Exclusive Excerpt: Cloaked in Secrecy by T.F. Walsh

I’m super excited to share with you this excerpt of this book.

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Synopsis

The Wulfkin Legacy saga continues with this gripping tale of love under extraordinary circumstances. Death has followed Alena Novac’s circus family for years. When the police arrest her brother for a murder he didn’t commit, she has only a week to rescue him before he transforms into his wolf form in prison and exposes their wulfkin existence to the world. Enre Ulf, a former member of the Varlac, the fearsome ruling wulfkin clan, plans to infiltrate Alena’s circus clan and take out their alpha to save his home in Transylvania. Except he never expected his wolf claiming Alena as his mate, or feeling compelled to save her brother to help protect the secrets of the wulfkin. With the police closing in and the blood feud threatening them, Alena and Enre must overcome their pasts to save their packs’ futures.

Excerpt

I scanned the residential area—two alleyways faced us, weaving in opposite directions. Licking my dry lips, I turned to Nicolai. “There’s an unknown wulfkin here. Be careful. Go left, I’ll take the other path, and if you find Mila, take her straight home. Don’t wait for me.”

“I got this.” Worry streaked his tone despite his words. “Her paw prints head left, so I’ll track her down.”

Those rare moments when I could get Nicolai to concentrate, he was an incredible tracker, even as a moonwulf. Outside the full moon, moonwulf generally retained no strength or wolf qualities, yet Nicolai had a natural hunting talent. At the next Lunar Eutine, he’d finally transform into a wulfkin. He would be able to choose when he transformed into his wolf form, instead of turning into a savage and uncontrollable wolf once a month under the full moon. As a wulfkin, our transformations were magical, giving us full control over our furry side. Except the next destined eutine wasn’t for another ten to twenty years.

“Go,” I said and bolted into a deserted alley flanked by lofty fences that cast long shadows. Eeriness folded in around me, and the prickling instinct at the base of my belly was on full alert. The whole scene seemed off, but I couldn’t identify the problem. Were we being stalked by this intruding wulfkin? My first instinct told me to grab Nicolai and get home, but we couldn’t leave Mila behind.

Rain pitter-pattered on the leaves of plum and apple trees sprawling out over the tops of the fences. I tensed at every sound. Perhaps splitting up hadn’t been such a great idea.

One of Nicolai’s so-called nuggets of wisdom came to mind: Handle what you’re dealt. I hadn’t understood when he’d first said it, but the saying made sense now.

Mila’s scent faded, but the stranger’s fresh firewood-and-fur smell strengthened. I whirled on the spot, finding no one else there, only me and two parked cars. The thump of footsteps resonated from an adjacent alleyway, and the hairs on my arms stood on end.

I dashed forward.

The intruder’s smell smacked into me, and a snarl rumbled in my gut.

He burst out into my path, several feet away, from an adjacent lane. I froze on the spot, and his blue, piercing eyes hooked into me. He sniffed the air. “You’re wulfkin.”

It wasn’t a question.

The tall, broad-shouldered man was branded with two gash marks down the side of his face and neck, and blood smeared his cheek. He wiped it away with his hand as his gaze deepened with darkness.

I studied his stubbled jawline, his ocean-blue eyes, and inhaled the fresh blood. It belonged to him.

Wind fanned across my back. It had been a long time since I’d faced off with anyone. Father had brought me up to use my head, not my teeth.

“What pack do you belong to?” My voice sharpened, and a growl hung off my last word. Show no fear.

He studied the path I’d taken. “There’s a loose wulfkin in wolf form here, and I think she’s wild.” His gruff voice raised goose bumps up and down my legs, and I recoiled. “Is she yours?”

My next inhale wedged in my chest. Had Mila been caught or injured? “Where is she?”

“Why would you allow her out amongst humans? Are you trying to reveal us?”

Flames spread over my cheeks. “Who the hell are you? It’s not your business what happens on our territory.”

The wulfkin leaned forward, his voice rough and low. “I tried catching her before anyone saw her, but as you can see”—he pointed to his recent wounds—“she wasn’t overly friendly.” Running a hand through his short, black hair, he stared at me.

When the breeze bathed me in his scent again, his muskiness almost knocked me over, and my eyes dipped south although my brain screamed, “Don’t!” This wulfkin should never wear jeans in public unless he wanted every single female to ravage him. And the leather jacket did nothing to hide his muscles.

When I looked up, he wore a sly grin.

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