Dark Passion Rising by Shannan Albright Page A

she declines to go with you.”  He turned his penetrating stare on
Tambra.  “That is your wish, correct?”  At her nod of agreement, he continued,
“After her Rising, she will choose her mate.  As per pack law.  There is no
guarantee that she will choose you unless you are going to try imprinting.  And that is not only barbaric, but frowned upon by all Breeds.”
     Temple’s handsome face turned bright red with fury.  “There are
exceptions, Tegan.  The survival of all Pure Blooded Lycans depends on this, on
her!”
     Tambra grabbed Marcus’s arm, stopping him from lunging at
Temple.
    “Will someone explain to me what he’s talking about?  What is
imprinting?”
     “It’s rape,” Tegan replied.  “A pre-transformation Lycan is
locked into a small cell where they are forced to submit to the sexual whims of
their captor.  If they fight, they are beaten into subjugation.  As their
Rising nears, they aren’t allowed interaction with anyone except their captor.  Once
Risen, the imprinting takes hold.  The transitioned Lycan is a slave.  All free
will is removed, leaving only the need to please.”
    “No way!  You lay one hand on her and I will find a way to kill
you,” Cody hissed, the promise very clear.
    Tambra couldn’t help the shudder of revulsion as she looked at
Temple. 
    “You would have done that to me if it weren’t for Marcus,
wouldn’t you?” she asked, her anger making her voice shake.
    “You have my word, no harm of any kind will come to you
while you are here with me,” Marcus vowed.
     Temple’s gaze raked her, frustration, regret, and determination
in the firm set of his jaw.
    “I will do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of my Breed.  Faced
with extinction would any of you do differently?”
    “Get me out of here, Marcus.  I don’t want to even look at him
right now,” Tambra pleaded, looking up at Marcus with haunted eyes as a shudder
ran through her body.  She pressed closer to him.
     Marcus held her close to him as he led her to the stairs.  He
fought back the urge to attack the arrogant Lycan and eliminate the threat he
posed to Tambra.
    “Come, I will take you someplace more comfortable.  Tegan, please
see to Tambra’s guest.  Temple, I think you know the way out of here.  I trust
you will not be back until called upon.”
     Temple kept quiet as he watched Marcus lead Tambra up the
curving stair case.  He knew by the churning in his gut that he may have just
doomed his Breed to extinction.  He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned
toward Tegan’s sympathetic gaze.  Snarling at the man, Temple jerked away from
his hand.  He did not need or want pity from the Were-panther and certainly not
from an Enforcer.  He raised his head proudly, turned, and followed Marcus and
Tambra out.
     
    ****
    Marcus led Tambra back to the guest bedroom she had woken up in
only days ago.  She felt odd, coming back into the same room where her life had
taken such a drastic turn.  Only a few days had passed, but it felt like years.
 So much had changed.  She had changed.  A shudder ran through her body at the
thought of turning into a monster like the one that had bitten her, and she
turned to Marcus, leaning on his strength as she tried to put her fears into
words.  But nothing came out.  The words died in her throat before she could
utter a sound.  Fear and apprehension swamped her, leaving her feeling vulnerable
to the man who stood rigidly before her.
     She drank in his scent of dark spices and musk.  His dark hair
shone blue-black in the defused light that filtered past the edges of the heavy
window curtains.  The sharp planes of his face were etched in light and shadow,
dark eyes watched her with an unwavering gaze.  He looked primal, all male
dominance and sexuality.  She watched, mesmerized, by the rise and fall of his bare
chest as his breathing turning ragged.  His soft golden skin stretched over the
hardness of his muscles, expanding