“Hey, Adam. Hey, Mercy,” he said in a tight little voice. “Welcome home. I stopped the garage from burning down, but that was after I started it. Apparently I burn down garages when I fall asleep doing homework. I’ll find somewhere else to live.”

“Hey, Aiden,” I said. “I destroyed a whole apartment building.” It had been the golem, but I thought I was entitled to claim his damage for my own. “Can I come live with you?”

Adam just laughed, reached out, and ruffled Aiden’s hair. “It’s good to be home.”

“Yes,” I agreed wholeheartedly. “I think I should go make some chocolate chip cookies.”

CAST OF CHARACTERS

by Ann Peters

Columbia Basin Pack

Mercy Athena Thompson Hauptman, our VW mechanic and coyote shapeshifting heroine, mistress of snark and subtle revenge.

Adam Hauptman, aka Captain Larson, Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack and married to Mercy; his revenge is less subtle than Mercy’s.

Jesse Hauptman, aka Barbary Belle, Adam’s human daughter by his ex-wife, Christy; Jesse’s snark makes her worthy to be Mercy’s stepdaughter.

Aiden, fire-touched fae who looks like a young boy but is centuries old; Aiden and Jesse have reached a sibling-like rapport after a rough start of mistaken identity and grabbed bottoms.

Joel Arocha, tibicena member of the pack and not totally in control of his connection to volcano-god powers; Aiden is helping him decrease the number of fire department visits.

Ben Shaw, aka Sodding Bart, werewolf, our favorite British IT guy and world-class potty mouth.

Mary Jo, werewolf, a tough Pasco firefighter who doesn’t like Mercy much.

Darryl Zao, werewolf, second in the Columbia Basin Pack; when not protecting Adam’s back, he can be found using his PhD analytical skills on something brilliant.

Auriele Zao, werewolf, Darryl’s mate; a chemistry teacher.

Honey Jorgenson, a dominant wolf moving up in the ranks and shaking up the hierarchy; she recently lost her husband.

Peter Jorgenson, deceased husband of Honey who still follows her in ghost form; he was the pack’s submissive wolf before Zack.

Sherwood Post, the only three-legged werewolf; he doesn’t remember his past.

Zack, the pack’s current submissive wolf; he has a mysterious past and currently lives with Warren and Kyle.

Warren Smith, third in the Columbia Basin Pack and the pack’s only gay wolf so far; he becomes very “Southern” when riled, and lives with his partner, Kyle, and their tenant, Zack.

Kyle Brooks, human divorce lawyer—partner of Warren.

Tri-Cities Seethe

Marsilia, aka Bright Blade; aka Queen of the Damned, per Mercy; Mistress of the seethe.

Stefan Uccello, aka the Soldier, a vampire with a heart who loves Scooby-Doo.

Wulfe, aka the Wizard, a powerful, magically talented, and bug-nuts-crazy vampire.

Friends and Foes

Tony Montenegro, bilingual Kennewick police officer and longtime friend of Mercy, even after recently learning of her supernatural nature.

Charla (Char), Mercy’s college roommate and one of her best friends.

Gary Laughingdog, Mercy’s sometime felonious, coyote-shapeshifting half brother who has a thing for Honey.

Coyote, archetype and sort of Mercy’s father; he is the cause of much angst and ulcers.