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    Wild Heat
    Wild Heat
    Wild Heat
    Ebook40 pages28 minutes

    Wild Heat

    By Naomi Aoki

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Bushfires steal so much from people, but Lyam refuses to be one of their victims. His family spent generations building the Wildlife Park, providing a home for both native and exotic animals and he refuses to let the approaching bushfire steal it away from him. He'd do anything to protect it and the animals who rely on him.

    Even if that means risking his own life to do it.

     

    But as the fire races toward the park, it's not just Lyam taking risks. Jordan fears for his friend and can't let him go play hero without knowing of his feelings for him. He takes a risk that their friendship will survive the revelation and leaving Lyam with a choice.

     

    Risk his own life to protect the park, or risk losing it for a chance of something beyond friendship with Jordan.

     

    This short story was originally published in the When the Smoke Clears Anthology.  No changes have been made to it.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNaomiAoki
    Release dateJul 15, 2020
    ISBN9781393787112
    Wild Heat
    Author

    Naomi Aoki

    Naomi is a Kiwi born girl who spends a lot of time laughing at the antics of her kids who are all growing up way too fast, and trying to convince the cat that her lap isn't always a suitable bed. She alos loves to spend time listening to music, watching anime, C-Dramas, and disappearing into worlds created by other author. To keep up to date the latest news, sneak peeks at upcoming WIPs, and exclusive excerpts make sure to follow her on all the socials... https://linktr.ee/naomiaoki_mandygreenwood

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      Book preview

      Wild Heat - Naomi Aoki

      Author Note

      This short story was originally published in the When the Smoke Clears Anthology. No changes have been made to the story.

      Chapter One

      Smoke drifted on the air and blanketed the wildlife park in a thin layer of ash. There wasn’t a part of the family-owned wildlife park Lyam managed free of its ever-threatening presence and it had only grown stronger as the bushfires raced ever closer. But surprisingly visitors still flocked to the park, eager to get a glimpse of the animals and birds they kept. All had face masks on and cameras at the ready, and the unusual sight had become so familiar, it was more jarring to see someone who wasn’t protected against the ash laden air. And there were some who thought the wildlife park was far enough from the fire front that they didn’t need to wear a mask, twice already this week Lyam had witnessed his staff assisting a visitor who’d been struggling to breathe. But tomorrow there would be none, closing the park to visitors so that Lyam and his staff could concentrate on the safety of the animals—it would be hard to do if they also had to evacuate visitors as well.

      Lyam grabbed his hat, slipped a mask on and shoved a spare in his pocket and strode out of his office to make his rounds of the park. He headed for the small animal enclosures hating how quiet it was without the early morning chorus of chattering monkeys and the gossiping galahs as they perched in nearby trees. Even the magpies who hung out in the large gum tree outside the cafeteria were quiet. But as pesky as they were, Lyam missed their familiar warble and he paused to check if the pair were still there or if they’d already fled.

      It didn’t take long to find staff members in charge of the smaller animals—primates and marsupials—quickly making sure they had enough food and water in case they suddenly lost supply and were ready to evacuate if the call came. He didn’t think they’d escape the bushfires this time not as the weather forecasters predicted hotter temperatures and strong winds that would drive the bushfire directly toward them.

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