#ThrowbackThursday: NoX (Wolves Incarnate #1) by Adrienne Wilder

 

This week's #ThrowbackThursday has us travelling back in time to 2019 with an excerpt from Adrienne Wilder's NoX, the first book in their Wolves Incarnate series. 

From the Blurb:

A nude man invades Luca Suarez's home and protects him from creatures who cannot exist. Creatures hunting him. The stranger can't tell Luca why. He can't even tell Luca his name. He remembers nothing until the moment he sees Luca. The only hint Luca has to the stranger's identity is a tattoo on his wrist: N o X. Nox doesn't know who he is, but he's sure of three things, his memory loss is temporary, the monsters chasing Luca are called Anubis, and his Alpha, Koda, sent Nox to protect him. There's just one problem… Koda is Luca's brother who was murdered five years ago. With each passing hour, Nox fills in the pieces painting an impossible truth. And with each passing hour, both men find themselves unexplainably attracted to each other. Something Luca is willing to embrace because he has nothing left to lose. And one Nox can't let happen because it could get Luca killed. Nox is a HEA/HFN m/m paranormal, science-fiction romance. But be warned, these are NOT the shifters you are used to reading about.

*A fast pace, twist and turns, edge of your seat, dark paranormal suspense, passionate, high-heat, Egyptian lore, protective alpha male, size difference, hurt/comfort, reluctant lover, mm, m/m gay romance, that will "knock your fluffy socks off" (according to readers).*

Excerpt:

The sky opened up, dumping sheets of frigid rain. Wind howled, tearing leaves from tree limbs, turning them into confetti.

Luca skidded to a halt.

The stranger’s silhouette filled the doorway into the house. “Luca!”

Luca fought to open the truck door.

A heavy thump rocked the truck. The screech of metal made Luca look up.

It resembled a wolf, only it was twice as big as a man, and the paws were more like fingers. Black fur covered its body, the color so flawless it became devoid of light. High shoulders and a lower rear allowed it to spread its stance. And the very space around it held weight.

The wolf’s growl vibrated the air, echoing in Luca’s chest. It rolled up its lips, flashing finger-long sharp teeth. Saliva slid in strings from its gaping jaws.

The creature lunged, and Luca was pushed out of the way. He hit the ground, and a barrage of snarls and grunts joined the thunder. The wolf slid past on its side, throwing up mud as it merged with the shadows under the large oak tree.

“C’mon.” The stranger pulled Luca up and followed him as he shoved him inside the truck. Just as he shut the door, the wolf landed on the hood. Gouges formed under its long claws. “Keys!”

Luca handed them over. “Third one, the gold one.” The wolf’s green-gold eyes narrowed at Luca. “Oh, god.”

The man crammed the key into the ignition. He hit the gas, the truck engine roared, and the vehicle lurched forward, fishtailing over the wet gravel, tossing Luca into the passenger door. The wolf on the hood lost its footing and slid off.
Another thump shook the truck and a second wolf rammed its head through the back window. Glass exploded, sending water and fragments into the cab. The width of its body stopped its entry. It swung its head in Luca’s direction, snapping its jaws. Teeth grazed his shoulder, tearing away part of his shirt sleeve.

The stranger smashed his elbow into the wolf’s muzzle, hitting the brakes at the same time. The rear end of the truck traded places with the front with enough momentum to sling the wolf over the edge of the bed.

A wave of sloppy earth shot up from the tires as the stranger regained control of the vehicle, and the truck bounced across the acres of front yard.

Luca sat up. The red taillights cast crimson highlights across three black bodies a few yards behind them and closing in.

“Go faster.”

The front of the truck dipped, tossing Luca into the air as it popped the gully and landed on the road. A streak of lightning gave seconds of artificial daylight. The truck gained speed, and the animals fell behind.

Wind rocked the vehicle and sheets of rain smothered the windshield. A near solid darkness concealed the road ahead.

“Turn on the headlights before you run off the road.” There were curves in the area dangerous to drive in the daylight.

“I’m not going to run off the road.”

“You can’t see a thing.”

“I can see fine.”

Luca stared at the man beside him. Dash lights threw patches of pale white over his knuckles and arms.

The hum of the road warred with the hush of rain. Wayward drops blew into the cab.

“Are you okay?” The rough edge to the man’s voice prickled Luca’s senses.

Why did he care? “Yeah.” Luca’s teeth chattered.

“Turn on the heat, you’re shivering.”

Luca did. The still-cool air did nothing to push back the chill spreading through his bones.

He stared out the glassless back window frame at the empty road behind them. “What the hell just happened?”

“Which way to the highway?”

Luca blinked several times. His heartbeat moved to his skull.

“The highway, Luca. Which way to the highway?”

“Up ahead, take a left.”

The stranger jerked the truck left at the four-way. Luca slammed his hand against the dash, stopping himself from sliding into the door. “That was a stop sign back there.”

“I know.”

“That means you’re supposed to stop.”

“We don’t have time to stop. They know where you are, and they won’t stop coming for you.”

“Who? Goddamn it! Who’s coming after me?”

The man flexed his grip on the wheel.

“Well?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“No.”

“Then those things? Those wolves.”

“They weren’t wolves.”

When Luca thought about it, those things had only been wolflike, the same way they were doglike. “Then what were they?”

“I…” The man scrubbed his face. There was just enough light to accent the tension in his features. “I’m not sure.”
Luca pressed his palm against his right eye for a moment. “Is there anything you do know?”

“I know you’re not safe. I know they want you. And I know they won’t stop until they have you.”

“And how do you know all that but not what they are?”

“Your brother told me.”

“Koda.” Luca made it a statement.

“Yes.”

“He told you.”

“Yes.”

“Koda died five years ago.”

The man nodded then shook his head.
 

NoX is available for purchase on Amazon and as part of your Kindle Unlimited subscription!

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