A Lion's Chance: A Crimson Hollow Novella (5 page)

M
ating had been easier
than Ginger had expected, even considering that she was stuck with not only a lion but also the Chief’s main guard. She was even adjusting to tribe life and joined in on their activities. Garret had ensured her that it was nothing like the wolf pack they grew up in but she hadn’t believed it until she’d returned not as Garret’s visiting sister, but as Liam’s mate. There was a difference between the two. As the former, she’d been treated more as an outsider before, but as the latter, she was part of the family. That’s what had changed; she wasn’t just passing through, she was one of them.
Family.

It still felt weird to consider anyone besides Garret family, but now she had a sister-in-law, Sin, her mate, Liam, and the whole tribe. She and Liam even had an extra special person they considered one of them—Billy. Billy and Becky Lane had kept in touch and Liam had been good on his word. His cousin, the lawyer, had been at Becky’s side as they pressed charges of kidnapping. Things were beginning to look up for the Lanes, yet they continued to keep in touch.

One thing that hadn’t changed was Swift. She had opened up a little to Ginger but she wasn’t ready to put the past behind her. Vengeance burned within her, but there was no justice to seek. Everyone who had been involved in the murder of her family and leash was dead. Ginger wasn’t sure how to help her. Even Jase and Sin seemed to be running out of options. If her fear and paranoia continued to progress, they’d have no excuse but to force her to leave. They couldn’t continue to allow her to expose the rest of the tribe to her delusions.

“There you are.” Liam came up behind her on the deck to their cabin and slipped his arm around her waist. “What are you doing out here?”

“Thinking.” She leaned back into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder.

“About Swift again.” He didn’t even bother to phrase it as a question.

“I don’t know what to do for her.”

“I told you before, she has to want to help herself. Right now she doesn’t, but I think she’s realizing that if she doesn’t do something she’s going to lose the only home she’s ever known.”

She glanced up to look at him. “Why? Has something happened?”

“She stormed into Jase’s while Noah, Ari, Kaden, and I were having a security meeting. Jase was furious. The tribe members know better than to just walk into his house without knocking. He ended up laying into her pretty good. She cried that he didn’t care about her, which only enticed him more. He’s done everything he could think of for her, and now she’s going after the one man that is on her side. If she doesn’t give some, he’s going to have no choice.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. What will happen to her then?”

“I don’t know, baby, but we’re doing all we can for her.” He hugged her tight against his body. “None of us are giving up on her.”

“I know.”

“Then stop worrying and let’s go inside. We have twenty minutes before the barbeque at Jase’s and I’d like to use every moment of that to explore my mate’s beautiful body.”

She spun around to face him and let her hands roam up his chest. “Is that all you ever think about?”

“No, but it’s the highlight of my thoughts. And with Billy and Becky arriving next week, I want to make sure I don’t miss a moment. I want you naked as often as I can before they get here.” He tangled his fingers in her hair and stared down at her. “You’re the woman I’ve been waiting my whole life for. I love you, Ginger.”

No matter how many times he said those words, they still made her heart skip a beat. “I love you too, Liam.”

B
orn and raised
in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She’s a lady who likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, she believes you’re never done learning.

Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she has always had her nose in a book. It wasn't until she was a teenager that she started writing down the stories she came up with.

Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He’s her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing. He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of the night.

Her writing buddy Pup Cameron, a cocker spaniel, who is always around to listen to her bounce ideas off him. He might not be able to answer, but he’s helpful in his own ways.

For more information:

• @MarissaMDobson
  
• AuthorMarissaDobson