Vann's Victory
A Totally Bound Publication
Vann’s Victory
ISBN #
978-1-78430-409-6
©Copyright Sydney Presley 2015
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright January 2015
Edited by Sarah Smeaton
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing,
Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a
heat rating
of
Totally Burning
and a
Sexometer
of
2.
Highgate Shifters
VANN’S VICTORY
Sydney Presley
Book two in the Highgate Shifters series
Being a Dom in secret—being mated to another wolf in secret—is something Vann has always done, but now he has the chance to be open about his whole life.
Vann grew up under the rule of an alpha at Crossways Compound, who controlled every aspect of his pack members’ lives. Used to obeying without question, Vann suddenly finds himself in a position where he can make his own decisions outside his sexual relationship. In the past, his trysts with his subby lover, Kip, have been in secret, snatched moments away from security cameras or listening devices. Now they’ve been welcomed at Highgate, a safe haven, life should work out beautifully.
But there’s something Vann has to do first. He has to return to his childhood compound to right the wrongs that were done there. Along with Kip and members of the Highgate security team, Vann has to play the biggest role of his life so far in order to bring down the alpha at Crossways and rescue some cross-bred cubs. It isn’t going to be easy, going against someone he’s been conditioned to obey, but for the sake of his pack and the safety of the cubs, he’ll do whatever it takes.
Kip is determined to be with Vann every step of the way. Usually, Kip is submissive in all aspects of their life, preferring to bow his head and only speak when he’s given permission. But their return to Crossways changes all that. The danger there is too great for Kip to wait for Vann’s instructions on everything he does. Kip knows that to keep Vann safe, he must become more dominant—or die trying.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Taser: TASER International Inc.
Chapter One
Vann’s stomach churned. The plane was coming in to land. He closed his eyes, shaking all over. What if they crashed? What if he never got to save the shifters at Crossways? More importantly, what if something went wrong, if there was an accident, and he never saw his mate, Kip, again? Should he be ashamed that this was his main fear? Losing Kip had always been one of his nightmares. Except he’d never thought it would be because of an accident. Or not an accident in the real sense of the word. No, an ‘accident’ designed by Bennett, that would be more like it.
He concentrated on that instead of the gut-knotting experience of landing. Bennett, the former alpha at Crossways, had forever been a looming, frightening presence in Vann’s life and mind. One wrong step and Bennett would tell the rest of the pack to rip him apart until he was dead. Being caught with Kip in an uncompromising position would have been more than good reason for Bennett to order an execution. Hiding had been the name of their game.
He glanced across at Kip, who was staring out of the window. Vann should have known Kip would act like this, a kid in a candy store, soaking everything up and loving it. Kip had a brilliant zest for life, for living it the best way he could in any given circumstance. He looked on the bright side most of the time, something Vann had yet to learn.
Damned if I’ll look out of that window.
Just the thought of seeing the land below, a patchwork quilt humanity had sewn together, had him feeling even worse. It would bring home how high they were, how far they’d fall if the plane ran into difficulty. Turbulence. A sudden storm. The idea of crashing freaked him the hell out.
Please, just let us touch the tarmac safely.
As it turned out, everything went smoothly and he needn’t have worried. Funny how he got himself all coiled up over things then they turned out okay in the end. He supposed, what with his upbringing, he always expected the worst. It wasn’t surprising. Bennett had ruled with an iron fist, and no one—no one—had disobeyed him. Vann wondered if he’d be able to change once this mission was over. If he’d learn to accept that life wasn’t always doom and gloom—that there
was
goodness out there, ready for him to experience it. If only he had the courage. And life could be good, he’d seen that at Highgate. Bennett had a lot to answer for. How many of the Crossways pack felt just the same as Vann did? How many of them were frightened beneath their brash exteriors? He’d bet there were quite a few.
It’s all over now. He’s been caught.
But Wickland hasn’t. We still have him to deal with.
He straightened his shoulders as the plane touched down, and let out a long breath of relief.
And we will deal with him. I have to keep positive. Everything will be all right now we have the Highgate shifters on our side.
It seemed the time to get off the plane passed in a flash, and Vann’s breath caught as he strode along the tunnel that led to the airport. He felt enclosed, claustrophobic, and coached himself to keep a level head. He had to admit that his first time on an aircraft hadn’t been as awful as he’d expected, although he’d been scared shitless of getting on something so big. Yeah, he’d seen them flying over Crossways, but during his shielded childhood, he hadn’t ever thought he’d end up getting inside one. He had no idea how they worked. His education was limited to English and math as he’d grown up, and that had been taught to him by his mother.
There’s so much to experience. So much I don’t know anything about, but hell, I can experience it now. Me and Kip together, taking on our new world.
The thought of it had Vann smiling.
Kip walked by his side, head bowed, as was his custom. God, Vann loved that little man. Kip was a slender, white-haired, tiny sub who preferred their sexual lifestyle to extend from the bedroom into their day-to-day lives. That had been a learning curve for Vann but he’d gotten used to it over time. The Highgate shifters probably thought their relationship odd, but he was past caring what they thought now. Highgate’s alpha, Sergeant, had told his pack what Vann and Kip were about, and if they didn’t like it? Well, that was their problem. The days of Vann wanting to be accepted were long gone. He loved Kip and vice versa, so what did the opinions of other people matter?
It felt good to finally be able to have their relationship out in the open.
For a blissful moment there, Vann’s thoughts had been diverted from those that had filled his mind on the flight—their reason for being back this side of Texas. He’d known they’d return, of course he had—leaving his parents, sister Terena, and around ninety other pack members at the mercy of the new Crossways Compound’s alpha wasn’t an option. Wickland would have undoubtedly heard that their former alpha, his brother Bennett, had been taken to Knightly Institute by their overall ruler, Alpha Newart. Wickland would also have taken full command, being just as nasty as his brother, possibly even worse.
Vann shuddered.
Kip tugged at his sleeve. Vann peered down at him.
“You may speak.” Vann was thankful for yet another diversion. “Although if it’s private, don’t forget to use thoughts instead.”
“It’s not private,” Kip said, but he glanced around just the same to make sure their Highgate companions weren’t listening. He moved closer, titling his head toward Vann. “Are you all right, Sir?”
“Not really, sub.” Vann shrugged, reaching out to connect with Kip’s mind.
“I don’t really want this discussion overheard. I know the Highgate men are a good bunch, but old habits… We’re so used to having our conversations listened to at Crossways.”
He shuddered again. When the fuck would he feel normal, whatever that was? Would the day ever come where he wasn’t constantly worrying over what he said and did?
During their brief stay at Highgate, the alpha there, Sergeant, had been so far removed from Bennett that he was like a sunny day compared to a storm. Sergeant was easy-going, just wanting the very best for his pack. Bennett was the opposite. Mean and wanting only complete compliance—and total control to the point pack members were never allowed to step off the compound.
Prison. That’s where I’ve been all my life. Fucking prison.
Vann blew air out, ballooning his cheeks.
“We knew this would happen, us returning here. Or at least we hoped it would happen. We’ve got the Highgate pack on our side now, thank fuck. Coming back here alone, just you and me, and trying to free everyone… I reckon we were fools to even think it could work.”
“But we were desperate, Sir,” Kip whispered as they entered the airport and made their way through to the main lounge.
Vann tensed, glancing around the terminal in all directions, keen to spot anyone from Crossways who had come to fetch them. The place wasn’t packed out, thankfully, only a few people dotted here and there on seats while they waited for their flights to be called. He recognized no one, but that didn’t mean anything. Who knew whether extra recruits had been brought into Crossways, people Vann had never met? With Dillon, Sergeant’s mate, walking ahead of them, he doubted any Crossways member would have the balls to step forward to claim Vann and Kip, but still…
I wouldn’t approach Dillon. Fuck, he’s a shadow mountain, his eyes so bright in that dark face of his. When I first saw him…man, he shit the life out of me.