Den of Sorrows
Page 1

 Quinn Loftis

  • Background:
  • Text Font:
  • Text Size:
  • Line Height:
  • Line Break Height:
  • Frame:
Acknowledgements
There are so many people that contribute in some way, big or small, to the writing of a novel. It isn’t just the author that writes the book, but also her husband who takes care of three boys by himself, late into the evening, so that the book can be finished on time. It’s also the beta readers, who take their time to read the rough words and muddle through the non-edited work to distinguish whether it’s pure gold or something a little less shiny. It’s also the editors who proofread, proofread, and proofread some more. It’s also the personal assistant who stays late to help the author get ready for a book signing, which happens to be taking place the same week that the book needs to be completed. It’s also the each reader who emails, messages, tweets, or posts somewhere in social media that they are ready for the book, that they are excited, and that they can’t wait to see the story unfold. It takes all of them, working with the author to get the book to you, the reader.
Thank you Bo for being that husband who takes care of everything while I write and for being the editor who reads and rereads until you’re quoting Jennifer Adams like the most devoted fan. You amaze me, you humble me, and I love you.
Thank you Shelley, Jessica, Candace, Nancy, Sara-Ann, and Kelli for beta reading for me. Thank you for the comments, encouragement, questions, and suggestions. You gals are amazing and I am so thankful to have readers I trust with my work, who are willing to take the time to honestly critique it.
Thank you Melissa for getting the book edited on such a tight schedule. I know this one was cutting it close and I so appreciate you.
Thank you Brittney; you’re unfired for now. You are a fantastic PA and I’m so thankful that you’ve agreed to work for me. We’re a great team and not only do you work hard, you are also a joy to be around. Love ya, sis.
There are a few readers who have stuck out in my mind as I wrote Den of Sorrows and I want to let them know just how much their comments on excerpts and posts mean to me. Thank you Tawny Rhodes, you are such a precious woman and faithful reader and I am truly thankful for you. Thank you Michelle Crawford-Gonzalez. Thank you so much for your constant encouragement and cheers. Thank you Carolynn Parker for having some of the funniest responses to my posts; you bring a smile to my face. Susan Burdorf, you are such a light and I am so thankful to hear from you and see your posts. Thank you so much. Kaadee Bohler, thank you for all your responses to posts and excerpts and for your love of my books. What you guys don’t realize is when you show excitement about my characters and stories it makes me excited. An excited author is a much more productive author. There are many, many more but it would take more than this entire book to get them all. So thank you to all my readers. I am able to keep writing because you guys keep reading my books and telling others and that humbles me beyond words.
Thank you to God, my creator. I am found speechless because of your works and blessings. Thank you, Lord. Just, thank you so much.
Synopsis
The Romanian and Serbian Canis lupus rest in an uneasy peace. One of their own, Sally Miklos, the young and powerful gypsy healer, aids Perizada in her quest to defeat Volcan, a long forgotten nightmare returned to our world. These two packs watch as their brothers across the world, wolves from Spain, Ireland, and America, join their own forces in the battle against the evil dark fae. At the same time, the packs hope against hope that their presence might reveal a mate bond between a pack member and one of the five recently discovered gypsy healers.
While Jacque and Jen miss Sally, their longtime best friend, they have bided their time dealing with their own domestic issues. Jacque and Fane are anticipating the birth of their first child and Jen and Decebel face the challenges of caring for an infant. Both girls are eagerly awaiting Sally’s return, and have Perizada’s word that she will be back in time for the birth of Jacque’s baby.
Vasile and Alina, the Alpha pair of the Romanian pack, are enjoying this time of peace. But Vasile did not become the most powerful Alpha in centuries by being a fool. He has lived long enough to know that there is always another battle on the horizon. As long as evil exists in this world, his race must step forward and stand in the gap, shielding those who cannot protect themselves. But the battle he is anticipating is bigger than he could have ever imagined.
As Perizada has recently discovered, creatures of the night that have for so long remained hidden from the human realm, have slithered from their underground lairs and begun preying on the young and innocent. The high fae has declared war, and she expects Vasile and his wolves to be the ones to carry out the attack. The Alpha is more than happy to oblige. But with his first grandchild on the way, and the gift of five vulnerable healers coming under the wolves’ protection, he understands that he must be very careful not to place any of them in harm’s way.
Such is the job of the Alpha, protector, and provider. He and those he leads must stand as sentinels and warriors to safeguard those they love, and the humans who know nothing of the supernatural world. It will be their job to destroy the creatures that threaten to expose them all. And if they fail, the world as they know it, both human and supernatural, will never be the same.
 
Prologue
“Some say there is no sweeter joy than being reunited with a friend after time apart. I would beg to differ. I’m pretty sure I could find something much sweeter than Sally’s big, brown-eyed mug. Like my mate, for instance, covered in chocolate and holding a blindfold with a wicked gleam in his eye. Wait, did I just say that out loud? My bad. What I meant to say was, Welcome home, Sally.” ~Jen
“Three children are dead, Vasile. Three!” Alina snarled. His mate stood in the middle of a room splashed in red. The walls cried out with the blood of innocents. The sounds of horror that had no doubt filled this room some time earlier now filled the Romanian Alpha’s mind. It was a room that should have only seen purples and pinks and only heard nursery rhymes and giggles. But now it was a tomb. Death had come to the room of the Marshal triplets, and it had not left empty-handed.