A Desert Guards Prequel Short Story Before there was Mason, Hank, Sean, and Belle Foye, there was Floyd. In this Desert Guards prequel story, learn how the future alpha Were-cougar Floyd nabs gutsy neighbor Glenda Baxter as his mate. This short story can be read on its own, but is meant to be a supplement to the series. It contains minor spoilers of Book 1. Read the Desert Guards series in order: The Cougar's Mate The Cougar's Pawn The Cougar's Trade The Cougar's Bargain The Cougar's Wish

Ellery Colvard escapes her perfectly organized life for a camping trip with her friends, hoping for a tiny thrill. She’ll settle for a distraction, but instead she gets swept off her feet. Literally. Alpha were-cougar Mason Foye needs a mate, even if he has to resort to drastic measures to get one. But when he and his brothers sweep up Ellery and her friends, the last thing he expects is a woman with a nasty bite of her own. Not only does Ellery know all about shifters, she’s got magic. In fact, the little witch is a bit scary. What’s more, Ellery isn’t convinced fated mates exist. If Mason can’t persuade Ellery that they’re destined for a life of excitement together, he’s doomed to spend the rest of his days in his cougar form – without his son, his family, or the woman he’s already fallen for head over heels.

After a month as a “guest” of the Foye gang, quiet nurse Miles Bennett is itching to be able to leave their isolated ranch. But were-cougar second-in-command Hank Foye wants to take her as his mate. If she doesn’t agree to accept him, he’ll be cursed to spend the rest of his life on four paws. With no family waiting for her back home, Miles decides to stick around—Hank is cute, and staying in town means she’ll get to stay with her friends. Hank expected to be paired with Miles’s brash friend Hannah, not meek and mundane Miles. But his goddess says this is his one and only chance for a mate, even if Miles is a liability in a world where shifters fight to lead and roam. Now he not only has to attend to Cougar affairs but play bodyguard, too. Surprisingly, the sweet young woman brings his long-repressed passions roaring to life. She deserves to be loved unconditionally, but he sees her as the embodiment of everything he can’t have. Can he get his house in order to lead a group of restless Cougars and earn his mate’s trust?

Hannah Welch doomed were-cougar Sean Foye to spend the rest of his life in his animal form when she refused to accept him as a mate. But an attack at the Foyes’ New Mexico ranch ended with Hannah becoming a cougar, too. She strikes a bargain with the goddess who cursed him: Sean will be freed from his furry affliction if Hannah can find him a more suitable mate. Then the two are paired on a mission to root out a group of troublemakers, and as they work together, their icy feelings end up thawing quickly. Soon, Hannah’s not so sure she should give Sean up. He’s the only man who’s ever made her feel comfortable in her own skin—and her own fur, too. Can she prove to Sean that destiny deserves a second chance?

A desperate entity trapped on the other side of an active hellmouth pleads for were-cougar Belle Foye’s help, and she can’t stop herself from running toward it, even though it means putting her own life in danger. As if that weren’t bad enough, Belle is currently in heat, which means her body is acting in all sorts of ways her brain wished it wouldn’t—particularly when it comes to her new babysitter. Former soldier Steven Welch has been tasked with keeping Belle away from the hellmouth at all costs. It’s just his luck her inner cat has taken a shine to his human self. Not only is Belle a bit young in his world-weary opinion, but sticking close to her means he has no choice but to confront a fear of the supernatural he’d hoped he left in the Afghan desert. When the pair learns Steven could solve Belle’s problem and rescue the mysterious soul calling to her, their differences collide. Steven insists he’s no hero, while Belle wants to enter the hellmouth and end the trouble it’s brought on her family once and for all. Will Steven’s fears and stubbornness cause Belle to lose her fated mate and the one man she’s ever trusted enough to call “partner”?