Novels by Flora Lovatt

Sapphira's ankle gave way and she tumbled forward into the dark. The ground was cold and gritty under her, the air pungent with mildew and ... more jasmine. This place was old. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and her vision sharpened, her wolf sensing for threats. But the air was still. The only movement was a trickle of water running down the wall. She turned towards the direction she had fallen from, her eyes adjusting in the dark as Evander materialised behind her. He dusted his shoulders and adjusted his cuffs before extending a hand towards her. "Sapphira, darling. The floor is no place for a beauty like you." She snarled gently and heaved herself up, pointedly ignoring his hand. He shrugged and flicked his fingers, a golden light erupting from the candelabra on the walls. Her jaw dropped, the relatively small room was full of dark mirrors. Some had sheets thrown over them; others stood on their own, more huddled together in groups as though they were conversin

Gentle birdsong drifted through the window as Sapphira's eyes flickered open. The side of the bed where Evander had slept was empty and cold; the covers still peeled back at the corner where he had risen. There was no sound coming from the bathroom, and the packhouse sounded quiet, many of the guests still asleep even as light began to pour in through the windows. The events of last night seemed as though they had occurred weeks ago; her whole life had changed in ways she could never have imagined. The thought of having to leave her friends behind to begin a life as a rogue or possibly enter into some bargain with Alpha Kai to convince him to let her stay had left her frazzled. The chances of finding her mate here were slim to none, and yet, it had happened. Even though her future was not much clearer to her now, finding her mate had settled her. But the tales of mates that had torn each other apart simply because they were not compatible were rife, and Evander

The only sounds in the room were the slow drip of her blood onto the floor and her racing heart. The tangy smell of her fear became consuming. "Easy. I have no desire to hand you over to your family." "Why?" She rasped. His answering smile was breathtaking. "Because I want you for myself." Her soft snort reverberated off the fractured windows. The sword slid back into its sheath with an easy sigh as the warmth of his chest disappeared. If he wanted to kill her, the sword was unlikely to stop him. His wolf was a shadow to his human form; its presence seemed to lurk in the corners behind him. Watching and waiting. The Beast, indeed. Her skin crawled, and she shivered, suddenly aware of the chill. "My brother will kill me." "I know," the desk groaned under his weight. "Which is why I want you to come back with me." Outrunning her family was madness. But she wasn't sure she had any other choice. If she stayed here, the news

The packhouse was already full when El's father, Rodrigo, pulled up. Cast-iron lanterns and a burgundy carpet lay on the stone steps leading into the foyer where Alpha Kai and Beta Declan stood, greeting people. El's squeals made Sapphira jump as Rodrigo opened the car door for her, his dark skin glowing in the lamp-light. He had insisted on being their chaperone tonight, much to El's initial dismay. Sapphira was glad that he had; their scents might hide hers. What had started this morning as slight nerves had become overwhelming panic, but missing the ball would look even more suspicious. She was just a usual 18 year old, desperate for a mate. Being handed back to her family had been in the forefront of her mind for years. The idea of unconditional love seemed so far-fetched that her machinations had never included the possibility. She shook her head. Just get through the night unnoticed. El's worried glances haunted her as the A

The week was passing in a blur. Irina, the packhouse matron, had been ordering grumpy wolves around all week. It was the first Mating Ball to be held by the Bridgewater pack in 5 years, and everything was going to be perfect. "Cleaning duties at the packhouse" had become "preparation for the Mating Ball", with flowers and food and decorations arriving every afternoon. The main hall was usually empty unless pack members needed chairs for meetings, but now tables lined the walls, with a stage at one end to accommodate musicians. Pink and orange oriental lilies hung in giant wreaths from the walls, with lights strung through them, twinkling and sparkling. The enormous windows that stretched floor to ceiling on the east side of the building were draped with a delicate silvery mesh, reflecting the light from the cast iron chandelier that hung low in the centre of the room. And Irina was not finished. "Don't you get mud on my floor!" Clutching her cli

"Happy birthday, Sapphira!" "Oh, thank you, El. You shouldn't have!" Sapphira blushed as her closest friend bounced over with a silver-wrapped parcel and the most obnoxious hot pink balloons. "Don't be silly. You're only 18 once, Sapph!" She winked, flicking her brown curls over her shoulder. El had been her best friend since her first week in the pack, and her endless energy, although exhausting, was a welcome distraction from all the stress in her life. The girls had met the day she started at Bridgewater High. Honestly, she hadn't intended on making friends here, worried that this would only be temporary or that it would open her up to questions that she couldn't answer. But when El had hopped up to her, the epitome of a southern beauty with her deeply tanned skin and dark eyes, Sapphira hadn't the heart to turn her away. Sapphira rolled her eyes as El handed her the present and balloon. It seemed now everyone in the school was now staring at her.