The actions of a wolf shifter gone rogue forces Ben Maxwell, the alpha of the Catskill Mountain wolf pack, to act on a vision of his mate quicker than he‟d planned. He discovers that she‟ll be at an aerial acrobat performance several days before Halloween, which also coincides with the blue moon. Unable to attend himself, he sends his best friends and betas, Adam and Devon, to seek Sandy out. He knows he‟ll be sharing her with them and trusts them to care for her in his stead. But Sandy is a human, and finding out that not only are shifters real, but that she‟s mated to not just one, but three of them, is a lot to take in. Can Ben and his betas convince her to accept her place at their side before the pheromones caused by a blue moon on Halloween draws every shifter in the area to her door, including the rogue wolf that would rather see her dead than in the arms of anyone else?
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author‟s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Blue Moon Mating Copyright © 2011 Charlie Richards ISBN: 978-1-55487-019-8 Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.eXtasybooks.com
Blue Moon Mating By Charlie Richards
To the readers. Without your support, enthusiasm and kind words, I wouldn’t have the heart to keep allowing my imagination free reign. Thank you for giving me a reason.
Chapter One he knock on the door drew Ben out of his thoughts. With relief, he dismissed the memory of the visions that had been plaguing him every night for the last week. He could dwell on them later. Looking up from where he‟d been staring blankly at the screen of his desktop, he took a deep breath and smiled. “Enter, Devon.” The door opened, revealing a six foot muscular blond. Devon entered, ducking his head in submission before closing the door. Ben rose and grinned. He knew he‟d have to tell his beta about the visions soon, but not now. He motioned the man forward and Devon obeyed. It was then that Ben scented what he‟d missed through the door, the man‟s tension and anxiety. Something must have seriously rattled his normally calm beta for him to be this upset. He wrapped his arms around his friend, rubbing his cheek against the other man‟s, offering him support and comfort as only a shifter could. He‟d never understood why humans kept their distance from each other. Touch was such a powerful way to reassure those around you. He kept his voice soothing. “What‟s wrong?” The slightly shorter man melted into him, accepting the support and comfort Ben offered. Seconds later, Devon pulled away and frowned. “Roger started an uninitiated change. A group of humans were hiking in the forest and he bit one.” Ben shook his head. They‟d had trouble with Roger for a while. The shifter didn‟t seem to be able to control his wolf‟s
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aggressive tendencies, especially while out hunting. After several close calls, they no longer let him go out alone. “It takes more than just one bite to change someone who isn‟t a mate. What makes you think the human will change? What happened?” “Roger went running with Adam and Cody,” Devon started. Nodding encouragingly to the frustrated man, Ben urged him to continue. As Ben‟s second beta, Adam often ran with adolescents who had trouble controlling their shift. He‟d probably looked forward to an outing with adults. Cody was Roger‟s older brother and often felt responsible for his brother‟s mistakes. Ben knew something must have gone horribly wrong for Roger to be able to get near a human while out with the two watchful wolves. “They were stalking a deer together when Roger took off. Adam didn‟t realize it until he flushed the deer to where Roger was supposed to be waiting, and he wasn‟t there. He and Cody tracked the wolf, but it was too late.” Devon ran a hand through his short hair, dropping his gaze. “Adam saw Roger try to attack a small woman. A man stepped in the way to save her, and Roger bit the human at least four times before Adam and Cody tackled him and dragged him into the woods.” Damn. Four or more times? If the bites were deep, that could definitely initiate a change in the human‟s DNA. “Where are Adam and the brothers now?” he asked, heading toward the door. Before his eyes, Ben watched the man straighten and again take on the persona of his strong second-in-command. Devon‟s ability to shift gears effortlessly was one of the reasons Ben depended on him so much, sure he didn‟t mind comfort in privacy, but out among the pack, he was the one other shifters came to for help. 2
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“Adam grabbed his ranger‟s uniform and took off to help the human, and find out who he is,” he explained, following out of the office. “Cody is keeping Roger under wraps at the bachelor house until you come.” Lifting his gaze to the ceiling, Ben growled, “This is the last straw, Devon. That damn shifter has pushed too far this time.” He led the way out of his house and down the path between pack homes. His pack almost appeared to be a tiny village tucked among the pines of the Catskill Mountains, with two large community homes, one for unmated males and one for unmated females over the age of eighteen, and nearly a dozen small cottage-like homes for mated pairs. As the pack leader, the downstairs of his manor-home was open to all pack members, and housed visitors from other packs. Half the bottom floor consisted of a large common room where pack gatherings were held when the weather was bad and they couldn‟t use the clearing out back. The other half consisted of a kitchen, dining room, and four guest bedrooms and bathrooms. He shared the upstairs with his betas, and it was off limits, except by invitation. They each had their own suite of rooms, including a bedroom, bathroom, study, and living area. They shared a media room. He wondered how it would change when he and his betas claimed their mate. He knew the woman he dreamed about would be the mate of his betas as well as his own. That‟s the way a fated mate worked. His own parents, deceased now, were proof of that. Biting back a sigh, he refocused on the task at hand and increased his pace. Ben‟s well-muscled, six-foot-three-inch body ate up the ground between houses, Devon flanking him. A few minutes later he climbed the steps to the male shifters‟ barracks. Men halted in their games of pool and darts to watch his progress 3
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across the room. He nodded and waved at them, giving them leave to resume their play. Cody appeared at the entrance of one of the halls, ducking his head in submission. Ben rested a hand on the back of the wolf shifter‟s neck for several seconds before releasing him. He knew it was a bit formal, but under the circumstances, he also knew it was necessary. “Your brother‟s mistakes are not your responsibility,” he said, pulling the man into a quick embrace, sharing his scent and assuring his fellow wolf that he was still welcome in the pack. Releasing him, he led the way down the hall. “He may be the younger brother, but he is still an adult.” “If I had stopped him from being taken,” Cody murmured. “There was nothing anyone could have done last year. Your brother knew better than to stray into the cougar pride‟s territory, and the members involved in tying him up and leaving him stranded were punished by their alpha once he found out. We both know he‟s been using that incident as an excuse to get away with the crap he‟s pulling now. This is on your brother, now, Cody,” Ben said sternly. Cody nodded, but Ben knew he still blamed himself for the incident. Roger had known their pack boundaries and had deliberately crossed them. Ben knew it wasn‟t the first time he‟d done it either. The younger brother had been a troublemaker since puberty. Ben felt more inclined to believe that Roger used his incident of capture as an excuse to stir up trouble. He‟d only been captured for eight hours. He hadn‟t even been beaten, just tied up, blindfolded, and left alone, which could definitely be considered a form of torture for their kind, which relied on touch and scent to reassure each other. Pushing the incident from his mind, he returned his focus to Cody. “Where is he?” 4
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“In his room. He says he feels terrible for what he did.” “I‟m sure,” Ben replied dryly. If only he believed the man‟s words. There had been too many incidences of violence, but this had been the first against a human. In the past he‟d attacked other pack members, always under the guise of challenging the other wolf for position in the pack. Ben just didn‟t know what to do with the wolf. They stopped outside a door, and Cody knocked. When he didn‟t receive a response, he glanced nervously at Ben. A niggling suspicion took hold in Ben‟s brain, and he inhaled deeply. “Shit!” he snarled, before pushing the other wolf aside and opening the door. It was empty. Ben crossed to the open window, shucking his clothes as he went, and peered out into the forest. “If he comes back, you know what to do, Devon.” “Yes, Alpha,” his beta answered quickly. Ben put his hands on the windowsill and leaped out. His body shifted and popped, turning wolf before he hit the ground. He lowered his nose to the ground, catching the scent of Roger in wolf form. He took off after the other shifter. He felt more than saw the two wolves who instantly flanked him. Kiall and Peter were enforcers for his pack, and when his betas weren‟t available to watch his back, the men instantly seemed to appear. The seamless inner workings of his pack made him proud. Now if he could just get this one wolf in line, things would be perfect. Then he could deal with his visions. Focusing on the problem at hand, he and his enforcers tracked Roger through fields, across streams, and in and out of gullies. Nearly three hours later, Ben admitted defeat, shifting and staring around the clearing where he‟d stopped. His enforcers did the same. “It looks like he had a truck hidden, Alpha,” Kiall 5
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commented, showing where branches had been broken and faint tire tracks marred the grass. Ben nodded. “It looks that way,” he growled irritably. “I need one of you to follow those tracks. See if you can figure out where they go.” He knew it was a long shot, but the fact that one of his wolves had gone rogue pissed him off. He had to grasp at straws. Peter stepped forward. “I‟ll go. Kiall‟s busy tonight,” he said with a wink. Kiall blushed, and Ben couldn‟t stop his grin. He grabbed the man, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. “Got a date, my friend?” he teased. “Yeah.” From his enforcer‟s tension, he wondered. His brows lifted. “Is it serious?” Ducking his head, Kiall gave a quick nod. “I think she may be my mate,” he admitted. Ben grinned. “That‟s wonderful!” He gave the man‟s shoulders another squeeze. “Let‟s get you back home to prepare then.” Turning to Peter, his smile faded. “You‟ll give me a report as soon as you‟re back, regardless of the time.” It wasn‟t a request. “Yes, Alpha. I‟ll report in as soon as possible,” Peter confirmed. Nodding, Ben gripped his enforcer‟s neck in a show of support before releasing him and again calling on his wolf. Seconds later, he ran toward home. Another two hours found him shifting on his back deck. He waved at Kiall‟s wolf before entering the sliding glass doors to the common room and grabbing a pair of sweats, quickly pulling them on. He strode through the house, following his nose. He found Devon in the kitchen pulling a turkey casserole out of the oven. Ben‟s stomach growled, reminding him of how 6
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long it had been since he‟d eaten and how much energy it took to shift several times. The look on his face and frustrated scent told Devon of the fruitlessness of his search even before speaking. “What happened?” the other shifter asked. “We tracked him for nearly three hours. His scent stopped at a service road. From the broken branches and tracks in the grass, it looks like he‟d tucked a truck there.” He crossed his arms over his bare chest and leaned against the table. “He must have planned this, but why? To what purpose?” “To undermine your authority,” Devon replied quickly, shrugging. “What else? He‟s been trying to piss you off with one stunt after another for years. We both know he used the excuse of being caught by members of the cougar pride as a cover for his recent blatant brutality. He‟s been causing mischief since he was old enough to shift.” Ben nodded. “I agree. What I don‟t understand is why?” “Uh, greed? Desire for power? Stupidity?” Devon grinned and shrugged again. “It doesn‟t matter why. The fact is the little shit has had it out for you for eight years. You‟re far more patient and tolerant than I would have been.” “It‟s going to hurt Cody, but after today‟s actions, there‟s no way I can continue to stand by and do little more than slap Roger on the wrist.” Ben shook his head, grimacing. “He‟ll have to be dealt with!” Devon crossed the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Ben. It wasn‟t often he had to take comfort from his betas, normally he was the one who gave it, but his betas always seemed to know when it was needed. Rubbing his cheek against his beta‟s neck, he reveled in the release of calming endorphins the movement created. Ben sighed, enjoying the relaxed state as Devon pulled away. “Adam and I have your back. You know that.” 7
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Ben had never doubted that for a second, and told his friend so. Devon grinned. “Good.” He turned back to the food he‟d pulled out of the oven and set it on a cooling rack. Cocking his head, he watched his beta pull out frozen corn and set it on the stove to heat. “When is Adam due back? And why are you cooking?” “I find it relaxing,” Devon admitted. “Huh,” Ben muttered. Now that he thought about it, every time he soothed Devon, later he found him in the kitchen cooking. “Why didn‟t I know that sooner?” His beta grinned. “You have other things to worry about, Ben,” he said. The man using his name made him smile. Damn, it‟d been a long time since his friend used his name. He missed it. They‟d been friends for so long, growing up together as cubs, learning to shift together, school and college together. He‟d tried so hard to get them to call him his name when he first became alpha. Whenever he asked, they just grinned and shook their heads. It wasn‟t unless they were alone, completely alone, that they occasionally slipped. “You should do that more often,” he whispered. “What‟s that, Ben?” Devon teased. Ben snorted, knowing they both knew exactly of what they spoke. After a wink, his beta continued, “Adam called a little while ago. He should be back in,” he glanced at the clock over the stove, “fifteen minutes.” “He‟s early,” said a tired voice from the doorway. Ben took in the fatigue lines around his beta‟s eyes and crossed to him. “You‟ve had a busy day,” he muttered, giving the man a soothing hug. “Want to tell me about it over dinner? Devon made a casserole.” Inhaling deeply, Adam groaned. “Oh, hell, yeah. That smells delicious.” Adam crossed to the dining room and 8
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dropped into a seat. He tossed his ranger jacket onto the seat next to him and let out a low sigh. Grinning, Ben set a beer in front of him and Adam took a grateful swig. “Damn, that‟s good.” “This will be better,” Devon stated, thunking the casserole dish in front of Adam. Adam groaned. “Where‟s my plate?” Ben held it out, quickly retracting it when Adam reached for it. The beta glared. “What happed at the hospital?” He grimaced sympathetically at his friend‟s strained look. When the man met his eyes, Ben shrugged. He was the alpha. He wanted information. So sue him. Adam motioned for the plate, and Ben gave it to him. “His name is Lonnie Bowler,” Adam said, watching Devon pile his plate high with turkey casserole, corn, and garlic bread. “He‟s an accountant with a small local firm in Delhi. He was released from the hospital after getting eighty-seven stitches.” Ben watched his betas exchange a look and he glanced between his two trusted friends. Where Devon stood six feet tall and sported wiry, sleek muscles, Adam was two inches shorter, thicker, and more compact. The two men made quite a contrast, with Devon keeping his white-blond hair almost short enough to be called a military cut, and Adam allowing his dark hair to grow long and keeping it tied in a thick ponytail that nearly hit his butt. Their wolves ended up about the same size due to Adam‟s extra muscles. Devon was a quick, wily fighter, while Adam could use brute strength to subdue others. Devon preferred to keep quiet and observe others around him and was known as a peacekeeper. Adam was a people person, friendly and outgoing, always in the thick of things. As far as betas went, they were different as night and day, except for one thing, their loyalty to Ben. Ben couldn‟t 9
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express the gratefulness he felt for the two men, which made what he had to tell them this evening even more difficult. He‟d had a vision about their mate, their human mate. “We‟ll need to visit him later, I think. Explain what‟s going on with his DNA,” Devon said, drawing Ben‟s concentration back to his betas. “Let me guess,” Adam teased after swallowing his bite of food. “I‟m the one who‟ll have to get naked for the man?” Ben laughed. “As if we care about that,” he teased back. Then he sobered, staring at his own food. “There‟s something I need to tell you guys.” His serious tone made both men pause, their gazes jerking up to focus on him. Ben glanced between them. “I‟ve had a vision of our mate,” he blurted. Devon and Adam stared at him for several long, silent seconds. Finally, both men grinned. “That‟s great!” Devon cried out. “What pack do we need to petition?” “What does she look like?” Adam added. Ben shook his head. “We don‟t need to petition a pack,” he said softly. His gaze lifted to the confused gaze of his friends. “Her name is Sandy, and she‟s human.”
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Chapter Two ome in!” Sandy Shreve heard the shout from through the door and shook her head. Juggling the bags, she pushed the door open and entered the spacious two-bedroom apartment. Closing the door with her foot, Sandy crossed to the kitchen and set down the bags. She turned and found Lonnie lying on the couch, grinning at her. She glared at her friend. “What if it hadn‟t been me? Someone could have walked in and killed you before you could even move.” Okay, so maybe that was an exaggeration, but those bags were damn awkward. Lonnie laughed, which quickly turned into a grunt as he tried to lever himself into a sitting position. Hurrying over, Sandy wrapped an arm around the man‟s shoulder and helped him ease into a sitting position. She got a good look at his eyes and saw how dilated they were. “Got some good pain meds from the doctor?” she teased. “Hell yeah,” Lonnie said. “Loratabs, baby!” “Well, it‟s a good thing I got you dinner. You shouldn‟t take those things on an empty stomach,” Sandy said, starting to rise. Lonnie grabbed her wrist and inhaled deeply. “Mmm, you smell good. Is that new perfume?” Sandy laughed and pulled her hand away. “That‟s the food. I brought Olive Garden. I know how you love their
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grilled chicken Caesar salad.” When she glanced over her shoulder, Sandy saw Lonnie staring intently at her with an unreadable look on his face. “What?” He blinked, and the look was gone. “Huh? Oh, nothing. That sounds delicious. You‟re a sweetie.” He grinned and winked. Chuckling, Sandy shook her head. “Okay.” She pulled a container and a small sack out of the paper bag and set them on the coffee table. “So what happened anyway? I didn‟t get the whole story from your mom.” Sandy had gotten a call at a little after noon from a stressed out Mrs. Bowler. The woman had said she couldn‟t get away from work and her baby, Lonnie, was home injured, and wanted to know if Sandy could check on him. Sandy had told the woman not to worry, even though that was like telling a chicken not to lay eggs, and that she‟d take care of Lonnie. Sandy had signed off her laptop and rushed out the door to take her childhood friend a late lunch and find out what the hell happened. Sandy pulled silverware from the drawer and walked back to Lonnie, who was drooling over his salad and bread sticks. Shaking her head, she cleared her throat and held up the fork and knife. When Lonnie reached for them, she pulled them out of his reach. “Well?” she asked, tapping her foot. “Oh, well, you know how me and a few others were headed to the Catskills to hike over the weekend? Well, I got attacked by a wolf.” Sandy‟s mouth dropped open, and he used her surprise to grab the silverware and start eating. “What?” she squeaked. “A wolf? There aren‟t any wolves around here!” She‟d done research on the area for books, and the eastern timber wolf that used to inhabit the area was killed off in the early nineteen hundreds. “Are you sure it wasn‟t a coyote? They 12
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look pretty similar.” Glaring, Lonnie‟s fork paused halfway to his mouth. “I know the difference between a wolf and a coyote, Sandy. I‟m not stupid. It was a wolf!” The vehemence in his voice surprised Sandy, and her brows shot up. Lonnie didn‟t really have a temper, so his reaction worried her. “Okay,” she said, lifting her hands in placation. “A wolf then. But why would it attack you?” Lonnie grinned around a mouth of chicken. Sandy growled in frustration. The man‟s mood swings were beginning to irritate her. Damn pain killers. Lonnie quickly swallowed before saying, “I don‟t know why it attacked. The ranger that helped me until the paramedics came thought it was feral and said he‟d hunt it down. We were just hiking along, and it leaped out of the bushes, straight at Christina.” He waved his fork in emphasis. “She screamed, and I jumped in front of her. The wolf latched onto my leg. It bit down, released slightly, then bit again. When I took a swing at it to try to get it off, it let go and attacked my arm.” She noticed for the first time the bulky look of the sweatpants Lonnie wore. One leg was definitely larger than the other. And the bandages on his arm covered him from shoulder to wrist. “Holy shit,” she hissed, her eyes going wide. “How did you get it off? What happened?” Seeming to enjoy his enrapt audience, Lonnie chewed another big bite before answering. “Two more wolves rushed out of the bushes and grabbed him. They dragged him back into the woods.” He grinned. “They must have had a problem with him, too!” Sandy sat down in the chair across from the couch and huffed out a sigh. That sounded like the most, well, farfetched behavior for wolves that she‟d ever heard of. “That‟s…that‟s…well, I don‟t know what that is except 13
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unbelievable. I‟d think you made it up, except you have no imagination.” Lonnie frowned. “You don‟t believe me?” She watched the bearded man pout, which was so funny she had to bite back a laugh. “Want to see the stitches? I got eighty-seven of them! And the doctor said that he found six bite marks in all.” Her friend‟s growing irritation dried up Sandy‟s mirth. She smiled and patted his uninjured hand gently. “I‟m sorry, Lonnie. I didn‟t mean I didn‟t believe you. Of course, I believe you.” She leaned forward and rested a hand on his bandaged one. “It‟s just a pretty wild story, that‟s all. Two wolves pulling a third one off you? I‟ve never heard of wolves behaving like that,” she declared. “Well, that‟s what happened,” Lonnie groused. “I believe you,” Sandy said again, smiling. “Did the doctor say how long it will take for you to heal? Will you need help with anything?” “Well,” Lonnie said slowly, and Sandy didn‟t like the sly look on her friend‟s face. “My left hand is the one I use to…” he glanced down meaningfully at his crotch before waggling his eyebrows suggestively. Sandy glared. “Oh, hell no. TMI, Lonnie.” She rose and strode away from him three steps before pivoting. “If you need help with that, get Christina to do it. I‟m sure she‟d be more than happy.” She jabbed her finger at him to emphasize her point. Lonnie laughed. “Sorry. Told you that you smell good.” “It‟s the damn food,” Sandy said, rolling her eyes. “And eat your supper, so I can give you another pill. What do you want to drink?” she asked, crossing back to the kitchen, happy to get away from Lonnie‟s suggestive remarks. Damn, the man must be loopy to talk to her like that. Sure, they‟d messed around once or twice while growing up, but that 14
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had been years ago! They were friends now and the idea of doing something like that with him just… She shook her head. It gave her the willies! “I got a bottle of wine in the fridge. Wanna open it?” Lonnie called. Sandy turned around and glared. “No alcohol while on Loratabs.” She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a jug of juice. “How about orange juice?” Lonnie let out an aggrieved sigh. “Fine.” Pouring a glass, she took it to him. “You‟re such a baby when you‟re injured,” she teased. Lonnie stuck his tongue out at her. Sandy laughed. “What are you? Twelve?” He just shrugged, and Sandy decided, yeah, the pain meds have returned him to pubescence. Sandy stared at her laptop, trying to figure out what was wrong with the scene in front of her. She just couldn‟t get the feel she wanted. Where it should have been sensual and steamy, it came off as contrived and stiff. Getting up from the table, Sandy crossed the room to her kitchen. She filled the kettle with water and placed it on the stove. Opening her cupboard, she stared at her tea selection, trying to decide what she was in the mood for. After a moment of careful consideration, Sandy pulled out a tea bag of Moroccan Mint. While waiting for her water to heat, Sandy leaned against the counter and stared out her sliding doors to the woods beyond her deck. It was late October, a few days before Halloween, so the days were cool and often-times windy, but some days still found her on the deck with her laptop. Sadly, today was not one of those days. She watched the trees bend and sway in the wind, thinking, not for the first time, how lucky she was to have found the little bungalow. It was small and on the outskirts 15
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of the little mountain town of Margaretville, but she loved it. The hardwood floors and wood burning fireplace gave it a rustic feel, so she‟d decorated it in a cabin theme, with dark throw rugs and log wood furniture. The downstairs consisted of the living room, kitchen with breakfast nook, half bath and laundry room, and small dining room, which she used as her office. The dining room and kitchen had a great view of the forest that her cabin was backed up against. The second floor was an open loft bedroom that looked down over the living room. She loved her California king bed and the garden tub in the master bathroom. The teakettle whistled, drawing her attention away from the window. She pulled the kettle off the stove and poured steaming water into her prepared mug. Maybe she should carve her pumpkin. She‟d been meaning to do that for days. Sandy glanced at the picture on the front of a magazine showing a smiling jack-o-lantern, wondering if she could duplicate the pumpkin‟s grin. Smirking, Sandy decided probably not, but it would still be fun to try. A flash of movement out of the corner of her eye drew her gaze back outside. Picking up her mug, she crossed to the sliding door to get a better look. Sandy stared outside, wondering if she‟d seen a deer. It wouldn‟t surprise her. She loved getting up early and watching them graze in her backyard. Her home was so close to Catskill State Park that she saw all kinds of animals. When the movement didn‟t repeat and she couldn‟t see anything amiss, Sandy gave up the wait and returned to her laptop. She had just finished steeping her bag when her phone rang. Rising, she crossed to the counter, leaned her hip against the wood top, and picked up her cell phone. “Hello?” “Hey, Sands. What‟s up?” 16
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She smiled at Lonnie‟s nickname for her, reminiscent of when he made fun of her dirty blonde hair in middle school. “Doing good. Just trying to collect my thoughts so I can fix this scene.” Lonnie didn‟t understand her need to write, but he was always supportive and happy to listen to her ramblings about characters and plot lines. She couldn‟t count the number of times when just talking to him had helped her solve a plot hole she had. “Well, maybe I can offer a little inspiration.” That had her brows ratcheting up. The memory of his odd comments last week when she‟d visited him came to mind. “What do you mean?” she asked, hoping she didn‟t sound as wary as she felt. Lonnie chuckled, suddenly sounding nervous. “I have a pair of tickets to High Flyers, and Christina just cancelled on me. Are you interested? They probably won‟t be as good as Cirque du Soleil, but they should still be entertaining.” “Oh,” she let out, surprised by the invitation. “When is that?” She‟d always wanted to see something like that, and she couldn‟t foresee getting to Vegas any time soon. “Um. This evening at seven. The only problem is the performance is in Oneonta.” “Oh,” she said again. “Let me think.” Sandy took a sip of her tea and looked at her watch. It was already ten minutes after five, and Lonnie lived over thirty minutes away in Delhi, while she lived over an hour away. That meant she‟d have to drive separately. Staring at her laptop, she shrugged. “I can do it. It sounds like fun. Tell me where it is in Oneonta, and I‟ll meet you there at quarter to seven.” If she hurried through a shower and ate in the car, she could just make it by then. Almost thirty minutes later, her wet hair pulled into a bun at the nap of her neck, Sandy hurried to her Jeep. Four-wheel drive was a must in the winter, and she didn‟t like how 17
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bulky trucks were on the winding mountain roads, so when Sandy had moved away from Delhi almost a year ago, she had bought a Jeep Wrangler. Driving through Delhi, close to Lonnie‟s house, she realized she could have asked if he needed her to pick him up. Oops, too late now. She carefully finished off the turkey sandwich and Doritos she‟d brought, not wanting to drop anything on the dark blue dress she‟d donned. Pulling in the parking lot of the building, Sandy spotted Lonnie standing near the entrance. She parked quickly and slid from her Jeep. The heels of her black stilettos clicked on the sidewalk, the breeze against her legs making her think perhaps she should have worn slacks instead of the barely knee-length cocktail dress. She hurried to the door Lonnie held open for her. As she moved past, he smiled and inhaled. “Nice,” she thought he muttered. Lifting a brow, she cocked her head. “What?” Lonnie grinned. “You look nice. I appreciate you coming at the last minute. I‟d really have hated to eat the tickets.” Sandy nodded. “Let me know how much it is, and I‟ll pay you back.” Chuckling, Lonnie shook his head. “Don‟t worry about it. I owed you for the Olive Garden anyway. So this works out well.” “Okay,” Sandy replied, willing to take the trade. She felt Lonnie‟s hand on her back as he guided her through the building. A prick of tension filled her. She wasn‟t certain how she felt about Lonnie‟s hold. It felt almost possessive. “Relax,” he murmured into her ear. Lonnie stood fivefoot-nine-inches, so he barely had to do more than tip his head to have his lips next to her ear, since her four-inch heels extended her height to five-foot-seven instead of her standard five-foot-three. She forced a smile, uncertain where her discomfort 18
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stemmed from. Lonnie had been as close to a best friend as she had since elementary school. They‟d grown up as neighbors, played in the sandbox and creek together. She‟d even gotten him to play Barbies with her! He‟d never do anything to hurt her. Letting go of her tension, her smile was real this time when they walked into the auditorium and Lonnie handed the tickets to the usher. Following the usher and Lonnie, Sandy took in the apparatuses erected on stage, trying to figure out how they‟d be used. Once they were seated, she leaned over and murmured, “How‟s your arm and leg. I didn‟t notice you limping, so it‟s gotta be better, right?” “Feeling really good, actually. The marks are healing really fast,” Lonnie told her. “I‟ll be good as new in no time.” “Glad to hear it.” They looked through the program, chatting about the different pictures and performers. When the lights dimmed, excitement coursed through Sandy. Men and women descended from the ceiling on ropes and ribbons, twirling and twisting in time to the music. It surprised her how much it turned her on to watch their lithe bodies, painted in vibrant colors and wearing very few clothes, spinning and dancing to the music. She felt her pulse pick up as her panties dampened. She rubbed her hands on her skirt, ignoring it as best she could. When intermission arrived, Lonnie pinned his blue eyes on her and grinned. “I need a drink. You interested?” “Sure. I‟ll meet you at the concession stand. I need to make a quick side trip first,” Sandy told him, desperate for a few minutes alone to regroup. She glanced to her left as she climbed the aisle and spotted a handsome man watching her from a seat near the back. The blond‟s piercing blue eyes seemed to take in every move she made. He gave her a sexy smile before leaning 19
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over to his friend and gripping the man‟s thigh to get his attention. The second man, whose thick brown hair was pulled into a ponytail, making Sandy wonder how long it was, glanced at the blond and lifted a brow. Blondie tipped his chin in Sandy‟s direction and Muscle Man, so named because of his broad shoulders and thick arms, followed his friend‟s line of sight. A slow, sensual smirk curved the handsome man‟s lips as his gaze roved over Sandy‟s body, making her feel far more exposed in the short cocktail dress than she was. She flushed, looking away. Seeing Lonnie several steps ahead of her, she hurried to catch up, but Sandy could still feel the heat of the two men‟s gazes. Damn, those guys are fine. She could just imagine what Muscle Man‟s arms would feel like wrapped around her. Or how Blondie‟s full lips would feel on her neck. A shiver worked its way through her, and she tried to control her lusty thoughts. They certainly weren‟t doing anything to ease her already racing pulse. Her thong was already soaked, and she could feel moisture between her thighs. What is wrong with me? “I‟ll be right there,” she called to Lonnie before turning toward the ladies restroom. He smiled and lifted a hand in acknowledgement. Sandy hurried through the door, took care of business in the first available stall, and headed back to the sink. She was relieved to find the place used paper towels instead of those annoying wall mounted blow dryers. Sandy wet a paper towel and used it to dab her face and neck. She didn‟t want to ruin what little makeup she‟d bothered to put on, but she definitely needed the coolness the cloth provided. She shook her head and grinned at her reflection. Her green eyes stared back at her, as well as a few freckles across the bridge of her nose from her time in the sun. At least she‟d managed to avoid a sunburn to her fair skin this 20
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season. Sure, she was cute in the girl-next-door kind of way, but nothing those two hunks would be interested in. She was too short and too plain. Sandy cocked her head. At least I have nice breasts. Stifling a laugh at herself, she turned on her heel and headed out of the restroom. What she found in the lobby made her stop in her tracks. Christina stood glaring at Lonnie with her hands on her hips. Her brow creasing in concern, Sandy slowly approached them. “Oh, what,” Christina all but shouted hysterically. “You didn‟t think I‟d confront you if you stood me up?” Then the woman caught sight of Sandy approaching and let out an unladylike snort. “This is rich. I should have known better than to believe you when you said you and Sandy were just friends. What a crock of lies!” “But we are just friends,” Sandy murmured. She touched Lonnie‟s arm. “I thought you said Christina cancelled.” Lonnie glanced at her. “My date with Christina was cancelled,” he replied quickly before turning back to the upset woman. “I‟m sorry we had a misunderstanding, but…” “Misunderstanding!” she roared. “I‟ll tell you what the misunderstanding was…” Holding up his hands, Lonnie stopped her tirade. Without looking at Sandy, he said, “Why don‟t you go back in and have a seat. I‟ll be there in a few minutes.” Before Christina could open another scathing volley, Sandy replied, “It‟s okay. You go ahead and work it out with her. I don‟t much feel like watching the rest of the show now anyway.” She dug her keys out of her purse. “Give me a call if you need anything.” She looked at the seething blonde. She really was pretty when her face wasn‟t twisted in anger. “I‟m sorry, Christina. I didn‟t mean to cause problems.” 21
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Lonnie turned his back on the woman and grabbed Sandy‟s arm. “Don‟t apologize to her. She‟s the one causing a scene.” When Sandy just lifted her brows in surprise, Lonnie sighed. “I‟m sorry the night ended like this. I‟ll call you later.” And to her utter shock, Lonnie leaned forward and kissed her. Sandy gasped in surprise, and Lonnie took advantage, tilting his head and thrusting his tongue into her mouth. Regaining her senses, Sandy pushed Lonnie away. “What the hell was that?” Before he could reply, Sandy held up a hand. “I‟m going to chalk that up to the animal attack and the pain meds scrambling your brain. I‟ll see you later.” Sandy extricated her arm from Lonnie‟s grip and hurried out the door, shaking her head as she went. Halfway to her Jeep, she felt a presence at her back and turned. She had to keep in a startled gasp when she spotted the two men from the auditorium hurrying after her. Oh, they are fine. Blondie stood right around six feet, and Muscle Man was a couple inches shorter. Muscle Man‟s dark brown eyes seemed to glitter in the dark as he stopped a couple feet from her and smiled, probably worried about spooking her. Blondie stood a step behind him. Both men had well-muscled bodies, broad shoulders, little fat, and seemed to be focusing on her. Huh. “Can I help you?” Sandy asked warily. Muscle Man glanced at Blondie, as if looking for direction. Blondie lifted a brow. She brought her attention back to Muscle Man and his sensual mouth, and Sandy wondered what it would feel like to kiss the man. He started speaking, and she pulled her thoughts together to focus on his words. “We couldn‟t help but overhear what happened in there,” he said. “How long have you known Lonnie Bowler?” Okay, so the men knew Lonnie. Sandy thought she knew 22
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most of Lonnie‟s friends, so how come she‟d never met these sexy studs? “I‟ve known him since grade school,” she replied slowly, still cautious. “How do you know him?” Another of those looks passed between the men. Was there something between these guys? Where they gay? Mmm, the thought of these two going at it was just hot! “Not well, but we can tell you that he‟s…well… I‟d say he‟s going through a mid-life crisis but that‟s not really it.” Muscle Man paused, considering his words. Blondie stepped forward, and held out a hand. “We should probably introduce ourselves. I‟m Devon Stephenson. This is Adam Rudolf. Do you have a few minutes? We‟d really like to explain some things about Lonnie to you.” Sandy had to fight back a shiver at Blondie‟s—Devon‟s— soothing bass voice. Maybe what these guys said would explain why she was suddenly getting such odd vibes from her longtime friend. And it wasn‟t like they appeared interested in her, at least not romantically, so what did it matter if she took the time to internally drool over them while they talked. Sandy nodded. “I‟m Sandy Shreve,” she told them. “There‟s a bar down the street. The Copper Kettle. Do you know it?” Both men nodded. “Meet me there. You can buy me a drink.” Okay, so she didn‟t know where that brazenness came from, but what the hell. Besides, the men didn‟t seem to mind, if their smiles and nods were any indication. “It would be our pleasure,” Devon said. Yup, they didn‟t seem to mind at all.
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Chapter Three dam looked over at Devon as his friend started the SUV. When Ben had announced his vision about their mate, the one woman that they would share for the rest of their days, he‟d scented Devon‟s discontent. Even though they‟d known it was coming, it didn‟t make it any easier. He knew Devon had dated a human woman once. The wolf should have known better. Both he and Ben had tried to tell him that she wasn‟t his mate. Devon had ended up burned. Adam, Devon, and Ben had known each other since they were cubs. Ben‟s parents were the pack‟s prior inner circle, so he‟d been groomed to take over the pack since birth. Devon and Adam had had the man‟s back every step of the way. They shared a bond making them closer than brothers and it had just about torn Ben and Adam‟s hearts out when Devon was hurting. “What do you think of her?” Devon murmured. “I think it‟s been a long time since we‟ve shared a woman, but damn she smells good,” Adam replied, trying to lighten the mood. They‟d shared women numerous times throughout college, but never since returning to the pack. They didn‟t want any female to get the wrong idea. It worked. Devon chuckled. “Ass. That‟s not what I meant, and you know it.” Adam smiled. “She‟s attracted to us, but our lifestyle isn‟t the norm. Three men to one woman? Most people want to
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try that once just to see what it‟s like, not do it on a permanent basis. Throw being wolf shifters into the mix? This isn‟t going to be easy for her.” After seeing Devon‟s jaw clench, Adam reached over and rubbed his thigh. He scented the calming effect his touch had on Devon and smiled. “She‟s not the only one it‟s going to be tough on, but it‟s meant to be.” “I know, and we don‟t have much time,” Devon said. “The coming Blue Moon is already affecting her. Couple that with the magic of Halloween and her body is already readying to mate. Her increased scent means she‟s going into heat. It‟s going to attract every shifter in the area,” he added worriedly. “She‟s ours,” Adam found himself snarling. Fuck, where did that possessiveness come from? He rubbed his hands over his face. “Sorry. But the idea of anyone else touching her makes me see red,” he admitted. “I almost wanted to strangle Lonnie when he kissed her.” Devon nodded, his knuckles turning white as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Me, too. Call Ben. He needs to be here.” Adam silently agreed, pulling out his cell phone and dialing. “Hey, Adam. How‟s it going?” Ben immediately asked. Adam grimaced, knowing what he had to tell wasn‟t good news. “Not so good, Ben,” he said, using his alpha‟s name to convey how serious he thought the situation. “We found Sandy and made contact, but it looks like she‟s already going into heat due to the combination of the coming Blue Moon and the magic of Halloween. Lonnie has already tried to make a move on her. We‟re on our way to have a drink with her…try to explain things a bit.” “Shit. I‟m almost done here. Where are you?” “We‟re on our way to the Copper Kettle bar. We‟ll stall 25
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until you get there. Try not to be long, huh, Alpha?” Adam said, expressing his urgency with his voice. He could imagine Ben nodding. “I‟ll be there in fifteen.” Adam flipped his phone closed and turned to Devon. “He‟s just wrapping up with Rance. He‟ll be here soon.” “I sure hated leaving him with Peter and Kiall for that meeting. We should have been there watching Ben‟s back while he met with the cougar alpha,” Devon groused. Reaching over, Adam pried one of Devon‟s hands off the steering wheel and squeezed it. “This was more important. You know that.” Devon spared him a glance and nodded, returning the reassuring squeeze, before turning his eyes back to the road. He eased the vehicle into the lot and parked. When they got out, they immediately scented Sandy‟s amazing smell. It made Adam‟s cock stand at attention and his balls tingle. From the soft groan from Devon, he knew her scent had a similar effect on the other man. “Damn, I can‟t stop thinking about how it will feel to slide my cock into her warm, wet sheath,” Devon hissed as he fell into step beside Adam. Adam nodded, the vision of him taking her ass as Devon‟s cock filled her pussy had him groaning. “Shit, we‟ve got problems.” “We‟ll need to figure out where she lives and one of us will have to watch her at all times,” he said. “Yup,” Adam agreed. They stepped inside the bar and immediately spotted Sandy. In the confined space of the building, Sandy‟s scent permeated his senses, thickening his cock further. It twitched behind his fly, and Adam prayed he wouldn‟t have a permanent zipper mark embedded on his dick. They weaved between tables to the booth Sandy occupied in the back. Already a waiter flirted with her, and she 26
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seemed completely oblivious to his interest, which Adam found odd. Surely she knows how beautiful she is, with her angelic facial features, short sexy legs, cute ankles, waist with just a little extra, great for holding onto while I drive my shaft into her, and her breasts…damn! Perfect handfuls! “Your arousal isn‟t making controlling myself any easier,” Devon growled at him. Adam grinned and shrugged. “What the hell do you expect me to do about it?” he whispered back. Turning, he gave the waiter a smile. “Give us a minute, will you?” The man looked to Sandy, who was staring at them with curiosity in her open, expressive face. And if he wasn‟t mistaken, there was more than a little heat in those lovely green eyes. Adam let out a slow breath and smiled at her, liking how she flushed ever so slightly when he did. “How about I run to the bar and get drinks. From the looks of the waiter it‟ll be quicker,” he said, giving her a wink. Sandy cocked her head, telling Adam she didn‟t follow his reference. Well, shit, what has happened in her life to make her doubt how sexy she is? Adam couldn‟t wait to correct that little misconception. “What would you like to drink?” he asked. “A glass of the house merlot would be wonderful. If they don‟t have that, AmberBock.” “Excellent. I‟ll be right back.” Adam grinned and winked again, before turning away from his unsuspecting mate. A couple steps from the table, he heard Devon comment about going to the restroom. Adam resisted the urge to shake his head. He knew his friend didn‟t make it a habit of engaging in one-night stands, hence the relationship problems with the human, so it had probably been a long time since he‟d gotten laid. Adam knew exactly what Devon was going to do in the bathroom. 27
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He waited several minutes for the bartender to acknowledge him, keeping an eye on Sandy, smiling or grinning every time her gaze swept over him, which, to his pleasure, was often. He loved the way she‟d blush and quickly look away. He couldn‟t wait to learn more about her. He‟d just placed his drink orders when Devon reappeared at his elbow. His slightly flushed face and more relaxed scent had Adam smirking. “Everything come out all right?” he teased. Devon glared, but it didn‟t stop Adam from seeing the slight blush. “Shut the fuck up,” he snarled. At Adam‟s chuckle, he grimaced. “It‟s been a while, okay? Her scent was driving me nuts.” He gave Devon a sympathetic smile. “Waiting until she‟s ready will not be easy.” “Who knows, maybe she‟ll be just as affected by our scents.” Devon‟s hopeful look had Adam barking out a laugh. “Yeah. We‟ll all end up sex crazed maniacs until after the full moon.” “Some shifters are already sex crazed maniacs.” Adam‟s brows lifted at Devon‟s muttered comment. He shrugged, unwilling to bother justifying his own active sex life. “Settling down has always been the goal, Devon, but what was the point of denying myself when my mate wasn‟t around.” Devon didn‟t meet his eyes, so Adam lifted a hand to his jaw and forced the other shifter to meet his gaze. “Relax, my friend. Once we prove to Sandy that her whim will be our command, and all we want to do is please her, we‟ll all be happy.” Devon gave in and nuzzled his hand for several seconds, taking comfort, before drawing away. He frowned again. “Do you think we‟d still want her if…well…you know.” Adam smiled. “I do. She‟s the fourth that makes up our 28
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inner circle. You know that having the inner circle bound by the alpha-mate proves Fate has blessed the pack and eases the minds of those in it. Having her as a mate strengthens the internal ties of the entire pack, plus she completes us. Even if it wasn‟t a Blue Moon, and even afterward, I know we‟ll still want her,” he assured. Then he winked. “The trick is going to be getting her to keep wanting us.” Devon smiled at his answer. “I think that‟s something we can figure out. We‟re three smart men.” Adam grinned, picking up the merlot and the bud light the bartender set on the counter. Devon picked up the other two bud lights, one for himself and one for Ben when he arrived. Turning, Adam stiffened, his blood running cold. After exchanging a glance with Devon, they made a beeline for the table and their waiting mate. The sight that met Adam‟s eyes had him letting out a soft growl, which matched Devon‟s. Brody, a shifter from the nearby pride, sat across from Sandy. She pulled her hand away from the good looking man, but he reached for it again, so she tucked it into her lap. “Brody,” Devon said softly. “I didn‟t expect to see you here tonight.” Brody turned, his eyes narrowing when he took in Adam, Devon, and the drinks they held. He rose slowly, his smile brittle. “I‟m just waiting for my…for Rance. He had a meeting and told us to meet him here afterward.” His gaze swept over them to Sandy and back again. “It is neutral, you know.” Us? Adam‟s gaze swept the bar, seeing Carlos for the first time. To allow Brody to approach Sandy unaccompanied, the cougar must be quite a bit lower in pride hierarchy, but he didn‟t look happy about it. Adam nodded at Brody. “The place is, true enough, but our date is not.” He winked at Sandy and settled the glass of merlot in front of her. “Sorry 29
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we took so long. Our buddy, Ben, called asking where the party is.” “Ben is coming?” Brody murmured, stepping carefully away from the table. Grinning, Devon shrugged. “His vision is important to him.” Adam noted the stress Devon put on the word vision, knowing Brody picked up on it as well, when he nodded in acceptance. Vision mates were sacred. Once known, a shifter wouldn‟t intentionally mess with them. Of course, if Sandy went unclaimed for too much longer, her scent would begin to mess with a shifter‟s mind, making them run on their instinctual urge to mate a female in heat. And the heat would begin affecting Sandy as well, making her more willing to allow herself to be fucked by anyone. Her desire to scratch the itch that the coming Blue Moon caused would become all-consuming. For him and his mates‟ sakes, Adam prayed it didn‟t get to that point. Brody smiled one last time at Sandy. “It was nice meeting you, Sandy,” he said before leaving. Adam turned back to Sandy and smiled. Her wide green eyes were traveling over his ass, and when she realized she‟d been caught, she blushed prettily and focused on her merlot. Adam glanced at Devon and winked as the other man slid into the booth across from her. Normally, Adam would have joined him and left the seat open for Ben to claim, but with so many other shifters in the bar, he didn‟t dare. It may be viewed as an invitation. “Do you mind?” he asked, indicating the space on the bench seat next to her. Her eyes widened slightly, but she slid over, giving him more room, not that he wanted it. Adam would have loved to have her plastered against his side. Damn, it had been years since he felt that way about anyone. Adam slid into the seat next to Sandy and rested 30
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one arm on the back of the booth and wrapped his other hand around his beer. “I see you met Brody. He‟s a good sort, most of the time, but since you came with us, sort of,” he added with a grin when he saw her open her mouth to protest. “Does Brody know Lonnie, too?” she asked, frowning, her gaze passing between the men. Adam shook his head. “I don‟t think he does. He does know Ben though.” They‟d stopped by Lonnie‟s apartment the day he‟d been attacked. The man hadn‟t believed them until Adam shifted for him, proving he was one of the wolves that saved him. Damn near freaked Lonnie out. The man said he needed time to accept it. Ben had agreed, telling him if he felt any aggressive tendencies, to call him immediately. They‟d left and Ben had put a tail on Lonnie, a shifter named Cindy, one of their best trackers, much to most of the male wolves chagrin. The woman could track anything. They‟d even seen her track a man in a car once because he‟d left a window open. No one could deny how impressive that was! “How does he know you and Ben?” Sandy asked, reining in Adam‟s wayward thoughts. He glanced at Devon, his silent look asking if his friend and fellow beta wanted to start. Devon leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table and wrapping his hands around his beer. “Did Lonnie tell you about being attacked by the wolf in the woods?” Sandy nodded. “It was a strange story. I‟ve researched wolves for books I‟ve written, and never read anything about them acting like that. Not just attacking a human without provocation, but the part about two wolves pulling the attacking one off him.” She shook her head. “I didn‟t even know wolves were back in the Catskill Mountains!” Adam‟s brows rose in surprise. She certainly was 31
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attentive. He exchanged another look with Devon, knowing the man had caught the same thing. “Was the wolf sick? Is that why it attacked?” Sandy‟s eyes widened. “Did the wolf pass on some disease to Lonnie? Is that why he‟s been acting oddly?” “No, not a disease, per se,” Adam said, stalling for time. Damn, he didn‟t want her thinking that becoming a shifter was a sickness. Adam considered it an honor for a human to be mated to a shifter and turned into one. He hoped they could convey that to her. A scent he recognized hit him, just as Adam saw Devon stiffen. They smelled an aroused alpha male. Turning slowly, he saw Rance Diallo standing in the doorway of the bar. The cougar alpha stared straight at them, his jaw tightening as his eyes darkened with lust. When he started toward their booth, Adam could think only one thought. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
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Chapter Four en slammed on the brakes, cursing a blue streak. After the meeting with Rance, he‟d remembered he‟d promised to pick up condoms and lube. They didn‟t have any since mostly they took shifter women to their beds, and they couldn‟t get pregnant unless they were mated. But if they were to seduce their human mate, they may need them to assuage her worry until she understood and accepted that shifters didn‟t carry or pass on human diseases. And with Sandy in heat, unconsciously stimulating them until they managed to complete the mate-bond with her, they were definitely going to need something to ease the ache. The problem now was that he was nearly ten minutes later than he‟d planned. When the light turned green, he revved the bike‟s engine and sped forward. Two minutes of speeding had him pulling into The Copper Kettle‟s parking lot. As he turned off his bike and pulled off his helmet, he noticed Rance‟s truck in the parking lot. “Oh, fuck no,” he hissed, sprinting toward the door. Yanking the door open, the scent hit him first, prime female in heat under laid by something that could only be explained as the sweet scent of a mate. He‟d known from puberty that Adam and Devon would be his betas, and therefore share his mate, and once they‟d hit their first shift as well, they‟d recognized the bond between them. They‟d
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done plenty of experimenting with women in college, learning how to pleasure them together and working as a seamless team that brought everyone maximum pleasure. Once they‟d returned to the pack, the sharing had stopped, but suddenly he couldn‟t wait to do it again, with Sandy. The desire to share her with Devon and Adam, combining their efforts to drive their mate out of her mind with desire infused every cell of his body. To bring a human into the fold would be a huge adjustment for all of them, but if the aching cock pressing painfully against his zipper was any indication, it wouldn‟t be a hardship…unless they couldn‟t convince her. His gaze roved over the occupants of the room, quickly finding his betas glaring up at Rance. He could feel the tension in the air as he started their way. His heightened hearing allowed him to make out Rance‟s words over the music playing over the sound system. “What the hell are you talking about?” the cougar alpha snarled. “If we could step outside and discuss this,” Devon responded, trying to placate Rance. Rance growled. “And have you remove her before I get back inside? I don‟t think so. Whatever it is, tell me now.” “I had a vision about her,” Ben said quietly from behind Rance, making certain his words carried only to the other shifter. “She‟s ours.” He watched Rance stiffen. Yup, he knew the scent of his unmated mate scrambled the senses. He was having a hard time concentrating himself. Ben wanted to shift and demand Rance‟s submission. Then he wanted to fuck his mate in front of every shifter in the bar, proving his dominance and that she was his. He took a deep breath to try to regain control, but, well fuck, that didn‟t help. Her scent permeated the room. “Rance…” he growled softly. 34
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The man slowly turned to meet his glare. “Why didn‟t you say something about her half an hour ago?” “Because she‟s human,” he hissed. “I haven‟t met her yet and didn‟t know it had started,” he answered honestly, since he knew the other shifter would be able to scent a lie. Rance growled softly. “How do you know she‟s yours then?” “I told you. I had a vision,” he whispered. That earned him a snarl from the other man. “Bullshit,” Rance scoffed. “That‟s a myth.” Realizing the other alpha had never experienced it, he glanced around the bar. “Are you connected with your betas? Can you speak to them?” he asked pointedly. One of the easiest ways to establish who could make up an alpha‟s circle was the ability to speak telepathically to them while shifted. Sometimes, an alpha could speak to a number of people in his pack and could choose the most suited. Sometimes, he had to take what Fate gave him. Ben had been lucky that his betas were also his best friends growing up. Rance glared at him, sneering. “This isn‟t a wolf pack, Ben. It doesn‟t work that way.” “Don‟t fuck with me, Rance,” Ben growled back, stepping toward the man. “If you can‟t speak with your betas, then you have the wrong cougars as your betas. Fix it, then you‟ll see!” he snarled, knowing his voice would carry only to the other man. “Seventy-two hours,” Rance snapped back. “After that, she‟s fair game.” Knowing he wasn‟t going to get a better offer from the cougar shifter, he nodded. “Fair enough.” Rance turned and headed toward the door. On his way he let out an in-human yowl, calling the rest of his pride with him. Three men rose and followed Rance out the door. Ben let out a slow breath before he turned to his betas and the 35
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woman in the booth. She was stunning. From what he could see, she had a petite figure, a pretty face, and big breasts. Damn. He wanted to touch. A shiver worked its way down his spine as he approached the table. Adam rose from where he sat next to their wide-eyed mate and gave him a relieved smile. “Glad you could make it, Ben,” he murmured. Then he grinned. “You arrived just in time.” Ben grimaced. “Sorry I‟m late.” He dropped onto the bench beside Devon. He stared across the table at his woman. Fuck, he liked the sound of that, his and his friends‟ woman. “Three days, betas,” he said quietly, warning them. Devon and Adam nodded. Devon leaned across the table, drawing Sandy‟s attention. She managed to draw her gaze away from Ben, who felt some satisfaction that she seemed as drawn to him as he was to her. That didn‟t stop her from drinking in the sight of his beta once she focused on him. Good. Ben grinned as Devon introduced them. “Sandy, this is Ben Maxwell. He‟s our alpha. Ben, allow me to introduce you to Sandy Shreve. She‟s an author.” “It‟s nice to meet you,” Sandy said, holding out a hand. But just as he took it, she cocked her head to the side, looked back at Devon, and asked, “Did you say alpha?” Ben squeezed her hand to bring Sandy‟s focus back to him before nodding confirmation. She had gorgeous green eyes. Nice. Deep like the ocean. “Yes. We have a lot to discuss, Sandy. I‟m sorry we had to meet this way.” She frowned, lightly tugging her hand until he let her go. He immediately missed the contact. She looked between his betas. “Look, when I came here, you were supposed to buy me a drink and tell me about Lonnie. So far, you‟ve only done half that. Why don‟t you tell me what your friend here has to do with Lonnie and the disease, per se?” She held up 36
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her fingers and made air quotes. Ben‟s brows shot up. “Disease? What the hell did you tell her?” he asked, looking at Devon and then Adam. Adam had the decency to flush, which amused Ben. It wasn‟t often the charming beta got flustered. Ben tried to get his pulsing prick, complements of Sandy‟s increased scent due to her frustration, under control enough to focus on Adam‟s words. “Sandy asked if the wolf that attacked her friend, Lonnie, infected him with a disease and that‟s why she‟s been feeling uncomfortable around him.” Adam met his gaze, and he read the beta‟s concern with the direction of the questioning. “I told her that‟s not what happened, per se.” Ben nodded. “Fair enough.” He returned his focus to Sandy. “Look, I don‟t want to seem forward, but I‟m just gonna come out and say it. We‟re shifters. We turn into wolves. I am the pack alpha. Devon and Adam are my betas.” He could see from her disbelieving look she thought he was nuts. Ben frowned. Damn, this would be so much easier if she weren‟t human. “I‟d like to take you somewhere to show you. I can prove everything.” Sandy quickly shook her head. “Hell, no. The minute you get me from this public place, you‟re going to hurt me.” He watched her glance around, obviously seeking a way to escape. Not gonna happen! Ben stood, motioning for Adam to move, who immediately yielded his position next to their mate. Sliding into the seat next to Sandy, Ben leaned toward her, letting his scent and presence surround her. “We will never harm you, Sandy. I know you don‟t understand how you know this, but you do, don‟t you?” He watched her gaze rove over his face, as if reading his sincerity. 37
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“Yes,” she whispered, shaking her head in confused wonder. “But why do I feel this way?” He eased closer, giving her ample time to move away. “Because you mean more to us than our lives, darling,” he whispered, brushing his lips over hers. She responded quickly, leaning into him and whimpering. Ben couldn‟t stop the low growl that erupted from his chest. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap, deepening the kiss. He tilted his head, slanting his lips over Sandy‟s, and brushed his tongue against her lips. She groaned and opened her mouth, letting his tongue sweep inside. He tasted merlot, mint, and sweet feminine heaven. It was like ambrosia to a starving man, and Ben devoured her mouth as he slid a hand under her skirt along the inside of her thigh. He felt a hand on his shoulder and warm breath at his ear as Adam whispered something his lust-fogged brain didn‟t catch. Moaning, Ben broke the kiss with Sandy and lifted his head away. Sandy‟s soft cry had his gaze snapping his eyes open. He watched Adam wrap a large hand around the nape of her neck and seal his lips over Sandy‟s in an erotic display of oral seduction that almost had Ben creaming his pants. When Adam ended the kiss, both he and Sandy were panting heavily. Ben watched Sandy‟s breasts rise and fall quickly, fighting his urge to touch. He licked his lips and lifted his gaze to Sandy‟s face. Her wide eyes glanced between them, clearly confused at her own actions. “I‟m…I‟m sorry. I don‟t usually…” She stopped, obviously at a loss for words. Devon chuckled from next to them. “We need to get out of here before the locals start a fight.” Double damn, Ben thought. He couldn‟t remember the last time he‟d been tempted to get carried away in public. Giving Sandy an apologetic smile, he eased her to her feet, 38
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where Devon helped steady her. Ben stood, his cock aching, chafing against his zipper with every move he made. Biting back a grimace, he turned to Sandy. “I‟m on my motorcycle. I figure you have your own car. Devon and Adam will lead in the SUV, follow them, and I‟ll bring up the rear.” Sandy frowned. “Where are we going?” “Our place.”
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Chapter Five ur place,” she muttered. “Our place? What the hell is that supposed to mean?” They‟d been driving for forty minutes. It was in the direction of her home, so where the hell were they taking her? Did they really live this close to her? Adam chuckled from her passenger seat. At the last minute, he‟d offered to ride with her, and still reeling from both Ben and Adam‟s kisses, she‟d nodded dumbly. Stupid, stupid, stupid. These men claimed to be able to turn into wolves. Ben had made out with her and then watched while Adam had swooped in and done the same. From the looks and touches exchanged by Adam and Devon earlier, she‟d assumed they were gay and a couple. Now she realized she must be wrong. But why would both of them kiss her? Did they want a threesome? She had to admit, the idea intrigued her, but where did Devon fit into this? “You‟re thinking way too hard over there, sweetness,” Adam murmured. “I know this is a lot to wrap your head around, but please give us a chance to prove it to you. It‟s not just for our sake.” “Okay,” Sandy replied warily. “When I first met you, from the way you and Devon exchanged looks, the way you touched, I thought you and him were a couple, but that was quite the lip lock you and Ben shared with me.” Adam nodded slowly, seeming to consider his response.
“O
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“From the fact that you still went for a drink with me and Devon, I‟m assuming that two men together doesn‟t bother you?” Sandy shrugged. “You love who you love.” Adam smiled. Yeah, Sandy knew she could be succinct, bluntly so at times. “Are you open to the idea of loving more than one person at a time?” he asked carefully. “You mean a permanent ménage?” Sandy asked. She‟d read about them in books, but never seen one in real life. “I‟m not sure that‟s realistic,” she admitted. The answer seemed to disappoint Adam, who grimaced as he stared out into the dark beyond the window. His sadness tugged at something in her chest, wanting to make her ease his pain. Sandy reached out and laid a hand on his arm. “Hey. I‟m not saying it can‟t happen. I‟ve just never seen it, that‟s all.” That had Adam‟s head turning slowly back to her. “So you‟re open if you have proof?” he asked. She shrugged. “Sure. I guess.” Moving her hand back to the wheel, Sandy immediately missed the feel of his skin under her fingers. Odd. Nodding, Adam smiled. “The three of us have known each other since we were cubs…er…kids,” he amended. “We grew up together,” he hurried on, not letting her question his word choice. She made a mental note to ask him about it later, sometime when he was least suspecting it, so she could get a straight answer. “I know you don‟t yet believe in wolf shifters, but Ben could change first. A few months later, Devon shifted and then I did. The inner circle of a shifter pack is made up of the alpha, two betas, and the alpha-mate. The alpha-mate is also 41
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the mate of the two betas.” At her cocked brow, he tried to elaborate. “Shifters are much more tactile. What you mistook as a sexual relationship between me and Devon was us reassuring each other. We do it mostly through touch, but try to refrain from that while out among humans,” he admitted. She nodded slowly, trying to wrap her mind around it. “Anyway,” Adam went on. “When Devon and I learned to shift, Ben was able to speak to us telepathically, which marks us as potential matches to complete Ben‟s inner circle. Since we were already friends and trusted each other, it made sense that when Ben became alpha, he chose us as his betas.” He turned to her and grimaced. “We accepted that we‟d be part of a ménage a long time ago. It helps a hell of a lot that we‟re all attracted to the same kind of woman,” he added, winking. “Oh,” she murmured. Damn. That was just…damn! “What does this have to do with me?” From the look on his face, realization hit her. “Oh, hell, no! You think I‟m your…what did you call it? The alpha-mate?” “Hey, I‟m sorry I sprung that on you like that,” Adam said, his voice contrite. “I should have eased into it.” He rested a hand on her shoulder. For some reason, the touch instantly soothed her. Okay, that’s just odd! “I just don‟t know how to take any of this. How did you even find me?” “We scented you at Lonnie‟s apartment,” Adam admitted. “We knew then that you were the one we were missing.” Sandy shook her head. “I don‟t understand. You scented me at Lonnie‟s place? I haven‟t been there in almost a week.” Adam chuckled, his soft tenor sending shivers through her body that settled in her pussy, making her feel hot and needy. Shit! As if scenting her arousal, Adam leaned close, his mouth just under her ear, his breath wafting over her skin as he spoke. 42
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“I was one of the wolves that pulled the rogue off him. I went to the hospital with him. I took my alpha to Lonnie‟s apartment to check on him. Your scent was strong when we arrived. We must have just missed you.” His last words sent trails of warm air down her neck before he followed them with his lips. Her grip tightened on the steering wheel as Adam skated wet, open-mouthed kisses over her skin. She moaned softly in the confines of the Jeep, feeling frustrated when he pulled his lips away. “If I keep doing that, you‟ll wreck your Jeep, and it would kill me if anything happened to you,” Adam whispered. “Just trust this one thing. You mean everything to us, Sandy, and we‟ll do anything for you.” She nodded slowly, although not certain if she believed him. Sandy leaned more toward the old adage actions speak louder than words. She needed the men to prove it. Besides, they didn‟t know anything about her. Sure, she felt a strange tug in her chest when she looked at them, but that was nothing but lustful attraction, right? “Why? Why would you do anything for me?” Adam sighed, pulling away slightly and Sandy instantly missed his heat, which was ridiculous since he was only six inches away. “You remember me saying you were the one we were missing?” She nodded, even though with him so close she was having trouble focusing on the actual conversation. “Ben has been having visions of you for the last two weeks. He knew you were close, but we didn‟t know how close until last week at Lonnie‟s. After that,” he shrugged. “We‟ve been doing everything to find you.” “I‟m sorry,” she murmured, trying to organize her thoughts. She held up a hand, asking for silence while she thought about his words. “A vision? Like as in, seeing the future?” 43
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He nodded slowly, his dark eyes trained on her, trying to gage her reaction. “Yes. Nothing concrete, mind you. Just pictures. Images. Feelings.” Sure. What the heck. They could turn into wolves, so why not have visions, too, right? Sandy held up her hand again, and Adam paused. “So, you‟re saying that Fate chooses who your mates are, and the alpha-mate gets three mates? Does everyone get three mates?” Shaking his head, he said, “Not normally. A shifter recognizes their mate instantly when they meet. After they mate, they‟ll know if that mate is the only one or if they have another waiting out there to be discovered. Normally, only alphas and betas share.” He grinned and winked. “It‟s the alpha-mate that‟s the lucky one. She gets three men to pleasure her.” Flushing, Sandy focused on the road. She didn‟t know if she liked the way that thought made her nipples tighten and heat trickle through her clenching pussy. If she didn‟t get home, she‟d end up doing something stupid, like jumping one, or all, of these sexy men, and damn the consequences. And something told Sandy the consequences would be big. After what Adam had told her, she was certain they wouldn‟t be interested in a one-night stand or a trial fuck. Adam cleared his throat. “I didn‟t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he murmured. That had Sandy laughing, and it sounded a bit hysterical, even to her own ears. “You guys tell me you can turn into a wolf and that I‟m your alpha-mate and want to pleasure me, and I‟m not supposed to be uncomfortable? What did you expect?” “The opportunity to prove it to you,” Adam said softly. Finally, the SUV turned into a driveway that wound into the trees. Well, damn. Using back roads, these guys only live about ten minutes or so from me! How had that happened? She 44
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put her Jeep in park and looked at Adam. “How can you prove it to me?” she asked over the idling engine. Adam moved so fast, she didn‟t have time to react. He unbuckled their seatbelts and hauled her onto his lap facing him, one leg on either side of the seat. She was going to protest the uncomfortable pinch of the door on her leg when one hand wrapped around her hip and the other the back of her neck. He brought her lips to his in a brutal, possessive kiss. Sandy moaned, opening to his questing tongue. Wow, he tastes fantastic! Dark chocolate, bitter beer, and something deeply masculine. The hand on her hip tightened and pulled her closer, letting her feel the throbbing erection tenting his pants. Adam hissed and lifted his hips when she rolled her pelvis, giving her the hard ridge of his cock to rub against her swollen clit. Emboldened by his reaction, she did it again. Electric shocks radiated through her body from the pressure of his arousal pressing against her nub of nerves. The door next to her was yanked open, but Sandy couldn‟t seem to get her hips to stop rocking or wrench her lips from Adam‟s plundering mouth. The stimulation felt too good. She wondered what it would feel like to have that massive shaft buried deep inside her and whimpered. A low growl had Adam easing the kiss to an end, and she peered left. Sandy found Ben and Devon in the doorway. “Fuck, you smell good,” Ben snarled before he claimed her lips. His hands sank into her hair, replacing Adam‟s, and Sandy could do nothing to stop it. She didn‟t want to stop it. The feel of Ben‟s lips, hard and demanding, as he worked over her mouth with mastery, sent scorching heat down her chest. All the while, Adam‟s hand on her hip encouraged Sandy to continue rocking against him, and she did. She could vaguely hear the man panting as she ground her aching clit 45
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against Adam‟s hardened cock, locking her legs around the bucket seat and using it as leverage to apply even more pressure. Her breasts felt heavy, full, and she wanted someone‟s hands on her. The fact that it didn‟t matter who‟s didn‟t even register. As if reading her thoughts, Ben cupped her breast. The thin dress and lace bra was little barrier to the heat of his hand. A thumb and forefinger pinched her nipple, rolling and tugging the hardened nub, sending sparks through her body, settling in her clenching womb. Seconds later, a mouth latched onto her neck and she mewled her pleasure into Ben‟s mouth. Holy hell! When Adam said they wanted to please her, they sure knew what they were talking about! And then all thought ceased. She heard Adam growl as he bucked up against her just as she rocked forward. The extra sensation was the final straw. Her body exploded as ecstasy raced through her system. Sandy couldn‟t stop the scream, which Ben easily swallowed down. Adam continued to rock up into her, and that talented hand kneaded her breast gently as the three men brought her down from the most incredible orgasm she‟d ever experienced. Finally, she managed to open her eyes to stare into Ben‟s nearly black gaze. His ragged breathing, the flushed cheeks and neck, and the open pants told her he‟d come, too. And was that a hand down his pants? If Ben had one hand down his pants, whose hand was on her breast? Her gaze shifted to the blond, whose smile made him appear equally satisfied. It was then she realized that while Ben kissed her and pleasured himself, it was Devon who‟d latched onto her neck and worked one breast while working his own shaft. Adam had pleasured her other breast as he‟d thrown his head back against the seat and rocked against her. 46
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Oh God, had she just had sex with all three of them? Sandy flushed bright red, scrambling off Adam‟s lap to her own side of the Jeep. The men, reluctantly, let her go. “I…I…I‟m sorry,” she squeaked out. “I need to go.” “Sandy, please come inside. We have so much to discuss.” Ben‟s lust-deepened voice rumbled, sending fresh shivers through her body. She‟d just had an amazing orgasm and she wanted more? That fact alone was enough to make her shake her head. “I can‟t. I need time to think, and I can‟t do that around you guys. I don‟t understand it. I need time.” “That‟s something we don‟t have a lot of, Sandy,” Ben said sadly. “The heat you feel, the urge to mate with us, it will get worse. The Blue Moon on Friday will make it unbearable, driving you to find relief.” He hesitated, grimacing, and she knew she wasn‟t going to like whatever was coming next. “With anyone.” Sandy glared. Yup. She hadn‟t liked that. The idea that some strange mating craving would take away her ability to choose… No. Fucking. Way. “That‟s not true. You guys get away from me. I don‟t need anyone, not you, not fate, to tell me who I‟ll have sex with.” She shifted her gaze to Adam. “Get out.” To her surprise, the man slowly obeyed. “Please, don‟t leave like this,” Devon whispered. She hated that she‟d put that look of pain on the sexy blond‟s face, but Sandy needed to get away from these men. The outrageous things they said just couldn‟t be true. They would forget about her in time, and she‟d go back to her quiet life writing books. “I‟m sorry,” Sandy whispered. “Will you at least think about what we‟ve said?” Adam asked. “I know it‟s a lot to take in, but…please?” She opened her mouth, ready to tell him hell no, but what 47
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came out was, “Okay. I can do that.” And, damn, if that didn‟t make her feel better instead of worse. Ben tucked a card into a cup holder. “I know you‟ll have questions, and there‟s still so much to explain. When you‟re ready, please call one of us. Our numbers are on there.” He reached to shut the door, hesitating, before turning back to say, “Just don‟t take too long.” Then the door was shut. Sandy wasted no time putting the Jeep in gear and backing out of the driveway. The further away she got from the men, the heavier her heart felt. Why, after just a few crazy hours with them, and one mindblowing orgasm, did it feel like she was ripping her heart out by leaving them? A few times she thought she saw a vehicle following her, but when she pulled into her driveway, no one passed her. Dismissing it as her over-stimulated imagination, she hurried into her quiet bungalow, carefully locking the door behind her.
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Chapter Six t had been two days—two days and not a peep from their reluctant mate. Adam had told Devon and Ben about his and Sandy‟s discussion on the way to the house, but none of them could figure out what exactly had set her off. The best they could figure, they shouldn‟t have ganged up on her like that, at least not right away, but with all the pheromones and arousal permeating the air, Devon knew he wasn‟t the only one who hadn‟t been able to help himself. Ben had followed her home on his motorcycle, keeping the lights off and using his wolf‟s night vision so she didn‟t see him, and then let Devon and Adam know where she lived. Now they took turns keeping an eye on her. Creeping through the trees in wolf form, Devon found a good place and hunkered down to watch Sandy through the sliding glass doors. He loved watching his mate. He would‟ve loved being in the cottage in human form more, but until she accepted them, this would have to do. At least being close to her kept Devon‟s wolf semi-content. Every time Ben replaced him, he had to fight his other half to leave their mate behind. Sometimes Sandy would stand on the deck and drink tea, staring into the woods. Those were the best times, because he could smell her sweet scent. As Devon watched, Sandy got up from the table and disappeared into the kitchen. He sat up, just able to make
I
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out her form through a window. A couple minutes later, Sandy walked out the door and eased onto the porch swing, sipping a mug of tea, English Breakfast flavor, if his nose was accurate. Another scent hit his senses, earning a deep growl from his throat. Cougar. Devon found his feet and scented the wind, trying to determine direction. He realized the shifter must have been staying downwind to get this close, which meant it would be to Devon‟s left. He started circling. Suddenly, a gasp from the deck drew his attention. Sandy‟s gaze was riveted to the tree line twenty feet in front of him where a cougar crouched, watching her. Sandy began to slowly rise, probably intending to get in the house, but as soon as she moved, the cougar started toward her. Devon wasted no time capitalizing on the way the other shifter‟s attention was fixated on his mate. He sprinted through the trees, leaping over a bush to land between the cougar and Sandy. The other shifter snarled a warning, and Devon growled in reply, slowly advancing on the cat. He hopped backward, away from the cat‟s swiping claws, before leaping forward with a counterstrike of his own. His jaws open, he sank his fangs into the animal. A yowl echoed through the forest. The cat flopped to his back and brought his hind legs up, intending to shred his back claws over Devon‟s side. Devon quickly released the shifter and danced back, waiting for another opening as it rose unsteadily to its feet. The cougar pounced. Devon swung sideways and pivoted. Just as he was about to sink his teeth into the passing cougar‟s side, Sandy‟s outraged cry distracted him. He missed, seeing movement overhead. Devon lunged sideways, narrowly avoiding the second cougar he hadn‟t even known was there. As the cougar landed, Devon 50
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returned his focus to the downed cougar and sliced his claws across the beast‟s side. A paw swiped Devon‟s flank, sending pain flaring through him and returning his attention to the second cougar. But instead of continuing the fight, the cougar ran to his fallen friend. After one more snarl at Devon, the cat helped his semi-conscious friend to his feet and they both disappeared into the forest. Devon started after them, but Sandy‟s voice stopped him. “Wait!” He turned to look at her, lowering to his belly and wagging his tail a little. Her slow approach surprised him, but he took it at as a good sign. She stopped five feet in front of him and stared. “Which one are you?” she asked tentatively, her arms wrapped protectively around her waist. Taking a deep breath, Devon released his wolf. Bones popped, tendons and muscles stretched and contracted, fur receded, and his face contorted as his eyes moved to face forward and his muzzle disappeared. Seconds later, a very large, very naked man lay on the ground staring at sneakerclad feet. “Devon,” Sandy whispered. Slowly, he lifted his gaze, worried about what he‟d see in her expressive green eyes. Would she be afraid? Repulsed? He didn‟t know if he‟d be able to stand it if she sent him away. At the moment, all he could scent from her was concern. She began to kneel, but quickly stopped. The move sent shards of panic through him as she took a step back. “Wait,” he stammered, lifting his hand, ready to leap to his feet, pain or no. “Just stay there,” Sandy commanded. “Let me get you a blanket, then you need to come in and I‟ll take a look at your 51
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side.” The pain all but disappeared as joy flooded his system. She wasn‟t disgusted. She was inviting him in. She wanted to help! Devon‟s body practically vibrated as he tried to stay still until she returned. Breathing deeply, he willed his badly timed erection away, but his throbbing cock refused to listen. He could smell her need, which fueled his own. Devon‟s desire to taste his mate nearly overwhelmed him when she returned and gently laid the blanket over him, her hands lightly caressing his back. He managed a semblance of control by biting the inside of his cheek and gritting his teeth. Devon rose to his feet, waving away her assistance. Though it pained him to have to put distance between them, if he didn‟t, he worried he wouldn‟t be able to control himself. Devon followed Sandy as she hurried to open the sliding door. She glanced nervously behind him, probably looking for any sign of the cats. He stopped in the doorway, lightly touching her cheek. “They‟re gone,” he reassured her. “Why were they here in the first place? I‟ve never heard of cougars acting like that.” “Those were shifters, baby,” he said, moving forward so she could close and lock the door. She frowned. “Shifters? There are cougar shifters, too?” At his nod, Sandy put her hands on her hips and glared. “What the hell do they want with me?” Devon grimaced. Shit, this wasn‟t how he wanted to have this conversation. “Do you mind if I sit first?” he asked, trying to buy time. The scratches were really just a superficial wound and would heal in a day thanks to his shifter‟s increased healing ability. Sandy blanched. “Oh, I‟m so sorry. Please, go sit in the 52
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living room, there,” she said, pointing, “and I‟ll get the first aid kit.” Devon followed her instructions, and five minutes later, Sandy appeared with a box of bandages and antiseptics, water, and rags. The next five minutes was a lesson in erotic torture as Sandy‟s scent enveloped him and her hands skimmed over his lower back as she bandaged him. He wanted to toss the blanket aside and have her take another part of his anatomy in her hands, or her mouth…or her… Groaning, Devon rested his head against the couch‟s back. Sandy‟s hands paused. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” He could hear the worry in her voice and quickly shook his head. “Not that kind of hurt, Sandy,” he assured. When her hands started moving again, gently touching and prodding, Devon focused on his thoughts. “The reason the cougars came after you is because of pheromones,” he whispered. “What do you mean?” she asked. She stopped touching him, so he assumed she was finished. Devon cracked an eye open and found her sitting on the coffee table across from him. “How old are you?” he asked. “Twenty-five. Why?” Devon nodded. “Twenty-five. Makes sense.” At her frown, he hurried to explain. “Shifters are considered adults at twenty-five. Our aging slows as our healing abilities kick in, continually regenerating us. When Lonnie was attacked by a rogue shifter, it began to change him into one of us. Somewhere in your lineage, you have a shifter ancestor. That means you have shifter blood in you, however small,” he explained. “Your body knows your mates are shifters, so when you came into contact with him, your body, combined with the pull of the coming blue moon, kicked up your libido. You started producing pheromones, attracting 53
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shifters.” He held up a hand, stalling her protest. “I don‟t know how to explain it other than it‟s Fate‟s way of getting what she wants. Shifters are attracted to you in an attempt to bring your mate to you.” He sighed and ran a hand over his short blond hair. “The problem is, because you‟re an alphamate, combined with the magic of Halloween and the blue moon, your pheromones are being produced in an excessive amount. It‟s calling to even those who are not your mate.” Sandy‟s head dropped, and a look of sadness crossed her features. Devon wanted to pull her close and comfort her, but didn‟t know if she‟d welcome his touch right now. “So, if I believe you, the only reason you and the other guys are interested in me is because of Fate and these damn pheromones,” she whispered. “What? No!” Devon growled. He leaned forward and grabbed her arms, unable to keep from touching her a second longer. Heedless of his wound, he pulled her onto his lap and cupped her face, forcing her to look him in the eye. “You are a stunning, beautiful, sexy woman, Sandy. Any man would be blessed to have you at his side. Even if we didn‟t feel the pull of the mating heat, we‟d still know you were ours. The mate-bond just helps it happen faster.” “You don‟t know anything about me,” she whispered. Devon smiled. “I‟d like to change that. We‟d all like to change that.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips over Sandy‟s, pleased when she didn‟t pull away. “We‟d like you to get to know us as well.” When he pulled back, he saw the glassy look in Sandy‟s eyes as her green eyes swept over his naked chest. “I want to touch you so badly,” she whispered. “Your skin looks so smooth and firm. Why do I feel this way?” Taking her hands, he placed them on his shoulders, 54
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shivering at the contact. Heat traveled from where her hands touched him to his groin, and a drop of pre-cum leaked from his cock, soaking the blanket covering him. “Because you feel the pull, too, baby. Your body wants us.” He knew it was wrong to use the mating heat this way, but he couldn‟t help it. He wanted her too badly. Leaning forward, he rained kisses up the side of her neck. “Just let go, baby. Let me help you relax. I can explain everything afterward,” he promised. As he continued to trail kisses along her jaw, she tilted her head, giving him better access. Her sweet submission was so fucking sexy, and Devon felt his cock jerk, eager to be let out to play. Damn, it had been a long time since he‟d had this much pent up frustration. He knew Ben and Adam fucked several times a month, but one-night stands weren‟t his way. He couldn‟t seem to allow himself to just take pleasure in another‟s body without some kind of commitment. This woman though. This one was his, his and Ben‟s and Adam‟s. It would be so much better to please her, knowing he could learn everything about her, all of her likes and dislikes. And after watching her for two days, protecting her, need burned through his blood, heating him until he felt like he‟d combust. “I…I don‟t have any condoms,” Sandy muttered distractedly. He did a mental fist pump, knowing she was caving. “Don‟t need „em, baby,” he whispered, wrapping lips around her ear and sucking gently. Her soft mewl of pleasure was nearly his undoing. Reining in his wolf, he added, “We can‟t get you pregnant until after we claim you.” “Wha—what…” He knew what she was trying to ask, even as her brain shut down. She’s such a sweet, curious mate. Releasing her ear, he open-mouthed kissed his way back down her neck. “To 55
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claim their mate, a shifter will sink their teeth into them. Some do it here,” he nipped where her shoulder met her neck. “Some do it on the back of the neck, and others do it over the heart.” “And you won‟t do that to me?” Devon pulled away slightly and stared into her green eyes. “I have every intention of claiming you, Sandy, but not until Ben and Adam are with us, too. It‟s something that should be done together.” “You want me to bite you guys, too?” she asked, frowning. Chuckling, he leaned forward and kissed her again. He sure didn‟t want her to start thinking too hard. “Maybe, but it‟s not necessary. We‟ll talk about that. There are still a lot of things to talk about,” he admitted. “But right now,” he said, getting back to what both their bodies craved. “Let me take care of you.” He slid his hands under her shirt and up her sides. His cock leaked another drop of pre-cum when he discovered she wasn‟t wearing a bra. Devon scraped his thumbs along the sides of her breasts, moving closer and closer to the hard nipples straining against her shirt. Sandy‟s eyes glazed back over before they slid shut. She thrust her breasts toward Devon, moaning, “Yes.” He took that as consent and rubbed a thumb over each nipple, teasing the tight buds. He‟d felt them through the thin layers of her dress and bra a couple nights ago, but nothing compared to the actual feel of her soft skin, the plump nubs, and the overwhelming reactions that actually touching her caused. Sandy‟s breath came in hitching pants, and she made the most incredible sounds when he moved his hands to cup those full mounds. Hell yeah, they were perfect. He had to see them. Devon paused just long enough to ease Sandy‟s shirt over her head, revealing those beautiful, rose flushed 56
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breasts. Her dusky nipples jutted toward him, begging to be tasted. Devon wasted no time. He leaned forward and latched onto one hard nub, sucking and nibbling the pebbled flesh. With one hand he cupped the other breast, pinching and rolling the nipple. Lifting his gaze, he loved the flush covering his mate‟s breasts and neck as she threw her head back and enjoyed his pleasuring of her body. With his other hand, he reached for her jean‟s button and quickly undid it. The zipper followed. He just about came when he saw she wasn‟t wearing any underwear either. “Oh, fuck, baby, that‟s so sexy,” he groaned against her flesh. He quickly slipped a hand down the front of her pants, his fingers diving into her wet folds. Sandy gasped loudly as he sank a finger into her dripping sheath. Shit, he couldn‟t wait to get his cock in there. But first…he used his thumb to scrape across her swollen clit, making her breath hitch. “Oh, yes, Devon. Please,” she cried out. He loved the sound of his name on her lips as she moaned with passion. He smiled and let her nipple slide from his mouth as he lifted his head. “Let‟s get these off, baby, so I can take care of you.” Hating the interruption, but knowing there was no way around it, he gently set her on her feet and helped her shed her jeans, sneakers, and socks. Seconds later, his naked mate stood before him, flushed and needy. A glance down showed the dew glistening on the cropped, curly hair hiding her feminine folds. Holding her steady, Devon leaned forward and licked between her thighs, tasting her creamy essence. Sweet, musky ambrosia exploded on his tongue and he knew one taste wasn‟t enough. Of this woman, he‟d never get enough. Shifting her legs farther apart, he slid his tongue into her wet entrance, scooping out more cream, lapping at her folds. 57
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Sandy moaned and rocked against him, pushing her pussy harder against his face. Bringing up a hand, he resumed the pressure and rub against her clit. Seconds later, she came apart around him, her body in spasms and rocking against his face and fingers. He continued to lick and suck, loving the heady essence of her release. When Sandy‟s shivers began to subside, he tossed off the blanket, his cock springing free. Grabbing her hips, Devon pulled her back onto his lap. With his shaft poised at her entrance, he didn‟t even hesitate as he lowered Sandy onto his aching erection. Once her hips settled against his, swallowing him balls deep, he shivered and moaned at the feel of her hot, wet, heat enveloping him. Devon pulled her body flush to his, lifted her slightly off him, and latched onto her lips. He began rocking his hips up, sinking his shaft into Sandy again and again as he plundered her mouth. Knowing it wouldn‟t take him long, Devon lifted one hand to her folds, groaning when he swiped a finger along his shaft as it slipped in and out of her. Then he found her clit again, and Sandy let out a cry of pleasure. Growling low, Devon started to jack his hips, driving in and out of her. He held her steady with one hand and worked her clit with the other. Seconds later, Sandy came again, throwing her head back and screaming his name to the rafters. Her womb clenched around him, tightening deliciously, and Devon roared his own release as spurt after spurt of seed soaked his mate‟s womb. Devon pulled Sandy close, holding her tight as they both trembled. “Damn, baby,” he muttered into her neck. He licked her neck, loving her skin‟s salty taste and dreaming of the day when he‟d mark her as his own. When Sandy finally lifted her head, she smiled, sexy and satisfied. “I suppose we have some things to talk about, 58
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huh?” Smiling back, Devon nodded. “We do, Sandy. I have a bag hidden out back. I‟ll go get it, then we‟ll get cleaned up and call Ben. He and Adam need to be here for this talk.” “Okay.”
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Chapter Seven evon had told him the door would be open, and the minute Ben walked in, he smelled it—sex, cum, and pheromones. He heard Adam moan, and barely managed to bite back his own as his shaft lengthened, uncomfortable in the confines of his pants. Fuck, it smells good in here. If he weren‟t so pissed about Devon telling him about the cougars, he‟d be ready to shuck his jeans, grab his aching length, and stroke it to completion just to relieve the ache in his dick. As it was, he couldn‟t stop the pre-cum from oozing from the head of his cock and soaking his briefs. Sexually frustrated beyond anything he could remember, he growled, “Devon?” “Upstairs, Ben,” his beta called. He led the way upstairs, feeling Adam a step behind him. Reaching the top, he looked around a large loft and spotted Devon sitting in a chair near the bed. He wore his jeans low on his hips with the top button undone. No shirt was in sight and the damp blond curls running down the center of his chest and disappearing into the man‟s jeans made Ben‟s brows lift. From the sight and smell of things, his beta had been fortunate indeed. Sandy sat on the bed, her back propped up on the headboard, her arms wrapped around her knees which were pulled to her chest. She wore a pair of grey jogging shorts
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and a white t-shirt that showed off her full breasts, and accentuated the fact that she wasn‟t wearing a bra. He brought his gaze up to her oval face, and he couldn‟t think of anything more beautiful than her clean, smooth skin and striking green eyes. She watched him as he stalked toward her, unable to stop himself. Her gaze flickered between him and Adam, who still followed behind him, but she didn‟t cringe or move away from the approaching pair. Stopping next to the bed, needing to touch, Ben cupped Sandy‟s cheek, leaned down, and brushed his lips over hers. The scent of arousal in the air thickened, and although he wanted to, he didn‟t deepen the kiss, knowing they had things to discuss first, along with the fact that if he did, he wouldn‟t be able to stop himself from taking her right then and there. He pulled back reluctantly. “You are well?” he whispered against her lips. “Yeah,” she answered huskily. Breaking contact, he looked toward Devon, taking in the bandages just peeking around the curve of his lower back. “And you?” Ben asked, not liking the man‟s pale skin. Devon smiled and motioned him over. Knowing what his friend needed, Ben didn‟t hesitate to go to the man. He wrapped his hand around the nape of Devon‟s neck and rubbed his cheek against the other wolf‟s neck. The move let his beta know he understood and accepted what he smelled had taken place downstairs. When Ben pulled back, Devon grinned. “Now I‟m great.” When Ben looked back over at Sandy, Adam was curled up behind her, holding her tight to his chest. Ben smiled. Fuck, that looks so right. Sandy‟s eyes were big, and he noticed one of Adam‟s hands gently massaging a nipple while the other rubbed her mound between her now slightly parted legs. The scent of arousal spiked in the air, and Ben‟s hand tightened involuntarily in Devon‟s hair. 61
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“That‟s sexy as fuck,” Devon growled. “Shit,” Ben groaned. With an effort, he released Devon. “Talk. We need to talk first.” Adam groaned but nodded, moving his hands to rest on Sandy‟s waist. The woman moaned, clearly displeased with the loss of stimulation. Kissing her neck, Adam murmured, “Relax, sweetness. We have things to tell you first.” Sandy took several long shuddering breaths in an effort to calm herself, her breasts rising and falling with the effort, which did nothing to ease the pulsing dick in Ben‟s jeans. Tearing his gaze away from the pair, he strode to the foot of the bed and sprawled across the end, close enough to touch Sandy‟s legs, but not so close as to lose himself…yet. Only one thing was missing. He looked at his other beta. “Devon, get your ass over here,” he commanded. Devon grinned. He walked around the bed and settled next to Adam, one leg stretched out in front of him and the other knee bent. Looking over the three of them, Ben‟s heart swelled. Shit, he was a lucky wolf. He had the two best friends a shifter could ask for, and the sexiest mate alive. Focusing on business, he looked at Sandy. “Okay. You must have questions for us. Anything you want to start with?” “How old are you?” That wasn‟t what he‟d expected, but it was an understandable concern. “Adam and I are twenty-nine. Devon is twenty-eight.” “You‟re the alpha of your pack, right?” He nodded. Sandy nibbled her bottom lip as she glanced around at them. The movement drew Ben‟s attention to her mouth, and he found himself wanting to sooth the abused flesh. He struggled to focus on her words when she asked, “Adam is a Park Ranger. Do you two have jobs?” Ben chuckled, loving that his mate seemed interested in 62
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the more mundane details first. “I have a degree in software design and work from home designing web pages. It allows me to set my own hours, giving me the freedom to deal with pack business when it arises.” “I‟m a member of the Catskill Mountain Club,” Devon said. “I‟m one of a number of guides that take people hunting, fishing, hiking, or other activities in the mountains. I keep track of where humans are going to be when they‟re off the regular trails, and Ben uses the information to keep pack members away from those areas.” He grinned and winked. “We may be shifters, but we cohabitate this world with humans. The easiest way to do that is to hide.” She nodded. “That makes sense.” Then she frowned. “Adam said the rogue wolf bit Lonnie, and that‟s what started him changing into one of you. Devon said you all need to bite me to complete the mate-bond. Does that mean I‟ll become a shifter, too?” “Yes,” Ben said, seeing no reason to beat around the bush. “When shifters find their mate, they bond with them by biting them. When the mate is human, our saliva initiates the change once you get enough of it accumulated in your system. With three mates, it will happen much faster for you than if you were mated to only one of us,” he admitted. “Will it hurt?” Smiling, he shook his head. “I‟ve been told it‟s actually quite pleasurable.” When she nodded again, Ben couldn‟t help but think that she was taking this rather well. He wasn‟t sure how Devon explained things, but the beta had done a damn good job. Of course, it could be the fact that he‟d saved her from being ravaged by a pair of cougar shifters, which reminded him that he‟d need to talk to Rance about that. She nibbled on her lower lip again for a long moment, and Ben wondered where her questions would lead next. 63
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“Why do I want to jump you guys all the time?” she finally whispered. His brows shot up, and he glanced at his betas to verify that they‟d heard the same words as he thought he did. Adam looked just as surprised, but Devon grimaced. “It‟s a little hard to keep our hands to ourselves, too,” his beta admitted. Well, this was just a bit trickier to explain. Then he chuckled. No it wasn‟t. “We‟re shifters, darling. That is honest-to-God magic. The blue moon is on Halloween this year. Those two forces combined have thrown you into a type of mating heat.” He grimaced. “It makes you crave the touch of your mates.” “Mating heat?” Sandy asked slowly. “Yeah. You‟re part shifter, remember? It‟s in your blood. You share your soul with a wolf, Sandy.” Okay, that may not have been the best thing for him to say right then. Sandy grimaced and looked away. “So, I can go into heat?” she whispered. Adam squeezed his fingers where they rested on her hips. “We‟re afraid so, sweetness…but only twice a year. At that time, you will crave contact with your mates. Specifically, sex, and we will do everything in our power to please you in every way possible.” Ben watched Sandy‟s gaze rove over them. “How long does it last?” “A week,” Devon answered immediately. “Oh,” she murmured, leaning into Adam‟s touch. Ben wondered if she was even aware the she did it. “Does Fate decide that, too?” Frowning, Ben shook his head. “For the most part, it‟s genetics and timing.” He cleared his throat and glanced between his betas. Adam‟s lips thinned while Devon frowned and lifted a brow. “You‟re in heat now, baby,” Ben 64
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whispered. “That means in six months, or April, you‟ll go into heat again.” “So,” Sandy said, drawing out the word as she collected her thoughts. “I‟m you three‟s destined mate, fated to rule a pack of shifter wolves at your sides, plus I go into heat like a dog every six months, and you‟re going to turn me into a wolf, too. Does that about sum it up?” Devon chuckled. “You certainly hit the highlights, love.” “What about kids?” she asked. Ben‟s brows rose, and he glanced around to see similar surprised expressions on his betas. “What about them?” he asked slowly. He had to admit, he‟d never really given it much thought. He just assumed, like leading his pack, that they‟d one day be a part of his life. “I‟m twenty-five. Until this thing with werewolves…” “Shifters, sweetness,” Adam corrected gently. “Right, shifters,” she answered dryly. “I had no plans for a husband or kids. I figured I‟d get around to finding a man eventually, but it wasn‟t really on the top of my priority list, you know? And as far as kids, I don‟t want them for at least a few more years. Five, maybe. I‟ll think about it when I‟m thirty,” she stated matter-of-factly. Devon coughed, hiding a chuckle. Sandy turned to him and scowled. “What?” He shrugged. “Sorry. I just thought all women wanted kids.” “Well, you‟re wrong in that assumption,” she groused, crossing her arms over her chest. Ben lifted a hand. “I completely agree with you,” he said softly, and from the look passing between Adam and Devon, he knew they recognized his tone for what it was, one of diplomatic placation. “I think we should spend the next few years getting to know you, and you us. There‟s no reason to rush that kind of decision.” He grimaced. “Although, I will 65
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warn you that many of the others will ask you when you plan on breeding.” “Breeding?” she gasped. “What am I? A horse?” Adam rubbed his hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe her suddenly tense frame. “Sorry, Sandy,” he murmured, whispering kisses over her neck and ear, trying to calm her back down. “It‟s what the pack calls it. It‟s not meant to offend,” he assured. Devon and Ben immediately nodded as well. “We‟re wolves,” Devon reminded. “So if anyone calls you a bitch, try to remember it‟s not necessarily meant as an insult.” Ben watched Sandy stiffen anew. “A bitch!” she snarled. When she started to move as if to rise, Adam gripped her shoulders, holding her in place as Devon turned and gripped her hand. Ben watched both men dip their heads and rub their cheeks against her neck, one on either side. Ben reached out and massaged a foot. Seconds later, Sandy‟s tension melted and the arousal scenting the area ratcheted up several notches. Ben couldn‟t hold back a moan. He released Sandy‟s leg and prowled up the bed, shouldering between his betas and sprawling across his mate. “There is a hierarchy in a wolf pack, darling,” he growled, grasping her wrists and pinning them to the bed. “In the privacy of our bedroom, I will listen to your opinions, but among others, you will defer to me.” The command in his voice made his mate shiver, which pleased Ben to no end. It seemed she liked giving up control. He wrapped a large hand around her hip and slid her down the bed until her head lay in Adam‟s lap. “Do you understand,” he growled softly, staring deep into green eyes darkened by lust. Sandy nodded as she gazed up at him, her lips parting as soft pants fell from her mouth. From his beta‟s strangled 66
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moan, he knew she rested on his erection, and her movement caused pleasurable pain to the man, but he couldn‟t spare him a reassuring glance. “Good,” Ben replied. The hand on Sandy‟s hip slid under her shirt and he rested it on the soft skin of her belly. The tips of his fingers lightly caressed the bottom of one breast. She started to squirm, but Adam‟s hands on her shoulders kept Sandy steady. “Now that you understand these things, will you allow us to make love to you? Will you accept us as your mates?” He knew he rushed things, but between the pheromones his mate was giving off, and Rance‟s edict of three days, their time was quickly running short. His wolf howled to make Sandy his, and he prayed he had enough control to be gentle with his human mate. In the future, after her change, it wouldn‟t matter, but their first time together, he needed to rein in his strength. The tip of Sandy‟s pink tongue swiped across her full lower lip, and Ben had to force back a shudder. He wanted to chase that tongue, taste it, tangle it with his own. “I don‟t…” Her stuttered words had Ben‟s heart seizing in his chest. Oh, God. Please don’t let her reject us. “Have any condoms,” she finally managed. Relief filled Ben, and he grinned. “No need to worry, my mate,” he whispered. “I brought condoms. And once you‟re mated, you will only be able to get pregnant during the twice a year you‟re in heat.” “Oh,” she muttered. “That‟s interesting.” Ben leaned down and gave her the slow, thorough kiss he‟d been craving since he walked in the door. His tongue teased her lips and she immediately opened to him. The sweet taste of his mate flooded his tongue and he groaned into her mouth. He delved deep, mapping her mouth, 67
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enjoying her heady response as she stroked her tongue against his. His cock throbbed insistently against his zipper, and he knew he needed to pull back or risk coming in his jeans like an untried cub. Breaking the kiss was one of the hardest things Ben ever had to do. Sandy mewled her protest, her head lifting as her lips tried to find his again. “Say you‟ll be ours, Sandy. We‟ll do everything in our power to please you.” He stared into her eyes for a long, breathless second. She whispered, “Okay.” “You need to say our names, baby,” Devon said from over his shoulder. Sandy‟s gaze swept over the faces of the three men peering down at her. Her sensual smile had Ben‟s shaft swelling even more, and he worried he‟d end up with a permanent zipper mark on his dick. But the pain was worth it when he heard her words. “I accept you as my mates, Ben, Devon, and Adam.” Ben let out a soft growl, which was echoed by his betas. They could all feel the beginning of the mate-bond forming between them. Once all three of them finished claiming their mate, they‟d be able to use that bond to locate any of them at any time within a hundred mile radius. Yes, shifter magic was a beautiful thing. Grinning at his betas, he gave them a nod. He returned his attention to Sandy. “I don‟t think we‟re going to need these,” he told her, lifting her torso and, with Adam‟s help, removed the shirt from her body. Devon appeared at her feet, already shirtless, and began sliding her shorts down her legs as Ben returned to devouring her mouth. Sandy arched, moaning deep in her throat, and Ben felt more than saw Adam slide Sandy‟s head from his lap. He eased down the bed and latched his mouth onto the nipple of one perfect mound. Ben took the opportunity to ease 68
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away from her lips, gaining a much needed breath of air as he shed his own clothes. A soft groan of delight escaped him as he watched his betas working their mate. Adam suckled one breast, using a hand to pinch and roll the budded nipple of the other. Devon lay between Sandy‟s legs, and Ben watched his tongue delve deep into her folds, lapping the cream that glistened on her folds. The flush across Sandy‟s body made her the most stunning creature he‟d ever laid eyes on. The scent of arousal filled the room, flooding Ben‟s senses, and he had to grip the base of his shaft to keep from coming just from the site, sounds, and smell of their beautiful mate giving herself over to them. A hand on Devon‟s shoulder had his friend easing away and Ben replaced him between his mate‟s thighs. Sandy whimpered at the sudden loss of suction against her clit, before giving a soft sigh and lifting her hips when she felt the head of Ben‟s engorged shaft nudge her folds. Ben had every intention of tasting her, but not right now. He needed inside his mate more than he needed his next breath. “Sandy.” His low growl had her eyes snapping open. Holding her gaze, he pushed forward. Sandy‟s moist, silky folds opened to him, and Ben slid home in one long, smooth glide. Adam moved back, giving Ben room to lie over his mate so he could reach her neck. “Do you accept me as your mate?” he asked. Although he‟d already asked once, he needed her to say it while he mated with her. “Yes,” she murmured, her hips rolling under him in an attempt to get him to move. “Bloody move, Ben, and make me yours,” she commanded, wrapping her legs around his back and digging her heels into his ass. Her hands gripped his forearms in a bruising hold. Chuckling, he gave in to his body‟s need and pulled out 69
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until just the head of his cock remained in her before pushing forward again. He established a swift rhythm. He knew he wouldn‟t last long, and wanted her to come first. He leaned forward, licking a trail down her neck, scraping his teeth over her collarbone. She shivered underneath him, tilting her head to give him more access. The natural, sweet submission had Ben‟s balls drawing tight and a growl rumbled through his chest. He used one hand to pinch and roll a nipple while keeping his weight on the other. When he nipped the skin where her shoulder met her neck, Sandy‟s back arched and she screamed. Her pussy clamped down on his cock as she came, and pleasure swamped Ben‟s system as he stroked her through her climax. As she came down, Ben sank his canines into the flesh where her right shoulder met her neck. Blood flowed over his tongue. The sweet liquid filled his mouth, sensitizing every nerve of his body before centering in his cock. Swallowing it down, he felt the mate-bond between himself and Sandy lock into place. Sandy screamed and her body arched beneath him as she came again. Her body milking him a second time was too much for him to ride out, and Ben came, snarling against the damp skin of her neck. His length exploded, pulsing and jerking in the depths of his mate. Their bodies shuddered with the force of their releases. Regaining his senses several moments later, Ben licked the mating mark closed and raised his head to stare into Sandy‟s dazed eyes. “Hello, mate,” he whispered, marveling in the contentment swamping him and his wolf.
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Chapter Eight andy stared up at the sexy man, struggling to find her voice after two mind-numbing orgasms. She couldn‟t ever remember coming that hard or that close together in her life. Ben‟s self-satisfied grin finally helped her find her tongue. She couldn‟t stop an answering smile. “Hello,” she murmured back. It was then she became aware of the two other men still in the room. Adam sat at the foot of the bed, watching them with a look so heated it could melt steel. Devon leaned against the headboard, staring at her with a look just as lustfilled. Desire for them was so strong that she suddenly ached and let out a moan. Sandy‟s eyes widened and she wriggled in frustration. How can I be horny again? What the hell? “I need…” she whimpered, not understanding what was happening to her. “We know what you need,” Ben assured. Sensitive nerves fired, sending shards of pleasure through her as he pulled his softening dick from her sheath. She groaned. “Please,” she whispered, uncertain of what she asked, but knowing she needed something. Ben lifted her up, helping her to her knees on the mattress. His arms were instantly replaced by Devon‟s and Adam‟s as he gave her a quick, passion-filled kiss before pulling away.
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His mouth was instantly replaced by Devon‟s, and she sank into the kiss, loving the taste of him. The fingers on her clit made her moan and buck against him. “Easy, sweetness,” Adam crooned from behind her. His chest pressed against her back, holding her tight between the two men. He used his knees to encourage her to widen her stance, which she did gratefully. She sighed with relief when she felt a thick shaft ease into her clenching womb. Breaking the kiss, she dropped her head onto Adam‟s shoulder, somehow knowing it was him the filled her. “Oh, yes. God yes, Adam.” “Do you accept me as your mate, Sandy?” “Oh, yes, Adam. I‟m yours.” The low rumble in the chest behind her had her turning her head toward Adam. She met the lust-filled brown eyes for several seconds, before he took her mouth in a scorching kiss. Sandy‟s body was on fire. Devon‟s hard shaft rocked against her clit while one hand gripped her hips and the other played with one breast. The sexy blond nibbled the left side of her neck, opposite where Ben had marked. Adam‟s hand mirrored Devon‟s, playing with her other breast. Both men controlled her hips, rocking her between the shaft in front of her and Adam‟s cock which speared her and stroked her g-spot with every thrust. Adam broke the kiss, rubbing his cheek over her neck and encouraging her to drop her forehead onto Devon‟s shoulder. She felt boneless, mindless, her body so on edge, any extra stimulation would set her off. Adam thrust a little harder, rubbing her inner walls just a little bit faster, and she tipped over that precipice. Her body shuddered, pleasure swamping her system and making spots dance before her eyes. A prick of pain stabbed into the back of her neck, 72
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sending her spiraling even higher as another climax rode the heels of her first. Dimly, she realized Adam had marked her. She felt his cock pulse in her, his warm seed splashing her insides, momentarily soothing her ache. He pulled out all too soon, causing a groan to spill from her lips. The nudge of Devon‟s cock at her opening had her canting her hips forward, silently begging the man to take her. She wondered when she‟d become such a slut, willingly having sex with three men in a row, but the thrust and retreat of Devon‟s shaft sent tingles along the sensitive nerve-endings lining her sheath throughout the rest of her body, and her brain shut back down. Her only ability was to feel the amazing sensations coursing through her body. A hand reached down, spreading her folds wider, allowing Devon‟s cock to go a little bit deeper. Rough fingertips found her clit and rubbed. Her body spasmed and her eyes flew open. It was too much, and not enough. Devon‟s blue eyes bore into her own, holding her gaze as he slowly thrust into her again and again. “Do you accept me as your mate, Sandy?” It took two tries, but finally Sandy managed to speak. “Yes, Devon. I am yours.” She could see the joy light up his eyes at her words, right before he leaned forward and sank his teeth into her left shoulder. Another orgasm ripped through her system, sending her hurtling into space once again. Moments later, the gentle licks of Devon‟s tongue on his mating mark brought her slowly back to earth. “Ours.” Ben‟s soft rumble was the last thing she remembered before darkness claimed her. The scent of tea made Sandy‟s nose twitch. She smiled 73
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and stretched, pausing when her hand came in contact with warm, lightly haired flesh. Realizing she wasn‟t alone in bed, she snapped her eyes open. Sandy spotted Adam lounging on the bed next to her. He smiled down at her, warmth filling his dark chocolate-colored eyes. “Good morning, sexy,” he murmured. “Did you sleep well?” Sandy rolled onto her back, letting out a moan as her body protested in all the right places. “Hey,” she whispered. “I‟m good. Is it really morning already?” She shouldn‟t have even needed to ask. The sunlight streaming through her east facing windows attested to how long she‟d slept. Adam answered anyway. “Yes. You slept through the night. If we didn‟t already know how hard mating could be on a human body, we would have been worried.” He took a sip from a mug he held, grimacing lightly. “Did you know you‟re out of coffee? And where do you keep your coffee machine? I couldn‟t find it anywhere.” Chuckling, Sandy eased up against the headboard, carefully pulling the sheet around her. Modesty may seem odd after letting three men screw her, but she couldn‟t seem to help herself. “That‟s because I don‟t drink coffee.” The man‟s brows shot up. “Don‟t drink coffee? Why ever not?” Laughing at his shocked look, she said, “Because it‟s a rather vile beverage! I much prefer tea.” Adam barked out a laugh of his own. “Fair enough. Not a coffee drinker. I‟ll make sure the others know to always serve you tea instead of coffee.” He lifted a second mug from the nightstand beside him and handed it to her. “I‟m not much of a tea drinker, but when I couldn‟t find coffee, I made some. I didn‟t know what you‟d prefer, so that‟s English Breakfast. It‟s one of the few flavors I can tolerate,” 74
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he admitted before taking another sip, this one not accompanied by a grimace of distaste. Sandy took the cup gratefully. “Thank you. I prefer Earl Grey, but I keep English Breakfast in the house because Lonnie likes it.” As she took a large swallow of the bitter beverage, she saw Adam‟s jaw tighten and his eyes narrow. “Hey,” she soothed, squeezing his thigh. “He‟s just a friend, remember?” “He wanted to be more,” Adam snarled softly, but she felt some of the tension leave Adam‟s body when he covered her hand with his own. “But you‟re our mate, now. Nothing will change that.” He set his mug down before cupping her jaw and giving her a slow, thorough kiss. By the time he pulled away, Sandy‟s lungs burned with the need for air. A wash of warmth flooded her system, and she grinned. “Yeah,” she got out between pants. “I‟m yours.” Adam returned her grin, the move lighting his brown eyes with relief, and something else. Something Sandy didn‟t want to think about yet, because it was too soon to admit to anything other than infatuation and lust. “It‟s Halloween and the full moon tonight. We‟ll introduce you to the pack as our mate, move you into our home, and our inner circle will be complete,” Adam said with a smile. “What?” She jerked back. “Move? What are you talking about?” Adam cocked his head, his confusion evident. “But you are our mate. We need you with us, on pack land, so we can protect you.” Panic began to fill Sandy, and she jerked away as if burned. She leaped off the bed, taking the sheet with her and wrapping it around herself. “No. No, no, no, no,” she murmured, waving her hand in front of her as if to ward off his claims. “I‟ve only known you for a few days. I can‟t 75
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just…move in with you.” Sandy shook her head hard, tucking her arms around herself. Everything was happening too damn fast. Adam eased off the bed and moved toward her slowly. His hands were lifted, trying to placate her as he would a skittish animal. “Easy, sweetness,” he crooned. “We‟ll give you the time you need. Anything for you.” She let him wrap his arms around her, and she leaned into his comforting embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered, burying her face in his chest. She inhaled his scent as he rubbed his cheek over the top of her head and stroked her back with his fingers. Her heart rate slowed and her body relaxed, melting into him. “It‟s not ideal,” Adam murmured, “but we‟ll make it work. Anything you need.” He repeated the words several times. Finally he leaned away from her and lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “Either way, we still need to present you as our mate to the pack tonight. After that, we‟ll make plans to get to know each other. How‟s that sound?” Sandy smiled, knowing the predicament she was putting her mates in wasn‟t what they wanted, but she just needed a little more time. It eased so many fears that they were willing to do that for her. “Thank you.” “You‟re welcome, love,” Adam replied, smiling gently. “Now go shower and get cleaned up. I know you must want to. I‟ll go down and make us a late breakfast.” “Thank you, again,” Sandy said. Heading toward the bathroom, she looked around the room. It suddenly hit her that they were alone. “Where are Ben and Devon?” Adam paused at the top of the stairs and turned back to her. “Devon is checking with the rangers and his work to find out where humans are camping, that way we know where to run tonight. Ben is contacting Rance about the two cougars that attacked you.” 76
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She frowned, and he recognized it for the confusion it was and smiled. “Rance Diallo is the alpha of the nearby cougar pack,” he explained with a smile. “He was at the Copper Kettle and gave us three days to claim you before pursuing you himself.” Adam grimaced. “Your pheromones were affecting everyone. Even the human males were flirting with you.” “They were?” How had she missed that? Oh, well. She‟d never been very observant. Lonnie had told her once that a guy would have to flash a neon sign at her to get her attention. Adam nodded. “Yeah, but now that you‟re mated, they‟ve mostly settled down. You‟ll be out of heat by this afternoon,” he told her with a smile. That was a relief. Sandy couldn‟t begin to tell him how sexually frustrated she‟d been. “Good.” She gave the man a grin before slipping into the bathroom for her shower. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she‟d missed dinner last night when she‟d passed out. Smirking, she couldn‟t find it in her to be too upset. Especially considering why it‟d been missed. After making quick work of washing and shaving, she pulled her wet hair into a bun. Sandy chose a faded pair of comfortable jeans to wear, and a green form-fitting t-shirt completed her choice of clothes. Heading downstairs, she smelled eggs and potatoes and headed toward the kitchen. Stepping into the room, she froze. “Adam?” she whispered. Before she could rush to the prone form of her mate, an arm snaked around her neck and a cloth was pressed to her nose. She opened her mouth to scream, but that only rushed the foul smelling chemicals into her system faster. For the second time in as many days, darkness swamped her.
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Chapter Nine
“H
as Adam checked in yet?” Devon glanced up from his maps and shook his head. “No, Alpha.” He could feel the worry flowing off Ben as the bigger man moved across the study toward him. Ben ran a hand through his short brown hair and growled low in his throat. “He should have checked in by now. It‟s after one in the afternoon.” Wow, is it really that late? Devon looked at the clock to confirm Ben‟s words. “I‟ll call him.” He grabbed the phone before his alpha could reply and dialed. Several seconds later, Adam‟s voicemail picked up. “Adam, give me a call.” He disconnected and then rang another number, but it, too, went to voicemail. “Hey, baby. It‟s Devon. Have Adam give me a call, would you?” “Shit. There‟s no reason for them not to answer,” Ben snarled. Chuckling, Devon replied, “Well, there is, but it wouldn‟t stop Adam from checking in. He‟s too responsible for that.” Ben‟s glare had Devon pushing away from the table and crossing the small room to stand before his alpha. Cocking his head to the side, Devon realized it was more than just Adam not checking in that bothered Ben. Since they were alone in their home, he wrapped his arms around the other shifter, offering comfort. “No word back from Rance yet?” 78
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Ben shook his head, resting his hands on Devon‟s shoulders and accepting the calmness the embrace would bring. “Not yet. He was more than a little pissed to find out two of his cougars ignored his orders.” “Yeah. I bet.” Devon drew away from the man and headed out of the room. “Is it okay if I head to Sandy‟s?” Ben grunted. “I‟m coming with you.” He knew there would be no arguing with the man, even if he wasn‟t Devon‟s alpha. He grabbed the keys off the counter and headed out the door, Ben hot on his heels. Ten minutes later, Devon turned the SUV into Sandy‟s driveway. As soon as he opened the door, the scent hit him. Ben‟s snarl told Devon that his alpha smelled it, too— cougars. Then another scent hit him. Wolf. He recognized it as one of their pack, but not which one. But from the low, continuous growl escaping his alpha‟s throat, Ben might. He followed the man‟s sprinting form around the side of the cottage to the back yard. The sight that greeted Devon caused a howl of rage to escape him as he jogged up the porch steps. The sliding glass doors were shattered shells, glass spread across the dining room floor. He followed Ben through the yawning hole, shards crunching under their booted feet. They spotted Adam sprawled across the floor of the kitchen. Blood pooled under his chest and slices and scrapes covered his bare torso, arms, and legs from the knee down where his shorts stopped. “Roger was here,” Ben growled. Devon nodded, dropping to his knees beside Adam. He knew his friend still lived, or they would have felt their mate-bond to him snap, and Devon planned to keep it that way. After verifying that the shifter‟s pulse was steady and strong, he began systematically checking each cut and scrape. In some he found glass pieces and he carefully 79
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removed them. Ben appeared several moments later with a first aid kit. “How‟s he doing?” he asked. “Most of these are superficial scratches from the glass breaking on him. If I had to guess, I‟d say a cougar came in through the sliding door, showering him with glass. It would have disoriented him enough to get his claws into him.” Devon grunted as he rolled Adam to his side. “These claw marks are pretty deep, but it‟s the gash in his head I‟m worried about. “There‟s blood on the corner of the table,” Ben commented as he leaned forward and inspected the wound. “It looks like he hit his head on it. Knocked him right out.” “Then they dragged him in here,” Devon said, lifting his chin toward Adam‟s outstretched arms. “But why?” he asked, doctoring the gashes. He was pleased to see that they were already knitting back together. “To get Sandy in here. He would have been visible from the stairway,” Ben growled out. “We need to hurry and get him home. Then we can track Sandy.” “How?” Devon asked. “We have no idea where they could have taken her, or who the cougars are.” “Doesn‟t matter,” Ben stated. “We have the mate-bond. We‟ll find her through that.” Devon glanced up at Ben‟s hard tone. “And if they have harmed one hair on Sandy‟s head, their lives will be forfeit.” Devon silently agreed. He could feel the rage roiling off his alpha in almost palpable waves. After quickly wrapping a bandage around Adam‟s head, Devon lifted the man into his arms. “Let‟s go. He‟ll be fine until Doc Henderson can take a look,” he said, referring to their pack physician. Ben set a hand on the unconscious Adam‟s head for several seconds. His jaw clenched and relaxed several times, and Devon knew how his alpha felt. Angry at those 80
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responsible, and afraid of what they could be doing to their other mate. Releasing his grip, Ben led the way through the cottage and out the front door. Ben opened the back door of the SUV and Devon settled the other beta‟s body across the seat before sliding in after him. He propped Adam‟s head on his lap and ran his fingers through his hair, reassuring the unconscious man that he was no longer alone. Another ten minutes and Ben had them home. He handed Adam‟s still form into Ben‟s waiting arms, then leaped from the vehicle. He slammed the door and hurried after his alpha, reaching the deck before the other man. When he opened the door for Ben, he spotted Doctor Henderson waiting in the front room. He wondered briefly how the man knew to be there, but then he saw the man blink away a slightly glazed look in his eyes, and realized Ben had sent the other wolf a compulsion. A skill only the alpha possessed, Ben could plant an idea into the mind of anyone in his pack, which would be extremely hard to ignore. Devon had only seen him do it once before, telling him afterward that he hated feeling like he was forcing someone to do something against their will. “Come with me,” Ben ordered the doctor. “Yes, Alpha,” the middle-aged man responded immediately. “What happened?” he asked as he picked up the large bag at his feet and hurried after Ben, who carried Adam upstairs to the man‟s suite of rooms. Ben set Adam on the wolf‟s king-sized bed and stepped back. “He was attacked by a cougar,” Ben growled, his body trembling with rage. “A cougar?” Devon heard the surprise in the man‟s voice, but the news didn‟t stop the doctor from unwrapping the bandage on Adam‟s head and inspecting it. “Well, the good news is the head wound isn‟t serious. Not for a shifter anyway. The bad news is he‟ll be pretty dizzy for the next 81
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day or so.” “Devon and I are going to track those responsible. Take care of him,” he ordered. “Wait!” Adam‟s weak voice caught Devon‟s attention. Both he and Ben each gripped one of the injured man‟s hands, offering him reassurance. “Easy there, Adam,” Devon murmured. “The doc says you‟ll be just fine in a day or two. The cuts and scrapes are healing nicely and the bump on the head will just leave you dizzy for a bit. Soon you‟ll be good as new,” he encouraged. “It was Roger,” Adam whispered. Ben ran the fingers of his free hand through his beta‟s dark hair. “We know, my friend.” Adam shifted his head to focus on his alpha, unconsciously rubbing into his touch. “There were two cougars, but I didn‟t recognize them.” Nodding, Ben smiled. “I‟ll let Rance know that his rogue cougars have joined up with our rogue wolf.” “Sandy?” “We‟ll find her,” Devon promised, drawing Adam‟s attention to him. Adam groaned, trying to ease off the bed. “Going with you,” he snarled when Ben eased him back down. “No, Adam. You need to rest so you can appear before the pack tonight,” he ordered. “Devon and I will be back as soon as we can.” Devon could read the anguish and frustration in Adam‟s eyes. Their mate had been kidnapped on his watch. Even though neither he nor Ben blamed Adam, he knew Adam blamed himself. Devon squeezed Adam‟s shoulder. “Get some rest, Adam. We‟ll be back before you know it.” After a curt nod from Adam, they both moved back so the doctor could work. The man administered a shot into 82
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Adam‟s arm before patting his hand. “That‟ll help you sleep. You‟ll feel much better after you wake.” Adam‟s eyes slid shut, and the pair made their way downstairs. “Go find our pack enforcers while I call Rance,” Ben ordered. Devon nodded quickly. “Yes, Alpha.” It took fifteen minutes to track down Peter and Kiall and bring them back to the main house. Ben was waiting for them in the front room. As soon as they walked in, he spoke immediately, “Our mate is missing. Devon and I are going after her. I need you two to keep the pack calm if we‟re late.” His gaze swept over the two men. They nodded. “Yes, Alpha,” they both replied. He didn‟t continue to look at them, instead he began stripping. Devon‟s brows lifted, but he quickly followed his alpha‟s actions and stripped as well. Seconds later, both men shifted and headed out into the forest. Devon stopped when his alpha paused, head cocked to the side. That‟s when Devon felt it, the pull of the mate-bond stretching between them. One line attached to his alpha, who stood next to him and a second urged him to return to Adam‟s side in the house. The third drew him into the woods to the south. He turned in that direction, galloping a step behind his alpha, heading toward his missing mate. **** Adam pried an eye open. The fading light in the room told him the late hour of the day. He had to close his eyes briefly and then reopen them to control the dizzy spinning of the room. He rolled to his side and inched slowly off the bed. Damn, it felt like the hangover from hell. His vision swam, his head pounded, and the room spun. Finally, he made his way to the edge of the bed and dropped to his knees on the 83
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floor. Adam panted softly, struggling to control his senses. Slowly he pulled his clothes from his body. Once naked, he crawled across the floor to the closed door. After a deep breath, he reached up and turned the knob. After he eased the door open, he stopped to listen, hating the dizziness that made him feel so weak. He heard several voices and waited a moment for his drug-filled brain to differentiate between them. What the hell did doc give me? After a slow shake to his head to try to clear the fog, he crawled forward and headed toward the stairs. At the top, he could finally make out the voices clearly. “What do you mean if they don‟t make it back? Of course they‟ll make it back.” The belligerent voice belonged to Kiall, one of the pack‟s enforcers. “I‟m just saying…you both need to be prepared to carry out your duty if they don‟t return and present their mate tonight at the pack meeting.” Adam wanted to growl at the doctor‟s words. Of course they‟d make it. There was no way in hell they‟d give up their mate. Taking a deep breath, he released his human form to his wolf. A moment later, he rose unsteadily to his paws and shook out his coat, trying to beat back his fatigue. He sure hoped the doc‟s injection would wear off soon. Padding slowly down the stairs, stopping every few feet to listen to the men in the front room, he crept toward the back door. He could smell that his mates had headed that way, and desperately needed to catch up. But with his swimming senses and aching head, he wasn‟t sure if he‟d be able to. His only hope was to get to his mates in time to help them. Adam hurried as much as his weaving body would allow until he reached the back door, pausing at the doggie door. He‟d scoffed at Ben‟s idea to install it, silently laughing at 84
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Ben when he said it would be so much easier to get in and out in their canine form, but now he would be forever grateful. Slipping through the door, he crept down the steps and into the pines. He took a moment to regain his equilibrium. Finally, after several deep, slow breaths, Adam started to move, determination making his steps true as he followed the trail of his mates, and the pull of the mate-bond.
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Chapter Ten andy kept her eyes closed and her breathing steady. She knew as soon as they figured out she was awake, she would lose her advantage. The men who‟d kidnapped her spoke of taking over the local wolf pack once Ben and his betas were killed. But how did they plan to kill the wolves? I can’t make a plan to stop them until I know. “I know you‟re awake, Sandy,” the male voice she pegged as the leader said, cold humor filling his voice. “You must be hungry. Come eat something.” Well, that certainly wasn‟t what she‟d expected. Sandy pried one gummy eye open, and she struggled to focus. It took several blinks and a hand wiping the sleepers from her eyes to finally realize she faced a wood plank wall. The bed dipped next to her hip and she stiffened. “Relax,” the man said. “I‟m not going to hurt you. You‟re the alpha-mate, sweetheart. I need you.” Even though his words said she was safe, his chuckle didn‟t instill her with confidence. In fact, it heightened the fear she felt. There was something about the man‟s tone that screamed malice. But she nodded anyway and chanced a glance over her shoulder at him. What she saw surprised her. He was a good-looking man, with wheat brown hair, and clear green eyes. If she‟d seen him in a bar, she‟d have enjoyed looking at his well-muscled body and disarming
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smile. I can work with this. Sandy reached for the glass of water the man held, keeping a confused look on her face. “I don‟t understand. Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?” “I‟m Roger, my sweet,” the man replied. “I‟m afraid you mated with the wrong men. My friends, the cougars,” he pointed at the two handsome blond men sitting at the table on the far side of the room—Were all shifters handsome?— “were only trying to rescue you from the wolves yesterday. I‟m sorry they scared you,” he oozed. “Oh,” Sandy whispered. She stared at the cougars for several seconds. As if sensing her scrutiny, both shifters turned to look at her. The slightly smaller man smiled a bit, surprising Sandy. The second man‟s cool gray eyes flicked over her almost dismissively before he returned his attention to the bowl he ate from. The scar running from the man‟s left eye and down his cheek lent him a dangerous air, and Sandy shivered. Her fear intensified. Turning back to Roger, she asked, “They told me I have shifter DNA, and that I was sending out pheromones to call for my mate. If they aren‟t the right ones, who are?” If she could keep him talking, maybe she could figure out his plans and then find a way to escape. “Yes,” Roger replied. “That‟s right. You‟re an alpha-mate, which means you can take three mates and complete a pack‟s inner circle. Fate doesn‟t always smile on an alpha and give him an alpha-mate that can also mate with his betas. This means packs that have a proper alpha-mate are stronger than those that don‟t.” The man‟s tone grated on Sandy‟s nerves. She wanted to snarl that she wasn‟t a child and shouldn‟t be talked to as such, but she held her tongue. Knowing angering the man wouldn‟t do her any good, she tried to keep the confused look on her face. 87
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“Ben managed to get to you before I could, and for that, I‟m sorry.” Roger exaggeratedly sighed and shook his head. Sandy fought back the urge to laugh at his theatrics. Who bought this man’s crap? Another glance at the serious men at the table gave her an answer. The two cougars, obviously. “You see, Ben‟s family only recently began ruling the Catskill Mountain pack,” Roger said, drawing Sandy‟s attention back to him. “Nearly a century ago, my grandfather was alpha, but through treachery, Ben‟s father Donovan, managed to turn the pack against my family. Under Donovan‟s direction they killed my grandparents. Fortunately, a wolf that was still faithful to my grandfather spirited my father away, hiding him with his sister who lives in a pack up north. Eventually, they introduced the boy as their nephew. He mated and two sons, me and my younger brother, Cody. Cody is still living under Ben‟s rule, but I fear for his life.” He reached for Sandy‟s hand, holding it gently. “Fate sent you to me, to help me right the wrongs done to my family.” Cocking her head, this time truly confused, Sandy asked, “How am I to do that?” Roger grinned. “Until yesterday I wasn‟t sure of that either, but once you mated with the three men, it all became clear.” Sandy didn‟t like the malicious gleam in Roger‟s eyes, and she liked his words even less. “They told you that they needed to introduce you to the pack this evening, right?” Sandy nodded slowly. “I bet they failed to mention what would happen if they didn‟t present you, did they? No, I thought not,” he continued even before she could answer. “If they don‟t present you tonight to the pack, the pack will be forced to hunt them down and kill them.” 88
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She gasped, her eyes growing large. No! Not my mates! There must be something I can do! No wonder they wanted me to stay with them. It was to keep me safe from psychos like Roger! Misinterpreting her reaction, Roger patted her hand. “Don‟t worry, my sweet. I‟ll keep you safe here. As soon as they‟re dead, you‟ll feel the mate-bond between you all dissolve. You tell me when that happens, and I‟ll mate you to me. Then I will present you to the pack as my mate, and you‟ll be safe.” It took everything in her not to jerk her hand away from Roger. She didn‟t know how much was lies and how much was truth, but she did know that her mates were good men, patient, sweet, and kind. A thought had her breath catching in her throat. Did they already kill Adam? His body had been so still. Then Roger‟s other words registered. She could feel her mates through her mate-bond. Taking several deep breaths, she forced a tremulous smile. “Thank you for keeping me safe,” she whispered. Then she frowned. “Why would the pack kill them?” “It‟s an old law pertaining to human mates, created with the pack‟s safety in mind. By not being able to present their mate to the pack, it shows the human hasn‟t accepted the shifter‟s animal counterpart and can‟t be trusted. To ensure pack security, the enforcers of the pack hunt down the offending pair and kill them.” Roger shrugged, as if the whole idea of taking life was no big deal, and to him, Sandy assumed, it wasn‟t. There was no way this man would make a good alpha. He didn‟t care about others, only himself. “I guess if my safety as a shifter hinged on keeping my ability a secret, I could understand why that law was created,” she murmured, trying to placate him. Roger nodded, as if pleased by her acceptance. She wanted to run, 89
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screaming in fear. Instead, she glanced around the small cabin. From the studio-style floor plan and rustic décor, she realized this was probably a hunting lodge. How deep in the Catskills she was she had no way of knowing. “Can I use the bathroom and then get something to eat, please? I missed breakfast.” “Of course! I‟m so sorry. Where are my manners?” He gave her what most would consider a charming grin, but after everything he‟d told her, Sandy couldn‟t wait to get away from the shifter. He pointed at a door. “I‟m afraid it‟s a bit rustic, but it gets the job done.” Sandy nodded. “Is there a shower? I‟d really like a shower. I‟m hoping it will help wake me the rest of the way up.” She forced an uncomfortable chuckle. “I‟m not sure what you gave me, but it really knocked me out.” The wolf cocked his head as if studying her. She had to grip her hands together to hide their trembling. Finally, he nodded. “Sure. I‟ll heat some chili while you‟re in there.” He gave her another smile and ordered, “I want you to be comfortable, but don‟t be long. We need to stay together so I can protect you.” Sandy managed a decent smile of her own. “Of course.” Standing up, she moved close to him and rested a hand lightly on his chest. “I don‟t know everything about how the shifter community works yet, so maybe you can answer some questions while we eat?” She saw the flash of lust in Roger‟s eyes before he could hide it. “Of course, my sweet,” he all but purred. “I‟ll tell you anything you want to know.” When he lowered his head, she forced herself to remain in place as he brushed his lips over hers and then nuzzled her neck. “Mmm,” he murmured. “I can‟t wait to replace their scents with my own.” 90
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Sandy shuddered in revulsion at his words, but with his lips trailing down her neck, Roger mistook her reaction. He lifted his head and grinned. “Soon,” he promised. “And you have nothing to fear, my sweet. It won‟t be long before this will all be over.” He gave her one more kiss, before turning her around and smacking her on the butt, as if she were a naughty child that needed prodding. Knowing the cougars watched the exchange with interest, she just managed to keep the irritation from showing on her face. But she couldn‟t stop the flush of indignation. As she hurried toward the bathroom, she could almost feel Roger‟s gaze taking in her backside, and it creeped her the hell out. Once inside the bathroom, she leaned against the closed door and took a deep breath. What should I do? What can I do? Opening her eyes, she spotted the small window above the toilet. If she could get outside, could she make a run for it? Then she remembered it was almost November in the Catskill Mountains and she had no coat. She‟d freeze before she went a mile. Crossing to the window, she stared out at the snow. Not if I have fur. As she used the toilet and washed up, she searched her mind, feeling for anything that would indicate she was different. She felt nothing. Frustration filled her, and tears pricked her eyes. Growling low, she slammed her fists impotently against the porcelain sink. Something uncoiled in the back of her mind, growling back in response. Shock had her freezing in place for several seconds. Shock gave way to excitement. Quickly she stripped her clothes, turned on the shower, and knelt on the wooden floor. After a second, she stood back up and opened the window before resuming her position near the toilet. Sandy took a deep breath and felt for that internal part again. As she searched, time ticked by, making her heart race, fearing that she‟d be discovered. 91
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Suddenly, white-hot pain racked her body, and her muscles spasmed. Her bones seemed to snap and pop in her mind. She managed to shove a fist into her mouth to muffle her screams. Her body convulsed on the floor, and she nearly blacked out. A moment later, the waves of pain receded, leaving her panting on the floor. Okay, so trying to shift for the first time by myself probably isn’t the smartest thing to do. Time for a new plan. She opened her eyes, searching her brain for some other idea. She frowned, or tried to. A black and white world dominated by shades of gray greeted her. Lifting her head, she looked around the suddenly larger bathroom, finally resting her gaze on her heavily furred back. Oh my God! I did it! Scrambling to her feet, it took her a couple seconds to find her coordination. Jumping up on the toilet, she put her front paws on the sill and leaped. She found herself tumbling face first into the snow. Picking herself up, she shook off the snow and took a deep breath, scenting wet pine trees and a plethora of other scents she couldn‟t hope to identify. She desperately wanted to ask her mates. Her heart was heavy with thoughts of them. She remembered the mate-bond Roger spoke of and suddenly felt a strange pull, almost like a desire to head in a particular direction. It took her a second, but she realized she felt three distinct tugs, one fainter than the other two. Relief hit her when she realized that the weaker pull must be Adam. Was it weaker because he’d been injured? At least she could feel it. That means he is alive, right? You didn’t really think it would be that easy, did you, my sweet? A mocking voice sounded inside Sandy‟s head. Glancing over her shoulder, she heard the crunch of snow under paws as her captors jogged around the cabin toward her. Without hesitation, Sandy sprinted into the woods. 92
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Chapter Eleven hey were drawing close to their mate when Ben heard it—a yip of pain and an aggressive snarl. Not pausing, he glanced to his left at Devon. It’s in the direction we need to go, his beta commented, using the mental link between an alpha and beta. Ben nodded. Let’s check it out. Seconds later, they heard growling and snapping echo through the darkening trees. The setting sun‟s rays no longer reached the forest floor, and through the shadows Ben spotted a large brown wolf attacking a small white wolf. He recognized the brown wolf as Roger, but didn‟t know the white one. She wasn‟t pack, but it was easy to see she wanted nothing to do with Roger, and was fighting for all she was worth to avoid being mated to him. Those are the cougars from Sandy’s. Devon‟s comment had Ben‟s gaze snapping to the left, where two cougars watched the wolves in silence. They looked agitated, but didn‟t interfere. Ben returned his focus to the wolves and realization hit like a ton of bricks. That’s Sandy! She’s shifted! Without waiting for a response from Devon, Ben launched into the fray. He grabbed Roger‟s ruff and yanked the smaller wolf off his mate. From the corner of his eye, he saw Devon place himself between them and the cougars, growling in warning.
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Sandy, baby? You okay? Devon asked through their mind link. Devon? Sandy asked tentatively. Yeah, baby. It’s me and Ben. A harsh laugh sounded through Ben‟s head, surprising him. I was planning to be satisfied knowing the pack killed you, Ben, but this is so much better. Now I get to kill you myself! Ben growled, watching Roger circle him. How had he missed it? The wolf had hidden his ability to speak telepathically as a wolf, an ability only alphas and betas exhibited. You should have told me, Roger. I could have helped you find a place in another pack. It’s not too late to do that, you know. Although he‟d love to sink his teeth into the other wolf, Ben would settle this peacefully if he could. Sandy‟s safety was paramount. Roger‟s harsh laughter and lunge forward told him better than words. Ben dodged left, keeping himself between the attacking wolf and Sandy. Swiping a paw, he caught Roger‟s side as the other shifter‟s momentum carried him past him. Before Roger could turn, he jumped forward and sank his teeth into Roger‟s haunch. The wolf howled, twisting around to try to reach him. Ben released his hold and stepped back. A heavy body slammed into him, and he turned to face one of the cougars. As an alpha wolf shifter, Ben weighed in at two-hundred-forty pounds, quite a bit larger than a normal wolf. If he had to guess, the cougar weighed twenty to thirty pounds less than him. You’re helping a rogue wolf kidnap an alpha-mate, he warned. Rance will punish you for this. He didn‟t know if the cougar could hear him, but if he could warn the cat away, this would go down so much easier. I don’t know who this Rance is, the cat replied with a snarl. But we will not allow you to steal Roger’s mate as your family has 94
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stolen his pack. Ben couldn‟t have been more surprised at the cat‟s response, and almost didn‟t move quick enough to evade the cougar‟s attack. He had no idea what lies the other wolf had filled the cougar‟s minds with, but he now understood why Rance hadn‟t been able to figure out who the cougars were. This was a pair of strays. Jumping sideways, he swiped his claws along the cougar‟s side before pivoting and facing Roger‟s launching form. Dropping to his belly, he allowed the wolf to land on him, but before he could dig in his claws and latch his jaws around him, Ben used his heavily muscled hind legs to rear up and slam Roger into a nearby tree. He heard a resounding crack, and the weight slid away. But the relief was short lived as the cougar pounced. Ben felt powerful jaws wrap around his neck. Before he could react, the weight was gone. He looked around in concern and spotted Adam being tossed aside by the other shifter. A massive roar echoed through the trees along with Rance‟s shouted order. “Cougars, stop!” Recognizing an alpha, the cougars dropped and rolled, exposing their bellies to the stronger cougar. Ben spotted Sandy standing behind Devon, who was slowly backing away from a cowering cougar. He watched Adam roll to his belly and shake his head. He knew his beta must still be dizzy, and although he was grateful for his help, Ben still planned to discipline the disobedient wolf. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a groggy Roger rising from the ground. He crossed to the wolf and wrapped his jaws around the shifter‟s neck. Shift or die, Roger. Seconds later, a naked man lay in the snow. Ben released him and shifted as well. He lifted a brow at Devon, who quickly trotted over to watch the rogue. Sandy crossed to Adam, nuzzling him. 95
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You okay? she asked. Adam nuzzled her back. I am now. Ben turned to Rance and smirked. “Nice timing, my friend, but what are you doing here?” His gaze still fixed on the two stray cougars, Rance said, “I heard from another pack member that my hunting cabin was being used by your rogue wolf. I wanted to make certain it was true before letting you know. When I arrived, I could smell all of you.” His gaze finally lifted to Ben‟s. “You‟re only half a mile from there. If you want to come with me, I‟ll drive you back to your place.” His gaze swept over the wolves. “I have a funny feeling you should be getting back there.” Letting out a relieved sigh, Ben nodded. “I would be in your debt.” “Don‟t press charges against these two strays and we‟ll call it even,” he replied. Ben didn‟t think anything else would surprise him that night, but that request did. Why the man would stick his neck out for a pair of strangers was beyond him, but he shrugged. “As long as they agree to stay away from my mate, I‟d be happy to.” Both men turned to look at the two cougars, who were now sitting side-by-side a few feet in front of Rance. A look passed between them, and then the voice Ben had heard once before, although he didn‟t know which one it was, said, My mate and I agree. Letting out a relieved sigh, Ben nodded. “Good enough.” Motioning for Rance to lead the way, he gave him a tired smile. “Lead the way.” “Are you really going to make me walk naked in the snow?” Roger whined. Ben growled. “Yes. Move your ass, and it‟ll only take a couple minutes.” 96
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Just to be fair, he remained in human form, too, and everyone started jogging through the snow toward the cabin. On hindsight, it probably wasn‟t his smartest decision, but Ben refused to put someone else, even a rogue wolf, through something that he wouldn‟t do himself. By the time he stumbled into the cabin, his feet were nearly numb and shivers racked his body. Roger quickly pulled on a pile of clothes that had been tossed on the only bed in the room. The cougars shifted and pulled on clothes from the table. Rance appeared a moment later and handed Ben several pairs of sweats and shirts. After pulling on clothes, he crossed to Sandy, who waited by a door that he assumed led to a bathroom. “Keep an eye on him,” he ordered Devon, before heading into the bathroom with Sandy. He knelt on the floor and examined the small white wolf in front of him. “You‟re spectacular, darling,” he told her, kissing her furred head. “How did you manage this alone? You‟re so brave to take on your first shift by yourself.” He couldn‟t express the amazement and wonder he felt at the inner strength his mate had displayed. The wolf in front of him shivered, and a moment later, a human Sandy threw herself into Ben‟s arms. “Oh, Sandy,” he moaned, latching onto her lips. “My brave, brave, Sandy. I‟m so sorry this happened to you,” he murmured against her skin. “It‟s my fault,” she whispered. Ben‟s brows lifted. “What are you talking about?” “I should have listened to you that first day. If I had, I would have been with you in the pack house instead of my own cottage. I put you all at risk.” Her green eyes swam with unshed tears. “Please forgive me?” “Ah, my mate,” Ben whispered. He leaned his forehead against hers and smiled. “I think we need to forgive 97
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ourselves, not each other. We‟re all safe. Adam will be fine, too,” he assured, seeing her glance worriedly at the door. “The only one at fault was Roger, and pack law will take care of him.” Sandy nodded. “Will he be killed?” she asked softly. Unwilling to lie to his mate, Ben nodded. “Most likely. If not, he‟ll be branded a traitor and exiled.” She let out a sigh and smiled. “This isn‟t something we can help with, huh? He chose his fate by kidnapping me.” Ben kissed her gently. “You have such a big heart, my love.” Sandy blushed. “You love me?” Grinning, Ben nodded. “Yes. I love you so much. We all do.” Cupping her face, Ben kissed her deeply, letting her feel all the worry and love in him. He smelled her arousal, and gently broke the kiss. “We gotta go, babe. Hold that thought and we‟ll pick up after the pack meeting tonight.” Sandy jumped up, grabbed her clothes, and yanked them on. “The pack meeting! Quick, we need to hurry! We can‟t let the enforcers come after you!” Ben chuckled, leading the way out of the bathroom. “Kiall and Peter are my pack‟s enforcers, love, and they‟re looking forward to meeting you.”
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Chapter Twelve dam stood next to Devon, leaning on him just a smidge as he watched the pack greet Sandy. “She‟s a bit overwhelmed,” he whispered to the other beta. Devon nodded. “Yeah, but she‟s handling it well. She‟s a natural alpha-mate.” He heard the pride in Devon‟s voice and smiled, nodding slightly. He continued to watch Sandy graciously shake hands and make small talk with any who approached. Finally, Ben ordered the group to run under the supervision of the enforcers. After everyone had shifted, he led Sandy to Devon and Adam. “We‟ll run with them next month,” he told her. “It‟s been a long night for us, and there‟s one more thing we need to do before going to bed.” “What‟s that?” Sandy asked. Ben chuckled, exchanging a quick look with his betas. “We have a couple mates to take care of,” he said with a wink. Devon wrapped an arm around Adam‟s waist and offered support as they followed the other pair into the house and up the stairs. He had to stop on the stairs a couple times when a wave of dizziness passed over him. Now that the adrenaline from rescuing his mate had worn off, the pain from his head and back had returned, but it was the dizziness from the hit on his head that caused the most trouble.
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Adam let out a groan, his head dropping against the wall as he paused on the stairs. “This is my fault, ya know.” “Hey, relax. You were jumped by a pair of cougars and a wolf through a glass door,” Devon said, running his hands up and down his back, trying to soothe him. “The window in the kitchen was open,” he admitted. “I should have smelled them.” Devon shook his head, his grip tightening on his arm to get his attention. “I don‟t know who those cougars are, but I didn‟t smell them yesterday until they‟d already reached Sandy‟s clearing.” He frowned. “They‟re strays that are great at hiding their scent. I don‟t know how they hooked up with Roger, and it doesn‟t matter. It‟s over now. Focus on healing and caring for our mate.” Adam looked at Devon‟s hard blue-eyed gaze and knew his friend didn‟t blame him. He‟d have to figure out a way to release his own guilt, too. After a small smile, he gave a nod and started slowly up the rest of the stairs. When they walked into Ben‟s suite of rooms and heard the shower running, both men grinned. Yeah, the idea of their wet, naked mate had Adam‟s prick perking right up. Opening the bathroom door, the smell of arousal hit him, making all his aches and pains disappear. That is, until he stripped his clothes and stepped under the hot stream of water. Stings of heat traveled along his spine when the hot liquid hit the claw marks on his back, and he let out a hiss. Sandy was instantly there, her hands running down his arms, her touch soothing his nerves. “Easy, Adam,” she murmured. “Turn around and let me wash your back.” Ben grinned. “Excellent idea. And while you do that, Devon and I will wash you,” he said, picking up a washcloth. Adam nodded and turned, resting a forearm on the wall 100
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and his head on his arm. One of Sandy‟s hands stroked his side and chest while she carefully washed his back. From the soft sighs he heard over his own grunts, he knew he wasn‟t the only one turned on by the wash. By the time Ben slipped out of the shower and handed Devon a towel, the smell of arousal was so thick and Adam‟s shaft so hard it tapped against his stomach, smearing strings of pre-cum on his abs. Chuckling, Devon set two towels on the counter near the shower door. “Don‟t be long,” he quipped. Before Adam could ask what he talked about, Sandy urged him to turn around. Standing on her tiptoes, she threaded her fingers in his wet hair and pulled him down for a kiss. She thrust her tongue aggressively into his mouth. He wrapped his arms around his mate and pulled her close, loving her taste as his tongue swept the inside of her mouth. Turning her, he lifted her in his arms and pressed her back against the shower wall. “Ah, baby. I‟m so sorry I let you down,” he murmured into her mouth. “Not your fault,” she panted between kisses. “You warned me about how you needed me with the pack to keep me safe. I should have listened.” He shook his head, before burying his face in her wet neck. Adam drank in her scent, allowing the sweet smell of his mate to soothe his ragged nerves. “Shhh,” she murmured, stroking his head. “You didn‟t fail me. We‟re both fine. Everything will be fine.” He lifted his head, seeing the love and forgiveness in her eyes as she stared down at him. Before he could respond, she smiled. “Take me, my mate. Fill me.” A growl tore from his throat as he lifted her against the wall. Positioning his straining erection against her wet folds, it occurred to him why the others left. They knew he blamed himself for Sandy‟s kidnapping and needed to reconnect with his mate. As he slid Sandy‟s body down, easing his 101
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shaft inside her tight, hot sheath, all his doubt and guilt slid away. She was here now, safe and sound, in his arms. “My mate,” he whispered. Sandy smiled against his lips. “Yours.” Adam slid his cock out several inches before sliding back, deep inside. A moan ripped from his throat before he slid his tongue into Sandy‟s mouth and plundered her mouth in time with his thrusts to her body. With the emotions from the night swirling around them, it took only a moment for both of them to be panting and writhing, searching for that sweet release. Reaching a hand down, he slid his thumb between her folds and pressed it against her clit just as he dipped his head and nipped one erect nipple. Sandy tossed her head back and keened her release. Her sheath tightened and rippled around him, her body massaging his cock and setting off his own orgasm. He buried his nose in the crook of her shoulder and let the feelings roll through him, his body shuddering and twitching as he held her, pressed tight to the shower wall. He rubbed his cheek against Sandy‟s neck and cheek and let out a soft sigh. Contentment swept through him, bringing almost as much relief as the orgasm he‟d experienced a moment ago. His mate was safe. She didn‟t blame him for her kidnapping. The rest of his guilt eased away from his heart. Everything would be fine. A soft chuckle and a quiet moan sounding behind Adam brought him back to his senses. He glanced over his shoulder and spotted Ben leaning against the counter, slowly stroking his hard shaft. Devon stood naked in the doorway, his arms braced against the sides, and his cock twitching intermittently. Adam eased out of Sandy and put his mate back on her feet. She blushed prettily and Adam tipped up her chin with 102
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a finger. “None of that with us,” he whispered, giving her a soft kiss before moving her back under the water to rinse again. “Damn, that‟s a fine sight,” Ben growled. “Oh, yeah,” Devon replied, his heated gaze roving over their naked bodies. “There‟s nothing like watching our sexy mate being taken by one of us.” “Hell, yeah.” Ben stalked forward, a feral grin on his face. “Let‟s get you two dried off. It‟s been a long day, and now that we‟re clean, we should go lie down.” **** Ben led his mate and betas to his massive California king bed. He couldn‟t wait to get everyone settled. His need to take his mate and reaffirm their connection, the need to allow his wolf to claim her again rode him hard. He settled on the bed, pulling Sandy down next to him. Adam rounded the bed and sat down, his back to the headboard. With one strong arm he pulled Sandy up to the middle of the bed. She settled her head on his thigh and smiled up at him. Devon stretched out below Adam, leaning on his elbow as he trailed his fingers over Sandy‟s ribs. Lying by her side, Ben grinned down at her. “So, from the sounds of it, you‟re willing to move in with us?” He couldn‟t keep the hopefulness out of his voice. Sandy smiled, a pale blush darkening her cheeks. “Yeah. That‟d be great. I‟m sure there‟ll be plenty of adjustments, but I‟d really like to be here…with my mates.” “Excellent,” Ben crooned, before capturing her lips. He slid his tongue deep, tasting her flavor. A growl vibrated through his chest as he deepened the kiss. He slid a hand down her side, caressing the soft skin of her breasts. Feeling a hand already cupping the soft mound, he moved down to 103
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her thigh and slipped his hand around to massage one firm ass cheek. He pulled her close to his groin, rubbing his cock against her hip. Tingles raced up his spine and his wolf howled in his mind. Ben knew he didn‟t have much time. Lifting his head, he stared at her kiss-swollen lips and flushed body. He dragged his gaze away from his mate, glancing quickly at his betas. He saw the same need and desire reflected in their eyes when they met his gaze. Returning his stare to Sandy, he smiled down at her. “It‟s time for us all to connect now, love,” he whispered. Her eyes widened for a second before she nodded. “Yes.” Moving to lie on his back, Ben pulled Sandy over his body to straddle him. He felt his cock nudge her silky folds and had to force back his initial reaction to shove up and bury his shaft deep inside her immediately. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Sandy, keeping his look reassuring. “Adam‟s going to prepare you to take him, while I take you. Are you ready?” Sandy nodded, but he could see the worry in her eyes. “Go slow,” he ordered his beta. He heard the slick of a tube, and knew Adam readied his cock and fingers. “I‟d never hurt you, mate,” Adam whispered. Staring up at Sandy, he watched her mouth open in surprise, but no pain reflected in her eyes. A hand slipped between them, and he knew Devon massaged her clit, so he shifted slightly, offering the beta more room to work their mate, while still able to rub his shaft slowly against her hip. Ben claimed her mouth, teasing and nibbling Sandy‟s lips. Sliding his tongue against hers, he tangled them together, distracting her further, bringing her passion higher. She began rocking, telling him without words the pleasure she felt as Sandy lost control of her body, mindlessly seeking the 104
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pleasure he and his betas offered her. Long moments later, and after a number of gasps and whimpers from Sandy that Ben eagerly swallowed, he received a nod from Adam. Devon‟s hand helped steady Sandy as he slowly impaled their sexy mate. Warm, tight heat massaged him, and Ben let out a long, low groan once he was fully seated. The sound was Adam‟s cue to begin easing in Sandy‟s back door. He knew the shifter went slow to keep from hurting their mate, but by the time Adam‟s panting face appeared over Sandy‟s shoulder Ben wanted to growl in frustration. His dick pulsed and twitched inside her, and he had to fight every instinct he had not to move. Devon appeared over his head, positing himself over Ben‟s shoulders. Ben watched impatiently as his second beta fed his dick to Sandy‟s waiting mouth. Ben sighed and slowly pulled out, loving the ripple of his mate‟s walls around him and the pressure applied by Adam‟s dick through the thin line separating Sandy‟s channels. Seconds later, he and Adam had established a swift advance and retreat rhythm. The movements made Sandy writhe and hum above him, in turn vibrating Devon‟s dick. Ben felt his canines lengthen and knew he didn‟t have long. “Soon,” he snarled. He heard two affirmative groans from his betas and increased the pace. With her back arched and head up as Sandy hungrily sucked Devon‟s cock, the position thrust Sandy‟s breasts down toward him and he couldn‟t resist. Cocking his head slightly, he latched onto one perfect breast, sucking and tugging the nipple with his lips and teeth. He felt Sandy shudder above him as she came hard. The move sent rhythmic shock waves through Ben‟s dick and he sank his teeth into the breast held. Warm, tangy blood filled his mouth as his cock exploded, 105
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bathing his mate with his seed. From the grunts and shudders around him, he knew Devon and Adam had found their own completion. Regaining his senses a moment later, Ben eased his teeth from Sandy‟s flesh and licked the wound closed, pleased to see that the bite hadn‟t marred the perfect mound. Seconds later, he slid from her channel with a grunt, and Sandy collapsed next to him. While Devon rose to get clothes to clean with, Adam landed on the other side of Sandy. Her sleepy gaze slid over her breast and shoulders, probably looking for marks. Ben smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “Only the claiming bite leaves a mark, love. The rest are strictly for pleasure,” he assured. “Oh, good,” Sandy whispered, smiling. “I love how the bites feel, but I‟d hate to end up with marks all over that were hard to explain to my gynecologist.” Devon chuckled, handing a cloth to each of the men before gently cleaning their mate. “I can just imagine that conversation,” he teased. “Yes, doctor, my wolf mates are very oral and like to leave marks to ward off other men!” Ben and Adam chuckled. Sandy huffed and threw a pillow at him before joining them in laughter. Devon climbed into bed on the other side of Adam and pulled the blankets over them all. After several seconds of silence, Sandy whispered, “I love all of you. Thank you for sharing your world with me.” Ben‟s sharp night vision caught the smiles on his betas‟ faces. “We love you, too, Sandy,” he said. Adam and Devon made similar sounds of confirmation. “And we plan to use the next several hundred years to prove it to you,” he vowed. “Did you say several hundred years?” Sandy‟s sleepy voice asked. “Hmmm,” Ben replied with a grin. “It sounds like we still 106
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have a few things to discuss in the morning, huh?” He had just enough time to duck so the pillow flew over his head instead of striking him in the face.
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About the Author Charlie lives on a mini-ranchette in Utah with her handsome, supportive husband. She started writing fantasy when she was eight, and after stumbling onto her first erotic romance at nineteen, she realized her true calling. She now focuses on writing erotic romance, often of the paranormal variety, with heroes and heroines of all kinds. You can often find her curled up with her laptop and a cup of tea or glass of wine, creating her next story, which could pair a sexy hero with an adventurous heroine… or maybe with another handsome hero. Charlie enjoys horseback riding, jump lessons with Apache, watching movies with her husband, and listening to her muse tell her about her next project. She can be reached at
[email protected] Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com
