Calico Cross (10 page)

A Note from the Author

First off, I want to say that I don’t necessarily believe in ghosts. I do, however, agree that they can add character and even fun to a story, which I believe happened to this one.

Also, if you have not read my Charity Series, starring Levi Drake, the leader of the werewolf pack that was briefly mentioned in this story, please go to Amazon and check it out.

I would like to give a special thank you to my beta readers and friends, Sydney, Haley, Emily, Cassi, Tammy, Ana, Hannah, Ashley, Kami, Erin, and Dominique. As always, you guys are amazing young women and mean the world to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this story. If enough people love it I’m considering making this a series, so if you enjoyed it, please go to Amazon.com and leave a review. God bless you.

About the Author

DeAnna Kinney is the author of the successful Charity Series, a Young-Adult Paranormal series with a twist. She is also the author of New Adult and Adult Romance, Action Adventure, and Children's books. She is a wife of twenty years and the mother of three amazing kids. She considers herself as fun-loving and a bit peculiar. Besides writing, she loves reading, all things purple, Star Wars, decorating on a budget, and dancing while she cooks (she can see her kids rolling their eyes as we speak). She believes whole-heartedly that chocolates and a good book go hand in hand. And, having experienced it herself, believes utterly in the power of true love.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband, three children, a fish named Hector, and a turtle named Little Ninja.

Visit her website:
http://deannakinney.wix.com/deannakinney

Or visit her on Facebook at Deanna Kinney, author

**KEEP READING FOR AN EXCERPT OF CHARITY MOON (CHARITY SERIES BOOK 1)

Charity Moon

Charity Series Book 1

I stopped and stood there for a moment trying to decide what to do next. I scrambled through my purse until I felt my cell phone. I wanted to scream when I glanced down at the screen—blast—no signal! I decided to go back to where the truck had been and follow the tracks to the road, if I could even see the tracks. Though the moon was full, the woods were thick, and I could barely see my hand in front of my face.

As I worked my way back through the dark forest, I felt a drop on my cheek. I stopped and looked up as rain drops began to fall. “Great, what else can go wrong?” I mumbled. Then I heard it—a low, menacing growl. It was in front of me and it was close. I stared out into the dark, squinting against the rain, and that’s when I saw them, a pair of yellow, glowing eyes. They were higher than I expected, much higher, and I froze in fear. After a brief moment, I somehow compelled my legs to move and began backing up slowly, turning and bolting in the opposite direction. Whatever it was I wasn’t going to stand there and wait for it to eat me.

The rain pelted me in the face as I ran through the trees. Branches were clawing and scraping, tearing my dress as I passed. I heard something behind me, chasing me, and I ordered my legs to run faster, jumping and dodging trees frantically. I could hear it closing in on me. I could almost feel its hot breath on my back. I took a risk and glanced behind me, but saw nothing. Just as I was about to turn back around, I screamed, falling over an overturned tree and hitting the right side of my head on something hard.

As I lay there, motionless and in pain, I braced myself for the impending attack, but there was nothing. Besides the rain, the forest was quiet and still. I laid there for a moment waiting for my breathing to regulate before trying to move. I moaned as I tried to get up, my arms jello beneath me, but the effort was useless.

I’m not sure how long I lay there, perhaps only minutes, drifting in and out of consciousness, until I was suddenly aware of two arms sliding under me and lifting me effortlessly from the wet forest floor. In that flicker of a moment, I thought about struggling, but the thought left as quickly as it came. And, without further thought of my own safety, I wrapped my arms around the guy’s neck and held on as he began to run. The rain continued to drench us and I was so cold. Within seconds the heat from his body engulfed me—warming me instantly.

It was then that I noticed he was shirtless. I was puzzled but not alarmed—I guess I should’ve been, but—I wasn’t. I rested my head on his shoulder and let him carry me off through the dark forest. I was too weary to resist even if I wanted to, but as crazy as it might sound, my only concern was that I didn’t want him to put me down. Somehow my senses told me I wasn’t in danger. I felt safe—something I hadn’t felt since the last time my dad held me in his arms so many years ago. I lifted my head weakly and tried to make out his face hidden by dark, wet hair. And, as the moon peeked through the trees, the dim light casting a soft glow, I caught a brief glimpse and then was unnerved as a strangely familiar scent hit me.

             
It couldn’t be.

“Levi?” I asked groggily. There was no answer. Then my consciousness left me, and I slipped away into darkness.

**
THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON**