Final Exams

Mystic U: Final Exams Julia Talbot All rights reserved. Copyright ©2010 Julia Talbot ISBN: 978-1-60521-473-3 Formats Available: HTML, Adobe PDF, EPub MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader Publisher: Changeling Press LLC PO Box 1046 Martinsburg, WV 25402-1046 www.ChangelingPress.com Editor: Chrissie Henderson Cover Artist: Zuri

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Mystic U: Final Exams Julia Talbot Can Logan deal with Mystic U’s pack problems and the new meddling lady in his life? Danny, Lee and Heather are still trying to make sense of their relationship, and of the problems brewing in the pack. Add in the end of the semester and decisions about what to do once school is over, and Danny figures his life is pretty much in the weeds. Pack alpha Logan thinks Danny has no idea what trouble looks like. He knows it comes in the form of a prissy anthropology professor from Mystic U who thinks it’s her job to tell Logan how to run his pack. Allie thinks Logan is wrong in the way he’s dealing with the man who’s causing all the problems, and she thinks Logan needs to listen before it’s too late. Will she get her way, or will the Wolf Creek pack end up with a failing grade?

Chapter One Logan surveyed the assembled men, noting the age and disposition of each one. He knew each of them well, knew their idiosyncrasies and their loyalties. He knew their scents, too. None of them were the werewolf who was causing trouble within the pack. None of them were a potential assassin. Which made them perfect for what he wanted to do. “Thanks for coming tonight, guys,” he said in his best pack alpha voice. “I need your help.” A murmur went through the group, but no one really spoke up yet. It was an honor for the pack alpha to ask for a man’s help and they all knew it, even if it made them nervous enough that the scent of unease was sharp and acrid. “Someone is attacking members of our pack. I’m sure you all know that Gage got shot last moon.” That had made him so angry that he’d torn up the clearing himself, looking for any clue about who might have been there. “Yeah, but that was a human, right?” That came from one of the younger men, a strong black wolf who Logan hadn’t gotten to know very well yet. “It was, yes. The problem is that whoever put him up to it is one of us.” Another, louder murmur went up, but Logan forestalled it with one raised hand. He had the proof from Danny’s dorm room. Maybe one of these men would recognize the scent. “I can prove it, which is why I need your help. Someone has to know who this guy is. Someone has to recognize the scent. Once we know, I need your help to hunt his ass down.” He could see skepticism out there, but more than one of the pack men nodded. They had to protect their own. “Just tell us what we need to do,” the young one said, speaking up again, which was surprising and impressive.

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“Well, first I need you to come smell this…”

*** Lee stretched, long limbs moving in the sun, and Danny couldn’t help but stare. It was their last day at the beach, their idyllic spring break almost over, and Danny was working hard at focusing on the now, not dreading the coming return to Wolf Creek. “Like what you see, baby?” “Hell, yes. I love it.” Lee was all oiled, his muscles cut and defined. It made Danny drool a little. The only way it would be better was if Heather was on top of Lee, bouncing so her breasts swayed and her hair flowed down her back… “Where the hell is Heather, anyway?” Sometimes it was like Lee read his mind. “She left to get drinks ages ago.” Cold water dripped down on Danny’s back, making him yelp. “The line was long.” Heather settled between them on her lounge chair, her teeny bikini shifting so he almost got a nipple shot. Not quite, but almost. Damn it. “So, what are we talking about?” “Liking Lee’s look.” “Oh, definitely.” She handed him some kind of fruity drink, then gave Lee a beer. “I like yours, too. You’re way less city waif these days.” “Thanks?” Danny raised a brow. “I guess.” “Don’t let her fool you, baby. She likes you however she can get you.” Danny’s cheeks heated, and it had nothing to do with the sun or the alcohol. He loved being with them like this, all relaxed and horny and not ready to go home. Danny sighed. “What’s the matter, baby?” they both asked him at the same time. “I don’t want to go back.” Lee raised a brow. “Well, we have to. We can’t run from this thing.” “I know. That doesn’t mean I won’t piss and moan.” Danny laughed. “I’m a city boy, remember? We bitch about everything.”

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Heather gave him this amazing little toss of her blonde hair, her baby blues sparkling for him. “I bet I can come up with something you won’t bitch about. Hell, if Lee and I work together, we could really make it special.” “You two make breathing special.” He could watch them eat or read the phone book and get horny. Wait. Did they even make phone books anymore? They probably did in Wolf Creek, where the Internet hardly lived. “Hello! Not paying attention, here.” When Danny glanced back at Heather, she had leaned toward him, reaching out to touch his arm, and her boobs were pressed together, spilling almost out of her bikini top. His eyes crossed. “Wow.” “Want to go back to the room, baby?” Lee asked, peering at him past Heather’s shoulder. “Uh-huh. Why waste what time we have left on Spring Break by drinking?” Danny scrambled up, grabbing his drink, but only to press it against his crotch to keep from embarrassing himself anymore than he had to. They tumbled into the room, locking the door behind them. They’d learned that lesson their first night at the beach when another bunch of drunken students had crashed into their room by accident. No one liked to be interrupted. Heather stripped off her bikini, Danny and Lee tore out of their shorts, and they were off and running. They ripped the nasty bedspread off the bed because the sheets were clean, at least, and he and Lee put Heather on her back in unspoken agreement. They’d learned a lot with nothing to do but drink and sun and fuck. Like how Heather loved when they double-teamed her. She arched, her breasts pushing up, her nipples begging to be touched. Danny bent to lick at one, then the other, while Lee took her mouth, kissing her hard and deep. The sounds were so hot this close up, wet and sweet. Okay, slurpy probably wasn’t supposed to be sexy, but it was. So there.

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Danny bit at one nipple, feeling it harden almost impossibly between his lips. God, she was responsive. He could smell her heat, just like he smelled Lee, who was all musk and strength. “She’s so wet for us, baby.” Lee turned to raise up a little and kiss him, too. “Ready to ride?” “If you do me while I do her? Hell, yes.” “That’s a plan.” They piled one on top of another, Heather on the bottom, her legs spread so Danny could slide right into her wet, open pussy, feeling her close around him. Lee moved up behind Danny, two fingers pressing against his hole, getting him good and wet. It was hotter than the midday sun outside. Lee groaned, bending to kiss the nape of Danny’s neck. “Ready to ride?” “Yeah. Do it.” He got one more kiss before Lee pushed into him, hot and a little scratchy and stretching him so wide. “Oh, God. I swear I can feel Lee through you, Danny.” Heather smiled up at him, licking her lips. Grunting, Danny bent to kiss her, causing his ass to bump Lee, who rocked him back down into Heather in return. It was the perfect place to be, caught between the two of them. Danny knew he could just stay there forever. Panting, he began rocking back and forth, in and out. Christ. He was just gonna explode. Lee felt huge inside him, and Heather was so wet she was easing the way perfectly. Her legs came up to wrap around him, and her heels had to be digging into Lee’s ass by the way Lee was calling her name. It was hot, sweaty work, which made the fan right over the bed even more delicious. Every few seconds a little rush of cold air would slip past Lee and hit Danny’s skin, giving him a rash of goose bumps.

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“Danny.” Heather’s breasts bounced against his chest, her fingernails digging into his shoulders. “More.” “Tell Lee, babe. He’s the one being stingy.” “Stingy?” Lee growled before biting down on the flesh of Danny’s shoulder. The word obviously set Lee off, because their cowboy went a little crazy, slamming into Danny, balls slapping his. “Oh!” Danny cried out, his body arching, his toes curling. Fuck, that was what he needed. It moved him down against Heather who was moaning for him, these little, openmouthed sounds. It all made him crazy. “Come on, Danny. Sooner we finish round one the quicker we get to round two.” Lee slammed him over and over, cock like a brand, skin hot as fire against him. “Round two…” “Uh-huh. Gonna make you scream.” He would sneer at that, but Lee and Heather had done it, had made him scream until the neighbors had threatened to call the cops on campus. Danny’s balls drew up tight and hard, his hips bucking. Lee chuckled and fucked him harder, and Heather pulled him down for a kiss -- and he could smell it when they both came for him, when they let it go. What else could Danny do but let loose and come for them, his cock buried deep inside Heather’s cunt, his ass burning from Lee’s hard pounding? Tomorrow would take care of itself, Danny figured. “Bring on round two.”

*** They were going to start hunting him. Him! He was the hunter. He was the one to take the traitors out of the pack. He’d thought the little outsider was gone, had thought he’d scared the little shit away. Now he knew better. Now he knew that the little fucker was coming back, and worse, that the alpha had put a bounty on his head. He had to get them. He would get them all. The three would be back soon enough. For now, he would settle on Logan. The alpha had to die. Now.

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***

Alli Pendergrass considered herself a reasonable woman. She was intelligent. She had a PhD in anthropology and a Masters in behavioral science. She might be a werewolf, but she knew how to be civilized. Which was how she found herself rather in the middle of nowhere at the house of one Logan Daniels, scraping mud and possibly horse manure off her sensible mid-heel pumps. If Mohammad wouldn’t come to the mountain, after all… She knocked on the door, shaking her head at the deer antlers stacked up on the end of the porch, and the oversized, “I must be compensating” pickup that sat in front of her Audi on the dirt track that Logan probably called a driveway. Logan answered the door wearing a pair of jogging shorts, which was completely inappropriate for the cold spring weather. The fact that he was sweating was something of an affront to her. She’d never spent much time with the pack, let alone the pack alpha, and she’d certainly never seen him so… au natural. “Can I help you, honey?” Honey? Alli drew herself up straight and tall, staring down her nose at him. “My name is Professor Alli Pendergrass. I’m from the college. I’d like to speak to you, if I may.” Logan’s nose quivered, and Alli knew he was scenting her, which made her press her lips together. His eyebrow went up, but Logan politely stepped back to let her in. “Sure. What can I do for you, Doc?” Put some clothes on, was what she wanted to say. “Are you always this offensive?” “Wow. Do I know you? Are you in my pack?” “Technically, yes.” She sniffed, which was a bad idea because his home held the overwhelming scent of male wolf, unfamiliar to her, but strangely… attractive. “I tend to stay at the college during the moon.” “Ah.” His strange eyes twinkled at her. They were an odd, golden color, arresting in his tanned face. “One of those self-denial types.”

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Her arms crossed over her chest before she even thought about moving. “I believe we are capable of restraint, if that’s what you mean. Which is precisely why I came to speak to you. As the pack alpha, you set the model of behavior for the pack.” “Uh-huh. You want a beer? Something else? I have unsweet tea and orange juice.” “Nothing for me, thank you.” “Well, I was working out, so I’m going to grab some juice.” He turned away, walking to the kitchen, and she followed. Alli was not looking at his butt. Not. His house was rough-hewn, almost cowboy. Old wood furniture complimented plaid fabric and woven rugs. He really needed a woman’s touch around here. “I want to talk to you.” “You made that clear.” Logan turned back toward her, leaning against the counter. His throat worked when he swallowed, and his amazing ab muscles stood out in a defined six-pack. For a moment Alli forgot she was a civilized woman and just wallowed in the pretty. Then she snapped out of it. “I wanted to talk to you about this -- this posse you’ve formed to find the man who caused that trouble with the student on campus.” “Posse?” He chuckled. “As in, my posse of homeys or the sheriff’s posse?” “You know very well I mean the latter.” A tendril of hair slipped out of her neat chignon and trailed down along her cheek. Traitor. She believed firmly in controlling her environment. “Uh-huh. Why are you concerned?” “Why?” she sputtered, waving a hand. “That’s what I asked, yeah? I mean, you’re obviously not all that into pack politics.” He was laughing at her. She could tell. Oh, she was perfectly accustomed to people laughing at her. Her pack back in Boulder had always told her she had a stick up her ass. Still, she had to voice her concern.

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“You’re right. I tend to avoid you alpha types.” Huffing out a breath, she blew the pesky strand of hair away from her eye. “However, I feel as though someone must remind you that we live in the modern world. You cannot go around hunting people.” Logan’s eyes narrowed, and he stared hard at her, making her shift from foot to foot. “He started it, lady. He’s hunting three young members of our pack. One of them is very special to me. This guy is one of us, and he’s fucking with us. I’m taking him down.” “Language!” She was really beginning to get agitated. This man was stubbornly refusing to understand her, and now he loomed over her like he was trying to intimidate her. “Lady --” “Alli. I mean Professor!” Oh, she hated it when men did this. Especially men who smelled as good as he did. Where did that come from? “Alli, then. I run this pack as I see fit. If you care to challenge me, or send me a champion on your behalf…” “A champion! Listen to yourself. You sound so medieval.” “Well, some things haven’t changed since those times.” Logan stepped even closer, so close that she could feel the heat of his skin, even through her cardigan and wool skirt. “Chivalry certainly didn’t survive!” she snapped, stepping back as quickly as she could. Which was a terrible mistake. Her heel caught on one of his braided throw rugs, and she staggered, her very sensible heel snapping clean off her shoe. Alli flailed, her arms wind-milling, and in her head she had just enough time to brace for impact before her butt hit the floor. Moving with blurring speed, Logan caught her, his fingers digging into her arms a little to halt her downward momentum. She dangled for a moment before Logan jerked her upright again. Her front pressed against his, her breasts against his chest.

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She was close enough to feel his breath catch, and as a behavioralist she knew exactly what it meant that his pupils had just dilated. “Thank you. You may release me now.” “Not yet.” He moved even closer instead, his lower body adjusting against hers. “Why is it that you’re a man-hater? I can tell you’re not a lesbian. You appreciate the male body too much.” Alli’s mouth dropped open, and she balled up a fist to slam it against his breastbone. He grunted, his hands falling away from her arms. “You say something like that and you have to ask why I disapprove of men like you? Really. I’m amazed.” “You are? Well, now I’m horny. You smell like you’re in heat and your nipples are hard. You might want to think about going home. I’ll mark down your protest.” “I -- You. Oh!” She whirled around, ready to make a dramatic exit, only to realize that she was completely unbalanced by her broken shoe. She began to tip over once more, but Logan caught her again, this time with his pelvis pressed against her bottom. “You okay, Alli?” He sounded genuinely concerned, but that did not mitigate the hardness pressing against her butt. “See? Chivalry isn’t dead altogether.” “No?” She felt breathless, hot. How could this man confuse her senses so? She was capable, educated, in control at all times. With him she felt completely off-kilter, and it was her own fault for coming out here and trying to talk sense into him. What on Earth had she thought she might accomplish? “Nope. Of course, every time you wiggle it dies a little more.”

Alli froze. “Please.”

“Please what, honey?”

“Let me go.”

“In a minute.” Logan turned her around, staring down into her eyes. Then he

bent, very deliberately, and kissed her mouth, hard. His tongue pushed between her lips, opening them up for him, and he tasted her like he had nothing else to do all day. Maybe he didn’t. Who knew what a pack alpha did for a living?

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Heat bloomed in her belly and between her legs, and Alli felt her arms rise to wrap around his neck even as she told them not to. Bad arms, clinging to him that way without her permission. When the kiss ended she was draped over him like Christmas tinsel, one of his legs between hers, pushing her skirt up. She panted, her fingernails sunk into the skin on the back of his neck. She licked her lips, trying to get her tongue to work. “Why did you do that?” Logan stepped back, his hands leaving her hair and her butt, respectively. He grinned, and she realized her hair had come completely down, trailing down her back in unruly brown waves. Damn it. “It seemed like a damned fine idea.” His grin turned predatory. “Now, if you want to pretend you didn’t like it and that you’re too civilized to fuck right here on my kitchen floor, I suggest you run for it. After you take off your shoes.” Alli blinked, her heart beating hard as she realized she’d just become prey. Then she bolted, kicking out of her shoes while she ran. So much for confronting the alpha of the pack. Maybe she ought to start with the students in question first. Surely they would be easier to influence.

Chapter Two “What do you know about a Professor Alli Pendergrass?” Logan asked Lee who sat on his couch drinking beer and watching a basketball game on satellite. Lee had been back for less than a full day, but had come over after work to check in with Logan and see what the situation was with the shooter and the bad pack apple. Logan only wished he had more to tell the guy. “Stick in the mud. Teaches anthro, I think. She’s got an icy rep.” “Icy, huh?” He grinned a little, thinking about how nuclear hot she’d been during their kiss, how her feminine curiosity had sent him to the shower for twenty minutes to jack off after she left. “So I hear, anyway. I’ve only seen her at functions and stuff. I think Danny has a class with her.” “Cool. That actually explains a lot.” Danny took some froufy classes. Of course, he also seemed to make people either love or hate him, so maybe Alli was more concerned for Danny than anything else. As in, not wanting him to feel responsible for someone getting hunted down and taught a lesson. She had no idea how native Danny was going these days, at least from what Logan could tell. “So, vacation went well?” Lee nodded. “Yeah. We fucked a lot. I wish we knew more about the shooter and who’s behind it.” “You and me both. I got a group of pack males together, though, and we’re going to start systematically hunting.” “Good.” Lee growled a little, which was as cute as it was hot. “No problems between the three of you still?”

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“Huh? Oh, no. No, it’s all good. We’ll cross the whole settling down and having pups thing when we come to it, but we have years on that, you know?” “Yeah.” He’d had years once, too. Now the pack was making noises about him providing brand new pack members, adding his strong DNA to the mix. Logan wasn’t opposed, he just hadn’t met anyone who lit his fire that way. Until Alli. Just the thought of her made his body tighten. Lee paused, beer bottle halfway to his mouth. “You okay?” “I am. Why?” “Because suddenly you’re sending out pheromones like nobody’s business.” “What can I say? I like the prissy prof.” “No shit.” Laughing, Lee raised his bottle. “Well, good luck with that, man. She’s something else. Not sure what.” “We’ll see, huh? I thought I’d give her another day to recover before I go see her at the college. See what she thinks is a civilized alternative to a posse.” That had Lee almost rolling off the couch laughing. It was a good look for him. Hell, tanned and happy was a good look for Lee. Logan approved. “Posse,” Lee choked out, wiping tears off his cheeks. “Well, Sheriff, if you need to take the edge off, you let me know.” “Shit, Lee. You’re the busiest man in the pack that way.” “Yeah. And Danny and Heather started class today. I’ve been getting a certain amount of ass all week and suddenly I’m in a dry spell.” Logan shifted, moving closer to Lee on the couch, flattening a hand on that lean belly. “You know it won’t be my ass getting got.” “I know.” Lee’s cheeks went pink, his chest rising and falling faster. “Need to get it in while we can. Before one of us gets married.” Logan moved fast, pushing Lee down on the couch and covering him from head to foot. He took a kiss, hard and deep, tasting the wild flavor of male wolf. His cock ached, pressing against Lee’s Wrangler fly. “I like the way you think, man.” “Good. It’s nice to know I think like an alpha.”

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Logan threw back his head and laughed. “Alpha in training. Just an alpha in training.”

*** Alli pushed her hair back out of her face for the third time in five minutes, blowing out a frustrated breath when she did. Really, when had it decided to stop doing what she told it? Just like her blouse. She’d lost the top two buttons sometime during the day, and now her cleavage was showing, just a bit. Good thing all she had left was office hours, and those were never busy the first day back from spring break. Honestly, she needed to stop thinking about pack leader, Logan. It made her too hot for her stuffy little office. She stood, intent on locking up and heading out. Grabbing her suit jacket and her coat, Alli gathered everything else into her big leather tote and locked the door behind her. The hallway smelled awful, something acrid and acidy and strange. Alli paused, looking down the long hall opposite of the parking lot doors, hoping the building wasn’t on fire. She’d call maintenance once she got to her little car; she’d been told more than once not to go checking on things herself. It didn’t smell like fire, though, the least evolved part of her brain told her. It smelled like fear and rage and something not human or wolf. Alli was never the bravest wolf-woman at the best of times. Tonight she gave up walking calmly to her car and trotted as quickly as her brand new pumps would let her. The fresh air of the Wyoming evening helped clear her head and her nose, and she felt much better as she rounded the corner to the faculty lot. She pulled out her phone to call maintenance, but never managed to dial the number. Something hit her from the side, knocking her off her feet, winding her and spilling her tote all over the place. Alli screamed, her hands and knees feeling raw from scraping over the asphalt. The boot appeared too soon for her to block it, hurtling toward her face, but she managed to turn her shoulder into it just in time. Pain bloomed across her chest and arm, but she scrambled back, instinct taking over. She wasn’t the kind who could

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change out of the lunar cycle, but her wolf could come as close to the surface as possible, and it was more than happy to help her out. Alli bared her teeth and snarled, and the next time the guy tried to kick her she lashed out with her heel, going for the crotch. That was where they always said to hit a man, right? She hit his knee, instead, but he staggered back. “Bitch! You stick up for him. That fucking outsider will ruin us all.” He kicked at her again, and she dug her nails into his pants, trying to scratch or maim or something. “Hey! What are you doing?” The shout came from nearby, and she wanted to break down and sob when her attacker ran. A big cowboy came pelting over, leaning down to stare into her face. “Are you all right, ma’am? I would have gone after him, but you’re bleeding.” “I -- bleeding?” She looked down at her hands. One of them was scraped and bleeding. The other she couldn’t see for the piece of cloth she clutched in her fingers. “I got a piece of his pants.” “Oh, that’s good. Real good. You’re Professor Pendergrass, right?” “Yes.” This was not one of her students. In fact, she didn’t see him as a student type at all. A frisson of unease went through her. “Who are you?” “My name is Lee, ma’am. I work in the Ag building. My truck is just over here. I’ll take you to the infirmary.” “No. No, I’m fine. I’ll just call the police from my car and wait for them.” This young man reminded her forcibly of Logan, the pack alpha. She wanted to lean on his arm and let him help her, but she could do this. “I doubt it, ma’am. At least if your car is the Audi coupe.” She peered past his restraining arm, looking for her baby car. Oh. Oh, God. Windows bashed in, hood bent and mangled, fluid leaking. It was a mess. “My car!” Her poor baby Audi. Her little fox. She was going to have to kill someone. That was all there was to it. “Come and sit in my truck, at least. I’ll call Logan.”

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“No!” No, the last thing she wanted was to see that odious man who had kissed her silly, even though she knew he would make he feel better. Safer. “Call campus police. They’ll be perfectly sufficient.” He gave her a dubious glance, but she stared him down, and finally he just shrugged and helped her over to his truck. It smelled a bit like boy. Maybe more than a bit, but the leather seat was comfortable, and she felt much less exposed sitting in there. Lee moved a few feet away and turned his back before pulling out his cell phone, but Alli was confident he would do the right thing. The police were the ones to call. They would get to the bottom of this.

*** She was ruining everything. He’d been ready to make his statement to the pack, had been prepared to kill her. He’d already taken much of his rage out on her ridiculous car. She’d fought him, though. Him! He didn’t think she had a wolf in her. He’d been wrong. Now he knew what he had to do. He would wait until all of them were together, until every one of them was in harm’s way. Then he would school them all. He would teach them what a pack alpha should be.

*** Logan could feel the wolf howling at the back of his brain like an animal in a cage. Not only was this fucker making a mockery of his control over the pack, he had touched Logan’s woman. Oh, who cared that he’d only met her once? Alli would be his. The primal anger he felt at the thought of her being hurt told him that far more than his instant and persistent lust for her had. It took him twenty agonizing minutes to get to campus, but he knew Lee would control the scene. Logan just wanted to see Alli, to make sure she was safe. When he got there, Lee stood talking to a campus policeman, and Heather and Danny sat on the tailgate of Lee’s truck, talking to Alli. She was huddled in a blanket and looked pale, but she was composed. Good girl. Logan went to Lee and the cop first, despite his real wishes. “Hey, Lee.” “Logan. This is Jamie. He’s a friend of mine. He’s not pack, but he’s good to go.” “Jamie. Nice to meet you. What can you tell me?”

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Lee started. “She was leaving her office. Guy trashed her car, then went after her. She fought back, held him off until I saw them on the way to my truck.” “You scared him off?” “Yeah. Looks like it.” “He really did a number on her car,” Jamie chimed in. “Tore the tires up, got her engine, all of her lines: fuel, brakes, water. Everything.” “You saw him, Lee?” “It was dark, but yeah. I mean, I didn’t know him, but I would if I saw him again.” “Good. Get everything you can from the scene.” “Will do.” Logan left them to it, clapping Lee on the back in thanks. Then he went to see Alli. “Oh, no. What are you doing here?” Her gray eyes widened when he walked up, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Lee called me. Are you all right? Danny? Heather?” “We’re fine. We’ll go help Lee.” The two kids ran off like their asses were on fire, which was probably smart as Alli looked to be winding up for a real snit. “I don’t need your help.” “No? Still think there’s a civilized way to deal with this guy?” Logan didn’t feel civilized at all. In fact, he felt pretty damned growly. Her pupils dilated, and Logan could tell she knew instinctively just how on edge he was. He also thought she might like it, just a little. Her nipples were hard, and he didn’t think it was just the cold spring night. “I think… I… Damn it, I want to go home.” She sounded so petulant all of a sudden, and Logan had to smile. “Come on, Alli. I’ll take you home.” He held out a hand, and to his everlasting surprise, she took it. “I don’t like you.”

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“I know, honey.” What else did a man say to that? Logan caught Lee’s eye and nodded, getting a raised chin in response. Alli was more important right now than literally sniffing around. He’d look at the evidence in the morning, take Lee’s description. Lee would be hyper-vigilant in protecting his two lovers for the night. All Logan had to do was focus on Alli. She got into his truck easily enough, and sat in the passenger seat looking at her hands. “Are you okay, honey? Do you need a doctor?” “He kicked me. It’s already healing.” “How about a Snickers?” He reached into the console and got one out for her, which made her blink. “The sugar will help with the shock, and the chocolate will help ease up the adrenaline.” “Thank you.” She glanced up at him, her hair hanging in wild little snarls. “Why do you keep Snickers in your truck?” “Because I like them, I guess. Where to?” “Oh. The old Tanner house. All the way across campus, to the edge of town.” “Somehow I would have pictured you living in campus housing.” “It was too noisy.” Ha. That said a lot about her, more than she even knew. She would make a wonderful mate with a little coaxing. They rode in silence, the only sound the crinkling of the candy wrapper. She ate slowly but cleanly, and crumpled up the wrapper when she was done, neatly stuffing it in her purse. They pulled into her drive, and Logan turned the engine off.

Alli licked her lips. “Well. Thank you for the ride. And the candy.”

“You’re welcome. Come on, I want to check your house.”

Her eyes widened. “You think he might have come here, too?”

“I’m not sure he’s that organized, but I want to be sure. He took out Danny’s

dorm room, after all.” “Oh.” Her lip quivered a little, and Logan could see she was barely holding it together. “I wish I’d never gotten involved.”

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He reached out to touch her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “I’m glad you did. That way I got to meet you.” Her lips parted on a gasp, her throat working when she swallowed. “I --” “Shh. Inside.” He would check out her place, make sure it was safe. Then he was going to lock the door and make love to her until she was glad she’d interfered, no matter what the cost.

Chapter Three Alli shivered, watching Logan prowl around her house, checking closets and windows and such. It chilled her to know someone could have been in her house. This was Mystic U. Wolf Creek for heaven’s sake. Things like this just didn’t happen here. She’d told Logan she didn’t want to see him there, but she lied. With him in her house no one would dare to break in. It eased her fears just enough that she felt like she could cope. Clearing her throat, she smiled tremulously. “Would you like some tea?” “Looks like everything is secure.” Logan came back to her, slow and easy like she was a skittish animal. Well, like she was a deer or a horse or something. “No tea.” “No?” There was something stark in his beautiful gold-brown eyes, something primal in his strong features. It made her nipples harden, made something heat deep in her belly. “No. I’m not sorry we met, honey. Not at all. I want you.” Logan moved closer still, and she felt the heat emanating from his body. He was so close now that she could see his eyelashes, see how dilated his pupils were. Every civilized instinct in her urged her to run. The animal inside her insisted that she stay and meet his need with her own. The choice was taken out of Alli’s hands when Logan reached for her, pulling her up against his body, his hands gripping her shoulders hard. He kissed her like he had before, as if she was the only thing that mattered to him at the moment and he had all the time in the world to explore her. Her fingers dug into the hair at the nape of his neck, her nails pushing against his skin. Suddenly she wanted to eat him up like the wolf at grandma’s house in Little Red Riding Hood. His lower half pressed against hers, and she could feel his cock through his jeans, struggling to get out. Oh, God. She’d had sex, of course, but never like this. Never desperate and horny and ready to explode with her clothes still on.

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Logan panted against her mouth, his hands moving down to push up under her bottom, squeezing hard. Her toes curled, and Alli rose up as far as she could, her breasts pressing against his chest. His growl vibrated through her, and Logan picked her up, which made her shoes fall off. She didn’t have to point the way to the bedroom; he’d already toured her house. She bounced a little when he tossed her on the bed, but she didn’t complain. How could she when he was undressing, pulling off the starched shirt and Wranglers. She had a moment where she almost dissolved into laughter, because up until a few days ago she would have said she hated the cowboy look. Now she knew better. She liked it even better when he was naked, his hard-muscled, scarred body bared for her. Her fingers twitched when his cock came into view, and Alli marveled at herself. It wasn’t like her to be so… needy. “I can smell you, honey. You should get your clothes off.” Some tiny bit of devil in her made her smile at him, wiggling. “Make me.” “Oh, I like that.” His eyes sparkled with amusement, and the bed dipped under his weight where he crawled on it. Logan started with her feet, ripping at her pantyhose in a move worthy of the Hulk, making her giggle uncontrollably. Her gasp surprised her, though, when his thumbs dug into the arches of her feet. It felt good, sensual, sending little tingles up and down her legs. Logan really dug in for a few seconds, relaxing her even as he aroused her. Tears stung her eyes for a moment, because after the day she’d had, that was just what she needed. Digging in, he worked his way up her legs, massaging deeply. She relaxed so much that she felt like she might melt into the mattress. Then his palms slid up her thighs, raising her skirt, and she tensed up a little. “Shh. Maybe we should start from the top, huh?” Logan moved up between her spread legs, which pressed his bare skin against hers, his hard cock rubbing against her wet panties.

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“I’m not sure…” It was a token protest; they both knew it. Logan cut it off with a kiss, his mouth moving on hers, his tongue exploring her lips. He was an exceptional kisser, and the way his body undulated against hers made her wriggle and groan. Once he had her all distracted, Logan attacked her clothes again, starting with her shirt. It floated away, and Logan stroked her breasts through her bra, the tiny pressure on her nipple making her clit throb like crazy. Alli arched, touching him everywhere she could reach now, not just on his shoulders. She might even have pinched his ass. Logan laughed, the sound half moan, and lifted them both up so he could undo her bra and take off her skirt and her panties. She should have felt totally exposed. Instead, she felt free, strong. Utterly feminine to his complete male. They rubbed together, sharing scent, the hair on his chest rasping against her breasts, stinging the very sensitive skin there in the best way. His cock pushed against her cunt, his heat shocking as it slid against her wetness. She spread, arched, asking him for more. When he reached down between them and touched her clit, she cried out, her orgasm right there, just out of reach. “Gonna fuck you now, honey,” Logan said, his voice nothing but a low growl. The crude words should have offended her to the core. Instead they made her open up, made her wrap her legs around him and pull his cock into her wet pussy. He stretched her so wide, his cock feeling huge inside her. She gasped, rubbing on him, bouncing, trying to get comfortable. “God. Alli. Hold still, honey. I can’t…” “Move, okay?” She knew she sounded strident, but she just didn’t care. “You have to move, Logan.” “Okay. I got it, honey.” He lowered his head, his lips on her shoulder, and then started driving into her, his hips smacking her pelvis. Yes. Oh, yes. He moved inside her, and his angle managed to put pressure on her clit and suddenly she was flying. Soaring. She squeezed him, her thighs gripping his hips, her body shaking and shivering.

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Logan grunted, his hips snapping harder, his rhythm going off-kilter. He felt so hot inside her, so hard. The orgasm felt well within reach now, all he had to do was give her that little edge, that tiny bit of… He bit her. Right on the upper curve of her right breast, the bloom of delicious pain all she needed to push her over the edge. Alli came harder than she could ever remember in her whole life, harder than she had when she’d read her first erotica book and tried out her brand new vibrator. She’d certainly never come so hard with a man. She might be ruined for life. When she floated back down to the bed, he was still moving, his body rocking back and forth so fast she was surprised he didn’t get a cramp or something. Instinctively, she reached down behind him, her fingertips pressing against his balls. His head snapped up and he stared into her eyes when he came, his mouth moving with no sound coming out. She felt the heat of his come inside her, felt every spasm of his cock. He collapsed down against her, his chest heaving, and Alli stroked his hair, thinking how odd life was. She didn’t like alpha males, and she had just met this one, but she was very much afraid she might be in love with Logan. What a weird day it had been.

*** “Are you okay, Lee?” Heather was giving Lee the full on sympathy treatment, which Danny had to scoff at a little. It wasn’t like Lee was the one who’d been attacked. That had been Professor Pendergrass. Danny could relate. “Yeah. I’m good.” Lee smiled at Heather, then glanced at him. “What about you, Dan?” “Me? Oh, I’m fine. I have a class with her, you know. Is this my fault?” “No.” Heather actually growled a little. “No, this is about some asshole who can’t face reality. Something would have set him off eventually.” Lee nodded. “There was something really familiar about him. We’ll go talk to Logan tomorrow, and see if he knows anything about the guy. He had an eye patch.” Heather tilted her head. “That might actually ring a bell.”

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“Could we wait until the morning to ring bells?” Danny asked. He was feeling a little unloved. Heather and Lee exchanged an amused glance. “What do you want to do, then, babe?” Heather asked, coming over to sit on his lap on the couch. “An orgasm? We haven’t had one since we got back.” Heather sighed, her breasts heaving against Danny’s chest. “Lee had one with Logan. I think we should make him watch.” “Dude!” Danny stared over at Lee. “What’s with you and Logan?” Lee didn’t seem fazed. “He’s a friend. He’s also the alpha. You resist him when he’s horny.” Danny looked back at Heather. “He should definitely be punished, but I think we ought to make him make us both come before we let him.” “Oh, that sounds like a plan.” Heather started undressing both of them, moving to kneel next to him on the couch. They were at Lee’s place, so they had plenty of room. Lee had thought they would all be safer together. Simon was at a friend’s, so Danny wasn’t worried about his roomie. Life was good. Danny lifted his hips to let Heather strip off his jeans. His shirt had already disappeared. She was talented. He got her T-shirt off, and her bra, then she skinned out of her jeans and got back up on his lap, straddling him. That was hot; her breasts against his chest, her thighs on either side of his. His cock pushed against her pussy, and she was already wet. Danny loved how she loved to have sex. The way his adrenaline was still hyped after getting Lee’s call and seeing the Prof’s car, he needed everyone to be fast off the mark. Lee chuckled, coming over to kneel on the floor between Danny’s spread feet. “Y’all are the sluts, not me.” “Hush, baby. Touch us.” “I can do that.” Lee moved closer, his hands on Danny’s thighs, and Heather moaned, so it must have been good, whatever Lee was doing.

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“You should turn and face me, baby,” Lee murmured to Heather. “Then I can have at you both.” “Oh, God.” Heather rose up, and before Danny could even ask what was going on, she’d turned and was pushing herself down on Danny’s cock, hard and fast, taking him deep. “Shit!” Danny cried out, his hips trying to punch up. Heather’s weight held him down. “Shh. I got you both.” Lee grabbed Danny’s hands and put them under Heather’s breasts. “Stay busy, baby.” Danny opened his mouth to give Lee a smart-mouthed answer, but all he could manage was a groan. Lee had bent to lick at Heather’s pussy, and Danny could feel it. All through him. “Lee… Danny. Oh, damn.” Heather arched, pushing her breasts against Danny’s palms, her pussy squeezing him like there was no tomorrow. He was gonna die. They were just… They were a force of nature. Lee’s tongue touched the base of Danny’s cock, then his balls. Electric shocks ran up and down his spine, but he held off on his orgasm, not wanting to be the jerk who came first and ruined the incredibly sexy game. Lee’s fingers replaced that nuclear hot mouth, which he thought had moved up to tease Heather. Danny pinched Heather’s nipples between his fingers and thumbs, feeling her shiver every time. He bit at the skin just below her ear, too, letting her feel his need. She cried out, shaking against him, squeezing him again and again, and he heard Lee licking at her, the sounds wet and perfect and so freakin’ good. Then Lee pushed a finger inside Heather next to Danny’s cock and it was all over. Heather screamed, Danny moaned, and they both came. He filled Heather up, his cock jerking against Lee’s finger, and his eyes rolled back in his head, his vision shorting out a little. Lee waited until they recovered enough to pull free. “Did I do good enough penance?” Lee asked, pushing up on his knees to hug on them both.

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Heather leaned back against Danny’s chest, her skin damp enough to stick a tiny bit. “I think you did great. What about you, Dan?” Danny nodded, kissing Heather’s ear. “I feel much better.” He did, too. It was amazing what his hot lovers could do to cheer him up. It definitely made it all worth it.

*** He’d almost taken them at the alpha pup’s house. He could have picked them off there with the tools he’d taken from his human friend. He could have killed the fucking interloper, the idiot girl who didn’t know what kind of damage she was doing to the pack. He’d heard them, though. Heard them say that they would meet with the false alpha in the morning. That bitch professor was sure to be there, too. He knew she’d spread her legs for Logan, just like the whore she was. He had to be patient one more night. One more. Then he could take them all. They would expect him to wait for the moon, but he wouldn’t. He would take them all, and now he knew when and where. He slipped away from the window, not caring if he left a trace. One more night. Let them have their depraved pleasure. Tomorrow they would all die.

*** Logan liked how Alli looked in bed. It would be better if it was his bed, yeah, because hers was a little frilly, but that was okay. She’d spent the whole night there with him, and that had been a fine thing. Of course, the moment she woke up and looked at him that was all over. She drew a breath, her mouth opened, and Logan knew he was in for it. That all she said was, “Want some coffee?” still shocked him to the core, even three hours later. She looked good in his kitchen, too. She’d called in to work at his urging, and gone with Logan back to his place. He’d called Lee and set up a meeting with the three musketeers to see what they could learn from last night. Now he was just waiting for the other shoe to drop with Alli. She sat at the bar in the kitchen, her hair loose down her back, wearing a long denim skirt, a long-sleeved Tshirt and a cardigan. It was a far cry from the buttoned-up suit and bun lady he’d met a few days ago. She sipped her fifth cup of coffee and nibbled a saltine.

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He really needed to go to the store and get something more than hamburger patties and chicken lunch meat. Well, that and an extra fridge full of raw meat. Alli seemed like a tofu and tea kind of girl. “You really need some nice dishes,” she finally said when she noticed him looking at her. “Some placemats. Something not plaid.” “Uh-huh. When you move in you can bring in all of your frilly shit.” That should get a rise out of her. She was too still, too quiet. It just wasn’t natural. She raised one well-kept brow. “Move in? Just because I had sex with you?” “No, because you’re perfect mate material if you let yourself believe it.” “I don’t like you.” “Shit.” Logan burst out laughing. “You don’t believe that for a minute. We’re good together. Like on a cellular level.” Alli sniffed. “Do you even read?” “I remember how,” he said, deadpan. “Of course I do. Vonnegut isn’t my thing, but I think you can excuse that.” She actually sighed a little. “I’m sorry. That was rude.” “I baited you.” He went to her, drawn by her lost expression, sliding one hand behind her head, his fingers twining in her hair. “We’ll figure out who did this. Then you and I can wrangle over our relationship.” “You act like we have one.” “We do.” Logan bent to kiss her, deciding it was time to remind her how hot they could burn. Too bad she was just starting to hang on him like a Christmas ornament when someone knocked on the door. “You home, Logan?” It was Lee, and Logan eased away from Alli, his thumb rubbing over her lips. “Damn. Time for company.” She blinked at him, licking her lips and nodding. God, she was pretty. And distracting. “In here!”

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Lee, Danny and Heather trooped in, looking a little worse for wear. From the scent, though, it was more that they’d been tearing each other up all night than it was that they’d been worried about an attack. “Hey, man.” Logan gave him a man hug, Heather and Danny hanging back a little. “Hey. This is Alli. Alli, Lee, Heather and Danny.” “Hello. Danny, it’s good to see you’re all right.” “Thanks.” Danny smiled at her. “Ditto.” That was probably enough pleasantries. “Anyone want coffee before we get started? I’ve called the men I gathered last week. Once we’re done with our meeting, we’ll pass the information on to them.” Alli pressed her lips tighter together, but didn’t protest. It was amazing how concern for civilized behavior went out the window when things got personal. It was easy to judge from the safety of being outside the situation. Lee nodded. “Cool. I’ll hang out for that part, too. So, what do you need to know?” “Let’s start with you, Lee. You saw him?” “Only from a distance. Same scent as the guy who trashed Danny’s room. Not human like the shooter. He had an eye patch.” Heather made a little noise, and he glanced over. “It rang a bell with me, Logan. I can’t get it to come out of my brain, though. Maybe someone I knew when I was a kid.” “Huh. I’m not sure I would know him well, then.” Logan chewed on his lip. “What else?” “He has a limp,” Alli chimed in. “Really bad breath. A lot of rage.” “Okay, we can work with this. I need to talk to the pack elders, maybe, see if they can shed some light on it.” “He was kinda familiar.” Lee sighed. “Not enough to really jog my memory, though.” “Okay. Anything from the car?”

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“More pee.” Lee gave Alli an apologetic smile. “Lots of damage. Nothing conclusive.” “Damn.” Logan really wanted to wrap this up so he could get on with the wooing. Alli looked more and more like she might bolt. “Yeah.” Lee shrugged. “Why is this guy doing this?” Danny chewed on a fingernail. “Why did I set him off?” “Who knows?” Logan walked over, putting a hand on Danny’s shoulder. “This is not your fault, man. I mean, yeah, you shook the pack up some, but that’s not bad. This guy just couldn’t take it all of a sudden. You heard Alli. He has a lot of rage.” Danny stiffened for a moment, but Logan stared him down, alpha-style, and the kid relaxed, all but offering his throat. Heather bounced up off her stool. “Anyone want a doughnut? We left them in the car by accident. I’ll be right back.” She trotted out the back door before he could tell her not to, which he was going to. Logan didn’t know why the hair stood up on the back of his neck, but it did, and he was on his feet and moving before the scent registered. Shit. They weren’t going to have to go after the bastard who was causing all the trouble. He’d come to them.

Chapter Four He’d had to kill the human. The fool had argued with him about blowing up Logan’s house. He’d slit the man’s throat. Money could only buy so much loyalty. He didn’t need the asshole now, though. He’d come to throw Molotov cocktails through the window, but the girl gave him an even better opportunity. He’d take her now, and then all he had to do was wait and pick the rest off when they tried to rescue her. His was the path of righteousness, after all. He deserved to run the pack. Now he would show them all.

*** Heather knew she’d made a mistake the moment she stepped off the porch. The attack came as a rush of fetid air, and she almost managed to sidestep it, but the silverchased knife that flashed before her eyes, stopped her. “Hold still, bitch. Little bitch in heat. Your family should be ashamed of you.” The voice. The voice was way more familiar than the scent, which was tainted with a sour, rotten smell. Heather reached way back to when she was a kid, really little. Eye patch… “Let her go, old man. I know who you are now.” Lee. Heather slumped against the man’s arm, trying to let her weight force him to let go. It didn’t work. He jabbed the knife against Heather’s throat, the silver burning her a little. “Shut up!” the guy screamed, and spittle hit Heather’s cheek. Gross. “I do. I remember you. You challenged Cole for the alpha spot and he kicked your ass. This guy is a cheat and a coward, Logan.” “I can tell.” Logan’s voice came from the opposite side of the drive. He and Lee must have split up to flank the guy. “Fuck you!” The guy screamed it, his whole body shaking. What a nutbag. “The pack should be mine! What have you done for it, you bastard?”

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Logan chuckled. “If you mean me, I defeated Cole in combat. Fairly. Which you didn’t. I have no doubt that Lee will eventually beat me, just like his family hopes.” They were moving, and the guy kept spinning, almost knocking Heather down. “No! No. He took my eye, he banished me! But he’s the one who cheated. Then you let this… this thing into the pack.” The knife swung away from Heather’s throat so the weirdo could point at Danny, and Heather dropped like a rock, letting her legs go right out from under her. The asshole let her go, and she scrambled away, knowing it would be best to get the hell out of the way. Logan and Lee moved as one, leaping at the guy who staggered back. He dropped the knife. Heather saw it drop to the ground out of the corner of her eye. “Look out! He’s got a bomb or something.” Danny screamed it, and Heather rolled even farther away, trying not to get blown up or burned or something. She heard snarling and shouting and scuffle. There was the smell of burning cloth, and by the time she got where she could see what was happening, Lee and Logan were both struggling with the guy who was holding a bottle with a burning rag in it. Shit. Shit, that thing could blow any moment and take Lee with it if the guy dropped it or squeezed it too tight. Heather struggled to her feet, and across the drive Danny gathered himself for a leap, too. Both of them were ready to jump in and save the day -- which was when Logan and Lee let go, both of them scrambling away. The wick had burned almost to the mouth of the bottle, and it was gonna go. Growling, the asshole turned toward Lee’s house, cocking his arm back to throw the bottle through the open door. Time seemed to slow down, then stop. If the house went up, the backlash might kill them all. At the very least, Logan would lose his house, and… “Alli!” Logan leaped forward, hands shaped into claws, trying to get there before it was too late. That was when the shot rang out, the top of the fucker’s head all but exploding. He started to fall, the bottle spinning out of his hand, ready to drop on the

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ground and burst, releasing the deadly vapors that would ignite and possibly incinerate them all. Logan caught it inches from the ground, tearing the rag out of the mouth of the bottle just before it burned down. The whole thing probably took two seconds. Heather reached up and checked her neck with her hand. Lee and Danny rushed her, but she still saw Logan roll to his feet and look at Alli, who stood in the kitchen doorway with a rifle. “Good thing it had silver in the bullets,” Alli said, gripping the rifle with whiteknuckled hands. “I thought you didn’t believe in posse justice, honey.” Logan was staring hard, admiration clear in his face. “I didn’t know how it felt to have a mate.” Alli dropped the rifle and ran to Logan who held her close. Heather looked at Lee, then Danny, wrapping her arms around both of their necks. She could definitely relate to that sentiment. Thank God they were both safe. It was over.

*** Logan thought he might explode. The pack had arrived to take care of the man who would have killed the few people Logan held most dear. Now that it was clear who the guy was, everyone had a story about the banished, deformed wolf that had once tried to take down an alpha and failed. His scent had been familiar to Logan all this time because he’d been skulking around the alpha’s house for years. It took ages to get rid of the body and all the people. Logan had given Lee a hard hug, whispering that they’d see each other later. Yeah. Yeah, he would need his Lee time, even if they would be the non-touchy types from now on. Finally, though, it was just him and Alli, and she was looking less fragile and more fierce than he’d expected. She came to him as soon as the door closed behind the last pack male, sliding her hands up around his neck. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

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“Are you?” He moaned, pushing his pelvis against hers. All of his worry for her, all of his post-fight adrenaline, it translated directly into lust. “Ready to admit we might be mates?” “Yes. I still want you to read Vonnegut.” She kissed the smile off his mouth, one leg wrapping around his hip. They humped each other hard, clothes flying, boots landing six feet away. Alli gave herself over to the pleasure, her fingers on his chest, pinching his nipples. It was like she’d left the professor at the door and was letting the wolf run. Logan slid to his knees, his hands on her hips so he could slip her skirt off. He tore at her panties, sending them off into space before he leaned down and put his mouth on her, his tongue pushing at her folds, demanding she let him in. Alli spread her legs, gripping his head with both hands and moaning. Full on woman in ecstasy moan, and it made him grunt, made him find her clit with his lips and suck on it. He pushed her, his mouth working her, and she spread her legs, shaking. “Please. Please, Logan. I get it now. Mate.” He growled, pushing his tongue into her, his thumb working her clit in circles. She cried out, her head falling back, her orgasm a palpable thing. Logan moaned, surging to his feet, his cock pushing against her cunt, working its way up and in. “Logan!” She hopped a little, wrapping both legs around him this time, her hips rocking up and down. Oh, God. “Alli. Honey.” He started moving, really going to town, and she was so wet for him, so good, her breasts bouncing against his chest. It was perfect. Impossible to resist. Logan came so hard his teeth rattled, his body shaking with the effort of holding them up. Alli panted, her head on his shoulder, clutching his back with both hands. “So, are you moving in?” he asked, his voice almost gone. “Not today,” she murmured. “You really need to redecorate first.”

Epilogue “Are you coming back next fall?” Heather and Lee both stared at him after Heather asked the question. “I know Mystic U hasn’t been the best place.” Danny blinked. Well, okay, he’d thought it was out of the way at the beginning, and there had been the whole attack thing… Really, though, Mystic U had rocked. “Are you kidding? Of course I’m coming back. In fact, I was thinking of getting a job in Wolf Creek for the summer. Just to stay on.” Doubt crept in when they both just stared at him. “Unless that’s a bad idea.” Heather whooped, running at him and jumping on him, her blonde hair like a cloud around him. “A bad idea? This is great!” Lee came a little more slowly, his cowboy boots making little ringing noises on the floor. That big hand on Danny’s ass spoke volumes, though. “I think it’s a fantastic move, baby. We have a lot of lessons we can teach you in a sort of summer school.” Danny grinned, amazed at how he’d found his place in the world in a rustic wolf pack who ran under the moon and worked cattle for a living. Life was bizarre sometimes. “I like school,” Danny finally managed through Heather’s kisses. “Teach me.” There were still all sorts of things he could learn, in or out of Mystic U. Danny couldn’t wait to get started.

Julia Talbot Julia Talbot has been assimilated by Texas, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and smoked brisket. A full-time author, Julia has been published by Torquere Press, Suspect Thoughts, Pretty Things Press, and Changeling Press. She can most often be found in coffee shops and restaurants, scribbling in her notebook and entertaining

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