunnies when it came to sexing. Once she was sure that there was no moaning, screaming or pleading, she knocked on the door.

Come in, Derria called.

No way in hell . There were way too many sex hormones in there. The last thing she needed was yet another cold shower from all the gimme some those three gave off.

It still amazed Kotara that Derria had gone on a typical hunt for the Shifter and Were Armed Tactics agency, S.W.A.T., and come home with not one, but two mates.

Lucky bitch.

Moments later, Lakota Phillips opened the door. Kotara breathed a sigh of relief. At least he was dressed this time. Shifters were the most immodest of creatures when it came to nudity. She was glad that they had a healthy sense of self, but for a single female in a house full of mated shifters, life in the horny department could be a bit...trying.

Didnt you hear Derria say it was okay for you to come in? he asked, with that typical twinkle of mischief in his eye.

Yep. And for the millionth time, I am not coming in there.

I know, I know. Too many pheromones.

Damn right. Now if you guys dont mind, you, Kerr and Derria are wanted downstairs. Library in ten minutes.

She did a smart about-face and left him standing there looking all gorgeous and puzzled. She almost chuckled, but the reason they were being summoned was no laughing matter.

Kotara hit the staircase at a brisk walk. The chalet-style mansion was a luxurious but homey place. She ran her fingers over the thick swirls carved into the highly polished bannisters. Her gaze was drawn to the Persian-style design woven into the rugs as she moved, her combat boots making no noise on the plush wool carpets.

From the fourth floor down to the first, the beautiful paintings of various cultures and their animal spirit guides called to her. Her thoughts fell back to when she and her sisters were building this place. It was important that they be good stewards of their lands. It was the reason the research laboratories, lovingly called the Labyrinth, were all underground with rolling prairies covering their existence. Each log for the chalet, every tree in the orchard, the plants in the gardens, and the water featureseverything had been chosen with care because the design of the estate was meant to fit with the surrounding acreage of the ranch.

Down on the first floor, Kotara headed straight for the library. In the center of the brightly lit room was her favorite piece of equipmenta table made of highly polished aspen. With one tap of the remote embedded in the center, the thing transformed into a literal King Arthur-style Round Table. Thanks to Niah Pryde, it had all the electronic bells and whistles that allowed them to coordinate missions out of this room.

Kotara took a seat closest to the wall of windows that looked out onto the vast snow-covered prairie. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and simply bathed in the sun, appreciating and loathing this place all at once. Moments later, her family began to stroll inall hunters, the lot of them.

But they were so much more.

Neesia and Niah Pryde were the oldest twins. Neesia was the matriarch and Niah was the technical genius. Pryde Industries security division existed solely because of Niah. Their scientific division was all on Kotara and Koreas, who were nicknamed the mad scientist wonder twins. Neesia and Niah sat near Kotara while their mates, Jason DiCaplis and Emmitt Lee LewisLou for shortsettled in next to each other.

Derria and Lakota strolled in with their graceful feline steps in sync. Next came their mate, Kerr, the only non-feline, non-hunter in the pride. Koreas entered last, minus her mate. But Kory brought just the slightest hint of him with her, given he was imprinted on her skin.

Wheres Austin? Kotara whispered into her twins mind.

Fishing down at the river. You know he hates these briefings because it usually means were headed out to chase bad guys. I think hes becoming more of a mother hen than Neesia .

Kotara smiled. You and I both know thats impossible .

Looking around the table, Kotara smiled. She loved her family, loved this placeall seventy-seven thousand acres of it. And for the first time in her life, Kotara Pryde wanted to be anywhere but home.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

E very person in the room was an agent for S.W.A.T., with the exception of Kerr Blackwood, Derrias second mate. He wasnt an agent, but his entire packor rather, former packwere expert hunters. In fact, its what they, the most ruthless pack of wolves that hailed from the North Carolina mountains, were known for.

Kotara braced herself for the coming conference call. In front of the video screen sat Jason, Neesia, Derria, Lakota and herself. Everyone else remained off-screen for their own safety. The Shifter and Were Armed Tactics agency might make the safety of shifters their top priority, but it was still a bureaucracy. And everyone, shifter or not, knew such organizations eventually became corrupted. So the Prydes kept their secrets and their family close at all costs.

Jason jumped right in. Johns called this meeting. I dont know why but I believe it has to do with Derria and her mates.

Kotara cut him a hard glance. Well, she hadnt seen that coming, but there was very little that eased by either Jason or Neesia. Ever.

Okay, lets get down to business, Jason said as he hit the speakerphone button and the tone of the speed dial filled the large, bright space. The small talk ended and the room went quiet. They all knew the drill, but that didnt make the instant anxiety dissipate one bit.

On the video screen appeared a stern-faced woman. Dark hair was pulled back into a French braid so tight, Kotara often wondered how her eyes werent stretched to mere slits, especially when the woman wore a perpetual scowl.

This was Captain Lola Johns, the crankiest badass director S.W.A.T. ever had, who luckily believed that the Prydes were capable of reeling in the worst of the worst of the shifter worlds offenders.

And she wasnt wrong. The Prydes were very good at their jobs. Very good indeed.

Captain, Jason greeted.

With a slight nod, she gave her typical response. DiCaplis.

So whats going on? Jason asked. Its been months since Derria chased Kerr all the way to the mountains of North Carolina. Surely the trail is completely cold by now. Weve researched everything we could get our hands on and come up empty on finding whoever set up Kerr.