Creed Read online

  Creed

  VLG – Book Eight

  Vampires, Lycans, Gargoyles

  By Laurann Dohner

  Creed by Laurann Dohner

  Angel was whisked away from a life of abuse as a child when a guardian angel flew her in his arms and gave her to a Lycan couple to raise and love as their own. It was inevitable that she developed feelings for her elusive savior, the GarLycan who protects her pack. As she matured, those feelings deepened to something more after spending time with him, only to be rebuffed by her hero. Dejected, Angel left the pack, moving away to distance herself from the pain. Now, years later, her mother has called her home. Their pack guardian is in need…

  Creed is emotionally distant and cold. He’s had to become that way to survive his harsh life. His one weakness is Angel. She deserves a happy life, something that he can’t give her. He was born into servitude and isn’t allowed to take a mate. But, every thirty years he goes into one night of heat. The ravage is upon him, and Angel is determined to be there for him. He’ll take her to his lair, chain her down, and finally be able to touch her…

  Creed and Angel soon discover their one night of bliss has dangerous consequences.

  VLG Series List

  Drantos

  Kraven

  Lorn

  Veso

  Lavos

  Wen

  Aveoth

  Creed

  Creed by Laurann Dohner

  Copyright © August 2017

  Editor: Kelli Collins

  Cover Art: Dar Albert

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-944526-86-3

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal, except for the case of brief quotations in reviews and articles.

  Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is coincidental.

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Creed - VLG – Book Eight

  By Laurann Dohner

  Prologue

  Rage burned inside Creed as the drunk woman chased the child too close to the burning fire pit. The girl appeared about five years old, and terrified. She tripped, barely avoiding falling into the flames. The woman leaned down, grabbed her hair, and viciously yanked her up, forcing her to stand. The sound of her striking the child with her hand was loud even from fifty yards away. He winced.

  “Do you see what I have to put up with? You’re not even mine,” the woman yelled. “That son of a bitch you call daddy went into town drinking and whoring again, leaving me to take care of your worthless ass. I should drown you in the river and do myself a favor. That bitch who birthed you had the right idea when she took off and left you both.”

  Creed dropped down from the low branch and stalked closer to the decrepit cabin. The stench of piled-up garbage, wood rot, and an outhouse couldn’t even be diminished by the sooty smell of burning logs inside the fire pit.

  The woman shook the child, and then threw her on the ground. She wasn’t done. She kicked the little girl as she attempted to get up and run away again, sending her rolling in the dirt. “That’s exactly what I should do. It’s not as if that piece of shit gives a damn about you either. You’re useless. You’re nothing but a whiney little brat and I—”

  Creed walked up behind her, swung out his arm, and the back of his hand struck the woman hard enough to send her flying. It wasn’t a killing blow but he knew she’d be hurt.

  She hit the ground and stayed there, unmoving, but he picked up the sound of her breathing.

  He crouched down, staring into tear-filled blue eyes. The little girl had bruises already marring the pale skin of her face and one glance down her body revealed more on her too-thin arms and legs. Her tears had left tracks through the layer of dirt covering her cheeks. He studied her hair. It was a ratted blonde mess that probably hadn’t been brushed or washed in at least a week.

  “Hello.” He softened his usually brusque tone.

  Her little lips quivered but she didn’t say a word. She just peered at him with a look of resigned terror that made him wish he’d hit the woman harder.

  “I’m Creed. What’s your name?”

  She didn’t move, reminding him of a frightened deer trapped by a predator. He didn’t blame her for being afraid of him. He kept still, giving her a chance to adjust to his presence.

  “I’m not going to hurt you. Do you know what a guardian angel is?”

  She gave a slight nod of her head.

  “That’s what I am tonight.” He let his gaze wander over the yard. Two broken-down vehicles rusted away next to the cabin. The roof sagged and the porch had only one remaining post, the others already on the ground. Vegetation had grown over them, revealing they’d been in that sad shape for a long time. The adults had just tossed trash bags out the door until a pile had grown eight feet high and almost the length of the side of the cabin. The outhouse didn’t even have a door.

  He tried to hide his anger. He wouldn’t allow a dog to live in those kinds of deplorable conditions. His attention fixed on the little girl.

  “Do you live here with just her and your daddy?”

  She nodded again, moving more of her head. Some of her fear had eased.

  He forced a smile. “Do you have any other family?”

  “My mommy went away. I don’t remember her. I was a baby.”

  She had missing teeth, and he smelled blood when she spoke. The woman who had struck her had probably caused damage inside her cheek. Her sweet little voice and her words made his chest hurt. Her mother had abandoned her to a father who left her with an unfit drunk. Children should be protected, not neglected and abused.

  “Does your daddy hit you?”

  She lowered her gaze and moved her arms, hugging her waist.

  Creed clenched his teeth, wishing the father were there to hit too. He knew the answer by the way she responded. Both adults were pieces of shit. He hid his emotions and kept his tone soft. “What’s your name?”

  She looked up at him. “Anna.”

  “How would you like a mother and father who love you? They’d never hit you or make you live like this.”

  Uncertainty crossed her features. He knew it wasn’t fair to place that kind of burden on a child, but he still felt the need to ask.

  She said nothing.

  He made the decision for her.

  “Is there anything here that you want? A favorite stuffed animal?”

  “I have my pink blankie on my bed.”

  “Stay still. I’ll be right back.”

  He rose up but moved slow so he wouldn’t spook the child. The woman remained on the ground where she’d landed. She was breathing but unconscious. He didn’t give a damn if she died.

  He entered the house and had to hold his breath. It stank of unwashed bodies, dirty dishes, rotting food. And he quickly found out why the stench of mold filled the area—the roof leaked. The floors weren’t even fit to walk on.

  He found where the child slept. It was just a large pillow with her pink blanket, which had faded sheep all over it. They made her sleep in a corner of the kitchen, next to an o