Monday, February 11, 2013

Newsletter & Stalking Hawke

First, some info: The February newsletter will go out Tuesday morning (U.S. time), and will include a Guild Hunter short story. I’ll post up a note once it’s been sent, so please check here first if you haven’t received your copy.

If you aren’t yet a subscriber, you can join up using the form on the top right of the blog or on the front page of the website. Once you subscribe, you’ll automatically receive a welcome newsletter.

~

I did a TV interview last week (more details to come once the piece has been scheduled), and was asked if I could do some writing for a few shots. I started doodling randomly – and this fun little story is what emerged.

Note for aspiring writers: I did do some editing on this vignette to smooth out the original rough draft, fix typos etc. Editing is crucial, no matter how short or long the piece.

I hope you enjoy this foray into the Psy-Changeling world!

Stalking Hawke
Nalini Singh

Hawke walked down the corridor, well aware he was being followed by stealthy little wolf paws—or paws that were trying to be stealthy in any case. Inside him, the wild predator who was his other half opened its mouth in a wolfish grin. 

Halting at the open doorway to Riley’s office, he poked his head inside. “Did you get the report?” 

A nod from his senior lieutenant. “You want to talk about it now?” 

“No. Let’s do it tonight—you still up for that?”

“Absolutely.” Riley saluted him with his coffee mug. “Mercy is calling it Testosterone Night by the way.”

“She’s just jealous because girls aren’t invited.” Grinning, he continued down the corridor, accompanied by the clicking of tiny claws on the stone of the den floor. They hesitated when he turned toward his own office and he could almost feel the keen disappointment that colored the air. 

Popping in quickly, he grabbed his sleek black sat phone and walked out again, careful to keep his back to the tracker on his trail.The little paws scampered to keep up with him, stopping only when he ran into Riaz. 

The dark-haired lieutenant raised an eyebrow. “You realize you have a tail?”

“He’s not bad. Just needs a bit more seasoning.”

Riaz’s eyes, a dark gold, filled with affectionate laughter. “Along with a few feet of growth.” 

Lips tugging up at the corners, Hawke said,  “Pretend you don’t see him.”

“See who?”

As they talked Pack business, Hawke was very aware of sharp little wolf ears listening in. Once he and Riaz were done, he carried on down the corridor and to one of the exits into the White Zone, the safe play area directly outside the den. Heading to the trees, he stashed his phone in his jeans, stripped, and shifted into his wolf form.

The paws behind him ran to follow as he shook his body to settle his new skin, the silver-gold of his fur rippling, then loped deeper into the forest. Aware the little tracker wouldn’t be able to keep up with even a fraction of his adult speed, he kept his pace at one the other wolf could maintain.

Stopping at the edge of the waterfall nearest the den, he looked down at the froth of water, and after a moment, the owner of the stealthy paws padded up to stand beside him. The pup hadn’t yet gained his adult color, was still a soft brown as he leaned his body against Hawke’s, his small heart beating faster than an adult’s.

Hawke growled a greeting before returning his gaze to the water. 

When he turned away from the crashing fall after several minutes, the pup fell in with him as they ran the short distance back to the den. Shifting to human form, Hawke pulled on his jeans and watched the pup change in a show of light and color. A little boy stood in front of him seconds later.

“Did you see me?” Ben asked, pure delight in eyes that were still wolf-amber. “I stalkeded you!”

“You did very well.” Hawke crouched down in front of the boy. “You’re an excellent tracker.” He wasn’t lying—for his age, Ben was very, very good. In point of fact, he was better than many older children. “Have you been practicing?”

“Yes! I stalkeded Mama and Papa and even Uncle Judd!”

Hawke ruffled the boy’s hair. “That’s what I used to do when I was younger. I’d follow my father all around the den.” His father had allowed him to believe he was getting away with it, as Hawke had just done with Ben—he wouldn’t be much of an alpha if he didn’t help raise the boy’s confidence in his own skills. “But you know you can’t try to stalk people out of the safe areas?”

Ben nodded again. “And when they’re kissing. That’s boring.”

Hawke bit back a laugh. “Yeah, kissing is pretty boring,” he agreed solemnly. “Go on back inside now. I have to head out of the White Zone.”

“Okay. ’Bye!” Waving vigorously, Ben ran toward the doorway to the den, shifting halfway through into his pup form. Hawke’s smile grew deeper. No doubt, someone else would soon find themselves “stalkeded”.

Copyright © 2013 by Nalini Singh

60 comments :

Elle said...

This is so adorable! I love it!

e_bookpushers said...

Ohhh *melt*

Divya said...

Oh my god so adorbs!!!!!

Maybe an extra of Grace and Cooper as well? Please??? :)

Dianne said...

Awesome. A little psy-changeling fix. Thanks Nalini :)

novafire2003 said...

this little story shows the heart of the SnowDancer wolfs.I love it!

Shana said...

oh, so cute! Thank you. : )

Anonymous said...

Too cute! He is going to be such a good dad someday! Your writing is always filled with such wonderful strong and heartfelt characters.

Heather

Unknown said...

I love Hawke and I especially love little Ben. I am really looking for to "watching" Ben grow up. This was perfect, thank you!!

The Consummate Reader said...

adorbs! :D

Sherri L. said...

I loved that Nalini it was soooo cute. Hawk is so sweet with Ben. I'm so glad I found your psy/changeling series.

Kathy said...

Love Ben! Watch out world when he grows up. <3

Anonymous said...

Thank you! That was a fun and sweet insight to pack life.

heather f said...

that was just to cute!!!

Anonymous said...

awwwww!Ben such a sweetie pie!

Anonymous said...

Haha this made my day... Ben is so cute! Looking forward to the blurb reveal of Heart of Obsidian and Wild Invitation

BJC said...

I like Ben since the first time ;)

Anonymous said...

Oh my .. I needed that fix of hawke and ben . Love the series...

ayliss72 said...

Ben is so cute and Hawke is an amazing alpha. Thank you is Beautiful!

Bibi said...

I love it cute little ben.

Unknown said...

thanks for the lovely gift of a short sstory

julieann37 said...

What a wonderful insight into their world.I loved it .Could it be Ben has a hint of Alphaness?Can't wait to see him grow.

Anna-Lisa said...

Awwww, my heart! This was so, so cute!

Elenariel said...

Awwwwww! I'm dying from the cuteness! ♥ Ben&Hawke's the perfect way to start a Monday, almost as Hawke&Sin or Merce&Riley!
Many many thanks!

ACTR1SS said...

Sigh....that just made my Monday morning infinitely less painful. So heartwarming!

Anonymous said...

Love that cute little Ben and Hawke!

Maria said...

Love it:D Thanks for the story!!

Barbarita V said...

Love it, love this series. Thanks!

Paula Blakemore said...

How wonderful I love Hawke and Ben is just adorable Thank you for the snippet

Diane said...

Aw! Will this be in a book?

Rebecca said...

Thanks for the huge grin on my face. So sweet:)

Anonymous said...

Nalini Thank you so much for the heads-up and for the snippet, brought me out of my homesickness ^^

I think there s a typo though "As they talked Pack business, Hawke was very aware of sharp little wolf years listening in. "
Shouldn't it be EARS instead of years? Or is english failing my poor french butt again ?


Thank you so much again, you really are one of my favourite authors, up there with Victore Hugo and Nora roberts Happy snake year

With love from China <3

ming-ki said...

Hahaha! I was trying to see whether or not it was Ben tailing Hawke. And yes, there he was!

Hawke's way with Ben is sweet, yet I find Ben's stalking is even sweeter!

Like lalalande, I also spotted that parts. "Hawke was very aware of sharp little wolf [years] listening in"

Ain't it supposed to be, yes, ears?


Thank you once gain! You truly make my way with this little come-back to the psy world i love!

And I just can't wait to read the new book! Awww!!

Christine said...

Very cute! Thanks for sharing, Nalini. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my.. that was so cute! Love these two a lot:-).

Thank you Nalini!

Anonymous said...

Sweet!

wolfwattitude said...

Ben is so cute and Hawke was just his awesome self. Love the short, thank you!

Nanik said...

So cute :)

Thank you for this!!

Judy said...

Thank you very much.
Today was tough, and this cheered me up immediately.

Nalini Singh said...

Thanks for the typo heads up! It's fixed now. Those typo gremlins can be sneaky ;-)

Anonymous said...

This was an adorable vignette! I love the short scenes when you share them.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the fix! Can't wait for the next book. I love Hawke, made me smile great pick me up for monday Thanks :)

Helen Dickenson said...

That was so adorable it really cheered up a miserable day and helped fix a migraine with a smile.
Thank you for the gift of a quick peek into the Changeling world again and revealing the kind and gentle heart that Hawke has inside. Ben is gorgeous - look forward to seeing more of him and Hawke with a pup of his own

Regina said...

I love Ben!!!! And Hawke too.

Anonymous said...

Marlee better watch out, Ben is already practicing stalking...XViden

Weny said...

How sweet! When we first met Hawke I wouldn't have thought he was so good with the little ones. Maybe Ben will be a Tracker like Drew.

Nalini, if you get bored, I want to know what happened when he stalked Judd! My favorite scenes in your books are the ones with Judd and kids.

Unknown said...

Too cute! loved it. I can't wait until the teenagers/kids get older! I want them to have books too! ^_^

Unknown said...

So cute!!!!

Anonymous said...

Ben is cutte ... I like it!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the vignette...it's so sweet. Can't wait for the "Wild Invitation" and "Obsidian" **sigh**

Benedicte Denmark said...

I adore little Ben. Looking forward to reading more about him and all the others.

Anonymous said...

Thank you! That was great. I love Ben and I love seeing Hawke's soft side.

Anonymous said...

Exquisite little story with my beloved Hawke and the adorable Ben,that little man is going to do some great things. I can't get enough of SD.

Marlee and Ben forever!

teriannesis said...

I agree, we need a short story about the time Ben stalkeded Judd. I can just see the bond they have shared since Judd "hid" a totally naked four year old,

Anonymous said...

Funny, sweet and really shows the bonds of family for the pack.

Just lovely.

EllenO

Anonymous said...

Can I please have my own little wolf to "stalkeded" me???

Anonymous said...

Adorable, an alpha in training... and I love Hawke..miss him in fact... more Hawke and Sienna please.... *sad puppy face*

Anonymous said...

From Germany - thank you so much :-))

KulsoomA said...

Love all of the Psy-Changling series and their characters

Keda said...

OMG this is so cute! I can't stop smiling :-)

Anonymous said...

This is sooo cute!