Paxton: A Rogue Enforcers Novella Read online

  Paxton

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright 2019©Darlene Tallman

  Published by: Darlene Tallman

  Editors: Mary Kern, Joanne Dearman, Kat Beecham, Melanie Gray, Shannon McFadden, Beth DiLoreto

  Cover by Tracie Douglas of Dark Water Covers

  Format by Liberty Parker

  Model: Christian

  Photo by: Eric McKinney / 6:12 Photography

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from Darlene Tallman, the author / publisher.

  This book is for my dad, Don Tallman, Sr., who believed in me. One of our last conversations, before he passed in 2017, was him telling me that he was proud that I had not only followed my dream of writing, but that I was becoming more known in the community.

  Thanks, Dad, for your unwavering love and support. Couldn’t have done it without your wisdom, love and protection. I miss you more than words can express!

  Donald J. Tallman, Sr.

  10/6/41 - 12/31/17

  Contents

  Blurb

  Prologue

  1. Landry

  2. Paxton

  3. Paxton

  4. Esmeralda

  5. Paxton

  6. Paxton

  7. Esmerelda

  8. Landry

  9. Paxton

  10. Paxton

  11. Paxton

  12. Paxton

  Epilogue

  Rogue Enforcers Series

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Darlene Tallman

  Blurb

  Paxton Doherty is a loner, a shifter without a pack, a man without a mate. While his ability wasn’t enough to allow him to become a true Enforcer, someone who protects and upholds the shifter laws, he is ‘good enough’ to be a Rogue Enforcer. Something that the leader, Colton, figured out. Now, he spends his days handling cases in his area and his nights roaming the woods.

  He never expects his mate to fall almost literally in his lap. Or the danger that surrounds her that will require not only his skills, but those of several of his teammates in the Rogue Enforcers.

  Landry Welch realized early in life that not everyone who smiles at you is your friend. A professional athlete, she’s out running one day when she’s hit by a car. Tossed into a ditch, broken and critically injured, she realizes that she’ll never have what she always dreamed of—someone to love. She knows she’s not worth the effort it would take for anyone to break down her walls but wishes someone would take that chance.

  Can the Rogue Enforcers deal with this latest threat? Will Paxton convince Landry that she is, indeed, his mate? Will his confession cause her to run?

  Landry

  Another town, another hotel, another race. As I run, I think about the past few years. While in college, I earned a spot on the Olympic team. Competing at such a high level was exhilarating and winning several gold medals was phenomenal. It led to me being approached by several well-known sponsors to compete professionally. Since I grew up in an orphanage, I don’t feel like I have an actual home. Living so nomadically is challenging at time but I’ve made good friends on the circuit, so I often stay with them when I’m in their town. This time, though, I’m in a hotel.

  I hear the whine of an engine behind me and move further over onto the shoulder. Glancing to my right, I see a deep ditch and realize if the car keeps coming, I’m going to have to run into it to protect myself.

  I feel the impact which sends me flying toward the ditch and my last thought before I lose consciousness is that I never found someone to love or to love me back.

  Paxton

  The growling I hear in my area has my hair standing on end. This is my territory; I’ve claimed it when I’m not on the road. No shifter, human or other being should be in this area. I hear the squeal of tires and a feminine yell. My feet react before my mind does. I’m running full speed, my panther taking over as I allow the shift from human to panther to take over. I go to see what’s happened with the noises and smells permeating the air around me.

  When my nose catches a metallic scent in the air, my pace quickens, and I find a still object lying in the ditch. I stop and crouch down. There’s no movement and my heart leaps in my chest when I see auburn strands of hair strewn out across the ground. It’s then that my animal senses connect with my human brain. It’s a human...female...mine.

  Mate.

  I’ve never thought of having a mate, something my mother has lamented over for years. Our last conversation before I moved away from home replays in my head.

  “Paxton, there’s no reason for you to move. This is your home.” Mom sniffles into a Kleenex while watching me load my bags into the bed of my pickup truck.

  “Mom, there’s only room for one Alpha in a pack and you know it as well as I do.” My father became the pack alpha and he and I barely see eye-to-eye on a good day. He’s a bit of an overbearing, controlling asshole and the only reason all the responsibility fell to him is because my uncle didn’t want it after my granddad passed. He gracefully bowed out and relocated his family halfway across the country, abdicating the proverbial throne to my father.

  “Please say you’ll visit at least?” she pleads. I feel bad at this moment knowing that if I do visit, they will be spaced out due to the lack of welcoming me back on pride lands from my father. He literally told me I was allowed to visit my mother once a year, never the family, or members of the pride, just my mother.

  “It’s going to depend on work, Ma. But you know you’ll always be welcome wherever I am.” I ended up getting lucky in that respect. Colton Alexander oversees a group of shifters who act as unofficial ‘enforcers’ of the shifter world and when he heard that I was accepted into Enforcer training but declined, he reached out and offered me a job.

  I hear her sigh then feel her arms wrap around me as she hugs me tight. “I know how your father is,” she murmurs. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get us away, but neither he nor his father would let me go and take you with me, so I stayed.”

  I can’t fault her for that, either. My grandfather was only slightly less despicable than my father is, which is one of the reasons why many of my relatives have left. No one needs to be ruled with an iron fist, especially since we tend to be more laid back than many of the other shifters who populate the world now. It didn’t matter to him or my father that Ma wasn’t his true mate; he wanted her, took her, and has held her hostage from life since then.

  “It’s okay, Ma. I love you and that’ll never change. Just know, if he ever hurts you, I’m coming back to get you myself,” I tell her. “Now, I gotta get on the road.” Not bringing her with me is hard, but I know if I try to, the pride will come after me on Father’s orders.

  “Be safe, Paxton. Call me when you can.” Saying goodbye is harder than I anticipated it would be. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t had her by my side.

  “I will, Ma. You stay safe here, okay?” One last kiss on her cheek and I walk away, making sure to look over my shoulder so she knows this isn’t as easy on me as I’m making it appear to be. Once I climb into my truck, I t
ake a deep breath, look back at my childhood home, and start the engine.

  Looking in the rearview mirror, I blow a kiss at her like I always have since I was a cub. She merely smiles and I pull away worried that I can’t take her with me, but I know that her life here will be more manageable without me. Father tends to start arguments, and she tries to play peacemaker.

  I force the shift back to human so I can examine the female better. She’s unconscious so my naked state shouldn’t bother her. Not that I give a flying fuck. Still crouching next to her, my panther whining inside, I gently feel for a pulse, letting out the breath I didn’t know I was holding when I feel one. It’s faint but steady. Most of the cuts and gashes are superficial, but there are a few that look like they’ll need stitches. The deep bruising that already shows has me concerned that she may have internal injuries. Because of that, part of me doesn’t want to move her, but I know I can’t call for help until I get her back to my place.

  Must help her, my panther growls.

  “Working on it,” I reply.

  Hurt bad. Do something!

  “I know this! Fuck, give me a second, will ya?” I’m trying to figure out the best way to pick her up and move her without causing more injury when the scent changes.

  Must mate her now! She’s dying!

  Fucking hell. What do I know about having a mate? Will it even take?

  No one in my pride was a prime example of how to treat or how to bond with a true mate. The older generation was too scared to reach out to the young and my parents’ generation was matched up by the pride alpha, who was my grandfather. He wanted to ensure his pride never left his grounds, and Father continued the tradition his father began. Both of them were and are assholes and they matched people who were of the male’s liking, not caring if the female despised the male or not. If someone found their true mate, that mate was escorted out of town; if he or she came back, they were stoned to death. It was unacceptable to bring an outsider in and those born into the pack were forbidden to leave without permission of the Alpha. Luckily for me, my father couldn’t get rid of me fast enough. He would’ve packed my bags and gassed up my truck if I’d allowed him to.

  Do it now!

  “I’m not sure what to do,” I murmur, my eyes roaming over the female.

  Before I can say anything else, I feel my fangs elongate and my claws extend as I partially shift. Leaning closer, I scent the fading pulse before sinking my teeth into the space between her shoulder and neck. Almost immediately, I feel the connection as our bond is formed. I couldn’t take the time for her to give me permission to change her into a panther and hope that what I’m doing won’t have any adverse impact. She may come back to herself and be pissed as hell that she’s now a shifter. The good news is, at least she’ll be alive to get pissed off and she’ll heal quickly once the change takes effect.

  “Fuck, I wish I had someone I could call,” I say as I pull back. Already, I can feel her pulse getting stronger and some of the more superficial wounds are healing. The scrapes and cuts are knitting together, bruises that had already formed a black and blue hue are changing to a lighter yellow-greenish color. I hope like hell that she’s okay with what I did; it’s too late now because the bond took and she’s starting to change. Mates can’t be separated for long periods of time; we need each other to keep the other sane and physically fit. I begin to go through her pockets, looking for any form of identification or even a phone. All I know about her is that she has long auburn hair, a lithe athletic form, and beautiful bone structure. I know nothing about her eye color or personality, but I already know it doesn’t matter. She could be the world's biggest raving bitch and it won’t make a damn bit of difference; my panther will see nothing but perfection.

  She moans and her eyes begin to flutter. “Shh, you’re safe, love.” She mumbles something unintelligible, so I reach down and grab her hand. Lacing our fingers together, I hope to give her some comfort with my touch. My panther purrs in contentment. Sometimes, I want to hit him, because now, I’ve got a mate. One who has no clue what I’ve just done. The biggest issue, of course, is that we’re virtual strangers who must now stay with one another in order not to lose our minds and go feral.

  It will be okay. She’ll adjust.

  “I’m gonna take you home so you can heal in the comfort of our bed, mate.” The word mate on the tip of my tongue tastes good. Feels good. Knowing I’m now responsible for another's happiness fills my panther with pride and a feeling of contentment and all-out happiness. He’s always been a protector, and now, he has someone who will always be there. His own family, my family. A surge of satisfaction sweeps through my mind when he starts chanting about cubs and a forever bond that’s unbreakable.

  “Cubs! For Christ’s sake, panther, take a damn breather already. We don’t even know our mate’s name,” I admonish him.

  She’s mine, ours, she’ll be happy to give me a litter, he states as he prowls restlessly in my mind. We must claim her, tonight, he insists.

  “Can we explain to her what she is first?”

  Why must you make me wait? I’ve been longing for my life partner for years. Your human side is being ridiculous. He turns his back on me and pouts like a newborn cub.

  “She’s grown up as a human, panther. She doesn’t understand our ways or about who she’s to become.”

  She’ll learn. I’m not talking to you until you see things my way.

  “Please don’t. I’ve got this.” My panther has always been like this; somewhat opinionated and when he doesn’t get what he feels is ‘his way’, he tends to pout. Right now, I need to focus on my new mate, so if he wants to ignore me, I’m perfectly fine with his decision.

  When you need me to advise you on mating, don’t call. Stubborn son-of-a-bitch. Like I don’t know how to insert part A into port B. It’s science, I can figure it out without him watching over me.

  “Watch out!” she screams. The bluest eyes I’ve ever seen stare back up at me before closing again.

  “Fuck!” She’s having a nightmare and I can’t stand it. I want to chase all of the bad things away and keep her safe, sane, and protected. I must avenge her and find out who hurt her and dish out retribution. I pick her up bridal style and something drops from her bra. I dip down and pick it up. I have nowhere to tuck it since my clothes are shredded. I place it gently in the crease of her stomach and make my two-mile trek back to the cabin.

  Landry

  I’m in and out of the blackness, but as I come to, I can feel a washcloth gently swiping across my forehead. The coolness feels good even as my brain wrestles to figure out what is going on and where I am.

  “Rest, mate,” I hear. There’s something about that voice that soothes and calms me. I want to hear more of that deep baritone voice, but the darkness takes root and I can’t seem to wake my body. Only my mind is alert, nothing else seems to be working. I allow myself to sleep once again, knowing in my heart that whoever this stranger is, they will protect me.

  I come to, off and on. My eyes opened periodically, and I witnessed rays of sunshine in the room earlier, but now it's pitch black outside. I scan the room to see if I can figure out what the hell is going on and where I’m at. I realize immediately I’m not in a hospital. The walls are rough-hewn, like what I’ve always imagined a hunting lodge or log cabin would have. I’m in an oversized bed that is too big for any human I’ve ever met. I’m covered with a homemade quilt, it’s beautiful, colorful, and extremely comfy. Glancing down, I see I’m wearing a soft t-shirt and a pair of men’s basketball shorts instead of the sports bra and running shorts I was wearing when I left the hotel earlier. I have no clue if it’s the same day or not and even though this is concerning, I sense that I’m safe. I also feel like I’m not alone in my own body anymore, but maybe I hit my head when I got hit by the car because it feels like something is purring deep inside of me.

  “H-hello?” My voice is raspy with disuse. I move to sit up and notice that even though I feel a bit achy
, I don’t have anything to show for being struck by a car. No bruises, no cuts.

  Nothing.

  How weird.

  I hear someone coming and my eyes focus on the door. When it opens, I feel the breath leave my body as the most beautiful, imposing man I’ve ever seen walks in, a bowl of something steaming in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.

  “Oh good, you’re awake,” he says, slowly walking toward me.

  I don’t know who he is, but I hear mate and the purring inside intensifies. Shit, I must have hit my head a lot harder than I initially thought I did.

  Landry

  You’re safe now, Landry. He will protect you. I will protect you. I nearly jump out of my skin as the voice inside of me talks again. I was raised in an orphanage, no one knows of my parentage and I’m beginning to wonder if my mother was a patient in an insane asylum. That would explain the craziness I’m feeling at this very moment.

  What the ever-loving hell is going on? Great, now I’m arguing with a voice I hear inside myself. Have I gone cuckoo? Maybe I’m really in a coma or something; this can’t be real.

  Trust me.

  Trust us.

  He’ll explain it all.

  Believe what you already feel in your heart.

  “W-who are you?” I ask as he reaches my side.

  “Paxton Doherty. We...uh, I found you this morning. Do you remember what happened?” he inquires as he hands me the bowl and opens the bottle of water before placing it on the nightstand next to me.