Page 1 of Animal Instincts

PROLOGUE

Sixteen years old might have been a big deal to some—sweet sixteen—the start of feeling like a real woman.

But to Danika Harrison it was just another day. She couldn’t vote, could barely drive, and couldn’t even have any alcohol.

The pink and white balloons, the cutout decorations that signaled she was indeed sixteen today, were splattered across the backyard. Her father was over by the barbecue, and the guests that had already arrived were a few of her friends from school, and some of the neighbors.

She could have done without the show for her birthday, but although her father was this big, tough, and strong former SEAL, he was also the only person in her life that cared for her.

After her mother passed away suddenly when she was only two, it had just been her and her dad. He, at times, went a little above and beyond during celebrations and holidays, but she loved him for it, even if she felt she was too old for those things anymore.

Her dad looked at his watch, and she knew that one of his old Navy SEAL buddies was supposed to be coming in. She hadheard a lot about Damien Locke, a lion shifting man that had saved her father’s life when they had been overseas before she was born.

It was because of her father getting injured, and Damien saving his life, that her father had gotten a Purple Heart and had been Honorably Discharged.

“Hey, birthday girl,” Hayden, her best friend since she had been five years old, said from beside her.

She elbowed Hayden in the gut, and although he grunted as if in pain, she knew that he was fine.

“Your dad expecting someone?” Hayden asked and brought his can of Sprite to his mouth.

“Yeah, an old SEAL buddy that he hasn’t seen in years. Apparently the guy is moving to town.” She stared at her dad as he flipped burgers, glanced at the side entrance of their house, then went back to handing out hot dogs and hamburgers. “His name is Damien, and Dad says he’s this badass lion shifter that was this machine in the field, whatever that means.” She took a sip of her root beer.

“That means he’s a badass shifter that can probably kill a man with his bare hands.”

She shook her head at Hayden’s exaggeration, although it probably wasn’t too far off from the truth.

“A shifter, huh?”

She nodded and glanced at Hayden.

“He’ll be like the third shifter in this shitty little town.” She chuckled, because he was right, on both accounts.

Thistledalewasshitty, with a small population of humans, and only two shifters that lived inside city limits. Although shifters and humans lived side-by side, the only two part animal inhabitants were two panther shifters that were also husband and wife.

Hayden made this noncommittal noise, and started looking at Pamela Yern, one of Danika’s non-friend friends. They might have hung out when they were younger, but they hadn’t been “friends” for a long time. But because Pamela lived right next door to her, apparently her father thought that she needed to come to the party.

“Your dad invited her?” Hayden said without any disgust in his voice, and instead sounding a little turned on.

“God, Hayden, please don’t even go there with her. You and I both know that she makes out with the JV football players behind the school.”

He lifted an eyebrow, as if he were intrigued.

“What is it about her that makes anyone with a penis lose their brain?”

That had Hayden spitting out his Sprite as he laughed. “Oh shit, Danika.” He looked over at her. His short brown hair was slightly

damp from the swim in her backyard pool, and his light hazel eyes were crinkled in the corners as he tried to contain his laughter.

“If you had a penis you’d know why being easy was such a turn-on for the male population.”

Danika stared at Pamela as she got out of the pool, her string bikini totally inappropriate for a birthday party, and her breasts so big the triangles covering her nipples were barely holding on.

Hayden groaned. “Pamela Yern makes me yearn for some very raunchy things.”

“God, stop it now. If you only give me one thing for my birthday, make it sweet silence when it comes it Pamela.”

Hayden started laughing, but grabbed her upper arm and steered her toward the side of the house. “I have your birthday present right here.” He reached in the front pocket of his shorts and pulled out a joint.

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