Coffee With Characters with Derrick Porter from Wolf’s Challenge

Thank you so much for joining us today! Please introduce yourself! Tell us who you are and what you do! Are you the main character in the story or a supporting role? What do you do for a living? How old are you?
1. Tell us about your story. What is it about and what role do you play?
Hey all. My name is Derrick Porter. I’m a business lawyer, recovering workaholic, and most importantly, a shifter wolf. I live in Great Oaks, Virginia. My story began when I fell for a fiery, red-headed artist named Sydney who wanted to keep me in the friend zone. She didn’t know I was a wolf shifter, didn’t really know me at all, but she was convinced I was a player. My main goal in Christina Lynn Lambert’s debut novel Wolf’s Challenge was to convince Sydney she would be the only woman for me. It was a challenge for me to be patient and not ask Sydney for everything I wanted too soon. 

Wolf’s Challenge is the first in the Stranger Creatures series. There’s a lot of weird creatures out there in the world, and crazy things can happen when people discover their world isn’t as plain vanilla as they thought, but don’t worry, each book in the Stranger Creatures series can be read as a standalone. Christina hates cliffhangers but she loves sexy alpha men. I’m a wolf shifter so I’m strong and powerful in both wolf and human form, but I’m not a caveman about it. I’m pretty clever too and I use that to my advantage whenever and wherever I can. 

2. Can you tell us about one of your most distinguishable features?
In wolf form, I’m larger than the average wolf. My wolf’s teeth are razor sharp and my senses are off the charts, except my sense of smell which is still above average. As a man, I don’t guess my features are that notable. I’m about 6 feet tall and muscular (but not steroid gym rat huge). My hair is black and my eyes are grayish blue but they get darker depending on my mood.
3. Do you have any birthmarks or tattoos?
No birthmarks or tattoos. My left ankle bears a faded brand of the letter e just below the faint scars from an injury that never fully healed. The brand and the scars are the result of the anti-shifter group called the Equalizers finding me at the weakest, most vulnerable moment of my life. 
4. Would you ever want to go hang out with your author? If so, what would you do together?
Yes, I think I’d enjoy hanging out with Christina. We could watch X-Files together or maybe hit a comic book convention and score a bag full of new books, or we could go for a hike in one of Virginia’s beautiful parks. 
5. If you could have a super power what would it be, and why?
The ability to teleport would be great. Long drives and plane rides annoy the wolf side of me. 
6. What is your biggest pet peeve when dealing with others?
I hate liars and I especially hate traitors. People who betray their shifter brethren get dealt with –torture, shifter jail, or death. My vote is for a fair amount of the first two before sending a traitor to the bottom of the ocean in tiny little pieces.
7. What would I love the most about you?
I’m a pretty decent guy, or try to be anyway. I screw up from time to time but I would give my life to protect the people I love, whether they’re shifters or regular humans. I’m not perfect but I’m loyal.  
8. What would I hate the most about you?
Some humans hate shifters just because we’re different. They think we’ll try to use our strength and abilities to take over the world or something, but I hope you’ll understand that most shifters just want to be left alone to be what they are in peace. Shifters don’t want to take over the world, we just want to keep it from being destroyed.
9. Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?
Christina really got inside my head, a little too much for my liking to be honest, when she wrote about me. My strengths, my weaknesses, my fears, and doubts, yeah, she put all that stuff down on paper for everyone to see. 
10. What is your idea of a perfect day?
A whole day in bed with Sydney where we have nowhere to be, no distractions, and no disruptions. 

11. What is your greatest fear?
Losing the people I love. Rabbit shifters are a close second, though. 

12. Someone is secretly in love with you.  Who is it and how do you feel about that?
Sydney’s the only woman I want. Nobody else has a chance in hell with me. 

13. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A football player or a helicopter pilot. 
14. If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?
I’d make sure I spent the day with Sydney and Angel along with my best friend Jack and his wife Carly, who is actually Sydney’s best friend. It wouldn’t matter where we were or what we did, just as long as we were together and I got to say goodbye. I can’t think about this anymore though. I’ve lost too many people and I can’t imagine being separated from Sydney and sweet little Angel. 
15. What is the one food you can’t live without?
Nachos with chili, cheese, and jalapeños. 
16. If they turned the book into a movie, who would be cast to play you?
Maybe Karl Urban or Dave Franco. They look a little like me, I think. Here’s a picture below if you want an idea of what I look like.

Christina says to tell you that if you want a peek at the story or if you want to learn more about her you can check out her blog site at http://christinalynnlambertwordpress.com and her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/christinalynnlambert 
Thanks for having me on your blog site Ms Winters!  

Awww!! So polite! Thanks for joining us today!!!!

Flash Fiction One kiss, as soft as a sigh.

Hey all of my amazing readers. I am so sorry this Flash fiction is so late this week! My brain has been mush with trying to finish book 3 and promote books 1&2. But, here you go! This weeks flash fiction!

She squeezed her eyes shut tight when the loud bang of the gunshot rent the air. The worst part was the eerie silence that followed. It shouldn’t have been that quiet. There should have been…something, right? She carefully opened her eyes and was shocked when she saw nothing. Mason and Luke were gone and in their places were the two biggest wolves she had ever see in her life. She knew the white one was Luke she had him as her pet for the last two weeks but she had never seen the slightly smaller tawny looking wolf, that was snarling and growling at a bleeding Luke, before that moment.

Luke lunged and the two began snapping and clawing at each other. She had no idea what she was doing. She found herself looking around on the floor for the gun without conscious thought. Luke grabbed Mason by the scruff of his neck with his massive jaws and threw him into the solid oak dresser across the room. Aurora saw that as her one chance and moved for the gun that had been dropped next to her bedroom door. Luke was staring at her with his back to Mason, no doubt wondering who she was going to point the gun at.

“Luke, watch out,” she screamed as Mason jumped on his back and bit into Luke’s shoulder with his enormous fangs.

Finally, she reached the gun and took aim. She was starting to panic and that wouldn’t do well for her aim. She attempted, but couldn’t get a clear shot. Luke had shaken him off but was seriously injured and she had no idea what to do. Luke hit the ground and rolled just as Mason took a flying leap at him. There was no stopping it he was headed straight for her. Out of reflex she pulled the trigger and screamed. The large wolf barreled into her and she hit her head on the door frame, hard.

She had no idea how long she had been unconscious, but she felt one kiss as soft as a sigh over each eyelid and opened them sleepily. Luke looked relieved to see her eyes open and she shot him a tentative smile and tried to sit up.

“Don’t move,” Luke growled and lifted her from the floor. She laid her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh and drifted off to sleep.

Flash Fiction Time! Click, click, Bang

Sorry I missed last week everyone! It was a tough week, but here is the next installment in Luke and Aurora’s story! Hope you enjoy it!!!

I’m not going anywhere. That was what he had said and now she was wondering whether she wanted him gone. She couldn’t help but wonder what was happening. What is he? Did I fall and hit my head and wake up in some crazy paranormal world?

She didn’t feel any different. Her apartment looked exactly the same. She felt her head for any kind of bump, but came up empty. Pinching herself, she winced. Nope, not a dream.

A noise startled her from her musings and she looked up. Luke was standing there in low slung jeans without a shirt. His chiseled abs were on full display and she couldn’t stop herself from running her eyes up and down his body appreciatively. He cleared his throat, it sounded more like a soft chuckle than anything else. Her eyes snapped to his and the smile on his face was almost feral.

“Like what you see, darlin’?” he chuckled.

The deep timber of his voice shot straight through her bones. This man, or whatever he is, is dangerous.

“I-I can’t,’ she stuttered. “I can’t do this. I have no idea what’s going on. You need to leave.”

The look on his face morphed into shock as he stepped closer to where she was sitting up in the bed.

“Well, that could be a problem for me,’ he said through clenched teeth. He looked as if he was warring with himself. Every minute in his presence was scaring her more and more. She didn’t know who this man was. She knew nothing about him or his mental state.

“You’re in danger. I can’t leave you here,” he grated and seemed to relax.

The crash that rent the air startled her and she jumped. Mason came barreling into her bedroom brandishing a gun with a savage look on his face.

“Mason? What the hell?” She said shocked cowering in the corner.

Luke shifted into a fighting stance and placed his big body between her and Mason. The low rumbling growl coming from his throat was terrifying.

“So I guess your dog finally showed you his true self,” Mason sneered.

“What? You knew?” Aurora asked, confused.

“Yes, of course I knew. Why do you think I was trying to get you to get rid of him? He’s going to ruin all my plans.”

“Just go Mason she made her choice,” Luke growled.

“Has she now? To me it looked like she was getting ready to give you the boot.” Mason’s laugh was grating and evil. She was wondering how she ever dated him in the first place.

Leave, Mason,” she said in a shaky whisper. She wished like hell it would have been strong and determined, but she couldn’t muster up the courage with two vicious looking creatures in such a small space.

Mason held up the gun and she flinched. She had never been that close to a gun before and she didn’t like it one bit. Closing her eyes she waited for something…anything, but nothing happened. She looked up and Luke was standing there fuming. She knew instinctively that he wouldn’t let Mason hurt her. She didn’t know how she knew she just did.

“Click, click, bang,” Mason said and pulled the trigger.

Flash Fiction Time! Stay

It had been a horrible day. Aurora had run into Mason. Well actually, she wasn’t certain it was an accident. One minute she was leaving the hospital and the next he was in front of her, blocking her path. She had tried to walk around him but he had grabbed her arm in a vice like grip. It wasn’t until she winced that he loosened his hold.
“What do you want, Mason?”
“I want to talk. I’m sorry I freaked out. If you would just get rid of that wo- dog then we could be together.”
“I’m not discussing this again. I’m not getting rid of Luke,” she exclaimed and walked around him.
“You’ll be sorry you ever let that mangy mutt into your house. Mark my words,” he had growled and stormed off.
She fought back a chill remembering his words and the venom in his voice as he spit them at her. Unlocking the front door, she slipped inside exhausted by the events of the day. The house was eerily quiet and she went on a search for Luke.
Walking into the kitchen she stifled a scream and her breathing became erratic. The man standing at the counter in nothing but a pair of low cut jeans was something to behold. What was a man doing rifling through her refrigerator? She had no idea but she knew it wasn’t right. She attempted to back out of the room slowly and backed into the counter. She wasn’t able to stop the small whimper from leaving her throat. The man turned and the look he gave her was akin to shock. It morphed quickly into guilt. She wasn’t paying much attention to that though. All she could see was the exceptionally bizarre color of his eyes. She had seen those eyes before, but her mind couldn’t or wouldn’t process how the man standing in her kitchen had the exact same eyes as Luke.
She attempted to back out of the kitchen slowly. Is this a dream? Did I fall and whack my head on something? No this is absolutely real.
“No, stay,” he pleaded.
She couldn’t explain why she stayed. His honey voice spoke right to her soul and she was physically unable to move away from the impossibly sexy man.
“I can explain everything,” he said moving closer.
That simple movement brought her out of shock and she moved away. Looking around wildly for a weapon, she readied herself to make a grab for the knives she kept on the counter.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” She was thankful her voice was firm and strong.
“You know who I am,” he said with confidence.
She shook her head back and forth. There was no way it could be who she thought. Luke was a dog, damnit. He couldn’t be the sexy man standing in front of her.
Ok, stop checking out his amazing abs and make a run for it.
She ran to the stove and pulled out a huge butcher knife holding it out in front of her with both hands. She had no idea what the proper way to brandish a knife was but that didn’t matter. Like put his hands in the air and took a hesitant step forward.
“Don’t,” she shrieked. “Don’t come near me. Get out of my house.”
She was shaking. She knew he could see it but she hoped he didn’t know how scared she was.
“It’s okay, I’m not here to hurt you. Please just put the knife down so I can explain,” he said as if speaking to a frightened animal. She relaxed marginally and he stepped closer.
Instinct took over and she slashed at him. She heard the knife tear through the flesh of his shoulder and blood spattered across her face. She whimpered her eyes closed tight so she wouldn’t have to see what she had done.
He scooped her up and took the knife from her hands. That alone confused her. She looked at his shoulder where the knife wound was already closing. Looking into his eyes, a final thought passed through her head before everything faded to black.
Oh my god. He really is Luke.