Book Title: The Slow Death
Authors: Nic Starr and BL Maxwell
Release Date: January 26, 2022
Genre: MM Paranormal Romance
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Fated Mates, Reluctant Alpha
Themes: Forgiveness, New Alpha, Shifter Society
Length: 46 000 words/ 165 pages
It is the first book in a trilogy, but does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Caught in the fallout of a rare disease, and members of opposing packs, Zander and Marrok’s future as fated mates hangs in the balance.
Blurb
Alexander Kingston wasn’t destined to lead the East Territory pack, but fate had other ideas. Becoming the next Alpha in his dead brother’s place and managing his father’s expectations is a challenge, one that’s only getting harder with time. When his father, the Alpha is reluctant to accept outside assistance when one of their own is afflicted with a deadly blood disorder, Zander must take a stand against his father or lose another pack member to The Slow Death.
Marrok Blain is part of the North Territory pack. With his unique knowledge of The Slow Death, the debilitating progressive disorder that slowly kills with every shift, he offers help, knowing he’ll be met with resistance from his friend’s pack. What he doesn’t expect is the overwhelming pull to the stubborn yet undeniably gorgeous son of the East Territory Alpha.
Four packs coexisting with rising tensions, and a genetic disorder that reminds them of the common thread that connects them all. Zander and Marrok are the key to an uneasy alliance, or all the packs will suffer. Especially Zander, who discovers he’s got one more deadly fight to face.
Excerpt from The Slow Death
Streetlights flashed by as he drove the quiet streets, evenly spaced pools of light interspersed with darkness. His blood started to sing, and he realised with each house he passed in the quiet neighborhood, his tension increased. It made no sense. The shift had slaked the urgent pressing need that had driven him running to the mountains in the first place. After changing, his wolf had been at peace, and the feeling that he’d been going to explode had disappeared. But the relief and peace seemed to be short-lived and was diminishing the nearer he got to home. His skin was too tight, buzzing with static electricity just under the surface. It became more difficult to concentrate on driving as his body demanded his focus. He lowered the window, hoping the fresh air would help. Gulping in the cool night air, he waited for the surge of oxygen to clear his mind, shaking his head when the fog and urgent zing in his body didn’t lift.
Zander contemplated pulling over—questioning his ability to drive, but his street was coming up. It was a relief to be on the home stretch. Thank fuck he didn’t have far to go, only another couple of blocks and he could park and get out of the truck before he lost complete control. Once in the house, he would hit the home gym and burn off some of this unwanted energy. It appeared the outcome of his first shift as a fully mature wolf wasn’t what he’d expected and he had no idea how to control it, but would try anything, starting with running some miles on the treadmill.
An unexpected scent reached him through the open window. An aroma he’d never noticed before, and he struggled with his body’s reaction to it. What the fuck? He nearly missed the driveway, wrenching the wheel at the last minute, as desire punched him in the gut. He slammed on the brakes, not taking the time to park in the garage, instead leaving the truck in the driveway. He opened the door and stumbled from the cab and toward the house.
“Fuck!” He startled when a dark figure stepped from the shadows near the front porch. The surprise pushed a harsh breath from his lungs and when he dragged in his next breath, it brought more of that mouth-watering scent. Holy shit. Marrok.
“Zander—”
“What are you doing here? Actually, forget that. It doesn’t matter.” He pushed past him, desperate to put distance between them. At the door he tried desperately to get inside, but shaking fingers fumbled with his keys as he felt a deep pull to the other man. Hurry up.
Eventually he managed to insert the key and turn the lock, and almost fell through the doorway in his haste. The door slammed into the wall with the force of his body ramming it open, but before he could close it, Marrok was there in the doorway. Zander gripped the edge of the door as he took him in. His olive skin was flushed with a faint sheen of sweat, and his wavy hair a tangled mess as if he’d been dragging his hands through it. His eyes were wild—the pupils eclipsing the warm brown irises—and almost Zander’s undoing.
Fucking hell.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave now.” Zander pushed the words out despite every fiber of his being urging him to take Marrok and claim him for his own.
Marrok made a noise, a growl low in his throat, the sound vibrating across the short distance and hitting him square in the chest. Zander’s body tensed as he fought for control, but he couldn’t hold out much longer, not with the scent assaulting his senses and the lust rolling off Marrok in waves… Zander raised a hand intending to shove him back so he could slam the door, but instead found himself clutching a handful of shirt. Goosebumps spread across his flesh at the close proximity of this man he wanted to possess.
“You won’t get another chance.” His arm shook with the effort it took to restrain himself.
Marrok ran his tongue across his bottom lip, and he dipped his head in a slow nod. “I know.”
He knew? He knew what? He wouldn’t get another chance to leave? He knew what would happen if he stayed? He knew he wouldn’t get another opportunity at this, whatever the fuck this was? Fuck it. He hauled Marrok to him. Their bodies came together hard; Zander’s back thudded against the wall as Marrok devoured his mouth.
BL Maxwell
BL Maxwell grew up in a small town listening to her grandfather spin tales about his childhood. Later she became an avid reader and after a certain vampire series she became obsessed with fanfiction. She soon discovered Slash fanfiction and later discovered the MM genre and was hooked.
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Nic Starr
Nic Starr lives in Australia where she tries to squeeze as much into her busy life as possible. Balancing the demands of a corporate career with raising a family and writing can be challenging but she wouldn’t give it up for the world.
Always a reader, the lure of m/m romance was strong and she devoured hundreds of wonderful m/m romance books before eventually realising she had some stories of her own that needed to be told!
When not writing or reading, she loves to spend time with her family–an understanding husband and two beautiful daughters–and is often found indulging in her love of cooking and planning her dream home in the country.
You can find Nic on Facebook, Twitter and her blog. She’d love it if you stopped by to say hi.
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