Aria Valderi is a day walker, a vampire that can walk in the sun. Being a descendant of the original queen of the vampires has its perks, but finding out her mate is a wolf shifter isn't one of them. He's insufferable, bossy, and too damn sexy for his own good.

Trevan Stone knows Aria is his. Unfortunately, his tough little vamp has been wreaking all kinds of havoc and now too many people want her dead. It's going to take more than Trevan can do as a shifter to protect his woman.

Trevan has a secret. One that could put an end to their future together, but it’s not nearly as big as the one her people have, which could end the future of the entire clan. If he can save her from the vampire council that wants her destroyed, there might be a chance for them to work through their issues. But saving her means giving up the reason for his existence, the drive that has pushed him for the last eighty years.

Reader Note: This book is all about a sassy plus-sized vampire who knows what she wants and a hot, smooth talking alpha wolf who can't fight his need for her. There is massive use of dirty words, so if you're a prude this is not the book for you. If you like sarcasm and hot sex with no filter, this is just your thing. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Dominic

The morning sun filtered through the windows of the brick police station. Dominic stood at the front of the briefing room, his green eyes scanning the faces of his officers. The summer heat had already started to seep into the building despite the early hour, and the ancient air conditioning unit rattled in protest.

"Johnson, your report from last night's patrol was incomplete. I need every detail documented," Dominic rumbled.

Officer Johnson shifted in his metal folding chair. "It was just a minor incident, Sheriff."

"That's not the point." Dominic planted his hands on the podium. "Protocol exists for a reason. We need all of the information on record."

A few officers exchanged glances, and Dominic caught the subtle eye rolls. His lion stirred beneath his skin, but he kept his expression neutral. They might not appreciate his methods, but he'd sworn to protect Saltwater Grove. That meant doing things by the book.

Connor, his deputy sheriff, cleared his throat from his position near the door. "Sheriff's right. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around."

"Exactly." Dominic nodded to Connor before continuing. "Martinez, your speed trap placement yesterday was excellent. That's the kind of attention to detail I expect from everyone."

Officer Martinez straightened in her chair, pride evident in her posture. The small praise shifted the room's energy, and Dominic felt satisfaction rumble in his chest.

"Now, about the parking situation on Main Street..." Dominic picked up a stack of citations. "We've had seventeen violations in the past week. The two-hour limit exists to keep business flowing. I want increased patrols..."

A soft groan echoed from the back of the room.

"Something to add, Peterson?" Dominic's voice carried a hint of steel beneath its casual tone.

"No, sir." Peterson's face flushed red.

"Good. Because I'd hate to think any of my officers believe selective enforcement is acceptable." Dominic let his gaze sweep the room again. "The rules apply to everyone equally. That's what makes this town work."

Dominic shuffled his papers, his lion's heightened senses picking up the scent of stale coffee and fresh donuts. The sugar-sweet aroma reminded him he'd skipped breakfast again. He'd deal with that later - duty first.

"Now, about last night's incident on Maple and Fifth." He pulled out the accident report, his jaw tightening. "Three vehicles involved - a red sedan, blue pickup, and a silver SUV. All drivers reported experiencing sudden confusion right before impact."

Officer Chen raised his hand. "Were they drunk?"

"No alcohol or substances in their systems," Dominic replied, browsing over the report. "They described it as a 'fog rolling through their minds.' One minute they were driving normally, the next..." He spread his hands. "Complete disorientation."

"Witch magic?" Martinez's question carried a hint of worry.

"Most likely." The lion in Dominic's chest growled at the thought of someone manipulating innocent minds. "This has wild witch written all over it."

Peterson leaned forward. "But why make people crash? Seems pointless."

"Could be practice." Dominic's enhanced hearing picked up the subtle shift of bodies as his officers tensed. "Or a test run for something bigger. Either way, I want everyone on high alert. Watch for any unusual behavior, especially around intersections or high-traffic areas."

Connor spoke up from his position by the door. "What about the victims?"

"Minor injuries - bruises, whiplash. Mrs. Henderson's prize petunias took the worst hit." That earned a few chuckles, easing the tension in the room. "But next time we might not be so lucky."

Dominic's lion prowled beneath his skin, eager to hunt down this threat to their territory. He tamped down the urge to shift and track the scent himself. This needed to be handled properly.

He met each officer's gaze in turn. "We need to stay vigilant. Report any suspicious magical activity immediately."

Johnson raised his hand. "What exactly counts as suspicious?"

"Trust your instincts." Dominic's voice carried the weight of authority that came naturally to both man and beast. "But if you see anyone casting spells near traffic, that's definitely grounds for questioning."

The room filled with quiet laughter, but Dominic noticed they were all taking notes. Good. They might joke, but they understood the severity of the situation. Wild witches were unpredictable at best, dangerous at worst.

The door swung open with a creak, cutting through Dominic's briefing. Bruce Meyers strolled in, his polished badge catching the fluorescent light. The lion in Dominic's chest rumbled with irritation.

"Morning, everyone!" Bruce's voice carried across the room, drowning out Dominic's last words. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

But he knew he was. Dominic's enhanced senses picked up Bruce's satisfaction - the slight uptick in his heartbeat and the faint scent of smugness rolling off him.

"Actually," Dominic said, his voice level despite his lion's desire to assert dominance, "we were discussing the magical incident from last night."

"Oh, the little fender bender?" Bruce waved his hand dismissively as he made his way to the front. "Let me take it from here, Dom. You've probably got paperwork waiting."

Dominic's jaw tightened at the nickname. His officers shifted uncomfortably in their seats. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut.

"Listen up, folks," Bruce continued, leaning against Dominic's podium like he owned it. "Sometimes accidents just happen. No need to get your tails in a twist."

The casual dismissal of a potentially dangerous magical incident made Dominic's blood boil. His lion prowled under his skin, demanding action, but he maintained his composure. Leadership meant controlling both man and beast.

"Three simultaneous mental manipulations don't qualify as 'little,'" Dominic said, his eyes fixed on Bruce.

"Come on, Dom. You're always so serious." Bruce turned to the room with an exaggerated eye roll. "This is why we make such a great team, right? Good cop, fun cop?"

"Sheriff," Dominic corrected, his voice carrying the weight of his position. "And this isn't about fun. It's about keeping our people safe."

The air conditioning chose that moment to sputter and die, leaving the room in uncomfortable silence. Bruce's cologne - too strong for Dominic's sensitive nose - mixed with the lingering scent of coffee and tension.

"Dismissed," Dominic's voice finally broke the tense silence.

He watched his officers file out, their chairs scraping against the linoleum floor. "Bruce, a word."

Bruce lingered behind, that practiced smile still plastered across his face. The room emptied, leaving them alone.

"Something on your mind, Dom?" Bruce perched on the edge of a desk, his casual posture at odds with the tension in the air.

Dominic's lion bristled at the deliberate informality. "You can't keep undermining my authority in front of my officers."

"Undermining?" Bruce pressed his hand to his chest in mock offense. "I was just trying to lighten the mood. You're always so tense."

The scent of deception rolled off Bruce in waves, making Dominic's nose twitch. His enhanced senses picked up the subtle increase in Bruce's heart rate, and the slight dilation of his pupils.

"Cut the act." Dominic stepped closer, using his height advantage to full effect. "We both know what you're doing. You've been gunning for my position since you transferred here."

Bruce's smile slipped for a fraction of a second. "Now that's paranoid thinking, Sheriff. Maybe you need a vacation?"

"What I need," Dominic's voice dropped lower, "is for you to do your job without trying to turn this into a popularity contest."

"Everything okay in here?" Connor stuck his head through the doorway, his expression concerned.

Dominic stepped back, his lion reluctantly retreating. "We're fine. Just having a discussion about chain of command."

"Right." Bruce pushed off the desk, straightening his uniform. "And I think we understand each other perfectly now." He headed for the door, pausing to throw back over his shoulder, "By the way, those accident reports you wanted? They'll be on your desk tomorrow. Maybe."

The door clicked shut behind him, and Dominic's lion roared in frustration beneath his skin. He'd dealt with challengers before, but Bruce's passive-aggressive approach was starting to wear on his patience.

"Want me to write him up?" Connor offered.

"No." Dominic gathered his papers, trying to ignore the headache building behind his eyes. "That's exactly what he wants - something to take to the Council about abuse of power."

"He's playing a dangerous game."

"Yes." Dominic's eyes narrowed at the door.

Later that day, Dominic cruised down Main Street in his squad car, the afternoon sun warming the dashboard. His lion's enhanced senses picked up the scents of fresh-cut grass, exhaust fumes, and Mrs. Peterson's apple pies cooling on her windowsill. The quiet hum of the engine and the routine patrol usually helped settle his thoughts after difficult mornings, but Bruce's earlier antics still gnawed at him.

The roar of a motorcycle engine shattered his contemplation. The bike screamed past him, the speedometer on his dash jumping as it registered the violation. Fifty in a thirty-five zone. The rider's dark purple hair whipped in the wind, a flash of color against the black leather jacket.

"Tabitha Moon." His lion rumbled with a mixture of irritation and something else he couldn't name. "Of course it's you."

He watched her weave through traffic with practiced ease, breaking at least three more traffic laws in the process. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel.

"Every single time." He shook his head. "You'd think she'd learn."

The rational part of him knew he should flip on his lights and pursue immediately. But his lion had other ideas, enjoying the thrill of the hunt. He'd let her think she'd gotten away with it, just for a moment. After all, there were only so many places that distinctive purple hair could hide in their small town.

"Dispatch, this is Sheriff Blackmane."

"Go ahead, Sheriff."

"Just spotted our favorite speed demon on Main. Heading east toward the art district."

The dispatcher's laugh crackled through the radio. "Want me to start the paperwork now?"

"Might as well." Dominic eased his foot onto the gas, following at a distance. "You know how this goes."

His lion purred with anticipation. The chase was on, and this time, Miss Moon wouldn't talk her way out of a ticket with that mischievous smile of hers.