Benjamin Read online

  ●●●

  Benjamin groaned and tried to move. Pain quickly engulfed his body. What the hell?

  He thrashed against the bed, his fists clenched. He tried to open his eyes.

  “Ben? Open your eyes.”

  Benjamin mumbled something, but Galena couldn’t understand.

  “Benjamin, you need to wake up now. I could only heal you so much. I need to give you something for the pain.”

  Benjamin relaxed a bit at the sound of her voice. If he was with Galena, that meant he was no longer in the cave, he was safe. Wait, what about Sabrina? Where was his mate? Oh, Goddess, did Pickens get to her? Is she dead?

  Images of fighting with Pickens flashed in his mind. He remembered the blinding pain as Pickens repeatedly rammed his claws into his side. He gritted his teeth, fighting back the urge to throw up. He opened his eyes and gave them a chance to focus on Galena. He saw the look of relief flash across her face. He tried to speak, but nothing came out.

  “Don’t try to talk, Ben.”

  Benjamin closed his eyes. He tried to reach out for the mating bond, but he was too weak. He opened his eyes again and squeaked out one word.

  “Sabrina.”

  “Your mate is fine. She’s amazingly strong,” Galena said, smiling.

  Relief flooded his body and he closed his eyes.

  “Sabrina got you just beyond the entrance of the cave when Oscar and the others found you. She’s a little bruised, but she killed Pickens.”

  Benjamin nodded and let the blackness pull him under again.

  A while later, someone put a cold, damp cloth to his forehead. Startled, he opened his eyes and smiled when he saw Sabrina.

  “You came back to me. Do you want some water?”

  When he nodded, she held a cold glass of water to his lips and allowed him to drink. After a few sips, he smiled at her. The cool water flowing down his throat felt so good.

  “You’re going to be okay, Ben.”

  She looked at him. He seemed so big against the hospital bed. He was shirtless and she could see the gashes along his chest and arms. Bruises were in various stages of healing. His ripped muscles still looked sexy. Goddess, what was wrong with her? There he was, lying in a hospital bed— he had almost died! — and she was thinking of having sex with him. She was crazy.

  “You’re everything to me,” Benjamin said.

  “You’re an amazing man. You are my mate and I love you.”

  Benjamin smiled, his blue eyes gleaming.

  “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

  Sabrina reached for his hand. He gripped her hand back tightly. Her silent tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She couldn’t hold them in any longer.

  “Aw, sweetheart, don’t cry. Hey, come here.”

  He pulled her closer, forcing her to sit on the hospital bed. She was careful not to hurt him.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You’d only hurt me if you weren’t here.”

  Sabrina loved his arms around her more than anything. She burrowed against Benjamin, determined never to leave the comfort of his chest. The world could come and go without her. Benjamin brushed her hair back tenderly. His fingers stilled over the bruise at the hairline of her forehead and touched it gently. He stroked the tender flesh as though he could rub the wound away.

  A bright glow lit the room. Benjamin squeezed Sabrina against him as he stared at the little ribbons of light intertwining with each other and then going into their bodies. Their souls had become one.

  “Oh, wow,” Sabrina said as she felt the mating bond fully form and settle into place.

  “I’m excited; after all these years, our mate bond completed,” Benjamin said. The mating bond pulsed between them and he let out a shuddering breath.

  ●●●

  It was Thanksgiving. Benjamin sat at the head of the dining table with Sabrina on his right. Their baby, Harrison, would be born in January. He looked around the table at everyone.

  Benjamin’s brother-in-law, Richard, who had been mated to Connie had arrived with his children, Thomas and Ruby. He and his new wife, Veronica, sat next to them, frowns on their faces as they discussed something in quiet tones. Benjamin had never thought Richard and the kids would be truly happy after he lost Connie; now, though, they had a future.

  His older brother and his mate were raising their children, Abigail and Ollie. They sat across from Sabrina’s family, leaning on each other. They sat talking quietly, nibbling at their food. They had been through so much and had come out stronger than ever.

  His friend Cade Norton and his mate Gracie and their twins Jackson and Jennifer were there. Later, they would go to visit Cade’s parents Stephan and Vivian, his brother Michael, his sister Claudette and her mate Timothy with their children Ellen and Troy.

  Jase Stewart sat with his mate Libby and their infant son, his brother Jacob, his sister Brenda and her mate Gregory, his sister Nicole, her mate Lucas, and their son Bradley.

  It was kind of weird not having a big bad guy to fight anymore.

  The End

  A note from KR Hall

  Thank you for buying my book! I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like to be alerted when I release my next book, follow me on:

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  I love hearing from my readers. Please consider reviewing, even if you only write a line or two. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.

  About the Author

  I’m a New Englander by birth. I grew up along both the east coast and west coast as my father was in the military. After my eight years in the military, I moved to Colorado in 1992.

  I married the love of my life and soul mate Tom in the early 2000s. I live with my husband, mom, and two chihuahua mix fur babies. Our children are all grown and on their own.

  I'm addicted to dark and milk chocolate and iced tea. I'm a romantic at heart who loves books with a happy ending, characters who aren't perfect with room to grow, and a good mystery you can't solve easily.

  I’m living my dream as an author. I wish there were a faster way to put all the stories in my head down on paper. I write paranormal romances with happy endings. I’m branching out to writing contemporary romances and mysteries. I will continue to write as long as you continue to read them.

  Karen’s books

  Black Bears of Independence: Corbin

  A clan of black bear shifters has settled into the old ghost town of Independence, CO and opened the Independence Dude Ranch.

  Alpha Corbin Hurst has wished for his fated mate since he and his clan began work in Independence three years ago. Long days and longer nights have him dreaming of their future together.

  After a rough breakup and swearing off men, Eloise Freimont books a visit to the dude ranch. She meant to focus on her life and getting herself together, not on sex-on-a-stick Corbin Hurst.

  A stalker and a mysterious man stand in the way of lovers born to be together.

  The world around them declares war on fate and pushes hard against the pair. Now, they and the pack have to take a stand for more than just love; the town itself needs protecting and they’re the only ones that can do it.

  Black Bears of Independence: Cade

  Beta of the Black Bears of Independence Clan Cade Norton met his True Mate at his best friend and Alpha Corbin Hurst’s mating ceremony to Eloise Freimont. They had an amazing night of hot, steamy lovemaking, but when he woke the next morning, Gracie was gone. Cade won’t chase after Gracie. After two months, Cade’s bear is demanding he go after their mate.

  Gracie Jefferies has one big case to finish with her job as an FBI agent, she doesn’t have time for h
er True Mate, so after a fantastic night, she fled back to Aspen, Colorado. Gracie’s red mountain lion is demanding they go back and claim their mate.

  When Gracie’s big case goes wrong, her life is in danger. How can Cade keep Gracie safe?

  The mysterious someone that’s spying on the Black Bears of Independence Clan is no longer satisfied with sabotage. He has stepped up his game and shifters are getting hurt. What does this person want with the molybdenum?

  Black Bears of Independence: Jase

  Jase Stewart is the Omega of the Black Bear of Independence Clan in Colorado. Being the Omega, he could feel every emotion from his pack. They fell on Jase’s shoulders with a heavy, still silence that never went away. He needed to take it all in and try to fix everything.

  Jase’s appetite for women is legendary. He rarely turned down the offer of no-strings-attached sex, especially when his partner was so good at it. Are the rumors true?

  Libby Hoffman accepted her role as a Seer through the Oracle of the goddess Isis. After years of being held captive by the San Francisco wolf pack who abused her powers, Libby escaped with her sanity barely intact. Looking for a place to hide, Libby stumbled upon a bear shifter that took pity on her and brought her to his friend Benjamin Hurst and the Hurst family clan in Estes Park, Colorado.

  Jase is strongly attracted to Libby, but he doesn’t scent her as his mate. Libby masks her scent to keep herself safe, as well as to prevent the visions of Jase’s death from coming true. Why the big secret? Jase is smart. He can handle it.

  War has come to the Black Bears of Independence. Pickens and his militia pushed the Black Bears clan too far. Pickens and his militia didn't think they'd fight. They were wrong. Dead wrong.

  Black Bears of Independence: Benjamin

  Benjamin Hurst grew up knowing his older brother Corbin would be alpha of their family clan. An injury in an accident (that also took his mother’s life) left him with a limp. So, it came as a huge surprise when his brother stated he was going to make his own clan leaving Ben as alpha of the Hurst Family clan in Estes Park, CO.

  Sabrina Bryant stopped shifting after a traumatic incident when she was ten. She only wishes she could remember what it was so she could shift. Sabrina never seemed to be good enough for her father, and after two failed relationships, she knew he was right in saying she was worthless and that no one would want her. Her father arranged a mating with Benjamin for political reasons.

  Benjamin and Sabrina learned that she is the last hope to defeat Pickens and his army. They and their clan will fight side by side with the Independence clan.

  Strigoi Redemption

  To be born a strigoi, you must be the seventh son in an all-male family. A strigoi can transform into an animal, turn invisible, have tremendous strength, accelerated speed, and the preference to drain the blood of its victims. Though they are like vampires, strigoi are not vampires and are much older. Strigoi can be killed by severe brain trauma with a silver bullet to the brain. Decapitation with a silver blade will also result in the strigoi's death.

  Victor Marinescu, born in Moldavia, Romania, is the seventh son of a seventh son. Therefore, he is born strigoi. Hundreds of years later he finds his mate in America.

  Forces are trying to destroy Victor and his mate Alana. If you knew deep within your soul that there was only one person in the world meant just for you, the only person who could make you happy, what would you give up? How long would you search for them? How many centuries? And if you ever did find them, then what? Could you ever let them go? Wouldn't you grab onto them with both arms... and never... never let them go?

  Coming Soon

  The Ladies Man

  Columbia University, NY June 5, 2018, was the day Arthur (Artie) Johnson graduated college. After the ceremony was over, Arthur went to find his girlfriend to propose. As he rounded the corner of the college, he saw his girl in the arms of another man. Devastated, Arthur vowed to remain a bachelor. Never again would he open his heart to another woman to have it broken.

  After several failed attempts, Arthur takes a job at a genteel, women-only boarding house in Hoboken, NY (inhabited by many, many women) as their handyman. Can he live in the same home with all these females?

  After only two months, Artie can’t live in a house full of women anymore as he is about to walk out, in walks a girl right out of his dreams. Evelyn (Evie) Van Voorhies, a shy brunette with whiskey eyes, has her sights set on being one of the Rockettes. The problem is that she is a klutz.

  Artie reads up on everything about the Rockettes and dancing, and so he can help Evie practice. Working closely together, Artie falls in love.

  The Dahlstrom Brothers series

  Adored by the Dragon (The Dahlstrom Brothers series book 1)

  Dragon brothers Auden, Slater, and Winston Dahlstrom are courageous, dedicated, loyal, and oh so very passionate. Follow them on their adventures as they encounter danger and enduring pain with steadfast and unbroken spirits. The brothers stay focused on their duties protecting their kind from those who would cause harm.

  They defend the weak, their friends and family willing to sacrifice their lives. They live by the dragon warrior code: be strong when you are weak. Be brave when you are scared. Be humble when you are victorious. Be badass every day. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.

  Cassidy Mazurek is a reporter trying to interview Auden for a story and finds more than she bargained for. While taking pictures trying to learn about her new camera, she accidentally takes pictures of a crime in the distance. Cassidy posts her photos online, and of course, the images are shared all over. Unfortunately, the one that committed the crime has discovered the photos and where Cassidy lives and works.

  Heart of the Dragon’s Hoard (The Dahlstrom Brothers series book 2)

  Dragon brothers Auden, Slater, and Winston Dahlstrom are courageous, dedicated, loyal, and oh so very passionate. Follow them on their adventures as they encounter danger and enduring pain with steadfast and unbroken spirits. The brothers stay focused on their duties protecting their kind from those who would cause harm.

  They defend the weak, their friends and family willing to sacrifice their lives. They live by the dragon warrior code: be strong when you are weak. Be brave when you are scared. Be humble when you are victorious. Be badass every day. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.

  Lucinda Kincade has been in a coma for three years after she was in a car accident that killed her parents. Slater is her physical therapist. They are strongly attracted to each other but can’t act on the desire. Or can they? When Lucinda starts to regain her memories, someone tries to stop her permanently.

  Dragon Security (The Dahlstrom Brothers series book 3)

  Dragon brothers Auden, Slater, and Winston Dahlstrom are courageous, dedicated, loyal, and oh so very passionate. Follow them on their adventures as they encounter danger and enduring pain with steadfast and unbroken spirits. The brothers stay focused on their duties protecting their kind from those who would cause harm.

  They defend the weak, their friends and family willing to sacrifice their lives. They live by the dragon warrior code: be strong when you are weak. Be brave when you are scared. Be humble when you are victorious. Be badass every day. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.

  Mirabelle Edgington is the head of the secret military project at Dahlstrom and sons. She discovers that someone is stealing their work, but that’s nothing compared to what happens when she tries to stop the espionage and contacts the head of the cybersecurity division. Someone will stop at nothing to regain access to the secret project and terminate Maribelle.

 

 

 
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