Vignette: Nate

Think this could be Nate? Let me know!

Vignette: Nate (the Teen Years)

Sometimes, when writing a book, the events in the book are so emotionally draining that I have to take a short break and write something else.

My WIP, Wolf's Duty, is like that in several scenes. While contemplating how to resolve the most current problem facing my Alpha Were King, I started thinking about something Eli remembered in Wolf's Claim. This vignette resulted. It may be included in a book someday, but for now, it's just a tiny slice of Nate's adolescent years.

Vignette: Nate at the Police Station

Fifteen-year-old Nate Rollins sat on his hands to hide his skinned and healing knuckles. He didn't know anyone else who healed so fast, and it worried him. He leaned forward, chin tucked against his chest while he side-eyed his foster brother, Eli Thomas. Face pale as his t-shirt, Eli sat stiff and stared straight ahead, almost unblinking, jaw clenched, fisted hands resting on his thighs. Around them, ignoring the two teenaged boys sitting on the bench against the wall, police officers milled about the room doing whatever it is police officers did when they were on duty but in the department building. Murmuring voices, keyboard clicks, and the sound of boot heels hitting the tile floors filled the room.  

Two bloody, bruised teenagers sat at a desk across the room, loudly accusing Nate and Eli of assault and battery, while another officer listened while Charlotte accused the injured teens of attempted rape and argued that Nate and his brother defended her against the two making the charges. Even over the background noise, Nate could hear every word, though he couldn’t begin to explain how. His ability to hear sounds and voices from a distance was something he tried to keep to himself. 

Beside him, Eli took a deep, quivering breath, then glanced at Nate. Suddenly more worried about Eli than the accusations made against them, he leaned toward the only brother he’d ever known. “You okay?”

Eli blinked and raised one shoulder in a slight shrug. He swept a gaze across the room, then leaned closer and whispered, “I thought you were gonna kill them both.”

Nate took a deep breath through his nose and released it through his mouth, then gave Eli a single nod, and whispered, “I would have if you hadn’t stopped me. When Clive ripped Charlotte’s blouse, I . . ..” He broke off when one of the officers walked closer and stopped.

“Your dad is on the way, boys. You have anything else to say about all this?”

The two boys exchanged glances, looked up at the uniformed man standing over them, and then shook their heads. “No, Sir,” they chorused.

“Hmph. Well, the girl claims they were trying to force her, and you stopped them. That right?”

Head down, Eli nodded. Nate met the man’s gaze without flinching. “That’s right.”

“The Chief believes her. Those two will spend at least one night in jail. When your dad gets here, the two of you will be released into his custody.” He twisted his mouth to the side and sniffed. “Think you two can stay out of trouble?”

“We’ll do our best, Sir.” Nate’s calm, firm voice seemed to surprise the man.

“Yeah, well, see that you do. I don’t want to see the two of you in here, again.” He glanced at Eli, then studied Nate for a moment. “You ever think about being a cop, Son?”

Nate blinked and caught his breath. “Sir? Me?”

“Yeah. You don’t seem to get too riled up.” He turned to look at the two bloody boys, then grinned. “Unless someone needs help, anyway.”

Swallowing hard, Nate struggled not to fidget on the bench. His face burned like he had a second-degree sunburn. He gave the officer a sickly grin. “No, Sir. I want to be a Marine. Like my dad.”

Sucking air between his teeth, the officer smirked. “Sounds like a good career choice for you.” With a single wave of his hand, he walked back to his desk and sat down.

---

At this point in his life, Nate didn't know of his shifter heritage, but he knew he wasn't normal.

Let me know what you think. Should this be fleshed out into a full story, or even a YA book? Does the photo I selected look right for Nate?

Back to writing!

Later,

Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series

Nate Rollins Beginning and Cover Reveal for Wolf's Guard

Wolf's Son: The Story of Nate's Birth

You've read a few books in the series, but now you wonder more about Nate Rollins, the Royal Alpha Were King.

Well, you don't have to wonder. A short story, Wolf's Son, details his birth and his early life. It's free for subscribers to my Lynn's Muse Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Here is the first scene in Wolf's Son:

Grant wrapped his newborn son in a small blanket and put him in his mother’s arms. The wonder on her face matched that in Grant’s heart. I have a son! Visions of running through the pack howling his news vanished when Linette gasped. In her arms, their tiny baby shimmered, then changed to a squirming, whining pup. Blinking at the panic in Linette’s eyes, Grant shook his head. “It can’t be,” he whispered to his mate. “It can’t!”

Beneath his son, Linette’s chest labored with her panicked breathing. “Grant, if Jackson finds out . . ..”

“Shhh.” His heart raced and sudden beads of sweat dripped into his eyes. “Shhh.” Closing his eyes, Grant pressed his hand to his pup’s tiny head. Change and do not shift again! A soft puppy whine ended as the pup shifted back to baby.

Grant leaned close to his mate and pressed his hand to her forehead. Jackson will not harm him. We must leave. Now. Tonight. Before the others know he has birthed.

Wordless, she nodded. Her pain shivered through him. It’s too soon to move her, he told Fareth.

If we don’t, she and the pup will die.

Grant’s jaw ticked. Over my dead body.

Fareth, his wolf, agreed.

To read more, subscribe to the newsletter!

---

More News and Cover Reveal

UPDATE: Wolf's Guard published!

I am currently working on the next novel in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series, titled Wolf's Guard. I haven't quite finished getting the story details in order, but I have 2,600 words written. 

For now, I'm not sure what I've written will be the first two chapters, but that happens sometimes. I write then shuffle chapters around later.

This story will tell more about Lee and Paige, Violet and Phillip, and introduce Magnus to Bess Crane, Daryll Crane's bear sister. Bess creates hand-crafted jewelry, and Magnus, as a dragon, hordes precious metal and stones. We'll also see the difficulties a young changeling wolf, Violet's younger sister, has when she is introduced into the pack.

Off to work on Wolf's Guard!

Later,

Click here to find more Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series books!

Veronica Snoopsalot Interviews Nate Rollins

Veronica Snoopsalot Interview with Nate Rollins, the owner, and manager of the Rollins Ranch.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Good afternoon! This is Veronica Snoopsalot and the Snoopsalot Report on your local radio station! Today, we have an interview with Nate Rollins, a retired Marine, and former San Antonio Police Detective. Welcome, Mr. Rollins. May I call you Nate?

Nate Rollins:

Good afternoon, Ms. Snoopsalot. You can call me Nate if I can call you Veronica.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

That’s fine, Nate. First off, I’m sure my audience would like to know more about you. Please tell us a little about your early life.

Nate Rollins:

I was orphaned at an early age. My dad died when I was eight; my mother passed when I was 10. I lived with my step-dad for a while, then went into the foster care system. Eventually, Major Thomas and his wife Cynthia became my foster parents when I was about 13. I lived with them until I graduated high school.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

That’s interesting. How did you wind up in the foster care system?

Nate Rollins:

My step-dad couldn’t take care of me due to some . . . issues he had to take care of.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

What kind of issues?

Nate Rollins:

The kind I’m not willing to discuss, Veronica. What else did you want to know?

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Well, I’m sure our listeners would love to know more.

Nate Rollins:

No.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Very well. Tell me about your arrest when you were seventeen.

Nate Rollins:

Those records were sealed. How did you find out about that?

Veronica Snoopsalot:

According to Georgetown police records, you and your foster-brother, Eli, were arrested for beating up several other teenagers. I just want to let our listeners know about your past so that they can better judge your present.

Nate Rollins:

Charges were dropped. We were protecting a girl a group attacked. That happened over twenty-five years ago, Veronica. I don’t see the relevance to today.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Interesting. So, you think of yourself as a hero?

Nate Rollins:

No. I think of myself as someone who helps those who can’t help themselves.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Well, let’s continue, shall we? You were active duty in the Marines for twenty-five years. The next fifteen years, you were a detective with the San Antonio Police Department. So, what would make you give up your service career to manage a ranch?

Nate Rollins:

Let’s just say there’s more work to do there than I could get done after hours if I was still with SAPD.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

I see. I heard some strange rumors about what goes on out at your ranch. Some of the neighbors hear gunshots quite often. They also say there are a lot of wild animals roaming your property.

Nate Rollins:

We have a shooting range on the ranch. Sometimes, there are shooting contests among the employees. As far as wild animals go, I haven’t seen any wild animals other than deer, rabbits, skunks, and the ever-present armadillos.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

So, you deny having wild bears and big game cats on the ranch?

Nate Rollins:

I haven’t seen any large wild animals. Maybe they’re hiding from me.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

I don’t appreciate you being facetious.

Nate Rollins:

Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

How about a change in topic? You are the owner and manager of Rollins Ranch, formerly called the Hynson Ranch. Few retired Marines and police detectives make the kind of money to purchase a ranch that size. How did you become the owner?

Nate Rollins:

My wife’s brother, Randall Hynson, left the ranch to her husband in his will. So, I guess you could say I inherited it.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

How does your wife feel about you owning her family ranch? I mean, shouldn’t it have been left to her? Why would her brother leave the ranch to her husband?

Nate Rollins:

Those are questions you’ll have to ask my wife and her deceased brother.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

There’s something fishy going on out there. What’s going on out there? Do you practice witchcraft?

Nate Rollins:

We’re a ranch with employees who work the ranch. We raise cattle, horses, chickens, and occasionally goats. We farm sections of the ranch. It’s a working ranch, Veronica. I don’t personally know any witches. Do you?

Veronica Snoopsalot:

You didn’t mention the oil wells.

Nate Rollins:

We have several pump jacks working. It’s not really part of the ranch work, though.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

And what do you do with all that money you have rolling in, Nate?

Nate Rollins:

I maintain the ranch and support my employees. What do you do with your money, Veronica?

Veronica Snoopsalot:

No need to get snippy, Nate. The public wants to know.

Nate Rollins:

The public can take a flying leap off a tall cliff. I run a business. I protect and provide for my employees and their families. I abide by the law in my business activities. I pay my share of taxes.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Calm down, Nate. No one is accusing you of any wrongdoing. I have just a few more questions. How many people are on the ranch?

Nate Rollins:

That’s rather fluid since employees come and go.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Is the ranch hiring?

Nate Rollins:

No. Not right now. We have a full roster of employees, right now.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Many of your employees live there with their families. Why don’t the children on your ranch attend the public school?

Nate Rollins:

We have a private school on site. As far as we live from the nearest town, the children would be on the bus for a minimum of three hours a day if they attended there. Nine hours for sleeping, eight hours for school, and three hours for the bus. That comes up to twenty hours a day. If the four hours was in a lump, it might be okay, but it’s spread out through the day, ten minutes here, twenty there, another thirty somewhere else. By attending school on the ranch, the children have more time to pursue their interests and to enjoy being with their families.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

What are the educational standards for your private school?

Nate Rollins:

We meet or exceed state requirements. All our teachers are certified to teach by the state of Texas. The ranch provides textbooks and school supplies for each child, as well as classroom supplies for our teachers. Our children receive an excellent education.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

I’ve heard reports that your teenagers are forced to take military training. Why? What are you expecting?

Nate Rollins:

I was in the military for twenty-five years, Veronica. There isn’t a better basis for physical education classes than military training. And it gives them the added benefit of being able to take care of themselves if they ever get into a bad situation.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

But what about sports? Football, etc.? Why doesn’t your school participate in sports with other area schools?

Nate Rollins:

Those teens interested also work on the ranch. You know, for money they can spend on whatever they and their parents or guardians deem appropriate. We have football games, baseball games, and basketball games on the ranch. What we have is a community of people of all ages. They enjoy the normal activities of communities. Potluck meals, ice cream suppers, and even video game contests. We’re not so different than other communities.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

What about the weird stuff that goes on out there? You know, strange blue lights that flash across the sky or loud thunder when there are no clouds in sight.

Nate Rollins:

Weird stuff happens everywhere. Thank you for having me on your program, Veronica. I’m afraid I have another appointment and can’t stay longer.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Wait, Nate! I didn’t get a chance to ask you about . . ..

Nate Rollins:

Good-bye, Veronica.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Well, that’s it. Mr. Rollins has left the building. Let me know if you have weird stories about the Rollins Ranch. There’s always a nugget of truth in the strangest story, you know! That’s all for today, folks. This is Veronica Snoopsalot and the Snoopsalot Report signing off until next time.

---

Thank you for reading Nate's interview with Veronica!

You can learn more about Nate Rollin's adventures in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series!

Too bad Veronica didn't know to ask Nate how he became the king . . ..

Later,

Cover Reveal: Wolf's Regin

Cover Reveal: Wolf's Reign (Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series)

After a lot of thought, I decided the cover I had previously selected for Wolf's Reign, the last book in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack series, was not what I wanted. You can see the first version in the header (until I have time to change it out, anyway!)

I spent some time to reworking it, and came up with this design.

While I like the first version of the cover, the story is about Nate coming into his birthright. It didn't seem right for the cover to also feature his brother, Eli.

Chapter 1 is complete and I have started chapter 2.

As usual, life happened, and I had to put writing on hold for a while to take care of family, but I'm back and working hard today.

Later,

Get the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series!

Book 1: Wolf's Man
Book 2: Wolf's Claim
Book 3: Wolf's Mission
Book 4: Wolf's Huntsman
Book 5: Wolf's Trust
Book 6: Wolf's Reign (Coming Soon!)