A Tempting Distraction

Chapter One





It’s funny how he found such comfort in being in a church, given that he’d never stayed around long enough to listen to an actual service.

Then again, until recently, he’d hardly ever seen the outside of his various childhood homes period. If one could call what he’d grown up in as homes, since in all actuality they were nothing more than a prison in the guise of two-story ranch dwellings. The only time his guardian had ever let him step foot out had been to do the grocery shopping or to help one of his foster brothers, Andrew or Shane, on a mission that called for Owen’s specialized skills.

Owen settled into one of the many, heavy oak pews lining the entire width of the church.

He had his choice of seating since, given the late hour, he alone occupied the building. Although, because it was Flint, the city continued to bustle elsewhere. His heightened shifter hearing picked up the distant sounds of traffic, a couple arguing in a nearby alley and the jets from a nearby airport. Instead of feeling resentful of the auditory intrusion, Owen drank it in.

The sounds letting him know that he wasn’t isolated anymore.

Breathing in deep, he savored the scents of dust, old leather and melting wax. Those smells also served to soothe him, although if asked why, he’d be hard pressed to give reason.

Whatever it may be, it had drawn him there every night for the previous couple of weeks.

He scanned the interior of the building, appreciating the beauty of the architecture. The stained glass windows lining both sides of the sanctuary were sheer works of art. While he’d never been to Sunday school, he still could identify many of the Biblical scenes showcased in the windows. One depicted the Prodigal Son and he couldn’t help but see the irony in how it paralleled his own life, although his own separation from family had not been willing.

A heavy wind blew outside, making the ancient building creak. Owen strained his ears, always on alert for the telltale sounds of wings flapping that would alert him to Ravens approaching. In his previous life, the bird shifters had never bothered with him or his two foster brothers, now that they’d gone into the fold of the feline coalition, things had changed.

If his older biological brother, Seth, knew that Owen snuck out nearly every night, the Tiger shifter would be beyond pissed. Even though they’d only been reunited a few months, Seth had made it his personal mission to protect Owen at all times. For someone who’d grown up basically having to fend for himself, the restrictions and coddling grated on Owen.

Still, he knew Seth meant well, so Owen kept his feelings close to his chest. The wind blew again. Almost on reflex, Owen pulled his battered jean jacket closed. While the air in the church didn’t nearly carry the same bite as outside, it still felt chilly. Owen was loath to leave though, for that meant going back to headquarters.



As he resigned himself to his present situation, he allowed his mind to wander to more mundane things. He’d been given a makeshift lab to use and he had several projects in development. For the first time since he’d been rescued he actually felt a little excited about his work. Even if he didn’t harbor any aspirations that somebody would have much use for any of what he produced. Not when they had the coalition’s vast array of expensive, military issue equipment at their disposal.

Although there was one project, that if successful, may finally earn him some much wanted respect within the coalition. Then, maybe, they’d all stop looking at him with jaded expressions. Most of all, it just may finally earn Seth’s respect.

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t realize he had company until someone slid into the pew next to him and pressed their hard body close to his side. On instinct, Owen made a move for the gun he always carried in the inside pocket of his coat. His hand barely moved a few inches before strong fingers reached out and grabbed him into a painful, tear-inducing hold. Biting back a cry of alarm, he looked up to find himself looking into the dark-eyed gaze of Garrett. One of the Hawk shifters who aligned themselves with his coalition, Garrett was a friendly face and no threat. Relief washed over Owen as he realized he wasn’t about to be attacked. Then just as quickly, his heart picked up speed again, this time for an entirely different reason, because…well, it was Garrett.

On his first day at the coalition, Owen had literally run into the handsome Hawk and ever since then, he had a thing for Garrett. Everything about Garrett called to Owen in a way no other had before, from the man’s dark-as-midnight hair styled in a sharp military cut to his dark intense eyes that seemed to carry the weight of the world in them. Add into it that Garrett’s body had the perfect build of thin, without too many muscles and Owen was nearly drooling in appreciation.